Thailand’s recent tourism push is reaping dividends and it is on schedule for ten per cent annual growth in international visitors. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, there were 13.82 million visitors in 2006; 14.8 million visited in 2007 and 15.5 million are targeted this year.

According to Liam Bailey of David Stanley Redfern: “The Thai economy got off to a scintillating start in 2008, with first quarter growth up six per cent on the same period last year, and up 5.7% on the last quarter of 2007. After two years of political turmoil culminating in a coup last year, it seems the new government is finally settling in, and has made economic growth its top priority. The main thrust of its efforts is centred on generating internal and regional investment, with global investment currently slowing.”

This economic growth is reflected in the rude health of the property market. The stratospheric capital growth of the early years of this century – in the region of 25 per cent per year – is a thing of the past, but a regular five to ten per cent a year is expected for the next few years.

Much of the interest from overseas property buyers is centred on two distinct and very different areas: Chiang Mai in the north – the highlands – and the islands of the south, where buyer activity is at its highest in Phuket, followed by the emerging markets of Koh Chang and Koh Samui.

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second city – in atmosphere and character it is very much the slower-paced, laid-back cousin to the frenetic capital Bangkok. But this is no sleepy backwater. Famous for its superb food, varied nightlife, temperate climate and incredible mountain scenery, Chiang Mai is a fascinating mix of history and modernity. It was founded in 1296 and is home to more than 300 temples, including some of the most beautiful in the Buddhist world. It has an excellent infrastructure, a spate of newly opened five-star hotels, golf clubs, international schools and investment from numerous multinational companies. Outside the city and into the countryside, visitors find themselves in a world of adventure, with jungle safaris, whitewater rafting, elephant rides and visits to hill tribes all on offer.

The property market in Chiang Mai offers similar variety, and, according to Todd Jones of Elephant Real Estate, it is currently a buyer’s market, with domestic market activity falling: “The local real estate market has experienced an overall slowdown in response to numerous political and economic pressures. The number of transactions registered at the Chiang Mai Land Office declined from 15,000 in 2005 to 10,000 in 2006 and 9,800 last year, but in the middle and upper tiers, where around 20 projects are under way, sales remained strong. Major developers are moving forward with numerous residential projects in and around Chiang Mai.”

Around 80 per cent of the region’s property sells for under £32,000, while overseas property buyers are most active in what Jones describes as the mid-tier market, with prices from £90,000 to £180,000. The market goes all the way up to custom homes on huge plots that can cost as much as £1 million.

A significant recent development is the provision of freehold residences attached to the region’s five-star hotels. Most of the top resorts offer this option, with the best known being those at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai which are strictly for those with very deep pockets.

A more typical property would be a newly built, three-bedroom, three-bathroom house with swimming pool, carport and guest apartment for around £130,000 or a two-bedroom two-bathroom apartment with an area of 110 square metres for £50,000.

Heading to the islands, you find yourself in a true tropical paradise. Phuket is one of Asia’s most popular beach destinations thanks to its combination of stunning beaches, great diving, high-octane nightlife and great food.

It is also increasingly popular with overseas property buyers. Agent CBRE estimates that there are now more than 2,000 foreign owners on the island: “Virtually all of these property buyers have seen their investment increase in value. Capital appreciation over the past four years has varied from 15 to 20 per cent per annum, although some properties have seen the value of their asset rise by as much as 50 or 100 per cent between the launch of a project and the transfer of title.”

As well as capital growth, Phuket is popular with property buyers looking for rental income. The island is a popular holiday destination and has its own international airport, which hosted more than eight million passengers in 2004 and 2005. CBRE says that a well-managed property should produce between six and 12 per cent gross returns annually based on 100 nights’ occupancy.

Development on the island is spreading fairly quickly. From the west coast, where the property boom started between Nai Thon and Kata Noi and where new plots are scarce or very expensive, developers have moved to the formerly overlooked south and east coasts. Inland properties overlooking golf courses are also becoming popular.

Prices on Phuket are among the highest in the country. As a rough guide, CBRE says you can expect to pay up to £240,000 for a ‘low-end’ villa and £160,000 for a ‘low-end apartment; up to £500,000 for a middle market villa and £300,000 for a middle market apartment; and if it’s the very top of the market you’re after, expect to pay upwards of £750,000 for a villa and £500,000 for a luxury apartment.

