Insigniaresidential - FSBO

According to Statistics Estonia, in the 1st quarter of 2008 compared to the same period of the previous year, the total production of Estonian construction enterprises in Estonia and in foreign countries decreased 4%.

Cely svet vie, ze Amerika, ktora bola najsilnejsou krajinou, je stale v ekonomickej priepasti. Mnozstvo ekonomov a analytikov sa tam snazi vyriesit tento problem a pomoct americkym obyvatelom. V skutocnosti su to prave oni, ktori najviac trpia, pretoze recesia je pricinou mnozstva problemov. Tato situacia tam ovplyvnuje more faktorov, pretoze kazdy z nich zavisi jeden na druhom.Trh s nehnutelnostami je tiez jedna z oblasti, ktora je ovplyvnena Americkou priepastou. Sucasna situacia nie je velmi dobra, lebo tento trh s nehnutelnostami neustale klesa. Kazdy, najma vlada sa snazi ukludnit upadajuci trh a najst nejake to riesenie. Je potrebne pomoct milionom rodinam, ktore trpia vyvlastnenim. Minuly tyzden, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., odhalil navrh, ktory obsahuje mix napadov a navrhov pre pomoc domovym vlastnikom a zaroven sa vyhnut vyvlastneniu. Samozrejme, ze ak im chcu pomoct, budu na to potrebovat peniaze. Tento plan obsahuje 4 biliony dolarov v grante. Sposob ako by ich vlada mohla vyuzit je kupit a renovovat vyvlastnene domy. Tiez budu pouzite na refinancovanie hypotekok a pomoc 7 000 dolarov v danovom dobropise pomoze ludom, ktori planuju kupit novy dom alebo inu nehnutelnost.V situaciach, ked je potrebne najst nejake riesenie, je velmi dolezite nejakym sposobom zacat. Aj ked vlada vie, ze existuje o mnoho viac problemov, ktore su nevyhnutne vyriesit alebo dokoncit a tento krok nie je az taky velky na to aby vyriesil tuto situaciu alebo nejako vyrazne to ovplyvnil, je to maly krok, ale tou spravnou cestou. V kazdom pripade si myslim, ze male kroky alebo zmeny su tymi najdolezitejsimi pre riesenia, pretoze musi byt vybudovany pevny a silny zaklad.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080402/ap_on_go_co/congress_housing;_ylt=Aub0DWIJ4WsnF1MYbv_nWZis0NUE

by Lenka Lehenova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.

These news are brought to you by CantellTV, its technology partner SigEx Telecom and its founder Chris Cantell. CantellTV is the fastest growing provider of digital broadcasting coupled with enhanced communications, allowing people to easily control, view, upload and share digital content through proprietary interface. CantellTV has relationships with a growing network of international clients delivering millions of videos per day with more than 50,000 new videos uploaded and 200 hours of new TV shows broadcasted daily to a wide range of viewers, from 5 to 7 year olds of LiveCartoons; to 16 to 24 year old active social users of MyJumps; to fortune 50 corporate clients utilizing enhanced broadcasting services. CantellTV is committed to delivering infinite choices to your world of entertainment at the tip of your fingers. Chris Cantell retains consulting arrangements with several pre-IPO companies.

