Neighborhoods and Real Estate Listings

Choosing the right neighborhood is an important part of perusing Edmonton real estate listings. The neighborhood you choose will determine the lifestyle you enjoy at your new home as much as will the house itself! To make sure you make the right choice, you can ask a realtor about the neighborhoods where you find appealing Edmonton MLS listings. They can let you know about the neighborhood and about any special circumstances that may apply. Some areas do have characteristics that may make them very desirable, or very undesirable, to some buyers.

A good example of this are the Edmonton house listings found in the more exclusive suburbs. Sometimes, a first time buyer will have their heart set on a house because they want to alter it to suit their dreams. This isn't always possible, depending upon the neighborhood where it's located. Some neighborhoods have covenants and restrictions that are designed to foster a certain look for the neighborhood. If your tastes run a bit eccentric, you may find that some neighborhoods will be too restrictive for you to really enjoy your home, which is a significant part of owning a home in the first place!

In some cases, a first time home buyer can get themselves into real trouble by choosing the wrong neighborhood. A realtor can help you avoid this. When you're working with a realtor, they'll tell you about the property taxes and economic performance of homes in that same neighborhood. This may reveal that what seems to be a good buy is actually a money pit waiting to happen. If you're buying for the first time in your life, be sure to engage the services of a realtor so that you don't end up suffering from this common pitfall.

A good realtor can help you find Edmonton real estate that is in an area that fits your lifestyle perfectly. For example, if you're young, single and enjoy nightlife, you might love a place in a trendy, somewhat noisy part of town. If you're older and have children, you'll probably want more peace, quiet and a nice yard where the kids can play. There are so many factors that go into choosing the right neighborhood that it's always a good idea to get some guidance in this regard. Choose a realtor who knows the area well and which parts of the city will suit you.

Pelican Pointe Country Club - Homes and Real Estate for Sale

Highly attractive values are available at the Venice real estate market with the high inventory of properties created by the pervasive economic difficulties. A lot of acquisition opportunities can be availed of even at prime properties like those at the Pelican Pointe Country Club real estate development. Here's a quick look.

A master plan was implemented in converting this 100-acre property into a complex composed 1,355 home sites and villas nestled with an environment-friendly golf course. Over half of the enclave has been devoted to natural preserves and recreational facilities.

A magnificent clubhouse, sprawling with its 22,000 square feet of floor space, is host to excellent dining facilities hailed as No. 1 in the Readers Choice Awards survey of local newspapers.

The hum of social functions and events that abound in the clubhouse is matched in the activities that can be pursued at Pelican Pointe's various sports facilities. Available to members are a junior Olympic-sized swimming pool, two Har-Tru tennis courts, and a modern gym complete with large-screen TV monitors.

Golf is even made more exciting in Pelican Pointe's championship golf course, a 27-hole layout designed by the respected course architect Ted McAnlis. The links has three nine-hole layouts from which the 18-hole combination that suits a golfer's particular ability can be chosen. Quite favorable to most golfers, there are no parallel fairways along the entire course that can be a distraction to play.

Hence, smooth play can proceed in the course that runs for 5,326 yards from the nearest tees to 7,182 yards from the farthest tee markers. Measured in USGA standards, the layout has a course rating from 66.9 to 74.5. There are ample supplementary golf facilities at Pelican Pointe, including putting, pitching, and chipping greens, in addition to a driving range and a practice area for bunker play. Underscoring the links' popularity, Pelican Pointe has been consistently rated as No. 1 in publication surveys on Readers Choices for golf during the past 10 years.

Homes in Pelican Pointe carry the quality trademark of the best builders in Florida such as Sam Rodgers and Arthur Rutenberg. The exquisite landscaping, the ponds and lakes of the community are well-maintained thanks to a master homeowners association which manages these common areas.

A comprehensive listing of Pelican Pointe homes for sale can have single family residences with approximately 1,200 square feet of floor space and asking prices at the ballpark figure of $170,000. Bigger residences having around 3,300 square feet of floor area can be offered at a starting price of $750,000 which banners the luxurious lifestyle at Pelican Pointe.