Recent research from Knight Frank reveals an average price per square metre on Phuket of £1,800, while prices went up 11 per cent in 2007. Rental properties achieved an average return of 6.8 per cent.

As prices of property for sale in Phuket continue to rise, property buyers are looking to other, less developed islands, where they can get more for their money.

David Stanley Redfern (DSR) describes Koh Samui as a semi-mature market. The island has more five- and six-star resorts than any other in the world, according to the company and prices of property for sale in Koh Samui went up by as much as 50 per cent during in 2006 and 2007. DSR is selling two-bedroom villas for £100,000 in the island’s Maenam Hills area. Other islands that are attracting attention include Koh Chang – the second largest Thai island after Phuket – and Koh Phangan.



Real Estate Professionals

To sum up buying international property will always be a good long-term investment property plan. For the best realestate, investment bargains and the widest choice do not restrict you to local realtors: go national with a property auction. I will suggest you to opt two property types if you’re an inexperienced property investor. International Property market in Dubai is reaching sky-high levels rapidly. The property overseas business in Dubai is surging ahead sharply.

Dubai has become an international property hub, with ultimate architectural developments and ambitious projects rising up seemingly overnight. Realestate investment and property purchase market has nowadays one of the best growth prices that are the reason it is considered to offers low risk and lofty rewards. International property agencies says that it is among one of the best investment plan for people who have retired or still earning and looking out for an option to safeguard there money. The property purchase prices are comparatively lesser and therefore such property purchase can be a good deal.

Buying a property overseas is a major step of investment plan. Buying property is a task to research all aspects of a potential property investment plan and deal only with reputable realestate investment online experts since there is no professional property purchase process in international property markets! International property investors can sell property or rent out the property if they want so. Realestate investment is high, with a great demand for short-term rentals and yields around 15%.

International Property marketplace has arrange worldwide property sales, especially from the corporate sector, has provided us with utmost confidence to continuously grow the scope and features of our events. If you didn’t want to sell realestate when you become old, you can also pass the properties on as inheritance if specific process is followed. International property owners of property overseas can also entitles the first named property builder to a 3-year renewable residence visa.

International property in developed countries doesn’t apply taxes on income, including that obtained from renting property purchased. Realestate purchase for the property sale has been a proven method to increase profits though not property investors can afford to invest large some in the ready to live houses



Rent Back

The Spanish Property Market has seen the best resulting sales in April 2008 for over a year.

Following media coverage of the failing property market during 2007, most potential property buyers put their plans onto ice until the situation improved.

The complete market in Spain saw estate agents shutting through lack of sales and the crunch during 2007 was to get even worse. Unscrupulous agents were devising tactics to prise money out of clients through desperation to inject money back into their own business.

Some such tactics were to ask for a small lump sum payment to substantiate an offer on a property. Although in the agents defense it eventually was used as part payment towards the deposit, nonetheless it was a payment devised to be a part payment of the agents commission. This was one of the tactics that prevented potential home buyers from venturing into the Spanish market.

The shrewd investor saw the decline as an opportunity to secure a dream home at a much reduced price. In fact this aspect of a declining market was the main purchasing selling point that the Spanish Market was using to attract buyers.

However as 2008 emerged it was clear that a new year had brought a new perspective back into the property market. Month on the month the buyers have been coming back. The estate agents were beginning to see a new surge of property buyers.

April 2008 has seen the best month in property sales in Spain for almost a year. This confidence can be expected to multiply as the season for visiting Spain arrives during May and the summer season.

Upon further investigation of the property market we can see trends that follow the UK market. Smaller one bed apartments and studios seem to remain pretty consistent, as do the properties valued at over a £million.

One may think that property has a similar intrinsic value to that of gold; as it rarely decreases in value. As such of course property has to be the ultimate way to invest money and see year on year returns.

One new property on the market valued at almost a £million near Cordoba in Southern Spain; having 15 bedrooms, ideal for a bed and breakfast opportunity, has received 6 inquiries in the first week it has gone on sale.

It would appear as a consequence of such interest that a new surge of buyers has begun. Not to bring the property market back to its prime, but enough to give everyone, both purchaser and seller a little confidence.

