Monthly Archives: May 2018

Property In Belgravia And The Famous Figures Who Have Lived There

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The Belgravia of today ranks proudly as one of the world’s finest places to live, and property in Belgravia is generally grand, desirable and exclusive. Complemented by a fine array of boutiques, brasseries and bars, property in Belgravia has attracted many well-known residents, eager to discover for themselves the grand style of living that is famously associated with the area.

Let’s take a look at a few of the famous faces who have chosen to live in some of the finest property Belgravia has to offer:

King George IV – It was King George who made Buckingham Palace his permanent home, and while the Palace isn’t strictly in Belgravia itself, its proximity to the developing area quickly made property in Belgravia a highly sought-after status symbol – cementing a reputation in the 19th century that continues unabated till this day.

Neville Chamberlain – The former British Prime Minister lived at number 37, Eaton Square. Chamberlain is famous as the leader who was in charge of the country at the start of the Second World War, and is now regarded as a highly influential public figure. The fact that such an important politician made property in Belgravia his home is indicative of the area’s huge international renown.

Ian Fleming – A British author, Fleming famously created the character of James Bond. It is entirely logical that he chose to live in property in Belgravia, because the suave, gentlemanly traits of the character mesh perfectly with the area’s cool, classy and super-fashionable shops, bars and homes. If you’re not convinced, then consider the fact that two actors who famously played James Bond on screen – Sir Roger Moore and Sir Sean Connery – also resided at property in Belgravia.

Joan Collins – The author and Dynasty actress is said to live in Eaton Place. Much like Ian Fleming, Collins’ books only add to the mystique that makes property in Belgravia so sought-after, as they are full of glamour, romance and celebrity style – traits that the area has in spades.
Andrew Lloyd Webber – Webber has played a key role in the creation of some of the most famous musicals in history, including The Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Evita. He is well-known across the world, and is believed to live amongst many other celebrities in the area.

Brian Epstein – Another important figure in popular music, The Beatles’ manager also apparently made the famous London district his home, and in the late 1960s, the famous pop group’s Apple Building was located in commercial property in Belgravia – at number 3, Savile Row. This was also the location of The Beatles’ last ever live concert – stunning residents and workers when they played on the building’s roof.

Jennifer Saunders – The comedienne and Absolutely Fabulous’ star is said to rent or own property in Belgravia. She has received many awards for her work, and has created many glamorous and hilarious comic creations – the popularity of which has seen her receive worldwide recognition. Current estimates put the combined personal fortune of Saunders and her husband – the actor and comedian Adrian Edmondson – at around 11 million.

Gaur Atulyam offers best buy for home buyers

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Gaur Builder is a highly renowned leader in the Real Estate industry that has created several landmarks in the Residential and Commercial Properties. The group has covered the market up to a great extent and with the combination of consistent efforts and performance it has been winning the trust from past few decades. Gaur Atulyam is a brand new presentation by the group that has uplifted the living standards and made the dream fulfillment an easy task to accomplish. The targeted location of the group is Greater Noida but after the exposure of business and increasing demands at a rapid rate some other regions are also coming into action to change the overall structure of the country. The credit for such an achievement goes to the dedicated teammates who always focus on the Vision of the company and to attain it at any cost. Gaur Atulyam Greater Noida is a residential project that acts as a perfect place for those who always want the performance. The project offers the choice of 2, 3 and 4 BHK luxurious apartments and including all the advanced features and facilities to increase the living standards and the brand credibility. It is really a fantastic residence with beautiful Site layout where the top level of comforts and luxury met together. To make a better tomorrow, investment in this project is a nice idea. Not onlt this, all modern amenities are offered in Gaur Atulyam in order to make the living comfortable and luxurious. Avail a home here, and enjoy some unforgettable moments with your loved ones. The floor size of Gaur Atulyam Greater Noida shows variations according to the apartment type and the general range starts from 955 to 1665 Square Feet. The project comprises of several specifications that acts as a part of its increasing beauty. Some of them are pointed as – vitrified tile flooring, oil bound distemper, modern interiors, fire fighting system, high speed elevators, multipurpose hall, swimming pool, security, parking and gymnasium. It is located at the most promising location Noida and Greater Noida. This project is having very excellent connectivity from Delhi, Noida and Greater Noida via Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. Just only 10 minute drive from Pari Chowk. Upcoming Metro will make the connectivity easier to its residents. There is upcoming night safari and cricket stadium adjacent to this project. Formula1 race Track is already present in Sport City. All this features makes it’s a perfect Homes. Gaur Builder believes in delivering the promise. House of by thousands of happy families, Gaur Group has always upto customer’s trust and committed in providing a lifestyle with world class construction, design and quality.