Realtors and Real Estate in Lake Mary, FL - How to Buy a Foreclosure

Are you in search of realtors and real estate in Lake Mary? Looking to learn how to buy a foreclosure? Foreclosure is a long complicated legal process, which starts when a property owner defaults on their properties mortgage. The reasons a home may be in foreclosure are varied but usually come down to the current homeowner inability to pay their mortgage payments.

Usually homes that are foreclosed on have not been maintained to the same level when compared to someone who is outright selling their home. This could mean anything from the roof needs repair, the foundation is damaged, or the outside landscaping has been neglected for months or years to simple matters like the need for a new carpet or hot water heater. Keep in mind that the amount of repairs and the severity of those repairs will be reflected in the asking price of any foreclosed home available for purchase. If the home you are interested in is priced well below market value and appears to be an irresistible bargain, look closely; the savings may be a sign of major work that needs to be completed.

Purchasing a home that is currently being foreclosed upon can net a buyer a great savings. When the mortgage lender finds it necessary to foreclose on a property, a notice of default is filed as a public record. These public records are then compiled by companies and real estate agents that assist homebuyers in finding foreclosure properties to purchase for a fee. You can also save some money by searching the records yourself, however that can be very time consuming.

Once you have found a property you are interested in purchasing it is a good idea to have a title search and lien search completed on the property. This will help you avoid any surprises about the ownership of the property. Usually homes that are being foreclosed on for lack of payments on a mortgage also have unpaid taxes or utility bill liens against them. You will also want to have a complete home inspection performed by a neutral third party as well as home valuation completed. Make sure you enter into your purchase contract with open eyes and all the knowledge you can gain.

If you are a first time home buyer looking for a great deal, ask your real estate agent about bank owned foreclosures. Banks understand the legal process of foreclosures better than independent mortgage brokers and under normal situations will not sell the home until the current owner or tenants have been evicted. Save yourself the trouble of having to deal with an unhappy homeowner who has just lost their house to you by focusing on properties where the owners are no longer living there.

Many banks and other financial institutions have a surplus of foreclosed homes available for purchase. These organizations need to sell the homes in order to recoup their expenses so the price on a new home may be right for you. Be careful though, do not purchase more home than you really can afford, you would not want to have to go through the process of foreclosure yourself.

Mexican Stocks, Silver, and Real Estate - A Ten Year Review

The Consumer Price Indexes (CPI) program of the US Department of Labor produces monthly data on changes in the prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of goods and services in the United States. Tracking the CPI data began in 1913 and by 1983, inflation had reached 100%. Therefore, today most all data is calculated using a 1983 base of 100. For example, a CPI of 215.3 in 2009 indicates 115.3% inflation since 1983. Below is the inflation calculator based on data provided by the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics showing inflation during the past decade:

CPI Inflation Calculator
If in 2008 (enter year)
I purchased an item for $100
then in 1998 (enter year)
that same item would cost:$132.09
Rate of inflation change:32.1%

The above calculator shows that if you put $100 under your mattress ten years ago it, through the inflation of goods and services during the past decade, it would be worth $76 ($100/1.32) today, i.e., worth 76% of its original value or a loss of 24% in terms of 1998 purchasing power.

In order to hedge against inflation, many advisors suggest that you buy various commodities, oil and gas, foreign dollars, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS), Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), gold, and silver, etc. All of these investment vehicles are now available through Exchange Traded Funds (ETF's) where you don't have to take physical possession of the commodities; for relatively small investments, gold and silver in the form of bullion or coins is readily available and simple to purchase and hold. All of these forms of hedges against inflation can be excellent, however for the purpose of this article, we'll concentrate on silver.