Edited by: Katarina Zerzanova

60 percent amerických vlastníkov nehnuteľností sa obáva kúpy realít počas nasledujúcich dvoch rokov. Jeden zo siedmych cíti, že za súčasných podmienok by nemusel zvládnuť mesačné hypotekárne splátky. Takmer 30 percent je presvedčených o tom, že hodnota nehnuteľností bude neustále klesať, tvrdí nedávno zverejnený prieskum americkej spoločnosti Associated Press-AOL Money & Finance.
Dvojznačné pocity vyvolané minuloročnou krízou medzi vlastníkmi zjavne nevyprchali, ba naopak, zdá sa, že ľudia sa za súčasného stavu obávajú investovať. V porovnaní s prieskumom z roku 2006 sa počet tých, ktorí iste neplánujú kúpiť žiadnu nehnuteľnosť zvýšil z 53 percent na 60. Fakt, že ponuka ešte stále niekoľko násobne prevyšuje dopyt, a obava z nenávratnosti investícií sa prejavujú ako významné znaky prehlbujúcej sa krízy.
V roku 2006 ešte 15 percent opýtaných plánovalo kúpu nehnuteľnosti. Podľa terajšieho prieskumu je to len 11 percent. Pri súčasných trhových podmienkach sa stáva aj vlastníctvo už nadobudnutej nehnuteľnosti takmer luxusnou záležitosťou. A to nespomíname investície ako predaj alebo kúpa. Podľa prieskumu iba 10 percent respondentov označilo svoje hypotekárne splátky ako prijateľné. Predaj nehnuteľnosti sa pri neustálej inflácií, rekordnej nezamestnanosti a čoraz vyšších cenách pohonných palív rovná nespochybniteľnej finančnej strate.
Američania očakávajú, celkové zníženie hodnoty nehnuteľností, zároveň však narastajúce ceny pozemkov. Najvyššie ceny by mali zasiahnúť pozemky na juhu, zatiaľ čo západ by sa mal cenovo ustáliť, až klesnúť. Podľa väčšiny respondentov je viac ako polovica domov na severovýchodnom pobreží predražená.
A hoci nie je dobrý čas na predaj, je určite dobrý čas na kúpu, tvrdia viacerí pozorovatelia. Prirodzene, pokiaľ ste schopní obchod financovať z vlastných zdrojov, nie pomocou hypotéky. Je treba priznať, že táto situácia môže výhody prinieť len tým najbohatším. Zvyšok majiteľov musí nadaľej znášať zvyšujúce sa hypotekárne úroky na ich prepadajúce sa ceny domov.
Posledné desaťročie sa do histórie zapísalo ako zlatá éra trhu s realitami. Podľa Gusa Fauchera, riaditeľa makroekonómov poradenskej spoločnosti Moody's Economy.com, takmer 9 miliónov majiteľov nehnuteľností zarobilo ich investovaním niekoľko násobne viac, než bola ich skutočná cena. Tvrdí, že kríza by mala svoje dno dosiahnúť v priebehu nasledujúcich mesiacov, pričom neočakáva zlepšenie skôr než začiatkom nového roka.
Niektorí analytici tvrdia, že dôsledky americkej krízy by mali európske trhy zasiahnúť v priebehu tohoto roka.

related story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080414/ap_on_bi_ge/housing_crisis_ap_poll;_ylt=Ag8LeHXF7TU6x.6z0G7la46s0NUE

by Milota Sidorova for PocketNews (http://pocketnews.tv)

PocketNews is a new real-time news broadcaster delivering the latest and hottest news right to your pocket ! With global clients who want to be kept up to date, PocketNews is everyone's way of keeping in touch with the World.

These news are brought to you by CantellTV, its technology partner SigEx Telecom and its founder Chris Cantell. CantellTV is the fastest growing provider of digital broadcasting coupled with enhanced communications, allowing people to easily control, view, upload and share digital content through proprietary interface. CantellTV has relationships with a growing network of international clients delivering millions of videos per day with more than 50,000 new videos uploaded and 200 hours of new TV shows broadcasted daily to a wide range of viewers, from 5 to 7 year olds of LiveCartoons; to 16 to 24 year old active social users of MyJumps; to fortune 50 corporate clients utilizing enhanced broadcasting services. CantellTV is committed to delivering infinite choices to your world of entertainment at the tip of your fingers. Chris Cantell retains consulting arrangements with several pre-IPO companies.

Edited by: Katarina Zerzanova

This is how the investment property is coming along.

Sovereign Islands, Gold Coast

I know, I know. I am not going to follow protocol here at all and I’m going to give a political opinion. Sorry if anyone is offended, but this is the way I see it.

First of all, I see all of the Obama supporters slamming Hillary Clinton and more recently, Bill Clinton. I’m reading an America Online poll that says 68% of the people think Bill Clinton is hurtful to his wife’s campaign. I say WOW! As far as I remember, all of the Democrats of the world hung their hat on Bill Clinton. Everyone said he was one of the BEST Presidents of all time (and I strongly disagree).

If Clinton was not a good President, when was the last time there was a Democrat in the White House who was a great (or good for that mater) Commander in Chief? Let’s see..... Jimmy Carter? Johnson? JFK? Hardly a trio I’d be proud of. To say JFK was the worst President of all time, well I can make an EXCELLENT argument on that one and had he not been assassinated, history would agree with me. Bay of Pigs, the Cuban Missile Crisis (almost WW III over Kennedy ego) just to name the two biggies. As a matter of fact, take the Monica Lewinski crisis and Jimmy Carter’s "lusting after other women" and JFK’s legendary womanizing and what have the Democrats offered over the years....... except using the White House as a personal "chick magnet" at America’s expense.

In my lifetime we have had Richard Nixon (say what you will, but he got us out of Vietnam a war that JFK got us into), we have Ronald Regan, we have Bush the senior and we have "W". Now what I see is since the Democrats took over in November 4 years ago (Senate), look where we have gone! Look at W’s first term when the Republican’s controlled EVERYTHING. Our country has a history of electing a Democrat, then a Republican to fix everything they screw up.

