Posts tagged: real estate

7 ways to invest in properties that can make you rich

Investment in propertyThe word rich is something which everyone in this world want to be now. There is a human race for being rich and high in status.

Real Estate Market Scenario

Often it happens in real estate market that one property gives you abundance of profit or money returns but sometimes some properties leave you empty pocketed. Here you have to be very careful while choosing a property and then doing the needful after that. It is very important that you make sure that each step in this process is taken after giving it a thought and not just one thought but may be a lot many times. Because here even a single, a very minor mistake can take a heavy toll on your finance. Research a lot. Talk to lots of people already in the business or people owning a lot of properties, simply people who have experience in home buying. You can also look up for some online information if you do not find a suitable person.

Here are some tactics, steps or tips to make sure that you are not ricking your finances in this business. These tips can surely make you filthy rich if you go according to them and still put a little bit of your thought in their implementation.

1) Study: do a brief study of investment, buying a property before taking any step. Always remember knowledge is the key to everything.

2) Research: Research about the properties. Know about the latest brand builders or the leading builders. Look out for their new developments and keep an eye on that project. Also try to know the city’s future thoroughly.

3) Real Estate Portals: For the knowledge, it is important and advantageous for you to have a look at all the real estate portals or the leading real estate portal so that you know new upcoming projects and some flats for resale.

4) Act  Smartly: Talk to an agent or an acquaintance in this business for more information on property investment or property buying. As soon as you think a project can profit you, talk to people you completely trust upon or agent is the safest here, look at all the pros and cons of that project. The most important thing here is to act smartly and decided which project will benefit you more and which won’t. Like a project from a brand builder in a very good situation will fetch you more money than a normal project because the name of the builder is very famous and if the surroundings are fine than double bonus.

5) Be Equipped: You should always be equipped with the necessities in buying or investing a flat. If you like a project and the possession has already started or is starting in some days or months then you should have the money and the documents or the loan receipt on which you will get your desired flat, apartment and hence you won’t have any last minute problems.

6) Be Ready: be ready for anything that comes your way, even if it is failure sometimes. If you don’t get a desired property then start looking for other. Do not give up.

7) Checklist: always keep a checklist ready with you with all your preferences and choices so it is easy for you.

Jaipur is a city which is economically well developed and has a good growth level. Also the forecasters have told that jaipur has a bright future. Look for upcoming properties and new projects in Jaipur. Have a look at them on real estate portal. These properties promise a great future.

Thinking of renting out your spare room?

Spare room renting“Having a lodger” or “taking lodgings” are phrases that bring to mind the Victorian era, when widowed ladies rented out rooms in their city homes to single men and women. Though private homes and apartments have since become the norm, the idea of renting a single room in a private home has been steadily increasing, due in part to the difficult economy. For homeowners, the idea of renting out a room has become more and more appealing, so much so that the number of private homeowners renting out a spare room in their home has more than tripled in the past year.

Financial advantages of renting out a spare room

The extra income generated on a monthly basis is one of, if not the, main reasons that people choose to open their homes to a stranger. The amount of rent being charged for a room will vary depending not only on the size of the room and its amenities, but also on where the home is located. A bedroom with bathroom and kitchen privileges may run around $200 per month while a room with a private bathroom en-suite or possibly an efficiency layout with a small refrigerator and microwave could run as much as $500 per month. The type and amount of furnishings, as well as the utilities included will also affect pricing.

Renting out a spare room also allows the homeowner to receive a break on their income taxes by deducting part of their home ownership expenses. Real estate taxes and home mortgage interest are two areas where dividing the property into effectively two homes can save when it comes to tax time. Deductions may also be taken for general maintenance, expenses and repairs to the home, including utility bills and repairs to appliances, as long as these are available to the entire home. Installing utility services directly to the room being let may also be deducted, for example the installation of a cable or phone line.

