What is Real Estate

Writen by Jennifer Tweed

As the buy to let market continues to go from strength to strength, a unique selling opportunity has been created for landlords looking to dispose of both residential and commercial buy to let property with the ability for transactions to take place directly between landlords.

Set up by experienced property investors with an acute understanding of all aspects involved in buying and selling of investment property. New investors can benefit from the knowledge that it has been created with the sole focus of property investment and everything associated with the buying and selling of an investment property. A distinct advantage of this site is that regular mailings go out to more than 160,000 active property investors. Unlike other property portals where they are dependent on investors looking at properties at a time convenient to them, this site will inform property investors when new properties have become available for sale. So although a property investor may not be 'actively' looking, they may still consider the property if it is a viable proposition. It creates a totally pro-active approach to buying and selling investment property.

Learn how to buy and sell investment property. Learn how to secure the best buy to let mortgage products and source the most competitive furniture and insurance products for your investment property. It's often difficult to find everything you need for an investment property without having to trawl through many different sites.

Create your own investment property advert for your own property in just a couple of minutes to include a photograph. By advertising privately to other property investors, it could save you £1000's on selling agent fees and avoid you having to be involved in a long property chain.

Landlords can sell with or without tenants already in place. Interested parties have the opportunity to liaise directly with the seller if its a private sale and 'offers' can be posted to the seller's personal account where offers submitted can be viewed and negotiations taken from there.

All types of investment property including properties with tenants already in situ, re-sales, new builds, commercial property, auction property and property in need or modernization as well as property that may be suitable for investment purposes can be featured.

Landlords decide to sell their properties for a number of different reasons. Perhaps to raise capital for other investments. It may be to try an investment in another area. And finally, we can't avoid the simple fact that as divorce rates continue to rise, so to does the need to dispose of their assets as quickly as possible without the expense of covering mortgage payments whilst their buy to let properties are for sale. Until now, the majority of landlords looking to sell would normally approach their local estate agent to handle the sale at a cost of somewhere between 1.5% and 3% commission and more often than not this may involve the property having to be sold with vacant possession.

You can also find solicitors, letting agents, and accountants. Ask buy to let and SIPPS questions to an industry specialist.

Tenants are a valuable asset and if you are looking to sell a buy to let property to an existing or potential landlord, the tenants will be grateful that they haven't had to find alternative living arrangements whilst the property is being sold. The whole process makes it easier and more cost effective for all parties involved.

The founders of http://www.buytolet4sale.com are property investors with more than 12 years experience. The founders have more than 16 years global marketing experience providing an excellent marketing and selling opportunity for investment property.

Writen by Claudia Gonella

The word is out: "Nicaragua is the new Costa Rica" but with prices 45-55% lower than its southern neighbor. Nicaragua is well and truly bouncing back from its troubled and often misunderstood past and beginning to transform into a sought-after investment and tourism destination. Misconceptions still persist, but in many ways that only increases the opportunity that Nicaragua offers.

Nicaragua's democratically elected government is showing a great capacity to reform in line with its commitment to a free-market economy. The country is booming and tourism is now the number-one industry, increasing by over 19% in 2005 even considering a record-breaking year in 2004. There is a real buzz in the air for this land of opportunity. Whether you are looking for a retirement or vacation destination, a place to start a business or a place to invest for the future, Nicaragua is definitely worth considering.

How much is good real estate information worth?

Market knowledge based on fact and base trends, rather than exaggeration and hype (in both directions) can make the difference between a good investment and a great one. The aim of this article is to capture the essence of the successful real estate investor in Nicaragua. We have consolidated the experience of hundreds of investors and identified seven success strategies for successful real estate investing in Nicaragua.

We hope that this encourages more investors into taking the first step in exploring real estate opportunities outside their home countries with confidence. Although imbued with a Nicaraguan flavor for the purposes of this article, many of the principles and steps highlighted in this article will also hold true in other investment destinations and contexts.

Seven success strategies for real estate investing in Nicaragua

1. Understand the link between tourism and real estate

Tourism brought in almost $200 million in 2005, according to the Nicaraguan government, more than any other single industry in its $5 billion economy. Current projections indicate that by 2007 there will be more than one million visitors to the country. The profile of visitors has shown a marked shift from budget tourists to more affluent and sophisticated travellers and higher-end hotels in tourist areas show consistently high occupancy.