"W" did not ask to be a war time President. 911 changed that. Real estate, even with the bubble breaking, is still worth 40% to 50% more than when Clinton left office. HISTORY will say he was one of our better Commanders.

Now the Obama group is telling us that this wet behind the ears FRESHMAN SENATOR is ready to lead the nation?Are you kidding me? The Democrats could not come up with a better choice? ANY one of the top 5 Republican’s that were in the race topple the Democrat’s Clinton or Obama.

Since I am Hispanic and a minority myself, I feel like I can say that if Obama where a white man, he would have never gotten out of the starting gate. Look at his experience or lack thereof! For heaven sake, Hillary is a FRESHMAN SENATOR as well (she was married to a President, but I’m not going to vote for Nancy Regan for President). I hope to see a black man, a woman or a Hispanic as President one day. The RIGHT choice at the RIGHT time. Not because he or she is cool (I can’t argue that Obama comes across as the "cool dude" for younger Americans just like that "cool dude" peanut farmer that was elected in 1976). What did Jimmy do? ZILCH in my opinion.

Condoleezza Rice? Elizabeth Dole? HELL YES! With 100% certainty, they will get my vote if and when they ever run for President. Elizabeth Dole, maybe her time has passed. Ms. Rice has the EXPERIENCE to get the job done. A black woman as President? That (Condoleezza Rice) is a GREAT idea that I will embrace. An inexperienced freshman Senator? I’ll take a pass.

Senator Mc Cain is one of the most experienced representatives on the planet. He knows the system. Obama’s "fairytale" of change will never happen. He has not EARNED the respect of the ones who count (not all of those college kids who have yet to do anything on their own). Mc Cain will keep the "W" tax cuts. Obama (or Clinton) for that matter, will raise taxes and further damage our slowing economy. As the old Republican saying goes, "Vote Republican, for a change" in November. We all saw what happened four years ago when the liberal congress and Senate blocked the President at every turn. Do we need more of that type of "change" I ask?

A vote for Mc Cain is a vote for real estate and a vote for TRUE change. I’m going with EXPERIENCE, not coolness. And by the way, if Obama is so smart, why does he smoke cigarettes? Has anyone told him that cigarettes cause cancer? What intelligent person would make that choice? Can you imagine Air Force One and The White House? The smell of cigarette funk everywhere?

Common sense says Mc Cain. This is not a race about "race" or about young verses old. It's about what is best for the USA in the most critical election of my lifetime. I'm going with EXPERIENCE!

http://www.TampaCoastalRealEstate.com Get a Tampa Real Estate home in Apollo Beach for $290,000 on Cromwell Park Lane. Tampa Coastal Real Estate is available today. Call Bonnie at 813-390-7606.

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I did a sample analysis last night. The scenario has a home value of $200,000 with 3% down 3 years ago, $15,000 car loan, $10,000 in credit card debt, with only $50 of descretionary money in your budget. In this scenario you would own your home Free and clear in 19 years instead of 27 and save $54,588.91 of interest.

Now that you want to see how quickly you can pay off your home go to my website. Click on Free money merge account analysis. Set up a username and password and enter all your information. Then I will send you a personalized report so that you can see your pay off date.

You can find some additional information here.

With the current tightening of the property market and increases in the cost of living it has never been more important to take full advantage of any eligible tax deductions available.

When it comes to property investors, it pays to have all of your deductions accounted for. We have developed a list of tax tips for property investors, that will hopefully place additional dollars into your pockets.

1. Claim all of your expenses in relation to your investment property

   The following is a list of items that can be claimed as deductions

   Expenses for which you can claim an immediate deduction

   Expenses for which you may be entitled to an immediate deduction in the income year you incur the expenses include:

   • Advertising for tenants
   • Bank charges
   • Body corporate fees and charges
   • Cleaning
   • Council rates
   • Electricity and gas
   • Gardening and lawn mowing
   • In-house audio/video service charges
   • Insurance:
     1. Building
     2. Contents
     3. Public liability
   • Interest on loans
   • Land tax
   • Lease document expenses
     1. Preparation
     2. Registration
     3. Stamp duty
   • Legal expenses (excluding acquisition costs and borrowing costs)
   • Mortgage discharge expenses
   • Pest control
   • Property agent’s fees and commission
   • Quantity surveyor’s fees
   • Repairs and maintenance
   • Secretarial and bookkeeping fees
   • Security patrol fees
   • Servicing costs – for example, servicing a water heater
   • Stationery and postage
   • Telephone calls and rental
   • Tax-related expenses
   • Travel and car expenses
     1. Rent collection
     2. Inspection of property
     3. Maintenance of property
   • Water charges

   You can claim a deduction for these expenses only if you actually incur them.