The economy of course is having a direct affect on the market. The Euro is particularly strong against other currencies, especially the British Pound and the American Dollar. This would mean that any transfer of money would have an extremely poor exchange and as a consequence could mean the difference of up to £15,000 on a £100,000 transfer.

Mid 2007 saw the exchange rate for the Euro at 1.48 to the pound. Today we see the rate at 1.24. This equates to 24,000 euros for each 100,000 euros exchanged. Despite this poor exchange rate the property market in Spain is beginning to rise from the ashes.

We look forward to the continued rise in interest in property sales.

Mr. P. Booker

Internet Estate Agent, Southern Spain

http://www.Sale-Property-Spain.co.uk/country_house_cordoba.htm



Rent Back Fast

Is the ghost of repossession haunting you?

The sell and rent back scheme was born into the property market around 2006 in response to the fear of thousands of homeowners losing their homes. The idea of sell and rent back your home is basically a rescue from repossession. If the homeowner is struggling financially it is possible to turn to an investor and offer their home for a quick sale but with the benefit of being able to stay living in the property paying rent.

About 6-12 months later, the sell and rent back scheme evolved to help the homeowner even further. As many people had built up a lot of equity in their homes over the years, a new buy back option was introduced. This provided a huge benefit as it gave the struggling homeowner the option to buy back their home once they had sorted out their finances and therefore keep the vast majority of the equity for themselves.

However, once the homeowner has decided to take this path of sell and rent back, it is very important to be aware of some potential problems and the way in which they can be prevented:

Fee Payments

All fees in the sell and rent back scheme are paid for solely by the buyer. These include the survey and the solicitor costs. Be aware of any fees the homeowner is being asked to pay. The main reason for this is if the sale fell through, any fees paid will be lost.

Sudden increases in rent

It is very important the tenancy agreement is thoroughly read before completing on the sale. Make sure the agreement states that the increases are a maximum of twice a year and in line with inflation. Many unscrupulous companies offer a decent rent for the first six months and then on renewal of the agreement, hike the rent so high that the tenant has no choice but to move out.

Sale of the Property

Be aware that once the property has been sold the new owner can sell the property at any time forcing the tenants to leave with just two months notice. If the sell and rent back scheme was a part of the sale it is very important to ask for a restriction of sale agreement. This agreement prevents the buyer from selling the property without written authorization from the tenant.

Although there can be some pitfalls along the way, there are also many advantages in opting for the sell and rent back scheme. The first and most important is the homeowner will not be repossessed. There is always the option of selling the property on the open market; however this can take up to one year for the sale to happen in the present market. It is imperative that the homeowner write their finances down on paper and check if this solution is viable.

Another advantage is there is no cost involved for the homeowner who at this point cannot afford any extra expenditure. A third advantage would be total discretion. No one will know and the homeowner’s daily life will not be disturbed.

With home repossessions on the increase and at the highest level in years, the sell and rent back scheme definitely is an option to be considered at the first symptoms of a financial problem rather than leave it to the last minute.

Beese Properties is a well established property company which offers all of the above. They look for the best solution for the homeowner and if the sell and rent back scheme is the best option they will base the rent on the current rental market in the area. For more information, visit them online at http://www.beeseproperties.com.



Rent Back

You have found your ideal retirement property – safe, secure, convenient and neighbourly. All you now need is to sell your old home – easy!

It should be but the process is rarely trouble free and never quick. A recent MORI survey said that transaction times in the UK now averaged over 6 months, among the slowest in Europe.

The problem revolves around the fact that, with some 80% of people owning their own home, most need to secure a sale on their present house before they can purchase a new one. As a result, even when you find your dream retirement home and a buyer for your present property there is invariably a chain of transactions which all need to be pulled together simultaneously.

However, for many situations, time is of the essence and deadlines have to be met. This can be for a variety of reasons, eg you may have found your “dream retirement home” but need to secure it quickly or, a builder may be offering huge incentives for a quick completion while you are constrained by the market to a later and uncertain timescale.

Selling to house buying companies is the only foolproof method of avoiding the stresses, delays and uncertainties of selling your present home in the open market. Most importantly it secures the property you want at the time you want it as they can synchronise our purchase of the current home with your new purchase. If the old home is worth more than your new one you may even manage to buy without the burden of a mortgage.

