Tanpola Articles Directory

The secrets for success in the Utah real estate business are many in number. There are quite a few ways to get ahead in the real estate business, but the best way is to be able to sell homes in places where the landscapes are endless, the people are friendly, and there are plenty of perks for people to move into that neighborhood.

If you are in the real estate business, then you know how sometimes it is hard to sell, especially in an economy like we have right now. But with cutting edge information and technology, you can utilize all of your resources in order to making selling homes easy and fun. If you join a group such as the American Association of Real Estate Investors, you will be able to gain access to more information about the market than ever before. Whether you are looking to buy or sell real estate, this is an organization that you will want to be a part of.

Once you decide that the real estate market is the right pace for you, you will need to choose an area in which you would like to sell homes. Utah is one of the great states for selling real estate. Not only is the state gaining popularity with many people, but it also has a lot to offer those who want to move there. The spectacular landscapes alone attract some of Utah’s best home buyers. The southern part of the state is famous for some of the country’s best known landscapes including national parks and Bryce Canyon. The north rim of the Grand Canyon is also only a few miles away.

In the south, there are also several small towns. Many people who want to move want to live in a place where they can really feel at home. Most small towns in Utah also give plenty of room for people to go around and explore nature throughout the state. A small town in Utah will offer the best of the city life for visitors as well as the small town charm for those who choose to live there.

What you can sell potential buyers on is the abundance of outdoor activities that you can do in Utah. The moderate year round climate gives ample opportunity for couples and families to get out and get going. There is skiing, camping, and fishing. There are a lot of outdoor sports as well.

Utah is a wonderful place for anyone to relocate. They will find that there are some great similarities to where they are from, but they will also be able to experience Utah’s unique offerings: the landscape, the weather, and the people. Home prices on average are also an excellent deal, especially for first time buyers. The average price is around $180,000 for a single family home. Utah is one of the fastest growing areas in the country, so if you want to claim your spot in the best state around, you will want to think about moving to Utah soon.

Jordan Mcpelt is a professional author who specializes in Real Estate and Utah Real Estate. For more information on Utah Mls listings please visit http://www.zoomutah.com

When we are speaking about buying a property in Portugal, we are speaking about our dream which took a long time before being finally realized, but we are speaking also about various dream features in the property which probably could be useless or which at least costs a lot of money or a lot of time in the maintenance.

Of course a basement waterfall and grotto is a practical and useful addition to any home, that is pretty much the only thing standing between you and the playboy lifestyle you have always dreamed about, right, but who is going to clean it?

It is easy to fall in love with certain features of a property, but to find out that those same features, in the long run, are your least favourite, here are a few common extras and a quick assessment of their relative values.

In-floor Heating
Also referred to as radiant heat, in-floor heating is a brand new invention. Well, except that the Romans did it a couple thousand years ago by channelling hot air under the floors of their homes and Frank Lloyd Wright did it in the thirties with hot water, but other than that.

What are the positive points: In-floor heat comes in two primary forms, as hot water heat or electric heat, and there are many advantages.

The dramatic energy savings promised should not prompt you to ask for a decrease in salary just yet, since the more popular hot water radiant heat usually requires a second hot water heater and will not shave too much off of your bill, but there are some notably appealing elements to in-floor heat in general.

Radiant heat is just that, even and consistent, without the up-and-down temperature shifts associated with most conventional heating systems. It is also silent and invisible, with no bulky radiators or even register vents ruining the feng of your shui. Radiant heat also will not dry the air, and will not have you hopping about looking for your slippers on a cold morning.

What are the points against it: In-floor heating systems are still considered a luxury, and can add a fair bit to the value of a home. They are new, and potential long-term issues have not been entirely worked out. A handful of people also are leery about the prospect of piping a significant amount of water throughout their cherished home for fear of potential leakage, all relatively minor concerns.

Assessment: Find someone with in-floor heating who does not love it. I dare you.

Backyard Pool
It is the quintessential luxury item that announces once and for all that you are a big dog, even in parts of the country like this one where it can only be used about ten minutes per year, it is the swimming pool.

