Buyers considering buying property in France and Spain need to also take a good look at Portugal. The real estate market in Portugal has been quietly booming and remains a good strong place to invest in property abroad. For those who are seeking Golf property Portugal is second to none. The future is bright for Portuguese real estate as the economy grows and direct inward investment in the property market increases. So why else buy property in Portugal?

Portuguese investment property.

Portugal remains of consistent interest to overseas property investors, those seeking a home for retirement and second home buyer’s. Despite strong competition from areas such as France and Spain along with emerging markets such as Bulgaria and Croatia .Portugal is particularly attractive for buyers from the UK. The country’s south coast is one of the most popular with luxury resorts; Algarve area is a firm favourite and provides steady performance for buy-to-let investors.

Portugal is truly accessible.

Portugal ideal for investment as it is very easy to get to & good communications are top class. All investors know that the best overseas property destinations are the ones that are accessible. Portugal is one such region it has a National Airline called ‘TAP Air Portugal’ whose numerous flights fly to Portugal from most cities in Europe. Portugal benefits from several airports. The main airports are Lisbon Faro and Porto

Growing economy.

A strong stable economy backed by EU investment is giving Portugal a property market that has been quietly growing Portugal an ideal place to invest in property. Some locations in Portugal are producing wealth for property owners from capital growth and rental yields said to be up to 10%.The ever strengthening economy is backed by EU funding and strong inward investment from tourism and international investors. Portuguese property prices have risen modestly in the past 18 months and the Algarve tends to have the largest capital increases. Portugal has a good infrastructure which has been progressively modernized.

Tax made easy in Portugal.

Portugal still remains a place where the tax planners can thrive. It is still possible to buy property in Portugal using offshore companies. This can help secure significant tax advantages those investing in Portugal, resident or not, can very often legally circumvent capital and transfer taxes

Sunny Climate.

Summers are hot and dry throughout Portugal, particularly in the Algarve, which experiences very little rain. Portugal benefits from cool sea breezes in the long hot summers. Winters vary depending in which region you in however Golfers still make for the Portuguese shores all year round.

Top location The Algarve Portugal.

With over 30 top golf courses The Algarve is attracting the big spending Golfing community. The Algarve benefits from sand beaches, scuba diving, waterskiing, sailing, tennis centres, equestrian centres, casinos, Michelin star restaurants, marinas Good health care, private clinics and lots more! Keeping your cool buying abroad

My tips for buying overseas.

Don’t rush. Get familiar with the location and the type of properties you’re considering. Research the residency rules for non nationals. Know the people and the lifestyle. Get advice from a reliable source. Select a reputable local lawyer. Use respected real estate agents. Don’t let yourself be pressured by a pushy salesman. Independent advice is the best advice. Consider your exit plans.

Why Buy Property In Portugal? is a post from: Global Real Estate Auctions

An island nation always has a special charm in the hearts of people who don’t have the luxury of living at such a paradisiacal place. New Zealand is one such country that oozes resplendence at every step. With nearest neighbour Australia, New Zealand is not a part of Australian continent. In fact, the country belongs to the largely submerged continent of Zealandia, which stretches from the north of New Caledonia to the south of New Zealand’s Sub-Antarctic islands. New Zealand is comprised of three main islands besides several other small islands that enrich the topography of the country with some breathtaking views and inspiring scenery.

New Zealand Highlights

New Zealand is blessed with some of the choicest nature’s bounties, with pristine golden beaches, snow-capped alpine mountains, crystal-clear river waters, glacier-fed lakes, and abundant adventure activities you can indulge in. This means the country is agog with tourists all the year round offering numerous opportunities to earn handsome rental income from apartments and other vacation properties alongside some of the most-visited spots in New Zealand.

The inviting kiwi weather is an added incentive to visit the country. The outdoors of the country is ideal to indulge in plenty of activities, like bungee jumping, scuba diving, zorbing, mountaineering, kayaking, surfing etc.

The natural attractions of the country are enough to lure holidaymakers, retirees, and expatriates who look for real estate investment opportunities in the country. In fact, in addition to the vacation property, second-homes are also extremely popular for the property investors due to New Zealand’s favourable living conditions, cost of living, and the rosy projections of the nation’s economy.

If you think that New Zealand is just about adventure sports, think again. For the country has a rich history and tradition of the native Maori people, as depicted through several museums and art galleries. New Zealand also has a rich treasure of flora and fauna wildly found in the National Parks and the Ocean.

The country is extremely well connected with the rest of the world through airways and seaways. The internal transport of the country depends on efficient air, road, rail, and sea routes for a variety of commuters.