How can house buyers help?

In short, house buyers can buy your existing house, quickly and for cash, enabling you to secure your retirement property.

Some of their schemes have proven especially appropriate for people buying in the retirement sector as the combination of convenience, speed and the certainty of achieving the move they want in a cost effective way without continuing liability suits their needs precisely.

What are the benefits of using a house buying company?



You can guarantee the purchase of your new retirement property

We can complete the sale process quickly and to suit your timescales

You avoid estate agency fees

You avoid the stress and uncertainty of selling on the open market

You avoid having the stress and security issues of multiple viewings

Your next house, its cost and your moving timescale is guaranteed, enabling you to relax





Quick Property Sale

As the news stories about the woes of the property markets continue to pile up in the media, more people are tempted to put their homes on the market in the present climate to see if they are able to sell ‘at the top of the curve’ and take advantage of the capital gains they have made in the past years of the property bubble.

While experts disagree over the size of the market ‘correction’, or the length of any downturn in the market that is likely to take place over the next few months or even years, there is little doubt that more people will be in a position where they feel under pressure to sell their property as quickly as they can. The danger is that in putting your property up for sale you will be tempted into taking a much lower offer than you should, as well as the stress of dealing with demanding buyers.

On the other hand, being unrealistic about the value of your property, the motivation of your potential buyers, and the market conditions could lead to being stuck in a situation with a property that has been extensively marketed and still does not sell, despite discounts to the price.

Some of the situations you may encounter over this period of toughening market conditions are explored here, along with some possible strategies to help you sell your property at the right time and for the right value.

Be Objective - This is particularly important when you are selling your own home, rather than any kind of investment property, but it is vitally important that you are realistic and able to take the fact that agents or buyers may suggest you sell your property for less than you think it is worth.

This does not mean that you should just give in without a fight to the first offer that comes along, when you are convinced that the property is worth far more, but make sure your position is backed up with solid facts. In market conditions as they are at present, research in the local area is even more important, and can be the key to making your sale successful. Check estate agents’ windows regularly to see what at price similar properties are on the market, as well as how quickly they move.

Also, try to compare your property to other similar ones for sale in the same area, and be as objective as you can. Essentially, these similar properties are your competition for buyers, and you need to know where your property stands in relation to them. Think about things like proximity to schools, shops and leisure facilities on the positive side, and main roads, traffic black spots and industry on the negative.

Knowing all of this, and listing where your property is stronger than most of the other similar properties on the market at the time, will allow you to price your property effectively and realistically, as well as helping in its marketing. The knowledge that your property has the best gardens of the type, or has an extension as a utility room should allow you to bring out the advantages in the details as supplied by the agent, as well as helping you to sell the property when you are conducting viewings.

Aggressive buyers and tactics - One of the biggest problems with selling with the current turbulent market conditions is that buyers will feel they are in a true ‘buyer’s market’. This means they will feel emboldened by the prospect of being more sought-after than the property they are considering buying, a situation that has not occurred in the UK for example, in at least five years. Given this fact, buyers are taking up some practices that have not been seen by vendors for a few years - some of which are just a shift in the landscape and relationship between buyer and seller, other which are a degree more unsavoury or even immoral.

One of the biggest differences that sellers will notice in the current climate is the time factor. Buyers are now far less likely to be rushed into making an offer, or improving an existing offer as they will have the impression that you need them more than they need you. While this can be true, it pays to be prepared to wait for offers and responses to come in.

Of course, this is a legitimate buying tactic in the same way that in a rising market sellers are able to make buyers wait for their responses to try to make sure they would be prepared to move their offer upwards. Buyers will feel that by holding out on making their first or follow-up offer, they are sowing the seeds to make sure that you are ’softened-up’ for a lower offer than would otherwise be normal.

Be aware in this situation of the research you have done on the right price for your property, and be prepared to stick to your guns - but not too much. While it is quite fair to ask for a fair price in negotiation, if you are completely inflexible in the money stakes, you will scare off legitimate and fair buyers.

Once you have accepted an offer for the property, there are other things that buyers may now feel emboldened to do given the market conditions. For one thing, the agreements for fittings and fixtures may go on longer and be more intense that you might expect. Again, buyers will feel that they are in a stronger position to demand that some of the items you would have taken with you remain in place or are prepared to pay less than you want for them.