From pools that are little more than big pits of standing water to jewel-encrusted infinity pools that usually adjoin large bodies of water, pools were once the thing, are they still?

What are the positive points: A recent study found that having a pool increased property values from 8 to 15 percent. The idea of kicking back all summer with a pina colada, sitting next to the lapping water with friends can be quite attractive and rightfully so.

What are the points against it: Safety issues have not been blown out of proportion by the media. Pool deaths happen all the time, there is no getting around that fact. Pools are expensive to maintain, even without hiring a pool cleaner, and are a lot of work, as beautiful as a pool can be when it is maintained properly, it can be an eyesore if it is not. A pool tends to negate having any significant usable space for a backyard, am I missing anything?

Assessment: The issues involved with owning a pool can be overcome, and many people enjoy having a pool very much. You just have to want one really badly for it to be worthwhile.

Dream Kitchen
Kitchens do cool things these days. Appliances panelled to look like cabinets, an extra tap above the stove for filling large pots of water and 460 different countertop materials.

What are the positive points: Kitchens are finally being designed with maximum utility in mind. When shopping for a home, focus on the kitchen, it is where you will likely spend a great deal of your time, and the room in which every party tends to congregate.

Before you fall in love with that Kohler faucet, however, analyze the kitchens layout from a purely utilitarian standpoint. Is the magic triangle of sink-stove-fridge arranged conveniently, are cabinets and other storage in logical places, is there sufficient light and most importantly, is this a space you will feel comfortable and happy in? Do not underestimate the importance of a functional and attractive kitchen.

What are the points against it: You have to be careful not to fall in love with the impermanent fixtures in a kitchen. While those glass-front, backlit uppers may brilliantly display the sellers Royal Daulton bone china, will your mixed collection of garage sale Melmac have the same effect? Likewise, if your idea of cooking is heating up last nights pizza, perhaps space would be better used elsewhere.

Assessment: The kitchen is the hub of virtually any home. Do not underestimate its importance.

Activity Rooms
This is an overly broad categorization, of course, but activity rooms like workshops, games rooms, and exercise rooms tend to hold common appeal and common drawbacks.

What are the positive points: Having the right setup for a particular activity can be inspiring. Having a single power tool in each room of your house and each corner of the garage and shed is not exactly the ideal situation for building that crib you started on for your daughter and are determined to finish before the birth of you granddaughter. Likewise, if you have the latest elliptical trainer and weight set in a room next to your bedroom with a 12 foot plasma TV facing it, perhaps you will find that six-pack after all.

What are the points against it: If you can not make a dovetail joint, all of the tools in the world will not give you that knowledge. If you have not lifted anything heavier than a handful of pork rinds in the last decade, a workout room will likely soon become just a TV room with uncomfortable seating. Unreasonable expectations usually develop into unreasonable decisions.

Assessment: Your home should inspire you and will, to a certain extent, dictate your lifestyle. You have to be rational in your decisions, however, and aim for versatility rather than rooms that are locked in to a particular use that may not be as useful in the future.

The Bottom Line
With all of your dream home features, try to let reason prevail (or at least get a word in edgewise). You may absolutely worship the tumbled marble rainforest shower with the heated towel rack, but it will be of little comfort every morning and night when you are cursing the homes lack of closet space. It is often the most boring attributes of a home that will give you the most pleasure.

Now, off to luxuriate in my rainforest shower. I had to take out the bedroom to install it, but that is okay, I do not mind sleeping in the kitchen.

Oliveira is the webmaster of http://www.eastalgarve-properties.com and http://www.silver-coast-properties.net, two sites that offers a wide range of useful and helpful information about properties in Algarve and properties in the Silver Coast.

Finding good real estate in San Diego that you want is not very hard at all, but knowing exactly how to acquire that piece of property can be difficult. Many times, people fail to put in the time and do the research that is required to ensure that you get a good deal, and a smart deal. It is especially tough if you are a first time buyer and do not have someone who is experienced and can help you out along the way and give you good, sound advice. Here are some good tips that are things every buyer should know and are sure to help you with your future purchase.