Silver has always been one of Mexico's major export materials; in fact, until just a few years ago, Mexico was the largest producer and exporter of silver in the world. Let's assume ten years ago, instead of putting your $100 under the mattress, you bought $100 worth of silver selling at approximately $5.50/ounce. Today, at $16.65/ounce, you can sell your silver and enjoy a gain of more than 200%, i.e., your $100 investment is now worth $303 resulting in a 1999 purchasing power of $230 (76% of $303); not bad! If you're concerned that the recent increase in silver prices is only a temporary spike, it should be known that silver was selling at $20/ounce in 1981 and when the Hunt brothers were speculating in 1980, it was driven up to over $50/ounce; now that was a spike! The last time silver was selling for $16.65/ounce was in 1981. Taking the CPI inflation index of 2.37 (1981 to 2009) into consideration, $16.65/ounce in 1981 was equivalent to almost $40/ounce (2.37 X $16.65) in today's money and therefore it's not too difficult to imagine a much further increase in silver prices! This logic is further reinforced when you take into consideration the weakening dollar forecast for the near future. (see ten year silver price graph below)

The world's leading miner and producer of silver is the Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS), headquartered in Vancouver, B.C. This publicly traded company has silver mines throughout Latin America with a couple of its largest mines in Mexico. In fact, one of these two mines is their only open pit mine and the other huge Mexican mine, located north east of Puerto Vallarta, has been producing the purest silver of all their mines since 1929. The graph below reveals the PAAS stock performance during the past ten years.

Next, let's analyze the performance of the US stock market during the same ten year time frame. If your $100 had been invested in SPY, the S&P 500 ETF, it would be worth 80 dollars today per the graph below. Let's take it a step further and adjust for inflation; that $80 would have only $61 (76% of $80) of 1999 purchasing power. Yes, that's correct; if you were invested in the US stock market and your return was better than average, you've lost almost 40% of the purchasing power that you had ten years ago!

Now, let's compare the ten year performance of the Mexican stock market (Bolsa) to the US stock market. If you had purchased EWW, the ETF basket of Mexican stocks, in 1999, you would have realized a 150% gain and your initial investment would now be valued at $250, with a 1999 purchasing power of $190 (76% of $250); pretty decent, especially when you compare it to the $61 left from investing in the SPY's!

You'll immediately see how much the ETF basket of Mexican stocks (EWW) and the Pan American Silver Corp. (PAAS) stock had appreciated in value through 2007 and then fell precipitously in the second half of 2008. More importantly, you can see how both are recovering beautifully as the world recovers from the global recession. Comparing both of these Mexico related stocks to the SPY's; you may never again want to invest your $100 in a US related stock! Assuming that the global economy continues its gradual recovery, it seems quite apparent from extrapolating the curves below that Mexican stocks and silver are very attractive areas for investing a portion of your portfolio at this time. It's amazing to see how closely the EWW and the PAAS stock prices have correlated over the past decade!

Finally, let's look at Mexican real estate. Along the prime region of the Mexican Riviera, property values have tripled from 1999 to 2008 (we don't have any empirical data but after being invested in the real estate market in Puerto Vallarta for more than a quarter of a century, we can state it as a fact; some properties have quadrupled in value!), after which they have remained flat to perhaps dropping by as much as 20%. Therefore, a real estate investment of $100 in 1999 was worth about $300 in 2008. Assuming a depreciation of $60 (20% of $300) over the past 18 months, it's now worth $240. In terms of 1999 purchasing power, it's worth $182 (76% of $240); about the same as EWW and PAAS, not as much as silver, but a whole lot more fun than owning either! When comparing these facts and figures to the $61 of 1999 purchasing power remaining from the $100 invested in the SPY's, it's truly disheartening to think of those of you that were fully invested through IRA's or 401k's during the past decade. Fortunately, it's not too late to recoup your losses; in fact, the time could never be better!

The recent drop in Mexican real estate values was caused mainly by the global recession; however, the recent border town drug cartel war news (1,200 miles between PV and Juarez!) and the swine flu scare (three confirmed cases in PV!) contributed significantly to the local real estate recession. The border town drug cartel war and the swine flu scare effects will vanish over time and in all probability, the property values will soon recover to their 2008 highs. Unlike the 20% property value drop in the US, there are virtually no foreclosures dragging down the housing values in Mexico. The housing crisis in the US will probably continue for a couple more years resulting in further erosion of home values by an additional 10-20%. Currently, millions of Real Estate Owned (REO-lender owned) properties exist in the US but you won't find any in Mexico!

