Sunday, January 29, 2012

Nigerian Properties - Affordable Properties in Ikoyi

The Law of demand and supply is one that even the most unschooled market women understand. If there is scarcity (low supply), prices go up as those who desire goods bid higher to ensure that they get them. On the other hand, if there are lots of goods available for sale, more than the volume of demand, prices drop as suppliers need to offload their stock.


A journey through Ikoyi will reveal as many as 16 building construction projects at various stages of completion.


In Old Ikoyi, which used to be the preserve of top Government officials, multinationals and embassy officials, supply of properties was restricted because those who owned the properties were not interested in selling them. That had the effect of pushing up prices and rental rates with rental rates as high as 0,000. The result of this was that most developments in Ikoyi were high end luxury flats, only for rent to those who could afford them.


In recent times however, things have changed.

The Federal Government of Nigeria sold over 800 of it's properties as well as over 4 high rise towers in the exclusive neighbourhoods. Embassies and High Commissions, which were moving to Abuja, also sold off their own properties. This ordinarily might not have had much effect on the market but as was discovered, most of the buyers of these properties were developers and investment speculators. The idea was either to buy the house on large acreages, demolish them and build high rises for lease or hold the properties as they were for a period and then sell them off.

The result of all the above is that Old Ikoyi has since become one big building construction site and there are several hundreds of undeveloped Ikoyi properties on the market for sale.


Pundits are of the opinion that due to market forces (supply of properties), a new class of estate developer will emerge that will target the middle classes with prices between N70 million and N90 million for flats or terrace houses.

These developers will in all probability not look at the rental market. Rather, they will target people who have a nostalgic hanker for an Ikoyi address. These developers will premise their strategy on the belief that the middle class will give up their compounds in VGC, Ikeja GRA and Lekki 1 for smaller apartments in Ikoyi. There will be a difference however, these 'middle class' properties will not be the high end type apartments with marble and granite finishes, swimming pools, gyms and other amenities but rather simple well built units. Their argument is that the Old Ikoyi market simply cannot accommodate all the luxury apartments if these are the only type of properties to be built there. The market has to be widened to accommodate the middle class.

Another group of analysts with a totally different opinion believe that those who own such properties have deep pockets and can weather the storm, waiting until they have the desired buyers/renters at the right price before dealing.


Who is right? Time will tell. But there is that tantalizing prospect that a new generation of Ikoyi landlords could just materialize.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Allentown Apartments


Need to find an apartment in Allentown PA? There are many apartments to rent - studios and all the way up to 4 bedrooms, depending on how large your family is. You can affordable rentals online - many people like to start with Craigslist when conducting their search. You can also try Rent.com or Apartments.com - these 2 are very popular and you can search by all kinds of factors - prices, number of bedrooms, proximity to a location, etc.


If you are looking for some specific Allentown apartments, here are a few examples. The Tremont Apartments are very close to great shopping and restaurants and are just a short drive from the freeways - 22, 78 and 309. There is staff on site around the clock and you have easy access to public transportation.


Whispering Hills in Allentown, has a great design and offers 1 and 2 bedrooms at extremely affordable prices.

If you want units close to a park and great dining, then try these out by scheduling an appointment to go take a look.

The Riverbend apartments accept pets and you can choose from single bedroom units to double bedroom units. There are lovely trees that adorn the throughways between the apartment complexes, come look and you'll fall in love with these rentals.


The Allen Garden apartments are very close to the mall and excellent dining options. Just minutes from the Lehigh parkway, you can rest assured when you are there as there is on site staff 24 hours a day.


The Whitestone offers gorgeous views of the mountains and the the valley and is nestled into southwest Allentown. Find spacious one and 2 bedroom rentals available today!



Saturday, January 14, 2012

Properties Information

Consider unique note of any cracks below the damp evidence program as this may indicate key difficulties with the residence.

Out Buildings

Test the situation of any outbuildings linked with the property. That consists of sheds, garages, outdoor offices, barns, stables, toilets or anything else.

Alterations

Check the state of any alterations that have been produced to the home. Check extensions, loft conversions, basement conversions (be especially mindful of any difficulties with damp in basement conversions because, if they have not been constructed correctly, these conversions are notorious for damp troubles, ).