For Booking and Information Details @

Call – 9560090047

http://www.gauratulyamgreaternoida.org.in

Mysore Property Market Right Time To Invest

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Mysore, the second largest city of Karnataka, is located in the vicinity of Indias IT hub, Bangalore or Bengaluru. It is barely 140 kilometres from the capital city, Bangalore and is widely known for its festivities during the festival of Dusshera. Mysore is fast emerging as the next most preferred IT destination after Bangalore due to the congestion and resulting saturation of the countrys IT hub.

In order to support the growth bandwagon of IT leaders, Mysore has been chosen as the upcoming software nucleus. According to analysis of real estate sectors, it is actually the prospering of IT sector that brings about a boost in real estate trends of a city. Mysore is witnessing the launch of various IT projects, thus, leading to infrastructural developments and generating needs for expansion of real estate sector. Therefore, as evident by the increase in demand for both residential and commercial property and the consequent hike in property rates, the trends of real estate development in Mysore are no different.

After flooding Bangalore with global software companies, IT majors are expanding their operations in the nearby city, Mysore. Undoubtedly, its favorable location i.e. being in proximity to the technology capital has proved highly advantageous to Mysore. When the focus of IT industry was Bengaluru, the property rates in Mysore were quite low and affordable while the real estate of Bangalore was flourishing. Since, this interest has now been displaced and shifted to Mysore, its real estate sector seems to be reaching an all time high. The modernization program has already begun with the primary task of improving connectivity of the city to other regions.

The revamping of airport, the doubling of railway tracks between the cities and the completion of Bangalore-Mysore expressway are some of the recent developments taking place to create a better communication network. Large numbers of residential and commercial developments are also under progress to accommodate the demands of both individuals and large-scale companies.

Some of the upcoming residential properties include Shalom Voyagers Central Park at Ideal Jawa; Brigade Groups Brigade Citadel in Yadavagiri, Brigade Horizon in Siddhartha Layout and Brigade Solitaire behind Lalitha Mahal Palace; Damden Properties Beryl, Square, Prithvi, Solar and Arbor and many others.

The commercial real estate of Mysore has become the hottest choice for many corporate giants for both carrying out business operations and as an investment destination. The properties in Landsdown Building, Devaraje Urs Road, Sajjan Rao Road, KT Street, 100 ft Road, Irwin Road and MG Road have the highest demand for building up of office spaces.

The price of property in Mysore have already doubled and even trebled in many of its important areas in last few years. It has been indicated clearly that the overall growth of the city that includes the speedy rise of real estate, information technology and retail sectors is all set to fuel up the property rates further. The special interest of NRIs in Mysore property is another major reason for the hike of property prices in the region.

Being the Cultural capital of Karnataka, Mysore attracts large number of tourists, especially at the time of Dusshera celebration that continues for 10 days. Mysore is also popularly known as the City of Palaces as it houses various beautiful palaces including the Mysore Palace. There is a unique ancient charm that prevails in the city, alluring people from everywhere to visit the city, making it an important tourist destination of the State of Karnataka.

It is, thus, suggested that if you are planning to buy or invest in Mysore property, the right time is now because prices still fall in moderate zone. They are only going to rise in the coming years and so, will definitely yield high investment returns.

Top Three Tips For A Successful San Bernardino Home Staging

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You are ready to sell your San Bernardino home, but you are not sure how to make your home staging a success. Your home staging, or open house, can help you to find a buyer for your property much sooner than not, provided that you take the time to prepare your home properly.

Tip One: Clean, clean, clean, and then clean again. The way that you keep your house normally and the way that it needs to be cleaned for your San Bernardino home staging are two very different things, no matter how neat and meticulous you are. Every surface should shine, every broken cabinet knob should be repaired, every dead plant replaced.

Those laundry baskets full of clutter and clothes in your hallway. They need to go, and not just into the closet, either. Do not fool yourself into thinking that no one will look in your medicine cabinets, under your sinks, under your beds, and just about everywhere else, because they will. So what to do. Clean the house top to bottom, have the rugs professionally shampooed, and then bring in professional house cleaners to give it another once over. Then, each day, take twenty to thirty minutes to clean, and your house will look its best on the day of your staging.

