What is Real Estate

Writen by Ken Marlborough

If you are looking to move to Florida and don't know where to start, fret no more. All you need to do is to contact a Florida real estate agent, and it is highly likely that you will be able to get all the information that you need. Florida real estate agents have access to most all real estate listed with the multiple listing services. The real estate agents will also be able to give you feedback on the current Florida real estate market, and also advise you on the best locations to live or invest in.

The multiple listings are normally subdivided into different categories, such as residential for sale (which includes single family and condo home); residential rentals (which means long term or short term rentals of condos or single-family homes); lots or acreage, which means residential and commercially zoned lots and acreage; residential income properties, which covers apartments and condos; commercial improved, which means commercial properties for sale; commercially unimproved, which covers commercially zoned land for sale; commercial space for lease, and business opportunities for those who are seeking established businesses for sale.

The Florida Association of Realtors would be the ideal place to obtain the full listing of all properties available in Florida. The listings will give you complete information, like the property owner, the size of the property, details of the property like number of rooms, halls, bathrooms, fixtures and fittings, whether it comes with a swimming pool, if it has a beachfront or hilltop view, the price and other pertinent information that you would need before considering a purchase.

The real estate listings will also list all the available real estate agents that specialize in certain areas in Florida, which would be most helpful to you if you already have an idea as to where in Florida you would like to purchase or rent the property.

Florida Real Estate provides detailed information on Florida Real Estate, Florida Commercial Real Estate, Florida Real Estate Listings, Florida Beach Real Estate and more. Florida Real Estate is affiliated with Florida Time Share Promotions.

Writen by Nan Wood

Given the rising rents in Philadelphia and the surrounding area, many students and parents are finding it more reasonable to buy a condo. Rents in the city are at $1300.00 to $1350.00 a month for a one bedroom unit.

Since students tend to be in the area for at least three years, they are good potential buyers. They are using their time in the city to advance their education and great an appreciated investment. Real Estate currently is a better investment than taking a chance in the stock market which has been under performing in the last few years.

There are many advantages to home ownership for students and their parents –

1. Stable housing costs
2. Location of your choice
3. Reduced transportation costs
4. Lenders are willing to finance the entire purchase
5. Future income rentals
6. Ease of sale of units

My daughter attended Drexel University for five years to pursue her Engineering Studies. At the time, buying condominiums was not 'vogue'. Had I done so, the value of the property now would be more than double.

If you have students going to College in the future, this would be a good idea to consider. The obvious reason is the appreciation will help in the future to offset the cost of your 'pricey' education.

Nancy is an Accountant and Real Estate Professional. Visit RealEstateLady

Writen by Robert Lipply

Belleair Florida is a sophisticated city that portrays class and elegance. The homes in Belleair range from stunning mansions on the water, to older homes near downtown Clearwater. Many of these homes have undergone extreme renovations replenishing the charm and beauty these older homes convey. Hardwood floors, architecture and larger rooms are just a few of the features you will see in these homes. They are the type of homes you drive by and dream of living in! Shaded trees, large palm trees, and brick streets are prevalent in the downtown area. The beach is within walking distance to most neighborhoods in Belleair. Belleair truly is a gorgeous place to live!

There are many great dining options in this city. E&E Steakout Grill and Bonefish Grill are exceptional steak and seafood establishments. Their superb chefs cook up delicious entrees and nightly specials. There are also many chain restaurants in this area, as well as boutique and antique stores. Uncover an old treasure that will add that extra appeal to your home.

The tropical Belleair Beach is a tranquil setting to enjoy a walk by the water, relax in the sunshine, or dine at a seaside restaurant. This shoreline is much less congested than nearby beaches and provides residents and visitors a place to get away from it all. But if you want a night on the town or a little more excitement, Clearwater Beach offers live entertainment and nightlife and is just a few miles from Belleair. If you are looking for a captivating place to call home or a new vacation spot, check out all that Belleair has to offer.

Bob Lipply is a top Real Estate Broker Associate in the Tampa Bay Real Estate area. He and his team have been helping families relocate to Florida and on the selling end get top dollar for their homes with great success. Lipply Real Estate also specializes in Belleair Real Estate visit his website where you can search the MLS for up to date available homes for sale.