There is strong relationship between leisure and vocational markets and the market for second homes and retirement homes. The areas attracting the most tourism are also generating the greatest levels of real estate activity. For certain real estate products, the link between tourism and real estate is particularly direct and immediate. Pelican Eyes…Piedras y Olas the highest quality hotel in San Juan del Sur, boasting occupancy levels well above industry standards since it opened, offers the possibility for investors to purchase a villa or duplex unit and participate in the revenues generated by the hotel.

2. Know where you are in a property cycle

Nicaragua has seen considerable price rises in the past few years. We have calculated percentage price changes for serviced lots between 2002 and 2005 for seven well known real estate developments on the Pacific that have been active over this period (most developments are more recent) and are still selling property. Over this period prices have risen by an average of 87%. Unimproved colonial homes in Granada have been rising by around 25% per year for the past three years. These price rises indicate that Nicaragua is now on the map as an investment destination, the positive price trend has started, but we are only just seeing the beginnings of a "second wave" of investors: the pre-retirement and retirement market.

Speculators still make up a considerable proportion of investors but an increasing number of pre-retirement / retirement and second home buyers are emerging. Much has been made of the 'baby boomer' generation when analyzing future buying trends in many markets worldwide. Baby boomers began turning 50 in 1996 and 78 million of them began to enter their period of highest earnings and greatest discretionary dollars. It is said that over the next 20 years the baby boomer generation will likely constitute the largest potential market ever for real estate products, especially second homes and timeshare/fractional ownership offerings.

The real estate product on offer has also evolved from simple lot sales (sold mainly to speculative buyers) to turnkey products with sophisticated facilities and services for longer term investors and the retirement market. A consistent growth in condominium constructions and sales has been evident for 18 months and is accelerating.

3. Follow trends not events

The bulk of foreign investment into the real estate and tourism sectors in Nicaragua is focused on the south-western part of the country. To take the Pacific coast as an example, in conjunction with Calvet & Associates, we have catalogued over 70 developments on the Pacific marketing to foreign buyers between El Transito and the Costa Rican border. The south-west of the country also includes the colonial town of Granada, Lake Nicaragua and the beautiful Laguna de Apoyo crater lake.

A number of investors are seeking out areas where there is less activity, for example beachfront areas further north. The prices may be lower in the northern part of the coastline - but for a reason - and it is important for investors to take this into account before they make an property purchase. The south western coastline has more dramatic geography, whiter sand beaches, richer biodiversity, better surfing, safer swimming areas and cooling lake and ocean breezes and, yes, also more recently investor momentum. This is not to say that there will be no price appreciation and development on beach areas further to the north but that a significant price differential will likely remain into the future.

4. Build a good network

Investors commonly complain of an overload of market information and building a good network will allow you to triangulate and contextualize information that you receive. Not surprisingly, given the excitement about the real estate market, there is a great deal of story telling and exaggeration that goes on. Do your due diligence, work with realtors who know the market, learn from professionals and be skeptical about claims that you can flip your property for 100% more "when the International Living investors come into town in a few weeks."

A solid piece of advice is to buy only what you see. Make up your mind on what you think the inherent value is of the property that you are looking at is. Don't factor in the "new coastal road" the "new airport" the "new Marriott" into the price. Certainly not if you are investing for the short term. Coldwell Banker Nicaragua has a network of lawyers, project managers, master planners and investment analysts who have a long track record of advising investors on real estate acquisition and development in Central America – these are independent third parties who can provide un-emotive grounded advice.

5. Due diligence everything

More specifically, retain competent legal representation and take out title insurance. Nicaragua has a particularly complex title history and some buyers who have not looked deeply enough into the title history of purchased property are now mired in difficult legal problems. A number of real estate developers try and persuade buyers to use their own legal team for property purchasing. Our advice is to employ independent legal advise at least to review (if not draw up) the purchase contract you are signing and check the title history on the property.

Coldwell Banker Nicaragua recommends investors to take out a title insurance policy. Other realtors do not recommend title insurance as the due diligence that ensues can slow down the purchase process and raise difficult questions. Seeking title insurance will force your lawyer to delve many years back into the property history of the property you are purchasing and follow a set of criteria in their reporting. If you are buying raw land parcels outside of a development your due diligence list needs to be longer and will cover infrastructure issues, environmental issues and development permits.