The very first thing to do is to be sure that all of your finances are in order and up to date. This is definitely something that seems like common sense, but it is also something that is overlooked more than anything else. Typically, you should allow yourself anywhere from six to twelve months to get everything organized before you actually make a purchase. People often find that one of the most stressful things in the world is real estate; San Diego real estate is no exception to this so you want to be sure you are prepared. The first part of organizing your finances is checking over your credit report and scores. There are three different companies to go to and you should request reports from all of them. You want to be sure to pay off all of your outstanding debts or at the very least, set up some type of repayment schedule for them before looking into making another large purchase.

The next thing you want to do is apply for a mortgage. Generally, if you have worked on your credit score and resolved any issues, then as a first time buyer, you should get pre approved by a mortgage lender. When you are approved you are given an estimate of how much you are approved for. This is a good starting point in your search for real estate in San Diego because it gives you a range to work with.

After you have done this, you are ready to choose a real estate agent. This person will have a very large role in your purchase so be sure it is someone you are comfortable with and someone you can trust. You should feel confident in their knowledge and that they will help you make a great final decision.

The most important thing to remember is: do not settle. Finding your dream home may be a long and bumpy road, but in the end it will pay off and you will be happy you took your time.

For more information on real estate San Diego, please visit our website at http://www.supersandiegorealestate.com

Hong Kong is in a prime position to take advantage of China’s growing economy - and they have both taken advantage and built an economy under their own steam. The latest figures make the Hong Kong property market one of the most attractive in the world. We look at why it would a be a good idea to jump on this speeding boat, before it blows out of port!

Hong Kong’s real estate and property markets are on the up and up at the moment. Official figures from the Hong Kong land registry show that both the total number of transactions, and the total number of [property transactions is increasing at a rate of knots. January’s figures showed 67.8 billion HKD in property transactions - a 149.3% increase from the same time last year, and an increase of 5.2% from the month previous. In terms of overall transactions, the land registry recorded 16,984 transactions, which is an increase of 92.8% from the same time in 2007, and a jump of 8.9% from the prior month, December 2007.

Obviously this trend has been forming in Hong Kong for a while now. And it is not only the number of transactions that are increasing in the Hong Kong property market, but the value of the property being traded is going up as well. If you are looking to directly invest in the Hong Kong property market, now is the time to start the ball rolling, while prices are relatively low and growth seems set to continue.

Tourism is another area where the country should see a sharp increase in the number of transactions. Jeff Voyles of Globalysis said that “Hong Kong faces stiff competition for tourist dollars from other Asian destinations”, and it has met the challenge wonderfully. Hong Kong expects to see around 30 million visitors in 2008, representing an increase of 7% over the previous year, and the revenue from these transactions is set to grow to around $155 billion HKD. Hotels in Hong Kong will see sustained growth this year, as will airlines, and business oriented services.

An example of the growth that is being seen in Hong Kong recently is shown by the purchase of tracts of land for development in Shatin and Mid-Levels by Henderson Land Development Co, for around $128 billion HKD. Work on the high-rise apartment blocks and several low-rise blocks should be completed by April and March 2009, for separate parts of the projects, in time to cash in on the breakneck economic growth.

Prices are at their highest level in a decade in the Hong Kong property market, and they show signs of continuing to increase - in sharp contrast to the housing market in the US. A 50% increase in prices over the next three years has been predicted by analysts Merril Lynch. They have been joined in their positivism by Sun Hung Kai properties, as well as other developers. Investors seem to be recognizing and touting that buying an apartment is more profitable than buying shares at the moment.

All this means is that savvy investors will not miss out on the golden opportunities provided by property management in Hong Kong this year!

Gregory Smyth is an independent author providing assessment and comments on leading International Property Consultants in Asia and Greater China, especially CB Richard Ellis - http://www.cbre.com.hk

Thailand’s markets have experienced a slowdown in recent months … however, the result is not as negative as it might seem. Many Asian economies have seen enormous growth and are expected to see a matching fall in their economies, with property developers being hard hit. However the slower growth in the Thailand property sector makes it seem that the market can weather the current financial storm, and makes condos in Thailand actually stable longer term investments.