Writen by Virginia Zignego

If you plan to become a landlord through investment homes, do your homework before you buy to find out what type of homes are in most demand in the area.

How to become a landlord with investment home rentals

1. Talk to rental agents. An agent who handles a large number of rentals can tell you what type of full-time or vacation homes renters are looking for.
2. Read newspaper classifieds to determine which types of properties seem to be most popular, and how much they are renting for during the different seasons.
3. If the area attracts a lot of senior citizens, one-level living may be the best choice, or at least a house with the main living quarters on the first floor. Avoid homes where renters must climb stairs to reach the entrance.
4. Look for a property within a reasonable distance of shopping and area attractions.
5. Before buying investment homes in a development, make sure the restrictive covenants allow rentals.
6. Talk to an accountant to verify that the income you can realistically expect to receive is appropriate for the purchase price of investment properties and the projected maintenance fees.

What to look for when purchasing investment homes as vacation homes

• Make sure the investment homes are within 10 minutes to the attractions (for example, the most popular vacation homes in Orlando are close to theme parks).
• Vacationers will expect a screened and heated swimming pool.
• Look for a home that is easy to maintain. Ceramic tile is easy to maintain, has a classy appearance and will survive wear and tear better than carpet.
• A pool Jacuzzi, or jacuzzi bath tub is a nice features.
• The more privacy the yard provides, the better. People like to sunbathe on their vacations. Water views and conservation area are always a plus.
• Larger homes of four to five bedrooms are designed to accommodate more than one family. Having a fully functional kitchen is important, as these customers will be looking to save money on daily maid service or restaurant dining.

Turning investment properties into a business

Property management companies come in two types - those that manage the property and those that rent and manage the property.

• Management services: hire individuals to do repairs, property key disbursement and retrieval, make phone service available 24 hours a day for problems that arise and are responsible for the general inspection of the property.
• Rental and management services: include all of the above, as well as advertising and finding renters for the property and handling rental payments.

Monthly expenses and additional costs

Your monthly expenses will generally include the following:

• property maintenance company
• pool maintenance
• lawn care
• pest control
• electricity service
• water service
• trash pickup
• cable service
• phone service
• Internet service

Additional costs will generally include the following:

• property taxes
• insurance
• advertising and marketing fees
• cleaning fees at the end of a rental period

Inside Ann Arbor Real Estate is a network entirely devoted to real estate information. The entire Inside Real Estate network has more than 100,000 pages of real estate for cities allover the United States. Inside Real Estate covers several topics from the basic "how to's" of real estate to city-specific real estate information.

Writen by Johnny Mayer

Are you in the market to buy a home in Chicago? Do you know where you plan to live? Chicago's many neighborhoods have their own unique identities and customs. Which Chicago property is right for you? The only way to know is get out and view some Chicago real estate in different areas. Here are a few communities to visit in your Chicago properties search.

Skokie - Chicago Real Estate

Skokie (formerly Niles Centre) is a suburb of Chicago about 15 miles from the famous "Chicago Loop". If you are looking for a Chicago property it's a great place to live. There are about 65,000 people in area. Have your Chicago real estate agent show you homes on Old Orchard Road, Golf Road, Dempster Street, Main Street and Touhy Avenue. Also, check out people that want to sell a home in Chicago on Skokie Boulevard, Crawford Avenue, and McCormick Boulevard. Major diagonal streets are Lincoln Avenue, Niles Center Road, and Gross Point Road. Happy house hunting

Rogers Park - Chicago Real Estate

Rogers Park began as a farming community in about 1830 with immigrants from Germany. There are excellent Chicago properties that reflect German, English, Irish and Jewish families that moved to Rogers Park. The 2000 census showed Rogers Park is one of the most diverse American communities. If you're into diversity, have your Chicago real estate agent arrange some house showings in Rogers Park.

Oak Park - Chicago Real Estate

Oak Park offers easy bus and train service to downtown Chicago, a good place to start your Chicago real estate quest. About 50,000 people live in Oak Park. Some famous Oak Park residents are Carl Rogers, Ernest Hemingway, Betty White. Got that? There's going to be a test when you close on your Chicago property! (just kidding)

Evanston - Chicago Real Estate

Evanston is located right on Lake Michigan just north of Chicago also belongs on your Chicago real estate house hunting list…. It's close to Wilmette, another popular place for buying a Chicago property. A few famous people from Evanston include Marlon Brando, John Cusack, Joan Cusack and Charlton Heston. As soon as you close on your Chicago property, I'll add you to the list!

