Report:
The most expensive streets in Britain have been revealed by a Halifax survey which shed light on the poshest investment properties in London.
The Vale in Kensington and Chelsea is the priciest residential street in England and Wales, with an average price of £4,677,500.
Next on the list of the UK’s most expensive areas is Ingram Avenue in the London borough of Barnet, with an average tag of £4,465,000.
The South was revealed to be by far and away the most expensive area of the country, with the costliest street outside of this region being Congleton Road in Alderley Edge in Cheshire, where a home typically fetches £1,684,166.
Halifax chief economist Martin Ellis said:
“Chelsea and Kensington have some of the most expensive streets in England and Wales. The Royal Borough has been a highly fashionable area to live in since the swinging sixties.
“In recent years, its prime location in central London has attracted affluent celebrities and ultra wealthy foreign businessmen helping to drive up house prices.”
Halifax used data from the land registry to compile the report, which examined transactions between 2004 and 2008.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
5 Tips for Offering Your Investment Property as a ‘Vacation Rental’
By Alfred and Emily Glossbrenner
RISMEDIA, Nov. 10, 2008-You remember the news stories: People buying condos in Florida, Nevada, California, and other hot markets and “flipping” them for a fat profit before even a single spade of earth had been turned. Then everything went crazy, and hundreds of thousands of investors were stuck with new bricks-and-mortar properties that no one would buy.
Fortunately, for many, there’s a very palatable alternative: offering those properties as vacation rentals or “VRs.”
As hard as it is to believe, there may be a silver lining to the current turmoil. First, people will always take vacations. But now they’re more likely to stay on U.S. soil. Second, with their full kitchens, washer/dryer laundry rooms, swimming pools, and other amenities, vacation rentals not only offer much more space than a hotel, they are much more economical. There’s no need to ever take the family out for an expensive restaurant meal, for example.
And there’s more good news. General awareness of the vacation-rental lodging option is growing. The leading Internet VR advertising sites were set up around 1995. Ten years later, in 2005, venture capitalists raised over $200 million to buy them all up. They established a company called HomeAway, and began a major campaign to promote public awareness of the vacation-rental option.
So, how can you catch this wave and ride it to pay your mortgage and expenses while you wait for the real estate market to come back, as it always does?
Here are five tips to get you started:
Study the competition. Two of the best places to do this are HomeAway (www.homeaway.com) and VRBO (www.vrbo.com). Look at listings for VRs in your area to get an idea of what they offer and how much they charge.
Take lots of great photos of your property. Note: No people in the pix, please! Make it easy for your prospective renters to visualize themselves in the scene. And be sure to “dress the set” the way professional photographers do, with an arrangement of colorful flowers on the coffee table, or a dining table set up for a family dinner.
List your property on the leading VR advertising sites. For starters, we recommend HomeAway and VRBO, because they’re the most popular and get the most Web traffic. Total cost: less than $600 a year.
Run your VR like a business. Build a team of reliable cleaning and service people, collect and pay local and state sales tax, get set up to accept credit cards, maintain an online availability calendar, and always respond quickly to inquiries from prospective renters.
Remember: You’re in the hospitality business. Think of yourself as a host and your prospective renters as guests. With this mindset, you’re sure to be successful as a vacation-rental owner.
RISMEDIA, Nov. 10, 2008-You remember the news stories: People buying condos in Florida, Nevada, California, and other hot markets and “flipping” them for a fat profit before even a single spade of earth had been turned. Then everything went crazy, and hundreds of thousands of investors were stuck with new bricks-and-mortar properties that no one would buy.
Fortunately, for many, there’s a very palatable alternative: offering those properties as vacation rentals or “VRs.”
As hard as it is to believe, there may be a silver lining to the current turmoil. First, people will always take vacations. But now they’re more likely to stay on U.S. soil. Second, with their full kitchens, washer/dryer laundry rooms, swimming pools, and other amenities, vacation rentals not only offer much more space than a hotel, they are much more economical. There’s no need to ever take the family out for an expensive restaurant meal, for example.