6. Invest with a confidence, develop with a conscience

This is the strap-line of the Nica Dev campaign run by Donn Wilson a developer, entrepreneur and surfer who has made San Juan del Sur his home. Nica Dev recognizes that real estate investors are entering into another country and have an obligation to respect the land, the people and the environment. When you arrive in Nicaragua the impression that you get is of a warmhearted nation that is welcoming to international visitors. In order for this warm feeling to endure into the future, local Nicaraguan also need to benefit from the real estate and tourism activity that is going on in the country.

Las Fincas, a development aligned with the Nica Dev campaign, is designed with sustainable development principles built in. For example a basic solar power setup is provided for everyone who buys and the project runs a series of active community outreach projects introducing highly effective, yet low-cost and low-tech, solutions for cooking and purifying drinking water. Skills and suppliers for low impact construction with elements such as rain water capture, composting and recycling, hard to find 18 months ago, are now readily available in-country. Coldwell Banker Nicaragua is launching its own campaign to generate funds for the Nica Dev fund as well as other projects that our clients are involved in here in Nicaragua. We will be giving our clients the opportunity to contribute to selected projects at the time of closing.

7. Become and expert in investing in real estate in Nicaragua…before you invest

Coldwell Banker Nicaragua Real Estate has launched a series of concise buyer briefings to help investors interested in the real estate market in Nicaragua in their decision making. The briefings highlight real estate hotspots, analyze market trends and set out good value investment opportunities.

Claudia Gonella is a Director of Coldwell Banker Nicaragua Real Estate, Nicaragua's premier Real Estate Company and consultant to investors on the real estate market. She has published numerous articles on the Nicaragua real estate market and prepared bespoke market analysis reports for investors. Coldwell Banker Nicaragua is shortly to launch a Central American REIT. Visit us at http://www.cbnicaragua.com for our free investor briefing, property listings and investment opportunities or email info@cbnicaragua.com

Writen by Eric Morris

From stunning hills to countless lakes, the state of Minnesota has a wide selection of home sites and new homes to choose from. The word "Minnesota" is derived from a Sioux word which means cloudy water. Minnesota has an amazing 15,000 lakes, of which 75% are at least 4 acres throughout the year. Minnesota has turned into an industrial powerhouse focusing on food products, printed materials, machinery, electrical goods, fabricated metals, and medical products. Today, it has everything required to be the perfect location for your new home.

Minnesota's climate can be classified as humid. The average temperature during the month of January can go down to a chilling 0 degrees Fahrenheit near the Canadian border, and 14 degrees Fahrenheit in the south part of the state. The lowest recorded temperatures have been below 0 degrees Fahrenheit during that time of the year. The average temperature in July is about 74 degrees Fahrenheit, with the rare heat wave leading to temperatures in excess of 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Minnesota University at the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) is one of the biggest university campuses in the country. The State College system, which has 35 universities, also offers postsecondary education. Other institutions of higher learning include Bethel College, Hamline University, Macalester College, Saint John's University, College of Saint Catherine, Gustavus Adolphus College, Carleton College and Saint Olaf College.

Minnesota has a population in excess of five million. Over 6 percent of the population of the state is foreign born, compared to over 11 percent for the whole country. Most of the population is focused in the metropolitan area of the Twin Cities. The predominant race is white, constituting 88 percent of the population. The rest are black (about 3.5 percent), Hispanic (about 3 percent), Asian, Native American and others.

Minnesota Real Estate provides detailed information on Minnesota Real Estate, Minnesota Real Estate Listings, Minnesota Commercial Real Estate, Real Estate Agents in Minnesota and more. Minnesota Real Estate is affiliated with Sarasota Real Estate Marketing.

Writen by Ingrid Macher

Las Vegas is a city that everybody has the concept of what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But the reality is that Las Vegas is becoming a transition city, welcoming 7,000+ people every month, some of them finding a permanent home. The big surprise is that Las Vegas has started changing the mentality of a lot of people. When they come to Las Vegas, they realize it is more than just the famous "strip", which means Las Vegas Blvd.