New Zealand is every bit a modern country having plenty of education opportunities for lower and higher level of students. All the modern amenities, like nightclubs, discos, pubs, restaurants, cafes, theatres, cinemas etc. can be easily accessed through major kiwi cities.

The nation’s economy is also booming with Agriculture playing a major role in its upswing.

Overall, New Zealand offers one of the best places to invest in real estate. Moreover, the British investors would love the place inhabited by majority English-speaking friendly people.

Property Market in New Zealand

In recent times, New Zealand property prices have hit the roof with surging demand from the European investors, particularly the British real estate investors. This has resulted in a slowdown in the New Zealand property market. And this also means that property is now much more affordable for the budget investors. The growth is definitely on the wane and the prices are dropping, yet no one is discounting New Zealand’s property potential.

Though low, the prices are still on a higher plank. For instance, luxury apartments in the capital city, Wellington, are highly priced at ?400K+, and over in Auckland, it’s even more. However, small accommodation is reasonably priced in major kiwi cities. For instance, you can make off-plan investment in apartments in Auckland for ?60K+.

The Studio Apartments in cities, like Auckland, are a safe investment. They guarantee regular rental income through people who often flock the cities for better job prospects. And with the high expectations from the nation’s economy in the coming years, major pressure has to be borne by the housing industry to feed the demand for more accommodation.

The current period is favourable for any kind of property investment in New Zealand. An astute investor will exploit the prevailing lower prices of New Zealand property, and make a killing in times to come.

The kiwi legal system is identical with the British Common Law system. Resultantly, trading in property is largely hassle-free in New Zealand. Moreover, there is no stamp duty to pay on property purchased in New Zealand.

It seems that owning a property in New Zealand is cakewalk for those who possess the required finance. However, for those who have limited budget, there are lots of financial institutions in New Zealand that offer lower interest rates on mortgages in New Zealand.

The hottest locations for property investment on the North Island include Wellington, Tauranga, and Auckland. The South Island has Nelson, Queenstown, and Christchurch as jewels in the real estate crown.

The potential real estate investors in New Zealand would do well if they hire a specialist to deal with all the legalities and other formalities required for ownership of property in the country. After all, you don’t expect to be ripped off your hard-earned money just because of some negligence on your part.

Buying a Property in New Zealand is a post from: Global Real Estate Auctions

Throughout the last century, the real estate market has expanded in such a way that there is virtually any possible service to supply the clients’ needs in this domain. Whether you’re selling a house, or thinking about property investment, what you should first do is hire a real estate agent. But how do you know which one is the right one? Property investment is a very productive business and getting the best bargain is something any potential buyer desires.

People considering property investment often find themselves at crossroads, be it with standard terminology or with harsh competition. So what they resort to is the help of an agent, who not only makes the responsibility of searching for a property his own, but also handles the closing and escrow. In a property investment situation, the agent gets a commission for his work, which is usually a percentage of the investment property.

There are three things you need to consider when selecting a real estate agent for property investing:

Firstly, if you are purchasing property for investing purposes, you need a number sauvy real estate agent who can tell you what the return on investment on your particular investment property and whether there are other higher yielding properties in the vicinity. This property agent should be well versed in the property trends of the area that you intend to invest in and have grounds and basis for their rental projections.

Secondly, you need to find a good trustworthy real estate agent. This is because some people purchase investment properties outside the state that they reside in and some of these real estate agencies provide property management services where they look after the property for you and collect the rental on your behalf and charge you a management fee.

Thirdly, find a real estate agent who acts in your best interest. Some real estate agents are so keen to close deals that they would compromise with the owner and fail to rely your price instructions. Keep your eye out for such real estate agents who don’t work hard on your behalf.

In conclusion, real estate agents are a critical part of the real estate investment process and you should spend some time looking for a suitable one especially if you are going to be doing real estate investing on a long term basis.

Copyright ? 2007 Joel Teo. All rights reserved. (You may publish this article in its entirety with the following author’s information with live links only.)

Property Investment 101: Three Ways To Select A Good Real Estate Agent is a post from: Global Real Estate Auctions

If the owner of the property is unable to pay out the mortgage or when a builder is not capable to trade out the asset and the possession has been taken over by the lender in foreclosure, then the property generally comes up for auction. When the lender has possession of real estate, he/she may decide to sell it with the assistance of an agent or get the help of an auction company.

Property auction in UK is recovering gradually after facing the huge downturn in the real estate industry. Nowadays UK property auctions have become the most preferred choice by the prospective buyers. This method is best suited for those individuals who are willing to buy the land/home at reasonable cost. However, prior to bid for a property or sign any contract at auction, you need to do a through research about the available possessions.