In this situation you would be well-advised to try to keep the two issues separate, while the buyer may be keen to suggest that unless you move on the fixtures and fittings the whole deal could fall apart. If they continue to be stubborn on this point, and you feel that they are close to pulling out of the sale, there may come a time to make a difficult choice. If you give in to their demands, can you be sure that this is the only issue on which they will be aggressive, or will it be a signal to them that they can push you into a corner in any of the negotiations? Would you prefer to keep this sale, no matter how much you have to smile through gritted teeth, or are you confident in finding a buyer? There is no blanket answer to this, and each situation can only be judged upon your feelings at the time.

One of the more worrying trends in recent weeks has been the idea of buyers gazundering sellers. Gazundering is a process by which buyers agree a sale price and put the wheels of the sale in motion, only to demand a hefty discount on the property price at a very late stage, often just days before completion. The discount demands can be anything up to 20 per cent off the agreed price, and sellers are left with the option of either giving in to the demands of their buyers or risking losing their sale, the house they want to buy and causing the rest of the chain to collapse.

Some websites are deliberately promoting gazundering as a legitimate bargaining tool in the house buying process, and even go so far as to say buyers should have offers accepted on three different properties to maximize the chances of one of their gazundering attempts being successful. Most people will see this as a morally-questionable way of entering into a sale, but be aware that there may be some people out there who are willing to try it.

Make the most of what you have - Many of the properties that are coming on to the market at the moment are quite similar - in some areas there are so many two-bedroom apartments for sale at the moment that sellers are dropping their prices by up to £100,000 (approx $200,000) in order to attract attention from a smaller pool of potential buyers than has been seen for some years.

In this situation, the best thing you can do is to make sure that you have maximized the features of your property that are going to attract buyers and make it stand out from all of the other properties of the same type they will have viewed already. If you have a huge kitchen, make sure it is clean and tidy but that people can see you enjoy spending time in there, if the garden is 30 yards longer then the neighbouring properties, make sure it is tidy, the lawn mowed and some colour and life are evident. You may even want to demonstrate the its lifestyle possibilities by putting out garden furniture to show how it can be used.

A recent survey also suggested that spending a small amount of money on refurbishing and remodeling parts of your property can not only get you back almost the same amount of money as the investment you put in, but will also help to make the property stand out to buyers. Purely on a monetary basis, it is said that a minor remodeling of the main bathroom in a property is the best way to spend on the interior of a property, with up to 100 per cent of the investment being made back on the property sale.

Making your property ready for viewings is also important. Some say that brewing fresh coffee or baking bread in the kitchen is the best way of making an impression on people viewing the property, but nothing will stick in their minds more than a well-presented, well cared-for home. The much-vaunted ‘kerb appeal’ factor is very important in creating the right first impression and setting the tone of the viewing. Pets and clutter should both be banished for the duration of the viewing, and if possible and necessary, you may want to send the children and partner to the park for an hour while people are viewing the property.

What you really want to create in a competitive market like we have at the present time is a lasting impression on potential buyers. If you can let each of your viewings leave with a sense that they want to be in your property, and can see themselves happy there, you have won half of the battle and will have a better chance of sticking in their minds.

Think differently - Don’t be afraid to do something a little different in marketing your property to the buyers that are out there. Remember that there are always people who are looking to buy property, even if there aren’t as many as there were, or as many as you might want to see. In fact, many buy-to-let investors are looking to expand their property portfolios now as they see it as a perfect time to buy the properties they want, as well as a time when there will be more people who have to rent instead of buying themselves and getting on the property ladder.

Some sellers will see this as the right time to look into selling their property on their own, and not using an estate agent. Certainly the fees that will be saved on any purchase are a welcome bonus, and perhaps that will allow you to be a little more flexible on your pricing than someone who also has to pay their agent a commission at the end. Selling without an agent is not something that should be tackled without careful thought and preparation however, as doing things wrong will waste time and money, and will ultimately make it difficult to sell the property later through an agent if the independent route fails. Many agents will be reluctant to take on a property that has been on the market independently in the recent past, as they will feel that it has been overexposed to the market, and their chances of success are therefore diminished.