And there’s more good news. General awareness of the vacation-rental lodging option is growing. The leading Internet VR advertising sites were set up around 1995. Ten years later, in 2005, venture capitalists raised over $200 million to buy them all up. They established a company called HomeAway, and began a major campaign to promote public awareness of the vacation-rental option.
So, how can you catch this wave and ride it to pay your mortgage and expenses while you wait for the real estate market to come back, as it always does?
Here are five tips to get you started:
Study the competition. Two of the best places to do this are HomeAway (www.homeaway.com) and VRBO (www.vrbo.com). Look at listings for VRs in your area to get an idea of what they offer and how much they charge.
Take lots of great photos of your property. Note: No people in the pix, please! Make it easy for your prospective renters to visualize themselves in the scene. And be sure to “dress the set” the way professional photographers do, with an arrangement of colorful flowers on the coffee table, or a dining table set up for a family dinner.
List your property on the leading VR advertising sites. For starters, we recommend HomeAway and VRBO, because they’re the most popular and get the most Web traffic. Total cost: less than $600 a year.
Run your VR like a business. Build a team of reliable cleaning and service people, collect and pay local and state sales tax, get set up to accept credit cards, maintain an online availability calendar, and always respond quickly to inquiries from prospective renters.
Remember: You’re in the hospitality business. Think of yourself as a host and your prospective renters as guests. With this mindset, you’re sure to be successful as a vacation-rental owner.
Australia's Investment Property Market
Despite the downturn in property values in the UK, there are still investment hotspots in the world property market. According to the experts at Australian Investment Property, Australian property has not suffered in the same way as investment properties in Europe and America. They say that property values in many desirable Australian locations are still rising.
(PRWEB) November 5, 2008 -- Despite the downturn in property values in the UK, there are still investment hotspots in the world property market. According to the experts at Australian Investment Property, Australian property has not suffered in the same way as investment properties in Europe and America. They say that property values in many desirable Australian locations are still rising.
The analysts at Australian Investment Property (www.australianinvestmentproperty.co.uk) point to Noosa on the Queensland coast as an example of a typical must-have location that defies global trends. Investors who have recently bought into the Noosa property market continue to see capital growth in their investment - and excellent returns in the form of rental income.
Noosa is not the only town in Australia that continues to attract investors. There are many other desirable locations that property owners just can't keep away from. And for investors who opt for off-plan investments in Melbourne and the state of Victoria, there are generous tax breaks on stamp duty to build into the equation.
Visitors to the Australian Property Investment website will find a huge range of investment opportunities ranging from city-centre apartments in Melbourne (AU$ 500,000) to top-of-the-range designer developments on Queensland's gloriouos Sunshine Coast (AU$ 5,000,000). Many of the properties on the company's books began life on the drawing boards of cutting-edge architects such as Arkhefield, Gabriel Poole, and Owen and Vokes. These are the houses and apartments that investors with an eye to long-term growth snap up first.
For UK buyers, the Australian Property Investment website is a treasure trove of investment opportunities. Buyers who want a head start in the search for income and growth should bookmark the site. Every property on the website is available in the UK exclusively through Australian Investment Property.
Investors who are new to the Australian property market or who are unsure about the rules and regulations relating to Australian property ownership will find plenty of help and support at Australian Property Investment. The company offers a personalised service that matches buyers with properties that meet their criteria in terms of location and investment value.
To find out more, visit www.australianinvestmentproperty.co.uk.
(PRWEB) November 5, 2008 -- Despite the downturn in property values in the UK, there are still investment hotspots in the world property market. According to the experts at Australian Investment Property, Australian property has not suffered in the same way as investment properties in Europe and America. They say that property values in many desirable Australian locations are still rising.
The analysts at Australian Investment Property (www.australianinvestmentproperty.co.uk) point to Noosa on the Queensland coast as an example of a typical must-have location that defies global trends. Investors who have recently bought into the Noosa property market continue to see capital growth in their investment - and excellent returns in the form of rental income.
Noosa is not the only town in Australia that continues to attract investors. There are many other desirable locations that property owners just can't keep away from. And for investors who opt for off-plan investments in Melbourne and the state of Victoria, there are generous tax breaks on stamp duty to build into the equation.