When they start the relocation process and utilize the services of a professional Real Estate Agent, they discover that Las Vegas has beautiful neighborhoods like Henderson, Summerlin, Red Rock, Green Valley, Anthem, Southern Highlands, and many other areas. These neighborhoods have all the good qualities that people are looking for when they are in the process of finding a home; like beautiful parks and recreation areas, brand new school buildings, libraries, green areas, and lots of amenities like grocery stores, pharmacies, doctor offices, professional services and businesses, beauty salons, and the best restaurants in the world, all of which are available without going to the "strip."

The most interesting part of moving to Las Vegas is the endless amount of opportunities to find a job or start a new business compared to other cities, where the level of unemployment is growing more every day. Las Vegas on the other hand, is growing so fast, generating more and more employment opportunities, that there is not enough population to satisfy the demand. This is why Las Vegas is often considered the number one destination for many families in the United States.

If you are looking for comfort, good neighborhoods, employment opportunities, or starting a new business, and to live 20 minutes from huge resorts and entertainment, Las Vegas is your best destination in the world.

Ingrid Macher is a Las Vegas Real Estate Agent serving the entire Las Vegas area including Henderson, Green Valley, and Summerlin. If you have any unanswered questions, you can reach her at her Las Vegas Real Estate website. Courtesy of Article Circuit

Writen by Adam VanBuskirk

Buying a rental property and getting into the business of real estate investing and building passive income isn't something to be taken lightly. Great profits OR financial disaster and regret are both viable outcomes from owning rental properties. When buying the first rental property, it is easy for one to get overwhelmed, scared, and down-right discouraged. Below are five tips that can help relieve some of the anxiety of entering the rental property game and insure that one is prepared for the endeavor they are about to begin.

1.) Research the Real Estate Business - This doesn't mean going to community college and getting a broker's license or becoming a real estate agent and selling properties. Leave that to the people that want to make a career out of handling other people's real estate. Researching the real estate business means being prepared in the areas of financing, real estate law, and evaluating a property's worth. Extensive knowledge of those three basics will easily prepare one for real estate investing. The below three books are magnificent places to learn the above three principles.

a.) This book teaches one how to evaluate a property's worth - "The Weekend Millionaire's Secrets to Investing in Real Estate" by Mike Summey and Roger Dawson.

b.) This book teaches one how to finance a property - "Mortgages for Dummies" by Eric Tyson and Ray Brown.

c.) This book teaches one about Landlord/Tenant Law by State - "Ohio Landlord Tenant Law." Substitute "Ohio" for one's own state. The Thomson West Company publishes these.

2.) Find a Healthy Market - Owning rental properties can be very profitable, but one factor that will kill a property's profitability is constant vacancies. When buying the first rental, one needs to ensure that the real estate market is a healthy one. Signs of a healthy market are new homes being built, plenty of jobs, and nice kept lawns and nice exteriors of the homes in the neighborhood. If there are plenty of well-paying jobs in the area than one can be sure that they will have no problem renting their properties.

3.) Get the property at a Good Price - This sounds like basic knowledge and it is. Make sure to get the property for a good price. Overpaying on a property can instantly make the property unprofitable. If one reads the book mentioned in the a.) tip above, this will not be a problem; guaranteed. When purchasing a property, it is not the price alone, but rather the price that the buyer can buy the property at and still make money that matters. A net income sheet for is a great tool for evaluating a property's worth to the individual buyer.

4.)Find a Money Tree - If one has plenty of money, this is easy. They can go to their local bank, put 20% down and get on with their lives. But if one doesn't have an entire down payment of 20% setting around, then they need to find and develop a relationship with a lender. The easiest way to do this isn't searching the internet for lenders; rather it is by speaking with real estate agents. They deal with many real estate investors and often have great relationships with mortgage brokers; the people who can find a lender that doesn't require anywhere close to 20% down on a loan. Interest rates will be higher, but one can get into real estate with little up front money if they find a good mortgage broker.

5.)Overcoming Fear - This tip is the simplest to explain, but hardest to do. Everyone that has entered the rental property market was most likely scared when they began; afraid that their properties wouldn't make money, afraid of dealing with bad tenants, afraid of the headaches of managing properties, and so on. These are all legitimate fears, but ones that can easily be overcome by preparing one's self and buying their first property. As with a new career, once the person gets their first property, they begin to gain experience and realize that it isn't that hard at all.

