Friday, April 10, 2009

bedroom apartment for sale:Jlt, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai


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Advertise Dubai Property With Us


You probably came across Dubai Property Portal after doing a web search on one of the major search engines such as Google, Yahoo, MSN etc this is because we specialize in Internet Marketing techniques which give us maximum visibility when users are doing a property search in Dubai or United Arab Emirates so in turn users who find us also find your company and your advertisementThese days with the competition so high in the Real Estate industry it`s simply not enough to have a standard website that just sits on the Internet and not on the 1st page of each search engine, users need to find you quickly or the 84% of buyers and sellers that are using the internet will not end up at your website. Marketing in local newspapers, magazines or perhaps on television or even via mail outs is all very time consuming and expensive these days. When you consider that online marketing yields much higher amounts of traffic the savings can easily be seen over time.


guide to letting a property abroad


Congratulations! You have found your property abroad, safely negotiated the legal and financial hurdles and been handed the keys to the door. But just when you think the hard work is over, those bills – mortgage and communal apartment fees possibly, utility charges certainly – start landing on the doormat with a thud.Letting out your property, especially if it is in a popular holiday area, may seem like an ideal way to cover your costs but it is not all plain sailing. Here is a guide to the pleasures and pitfalls of letting a property abroad


mortgages for international properties


Unless you are lucky enough to have the money sitting in the bank to buy your new purchase outright, you will need to borrow it. For most buyers, that comes down to a straightforward choice: should you get a local mortgage in the country where you are buying, or should you borrow in sterling from the UK, perhaps by releasing equity in your UK home and increasing your mortgage there?
In some countries, the decision is made for you. Until recently Thailand and Turkey simply did not permit foreigners to obtain a local mortgage. Even today, the number of financial institutions in both countries that will lend to you is very limited. In other countries, such as Bulgaria, interest rates have historically been high, so the decision to go elsewhere has been an easy one.
Once you have established how much you plan to spend – and remember to include taxes and buying costs in your calculations – deduct the size of the deposit you can stump up and you will know how much you need to borrow. Mortgage lenders in many countries demand a larger deposit than is usual in the UK, with some banks lending only 65% to 70% of the sale price. Lending terms are also often shorter than at home. In Dubai, it is not impossible to find someone willing to lend over 25 years, but 15 years is far more usual


The process


Location, location, location’ is all-important and a search agent should be able to help you here. They should be able to suggest places you might not have considered and they should have good local contacts, so they hear about property for sale that is not listed with local estate agents.
Search agents should prevent buyers from making costly mistakes. Buyers might want to buy in an area where they have happily holidayed in the past but experienced property search agents say this is not always a good idea. Just because a location is ideal for two weeks in the height of the season doesn’t mean it will have year-round appeal. Consider the ski resort that buzzes for four months in winter but closes up completely for the other eight months, making even buying food a difficult chore.Expert knowledge of a country or region is a vital part of the role of the property finder but where they can really add value is in helping buyers clarify exactly what they want. Unrealistic expectations about everything from the weather to day-to-day living can lead to disappointment.
“We attract clients who are busy or don’t know where to start,” says Jan Pratt of Shortcuts Agency, based in Majorca. “We provide impartial advice and listen carefully to what they want. We can be unemotional and steer them away from an expensive mistake. For example, if they have fallen in love with a house hidden away in the mountains but have several teenage children, we get them to consider whether they are too isolated