Visitors to the Australian Property Investment website will find a huge range of investment opportunities ranging from city-centre apartments in Melbourne (AU$ 500,000) to top-of-the-range designer developments on Queensland's gloriouos Sunshine Coast (AU$ 5,000,000). Many of the properties on the company's books began life on the drawing boards of cutting-edge architects such as Arkhefield, Gabriel Poole, and Owen and Vokes. These are the houses and apartments that investors with an eye to long-term growth snap up first.
For UK buyers, the Australian Property Investment website is a treasure trove of investment opportunities. Buyers who want a head start in the search for income and growth should bookmark the site. Every property on the website is available in the UK exclusively through Australian Investment Property.
Investors who are new to the Australian property market or who are unsure about the rules and regulations relating to Australian property ownership will find plenty of help and support at Australian Property Investment. The company offers a personalised service that matches buyers with properties that meet their criteria in terms of location and investment value.
To find out more, visit www.australianinvestmentproperty.co.uk.
Investment Property Scam In Indian
Report:
Planning officials in an Indian city are launching a criminal case against a woman who allegedly tried to swipe a site from under the nose of the property owner by using falsified documents.
The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is warning real estate market firms and property investment professionals to be on the lookout for similar scams.
The group says Chanamma Shivalingegowda was allocated a 30 by 40 feet site in Koramangala in May 1984 and was given the possession certificate for the site the same year.
The plot was then left empty for a long period, which the BDA claims Esther Sarojini Alex, a woman employee of communications firm BSNL, tried to take advantage of.
The BDA says Alex, with help from Sri M Shankar Bin Muniyappa, approached the authority posing as Channamma saying the original documents had been lost and applied for an absolute sale deed.
Planning officials in an Indian city are launching a criminal case against a woman who allegedly tried to swipe a site from under the nose of the property owner by using falsified documents.
The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is warning real estate market firms and property investment professionals to be on the lookout for similar scams.
The group says Chanamma Shivalingegowda was allocated a 30 by 40 feet site in Koramangala in May 1984 and was given the possession certificate for the site the same year.
The plot was then left empty for a long period, which the BDA claims Esther Sarojini Alex, a woman employee of communications firm BSNL, tried to take advantage of.
The BDA says Alex, with help from Sri M Shankar Bin Muniyappa, approached the authority posing as Channamma saying the original documents had been lost and applied for an absolute sale deed.
Investment Property In US
Report:
A waiting list has been opened for a US condominium building featuring 100 investment property opportunities.
Developers said the Altessa building in Union City, Hudson County, New Jersey, would boast skyline views of New York city.
Full sales do not start until early next year but investors can add their names to a VIP list, Union City said.
The 15-storey scheme will include amenities such as a landscaped rooftop deck including a swimming pool.
Marcone Rocha, owner of developers Rocha Construction and Development, said:
“Scores of interested buyers have already contacted us to add their name to our growing VIP list.
“Many are single professionals or young couples drawn to the convenient location, magnificent views, luxurious floor plans and exceptional value when compared with communities found in neighbouring Hoboken and Jersey City.”
Construction is nearly complete at the site, Rocha said, with one, two and three-bedroom units ranging in size from 812 sq ft of living space to more than 1,400.
A waiting list has been opened for a US condominium building featuring 100 investment property opportunities.
Developers said the Altessa building in Union City, Hudson County, New Jersey, would boast skyline views of New York city.
Full sales do not start until early next year but investors can add their names to a VIP list, Union City said.
The 15-storey scheme will include amenities such as a landscaped rooftop deck including a swimming pool.
Marcone Rocha, owner of developers Rocha Construction and Development, said:
“Scores of interested buyers have already contacted us to add their name to our growing VIP list.
“Many are single professionals or young couples drawn to the convenient location, magnificent views, luxurious floor plans and exceptional value when compared with communities found in neighbouring Hoboken and Jersey City.”
Construction is nearly complete at the site, Rocha said, with one, two and three-bedroom units ranging in size from 812 sq ft of living space to more than 1,400.
Investment Property Slumps In Australia
Report:
THE dearth of investment sales of assets of more than $100 million has left values languishing as vendors and buyers fail to reach agreement on prices.