Entering the rental property business as an investor is a great way to build passive income, prepare for retirement, and get many benefits, such as, tax breaks, an immaculate credit rating, respect within the community, and priceless business experience.

The author is the founder and owner of both ManageYourRentals.com and LandLordDocuments.com

Writen by Steven Gillman

Buying rental properties can be a great way to build your wealth. However, as in most real estate investment, it is sometimes difficult to know if you've found a good deal - especially the first time. Here are some things to look for to be sure that rental is a great investment.

1. Location. If traffic is heavier, rentals are easier to rent. A sign will often pull more response than an ad in the paper. If it is a nice locale, it will usually rent faster. This is also true of places close to amenities.

2. Numbers. Run the numbers. Get every last expense figured into your calculations, and be sure that you will have positive cash flow from the start.

3. High home prices. Look in towns with high home prices, as this creates rental demand. What do people do when they can't afford to buy? They rent.

4. Low maintenance buildings. Avoid cedar-shake roofs, and wood-sided buildings. Look beyond current expenses to how much maintenance the building will need. Low maintenance means less headaches and more profits.

5. Good rental history. Ask to see the rental history. Note how long residents are staying on average, and how well they pay on time.

6. Below market rents. Buying rental properties with below-market rents means you get to raise rents. Raising rents means you imediately raise the value, because rental property values are based on income.

7. Complies with zoning and fire codes. Have it inspected, and ask local officials if there are any problems.

8. Less than 20 years old. This is somewhat arbitrary, but if you limit your search to newer buildings, you will be less likely to have building code and maintenance problems.

9.Owner/manager that is out of state. These properties are often the best deals, because it is tough to manage a property from far away. An out of state seller is often more concerned with a quick sale than a high price.

10. Neighborhood is stable or improving. Stable is okay, but if you can buy in a neighborhood that is improving, you'll rent the units more easily, and therefore get automatic appreciation in value with time.

Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. See a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500 on his home page, or go straight to the section on Investing In Real Estate: http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

Writen by Raynor James

When buying or selling a property, it always helps to have a basic understanding of real estate terms. In this on going series of articles, we take a look at definitions starting with "home inspection."

1) Home Inspection – an inspection of the condition of a home. They are done item by item, from roof to foundation, and include looking closely at things like plumbing, heating, air conditioning, sinks, tubs, and faucets, and any appliances which convey. The general concept is that the home inspector is trained to spot problems that typical Susie and Sammy Homebuyer are likely to miss. They are not usually intended to bring up discussion about items Susie and Sammy can easily see for themselves like the color of the wall paint or what the carpets look like.

2) Home Warranty Policy – an insurance policy which pays for repairs to the working systems (heat, air conditioning, plumbing, etc.) and appliance repairs during the first year of home ownership. Details vary. Usually there is a deductible amount. They can be bought by the buyer or by the seller for the buyer.

3) Limited Power of Attorney – a writing which gives another person the legal ability to act for and sign papers for the buyer or seller in connection with the purchase and sale of a specific real property. (An example of this happened last summer when a friend of my son's gave his wife a limited power of attorney to enable her to finalize the sale of their home after he left for Iraq with members of his National Guard unit. A happy postscript is that the young man has now returned home.)

4) Personal Property – appliances which are not built-in, play equipment which is not attached, furniture, plants in containers.

As you can image, there are many real estate terms for which you have a general understanding. In our next article, we continue with the terms starting with "Pre-Approval Lender Letters."

Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org - providing FSBO homes for sale by owner. Visit our "sell my home" page at http://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to list and sell your home for free for one month. Visit http://www.fsboamerica.org/buyer.cfm to see homes for sale by owner.

Writen by John Nazareno

The San Francisco Bay Area, popularly known as the 'Bay Area' to local residents, is a diverse and thriving metropolitan region that encompasses San Francisco Bay in the northern part of California. San Francisco, North Bay, East Bay, South Bay, Peninsula and Santa Cruz make up the Bay Area regions. They are divided into nine counties: San Francisco, San Benito, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Alameda, Napa, Solano and Sonoma.