Tip Two: Set the mood. Pick soft music, classical is best, to play in the background during your home staging. It should be loud enough to be audible, but not loud enough to drown out conversation. If you can, set vases of fresh flowers and or small plants in each room, as well as any tabletop fountains or other accent pieces that you may have. Consider the olfactory senses as well, and place small air fresheners in each room. You should also open the windows, weather permitting, in order to let in light and fresh air, particularly in small rooms, which tend to look dingy and cramped in low lighting, particularly during the day.

Tip Three: Accentuate the positive. During your San Bernardino home staging, you want potential buyers to visualize themselves and their belongings in your home. So if your home has unique features, or architecture, be sure to emphasize them with proper lighting, and if your walls look a little dull and cheerless, a few neutral decorating scheme accent pieces can go a long way. Do not leave up cluttered groups of family photos, however, since again, you want potential buyers to visualize themselves and their furniture, in your home.

These three tips will help to make your San Bernardino home staging a success.

How To Use Available Legal Forms

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The use of legal forms is necessary in most business environments and varies according to the purpose for which they are intended. Using prepared legal forms is beneficial to both small as well as large companies. There are numerous, simple legal forms that deal with everything from minor issues such as issuing a bill of sale or health care directive or there may be more complex legal forms for more complex issues such as those related to stock issuances and bankruptcies.

It is not always necessary to file the legal form in court in order for it to be legally binding. A number of personal forms such as wills and trusts can be completed at home and do not require much more than a notary public notarizing them to make them legally recognized documents. Traditional legal services certainly cost a lot of money. A lawyer may charge as much as several hundred dollars an hour to fill out a few simple forms that one could have easily purchased and completed on their own at a mere fraction of the cost of hiring a lawyer to do the same work for you.

It is not wise to undertake legal activity lightly and one should exercise care and use legal guides to assist with the preparation of all legal forms. For more complex transactions having a lawyer review your self-prepared document is a great way to get professional approval of the legal form while also saving money and time.

Legal forms run the entire gamut of legalese that includes every imaginable kind of legal issue such as bankruptcy, contractual agreements, incorporation of companies, credit forms, divorce forms, employment forms, bill of sale, buy sell agreements and a lot more. Sometimes, the forms need to be prepared, reviewed, and filed, which usually entails additional costs.

Legal form boilerplates, business forms, templates, plans and processes are readily available in the market and finding them should not pose any problem. For a few dollars one may obtain completely researched and well formed legal forms boilerplates, business forms, templates, plans and processes. There is no need for researching and creating one from scratch as buying these documents provides an avenue for obtaining comprehensively created solutions that have been drafted by professionals and are suited for all manners of use in all states and countries.

Spend a few dollars and one could reap great benefits in terms of time, money, and risk.

Maximise Sales and Letting Revenue with Home Staging London

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The current economic climate means the housing market is experiencing a significant downturn, house sales are plummeting, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to secure a property sale. The consequence of this trend means it is harder to sell, and that sellers must do all in their power to make their homes more attractive than other homes on the market, to potential buyers. Home staging London is one way to ensure a sale is more likely to transpire.

Home staging is the process of improving a home so that it is suitable for sale in the real estate market, or more desirable within the lettings market. The general aim is to ensure that the residence is alluring to the broadest audience; the more people that find the property attractive, the more likely it is to sell or rented.

When a homeowner decorates their property in a fashion that is kitsch or niche, then the likelihood of finding a potential buyer or tenant is much lower. Home staging techniques ensure that the home is presentable as well as appealing. In the UK, people also refer to home staging as property styling or property presentation.

If you have been struggling to push through the sale of your home, or have difficulties finding tenants, the reason may be due to its interior decoration. If the home is largely empty, or has very few furnishings, this may occasionally lead to a reduced number of potential buyers or tenants, this is because they will have problems trying to visualise how the property may look when furnished. Home staging is used to -dress’ the property in a way that maximises its selling or letting potential, in basic terms, it is a marketing strategy designed to make the property more appealing. Home staging is an extremely lucrative technique because it often boosts the properties market value simply through up-to-date, contemporary interior design.

Property sales often recover the costs of home staging because the property is likely to sell at a higher figure, meaning that it is an extremely efficient strategy for house sales. Within the lettings industry, home staging can mean that the property attracts a more highbrow clientele, and can command an elevated rental fee.

