Cyprus was a former British colony which gained independence from the UK in 1960 after an uprising against British rule. The history of this island is blighted by fierce tensions and conflict between the Greek Cypriot majority in the south, and Turkish Cypriot minority in the north, which came to a head in 1963 when fighting broke out between the two parties. UN peacekeepers were deployed in 1964 and there is still a highly visible presence there to this day, in the form of a buffer zone policed by the UN. There is still also a British military presence on the island which has assisted the UN in calming tensions over recent times. In 1983 the North area of the island declared independence as the “Turkish Republic of North Cyprus” although this is not recognised by any country other than Turkey. This history and conflict makes North Cyprus property a very complex area of investment to fully understand. We urge you to read more if you are thinking about making such an investment into North Cyprus property.

It is easy to see why there have been fierce battles over the island (even prior to British rule) with the island central to a number of major trading routes between Asia and Europe. The various conflicts have left a number of cultural foot prints around the island offering an intriguing mix of cultural and religious variations. As the island is on the Mediterranean the weather is constantly hot, with over 300 days of sunshine a year, and you are guaranteed a warm welcome from the locals. The North area itself contains a mixture of untouched beaches, castles, mountain ranges and vast areas of great natural beauty. The island is also home to over 1,800 variations of plant life and is visited by millions of birds each year.

While the tourism industry is still in its infancy in North Cyprus there are signs of change, however the authorities have also been able to retain the strong tradition and great mix of cultures. Seen by many as the frontier of Islam and Christianity, the area is proving attractive to many holiday makers (and property investors) with British interest still dominant.

Property in North Cyprus

The market for property in North Cyprus has remained untouched for many years, with the area effectively starved of international recognition and investment. Recently there has been a major relaxation of border controls, and as a result the north and property in North Cyprus is much more accessible. This has also caused a rethink by the airline companies with many countries in the process of arranging direct flights into North Cyprus. Flight routes and airports can only be positive for property in North Cyprus.

The development potential for the area is highlighted by the fact that Southern Cyprus attracts upwards of 2.5 million visitors a year, with over 100,000 hotel beds available. Historically North Cyprus only entertained approximately 200,000 visitors a year with a paltry 10,000 hotel beds available, many of which are not of a high standard. The comparison between the North and southern property development policies could not be more diverse, with the south having expanded with little consideration for the surrounding cultures or historic architecture. Meanwhile the Turkish-controlled North have taken great care to preserve the history and culture of the area, which has made the region attractive to holiday makers and property developers. The North government are forecasting a substantial increase in visitors in the short, medium and longer term, with many routes to entry now re-opened.

As the Government are now taking a proactive role to controlled development, there will be many opportunities over the coming years, and the property market is sure to remain buoyant for some time to come. Multi-national companies have not yet become involved in the local property market due to possible repercussions for their already established interests in the south of the island. This is leaving open a unique opportunity for smaller companies and individuals to take a lead in developing the North area.

Investing in North Cyprus properties

North Cyprus offers a relatively untouched landscape which is ideal for redevelopment of properties, within the current cultural and historically characteristics of the area. The market for North Cyprus properties is very much in its infancy with land still relatively cheap compared to neighbouring countries. While it may have taken some time to manufacture the opportunity, the government of the north are taking a very proactive role in attracting visitors and investors to this beautiful country.

With so many people visiting Southern Cyprus it is inevitable that the North area will receive an up lift in interest now boarder controls have been lifted. The area has two modern airports which are seeing a growth in business, and the inland infrastructure is improving all of the time. While the economy still offers room for further improvement, the government are tackling the historically high rate of inflation which has blighted previous attempts to rejuvenate the area.

As the government continue to build their international reputation and presence, the EU have pledged millions of Euros in aid, which will help further develop the infrastructure. As tourism numbers are expected to rise to 2 million over the next 5 years, and property development is currently running a long way behind the housing demand required, there is massive scope for development.

It seems as though after years of being cut-off from the international community, North Cyprus is finally coming back to life. This area of untold beauty is being opened up to the mass market, although tight controls on suitable property development will ensure the character of the island is not lost.