It is crucial that you test any applicable paperwork and make certain that things wherever completed according to developing rules and that preparing permission was obtained exactly where necessary. It is also a good notion to watch any present ensures or warranties the vendor has.

Internal


Is the property new assemble, established (older) or refurbished?
What is the common state of fix of the inside of of the home? Does it look to have been looked right after very well?
Is the decoration hoping to hide anything? Be mindful of ceilings painted in a dark colour that might hide some sinister key, these kinds of as, h2o damage, underneath the paint function.
Is there any kind of sound proofing in the ceiling, floors or walls?
Does the house have first functions that will add to its appeal?
What is the state of the Windows and what are they designed of? Are the Windows double glazed? Do they appear like they want replacing or repairing? Windows in disrepair can be good for aiding you to negotiate a more cost-effective selling price with the vendor.
Is there a damp evidence program. You can at times inform this by checking the walls outside the home. If there is a black line about two or three bricks up, this would commonly indicated that there is a damp evidence program current.

Other Things to Test

If you are attempting to be meticulous in your property survey, then you will likely also want to test the seven details on the record below.


What's the state of the fixtures and fittings in the property?
Is there central heating? How aged is the boiler? Are there documents offered to indicate the services heritage?
Is there a shared main water provide and has there been a water meter fitted.
Look at there is adequate ventilation in the home, specifically in locations such as the kitchen area and bathroom.
Does the electric provide have some sort of trip mechanism? How aged is it? Does it seem to be like it will have to have replacing or repairing in the near potential?
Consider and get a look behind any furniture or appliances that seem out of put. They may perhaps have been place there to conceal a problem lurking behind them.
You should really flush the toilets and operate the h2o to check out that the h2o drains absent effectively and to examine that there are no strange noises, this kind of as, a loud knocking when the drinking water is run.
It is just a issue of locating the appropriate company which is regional to you so can chill out in the information that your property is an asset creating you revenue and not a painful headache.

What is An Entitlement?

The definition of entitlement with regard to land improvement is the legal strategy of acquiring approvals for the appropriate to produce residence for a specific use.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Property recruitment

Cavendish Careers London’s premier property recruitment agency. Founded by Kate Waller with the sole aim of supplying clients in the property sector with qualified and experienced professionals Cavendish Careers has built a reputation for providing property recruitment candidates to a range of blue clip and SME organisations throughout the London and Essex areas.

As an ambitious business Cavendish Careers has one singular aim in mind, to become the property recruitment agency of choice for the property sector in London. Our property recruitment agency offers a uniquely tailored service to each and every client. Together with our passion for property and general knowledge of the property sector we can guarantee a service that is second to none.

Cavendish Careers property recruitment understands the value of placing the right candidate in the right position.

We offer our clients the benefit of a wide range of skills, knowledge and professionalism which is as beneficial to our clients as it is to our candidates.

Once our property recruitment agency has placed you in your ideal career our commitment to you does not stop there. We endeavour to keep in contact with every one of our clients to make sure that they are happy in the role and progress sufficiently. This level of service extends for all our placements in the property recruitment sectors. No matter if you are taking your first steps in the property industry or have decades of experience we liaise with you constantly to make sure that our role is ideally suited to you.

Here at Cavendish Careers property recruitment agency we think that you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the level of professionalism and affordability of our service. We strongly believe in forming effective working relationships with each of our clients as we understand that this is the best way to identify the needs of both parties.

If you’d like to know just what Cavendish Careers can offer you, whether you’re a business or a candidate then come and visit us online at: www.cavendishcareers.co.uk.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Private Property Rights

A free society based on capitalism and freedom requires private property rights. These property rights are human rights. And such rights must be defined, appropriated, honored, respected and protected.

Land ownership includes a bundle of rights of many rights. A right is the exclusive authority to make a decision or determination of how land or a component or right in the land is used or not used and owned.

An owner of private property has the:

a. Right to use his land;
b. Right to rent his home or land;
c. Right to decide who the renter can be;
d. Right to decide how land or rights or portions of land can be used or not used as long as it does not harm society or the public;
e. Right to collect all rents the land produces;
f. Right to give, sell, rent any of the rights an owner has in the land;
g. Right to exchange or give away or sell at any price the owner wants to charge that a buyer or receiver is willing to pay or accept.
h. Right to exchange or sell the lands resources with someone willing to trade;
i. Right to have exclusive rights and use of the resources on the land;
j. Exclusive rights to use and choose which portions of the land and rights to use at any given time.