Home staging London is an extremely profitable enterprise, with so much competition for house sales in the London area, property owners need to stay one foot ahead of the rest if they are serious about selling their property. Not only are home-staged properties more likely to sell, they also sell faster and often at a profit. If it is taking some time to sell a property, then home staging should be top of the agenda.

Emblem Furniture are experts in the area of home staging London and can transform your property and maximise either its letting potential, or its saleability. Their home staging services have a proven record of accomplishment and are cost-effective; they also provide long-term lucrative revenue potential within the letting’s market.

Singapore Company Formation Choosing The Right Legal Form

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While forming a company, the most pertinent issue that you need to decide is which legal form to choose for your company as it can have crucial implications on your personal risk in the business as well as the prospects of your business for giving back financial returns.

You would like to consider vital issues like ease of formation, asset liability, business asset appreciation, and tax obligations, before you decide on your business form. Though you will certainly seek legal advice from your lawyer, it is advisable that you get to know the basics of all the legal forms before you meet your lawyer.

In Singapore, businesses mainly operate as companies, sole proprietorships and partnerships.

Company

A company has to be registered under the Singapore Companies Act and a separate legal entity from its members. Though you can incorporate a company with unlimited liability, almost all companies in Singapore are incorporated as limited liability companies due to its advantages over other forms of company formation.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

The limited-liability company (LLC) is a relatively new form of business organization. The chief feature of a limited liability company is that the liabilities of the owners are limited to the assets in the company, and their personal assets are protected from business liabilities.

Limited liability companies in Singapore can be of the following types:

Private Limited Company

The technical term for a private limited liability company in Singapore is Private Company Limited by Shares. A private limited company’s name in Singapore normally ends with Private Limited, or Pte Ltd.

A private limited company has various advantages over the other two conventional types of business, which makes it the most flexible and the most favoured type of Singapore business entity. A private limited company has its own legal identity, which is separate from its shareholders and its directors. It can acquire assets, go into debt, enter into contracts, and sue, or be sued. In an LLC, members are not individually liable for debts or other obligations of the company. The ease of transfer of shares or changes in shareholders ensures that the companys continuation is not dependant on the continued membership of its members.

You can raise capital for expansion or other purposes, by bringing in new shareholders or issuing more shares to existing shareholders and your also benefit from the trustworthy image it commands compared to sole proprietorship or a partnership firm. Moreover, the ownership of a company may be transferred, either wholly or partially, without disrupting operations or the need for complex legal documentation. Most importantly, you benefit greatly from tax incentives as the effective Singapore income tax rate for companies for profits up to SGD 300,000 is below 9% and capped at 18% for profits above SGD 300,000, and furthermore, there is no capital gains tax.

However, an LLC also suffers from some disadvantages. Incorporation and sustenance is more complex and you need to follow certain compliance requirements. Also, the closure of company is comparatively more complex.

Public Limited Company

After a private company reaches a certain growth level to become a well established medium-to-large enterprise, the shareholders might decide to take the company public. A public company’s name in Singapore ends with Limited or Ltd.

Public companies are subject to significantly more stringent rules and regulations since they have the power to raise funds from the public.

Sole Proprietorship

In a sole proprietorship, the business can only be owned by one person and the owner personally owns all assets and liabilities of the business. It is the most uncomplicated form of business entity; and it is also comparatively more economical and easier to start and terminate a sole proprietorship company. You are in complete control of all the business affairs including the decision making and you benefit from all income generated by the business without sharing the profit with others. You are also free from the obligation of filing returns annually and only need to renew your membership every year.

However, the disadvantages of a sole proprietorship business far outweigh its advantages. Sole proprietorship is not a separate incorporated entity and therefore you and your business are rendered as the same legal entity. As a sole proprietor, you and your business are considered a single entity for the payment of income tax, and the income of your business is taxed to you. Moreover, as the sole proprietor of a business, you have unlimited liability, which means that if your business cannot pay all its liabilities, the creditors to whom your business owes money can come after your personal assets. Many entrepreneurs are usually unaware of this enormous financial risk.

You also do not gain from corporate tax benefits or incentives as the taxes are determined at your personal income tax rate. Capital is limited to your personal finances and business profits. Additionally, business expansion is limited and difficult due to the low public perception of such a business. Also, the business lives and dies with you and you can transfer the business only by the sale of business assets.