Rising Realty is a full-service Chicago Properties brokerage, investment, management and development company for Chicago and the surrounding area. Contact Rising Realty - your professional Chicago Properties Agency. For more info, visit Rising Realty.

Johnny Mayer is a content writer for Compucall Web Marketing Ltd.

Writen by Ispas Marin

Generally, when you are willing to rent a furnished apartment, you will be asked to fill in an application form by the landlord or the property management and you are ought to be asked to pay an amount of money for them to look over your application form($20 or $30 which should cover the costs for running your credit card). The application form for the furnished apartments is a typical one asking you to relate your name, current address, Social Security Number, workplace and monthly wage. These may vary from one apartment to another, yet these are the aspects of interest in what you are concerned, because this way they can decide if you are able to pay the rent.

In the case of Americans, you should know that they spend 20 up to 30 percent of their monthly wages for the rent. Of course, no landlord would accept you spend more than 30 percent on it as there are other costs you must pay for the furnished apartment and a higher percentage would be unacceptable. If you do not have a stable wage or income another person must guarantee for you and consign the lease so that he or she could cover the payment if you are not doing it. The contract for renting is a type of list for rights and duties involving both parts:you and the administrator. You must be very careful and read it before you sign it.

If they agree on your application form than you have the right to enter in possession of the furnished apartment for the agreed period of time. This lease or contract for renting fixes the obligations for both parts and the duration of the contract which is in between 6 months and a year. You and the landlord must agree to respect all the terms of the contract or the contract may be released. You should know that the landlord may ask for a damage account which renders the value of a month's rent and if you decide to bring a pet with you the value of the deposit may be higher.

After the contract is finished the administrator is sure to check the actual state of the apartment and may take a sum of money from the damage deposit if he considers that the apartment was not looked after appropriately. Of course, the situation of 'normal tear and wear' is encountered every time but the damages may be worse this being the cause for the necessity of a damage deposit.

All in all, no problems should appear if you stick to the terms of the contract and do not bring damages to the furnished apartment. You cannot leave the apartment before the deadline of the contract, as this is a main term of the contract. Be very careful to comply with the terms of that lease so that you could not be found responsible for any mistake.

For Dubai furnished apartments & villas for rent for business or holiday use just visit us at http://www.dubaifurnishedapartments.com

Writen by Raynor James

Condominiums tend to be a love it or hate it subject with property owners. Here are the advantages of owning a condominium.

Condominium – Advantages

Condominiums provide a unique living opportunity in the United States, one that many people have jumped on in this hot real estate market. Although not for everyone, condominium ownership does have some distinct advantages over stand alone homes.

1. Condominiums are cheaper than stand alone homes. Universally, you will find the lack of a yard makes condominiums a cheaper buying option when compared to the rest of the real estate market. This makes condominiums a good real estate option for first time buyers, as they are often able to get into one when they otherwise would not qualify for a loan for a tradition home.

2. Condominiums are also excellent options after the kids are gone. Once kids are out of the home, you'll find the space in your home is no longer necessary. Many parents will downsize to a condominium and use the cash windfall from a home to take early retirement. This trend is occurring with greater frequency as the baby boom generation begins to retire.

3. Condominiums are also excellent options for people that travel a lot. If you have to travel for work, you know the problems that can arise from having a home sitting empty for weeks or months on end. Burglaries, graffiti and so on are natural results of leaving a home empty. With condominiums, it is much harder for someone to tell if a person is home or not. This makes condominiums very popular with pilots and certain sales people.

4. A detached home requires a lot of maintenance to keep it in good shape. A condominium also requires maintenance, but the homeowners' association is responsible for the upkeep. Generally, the constant attention provided through the homeowners' association makes condos a better long term maintenance option.

Condominiums are not for everyone, but they have definite advantages over detached homes in certain situations. While guidelines are a solid method of determining if a condo is a good option, you really need to consider your personal circumstances to determine the best choice for you.

Raynor James is with the FSBO site - http://www.fsboamerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner. Visit our home buying page - http://www.fsboamerica.org/buyer.cfm - to view and buy homes, houses, condos, land and real estate.