The Future for North Cyprus Property

The more international recognition the area receives the less chance of further major conflict between the north and south of the island. As this threat diminishes, many overseas investors are only just now beginning to appreciate the potential for the area and North Cyprus property. The lack of multi-national corporations has opened up a niche market for smaller and private investors.

Historically the economy has been prone to wild fluctuations, with inflation running at a high level for many years. As the government become more proactive on the economic front, and appreciate that the situation needs to improve to build on the recent increase in interest in the country; a more stable economy is beckoning. A stable economy is a vital part of international inward investment, and this should follow in due course.

In summary, this beautiful land is now opening up to many holiday makers from around the world. The area has seen a large upsurge in demand for holiday homes, secondary homes and a strong buy to let market is starting to emerge. A recent court ruling, which stated that an English couple could retain their North Cyprus home and property, and would not need to return it to the previous Southern Cypriot owner, is a further landmark in the development of the property market. This is another factor which will calm the nerves of investors, and bring about further stability.

Parag Sheth
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/north-cyprus-property-123290.html

After reading a number of books, I realized that most people made their wealth through real estate. This is also highlighted by the Rich Dad’s series by Robert Kiyosaki. Thus, I decided to learn more about property investment. Even though I did not have money to invest in property, I still went ahead to attend property investment seminars for the purpose of learn.

Based on my understanding, there are two kinds of property investment seminars. The first kind of seminar teaches me how to go about doing property investment. It provides education on the criteria to look out for in property investment. This is good for me have a basic theoretical foundation of property investment.

For example, I should check out whether the population is growing in a city before I decide to invest in a property in that city. If the population is growing, then there will be demand for housing. If there is demand, then there will be an opportunity for my house to be rental out.

The second kind of seminar is basically a sale seminar. The property agent will try to sell me the property. If I can afford the time to attend such seminars, then I will attend them. You may think that it is a waste of time to go for a sale seminar. But I feel that I can learn a few things from the property agent.

At such seminars, there are usually quite a few property agents. If I talk to them, I will find that one or two of them are very experienced in property investment. Usually, they have invested in some properties as well. If I ask the right questions, I find that I can learn practical tips on property investment. These tips are not available in textbook or theoretical education in the first kind of seminars.

By mixing with the right kind of people, I get to learn new things about investment. This confirm my understanding that it is important to mix with the right kind of people to learn about wealth investment as gathered from the Rich Dad’s series by Robert Kiyosaki.

Just to give you an idea of what can be learned from such experienced property agents, let me share with the formula that I learned.

Imagine that I was the owner of a property that is worth $1,000,000. This property was fully paid off. I could not rent out my property for a few years. Rich people could afford their own property, thus they would not rent such an expensive property from me. Other people would not be able to afford the monthly rental. So I thought the best was to sell off my property and used my cash for some other investments.

After learning from these experienced property agents, I found that there was a better solution. I could mortgage my property for $1,000,000 and use the borrowed money to invest in small properties of about $200,000 each. That means I could buy about five such small properties in an area where the rental incomes are good.

The important thing was that the combined rental incomes from such properties must be more than the monthly mortgage repayment. Let assume each of such properties had a rental income of $1000 per month. That would mean in a year, the properties would fetch $60,000 in rental income. After paying off the mortgage repayment loan, I would still get a positive cash flow.

There were 3 distinct advantages in this strategy.

Firstly, I would still get to keep my $1,000,000 property. I could try to rent this out or use this for other purpose.

Secondly, I would be earning passive income from the 5 properties. I could use the extra cash to do other investments. Assets could be gained at a faster rate with this extra passive income.

Thirdly, I would own 5 new smaller properties using the bank’s money.

Of course this strategy required good ground knowledge of the real world of property investment to implement. For example, I must know where to find 5 new smaller properties with combined rental income greater than the mortgage loan. This is only possible by gaining the knowledge from experienced investors.

Another thing about this strategy is that it is an example of using good debt to buy more assets. Using the same strategy, I could use the passive income to finance my purchase of luxury items. That means that I would be using good debt to finance bad debt. These are the lessons that I have learned from reading the Rich Dad’s Series by Robert Kiyosaki.