Partnership

A partnership is an alliance of two or more persons, who are the co-owners of a business and its profits. Partnerships in Singapore can be of three types:
General Partnership

A general partnership is not a very economically feasible way to structure a business in Singapore because like a sole proprietorship, it is not a separate entity, which means you have unlimited liability. Another significant risk intrinsic in a partnership arrangement is that each partner is personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business and also responsible for the actions of another partner.

Limited Partnership

In a limited partnership, entails the concept of having limited partners in addition to a general partner. The liabilities of limited partners are limited to their investment in the partnership (capital or property), though such partners cannot participate in the management of the business in a limited partnership. Like the general partnership, even a limited partnership in Singapore is not a very favoured popular form of business structure.

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

LLP was introduced in Singapore in 2005, through enactment of Limited Liability Partnership Act. It gives the owners the flexibility of operating as a partnership while enjoying many of the benefits that come with a corporate body like a private limited company. A LLP must have at least two partners at all times.
An LLP has a separate legal identity and can own property, enter into contracts, sue or be sued in its own name. Most importantly, the partners of the LLP will not be held personally responsible for any business debts incurred by the LLP for any laxity or mistakes made by another partner, and is only responsible for his own omissions.
Any changes in the LLP (e.g. resignation or death of partners) do not affect its existence, rights or liabilities, and compliance requirements are also simpler than a private limited company.
However, LLPs lack the ease of ownership transfer and investment that a company structure provides. It also does not gain from corporate tax benefits.
An LLP is primarily suited to the needs of service professionals (accountants, law firms, architects, etc.) who desire to set up a joint practice in a common field. The owners must get into very detailed agreements about how the profits and management responsibilities are to be shared.

Choosing the Right Legal Form

To put things in a nutshell, both sole proprietorship and an LLP are suited only to certain types of businesses.
Sole proprietorship is feasible only for Singapore nationals who want to register a small business and the nature of their products/service do not have liability issues.
On the other hand, an LLP is suitable if you are in a service-related business which involves selling your services by way of the profession you hold like an accountant, lawyer, architect, etc. and you have one or more additional partners in a similar profession with whom you would like to partner your business with.
For all other cases, incorporating a private limited company in Singapore would be the best choice.

Top Ten Reasons to Visit Bahia Ecuador

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After living in Bahia Ecuador for fifteen months we decided that the time has come for us to share with you the top ten reasons for you to visit this South American town. This question was posed to Bahia locals as well as some of the English speakers who also live in Bahia. -What do you like the most about Bahia-?

One: Tranquility. If you are looking at a photo of Bahia, you may see the many large buildings and think that Bahia is much larger than it actually is. The truth is the buildings, in those photos, are apartment buildings and most of them are empty. Many of the buildings have sixteen to twenty apartments but only two or three of them are occupied year round. The other apartments are owned by folks from Quito and they are only used during holidays. That makes Bahia very quiet and peaceful.

Two: Safety. Bahia is a place where security is seldom questioned. It’s a carefree town but as with any town in the world, you must learn the danger zones. Most people in Bahia will tell you that you will need to watch out for the crazy drivers more than watching out for thieves.

Three: Weather. Many people think that by being on the equator that the temperatures would soar past the one-hundred degree mark and the humidity would be unbearable, but that is not the case at all. The truth is the temperatures seldom eclipse eighty-five and if that does happen, it is only for one hour or so. Many evenings you will be more comfortable with a light sweater or long sleeves. While it never gets cold here, with the evening breeze it can get cool.

Four: Prices. Unbelievably low and here is a short list. Property taxes, for a $100,000 condo, are $64 per year. Lunch is $2 and that includes soup, main meal and juice. Taxi is $1 to anyplace in town, (or you could walk). Labor costs here are $10 per day. The list goes on and on and on. A fifteen hundred square foot apartment with three bedrooms and three baths between $70, 000 and $95,000. Oh, and did I mention that these apartments are beach front?

Five: Clean. Early, every morning, you can see a little street sweeper outside your window pushing his broom to clean up yesterdays mess. It is truly amazing, but Bahia is a very clean town. Six: The Ocean waves. At bedtime, the ocean waves will lull you to sleep and keep you asleep until you simply cannot sleep any longer.

Seven: Entertainment. It turns out that the simplest things in life are the best things in life. Sometimes, when the tide is high, the waves will come roaring over the malecon wall. People will line up against the wall hoping the waves will fly twenty feet into the air to cool them and bring them excitement. It’s fun to watch.