Financial costs of renting out a spare room

Choosing to rent out a room in the home means the homeowner may have to invest before the profits roll in. The room needs to be properly and simply decorated with a sleeping area the primary focus and a seating area a close second. This may mean carefully selecting furnishings and investing in pieces such as a sleeper sofa or a built-in Murphy bed that are both functional and attractive. Room design and décor may need to be quite different in a rented room than it would be in the rest of the home, with furniture choices and layouts more like those in a studio or efficiency apartment than in a traditional bedroom. The homeowner can save on the furniture by watching for sales and taking advantage of free delivery if available. Neutral color palettes and wood furniture pieces are universally appreciated and allow the tenant some leeway to express themselves and their style by adding accessories and personal items.

Other financial considerations include legal expenses, such as credit checks on prospective tenants and extra home insurance reflecting the new rental status of the property.

How you can save money around the home

Save money at homeThrough necessity, saving money is a preoccupation for many householders. With energy price hikes, rising inflation and wages that never increase, something’s got to give somewhere.

For those looking to shave expenses off their budgets, the home is a good place to start. It is important to save money where we can and when we look more closely at our homes it is often the case that we could be doing things more efficiently. Here are some ideas for making savings across all areas of the home.

Heating and insulation

Keeping warm in winter is certainly not getting any cheaper. Produce savings in modern homes by being flexible with the central heating thermostat. Reducing the temperature by a couple of degrees saves money, but will not be noticeable. Oil heating can be expensive and increasingly householders are opting for wood burning stoves, which offer cheaper fuel alternatives.

Check for draughts and seal around doors, wooden floorboards and around windows to minimise cold air blasting in. Double-glazing helps keep a house warm but if this is too costly, for a fraction of the price plastic film can be applied to windows to make rooms warmer. Simply apply with special tape and shrink with the heat from a hair dryer, the reduction in draughts and condensation will be immediate. Other effective ways of restricting heat loss at windows include solid shutters, heavy curtains and thick blinds.

Other cost saving areas

Half the battle with saving money on energy in the home is down to changing people’s habits. Getting them to switch off lights when they aren’t in use, not leaving gadgets on standby, switching to LED light bulbs, fitting aerating shower heads, using the oven to cook more than one dish or investing in a pressure or slow cooker for cheap delicious meals at low cost – all these small changes can add up to substantial cost reductions.

High-cost appliances

The cost of heating water with electricity is high. Do not overfill the kettle, only boil the water that is required – this is one of the biggest wastes of money and energy in most homes. Only turn on the washing machine when there is a full load. Most clothes can be washed at 30 instead of 40 degrees – lowering the water temperature will scrub money off the laundry bill. Tumble dryers eat energy so if hanging out laundry to line dry is an option, do it for free.

To calculate where money could be saved look at the gadgets or appliances that get used for long periods. LED TVs and game consoles are often in use for hours at a time – research which models are the most efficient before buying, as over a year these savings could mount up. There is a lot of information out there about the most cost effective, energy efficient household appliances. Get into the habit of selecting new big-ticket items such as cookers, fridges and dishwashers based on their energy ratings – the most efficient models are usually pricier, but going for the cheap option is a false economy.

Saving money around the home is all about looking harder at how we do things. Acting upon what we learn will benefit not only our wallets, but mother earth as well.

Why You Should Not Skip Renters Insurance

Renters insuranceRenting a home can have the same risks to an occupant as owning a home. And while homeowners insurance is definitely a requirement for anyone who owns a home, many people struggle with whether they really need renters’ insurance. And they most often aren’t sure whether they need it due to the cost of coverage.

Those who rent their homes often view the cost of renters insurance as another bill to add to those they already have to pay. For example, when moving into a new home, a tenant may have to pay first and last months’ rent, in addition to a security deposit and perhaps even deposits to initiate the turning on of utilities. And this is in addition to any moving costs the renter may have incurred. So the fact that there are many renters out there without insurance coverage is definitely understandable.

But what many renters don’t realize is how having insurance coverage can benefit them. In fact, the benefits of having coverage can far outweigh the costs that a renter may pay each month in order to be covered.