In summarizing, $100 placed under the mattress ten years ago has a 1999 value of $76 today, $61 if in the S&P 500 SPY's, $230 if in silver, $190 if in the Mexican EWW fund, $185 if in the silver company PAAS, and $182 if in Mexican real estate. Regardless of where in Mexico you had invested your $100 ten years ago, whether it was in Mexican silver, stocks, or real estate, you've now got at least three times as much as you would have had if you had invested in the S&P 500 SPY's! So, here we are in 2009; the question is where best to invest your remaining money after the fiasco of the past decade? With real estate prices 20% off recent highs, long term mortgages of 50% (or more) available in Mexico, and many developers willing to short term finance up to 50%, there has never been a better time to invest in Mexican real estate.

Why hesitate; isn't it about time that you at least consider making an investment decision totally contrary to those recommendations that you've been receiving from your personal financial "guru" that have cost you 40% of your life's savings? Come on down and retire in Mexico; maybe you'll even want to buy a bag full of Mexican Libertads or dabble in the Mexican Bolsa through a vehicle such as the EWW fund while enjoying retirement to its fullest! Who knows; as you're relaxing in your beach front condo on the Mexican Riviera, perhaps your investments in Mexico will gain enough over the next couple of years to recover what you've lost during the past decade!

(Please refer to GRAPHS associated with this article)

Land, Lot & Home-site Real Estate Investment Strategy: 5 Keys to your Success

Real estate offers enormous potential for those who are willing to take risks. Sure, CD ladders, Stocks and Bond Mutual Funds may be safer, but they also don't offer the potential for a gigantic return on investment. It is well known that real estate is how the majority of America's truly rich have made their fortunes. A little known, wealth building real estate strategy that can truly make you wealthy is investing in pre-development phases. This type of plan will not only produce higher profits, but also enjoys minimal risk when compared to traditional investing. The pre-development strategy can be super-charged by taking advantage of the current "Baby Boomer" phenomenon and pre-construction discount pricing.

Regardless if you are looking for a real estate property for investment purposes, or as a site for a future home; preconstruction investing is proven to offer a safer and higher return on your investment than any other financial instrument available today. Traditional investments (stocks, bonds, etc.) over the past couple of years have seen average returns of 4-8%. In contrast, real estate and land investments have realized cash on cash returns of greater than 200%; with less risk.

If all that were not enough, it gets even better. For those who qualify, only 5% down payment is required instead of the traditional 10%. The bank will put up the remaining 95%. This means double your leverage for even greater return on investment. Here's the best part. Many of the developers of these pre-development land projects will cover the payments on your mortgage for up to two years. You put up virtually nothing, buy at pre-development prices, make no payments while waiting for further price appreciation and then rake in some serious profits when you decide to sell.

5 Keys to your Success

"PreConstruction Land Investing"

1. LOCATION: Think like a baby boomer, target the type of locations and development projects that will appeal to the baby boomer generation seeking vacation property, second homes and retirement locations.

2. EARLY PHASE: Pre-development stage, buy at a pre-construction discount which are commonly offered early on to build projects momentum. This will limit your risk and put you in a position to maximize your profits.

3. LEVERAGE: Put down only 10% and even 5% as a down payment. The bank puts up virtually all the money for you as a mortgage. With 20 to 1 leverage even a modest increase in property prices can mean huge gains.

4. ELIMANATE NEGATIVE CASH FLOW: Focus on pre-development incentives, many developers will offer to make your payments for a period of time along with a price discount. You can enjoy no payments for 18 months while waiting for appreciation.

5. EXIT STRATEGY: Find a developer with an aggressive marketing plan and track record of success. When a developer builds a strong community brand and image, you both will benefit. It will also aid price appreciation as well as you ease and ability to sell. Once the community's infrastructure and amenities are in place the prices will naturally rise. Then once, the last phase release for the development is priced, adjust your property accordingly and sell it.

It's really that simple. Now let's add the POWER of COMPOUNDING!

