Simply Junior

A would-be real estate investor at a conference in Puerto Vallarta in April said he’d researched the Costa Rican property market for five years, considering making a buy. Meantime, prices appreciated, maybe, 200% in that period. The market became too expensive for him and he never did act.

Another investor at a Real Estate Forum in Puerto Plata, explained that he’d been watching the market in the Caribbean island nation of the Dominican Republic, for more than two years but was still uncertain as to whether or where to buy. He lamented the rate of appreciation of property values during those 24 months.

Two pieces of advice: First, yes, do your homework. But, second, don’t become paralyzed by the analysis. Nothing is guaranteed. You’ll rarely identify a “perfect” time to buy. You’ll never know you’re making the right move. In any market, at any time, you could lose everything you invest.

If those things make you uneasy…you shouldn’t be thinking about investing in international real estate. This is risky business…often speculative…in unregulated, Wild West markets. Dealing with people you wouldn’t do business with if you had any choice (sometimes you don’t). If something goes wrong, you’ll likely have little or no recourse.

That’s the game. Investing in foreign real estate is more risky and more complicated than investing in U.S. real estate. Recognize these truths. Choose your markets. Do your research and due diligence.

You must have the answers to the six primary factors to consider when making a real estate investment–and how each one affects your level of income: 1. Why you’re making the investment. Do you intend to use and enjoy the property? Or, are you only looking at the investment potential? That’s important to your initial outlay and your long-(or short-) term returns. 2. What’s your tolerance for risk? Learn your Risk Comfort Level, is this investment within those parameters? 3. Your options for financing. Cash or credit? Your answer helps determine your investment. 4. What fits well in your existing portfolio? To be well-balanced, your portfolio should have a range of assets including real estate–and your portfolio should include a range of properties. 5. Your level of experience in the market. Experience is the roughest teacher–because it gives the test before it gives the lesson. 6. Your desired level of involvement. Your level of participation will help you determine your type of investment.

Then act. Take a first step. Don’t invest money you can’t afford to lose. Control the circumstances as much as possible. But don’t wait for a sign from above that the timing and the opportunity are ideal. The sign won’t come…and the market won’t wait. For a first deal, you should probably invest no more than $50,000. Here are six buys you could make right now (May ’06) with that budget:

1. A small apartment for short-term rental in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Three years ago, in the wake of the peso devaluation, you could have bought a big apartment in a prime neighborhood for less than $50,000. Values in this market, however, have more than doubled in that period. Still, you can buy a decent apartment in a neighborhood appealing for the short-term renter for about that amount today.

2. A colonial apartment for short-term rental in Montevideo, Uruguay. Our Roving Latin America Scout Lee Harrison reports that Uruguay’s is the best buy real estate market in the Americas right now. Real estate costs about the same in Montevideo as it does in Buenos Aires, except in the Old Towns. Today, you can buy an apartment in Montevideo’s Old Town–just beginning to be rediscovered–for as little as $540 per square meter. Compare this with $2,000 a meter or more for a similar buy in B.A.

3. A condo in Panama City, again rentable on the short-term market. Here, though, to stay within the budget, you’ll have to finance…which is possible in Panama. Put $50,000 down on a $150,000 apartment…and your rental income could cover your monthly mortgage payments. At today’s values, that $150,000 could buy you a one- or two-bedroom condo in a new building, which is a good product for this rental market.

4. A sea view apartment in Croatia, again for the short-term rental market. You can find a good buy on a renovation in some parts of this country for less than $50,000, but it’ll likely require substantial further investment to make it what you need for rental…perhaps as much as another $100,000. Instead, look for new-build. Specifically, right now, there is an opportunity on the island of Ciovo (note that the locals don’t consider it an island, as it is connected to the mainland by a bridge that you won’t even notice driving over). This is a destination for middle-class Central Europeans who drive down easily from Hungary, Austria and Slovenia for vacation. It also boasts easy access to the Split airport, which offers flights each day connecting through Zagreb and a few direct flights from outside Croatia. There’s a new-build studio apartment on this island available for $58,000. Yes, it’s a little outside the parameters of the budget suggested above, but it’d potentially make a good rental.

5. Cyprus is struggling with reunification problems. But, with some of the remarkable real estate opportunities –and the EU about to impact–the rewards may well be worth the risks. In the popular resort town of Kyrenia, northern Cyprus , you can get a three-bedroom sea-view apartment– for just $55,000! (To put that into perspective, a similar property would cost you $110,000 in southern Cyprus…$250,000 in Corsica…and $330,000 on the island of Mallorca.) Property taxes are almost non-existent. Inheritance taxes have been abolished. And capital gains taxes don’t even kick in until your gains are in excess of $20,200.

6. Bulgaria is a quiet, picturesque country–once home to world-class European ski resorts-and it has become one of Europe’s fastest developing nations. It could easily become one of your fastest growing investments. Bulgaria’s mountainous countryside is studded with ancient farmhouses begging for restoration. Many compare it to Tuscany in the 1970s. And, if you act now, you can pick up an abandoned farmhouse nestled in the verdant hills– for just $9,800!

Borovets is the oldest and largest ski resort in Bulgaria . It’s also one of the hottest Alpine investment opportunities in the world. And right now, you can get a two-story, 1,200 sq. ft. house situated in a peaceful village minutes from Borovets…with a large garden and views of the slopes– for under $30,000!

Good luck.