Eight: Triciclo. This is a human driven bicycle with three wheels. This contraption seats passengers in the front and ids covered to protect them from the elements. These tricyclo’s serve as a pleasant mode of transportation. Travel anyplace in town for 50 cents.

Nine: Friendly people. The people here are all friendly and happy. They don’t know much English but that is not a problem, they understand what you need anyway.

Ten: The sunsets. Here, the sunsets are like no other place on this planet. They are very special and well worth the trip just for that.

Bahia is a unique place. A person may search for many years to find such a place. While it is not perfect, show me a place that is.

Life begins in Bahia

Commercial locksmith services

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It is very important to secure your business property from thieves and vandals to ensure that your employees and your investment is well protected. A reliable locksmith is capable in providing a number of specialized services and products that help to reduce employee theft and improve security at your business place.

At all times a business owner should have control over who has access to their property and the security of their office. When the tenants move in and out throughout the year the commercial property owners have to face similar issues. So it is essential to hire locksmith to re-key the lock to prevent access as soon as the tenants vacate the property. This will secure your property and you can assure a safe environment for the next tenant.

It is very important to hire a certified locksmith to get the re-keying and lock repair job done. The property owner can also get master key system installed so that he can have easy access to all of the doors on the property. Most of the apartment and office building are using master key system to protect their buildings. A certified locksmith is highly trained locksmith and can install and repair all types of locks that are often found in commercial properties.

For securing commercial property and places of business, locksmith services are proved to be essential tool. They also install locks for your cabinets and desks so that you can be assured of the security of the interior office space. By taking such security measures you can prevent theft from occurring during the working day while employees are left unattended. Why is it essential to hire a certified locksmith?
Certified locksmiths go through rigorous training to ensure that they are highly qualified.
Certified locksmiths are insured and bonded. This means that should any damage occur as a result of the technician’s work, the locksmith’s are responsible for the cost of the repairs necessary to fix the problem. If an uninsured locksmith is used and damage to property occurs, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to pay for the repair.
Locksmith services do more than change locks. The certified locksmiths are up to date with the latest technologies like panic buttons, high tech security entrance, and biometric locks.
Certified locksmiths are on call 24 hours a day. Locksmiths in Greenwich CT Locksmith Rye Company, Alliance locksmith1 is a well known locksmith company. They handle all types of problems related to any type of locks. They provide services in Residential, Commercial areas. They also repair your automobile locks. They provide 24/7 emergency service.

1.Alliance Locksmith:For the protection of your home, business and automobiles and of course peace of mind, you can rely on Alliance Locksmiths, New York. Alliance Locksmiths, NY has been serving the community for 20 years.Alliance Locksmiths provides you 24 hours emergency, fast and economical service. For more details, call Alliance Locksmiths Connecticut office at 203 256-1637 or New York office at 914 723-9343.Office is located at 130 Wells St. (Suite 101), Peekskill, N.Y. Visit their websitewww.alliancelocksmiths.netor you can email .

How a Foreign National Can Buy Real Estate in America

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Opportunities for real estate investment for foreigners is wide
and varied in the United States. It doesn’t matter where you’re from and
what currency you’d be using to purchase a property, you have a
property waiting for you.

There are generally three kinds of real
estate investment available to foreigners. These investments include the
commercial estate investment and residential property investment.
Residential properties are further classified into single family
properties, apartments or condominiums and recreational properties.
Regardless of what kind of real estate you are interested in, there are
all sorts of tax ramifications, financing options and legal requirements
that you have to deal with.

Why Should You Invest in the U.S. Real Estate Market?

You’ve
probably heard of the increasing number of foreign real estate
investments in the United States. This is not surprising. With the
troubles that the real estate investment market is facing in the United
States, greater opportunities in real estate investment were opened to
foreign investors.

With the dollar’s value in its all time low,
foreign investors are finding real estate bargains all over the United
States. There are no shortages of deals in this market. More and more
distressed properties are being sold everywhere and foreigners are
pouring in millions buying these foreclosed or distressed properties.
The United States real estate has become a fairly attractive long-term
investment for foreign investors.

In November of 2006, the
National Association of Realtors released a report entitled “Foreign
Investments in U.S Real Estate: Current Trends and Historical
Perspective”. The report showed that there has been a steady increase in
foreign real estate investment in the United States. This is especially
after the euro and the loonie became stronger in the face of the
continuous devaluation of the US dollar. Prime bargains were opened to
foreigners. Many foreigners have now looked into the possibility of
retiring or settling in the United States.