Even if you are using a real estate agent to sell, you can still get creative with your own marketing strategy. There are some wild and interesting ideas of how you can bring attention to your property sale, from having bumper stickers made up and taking out advertisements in local papers on your own. One of the more targeted approaches works very well if your property is in the catchment area of a well-regarded school. Some sellers have been known to hand out flyers at the time when parents are arriving to collect their children, as they often know someone who wants to move to the area.

If your property is particularly attractive and stands out from the crowd, you may want to consider holding an open house for potential buyers to come along. This is a particularly good idea for desirable properties - it brings in interested parties to have a more leisurely look around the property and even to take a little more time to discuss finer points with you personally, and if you are lucky it will also mean that they will see other interested potential buyers arriving to look around and spur them into making a good offer.

Don’t panic! - Despite some of the media stories to the contrary, there are still properties that are being bought and sold across the country, so there are buyers out there. They may not have the huge and easily-accessible finance options that were available a year ago, and they may not be as willing to enter into a bidding war to get your property, but they are still out there. A well-presented, loved, realistically-priced property will sell, as there will be a buyer out there who wants it.

Try to be patient in waiting for viewings, offers and negotiations - not only will you find it stressful; you will also transmit a kind of desperation to the buyer that they can use to drive your price down.

It is also a good idea to have a set of limits and a back-up plan if the market turns out not to want to buy your property in the timeframe you have in mind. Set a lower limit for offers that you will accept, a time limit that you want to lave the property on the market. Should a sale not happen, or the price you are offered is too low, consider updating and improving the property you already have - either for you to continue to enjoy, or for a fresh assault on the market.

If you need to sell quickly - Should you get to the point where you need to sell your property quickly, there are a couple of options that should at least allow you to escape from a sticky financial situation. Sometimes these options are looked down on by many in the industry, and while they do offer opportunities to those involved to make money from buying your property cheaply, they can offer sellers a way out and still give them some equity to play with.

Auctioning property in the UK has not really taken off significantly, despite numerous efforts to promote it as a good way to buy property. Some properties are auctioned, and it is often repossessed or probate properties that make up the lots. This can be a good way to make sure that you achieve a reasonable sale, so long as you don’t put an unrealistic reserve price and are prepared to accept a slightly below market value price. If you are lucky enough to have two or more bidders who are keen to get hold of your property you may get a higher price than you imagine.

Another option is to go to one of the quick sale companies in the UK market, who offer a range on service to allow you to sell your home quickly and get your money out in a short space of time. Backed by the fact that they have cash reserves, these companies are able to offer cash within days to most sellers. They make their money from buying properties below the true market value, but that is the price you pay for being able to get your hands on a significant amount of capital in a short space of time. For people who are in more dire financial straits, these companies also offer ‘sale and rent back‘ schemes to allow them to get their capital out of the property and still have their home to live in.



Repossession

Your home should be somewhere for you to fully relax, and not just something that you moved into some time ago and still doesn’t feel comfortable. Regardless of its size or location, a home needs to feel like a palace! The way to do this is not to spend extortionate amounts of money on lavish works of art, but simply to decorate it how you would like, and with today’s home design boom, there are plenty of options for you to try.

As with all big projects, home decoration needs a bit of thought put into it, which includes some good research. You need to decide on a theme that you like, as all homes are centred around some sort of theme even though you may not realise. You can do this by reading through decorating magazines and books, and watching programmes about decorating on TV, and soon you will find that one style sticks out to you more than the others.

All themes are linked very closely with a colour scheme, which is the next thing that you need to consider when decorating your home. You will be aware that for example an Indian theme has many reds, dark blues and blacks, whereas a Mediterranean theme would have mainly whites, yellows and oranges. Whichever theme you choose, you need to link it with some particular colours to avoid your home looking disjointed and out of place.

Creativity is vital in the decoration process, and you need to play around with possibilities. If the house was originally built with a dining room and a huge kitchen, that doesn’t mean that you have to use the dining room for what it was intended if you plan to eat in the space you have in the kitchen. Think about what else you could use that defunct dining room for; a study perhaps, or a home library.

Ok, so you’ve decided exactly how each room is going to look and what you are going to use it for. The next step is to decide which room you are going to decorate first and what you need for it. So empty the room, as you won’t want to be climbing over furniture to paint the walls, and head down to your local DIY shop, where you can buy supplies. First you will need paint or wallpaper.