While it’s true that the real estate market isn’t in the best shape right now, a successful real estate agent can still earn a handsome income buying and selling property. True, certain real estate markets are in a slump right now, but prime land and properties are always in demand. Here are a few success secrets to maximize business in real estate.

Get to know the market. Right now it’s a buyer’s market, which means that sellers are having to unload their properties at prices that are under traditional market value. To be a successful real estate agent in a buyer’s market you have to act quickly when an opportunity arises to grab a piece of prime real estate. The key to maximizing your profits in any business is to buy low and sell high. And with real estate prices being especially low right now, it’s a perfect time to make those deals that will pay off once the market rebounds, which it always does.

Pay attention. When the real estate market is slow, as it is right now, many outstanding properties sit on the market because people are afraid to buy. Take a look around and see which properties may have been on the market for a long time. Usually, the seller is tired of waiting, and will be more open to any reasonable offer. Being a successful real estate agent means seeing opportunities where others don’t. But you can’t find these opportunities if you’re not out looking for them.

Look for fixer-upper opportunities. Traditionally, properties that require a lot of work don’t sell well simply because most buyers prefer to have a home that’s ready to move right into. It’s the same reason most people don’t buy cars that don’t run right. However, there are some amazing deals to be made for someone who can buy a property that needs work at a low price, put a few bucks into it and then turn it around for huge profits. If you’ve ever seen the hit show Flip This House then you know that there’s money to be made doing this. Just be careful; you won’t make money trying to flip a home in a run-down neighborhood – in fact, you’ll probably lose your shirt. If you take a look around there are plenty of properties in well-to-do neighborhoods that need more work than most buyers are willing to put in. Target these and you’ll reap the rewards.

There are many more success secrets to maximize business in real estate that can be explored. Simply put: The reason that so many people choose real estate to build wealth is because property is always in demand. It’s a market that will fluctuate like any other, but will never go away.

Real estate is really a game of supply and demand. The trick is finding the demand and being in the position to supply. This is the kind of situation investors and builders run up against all the time. It is a matter of assessing the market and trying to find the perfect area at the perfect time. One those variables are known then action can be taken, investments can be made and profits can be collected. So the question remains, where is a good area for this kind of action? Arizona comes to mind. Over the past number of years Arizona has been one of the hottest real estate markets in the country and this trend shows few signs of slowing down. There are a number of reasons that Arizona can make this boast and it would seem that there are going to be a few more boasts made over the coming months.

People love to go to Arizona, it is one of the most traveled to destinations in the country and it’s not hard to see why. Fantastic weather, scenery, golf, recreation and many other attributes can be claimed by this state. Real estate has been in high demand in this state for many years. This is partially due to Arizona’s popularity as a retirement destination and it’s notoriety as a destination resort location. In fact tourism is one the strongest aspects of Arizona’s economy pouring millions of dollars per year into this state.

Arizona is a state that is ideal for any recreational pursuit. This is one of the main locations for MLB spring training as the home of the Cactus League. Arizona is also known as the home of some of the most amazing desert scenery in the world. However Arizona is much more diverse in land than one might think, the northern part of the state is home to the Colorado Plateau, a more forested and cooler area.

Arizona has always been known as a great place to visit. However, with the abundance of education, the excellent economy and a great and stable real estate industry. Hopefully this has explained why there is such a demand for quality homes and properties in Arizona. Supply and demand does not work unless there is interest from both sides and Arizona is a perfect example of a balanced area where supply meets demand.

denver real estate can be very expensive, but you can manage to get good deals if you find the right real estate agent. The climate for real estate in this part of the United States is booming, and now is perfect time to invest in Denver properties.

Why invest in Denver real estate

The Denver area is an excellent place to live in, which is why Denver properties quickly appreciate in value. Denver has superior shopping, dining and entertainment infrastructures. More importantly, it has excellent schools, a lot of community centers and wide parklands. Even the surrounding areas of Centennial, Littleton, Aurora, Englewood and Parker are just as beautiful.

Finding properties in Denver

You should definitely seek the help of a professional Denver real estate agent before you decide to invest in the area to get sound recommendations on what properties are worth investing in. Professional real estate agents are the first to know about great deals and can give you the best prices before everyone else finds out.

Professional real estate agents in Denver are well versed when it comes to the Denver housing market, and can definitely help you find a home faster than you would if you searched on your own. Most professional Denver real estate agents take care of the paperwork, so that all you have to do is sign and move in!

This does not mean that you should rely solely on your agent. It definitely helps to do some research yourself. Visit different areas in Denver, so that you can get a feel of areas you like. Your agent can then focus efforts in finding properties that meet your requirements.

Just imagine that you walk into debt to apply for a small business loan, it can be keeper of your business. Because of small business loan running smoothly can be the greatest nightmare you ever even imagine.
Running a business is not as easy as you think. You have to be a good trader to run your own business. You have to be taught to face every kind of situation whether you can run your business with or without a loan, because sometimes we just really need a lot of money in complicated situation. Becoming a good trader doesn’t come suddenly, just remember that you are the owner, it means that you’re the boss. Other people are depending on you.
Sometimes personal loan can help a bit, because your reason to make a loan is for yourself. The bank will think their money is going to be use for yourself not for your company. But if you insist to apply a loan for a small business the perfect time is when you don’t need it. In this condition you will not rent much money, that’s good because you don’t have to repay a lot. Good luck with your business!