Obviously, one of the biggest factors in the outlook for Asian markets is the current credit crunch in the US. This is one of the biggest factors globally. Economies have been changed worldwide, and ultimately property values have been damaged. Some regions have obviously done worse than others, or experienced the net effect sooner. Asian property seemed to be relatively unaffected last year, with rental and capital growth exceeding expectations in many cities. The amount of investment increased, and some markets are expected to continue strong throughout this year as well as last. However, some of these economies that bucked the global trend of slowdowns in last year are now expected to see a bubble bursting. Thailand is different.

Bangkok’s 2007 performance went contrary to Asian markets in neighboring countries - growth was quite subdued, and demand grew only slightly. This is widely recognized to be due to political instability, and the cost of living rising in the area due to the price of oil and the weakened US economy. However, these factors are not as negative as they seem! If we look to the current volatility in the Chinese market, we will see why Thailand’s lack of breakneck growth compared to other Asian countries actually makes a condo in Thailand one of the better investment choices in Asia today. Rapid growth has forced the Chinese government to introduce drastic measures to slow down the economy - and these are having a huge effect on property prices and prospects for the country. The market is see-sawing crazily, and in the short term is quite unpredictable. By contrast, the property sector in Thailand has seen slower growth and seems to be in a better position to weather the current storm.

This year should see rents in Thailand rise, especially in the residential and retail sectors. Expansion in the retail sector is not expected to slow down, despite the prospect of higher overheads, though. Property revenues are expected to be slightly down, from around Bt1.59 billion in 2007 to Bt1.5 billion in 2008. The financial industry in the region will be impacted by the US crisis, but opportunities will not disappear entirely. Property law and tax reform changes mean that foreign investors now have an easier time if they are looking for property investment in Thailand. Basically, Thailand has become a more stable and secure prospect, albeit one with lower initial returns, than many other Asian markets.

Both internal and external reports confirm that condos in Thailand are still a good investment. The Bangkok Post says that high end condominiums and properties are holding their own in the market, despite political turmoil. This is linked to tourism performance in Thailand, as the country remains one of the most sought after destinations world wide. Singapore and Hong Kong, where much of Asian money is concentrated, favor Thailand as a holiday destination, and this is translating into some stability for the property market in Thailand at the moment.

Don’t shun the Thai market because of slower growth - it is the choice for stable, long-term investors at the moment.

Gregory Smyth is an independent author providing assessment and comments on leading International Property Consultants in Asia and Greater China, especially CB Richard Ellis - http://www.cbre.com.hk

As the Austin real estate market expands in all directions, areas we used to think of as “way out there” are not only seeming closer, but are getting their own infrastructure. Maple Run in Southwest Austin is just one of those areas. Located south of William Cannon, north of Slaughter, west of Brodie and east of Mopac, this little oasis offers quiet streets, attractive and affordable housing, burgeoning businesses and is a hop, skip and a jump to one of the city’s cleanest, newest and nicest parks.

Each street in the area seems to have its own personality. The Deer Park subdivision is full of brick homes, with meticulously manicured gardens and lawns. These folks do a magnificent job with holidays their Christmas lights are worth a trip, and Halloween is always scary!

A few blocks down, you will find a more relaxed atmosphere, maintained just as nicely, but with a more casual feel. The busiest street is Copano, which is not busy at all! The houses in this area can run the gamut from a 3,000 square foot two story brick home with a pool to a 1200 sq. foot one level 2 br/ 2 bath with a nice yard. Many of these homes back to a greenbelt: nice and quiet.

Brodie Lane, one of the main north-south thoroughfares of the area, is full of convenient businesses closer to Ben White, but as you follow the street south of William Cannon heading down to Slaughter you find new business popping up almost every day. Take the intersection of Alexandria and Brodie you have the best Cajun food and live music in town, an Austin Regional Clinic, Love Pet Hospital, Shipley’s Donuts, a florist, nail salons, a JiffyLube, and more! Just up the road is a Montessori school, just down the road is the Kid’s Zone preschool and daycare.