* DISCLAIMER *

The author only provides the material and information as a layperson’s views about an important subject. The materials and information are from sources believed to be reliable and from his own personal experience, but he neither implies nor intends any guarantee of accuracy.

All the materials, information and procedure in this book are only the author’s personal opinion. You must consult your own professional advisor and other reputable sources on any matter that concerns you or others.

The author, publishers and distributors are not competent and do not profess to give legal, accounting, medical or any other type of professional advice. The reader must always seek those services from competent professionals who can review your own particular circumstances.

The author, publisher and distributors particularly disclaim any liability, loss, or risk taken by individuals who directly or indirectly act on the information contained herein. All readers must accept full responsibility for their use of this material.

Financial Help & Information
Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVA) Help
Debt Solutions That Make Sense

Max Ng
http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/turn-good-debt-into-assets-99189.html

Technorati Tags: debt solutions, financial help, IVA

Real estate is bought and sold the world over. Day in, day out, people buy all types, styles and sizes of different real estate for all kinds of reasons. Some real estate is sold to residential buyers; other real estate is sold for commercial premises. Even in the world of residential real estate, the reasons for buying a home are varied.

Buying a new home is often the single largest financial commitment people ever make. When you buy a new property, that piece of real estate becomes both an investment as well as your home. From condos to cottages, comfortable family homes to extravagant mansions, real estate ranges in price as much as it does in style and quality.

Buying a residential or commercial property in India is much easier now. One can choose his kind of property online. One can also contact with property dealers/ real estate dealers to easily find the same.

For specific requirement there are property consultants available to guide you in the property market.

Commercial space in India is quite costly in metro cities. To allocate commercial properties at a cheaper price, real estate developers prefer tier-II and tier-III cities.

If you plan to have a commercial space at cheaper price, it is good to choose a place out of metro cities but near to it.

Real Estate in India is deep recession mode. Decreasing property prices, Investors’ reluctance to come forward in given market condition, major financial institutions’ cautious steps towards financing has furthered the situation. Recent cut in lending rates and booster package by government has not been able to give confidence to the market. Though realty stocks gained marginally, still major real estate players seem not happy with the situation.

marco
http://www.articlesbase.com/organizational-articles/real-estate-investment-in-india-698885.html

Without a doubt, selling a real estate could be as hard, if not harder, as buying one. It could be a complex and very challenging activity as it is both stressful and time-consuming. That is why it is best if you would consider hiring a professional realtor. You should take proper guidance and direction in doing or fulfilling your goals. An experienced realtor has enough knowledge, expertise, skills, and necessary connections that could surely be significant and helpful in every step of the process.
Surely, hiring a realtor for the purpose of selling your home is not a necessity but doing so could drastically boost your home selling activity. There are logical and practical reasons why you should hire a professional realtor when selling real estate.

Professional expertise
You could rely on a professional realtor for sound marketing strategies, current market analysis, and significant negotiation tactics. Years of knowledge and expertise about the industry would be crucial and beneficial to your endeavor. You could rest assured that your home selling endeavor would not end up in futility. Above all, a realtor could clearly and comprehensively explain to you the why’s and how’s of property selling. Aside from that, a duly licensed and professional realtor could help you become more aware about your basic rights and responsibilities as a real estate seller.

The best prices
As expected, professional realtors know the current market very well. They know the exact pulse of the real estate industry and they know where the market is heading. To be able to gauge the best price, a realtor could produce a comparative market analysis so you could determine the actual market valuation and use it in assigning an asking price and possibly, the highest selling price. In general, you should not set an asking price based on mere feelings and hunches. The decision has to be backed by actual market figures and comparison with recent property deals in the area.

Showcasing real estate
Realtors know that first impressions last. Your home could be well designed and could portray the best engineering structure but it may fail to draw interest among buyers because it does not appeal to first impressions. Let the professional realtor guide you out of it. Listen to what he/she has to say about how you could make your real estate for sale more presentable and divestible as ever. Realtors certainly know which properties would sell like hotcakes and how to make any home become a hot piece.