Although San Francisco City is identified as the cultural and traditional center of the Bay Area, it is not the largest or most populated city within the area. Historically, the Bay Area traces its roots from Spanish explorers who first set foot in the region and founded a Catholic church in 1776.

Bay Area is distributed over a population of nearly seven million residents (as of the latest count in 2006). People are scattered over a number of suburban and urban centers, hence, the general area name. Its generic name is derived from the various regional natures of the area, with no specific reference to a city.

Studies place the population of San Francisco Bay Area among the best in the country for overall education placement, competing with Washington D.C. and Boston. East Bay is known for being the home of famous seminaries and universities, namely Berkeley or the University of California and Stanford University.

Weather is generally agreeable but unpredictable, as bodies of water fence in the land area. Spring casts mild and cloudless days, summer is cool and overcast, and fall weather is warm, hot and sunny, with mild and clear nights, while winter brings in the most humid rainy days, alternating with clear and sunny skies.

The diverse geography is broken up into prime residential and industrial spaces, covering villages, towns and cities, parks in the national, state and regional levels, as well as airports and military bases. All these are connected by a modern and efficient transport system composed mostly of trains (commuter rail and railroads), highways and roads.

Considered as one of the most affluent regions in America, the San Francisco Bay Area boasts having the most median income per household, across the nation. Six out of the 10 best Californian areas that have the most income per capita (Belvedere, Diablo, Atherton, Woodside and Portal Valley) are all in the Bay Area. The popular Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties in Bay Area are also part of the top 100 income per capita counties in the States. As a result, the Bay Area real estate appreciated to the level of the 'most expensive zip code' league. In 2005, Forbes Magazine listed Atherton, Diablo, Ross, Nicasio, Los Altos, Tiburon, Los Gatos, Portal Valley and San Francisco as one of the top 50 most expensive places to live in.

http://www.johnhomesonline.com http://www.stateof-california.com

Writen by Seth Miller

Mobile home community parks are areas where several mobile homes are put up together. The people residing in the homes may be the owners of the homes themselves, or they may be tenants living in the homes on rent. There are about 1,500 to 2,000 mobile home parks in the USA.

In the earlier days, mobile home parks were referred to as trailer parks. The constructions of the homes were often shoddy and of low quality. These parks did not conform to hygienic standards. All these factors led to trailer parks being considered substandard and indicative of a low societal status. However, perspectives have changed in modern times. Mobile homes are today better structured and organized. They have to adhere to guidelines laid down by the Housing and Urban Development Code. Some mobile home parks today sport doublewide homes which are built of almost the same materials and are as beautifully crafted as on-site homes.

The basic purpose of mobile home parks is often to rent them out. Owners offer their homes to people for rent, even sometimes sourcing their livelihoods through them. In rural areas, the tenants have rights over the entire home as well as the pads surrounding them. However, in more desirable areas, tenants can have rights only over the space within the home, and not the home itself. The home remains the possession and the liability of the owner. This explains the higher standards of modern mobile home parks.

Mobile home community parks are considered to be housing solutions in times of disaster. During natural calamities such as floods, hurricanes and earthquakes, the people rendered homeless are often put up in mobile home parks run by governments. Other than that, mobile home parks provide residences to victims of war and refugees. Such mobile home parks are totally maintained by governments and are temporary settlements. People living in them do not have to pay any rent, or perhaps have to pay just a nominal amount for their upkeep.

Today, doublewide homes are becoming much popular in mobile home parks. Mobile home parks look more sophisticated and are better managed than their earlier versions. Singlewide homes are still popular in certain places, but overall their number is slowly dwindling out.

Mobile Homes provides detailed information on Mobile Homes, Mobile Home Community Parks, Mobile Home Rental Dealers, New Mobile Homes and more. Mobile Homes is affiliated with Motor Home Rentals.

Writen by Paul Hansen

The latest trend in vacation homes is the condo hotel. Marketed as a condominium located in a resort hotel, these private residences offer a practical way to own a vacation home, and offset some of the costs when you're not there.

Condo Hotels first started appearing in places like Miami Beach and Ft. Lauderdale. They have increased tremendously in popularity and can now be found in places like Belize and Dubai.