2. Examine the above expenses that you have incurred over the year

   Whilst the above expenses can be claimed as deductions, property owners should take the opportunity to review all of the expenses incurred with holding their investment property.

   Ensure that your agent has been proactive in the collection of monies owed to you for items such as water usage, which is payable by the tenants.

   Also, consider cutting down on recurring expenses such as monthly lawn mowing fees. Do the lawns really need to be mowed every month or can you get away with making this bi-monthly? Look at other areas where the expenditure has been high and consider ways of reducing your expenses.

3. Pre-pay your interest

   There may be an opportunity to pre-pay your interest on the loan. Remember, your loan is more likely to be interest only (as only the interest component can be claimed), look at pre-paying the interest bill for next year and collect a discount from the bank whilst bringing your deductions forward.

   Essentially, if you can afford it, this will significantly reduce your taxable income. Throughout the year you will also get the benefit of still obtaining rent whilst your loan repayments will cease for the period of prepayment.

   Remember to only prepay for one year as this is the only period that can be claimed as a deduction.

4. Obtain a Tax Depreciation Schedule

   Engage a specialist tax depreciation firm to carry out a depreciation schedule of your property. This will allow you to capture the depreciation on the plant and equipment within the property, the capital works including common areas (if applicable) and any renovations and improvements carried out to the property. The cost for the schedules are fully tax deductible also.

   

5. Lodge a PAYG income tax withholding variation form

   Section 221D of the Income Tax Assessment Act provides the Commissioner of Taxation with the authority to vary the amount of tax installments to be deducted from the salary or wages of an employee, or class of employees, in order to meet the special circumstances of any case or class of cases.

   In this context, where you are claiming depreciation and deductions on your investment property, you may be eligible to vary your income tax deductions on a monthly basis rather than waiting till the end of the year to make your claims.

   Essentially, the income tax withholding variation form will allow you to vary the amount of tax deducted, leaving more in your account and allowing you to pay less interest on your mortgage.

6. Bring forward any repairs

   If you are considering doing repairs to your property, do them prior to June 30th and claim them now rather than waiting till June next year. However, be careful in claiming items considered to be improvements as repairs. Generally improvements are depreciated whilst repairs are deducted. Examples of repairs include items such as:

   1. Replacing broken windows
   2. Plumbing maintenance
   3. Repairs to electrical appliances

7. Look at increasing the rent

   With the current shortage of rental properties available in most capital cities, it might be a good time to review the rent and increase it if it is not in line with the current market. Liaise with your property manager to see if it is possible to increase the rent and look at the rents of other comparable properties on the real estate portal sites.

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided as guidance only. You should seek your own independent financial advice.

So we know buyers can get some great deals right now, if they only take advantage of it. The problem is people in the US have been taught to be like sheep and to follow.  In other words, if everyone is not bidding on the same house, then there must be something wrong with it. “So we’ll wait”, the buyers say. 

I some time ago discovered that the wealthy people in the world did not follow and do what everyone else did. Books like “Think and Grow Rich” show how people who really made fortunes did what no other people were willing to do. They stepped out of the herd mentality and took action that others were not willing to take. People right now are waiting, thinking that house prices are going to drop even more. Maybe they will, maybe they won’t.  If this is you I am describing, the question I have for you is do you want to take advantage of a time in history where prices are low, or wait for them to start climbing up again, wait for more people to jump on the bus and start those multiple offer bidding wars again? In many markets the home prices are what they were prior to 2005. It is a very good time to buy, even if it doesn’t end up being the very rock bottom place to buy. 

For those buyers who like the houses where there are still multiple bids, we can still accommodate. In fact, the sellers who can still take advantage of a good market to sell in are those selling in the Rockridge section of Oakland.  Here there is still a frenzy of activity at open houses. One I did 2 weeks ago reminded me of the old times with people coming with their measuring tapes and hanging out for a good part of the open house.  That home (a duplex condo converted) got 2 offers for both units by a week after the second open house.  Other areas where things are still moving strong are North Berkeley and Elmwood in Berkeley, Albany, and Piedmont.  Montclair in Oakland has also stayed pretty strong for the right house.  Again, not all houses in those areas are selling in multiple offer situations by any means. Some are sitting for long periods on the market. But those that are really nice houses, with good floor plans, on great streets, marketed properly and priced right are selling and doing well.

