Just as with dieting, keeping your personal finances under control is mostly a psychological battle. You have to create a plan of attack where you detail how much you’re going to spend and what you’re going to give up. Then you have to develop techniques to keep yourself on the straight and narrow.
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Snapshots from the world of finance. CVN Money.
We talk to a lot of people in various circumstances, whether it’s selling due to repossession, divorce, too much debt, or just to release some equity. Today’s homeowners have lots of options to sell their property; they could go through an estate agent, sell it privately or use someone like us.
There is a wide range of services they offer this may not fit everyone’s requirements, however there are certain benefits when you use a cash buyer as above the more popular methods; as they can complete fast on the sale (usually between 4 - 6 weeks).This is due to them investors having cash available, no house chain and everything in place like solicitors and surveyors.
To get the highest price for your home then an estate agent would be the best option for you, this normally costs about 1.5% - 3% in fees and takes between 3 - 6 months, if not more.
They will make a realistic offer within 24 hours on the property. This is based on information obtained by extensive research in the local area, recent sales of comparable houses, similar properties that are currently on the market, what the local trends are showing and if any work is needed on the property. Each customers offer is to fit their needs.
They can offer to “sell and rent back” so the seller never has to leave their home, “sell and buy back” - this is where the seller is given the option to buy their property back and a set number of years at a reduced rent, or just sell and move on.
Most cash buyers pride themselves on putting the customer first and making sure that they have all the information to hand before making a decision. I would encourage people to investigate all avenues of selling their home to meet their requirements.
If you are contemplating the development of a complex/costly building, you are strongly advised to appoint a project manager who will manage the design team and the whole development. Also the appointment of a quantity surveyor on such large scale projects is strongly advisable.Central heating is not generally required in the seaside towns (although this is a matter of own judgment) but air conditioning (at least in the bedrooms and for the seaside areas) is recommended. The cheapest form of cooling is the normal wail mounted units. Split unit type with heat pumps is increasing in popularity and it is an alternative to be considered.
If you are purchasing a property on a new development, it will have been set by the developers/management company. Regardless of agent’s commissions, you should still pay the same price whoever you purchase through whether you go direct or through a third party. Resale properties are handled much the same way as in the UK with a valuation taking place and the agent’s fees agreed before the property is marketed.
The direct approach (find out who the owner is of the plot you are interested in and ask him if he wants to sell) may prove to be the best one. Bear in mind that it is the seller who pays for the commission of the agents and not the purchaser and for this reason agents have the owner’s interest at heart and not yours.
Development of land into villas in estates is now very common in the Paphos area, mainly on the hills between Paphos and Polis. Projects are developed to take the form of villages with the individual villas designed in traditional architecture. There are, of course, cases where the purchaser may have a good say in the design of his villa. The same type of projects are now being carried out in Limassol and to a lesser extent in the Larnaca area.
On a sale of a property the current policy is to allow immediate repatriation of a sum equivalent to the amount of the original purchase value of property. Any profit can be exported at the rate of CY 10,000 per calendar year, plus any interest.There is no Capital Gains Tax where the property was acquired by the importation of foreign currency. Otherwise CGT is levied at 20% on gains in excess of CY 5,000.
The relatively low cost of living in Cyprus has an added appeal for the potential buyer, offering a full and inexpensive lifestyle. Recent statistics pointed to Cyprus as one of the most inexpensive countries in Europe. The local markets flaunt a wealth of colourful fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, and Cyprus’ modern supermarkets are fully stocked with a large range of local and imported goods. The local population is Greek speaking. Cyprus was once a British colony resulting in over 80% of the population speaking English. Street signs, direction signs, and shop signs are written in English. Knowledge of German, French, Russian is increasing with the Island tourist trade.
Development of land into villas in estates is now very common in the Paphos area, mainly on the hills between Paphos and Polis. Projects are developed to take the form of villages with the individual villas designed in traditional architecture. There are, of course, cases where the purchaser may have a good say in the design of his villa. The same type of projects are now being carried out in Limassol and to a lesser extent in the Larnaca area.
If you are purchasing a property on a new development, it will have been set by the developers/management company. Regardless of agent’s commissions, you should still pay the same price whoever you purchase through whether you go direct or through a third party. Resale properties are handled much the same way as in the UK with a valuation taking place and the agent’s fees agreed before the property is marketed.
Non-Cypriot citizens requires permission from the Council of Ministers to purchase property in Cyprus. If this has not been yet obtained then the purchaser should now apply to the council for the permission. This normally takes between 8 and 14 months to be granted, and without this the Title Deeds of the property cannot be made available to the purchaser. The final contract is only entered into when the searches have proved satisfactory.
The annual immovable property tax imposed by the government is approximately CY60-120 per year. The municipal authorities also levy an annual property tax of CY20-30 per year and other authorities may also require CY20-40 sewage tax. Common expenses are usually paid monthly or quarterly in advance. They vary from development to development and depend on the area and type of property.They cover an owner’s share of the cost of cleaning and maintaining common areas and gardens, swimming pool expenses, electricity in common areas, management fees, rubbish collection and repairs. The estimated total is in the region of CY150 to CY300 per year.
