Real estate, as said time and again, has been slowly picking up from where it left off in 1996, that is, aggressive buying by local bred people who are now residing in various parts of the world, particularly the United States of America and Canada regions. Filipinos who have opted to take their talents for better paying jobs abroad have allowed them to consider making investments in local properties, known to be  among the affordable and feasible manners of investing for their future and their dependents. There is of course the difference between high-end and low-end sectors, but regardless, the bottom line is one of our basic hierarchy of needs according to Maslow’s hierarchy, that of which is shelter. 

But wait, it is not all about security but more on studying the opportunities of being able to establish a medium of investment and income from outside the usual profession that most people practice everyday. Visitors, with emphasis on foreigners from other countries look for the cheapest means of lodging, especially when they want to make the most out of their trips. The Philippines is known to be among the top spots for foreigners to go to, especially once vacation time comes for them. Cost is definitely competitive, and compared to their normal neighboring countries of tourist attraction spots, people want something different. The belief that the world offers a lot is usually one of the reasons why foreigners immediately look towards the Philippine tourist spots, especially the beaches and resorts like Boracay and Palawan areas, have been the forefront of the aggressive investment of the country towards tourism. Come the summer time, even the local inhabitants crowd these places, and despite the inconveniences, they will go at nothing to be able to satisfy their hunger for a well-deserved break from reality.

With this in mind, foreigners see it as an opportunity to be able to make advanced bookings by being situated here locally before the expected boom and overcrowding of reservations and accommodations set in during the second quarter of the year. Finding alternative places to live in outside hotels which cost as high as $50.00 per day, depending on the type of hotel they are looking at, can be saved if they can find locally available condominium units for rent. Places that are usually the landing spot for most temporarily staying foreigner include the high class Rockwell Power Plant in Makati, Eastwood Condominiums in Quezon City, and The Fort at the Fort Bonifactio Area. Condominiums are being strategically constructed here, and there are also units that are being rented or sold at a fair price.

Among the offerings is located at the Rizal Condominiums, located beside the Professional Graduate School of Ateneo. Rizal Condominium is largely dominated in terms of occupancy by foreigners. 

Current Properties for Sale

There is one unit being offered at the moment for sale at P30,000,000.00 and fully furnished. What surprises me the most is that this same price is close to the actual offering before the entire property was built and is certainly a good buy. I have yet to get the details from my sister-in-law who works in a bank, and I know the sale is really needed as soon as possible. 

Just recently, another unit located in the classy area of Anapolis, Greenhills is being offered as well. A small pad worth P10,0000,000.00 is up for grabs at the One Beverly Place, one of the posh condominium units that can be seen along the busy streets of Anapolis Street, Greenhills. It is a good place to stay, especially for visitors who are in search of cheap goods and a relaxing place to stay since local folks come in droves to be able to kill their time and get good buys of consumer items such as designer clothes, electronic devices, cellular phones and computer peripherals. 

Hence the investment for these type of properties is aimed at high-end markets. But considering the appraisal of land value, for sure, this is the interest gained from initial investments, something that money in the bank cannot even match as far as long term investments are concerned.

Ohio is a unique state where large cities like Cleveland and Cincinnati sit next to rural farms. Ohio real estate prices mirror this diversity. 

Ohio

Ohio was a mainstay in the industrial revolution in the United States. Cities such as Cleveland and Cincinnati spawned industrial might to such a degree that Cleveland is still the home of the most millionaires per person in the United States. Bet you didn’t know that! As the industrial revolution faded, the state has evolved and now has a strong high tech industry, particularly in Columbus. Notwithstanding all of this, Ohio has maintained a strong rural farming influence, which can be seen just be driving out of the cities. Throw in a bevy of lakes, and you have a surprisingly wonderful place to live. 