You don't need the know-how or the time necessary to thoroughly learn the ins and outs of investing in real estate. If you have good credit, money to invest, or retirement accounts sitting idle, chances are a good Realtor who specializes in preconstruction land investment opportunities can assist you with your search.

Construction and Real Estate Litigation Firms - A Helping Hand in Property Disputes

Property related matters are always a typical subject for a layman. It is mainly because there are many laws and complex formalities attached with it that confuses an ordinary person. So, here comes the role of a construction and real estate litigation law firm. These law firms comprised of qualified lawyers holding good amount of experience into construction projects and other relative real estate matters. The lawyers in these firms very well understand and are familiar with the important party dynamics, documents and laws that govern such matters. In addition to it, if you face any sort of property dispute then these firms will help you in dispute resolution, especially mediation and arbitration.

In addition to it, there are many other reasons for which you must hire a construction and real estate litigation firm that will stop you committing deadly mistakes, errors in the documents, errors in the figures and other problems that could lead to time-consuming and expensive legal actions in the coming future. And with proper legal support, you can simply avoid big financials too such as bankruptcy, foreclosures and many more. The wide range of services that you will get to enjoy with construction and real estate litigation firm may include:

Loan modification

In case if you have take up a loan for purchasing and are unable to cope with its terms. Then the litigation firm will help you modifying the term of your existing loan resulting in a more affordable repayment. As at the time of negotiation with the lender, the legal representative definitely puts you in a more favorable position.

Foreclosure protection

The litigation experts completely understand that purchasing a home is a major investment. In case of lack of funds you are losing the home to the bank then definitely the litigation firm will help in either stopping or delaying the foreclosure. They will make earnest efforts to let you stay in your house and meanwhile will assist in finding alternatives like external financial support or short sale.

Financing

The real estate lawyers assist the lenders as well as the borrowers in a range of financial transactions such as acquiring a property, development and construction loans, bridge and permanent loans, securitized lending and many more.

You can gather more information about the construction and real estate litigation firms through the Internet. Besides, you can simply avail the services of these firms online only with ease.

Five Buying Tips For Luxury Homes and Real Estate

Hawaii. Often known as the Island of Dreams, or more specifically, a place where dreams can come true. But this virtual Paradise has factors to consider before you think about picking up stakes and moving here. Hawaii Luxury Homes and real estate do not come cheap and the location itself is not for everyone. Before you decide to make your Hawaii getaway, visit for yourself and see if the lifestyle is something you could get used to. In addition to this, if looking to buy Hawaii Luxury Homes and real estate, have some buying tips on stand-by to make sure you are getting the best deal possible.

1) Know where to look. Hawaii is without a doubt one of the most beautiful locations on earth. Featuring year-round warmth, mountainous regions for hiking, and beautiful beaches for surfing and swimming, you might simply say, "Take your pick," when it comes to locating the perfect home. However, you should research the market like you would anywhere else. What are the best areas for property value? What are the styles of homes that appeal most to you? Are the prices and fair and manageable? Will the location be conducive to your lifestyle? All these questions should be considered heavily before proceeding.

2) Don't get in over your head. Calculate what you can afford. Take a good, hard look at your finances as well as how you intend to support yourself once you are moved in to the Islands. Hawaii can be quite expensive, so it's important that you keep a tight watch on price and means of paying for it before moving forward.

3) Have realistic expectations. Even though Hawaii is Paradise to many, that does not mean it will be Paradise to you. That's why visiting the Islands for 1-2 weeks is essential. You need to have realistic expectations of what the Islands can offer you, and you need to weigh that against the things you will be leaving behind.

4) Pick a home suited to your lifestyle. There is a temptation to buy the most beautiful home. A place that will make others envious at first sight. If money is no object to you, you should still proceed with caution. Don't buy a showplace if it is not suited to your personality, expectations, and lifestyle. Choose location and home model based on how you will live in it six years down the road, not based on what you would do if given a week to party with zero obligations. Life is not one big party. Even in Hawaii!

5) Scout locations. Are you partial to city life, or would you rather be far removed from the public? Decide before you buy. Hawaii can be hard to navigate if you buy far out from civilization. Sacrifices are necessary. Are you ready to make them?