Austin Telco and Advance Auto just came to the area, although the property adjoining them still has cattle on it a truly Austin juxtaposition.

Families will love the Longview playground and park located at the eastern end of Harper’s Ferry. Swings and a play structure perfect for toddlers on up to school age are in great condition, and there are lots of trees for shade. A big field is perfect for kicking the ball or throwing the Frisbee, and there is a basketball court right up the hill. If you are looking for a little more, just head over to Dick Nichols just west of Mopac off Davis.

The toddler structure here is brand new, and the bigger kids one is in great repair. Picnic tables, a fountain for splash play, volleyball courts (or the world’s largest sandbox, depending on your age), tennis courts and a hike/bike trail can all be found here. Their pool is one of the best, with separate shallow and deep ends, plus a toddler wading pool all crystal clear and in excellent condition.

It might seem “way out west” but Southwest Austin is only 15 minutes to downtown, and the bang for your housing buck make it well worth considering.

Ki helps buyers interested in Austin real estate http://www.escapesomewhere.com his website has a free search of the Austin MLS http://www.escapesomewhere.com/realestate_searchthemls.html along with updates on his Austin real estate blog http://www.escapesomewhere.com/austinblog/

After the real estate market hit a steady decline in mid 2006, home builders turned to incentives as a way to attract home buyers to their communities and to help differentiate themselves from the competition. When you start looking for a new home be sure to compare builder incentives as much as the communities themselves.

To help you choose, I have created a list of the top 7 new home buying incentives you should look out for:

Military or Civil Service Incentive - As a thank you to the individuals who serve in the military or are veterans of the military in addition to firefighters, police officers, EMTs and hospital staff, national home builder K. Hovnanian is offering $5,000 off the asking price of their homes, for a limited time, to people in these fields. Other large builders also offer similar incentives to teachers and civil service positions.

Lower Asking Price on “Spec Homes” - Depending on your moving situation, this is the golden egg of builder incentives. Most new home builders will construct a set number of homes in their community as “spec” homes or homes built on speculation that people will purchase the homes and move in quickly.

Once these homes are finished the builder won’t want to sit on a large inventory of homes so they will offer spec homes with predetermined upgrades included at a lower asking price than if you were to build the home from scratch and add those upgrades.

Incentives Tied to Builder’s Mortgage Company - Builders and on-site sales representatives enjoy working with their established banking relationships because they feel it will make the mortgage process easier and less stressful for everyone than if you were to use an outside lender. In this scenario I’ve seen builders offer to pay closing costs and up to one year of Homeowner’s Association fees for buyers who purchase using their mortgage company.

Lot Premium Reductions - Like a rare platinum ring, highly desirable lots tend to come with a premium attached. Builders often place premiums ranging from a few thousand to nearly $100,000 on the most desirable lots in the community. Lot premiums are not set in stone and under the right circumstances can be negotiated much like everything else.

Reduced Option Prices - With the average new home buyer spending about 10% of their purchase price on upgrades you should look to get the most bang for your buck with the limited budget you have set for options. When evaluating the standard features list for a community, check into the cost for all of the options you would want in the home and see if the builder is providing special pricing on select options.

Standard Features… and then some! - To make homes more appealing than the standard features list will allow, builders are now including previously optional home upgrades like granite countertops, expanded suites, swimming pools and sun rooms as an incentive to buy in their community.

“Free Gifts” with Home Purchase - Sometimes it takes more than granite countertops and hardwood floors to make a home stand out. Some builders are going the extra mile and including in-home luxuries like plasma screen tvs and offering car leases to draw in prospective buyers. For soon to be commuters, a two year lease on a new car might be the perfect way to help ease into life in the suburbs.