Real Estate Agents In Dubai


One of the most complex and significant financial events in peoples lives is the purchase or sale of a home or investment property, and this is especially true when investing in a foreign country. As the Dubai property market is still quite young compared to other aleading property markets, this makes a potential buyers decision even more challenging. This is where propertyportal.ae can really help you, as we have professional real estate agents and realtors in Dubai that are waiting to give you the advice and support you need to make a life changing decision.Dubai real estate brokers and sales agents know the ins and outs of the Dubai real estate market and all the diverse projects to choose from. They know which neighbourhoods will suit families, which projects are for the more modest budgets, and which developments will offer the best returns on an investment. They are familiar with the constantly changing local zoning and tax laws and can recommend where to obtain financing. Our Agents and brokers also act as intermediaries in price negotiations between buyers and sellers, ensuring you get the best price possible.Estate agents in Dubai are qualified individuals that work for reputable licensed real estate brokers and sell, buy or rent properties on behalf of the clients that are registered with the firm. For every real estate transaction that takes place by the real estate broker, the client is obligated to pay a commission fee in exchange for the services provided by the firm, and this commission will be split between the firm itself and the Dubai real estate agent that completed the deal. Rates that estate agents in Dubai charge can vary, but so can the quality of services that are offered so expect to get what you pay for in the Dubai real estate market. When selling real estate, Dubai real estate agents arrange for title searches and meetings between buyers and sellers during which the details of the transactions are agreed upon and the new owners take possession of the property. Estate agents in Dubai may also help to arrange favourable financing from a lender for the prospective buyer; often, this makes the difference between success and failure in closing a sale. In some cases, brokers and agents assume primary responsibility for closing sales; in others, lawyers or lenders do. Brokers supervise agents who may have many of the same job duties. Brokers also supervise their own offices, advertise properties, and handle other business matters. Dubai property brokers are there to offer all the services involved in buying, selling and renting a property in Dubai, but should also have recommendations and connections with regards to the legal and financial aspects of the Dubai property market.Other than just arranging sales between buyers and sellers, reputable real estate brokers will have a number of properties on their books, which clients are looking to sell or rent and this can make a buyers life easier. If a client knows exactly what they want, then more often than not the property, or a similar type, will already be available on the broker`s listings. Consequently, all Dubai real estate brokers spend a significant amount of time obtaining listings and agreements by owners to place properties for sale with the firm. When listing a property for sale, brokers and estate agents in Dubai compare the listed property with similar properties that recently sold, in order to determine a competitive market price for the property. Good real estate brokers know how important it is to have a diverse range of properties on their listings, as the sale of a listed property means that the buyer can get what they want a lot faster, and the commissions earned by the real estate agent and the broker are larger.Most real estate brokers in Dubai are specialised in the sale of freehold residential property and the rental of residential property, however, the sale of commercial property have become more popular in recent years. With the Dubai freehold market being amongst the most expensive in the world for prime office space and land plots, more and more brokers are selling property for personal and professional purposes. As there are different rules and regulations governing the various sectors of real estate in Dubai, agents should have an excellent understanding of all related property laws, and it is quite common for Dubai real estate brokers to have speciality real estate agents for each type. Agents who sell or lease industrial properties must know about the regions transportation, utilities, and labour supply. Agents who sell office space and land plots must be aware of the restrictions in building and any interior specifications. Whatever the type of property, the agent or broker must know how to meet the clients particular requirements.

Renovation project lured those seeking Spanish retreat


John, an NGO worker originally from the US, and his partner Anne Montague, a journalist, bought their home in rural Andalusia around 10 years ago. The house is owned jointly with a couple of friends, and it's unconventional in other ways. The finca-style property, surrounded by 14 acres of land, still has no electricity and water is supplied via a pump from a well. As such, it provides a refreshing antidote to the crowded, hectic and often stressful lifestyle in the UK.
The suggestion to buy a house in Spain jointly came from a friend of Anne's who had already bought and sold. The couple, with two small children at the time, thought it would be fun, and liked the idea of "a place we could go for years and years, where there would be lots of sunshine". Their search centred around the hinterland of Coin, just north-west of Malaga, an area which at the time was virtually undiscovered by outsiders.
After two weeks of driving up long dirt roads with the children sweltering in the back of the car, they were taken by their contact - a local woman who spoke English - to a house called Don Cristovita in a hidden valley, not far from the town of Alora. "As soon as we walked down the lane and saw it, we knew it was the one," says John. "It was beautiful, surrounded by wild flowers, even though it was clearly a wreck."An offer was made and accepted - they are reticent about the price, but John observes: "There was no real property market there; people were virtually giving away these ruins because they wanted to go and live in an apartment in the town." But then came disappointment: Anne and John's friends changed their minds about the purchase, and as they were unable to buy it alone, the purchase was dropped. A year later, and another change of heart, it was back on and fortunately the house was still available at the same price.
Buying was relatively straightforward, says John, adding: "It was fundamental that we had an estate agent who was able to explain all the costs, local taxes and procedures." Both Anne and her friend Polly, as the legal owners, had to register as non-residents with the local authorities.
The house itself really was a wreck. Although it had a traditional roof, this was made of mud and bamboo under the tiles, which they soon discovered housed rats. The rear portion of the house had been used to keep animals and was covered with countless years worth of goat dung. Part of the building had collapsed, only two rooms had tiled floors and there was no glazing in the windows. Apart from the rats, there were also bees and wasps nesting throughout the building.
Anne says: "We would go and camp outside the house while Polly and Philip braved the insects and rodents indoors. We cooked outside on an open fire, ate outside and washed up outside - it was pretty basic living and that was our children's only experience of a holiday! It's no wonder that when the builders came to do work on the property they took pity on us and built us an outdoor barbecue without us asking for it!"
A local builder was employed to do the renovation. The roof was replaced, floors and windows were installed throughout, kitchen and bathroom were put in and the collapsed section was rebuilt. They also had the outside walls plastered, terraces built and a water system installed.
It wasn't easy overseeing the work from 2,000 miles away, but in spite of a few 'surprises' along the way, John says: "Using a local builder certainly earned us a lot of goodwill."