The banking system in Cyprus closely follows the British pattern. The banks have many branches throughout the island which are efficient, modern and well equipped with the latest technology. Non-Cypriot citizens may open foreign currency and local deposit accounts without difficulty, although you will also find branches of many international banks at your disposal. Major credit cards, such as those within the Visa and Mastercard networks, are widely accepted in Cyprus.
Transactions and payments are simply made through your foreign deposit account. The Cyprus currency system is based on the decimal system. One Cyprus Pound is divided into 100 cents. Coins range in value from one cent to 50 cents and four bank notes are in circulation: 1, 5, 10 and 20.
Terms vary from developer to developer but commonly these are as follows: on signing the sale agreement - 1/3 of the total value; during construction - 1/3 of the total value; the balance over a period of 2 to 3 years. In most cases interest is charged at the rate of 9 per cent per annum as from the date the purchaser takes delivery of the apartment. (i.e. completion)
The next step is to appoint an architect to carry out the design. There is an abundance of well qualified architects on the island and many capable technicians as well. We suggest that you appoint an architect for the purpose (not an engineer or technician). Architect fees range from 4%-6% (on the building cost) but you can agree also on a fixed fee. The prevailing fees are 3.8% on the building cost for a complete set of architectural plans and 1.6% for supervision (including the issuing of certificates).
The Block: Try to choose a small block of flats. A five storey building accommodating a maximum of 10 to 15 units is ideal. Large blocks have problems primarily related to their management and lack of privacy. Bear in mind, however, that smaller blocks have a higher common service bill. Try to avoid the buying of flats on blocks with shops on their ground floor, since these are usually the cause of nuisance.
Solar heating is an economic alternative and its adoption is relatively inexpensive, having a payback period of approximately 5 years.If you will have a garden, it is advisable to drill a borehole for watering as the water charges rise more than proportionately with consumption. This will cost around C1,200 for the borehole and the pump, although it will depend on the depth of the borehole. The drilling of a borehole requires a Government permit first.
When the building permit is issued works may begin. Try to avoid variations/changes as these will give rise to claims on the part of the contractor which will mean a financial loss to you. Upon completion of the work your architect must submit drawings (as built) to the Appropriate Authority, if changes have been introduced, for the issue of a covering building permit.
Transfer of ownership from vendor to purchaser is accomplished by a simple procedure through the land registry office. The contract of sale must be in writing, and it is advisable that such contracts be registered at the District Land Registry Office within 60 days from the contract date.When issued, the title deed will be registered in the name of the buyer and will be recorded in the government archives - these are confidential and will not be published or made accessible under any circumstances.
The transfer of the title can be effective once the Council of Ministers’ permission is obtained along with confirmation of receipt of the foreign funds. Upon transfer and registration in the purchasers name the district Land Registry Office will charge transfer fees which are based on the market value of the property at the time of purchase - as follows: Value up to CY50,000 - 3% CY50,001 - CY100,000 - 5% CY100,000+ - 8%
Development of land into villas in estates is now very common in the Paphos area, mainly on the hills between Paphos and Polis. Projects are developed to take the form of villages with the individual villas designed in traditional architecture. There are, of course, cases where the purchaser may have a good say in the design of his villa. The same type of projects are now being carried out in Limassol and to a lesser extent in the Larnaca area.
According to the news, the real estate market today is at its lowest. That is why the housing market is littered with foreclosures, which really is creating some serious trouble to the homeowners. The situation makes homeowners tap into their escrow and second mortgage.
Consumer reports foretell of a slump in the real estate market in 2008. So where does that leave the investor?
The more seasoned investors would rejoice to hear a fall in the housing market prices because it would mean cheaper property for them to buy. This is really a kept tactic among investors. Even a newbie investor could join in the buying frenzy that is happening now.
A word to the wise is to be smart although, you want to get the biggest bang for your invested dollar. Don’t waste your time on something that will eat all your budget, because we all know when something usually looks good it’s not.
An ideal deal for investors is one that makes them save capital; it usually goes with a purchase of multiple properties with the same amount of money they would otherwise spend in a single purchase. The most opportune time to make multiple purchases is NOW when the market is seeing a slump in the prices. This action will, in the long-run, make you more money.
It’s always best to be on your toes when inspecting a property though. Don’t sign anything before knowing that you get the best value for your money for any purchase. You should always bear this in mind in each of your property purchases.
Investors are alerted, you don’t have to stop at residential or commercial properties; don’t limit yourself. Think big, dream big HUD homes, abandoned buildings, old historic homes and commercial buildings are all exceptional ways to make added income. Most of those purchases can be very cheap and don’t require large amounts of investments for repairs, as you can bring a property back to life fairly cheaper now than you could five years ago.