With regards to applying the paint, you will need some sort of brush, pad or roller. If you go with brushes, buy decent quality ones that don’t shed bristles. If you don’t you will end up with just the handle of a brush left, and a wall textured with all the bristles, which is why for larger walls pads or rollers are recommended, so you don’t need to worry about bad brushes. Pads and rollers also make the job much quicker, although rollers can be very messy, so anything in the room, including you, needs to be fully covered up.

But don’t jump straight in with painting the walls, make sure that you know exactly what is going to go in the room first, as you wouldn’t forgive yourself if you had just finished painting the walls, were out buying a new tin of paint, and spotted a lovely table in the furniture shop next door, that really didn’t go with the colour.

The most important thing about decorating is to make it enjoyable. Not only will the task be much less arduous, but you will also end up with a better product. So have some fun, do it with a friend, and then when you have finished a particular room, use it for a couple of days and enjoy your creation before starting on the next one.



Repossession

Every year, our holidays involved finding an affordable hotel at a warm beach front destination. We were slightly crammed for space once the suitcases and toys got unpacked, but what the heck, we weren’t spending that much time in the hotel room.

Then one year we decided to splurge and do a family trip to Maui. The hotels were really expensive and we started looking for alternatives. I stumbled upon a site offering vacation rentals that allowed us to find a place in our budget with more space than we ever imagined. Since then we were hooked, at least for this family, vacation rental homes were the way to go.

There are pros and cons to choosing a vacation rental over a traditional hotel or resort and it’s definitely not for everyone. However, over 30 percent of all homes purchased in 2006 were vacation rental homes, and like it or not, these accommodations are gaining popularity.

In most cases a vacation home will give you more space, comes with a fully-furnished kitchen and laundry facilities, and is more economical than a high-end resort hotel. If the unit is part of a resort or condo complex, you may have the use of additional recreational facilities such as a swimming pool, hot tub or tennis courts. Depending on the rental, many include amenities such as beach towels, coolers, lawn chairs and boogie boards.

You may have to forfeit maid service (or pay extra for it), room service and on-site restaurants. Sometimes you have to bring your own linens, but most places do supply them.

The longer you stay at the rental the cheaper the rate, and often times the renter may throw in a free night or some other incentive. At our particular rental, the management offered one free night if we returned within a year. The other obvious perk is the money you save on meals by doing some of the cooking yourself.

House rentals can be booked directly over the internet through one of the many sites specializing in vacation rentals. They also provide pictures and details of the property and most are very quick to respond to any questions. Some sites provide the phone numbers of the owners, and it may be worth contacting them directly to try and negotiate a better rate.

There is a different feeling about staying in a rental home over a hotel. It allows you to imagine actually owning a villa on the beach in Barbados or some other luxury destination. You become intermingled with the local culture as you shop for groceries, visit neighborhood markets, or hang out at nearby cafes.

If you’ve ever wanted to live like a millionaire, you can split the rent with a few friends and secure a luxury beach front villa that may otherwise run you millions of dollars to buy. Spend some time soaking up the sun and then go home to reality.



Rent Back Fast

As a vacation destination that needs no distractions from glitzy amusement parks and bustling city centers, Sanibel Island offers relaxation in an untamed, naturally stunning setting. Away from the everyday attractions and touristy feel of mainland Florida, you cannot help but lose yourself in the island flavor and soothing ambiance of this little piece of paradise when you stay in an inviting vacation rental.

Although Sanibel Island’s main draw may seem run of the mill, its miles of white sand beaches are truly a sight to behold and have made this island one of the most sought after destinations in the state. Your stresses cannot help but dissipate when your eyes cast over the spectacular crystal blue expanse of the Gulf of Mexico and soak in the sharp contrast of the sand and sea. And as you glance down towards the soft sand that has gently made its way in between your toes, it becomes readily apparent why this is considered the best place for shell collecting in the country.

The 12 miles of sandy waterfront that surrounds the island can be almost magnetizing, making it difficult to drag yourself away from this unbelievable strip of beauty. However, when you retreat to your vacation rental accommodations, you never truly need to leave the beach behind since you are just a stone’s throw away from the water’s edge and the gentle lap of the waves is always within sight from your balcony and bedroom windows. Even during sunset, you can saunter across the stunning sands directly behind your condo or house rental without worrying about making it back in time for a family dinner.