When you are ready to start looking for a new home your best bet is to get in touch with a real estate agent who specializes in new home communities. This agent should help you cross shop communities and serve as a third party to help advise on the best deals and the potential pitfalls of incentives. Because incentives vary greatly, you will need to weigh the pros and cons of each community before making a final decision on the home that’s right for you.

Joshua Ferris is a new home specialist and has created a valuable resource for home buyers considering the area including his indispensable Monroe, NY real estate guide. For more information about Orange County, NY real estate please visit http://www.realestateinthenycsuburbs.com.

Eastern Europe continues to experience explosive growth as the nations modernize their economies, leading to terrific opportunities for savvy investors. Real estate in Eastern Europe is a solid investment with significant growth potential. As with any investment, you need to educate yourself about the potential problems. Inexperienced investors run the risk of losing their money, whether they are buying homes in Turkey or putting money in CDs at their local bank.

Here are three of the major pitfalls that people investing in East European real estate should avoid.

Never Buy Unseen Property

Some investors feel that Europe is so far away that to visit their potential property would be expensive and difficult. If that is the case, then this is probably not the best investment for you. It is absolutely essential that you inspect any real estate in Eastern Europe that you plan to purchase.

The seller is going to present the property’s best features and is likely to underplay any problems. This doesn’t mean they are dishonest, but any buyer should still look at the property in person. In addition to your own visit, have a home inspection professional examine the property. Structural defects that may be invisible to the casual observer will be obvious to a qualified home inspector and could save you thousands in repairs or prevent you from making a bad deal.

Understand the Local Laws

You must seek counsel from an attorney who is familiar with the real estate laws in the country you are buying property in. Real estate in Eastern Europe is governed by laws that may be very different from the laws in your home country.

This ensures that all of the papers are completed correctly and the sale goes through as planned. It also protects you as a property owner if you know all of your rights. Although laws governing private property in this part of the world have changed substantially in the last few decades, many countries still have laws that hark back to their socialist roots.

An example of how property owners can be hurt by foreign laws would be the Valencia land grab in 1994. It was an effort by the Spanish government to speed urbanization of the area by giving developers rights to develop private land, but some unscrupulous organizations used the law to legally buy land against the owner’s wishes at far below the market price.

Can You Afford It?

Buying real estate in Eastern Europe may incur substantially more additional legal fees and taxes than buying locally. Investigate the full cost of a piece of property, not just purchase price quoted in a listing. Also be sure to inspect the title deeds of the property.

These extra costs are compounded by fluctuating currency rates. Depending on the future of the currency in your property’s country, you should decide whether you want to get a local mortgage in your home nation’s currency or a foreign mortgage in your property’s national currency.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on Real Estate in Eastern Europe, visit http://www.redence.com.

As a prospective homeowner there are a couple of items that you need to pay attention to that a lot of real estate buyers often overlook. As a prospective homeowner it is important that you perform a little homework to find out info on some little things that if not looked at could become some bigger things to worry about later.

1. Child Day-Care, Preschool: Are they licensed? Have background checks been performed on the employees? How many children were the licensed to manage? Where are the nearby day-care and preschool facilities? What types of programs do they offer? Will there be a place for your child? Which days and what times are available? What are the costs?

2. Public Transportation: The Fort Lauderdale real estate market has very good mass transportation but you should know the bus routes if you will be relying on public transportation. Find out the fees, discounts for monthly passes and hours of service.

3. Recreational Facilities: Fort Lauderdale and South Florida in general have great recreational facilities. Of course there’s the beach.

Did you know that although public there are certain area of the beach areas that have somehow been known to attract a certain segment of the population?

I encourage you to visit the beaches in the South Florida area to find your favorite spot.

When not at the beach there are so many parks. Even parks for dogs! Some facilities are open to the general public and some are for members only. Will you be allowed to use recreational facilities in the area?

Is your new home in a public or private recreation district? Are special memberships required? Where are parks located and what facilities do they have? Are the parks used by recreation organizations on specific days? Who takes care of park maintenance and security?