A historic home that is remodeled and brought anew is very enticing for local business office, that’s why they make a good investment. Nowadays, businesses spring up like mushrooms so that the demand for commercial buildings sees no letting-up.
Continue to watch the market as 2008 will be the year to buy and sell all types of real estate. Remember to stay keen so not to get stuck in a bad deal and out a lot of money. We’ve all heard it takes money to make money which is absolutely true, but don’t walk before you can crawl.
Whether it’s a financial problem, an unexpected move because of a job, or some other reason, there comes a time when selling quickly is a must.
Set the price right. We all want to get the best price on the sale of our home, but when time is of the essence, we lose the ability to haggle. If you want to get out of your home fast, without having to wait around for your home to sell, set your price below the going value. You can do this by visiting a few websites to get a more realistic price like, www.rightmove.co.uk, www.nethouseprices.com and the land registery website. A small drop in the price will be enough to bring buyers to your door.
Advertise well. Getting the word out that your house is for sale is one of the most important parts of getting it over with quickly. Take out newspaper ads, let everyone you know be aware that you’re selling, and place ads on local real estate websites. If no one knows you’re selling, your chances of selling a home quickly go down dramatically.
In addition, you can look for people who buy houses. These investors are called cash buyers and can pay you quickly for your home and close in a matter of days or weeks as they are normally cash buyers, look for a company that specialise in fast cash sale of homes. Investors also offer the benefit that they’ll take care of most of your paperwork and other hassles, leaving you free to take the money and go and most of these companies charge you the customer nothing.
Maybe your home needs more repairs to go on the market normally than you feel comfortable making. Perhaps you’re dealing with a nasty divorce that everyone wants to put behind them. Perhaps you just got a new job and have to move as soon as you can!
No matter what your reasons for needing to sell your house quickly, pricing it well, advertising properly, and dealing with a fast sale company who has experience buying houses can help you get the job done.
Many homeowners are realizing money their homes so they can do a lot more than with it, and with a little bit of careful investing, you can find that there are many different reasons to see what equity release can do it for you. If you are new to the concept, take a look below for some facts that are related to this fascinating new business proposition.
Equity Release works on the basis that your home has risen in price over the last decade or so. With equity release, you will be given a cash lump sum based on the value of your property and you will be able to continue to live in your home.
How Do i get the cash lump sum? Essentially, When you sell your home the sum of money from the sale of your house will go to you and the firm that set up the equity release for you in the first place will get a certain percentage then you are free to rent it back for as long as you like at a pre-agreed amount.
Who Should I be Interested in Equity Release? Many of the people who get involved in equity release are retirees. They may or may not have children, and if they do, their children will usually be provided for in other ways; the presence of equity release negates the chance of the house being inherited. This does free your children from needing to worry about property taxes and inheritance tax, which can be a benefit. People taking part in equity release will also have more money to enjoy, money that can greatly enhance a pension plan
Is Equity Release Right for You? Not every equity release contract is created equal, and you might need to do some shopping to get the plan that is right for you. Typically, the people who get involved in equity release are between 55 and 77 years of age. Remember that any representative from an equity release company will be more than happy to discuss the figures with you and help you figure out your needs.
If you are interested in equity release, there has never been a better time to get look into it. Take a look into this investment strategy and see how this plan can work for you!
In life, we all have to deal with emergencies and crises, and more often than not, we might find that we are in a situation where a substantial sum of money is required. In this case, there are several different options open to us, but one that is becoming more and more common to people in the UK is the concept of selling their home and then renting it back. What is this system and why is it becoming so prevalent in the real estate landscape? Take a look below to get a good grasp on this phenomenon and what it can do for you.
Sell and rent back is the opportunity for the home owner to sell their house to a company and then rent it back from them at the going rate or at a pre discussed lower rate. You would not even have to pack your bags and move out it is all sorted out via paperwork and through the solicitors with both parties being able to agree on certian terms.
In a Sell and rent back sale you will typically be selling your home for less than the market value, however there are no fees to you as an individual, all the solicitors are arranged on your behalf as well. It is a stress free process and even though you have agreed a lower price on your home the end result will be very benificial.
What are the advantages? There are several advantages to taking a firm up on this offer. Many firms who participate in sell and rent back setups will be able to complete all processes in a few weeks, with none of the problems and stress that goes with selling a house. You’ll also find that many sell and rent back firms state that most people only receive 85% of the worth of their homes when they sell conventionally, and that they will offer between 70% and 80% of the worth of the home, based on a surveyor’s professional opinion.
One of the biggest things that firms who sell and rent back homes offer, though, is discretion. Neighbours won’t be clued in by repossession men showing up, and there will be virtually no disruption in your lives. You’ll continue living as you have before, and it can be a real blessing not to force your children to change schools.
Take a look at some of the facts and think about whether this option is the right one for you. When you are looking for good financial solutions, you need to consider every possible solution, so don’t let the option to sell and rent back your house slide by.