First and foremost thing you need to do is to research those properties, which are being auctioned. When a single property has come for foreclosure, you should find out the detail information about it that includes size, facilities, how much is due on it, and what’s the opening bid etc.

Have a glance on the property portion of newspaper, verify with the county record and browse through internet to get list of properties that are currently in foreclosure within your locality. Keep in mind to evaluate the sales cost of same possessions in the same region so that you can have a clear thought about the actual worth of the foreclosed property.

Other lands or homes, which are in 3 miles of the focused asset, are the most trustworthy interpreter to verify the real value. You can evaluate auction of possessions with the equal number of bedrooms, dining hall, bathrooms, and plaza footage if possible. Once you have compared all these aspects add or deduct for differentiation and facilities like swimming pools, decks and hearth.

If you are satisfied with all the features, search out for finance. When it comes to buy a property at auction, it needs a minimum deposit of $1,000 to $5,000 meant for a received tender.Consequently; the remains of the finance have to be in place in a particular period of time. Prior to bid, you must calculate your budget and make out your price limit. Property auctions are risky but potentially profitable and it’s all about creating an environment of confrontation.

The more furious the auctioneer can obtain a host, the more possibly the price will be tender up. Never try to get flounce in bidding moment. Identify how much amount you are prepared to use and don’t go beyond it. If the contract is not precise for you, then don’t go ahead to deal it. Its not compel to buy something because you came prepared to do so, you can leave any time. If something goes wrong you can easily walk away.

What to Do When Buying Property at Auction is a post from: Global Real Estate Auctions

With the current financial climate and a distinct lack of property buyers, today’s home owner has to look at all possibilities if they want to sell their property quickly. This is a global issue, whether you are in the USA, UK or Spain property prices are dropping and buyers are few and far between, even with the interest rates at an all time low.

So how can you get ahead of the field?

Ensure your property is ready to be sold, it needs to be clean, tidy and well presented at all times. If possible give it a fresh coat of paint!

Price the property for the market. Look at local estate agents or For sale by Owner web sites to find out how much similar properties are being sold for – you can also use nethouseprice which allows you to put in your UK post code and get a list of sold properties and the price they where sold for in the same area.

Discover what local estate agents have to offer. Ask them how they will market your property and where they advertise. Negotiate the best commission deal and ensure you read any sales contract (if possible have your legal representative review it). Some agents will have a clause stating if the vendor sells the property privately they are still liable to pay commission. Ensure this is removed or be willing to pay them as well!

Advertise your property privately using all available media – local newspapers, shop windows, For Sale by Owner web sites or all of the above.

If you are advertising in the local newspaper keep the title short and attractive A title of “Luxury Property for sale” may discourage potential buyers, inferring the price will be too high where as “4 bedroom detached house” may make them read further.

If you advertise in a shop window ensure you include a colour picture of the property and again keep the title attractive.

If you use FSBO (For Sale by Owner) see what deals are on offer. Online Property Sale is currently offering to advertise your property until sold for just ?52. This includes a full description and up to 6 pictures of your property. They also place it on Global Property Online web site and a minimum of 10 other web sites. Included in the price is an SMS alerts system which informs the vendor when an enquiry has been made on their property.

When advertising on an FSBO site ensure confidentiality is retained by not displaying your name, telephone number or email address. Some FSBO sites display these and before you know it you will receive 100s of SPAM emails.

If you really want to sell your property there are buyers out there (even in the current climate) and you just have to work at finding them by using some or all of the methods described here – these could help you get ahead of your neighbour. If selling your property is paramount exploit all forms of advertising, manipulate the resources available to your advantage and make them work for you.

How to Sell Your Property Privately is a post from: Global Real Estate Auctions

If you are looking to acquire your own home or invest in real estate property, you might want to consider checking out public real estate auctions in your area. In auctions you will usually find foreclosed properties that you may get at lower than market value if you are the highest bidder.

You must however keep in mind that these are previously owned properties so you may not actually be sure about the state of these properties until after you’ve purchased them. That means that before participating in public real estate auctions, you must have the correct set of expectations.

Remember that if you have gotten the property at the auction for a price way lower than market value then you might have to be prepared to do some investment in refurbishing the property. There also may be legal ramifications when you’ve purchased properties from real estate auctions so it is advisable to consult a real estate lawyer for instances such as these.

Now, if you have made up your mind about participating and purchasing from real estate auctions, the next step is to decide which real estate auctions to check out. The U.S. government, through its Treasury department usually holds hundreds of public real estate auctions a year on properties that have foreclosed.