Columbus

Columbus is the state capital of Ohio and home to the massive Ohio State University. Sitting on the bank of the Scioto River, the city is centrally located and reflects the farmland surrounding it with a relaxed atmosphere. Named after Christopher Columbus, the city is designed well with large green areas, a thoughtful layout and statutes galore. With a huge university, the city has a definite college town feel with accompanying coffee shops, art galleries and a festive nightlife. If college football is your passion, this is the place to be in the fall. 

Cleveland

Cleveland is a city going through a major renaissance. Once branded with a rather nasty reputation, the city is now a gem in Ohio. Major money has been put into redevelopment and the city is now a hot spot for nightlife and cultural activities such as the rock n’ roll Hall of Fame. Once known as the “mistake on the lake”, Cleveland is now the gem of cities on Lake Erie. If you’re looking for a ground floor opportunity, Cleveland may just be the city for you. 

Cincinnati

Sitting on the Ohio River, Cincinnati is a sit with a mix of influences. You’ll find a definite European influence mixed with a southern feel and energized economy. This odd mix gives rise to an eccentric streak in a city which elected Jerry Springer as the Mayor. Yes, the Jerry Springer on television. Still, the city is a typical hard working town in Ohio with a surprising number of attractions such as the redeveloped river front area. The city also has a strong tradition of professional sports with the baseball Reds and the revitalized football Bengals. 

Ohio Real Estate

Ohio real estate prices are very reasonable regardless of where you go. A single family home in Columbus, Cleveland or Cincinnati will set you back between $220,000 and $250,000. Head out of these cities and you can expect to pay much less. 

Despite all the positive aspects of Ohio, appreciation rates are not the best. For 2005, appreciation rates were a little less than five percent.

It’s a simple fact that is becoming ever more known, investing in real estate makes great money. If you can add to that equation a location that’s highly desirable and has great value for real estate and properties then what you have is a sound investment. One that will continue to show a profit for the for see able future. There are few of these places in North America and most of them are heavily seasonal. The trick is to find one that has mass appeal year-round. Well look no further, Santa Cruz in beautiful California is the place. 

Whether renting or flipping, Santa Cruz offers an impressive home package. The famously beautiful weather is a great place to start when considering the list of bonuses and advantages that Santa Cruz brings to the table. However, the amazing weather works in conjunction with the bounty of nature to offer a truly “active” lifestyle. Santa Cruz is noted for its surfing.In fact it was known to be one of the first areas surfed in California, and is home to several surf and skate companies that are known around the world. Another notable attraction is the Santa Cruz Wharf, and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk; the oldest amusement park in California. 

These attractions and recreational options have created an excellent atmosphere for home investment. Such a desirable area always has a need for quality rental properties, and the home sales market is thriving as an abundance of home buyers are always ready to snatch up new homes that become available. This is also a great area for vacation rentals as Santa Cruz is a noted vacation destination. This area also has a bustling economy and a great education systems that includes the University Of California, Santa Cruz, a college that is modeled after the great universities of England, Cambridge & Oxford. 

Santa Cruz simply offers a fantastic residential investment opportunity. For those seeking a great home investment or a income-generating property, take a look at Santa Cruz.

Are you thinking of investing in real estate? But you do not have enough cash to do so. Here is a tip you can use as long as the property seller is willing to negotiate with you. To be fair, not every seller will be interested (or even understand) the concept outlined. Your best bet is to find a property that the owner has great interest in selling, whether because of moving, divorce or frustration with tenants. 

Actually, if you are currently renting and thinking about using this technique perhaps your landlord would be happy to help you out! There are a few variations that can be used depending on you and your seller. Do they want the market price or are they just eager to get out from the monthly payments – perhaps facing foreclosure? 

The simplest method is to take over their mortgage payments – called ‘assuming’ the mortgage. You will need to be approved by the original lender to assume the mortgage. If you cannot get approved for an assumable mortgage you may also try a ‘subject to’ assumption where you merely make payments while the property remains in the seller’s name. 

