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Belize Real Estate – Your Investment Choice

May 20, 2011 By mnreales Leave a Comment

Article by Real Estate Belize

When the global economy started plummeting, so did the global real estate market. The Austrian Alps and other real estate markets around the world are not getting any sales, and real estate prices are yo-yoing at certain times when finally stopping at low real estate rates. This means that if you are planning to invest on real estate properties, where and when should be the question you should be asking yourself.

The thing is, Belize real estate has the answers to those questions. Located in Central America, Belize has a very tropical atmosphere that is coveted by everyone around the world. The country is receiving a steadily increasing number of tourists annually, making it the top visited country in the Caribbean. Belize is quintessentially Caribbean. It is a country of paradise that is protected, with unmolested beach shores unlike other countries in Central America.

More than half of the country’s total land area is made up of sanctuaries and nature reserves for endangered animals and exotic plants. The very first jaguar reserve can be found here, in the Cockscomb’s Basin Reserve, located in the southern region of the Belize.

Going for Belize real estate is a great choice to begin with when it comes to investing on properties since the opportunities are currently the best among the other nations in Central America, not to mention the advantage that you may be able to have. For starters, Belize is free from any inheritance taxes or capital gains tax. And if you’re worried about property taxes then for underdeveloped properties, the tax is approximately 1%. These are simply the benefits an investor can have when investing in Belize. Retirees also have additional perks when retiring and investing on a retirement home here. Retirees can take advantage the benefits of being exempted from taxes such as income tax from outside the country, import taxes and more.

The appreciation rate of Belize real estate properties is the highest in Central America, ensuring a higher capital value with your investments in the future. And since the world economy has had its effects on real estate prices, don’t be surprised if the prices in Belize are very affordable. In fact, it is widely known in Central America that Belize properties are considerably low. People have found it very affordable to purchase waterfront properties without worrying about the prices since they are inexpensive.

The affordability of properties here has attracted a lot of expatriates and the country has welcomed these expatriates with open arms. Their population keeps on growing as time passes by making the Belizean locals a wildly diverse melting pot of races and cultures.

Besides all these, the thing that Belize can truly give you is security on your investments and properties. The country has a very low crime rate despite the diversity of races living in one place and the amount of spontaneous heinousness is also very low.

People who invest on vacation homes and retirement homes only look at Sanctuary Belize, a community that exudes paradise in affordable luxury. They have financial options to help you further on purchasing properties here.

About the Author

Belize – simply a paradise. Own a piece of that Jewel now! SanctuaryBelize.com is the best belize real estate for you. They offer buyers from all walks of life, the opportunity to maximize the benefits of property ownership in Belize. No other community offers such abundant natural beauty, modern amenities, and return potential – for so little investment.

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Do You Need A Real Estate Appraiser When Buying A Home Or Condo?

May 20, 2011 By mnreales Leave a Comment

Article by Real Estate Advisor

If you are considering purchasing or selling a home, condo or any other type of real estate, you will most likely need the services of a real estate appraiser. An appraiser performs an assessment of properties and other types of real estate to help establish its value. While there are several methods appraisers use to establish the value of real estate (e.g. cost method, income method, and comparison method), for residential properties, the comparison method (also known as market value) is the most common approach. The appraiser’s job is to provide an opinion about the value of a property based on its “highest and best use.” If you are financing the purchase of a property, your lender will normally require an appraisal to make sure that the property is really worth the amount loaned.

The real estate appraiser is tasked with carrying out a completely objective assessment of a property and will normally provide a written evaluation report. This is accomplished by a physical inspection of the property, as well as a comparison to other similar properties for which the value is already established. To make a determination about value, the appraiser gathers details such as the size of a property, size of the lot, location, condition, best use of the property, amenities, etc.

After this initial inspection, the appraiser may scout the neighborhood to compare the property with other similar properties in the neighborhood by age, size, price range, etc. The appraiser then gathers additional data from several sources such as the local Multiple Listing Services (MLS), which provides information on current and recent comparable sales. The appraiser also gathers information from his/her own past experience in the local market. All of these sources of information are taken into consideration while writing the appraisal report, which will provide an estimate about the value of a property.

There are many reasons to use the services of a qualified appraiser. When purchasing real estate, an appraisal provides you with a negotiating tool and helps ensure that the price you are paying is appropriate. If you are selling your property, the appraisal will help you determine an appropriate price range. Besides real estate and mortgage transactions, you may need to order an appraisal to lower the tax burden (assuming the value is really lower than the value established by taxing authorities), to establish the replacement cost of insurance, to settle an estate, etc. An appraiser only gives an estimate of the value of the property. A real estate appraiser is not to be confused with a home inspector.

If you are considering buying or selling a home, condo or any other type of real estate, you can use the services of a qualified real estate appraiser who will provide an estimate of the fair market value of your property.

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Role Of Real Estate Agent In Vacation And Second Home Markets

May 20, 2011 By mnreales Leave a Comment

Article by Real Estate Advisor

Second home sales have been increasing over the last few years with more people becoming second home owners. In 2005 alone, 40 percent of the homes sold were second homes. Demographics, all time low mortgage rates, and healthy rise in home prices have contributed to this development in the second home market. Besides these, a major factor that has helped augment the buying and selling of second homes is the real estate professional.

The National Association of Realtors conducted research on the profile of second-home owners in 2006. According to the NAR report entitled ’2006 Profile of Second-Home Owners’, a majority of second home sales transactions are conducted using the services of real estate agents.

The statistics are remarkable; 64 % of vacation home buyers purchased their home using the services of a real estate agent by the end of 2005 – a marked increase from less than 50 % of vacation-home buyers in 2003. Also, 65 % of investment-home buyers purchased their home with the help of a real estate agent – an increase from 53 % of pre-2003. In comparison, only 14 % of vacation-home buyers and 7 % of investment-home buyers purchased directly from builders from 2003 to 2005.

The growing role of the real estate professional is evident from the following figures:

1. Of vacation home sales made, 71 % of them were second homes and 74 % of the sales were made using the services of a real estate agent.

2. Of the investment properties sold, 85 % of them were previously owned and 62 % of the sales were made using the services of a real estate agent.

The use of real estate agents in second home sales transactions varied according to the home’ location.

1. Buyers used a real estate agent more frequently while purchasing a vacation home located in a suburb/subdivision (56 %) or a rural area (57 %) than for homes in other locations.

2. About 66 % of buyers who purchased an investment property in an urban/central city area or in a suburb/subdivision, used the services of a real estate agent more frequently than those who purchased a home in other locations.

Real estate professionals continue to be the first source of information to second-home buyers (38 % of vacation-home buyers and 34 % of investment-home buyers). The real estate professional also plays a major role when second-home owners plan to buy additional properties. If you are thinking of buying a second home or vacation home, seek out the services of a real estate agent to guide you through your next home purchase.

1. The percentage of second home owners who are more likely to use a real estate agent in their next home purchase is quite high. Among vacation-home owners it is 79 % and investment-home owners 73 %.

2. Among second home owners, 65 % of vacation-home owners and 64% of investment-property owners are more likely to use a real estate agent in their next home sales.

Given these statistics, it is no wonder that the real estate agent plays a pivotal role in helping people buy and sell second homes. So whether you are a second-home buyer or seller, enlist the services of an agent for a smooth, hassle free real estate transaction.

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