These means that these are real estate properties that have been previously owned and for one reason or another, its owners have been unable to continue paying for the property, which has caused it to foreclose. On some instances, the properties at real estate auctions from the government are seized properties due to criminal causes.

To check out on these real estate auctions by the U.S. government, you can look at listings from the Department of Housing and Urban development (HUD), or even IRS foreclosed properties, and properties from the General Services Administration (GSA). There are sure to be public real estate auctions in your area where you can register to bid and purchase that dream property that you have been hoping for.

Purchase Cheap Real Estate From Public Auctions is a post from: Global Real Estate Auctions

One of the most important decisions that business owners will make is where they would eventually locate their business. This is because the business premises play an important role in the operations of the business. Given this, business owners need access to the right information that can guide them in their commercial real estate purchase decisions. One source of such information is a commercial mortgage broker, who may be an individual or a company that specializes in the sale of commercial pieces of property. These people and these companies have knowledge of the market and they have the skills that can help buyers get the best deals available in the market.

Broker assisted mortgages

Apart from providing business owners with property options, another important service that commercial mortgages provide their clients is that they give assistance in accessing the necessary funds that is needed to purchase the commercial property. These brokers help buyers find the best deals in terms of the best mortgage rates and the best terms for the purchase of the piece of property. To do this, they would do the legwork in researching on the various mortgages that their clients can access. After doing so, they will then provide the buyer with possible options on which lending institution can offer him the best mortgage.

Another source of these funds apart from banks is a specialist lender. Specialist lenders are financial institutions that specialize in commercial mortgages and they have a wide knowledge of the real estate needs for particular industries. However, commercial mortgage brokers still prefer taking the traditional route of getting a mortgage from a bank. For these services, commercial mortgage brokers charge a commission for the transaction.

One of the most important aspects in starting or expanding a business is being able to purchase a commercial property that would fit the requirements of the business. Given this, it is important that business owners have access to the right information that can help or guide them in their decision. A good source of such information is a commercial mortgage broker, who would not only help you find pieces of property, but also help you get the funds to purchase the commercial property.

Commercial Mortgage Brokers is a post from: Global Real Estate Auctions

Debating the pros and cons of investing in stocks and shares versus investing in property is a popular subject amongst analysts, brokers and investors. This debate is often conducted under the guise of comparing traditional pensions versus property investment, as most traditional pensions are invested in global stock markets. Stock market analysts will often accept that property is the better investment in a given year compared to stocks and shares. However they will often fail to take into account some of the major advantages that property investment has over stocks and shares when declaring that stocks and shares have out performed property in another year.

For example, a stock market analyst might attempt to promote investments in stocks and shares by stating something like this:

“Last year average property prices increased 7% and the stock market was up 10% so stocks and shares performed better and represent a better investment.”

While the facts as stated, in terms of percentage gains, are entirely true, to claim that this automatically makes stocks and shares a better investment is very misleading. It is understandable that, after giving such figures a cursory glance, you would believe that in the ‘last year’ you should have been investing in stocks and shares. Indeed that is exactly the conclusion the analyst might want you to reach.

Gearing and the Return on Capital Employed

The Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) from property in this case will have easily been far higher. Why? Because you can borrow money from a bank or other lending institution to buy property and secure the loan against the property that is being purchased. This means that you only need to invest the amount of your own money required to pay the deposit on the purchase rather than the full price of the property. This is often referred to as Gearing or Leverage and it is not something that can easily be achieved when investing in shares.

Banks will generally not accept shares as security since they are considered highly volatile.Not only can they go down in value as well as up but, they can in certain instances lose almost all their value in a very short space of time. Companies can quickly hit huge difficulties due to factors such as poor management, strong competition and unfavourable market conditions. For example, shares in the HBOS group were trading at around ?12 each before the credit crunch hit Britain, only to fall to be values at just a few pence during the height of the crisis. Such volatility simply does not occur in property markets. Despite all the media talk of a crash of epic and unprecedented proportions in the UK property market between 2007 and 2009, the average house price decline amounted to around 15% at its worse.

The power of Leverage can be seen in this simple example:
In order to buy ?100,000 worth of shares you need ?100,000 in cash, but to be able to buy a ?100,000 property you would typically need ?20,000 because you are able borrow the rest from a bank. Banks are happy to secure the ?80,000 loan against the property being purchased, safe in the knowledge that people will always need somewhere to live ensuring that demand for the property, and long term price rises, will almost certainly guarantee the safety of their loan in the event of default.

After a property is purchased and a mortgage is put in place you are then able to rent the property out to service the cost of the loan and other expenses and in many cases provide extra profit.

Using the above example we can examine the ROCE in 2 scenarios, one in a year where percentage gains were higher in property and another in a year in which percentage returns were higher in shares.