4. Hospital and Medical Services: There are many fine hospitals and clinics in the Fort Lauderdale real estate area. Where is the nearest hospital? Are emergency medical facilities closer? Make sure you know this information

5. Police and Fire Protection: Here in South Florida, depending upon where you live you may have different first responders. Find out who handles police and fire coverage for your neighborhood.

Will your home be protected by a neighborhood watch program? If you live in a gated community find out if the neighborhood has a patrol and what time the gates are manned.

6. Television Reception: Most of the Fort Lauderdale real estate market and a majority of South Florida is covered and serviced by major cable television providers. find out who your provider is and determine if the have any ongoing specials.

Here’s a hint, most will have an installation special especially for a new account so be sure to ask.

Often the will bundle cable service with other offers. It’s best to take a look at all of your options. If you are the satellite tv type, be sure you are allowed to have one. Some complexes and neighborhoods do not allow them.

7. Telephone And Internet Service: Will telephone service be available as soon as you move in? Most of the phone service in the Fort Lauderdale real estate market is provided by Bellsouth.

Will a private line be available? What other telephone services are available? The cable companies and phone companies are both vying for your Internet service account so be sure to get the best deal.

8. Postal Service: Find your closest post office. Understand in South Florida we have a lot of snowbirds and tourists and our post office traffic is quite heavy at times.

9. Trash Collection: South Florida’s trash collection service is operated by municipality which may have contracts with private companies. Make sure you know when your trash pick-up days is and when bulk-trash pick up occurs.

10. Parking: If you live in a single family house, find out from the local police if off street parking is allowed and make sure you find out what times you or your guests may park there.

If you live in a complex, it is even more important that you find out where you and your guests can park. Also, find out the zoning ordinances about parking your boat or trailer.

Lastly, if you are buying a condominium or townhouse in the Fort Lauderdale real estate market, make sure you find out if you can even have a pick up truck or commercial vehicle at all.

Some don’t even allow motorcycles. This is very important information to know. Don’t take it lightly.

11. Water and Sewer: Most municipalities provide water utility service. Lately we have been under severe dry conditions and we have had restrictions on water use. Call your local municipality for further details.

12. Property Taxes:In Broward County the real estate taxes can be a shocker to many prospective homebuyers. Don’t be surprised, find out what the estimated taxes are BEFORE you buy. You can find out more information by going to the tax assessor’s office at http://www.bcpa.net.

13. Special Assessments: Are special assessments anticipated? These could be made for any number of reasons - paving projects, water and/or sewer improvements, drainage improvements, schools, parks, sidewalks. Are you expected to pay for special assessments approved or anticipated?

14. Zoning Changes and New Construction: Have there been any recent zoning changes? Are zoning changes anticipated? Is new construction planned that will change the appearance of or the traffic flow through the neighborhood?

This may seem like a lot of work but knowing this information can make the difference from having a happy home buying experience and a lousy one.

The good news is you should not have to do this on your own. If you are working with a Realtor, make he or she work!

Tell them to provide you with a report on all of this information. If they won’t do it or won’t do it in timely fashion you may want to move on.

If you are buying a home a real estate agent stands to make a lot of money on the transaction (paid by the seller) so make sure you have them provide a service that you are satisfied with.

Robin Sing-Cunningham. Is a real estate agent serving Broward County, Florida. I live in Fort Lauderdale with my husband and I specialize in Fort Lauderdale Real Estate. Visit my blog at http://www.robinashley.com

When making the choice to sell your home, most people immediately decide to use the traditional route, An estate agent. There are various reasons why this is often seen as the best, or indeed the only viable option out there with people often assuming it is the fastest way to sell a property, the easiest way, and the way to get the best price for the property you can.

Whilst it is true, estate agents do have their advantages, they also come with a whole lot of disadvantages. Not only this, but they are also surprisingly not always the fastest, easiest or most cost effective way to get a sale. In fact, they can become quite the opposite in the long run.

Many people assume selling via an estate agent will give their property more exposure and therefore a faster sale. Whilst this is true in theory, you only need one person to want your property for it to be sellable and the fact is you could advertise your house to the whole world, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you will come across that one person who matches your exact taste and wants a property in your exact location, that person might not even exist!