What other situations are advantageous to sell at this time?  If you have owned your home for many years you have had appreciative gains in the east bay market over the long haul. Therefore the down turn cycle causes less harm to the overall gain you have had through the years than those people who have owned for a shorter time. It still can be a good time to sell in this case, especially depending on what you want to do on the other end.  If you are looking to move up to a bigger better house this can be a great time to sell as you will reap the benefits of a lower priced market on the purchase of your new home.  It is especially good for people who, for example, want to sell their lovely craftsman home in Rockridge because it feels a little too small for them and buy a bigger house with a view of the bay in Oakmore, Lincoln Heights, or Redwood Heights.  The San Francisco market is still very strong so selling in the city to get more house and land can be a very good thing to do where it ends up a win, win situation on both ends.

The most important factor in assessing whether your home might be in an area that will generate more activity and a higher selling price is the homes easy access to shopping, public transportation, and coffee. Yes, we need our coffee and we do not want to have to get in the car to get it.  Some examples of this are in Berkeley at 1641 Francisco priced at $650,000 for a 2/1 had 10 offers.  It was a remodeled charming home with a plus studio in the garage but its closeness to BART clearly added to the numbers.  2648 Stuart Street priced at $879,000 for a 4/3 attracted 3 offers. Again lots of charm and easy stroll to many things Elwood has to offer.  2846 Fulton Street is a 3/1 and a half bath home priced at $629,000 and had 7 offers. Here again is the homes close proximity to Berkeley Bowl and Ashby BART.  1355 Berkeley Way is a 3/2 priced at $650,000 close to North Berkeley BART and University street shopping had 4 offers.  In Oakland 511 Montclair Street, a 2/1 with a kitchen that needed updating priced at $495,000 had a bustling 4 offers. This is again due to the homes easy access to the new Trader Joes and Lakeshore shopping area. 131 Capricorn in Montclair area, a 3/2 with nice yard and easy stroll to the village got 3 offers.  32 Arbor Drive, a 3/3 in Piedmont, received 6 offers. Again the home was close to Lakeshore and Piedmont Avenue shopping and coffee. I'm telling you, its the coffee!!!  Of course this is also due to the house being in Piedmont priced at $1,495,000. This one closed quickly and sold for $1,700,000. Several other homes worth noting are 749 Cragmont in Berkeley. This home is a 2/2 with loads of charm and architectural features, lots of tasteful remodels, and great San Francisco and Bay views.  This home had 8 offers.  12 Littlewood in Piedmont which is a 5/4 distinctive contemporary on a half acre lot with a pool and beautiful gardens was listed at $2,195,000 and got 3 offers and sold quickly for $2,350,000.  So if you live in Piedmont and have the right house, you can attract buyers with all cash offers that can close quickly.  49 Castle Park Way was another stunning mid-century modern house in the Piedmont Pines section of Montclair with bay views and a beautiful setting. It was priced at $1,295,000 and received 3 offers.  In Redwood Heights where things have generally been a little slow, for the right house multiple offers can be had. 3422 Jordan Road, a 3/3 that feels like a country retreat had a snappy 5 offers.  The schools and the homes suitability to a family added to its desirability.  So mostly the moral of the story is, location, location, location.  Not all sellers are suffering in this market by any means.  

What about sellers who bought after 2004? If you are not in one of the places where market activity is still pretty high you might want to try to hold on to your house for a few years.  You will most likely lose money and you could end up in a short sale situation if you try to sell at this time. Don’t panic. This does not mean doom and gloom. As I have spoken about in previous articles the market goes in cycles. There will be another cycle with appreciating values. For most of you in this position you will want to live your lives and wait it out.

Sometimes circumstances occur that are out of our control and force the sale of a home.  Job losses or transfers to a new area, relationship changes, death of a co-buyer, etc. all are situations where a seller might have to sell even if they did buy the house after 2004.  In these circumstances, it is very important that you speak with a qualified and competent agent early on in order to plan a strategy to negate losses. 
What is a short sale? A short sale occurs when there is not enough money to pay off the mortgages on the property and the selling expenses for a house. The name short sale comes from the fact that you are short money to close, not that it takes a short amount of time to do.  In fact, a better name for them would be “long sale” as buyers, sellers, and agents wait and wait and wait for banks to approve them.  If you bought after 2004, took out loans for 90% or more of the value of the home at the time of purchase, and you need to sell now;   you will want to speak as soon as possible with a competent agent, preferably someone like myself that has had some additional training on short sales and the foreclosure process.  There are many things to know about short sales and it deserves a whole article written just on that process. 

Edited by Dan Joy