You take over the original mortgage and create a second mortgage on the remaining cost of the house with the seller. Offer a high, interest-only payment for a short period of time – 2 or 3 years. Instead of having the money sit in a bank they can be collecting a high interest over 2 or 3 years with the remainder due in full at the end of the term. 

When the term ends you should be able to refinance the cost, or you can sell. Unless you hit a real bad market the value of the property should have risen in that time. 

Most mortgage lenders merely want to make a good investment. While your local bank may still shy away there are plenty of financial lenders that would love to make a deal. Financiers like real estate. The mortgage is usually based on 60-70% of the value of the property, so as long as they know they get their money back in the value of the property if you default, they don’t care what kind of money you make. Complete the deal with a second mortgage created with the seller. If you default they can still foreclose on the property and sell it, paying off the existing mortgage with the proceeds. 

Now you can see the whole picture. It is better that seller and buyer can work together. If they can’t wait for a sale, you can still give them their asking price with a little flexibility on their part.

There are many people who get into real estate investing and who, in the process, just follow a simple formula which is using the well tried and certainly most tested way of doing business in real estate and that is to buy homes being put up for sale by owners who are in distress. In such instances, they are able to snap up distress properties at rock bottom prices and then they simply fix up the properties with a view to selling them further at a higher price and in the process make a tidy sum of money. As a matter of fact, it has been found that those who have used such simple strategies over the long term have succeeded so much that they have made enough money to turn into millionaires.

Different Reasons Why Distress Homes Are Put Up For Sale

The problem of course that one has to contend with at the very outset is that of learning how to find fixer-uppers. In this regard it should be mentioned that when a homeowner becomes distressed it may cause them to cease to properly maintain their properties and often, they may even end up falling behind in making the payments on their properties. What’s more, both buyers and sellers are known to have a number of different reasons why they get into real estate investing in fixer-uppers though common reasons include losing a job or going through a divorce and even illnesses and alcohol abuse can cause a seller to become distressed.

Whatever the reason why a homeowner becomes distressed, there is no doubt that the real loser in the equation is the property which will suffer because it won’t be properly maintained and payments on it too will start to be skipped and thus it becomes an ideal candidate for being sold as part of a fixer-upper strategy. And, among the most lucrative real estate investing opportunities that you will come across when it concerns fixer uppers are homes that are completely rundown, owned by a seller who is in the process of divorcing their spouse and those who can’t keep up with their mortgage payments.

Still, homes that are very ugly and which need fixing are really quite difficult to sell off because buyers for such homes are rather limited and not easy to convince to buy such type of homes. Obviously, homeowners prefer to put their real estate investing money in homes that don’t need much repair work because having to repair a home or upgrade it is not something a prospective homeowner will want when purchasing a home.

To be sure, most homebuyers need a property that is a home and not something to invest their hard-earned money in. Furthermore, when you are looking for fixer-uppers with real estate investing in mind you will also have to have contractors available who can make a home inhabitable with just a little work. Once you are sure that you want a contractor to repair and upgrade your home, you can then prospect for homes that are available at bargain prices. 

Typically, you should scout the advertisements that have terms such as as-is or fixer-upper or even handyman’s special or other similar terms that show you that the home requires some repair. Even a local real estate agent can point you in the right direction. If you stick in this line long enough, people will then come to understand that you are in the fixer-upper line of real estate investing and will then contact you with suitable and tempting fixer-upper deals.

Having located a suitable property, you then need to be sure about what the problem with the home is and then think of ways to solve such problems. Often, the problem may have a lot to do with financial constrains rather than requiring to physically repair the home and if such is the case, you can then get an even lower sales price for the property in question. However, be aware that fixer-uppers in real estate investing is a line in which you must always tread with great care and caution because even a small mistake can lead to disastrous consequences.

The bottom line is that you must first of all put together a good team and to also do home buying in a very careful and conservative manner. In addition, you should also be prepared to pay whatever it takes to repair the home and once you understand and act properly on these parameters you will find that fixer upper in real estate investing can fetch you plenty of money.