Selling property is hard work and estate agents charge hefty fees to compensate for this, and even once a buyer is found, assuming that the sale does not fall through for any reason it can still take on average at least 17 weeks (over 4 months) to complete the sale. This is not exactly the fastest way to sell a property, especially when compared to an alternative such as a property buyer.

Despite the advantages of selling directly to a property buyer, they are a much lesser known way of selling a property. So, what is a property buyer and how exactly do estate agents compare to selling direct to a one of these companies?

1. A property buyer will generally purchase your house within 28 days from start to finish. An Estate Agent could take between 17-24 weeks to complete the sale.

2. A property buyer will purchase the property no matter what condition it is in. The style you have decorated your home in does not affect their decision to buy your home. An Estate Agent can only market your property to a vast audience of people in the hope that someone will either match your taste, be prepared to give the whole house a makeover upon completion or even be willing to renovate the property if necessary.

3. A property buyer will charge you no hidden fees or charges; they will generally pay up to 500 pounds towards your legal fees for you. An estate agent will typically charge you 1.75% + 17.5% VAT of the sale price in fees amounting to at least 2000 pounds in most cases, you will have to pay out for legal fees, usually around 500 pounds and you will also require a HIP, around 200 pounds. Other costs include valuation and survey fees.

4. A property buyer will make you an offer which will be the final price you actually receive for your property, typically up to 82% of the open market value. There will be no fees or charges taking value away from this. An offer made and accepted through an estate agent is typically only 90% of the open market value of the property. When you deduct from this all the extra fees and charges associated with a sale through an estate agent, and the fact that re-negotiation of around 2.5% is commonplace following the survey it becomes clear why a sale through an estate agent may not actually be the quickers or most cost effective way of selling a property!

5. A property buyer can give you the option to rent back the property as a tenant, a useful advantage if you need to release equity but remain in the home. A genuine and honest property buyer will NOT evict you soon after you have completed the sale so that they can sell the property on for their own advantage, indeed a reputable one will see the advantages of having a trusted and familiar tenant living in a property they have known and cared for many years and will prefer to keep the property in this situation as part of their portfolio than sell it on at all. A company such as the one I run specializes in this.

6. An estate agent will not give you the option to rent back, and should you need to rent alternative accommodation, you will then need to put down a deposit for the property you intend to rent, having moving expenses such as a removal van and all the upheaval of moving to a different property.

7. A property buyer is capable of moving fast to stop property repossessions and evictions no matter what stage the seller is at. It has even been known for property buyers to get vendors back into their property after eviction. If there is any spare equity left over following the sale of the property and repayment of debts, the seller will be able to keep this.

An estate agent sale has very little hope of stopping repossession due to the time taken. If a property is repossessed and goes to auction because of this, it is unlikely the much reduced sale of the property will cover the entire debts owed and will more than likely leave the previous owner cash strapped and homeless.

When all this is taken into account, it is easy to see why more and more homeowners are choosing to sell directly to a property buyer rather than use an estate agent. With a property buyer, the whole transaction is in the hands of the buyer who genuinely wants the sale to proceed as quickly as possible, and you can rest assured that you will not have the all too familiar lack of communication often associated with an Estate Agent.

Nor will you have to constantly chase them to push the sale forward faster and have to wait the unacceptable time scale an estate agent expects you to wait for contracts to be exchanged. Should you decide that this is an option for you, it is important you find a reliable and honest property buyer; I personally recommend that you submit your details to a company with a network of buyers available throughout the UK, to save you the time and hassle of submitting to several different companies. A company such as this will do the searching for you meaning again that you only have to have one point of contact which keeps it nice and simple and consequently stress free!

Sally Slater is the managing director of the UK property buyers We Buy Nationwide. Her company deals exclusively with homeowners wanting a quick house sale and communicates with an entire network of investors nationwide to get the homeowner the best price for their property from a local buyer.

Luca Ricciardiello empowers women

Manage your mindset, money and create wealth through property investing at http://www.propertyempowerment.com.au

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