Most condo hotel properties are owned by names you would recognize. Companies like Hilton, Starwood, Ritz-Carlton, Bulgari, and Trump see the condo hotel trend as a solid business venture. With names like that, if you choose to invest a condo hotel, you'll know you're dealing with well-respected, successful businesses. And when you purchase a condominium in a condo hotel, you're not just buying vacation property, you're investing in the hotel business.

Here's how Condo Hotels works:

You purchase a condominium (prices range from as low as $400,000 to well over $2 million) that's located in a resort hotel. You let the hotel know when you intend to stay in your condo and they reserve the dates for you. The remainder of the time, your condo goes into a rental program, managed by the hotel, and is rented out as a hotel room.

The benefit of this type of arrangement is that you get a luxury condominium in a luxury resort, but don't have to worry about maintenance and upkeep when you're not there. In addition, because the hotel will rent out your condo, your vacation home becomes an investment property. Because hotel management handles marketing and promotion, you don't have to, and you get the added benefit of having your condo marketed as part of a well-known and respected luxury hotel. Imagine the marketing power behind names such as Ritz-Carlton and Trump! Having your vacation condo promoted under a name like that gives you unparalleled exposure.

In addition, property values for this type of investment having been steadily rising due to supply and demand. Especially for those who buy a condo during either the pre-construction or construction phase. Some have been known to increase in value by as much as 16% in the first year.

Keep in mind, there's no guarantee how often or for how long your condo will be rented while you're gone. Ideally, you could offset the costs of everything including the mortgage, but be prepared for times when that doesn't happen. Remember that this is primarily a vacation home and potential long-term investment, not a short-term, quick money maker.

Another benefit of investing in a condo hotel, rather than simply purchasing a vacation home, is that when you stay in your condo, you get all the amenities of a four or five star hotel! Most condo hotels, because they are built and marketed as resorts, have fitness rooms, spas, fine dining restaurants, and pools. Some will even have valet and concierge services, complimentary continental breakfasts, boutiques, and many will be oceanfront properties.

How is a Condo Hotel this different from a time-share?

When you purchase a time-share, you're not purchasing the property, just time at the property. You have to use the property and it's facilities during the same time every year, unless you're able to trade with someone else. This can cause challenges when trying to plan a family vacation. There's no guarantee that you'll have the same two weeks free next year that you have this year. And what if you want to go more than once year? Then you have to buy several blocks of time.

In some instances, a time-share gives you a specific week or two, but allows you to choose between several properties. You're still limited by the dates you purchased, and may not be able to find a desirable location that has your specific dates available.

With a hotel condominium, you own the condo, which means that it's yours to use as often as you'd like. No trading dates, or locations. You come and go as you please. While you do need to give the hotel advance notice so they won't rent your condo on the week you're planning to be there, as the owner, you get first pick. In addition, hotel condominiums are in such demand that they're far easier to sell than a time-share.

Overall, if you're looking for a second or vacation home, a condo hotel is well worth looking into. Not only does it give you the chance to enjoy vacationing at a luxury resort, but you've got a full-time management staff that will look after things when you're not there. Because most condo hotels are luxury hotels, you get outstanding amenities and spectacular views. Add to that the fact that you can generate a little money by putting your condo in the rental program, and you've got a pretty good deal.

As with any major purchase, it's wise to do some research before making any final decisions. Weigh the pros and cons carefully and be sure you're not purchasing the condo with grandiose ideas of making money hand-over-fist. Yes, it is potentially a good investment, as is most real estate, but be sure your expectations are realistic.

With over 14 years experience between the two, Paul and Carole have the knowledge and experience to help with all of your Miami real estate needs. Carole is a native of Miami Beach and Paul has made Miami home for the last 15 years. They have both seen and experienced the dramatic changes that have taken place in the Miami real estate market over the last several years. This knowledge of the real estate market makes them the perfect choice whether you are looking for a primary residence, second home, investment property or pre construction opportunities. With millions of dollars of closed transactions, they have the experience to avoid the pitfalls of buying and selling real estate

If you have an interest in investing in a Condo Hotel visit http://wwwcondo-hotels.blog.com/ for more information or contact the Condo Hotel Team directly at 786-586-4778. We look forward to reviewing and weighing all of the options and helping you decide if investing in the Condo Hotel market is right for you.