Year 1
Capital Invested in Stocks & Shares = ?20,000
Capital Invested in Property = ?20,000

Asset Value at Start of Year Stocks & Shares = ?20,000
Asset Value at Start of Year Property = ?100,000

% Increase in Value during Year in Stocks and Shares = 7%
% Increase in Value during Year in Property = 10%

Profit in Stocks & Shares = ?1,400
Profit in Property = ?10,000

Year 2
Capital Invested in Stocks & Shares = ?20,000
Capital Invested in Property = ?20,000

Asset Value at Start of Year Stocks & Shares = ?20,000
Asset Value at Start of Year Property = ?100,000

% Increase in Value during Year in Stocks and Shares = 10%
% Increase in Value during Year in Property = 7%

Profit in Stocks & Shares = ?2,000
Profit in Property = ?7,000

As you would expect property provides the better return in year 1 when property prices rose higher than share prices – delivering a massive 50% ROCE with just at 10% rise in prices. However, due to the power of gearing, property also provides a far superior return to stocks and shares (2.5 to1) in year 2 when share prices rose higher than property prices.

As you can see, the Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) is a far better inidicator of profitablity than the headline percentage return for an asset class.

Why Investing in Property is Better Than Stocks and Shares is a post from: Global Real Estate Auctions

In most areas of the country, it’s a great time to be a real estate investor looking for property to buy. Investors have plenty of wholesale deals, rental properties and land deals to choose from. Sellers and real estate agents are struggling to get their properties noticed. It’s not surprising that more sellers are turning to creative ways to market their properties. One such creative strategy is an online auction.

While a live auction is still a great way to sell, an online auction is much easier to coordinate and less expensive. They still require preparation, marketing and sometimes holding open houses, but a growing number of auction sites make the process easier. Sellers are finding that marketing their property through an auction gives them an advantage over everything else on the market. When driving in your neighborhood what stands out more, “House For Sale” or “Real Estate Auction”? In my neighborhood, “Real Estate Auction” wins every time. An auction sparks people’s curiosity and they want to see what it’s all about. It gets interested buyers and investors into the property.

Here are some more advantages for sellers who are marketing their deals through an online real estate auction:

o Auctions create competition among buyers and sometimes the auction price can exceed the price of a private sale.

o An auction generates excitement and heightens buyers interest.

o An auction gives the property the most exposure in the shortest period of time and accelerates the sale.

o The auction process provides 3 opportunities to sell – before, at and after the auction.

o Auction brings interested buyers to a point of decision – they must act now or lose an opportunity to purchase the property.

o The seller controls the auction process – they plan and select the date they want to sell.

o The seller sets the terms and conditions of the sale while maintaining control of the property throughout the auction.

o Auctions take the seller out of the negotiation process.

o Auctions are an aggressive, advanced marketing program that increases potential interest in and awareness of a property.

An auction, whether online or live, helps a property stand out and that’s the goal in any marketing strategy. Auctions are a very powerful, effective strategy, and especially appealing in a slow market.

If you are selling any real estate, make sure you get educated and involved with online real estate auctions.

Online Real Estate Auctions – A New Marketing Strategy is a post from: Global Real Estate Auctions

The spring market can be hectic, but the fall market isn’t far behind in terms of activity and opportunity for buyers and sellers.

The fall market is the second-busiest time of the year for real estate. People want to conclude their home buying and selling before winter, and the temperatures in many areas drop to comfortable levels after months of hot, muggy weather that traps people inside air-conditioned havens. The fall real estate market starts just after the last of the summer vacation wraps up, and it can be a highly competitive arena.

Keep in mind that in many areas, we’re still experiencing a buyer’s market. Resist the temptation to jump on a home you’re dying to buy if the price is too high, or if other buyers have made an offer. You don’t need to get into a bidding war; there’s always another home that might be perfect for you.

On the other hand, remember that the fall market is the second most active time of the year for real estate. If you do find a home that you’re interested in buying, don’t wait to put in an offer; make an offer as quickly as possible if you’re truly interested in a home, as even a delay of a day can mean someone else gets their offer in before you do.

Prepare to go look at homes every weekend, as new homes go onto the market weekly in the fall, and you’ll want to see homes that are new to the market quickly so you can decide whether to make an offer. You might hit several open houses in a day, or schedule several appointments for the day, in order to see all of the real estate that interests you. Hunting for a home in the fall market can be a full-time job, so be prepared to invest the time to scour the classifieds or view homes in order to find your dream home.

Tips for Buying a Home in the Fall Real Estate Market is a post from: Global Real Estate Auctions