Restrictions and controls on private real estate obviously have a negative affect on a free country. The value of land and real estate is determined by the demand and desire of others. The highest and best use of the real estate or land is influenced by what the public perceives it is and what they feel they can do with it and what the highest value and best use is that the property commands. The owner gets the choice to either sell or rent for that highest paying use or may choose to allow or rent or sell for a lesser use for less money. Private property rights are the prevailing force of land control and control of natural resources in a truly free society rather than government control or control through destructive competition.

All property or real estate enjoys the same rights. Rights an owner has in real estate vary property to property even when next door to one another. The more complete the private property rights an owner has in his land, the more people understand those rights, the more people will pay or compete for a property with more complete owner's property rights, all other influences being the same. Would you pay more or less for 10 acres that you can never build on due to restrictive land use laws versus similar 10 acres you can build 10 homes on and you can build anything you want on?

Land use controls imposed by the government do not reduce the need for desire or demand for housing or land and devalue land that is overly restricted. Individual liberty are protected by private property rights. Private property rights are human rights.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Incentives, Acquisitions and Easements

Land conservation - the practice of holding land open and free of development - has become a significant real estate activity in the United States. Since 1988 voters across the country have approved spending around $54 billion on land conservation in state and local ballot measures, according to the Trust for Public Land. Additional private money is spent on conservation through non-profit land trusts and conservation by individuals and corporations. Land conservation has become an important component of smart growth efforts, as well as for environmental protection and recreational opportunities.

Understanding the purpose, various techniques available and other issues associated with land conservation is essential for real estate and appraisal professionals. Land owners may receive benefits for conserving their land, but must also be aware of costs and potential issues. Sale of land for conservation may have additional benefits. Land conservation programs can have significant impacts on real estate markets, valuation, and can affect the use of adjacent land as well as the land being conserved. Implications for long term maintenance cost, valuation and taxes may be complex and substantial.

Many land conservation actions attempt to preserve the land in a natural condition to achieve environmental benefits. Other approaches may intend to preserve agricultural use rather than a natural environment. In any case, the overriding objective is usually to work cooperatively with property owners to limit urban development in order to achieve other public goals.

Land conservation actions can be as simple as an individual landowner deciding not to develop land, but instead preserve the natural environment. Land conservation can occur with relatively simple easements on private property that prevent future development. Easements can be sold, exchanged for other land, provide tax reductions, or granted for a variety of other considerations. Conservation can also occur through fee simple purchase of land. Purchase might be based on the full market value or for another negotiated value allowing some continued use or tenancy by the seller.

Government agencies are typically involved in land conservation efforts. Other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as non-profit land trusts and other conservation organizations may be partly or solely involved. In more complex circumstances, all the governmental and NGO entities and available tools may be used in some combination to conserve larger properties or areas.

The basic conservation tools are:

Personal action - efforts on the part of individual land owners to conserve their land because it benefits quality of life for themselves and the public. Historically, farming and ranching has maintained open land as an inherent part of the land use. Today, some individuals are acquiring and operating farms and ranches specifically for conservation purposes. Ted Turner is perhaps the best known, and is the largest private landowner in the United States. His working ranches are economically viable businesses that simultaneously support conservation goals, including water resource management, reforestation and reintroduction of native species.

Land acquisition - fee simple purchase of the land by government, land trusts, other conservation organizations or voluntary donation by the property owner. An acquisition example is the Richardson's Bay Sanctuary, located on the edge of San Francisco Bay in California. The Audubon Society purchased submerged and upland areas to provide habitat for wildlife and migratory water birds.

Conservation easements - these are legally binding agreements that limit uses and development of a property and protecting the ecological values of the property for public benefit. This is accomplished through either through voluntary sale by the property owner or grant. Conservation easements are the most commonly used conservation tool. Anyone interested in participating in a conservation easement should carefully review the conservation easement information found through state and local government resources, including a detailed review of the policies and procedures.

Financial incentives - other benefits provided by government to the property owner to conserve the land, such as special tax districts for open lands, tax rate reductions or deductions, or allowances to transfer the development potential to another location. Financial incentives typically work in combination with other tools such as conservation easements. Financial incentives such as reduction of inheritance taxes may be essential for land owners to maintain an existing use, such as farming or ranching and pass the land on to descendants.