What Renters Insurance Protects

Many renters believe that the insurance coverage their landlord has will be enough to cover them. Not so. The coverage held by a landlord only covers the rental unit itself and the property the unit sits on. Their insurance will not cover any damage to your personal property. Without renters insurance coverage, any damage incurred to your belongings due to theft, vandalism, or something another tenant does to it will not be covered.

More Than One Option

What is listed as a definite benefit for most renters is that renters insurance is available at several different price levels. Flexible options mean that you as a tenant can choose the level of coverage that’s most affordable for you. With a policy, you can ensure that your property is protected and that you receive either full replacement cost or depreciated cash value, depending on the item or items damaged.

Don’t Be Underinsured

Having an inventory of the items you own is crucial in order not to be underinsured. Your policy’s rate will depend on the type and value of your items. Any inventory should include the price, condition and appraisals of items. Keeping all receipts for items you’ve purchased in a single and safe place will be crucial to getting any claims settled in a timely manner.

Liability protection is another type of coverage that every renter would do well to consider, which will usually cover up to 50% of the policy’s total value. As well, additional coverage can be purchased in order to protect you in the event that something happens to your home that requires you to move out for a temporary period of time. This will allow you to meet daily needs such as doing laundry and paying for temporary accommodations.

Limited Coverage

One disadvantage to many renters’ insurance policies is the amount of coverage you receive. It is true that the onus will be on the landlord where damage occurs to the rental dwelling itself. However, this coverage may not extend to the interior of your dwelling. And so checking your policy is crucial. If your landlord’s insurance only covers the outside of their property, then getting renters insurance will be important.

Another limit on renters insurance is water damage. Questioning your water damage coverage is definitely important. If water damage was caused from below the property where you are renting, then any damage will likely not be covered. But if the damage occurred from above, such as because of a leaky roof, then it’s likely to be covered.

When deciding on whether or not you need renters insurance, it’s important to remember that even a small number of possessions can quickly add up in terms of dollar value. And although you will have to pay a deductible before being reimbursed by an insurance company, having coverage will help you to replace your lost or damaged items more quickly and easily than if you had to do it all on your own.

Considerations When Buying Land For Business Use

Property buying for businessAs there is only a finite amount of high quality land, it will always be a profitable investment even when the world’s economy appears to be turning upside down. When making a land purchase, always make sure it is a clinical process and not an emotional one. If you can hire professionals such as appraisers, engineers, realtors and real estate attorneys before the process begins, you will save yourself a lot of legal headaches down the line. Follow the tips below and you will hopefully purchase good quality property for a reasonable price.

Aims of Deal

Before buying any piece of land, you need to be 100% sure about the purpose of the purchase. For example, are you planning to build a retail space or office building? If so, is there any real competition in the area? If you are up against established rivals, you will have a hard time defeating them since they have a major head start and the advantage of being known in the area. Before signing on the dotted line, make sure that your plan for the land is a viable one or else you will be wasting time on a money pit.

Location

It is important for your land to be easily accessible by road or else transporting building materials during construction will be a time consuming and costly enterprise. The topography of the land also needs to be thoroughly investigated before making a purchase. It should be obvious that marsh land and low land need to be avoided as it is difficult to build anything safely on this kind of surface. If you want the land for agricultural purposes, it makes sense to check the soil type and quality. When buying land for commercial or residential reasons, it is a good idea to think from a landscaping view when evaluating the area.

Get a Copy of Covenants & Restrictions

You need a realtor or an attorney on your side to find out if there are any restrictive covenants as well as determining what you are allowed to build on the land. Zoning ordinances and regulations will define the way you use the land and you may have to change the zoning to fit your needs. For example, you may be looking at land that is zoned for a retail outlet but you wish to build an office building. Zoning ordinances can also limit the total height of the building or have a minimum parking space limit.

Even when you have reviewed the property, performed a cost analysis and are satisfied that the land you seek is worth the price, there is still the small matter of legal red tape. Never try to buy land for commercial use without a qualified team behind you or else long and costly legal battles could be the result.