But that may be the least of their worries. There are predictions that values could drop by up to 30 per cent in the coming 12 months.
Investment Property Databank says in a report that Australian commercial property returns were unchanged from the preceding quarter, earning investors 1.1 per cent in the September quarter. This is the lowest total return since March 1995.
Capital values at the All Property level slid -0.5 per cent. The mixed use and other properties category was the worst, values on a quarterly basis falling -1.1 per cent, while office capital values slid -0.6 per cent.
John Garimort, managing director in Australia of Investment Property Databank, said All Property total returns were unchanged largely because there had been a dearth of transactions.
"However, there is in excess of $20 billion of commercial real estate for sale, and once the expectations of buyers and sellers converge, we expect values to fall substantially.
THE dearth of investment sales of assets of more than $100 million has left values languishing as vendors and buyers fail to reach agreement on prices.
But that may be the least of their worries. There are predictions that values could drop by up to 30 per cent in the coming 12 months.
Investment Property Databank says in a report that Australian commercial property returns were unchanged from the preceding quarter, earning investors 1.1 per cent in the September quarter. This is the lowest total return since March 1995.
Capital values at the All Property level slid -0.5 per cent. The mixed use and other properties category was the worst, values on a quarterly basis falling -1.1 per cent, while office capital values slid -0.6 per cent.
John Garimort, managing director in Australia of Investment Property Databank, said All Property total returns were unchanged largely because there had been a dearth of transactions.
"However, there is in excess of $20 billion of commercial real estate for sale, and once the expectations of buyers and sellers converge, we expect values to fall substantially.
Your Home Is Your Best Investment
Report:
Without a doubt - without any question in my mind - the best investment you will make in your lifetime is the home you buy and live in. As long as you are alive, you have to live somewhere. And if the recent downturn in the stock market proves anything, it's that housing is your best investment. Why? First of all, you can't live in a stock, mutual fund, bond, treasury, money market account, etc.
"When you buy a home, you get to live in it! Your home is your castle. It's where you love and live with your family - it's where your memories are made. Homes are much more than investments, they are your shelter and your safety. But if you return to why homes make great investments, the simple answer is that they are forced savings (when you pay your mortgage you pay down your home), they ultimately are leverage and they go up in value long-term. I promise you a decade from now, most housing markets will be higher than where they are today."
I cannot agree with Bach more! One of the fundamental basics behind investing in anything is "buy low, sell high."
Here we are: a time when prices have stayed relatively stable and interest rates are historically low. As I write this today, owner-occupied interest rates for a 30-year loan are hovering around 5.5 percent. This is a wonderful opportunity to buy a new home, whether you are ready to move up, downsize or buy an investment property.
Unlike a stock or bond, a home is a tangible asset. Years from now, everyone will look back and say, "I wish I would have bought back in 2008 or 2009." You can make that wish a reality.
Without a doubt - without any question in my mind - the best investment you will make in your lifetime is the home you buy and live in. As long as you are alive, you have to live somewhere. And if the recent downturn in the stock market proves anything, it's that housing is your best investment. Why? First of all, you can't live in a stock, mutual fund, bond, treasury, money market account, etc.
"When you buy a home, you get to live in it! Your home is your castle. It's where you love and live with your family - it's where your memories are made. Homes are much more than investments, they are your shelter and your safety. But if you return to why homes make great investments, the simple answer is that they are forced savings (when you pay your mortgage you pay down your home), they ultimately are leverage and they go up in value long-term. I promise you a decade from now, most housing markets will be higher than where they are today."
I cannot agree with Bach more! One of the fundamental basics behind investing in anything is "buy low, sell high."
Here we are: a time when prices have stayed relatively stable and interest rates are historically low. As I write this today, owner-occupied interest rates for a 30-year loan are hovering around 5.5 percent. This is a wonderful opportunity to buy a new home, whether you are ready to move up, downsize or buy an investment property.
Unlike a stock or bond, a home is a tangible asset. Years from now, everyone will look back and say, "I wish I would have bought back in 2008 or 2009." You can make that wish a reality.
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