When the sun begins to shine on this stunning scenery and the pull of the water begins to overwhelm, you simply need to grab your immediate supplies and go. Walk down to Bowman’s Beach, considered the most popular on the island, and spread out for a day of swimming, sunbathing, and shelling surrounded by lush greenery on one side and gorgeous blue waves on the other. And if you happen to forget your sunglasses or some reading material, a simple stroll up the sand will lead back to your much needed supplies and back to your sunning spot in mere minutes.

In addition to the prime waterfront adventures that lie at your doorstep, many Sanibel Island vacation rentals offer their own form of active amusement for those times when you need a break from the sandy Gulf. A large private pool will certainly appease the kids when you want to relax in the shade, while the soothing hot tub is the surest way to melt away your sore muscles and stress. You can also take advantage of the pristine weather to get in a tennis match or two on the private courts or grab one of the kayaks or canoes that come with your rental for an afternoon of exploration.

When selecting the right Sanibel Island rental for your getaway, consider one that has the spectacular J.N. (”Ding”) Darling National Wildlife Refuge as its neighbor. The wildlife refuge is one of the best in the state and is teeming with recreational activities such as hiking, biking, bird watching, kayaking, and, of course, wildlife viewing. The perfect place to commune with nature and appreciate the natural gifts that have been bestowed upon Sanibel Island, you are just a hop, skip, and a jump away from more adventures than you ever imagined.

Since Sanibel Island focuses on its au natural amusements and countless outdoor pursuits, the majority of any getaway is bound to be spent soaking up the splendor of the great outdoors. While your getaway will certainly be exciting when you stay close to the beaches and the “Ding” Darling Refuge, your vacation rental is waiting with wireless internet, a big screen TV, DVD players, and a fully-stocked kitchen to satisfy your entertainment needs when night has fallen on your outdoor wonderland. Inside or out, your vacation has never been more enjoyable or relaxing than when you stay in a vacation home or condo rental.



Quick House Sale

Are your Renovations Really Increasing the Value of Your Home?

When considering a home upgrade or reno there are 2 very important things to evaluate:

#1. Value to you

Enhancing your home with a renovation may offer more than money can provide. A beautiful outdoor living area to entertain on, a finished basement for the children to play, or that dream bathroom to help you unwind, all may contribute to a quality of life that only a home can build.

#2. Return on Investment - Resale Recovery

Despite what the trendy home flipping television programs show, not all home renovations or upgrades will give you a large return on investment. Infact, more so than not, most home renovations give you very little return on your investment. Very rarely does a $10,000 home renovation get you a $20,000 return. When considering a home renovation or upgrade for resale purposes, keep all costs in check and splurge only on the necessities.

Return-on-Investment Renovations Chart

Some renovations can seem more promising than others regarding your return on investment. In a buyers market, certain home upgrades are necessary to get top value for your home and to move quickly.

The following information is a range of the 20 most popular renovation improvements identified by a survey of the Appraisal Institue of Canada. The goal of the survey was to determine, in the informed opinion of Canada’s professional real property valuers, what effect home improvement projects have on the value of home resale.

Please note: Home values and returns on renovation investments are dependent on so many factors such as the location of the property, i.e. rural/urban, the neighbourhood and notably important is the quality of workmanship and materials.

Renovation

Resale Recovery

Basement Renovation

50 - 75%

Bathroom Renovation

75 - 100%

Install Central Air

25 - 75%

Recreation Room

50 - 75%

Adding a Fireplace

50 - 75%

Flooring Upgrade

50 - 75%

Furnace / Heating Upgrade

50 - 80%

Kitchen Renovation

75 - 100%

Landscaping

25 - 50%

Exterior Paint

50 - 100%

Interior Paint

50 - 100 %

Adding a Swimming Pool

10 - 40%

Window / Door Replacement

50 - 75%

Roof Shingle Replacement

50 - 80%

Build a Deck

50 - 75%

Construct a Garage

50 - 75%

Build a Fence

25 - 50%

Install a Skylight

0 - 25%

Interlocking Driveway

25 - 50%

Asphalt Paving

20 - 50%



Quick House Sale