Risks Associated With Land Conservation

All parties involved in land conservation assume some risks, such as:

  • Property owners entering into conservation easements limit the future use of the land; in most cases they won't be able to change their minds later. Tax benefits of conservation might be initially attractive, but future legislation could change those benefits. Depending on the structure of the easement, the land owner could be responsible for some maintenance with unanticipated costs.

  • The easement holder, such as a land trust, pays the cost of acquiring the easement, and may assume obligations to enforce the easement and, again depending on the specific easement, long term maintenance. They run the risk of unanticipated long term costs, and maintaining a cooperative working relationship with the current and future land owners. Unanticipated impacts to the easement area might reduce the value of the easement.

  • The public may risk similar unanticipated long term costs, as well as affects on tax base and revenues. In some cases acquisition of open space land may unexpectedly limit some future options if adequate long range planning is not first done.

Management of these and other risks indicates that all parties should exercise caution, and consult with appropriate professionals. The services of attorneys, accountants, appraisers, REALTORS and land planners may be needed, as well as coordination with government agencies and conservation organizations. The unique attributes and complexity of land conversation issues highlights the need for experienced professionals.

Summary

  • Planning for large scale conservation must consider implications to the local tax base and revenue; if public land acquisition is the preferred approach, the tax base may shrink with less private land, but remaining private land values may increase, providing an offset.

  • Property owners donating conservation easements may qualify for property tax reductions and income tax deductions; they should be cautious about ensuring they meet all applicable guidelines for claiming tax benefits.

  • Conflicts can result between active and passive recreational uses of open space; conservation actions should clearly identify the purposes of conservation and the uses consistent with those purposes in order to avoid conflict.

  • Long term maintenance of open space is a significant cost consideration that should be included in any conservation action.

Make sure that any professional you are working with is well educated in both the process and the law before engaging them in any conservation easement action.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Washington Waterfront Homes For Sale

When you think of Washington State, most people conjure up visions of Microsoft, Boeing, Starbucks and the high tech sector that makes Seattle the number one technology hub in the US. To those who call Washington home, this infrastructure affords an opulent lifestyle along side some pristine waterfront.

Washington State is home to some of the worlds most beautiful waterfront shoreline. The west side of Washington state borders the Pacific Ocean with hundreds of miles of water frontage and some amazing waterfront homes throughout the San Juan Islands. Throughout Washington state you'll also find an array of Lakes and Rivers, each offering a unique selection of waterfront homes.

The Puget Sound is home to 172 islands in San Juan County. The waterfront homes available among the San Juan Islands range from rustic cabins to multi-million dollar estates. Only 4 of the Islands are serviced by the Washington State Ferry system, Orcas Island, San Juan Island, Lopez Island and Friday Harbor. Each of the Islands offer a scenic waterfront experience for the homes located there including sandy beaches, pebble beaches and high bluff views.

Lake Washington is the largest freshwater lake in Washington, and is located adjacent to Seattle and Bellevue. Mercer Island waterfront is situated at the middle of the lake. Washington is known for it's abundant rain and clean water that contributes to the 29 lakes of 1000 acres in surface area, and many smaller lakes within the state. These bodies of water provide prime waterfront home locations for recreation and year around living.

There are 14 main rivers that feed into the Puget Sound for those prefer a waterfront home along the crystal clear waters of a rushing river. There are hundreds if not thousands of miles of scenic river waterfront that also enjoys the diverse natural beauty of rugged mountains, high desert or thick forests. The largest of these rivers include the Columbia River, Snake River and Yakima River. Washington waterfront homes along these waterways enjoy not only the beauty, but also the abundance of fish for anglers.

The average annual precipitation in Washington state is 27.66 inches with the majority of this rain falling on the western part of the states waterfront homes. This is a mixed blessing that keeps the water water frontage and air clean and fresh, but tends to slow down the outdoor recreation on the water. Much of the annual rainfall accumulates within the months of Oct. - April and leaves the summer mostly sunny and warm for fun. Many of waterfront homes are second homes reserved for summer fun while toughing out the winters in a warmer and dryer climate like Arizona. For the locals of Washington fleece and waterproof jackets are staples of their daily wardrobe.