If you’re a foreigner,
you would find a lot of reasons why you should invest in the United
States real estate market. Aside from the fact that the floating
exchange rate has given you a lot of leverage over the bargaining table,
the financial market is a pretty good reason why you should invest in
the US real estate.

The financial market in the United States in
relation to the real estate market is quite liberal and the restrictions
against foreign investors are pretty reasonable. This is ideal for
foreign companies that are seeking to invest in the real estate market
in the United States in order to avoid tariff restrictions and are
considering setting up an office or a company in the United States.

Furthermore,
despite the devaluation of the US dollar and the wide foreclosures of a
lot of property, the real estate market remains to be stable, though
slightly shaky, due to foreign investors’ capital appreciation. Domestic
real estate buyers may not necessarily share the same opinion, but the
market has remained to be strong for foreign real estate buyers. This
may be largely credited to the fact that there is minimal risk for them.

Why are Foreign Real Estate Investments Safe and Profitable?

There
are a lot of investments you can make, but the safest you can make
right now is investing your money in real properties. This is another
good reason aside from the fact that you can make a pretty nifty profit,
if you like, particularly now with the widespread property foreclosures
and seemingly continuous US dollar devaluation. This is especially true
if you are going to use the euro or the loonie when making your
investment.

But why is US real estate investment safe for foreigners?

It
is undeniable that stock investments are not a safe avenue at this
point. The recession has not only affected the US economy; the same
recession has greatly affected worldwide stock investments. Stocks
values are dropping. It is also a fact that even without the current
economic situation, stock values fluctuates.

On the other hand,
real estate investments are pretty stable if you would compare it to
stock investments – or even bond or mutual fund investments. With real
estate investment, you’d be putting your money in an investment that
would grow in value as years go by.

What are the Benefits of Foreign Real Estate Investment?

US
state government supports foreign investments and along this line has
formulated various tax breaks to encourage foreign investment on real
estate. Many of these tax breaks are not available in many countries. In
fact, most countries would frown at foreigners owning real properties
within their territory.

Foreign real estate investment in the
United States is open to everyone. As long as you can afford to buy the
property or at least comply with the mortgage requirements and
payments, you can secure for yourself a pretty good property in the
United States. Again, with the current economic situation of the United
States, this is the perfect chance for you to make an investment.

Another
great benefit that you can take advantage of is the availability of
mortgage financing. Lenders have opened their doors to foreign investors
who are looking into purchasing a property. So, you don’t have to
actually deplete your bank account. You can actually secure a mortgage
loan and gradually pay it off.

I’m Canadian, What Are My Financing Options?

There
is a steady increasing rate of Canadian real estate investors in the
United States; and accordingly, the government has made certain that
they have attractive financing options available to them.

If
you’re Canadian – or if you’re a foreigner – you’d find a lot of reasons
why you should buy a piece of real property in the United States. For
Canadians, the parity of the currencies or the apparent devaluation of
the US dollar is a pretty good reason itself. But how do you finance
your purchase?

There are various financing options available to
you depending on which state you are in. In Arizona, for instance, you’d
get favorable financing terms if you are purchasing a property for
recreational purposes, that is, you do not derive any income or benefit
from your purchase or ownership. You will be required, however, to sign
up a disclosure agreement and give a 30% down payment for your loan. To
qualify though for a loan, you may be required to show availability of
liquid reserves for a period of three to six months. You may also be
required to present a minimum of 3-month bank statement.

If you
are purchasing a property for investment, you’d probably meet stricter
terms. Requirements may be more stringent. For instance, you could be
required to give a down payment of more than 30% and you may be required
to show one year worth of liquidity reserves.

Regardless of your reasons, if you feel like you can
fulfill the requirements of a financing loan, you can then proceed to
actually applying for a mortgage loan. Also, keeping yourself updated
with the financing terms flux may be a wise idea.

Understanding the Tax Ramifications of Real Estate Investment

The
first foreigner to have ever bought a real estate property in the
United States was Peter Minuit. This opened the doors to foreign real
estate investors. After a couple of centuries later, foreign real estate
investment has grown into huge proportions, accounting for
billion-of-dollar worth of industry.

The low risk attached to US
real estate market, the availability of countless properties, and the
steady market liquidity attract foreign investors in droves. The initial
snag, however, is the process of understanding the legal ramifications
of foreign real estate investment.