The Lonely Planet Guide to Bulgaria


An enigmatic country at a very important crossroads in its history.
Images of cheap and nasty plonk downed at student house parties, budget ski holidays and umbrella-wielding Cold War assassins were once among the popular stereotypes, but Bulgaria today is a vastly different country from what it was even ten years ago - as more travellers than ever are discovering.
For most visitors, Bulgaria's main lure is its long sandy coastline, with its stunning beaches and bays - but there is so much more to see. Well-maintained hiking and horse-riding trails allow you to discover Bulgaria's lush landscapes, inhabited by wildlife now becoming


Turkey trip inspires self-build holiday villa


David and Denise had been toying with the idea of buying a holiday house abroad that they could also rent out, and Turkey immediately clicked. "It struck me that this could be a place to buy," says David. "Back in 1981 we went to Paphos in Cyprus when it was just a small town, and when we went back later it was like a new world. We could see the potential for the same growth to happen in Turkey; we could really see the Mediterranean coast taking off."
Back at their home in Hertfordshire, the couple started to look on the internet, and quickly identified the former fishing village of Kalkan as an up and coming location. They contacted a number of agents, and the following July went out for a flying three-day visit, with a number of properties to view. It quickly became apparent, however, that there was an opportunity to buy a plot of land and get a house built entirely to their own specification.
There was plenty of land to choose from, but David says: "We were aware that you had to be very careful where you bought. You could have this fantastic view over the bay one day, and then someone could simply build in front of you. The plot we found was at Kalamar Bay, and as well as having uninterrupted sea views that couldn't be blocked, the land on one side was green belt, and there were wonderful views of the mountains and the Lycian Way. "We also had to think about the fact that the area was sure to be developed on our other side, but I felt that it would be high quality because of the local restrictions that were in place, and I could see a really nice little community emerging," says David.
The company selling the plot, Mavi Real Estate, was also offering to build the house, but unlike some other agents this was not mandatory.


Off-plan Alpine home proves a picturesque investment


If you want to buy a ski apartment in the Alps, the chances are you'll buy off-plan, as the shortage of new development opportunities means most properties are snapped up well before new buildings are completed. Stephanie Crayford, director of a marketing business in the Home Counties, was looking to buy an apartment both as an investment and in order to enjoy holidays, when she was introduced by estate agency Savills to Larry Levine, founder of Alpine Homes International, a developer working in the Alps.She quickly became interested in Veysonnaz Chalets, a small development in the Four Valleys area of Switzerland. "I knew the area because I had been skiing in Verbier," says Stephanie, "and I was very attracted by the fact that they were offering a three year rental guarantee as well as six weeks annual usage, which meant that the property would basically 'wash its face' but I would still be able to enjoy it with my family."
She quickly became interested in Veysonnaz Chalets, a small development in the Four Valleys area of Switzerland. "I knew the area because I had been skiing in Verbier," says Stephanie, "and I was very attracted by the fact that they were offering a three year rental guarantee as well as six weeks annual usage, which meant that the property would basically 'wash its face' but I would still be able to enjoy it with my family."
In early 2005, she was flown out to Switzerland with a number of other prospective buyers to view the site and the area. "When we were there, there were just poles in the ground where they were going to build, but they told us the history of the area and the plans for the village."
Veysonnaz is a typical mountain village perched between the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc mountains which has retained a good deal of its traditional charm.
Stephanie also liked the price; her three-bed apartment in the Balcons de Soleil building was on offer for SFr 456,000 - approximately £210,000, which made it extremely favourable compared to similar properties in the French Alps. Its value has since gone up significantly, bearing out the belief that this would be a good investment. "I knew that Veysonnaz was up and coming, and they were going to invest in new ski lifts there. The price was very reasonable - at the time Switzerland was one of the only countries that had been experiencing property deflation," says Stephanie.
It was not the first time she had bought abroad; previously she had bought a property in France which had not proved a success, so she was anxious to get it right this time.
One selling point of the development was the high quality of the workmanship and the finishes. "The quality is very high and very robust. They build to last and it is reassuring to know that I won't have to do anything to my property for at least 20 years," says Stephanie.


 

©2009 Real Estate | by TNB