What you have to understand is
that foreign investment in the United States can take a lot of forms. A
foreigner has various options. He can acquire direct interest. He can
acquire an interest in the real estate through a partnership, a
corporation, or a limited liability company. The latter is the typical
structure used by foreign investors.

Limited partnership or
Limited Liability Company offers financial protection or indirect asset
protection, especially in cases of bankruptcy, law suits and taxes.
Foreign investors are generally taxed on the property as if they hold
the property in direct interest.

Ideally, you should secure the
services of a real estate accountant to help you out with the tax
ramifications, but it would help if you, at least, know the basics
before you actually talk to an accountant.

There are tax
consequences that you have to deal with when you buy a real estate in
the United States. You would need an Individual Taxpayer
Identification Number which you will use with all your tax transactions.
Your investment in real estates can be treated as a portfolio
investment and will be accounted for as an investment income which can
either be fixed or a periodic income. This is typically taxed at 30% on
gross revenues. This tax though does not apply though to all foreign
investors. Tax rates would vary depending on the tax personality the
foreign investor opted for. For instance, a corporation would be taxed
differently.

Other things that you should take note of are
availability and requirements of tax refunds and state tax laws on real
estate properties as they may differ from federal laws, among other
things.

By knowing all these things, you may save yourself from a
lot of hassles when you finally approach a real estate accountant. You’d
be in same wavelength when you finally get down to talking business. It
is, however, very important that you secure the services of an
accountant. You’d have an easier time dealing with the taxes
ramifications. You’d also have assistance ensuring that you comply with
all the accounting aspect of your investment. This is especially true if
you are purchasing a real property for investment purposes.

Do You Need to Secure the Service of a Real Estate Lawyer?

If
you are considering buying a property in the United States, you need
to secure the services of a real estate attorney – someone who could
help you with the legal issues concerning your purchase. It is tempting
to forego securing the service of a lawyer to save money, but this could
cost you a lot of money in the long run. Make sure that you have an
experienced and trustworthy lawyer to help you out. Make sure that you
have thoroughly checked out his credentials, profile, history of
successful cases handled by him, and other factors that would influence
your decision. You could check online and look for a lawyer working
within the state where you are considering purchasing a property.

Functions of a Real Estate Lawyer

There
is no actual distinctive function for a lawyer in a real estate case.
However, you would really need the assistance of a lawyer for various
tasks. A real estate lawyer would review the sales contract for you. He
would also check on the title and other documents relating to the
property. A lawyer would also review your mortgage contract and make the
necessary adjustments or corrections. You could also get him to review
with you the legal and tax issues concerning the purchase. A real estate
attorney could also make the necessary adjustments relating to various
expenses and costs involved in the purchase. He would assess your
eligibility for tax refunds and draft the documents and statements
relating to this.

Putting it simply, a real estate lawyer will be
your watchdog. He would guide you through the whole process of
purchasing a real estate in the United States in order to make sure that
you will be legally protected. You will have a capable and trustworthy
liaison to help you out with the contract. He will also face legal
disputes if any arise.

Tips on How to Invest in Real Estate Successfully

Now,
if you’ve fully bought into the idea of real estate investing in the
United States, you might just want to know how to go about investing in
real estate successfully. If you want to be successful in this venture,
the first thing that you have to avoid is overanalyzing. Of course, it
is a good idea to carefully think through your actions but it is a bad
idea to overanalyze your investment to nonexistence. You might lose a
great opportunity.

Before you purchase the property though, it
might be wise to check the property value. If it sits well with you and
you can reasonably afford the property, go ahead and make the purchase.

If
you are considering the property for a quick flip, make sure that the
property is in perfect condition and in good area. This is to ensure
that you could double or actually triple your return of investment. If
you can inspect the property yourself, do so. If not, a good and
trustworthy agent can help you with this task.

Another important
thing to remember when you’re buying real estate is good financing. You
should take your time to carefully consider all your financing options.
Foreign investors can email in their queries to various lending
institutions. It is a good idea to make sure that you’ve had their terms
and rates on paper because they tend to change these terms and charge
you with a lot of junk. Your real estate agent can help you with
reviewing the escrow charges.

The bottom line, however, is that it
is very important that you do your homework before you actually buy a
real property. Investing in real properties in the United States can be
profitable especially during these times. In fact, it may be the wisest
and most perfect investment you can make right now.