Tapping good buyers
As a home seller, you might be easily tempted to give in to just about anyone who mounts an offer. Realtors know better than that. You should be aware that there is a great difference between an ordinary buyer and a qualified buyer. Aim to tap the latter. Qualified buyers are prospective purchasers who actually have the acquisition power and resources to buy the home.
Hire a professional realtor if you aim to sell your real estate in the most effective way. If you do so, you would realise that you could easily divest your property quickly and at the best possible market prices ever.

This is a guest post by Andrew Black who has been working in the finance industry for several years specialising in refinancing home loans and debt consolidation solutions

Technorati Tags: hiring a realtor, selling real estate

Turkey and Turkey Property

Turkey straddles South East Europe and South West Asia and is bordered by the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Armenia and countries in the Middle East (Iraq, Iran, Syria, Azerbaijan). Turkey and Turkey property is steeped in a wealth of history and culture which should be understood when making investments into Turkey property.

Modern-day Turkey was formed in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal who became known as “Father of the Turks”. This followed periods of control by the Ottoman Empire, and Kemal established a constitution and Constantinople became known as Istanbul. Turkey has suffered from many periods of civil unrest with a poor human rights record, but the troubles have lessoned in recent years. Rapid modernisation an expansion is taking place.

Turkey has a diversity of culture, beliefs and ideas and has nine locations listed as World Heritage sites, including Istanbul and Troy. Anatolia is one of the oldest areas in the world (the link between Europe and Asia) and there are believed to have been Neolithic settlements. Turkey still shows influences from many civilisations or empires – Hittites, Greeks, Persians, Romans, Byzantine, Oghuz Turks and the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey has 81 provinces and although the capital is Ankara, Istanbul is the financial hub of the country. Turkey is a democratic republic.

Turkey has a lot to offer any visitor – the warm Mediterranean climate means that the Aegean coasts with bays, sandy beaches and coves, as well as ancient theatres and temples. Resorts such as Bodrum are popular. Istanbul is well worth a visit for its museums, churches, palaces, mosques, bazaar places and natural beauties.

Property in Turkey

Historically the Turkish property market grew from the need for cheap affordable housing for the growing inner city populations, who moved inland to find employment. This resulted in some low quality property offerings in Turkey, although this was all that was required at that stage. There are many factors affecting large scale change in Turkey and property in Turkey. Shrewd property in investors are seeing this as an opportunity to make an investment in property in Turkey at the ground floor.

The country has under gone a series of fairly radical economic changes, due in the main to the application to join the European Union (EU) and the many conditions attached to this. The Free Market culture was embraced and the restriction on overseas ownership of property was lifted. After spotting a very underdeveloped property market in Turkey, the impending economic growth and infrastructure investment associated with the EU membership application, overseas investors have taken a great interest. Initially the interest has centred on the Aegean and Mediterranean coastline, with its extensive transport network and demand for holiday housing which have resulted in a property boom.

All be it from a very low basis, the last 12 months have seen the price of Turkish property leap by over 50%. While there is no way that this increase in prices can be repeated indefinitely, there are many market observers who believe that this is only the beginning of a long, sustained re-rating of the sector. Many are predicting a boom period which could easily last between 5 and 10 years.

While the large global holiday companies have a significant exposure in the coastal cities and towns, many people are now looking inland at the more untouched areas of Turkey. While the terrain can be difficult to navigate, there are some breath-taking sites to behold as people begin to investigate the less fashionable areas. As many of these areas have not yet been affected by the rise in property values, there are some real bargains to be found.

Buying Property in Turkey

Turkey is one of the many countries which have applied for membership to the European Union (with this expected to be rubber stamped in 2007) and seems poised to benefit more than any recent entrants. The World Trade Organisation believes that Turkey has one of the most prosperous economies in the world and is set for further growth in the foreseeable future. The potential for economic growth is based on a mixture of the climate, great history, golden beaches, and some very quiet rural villages which are attracting the attention of foreigners looking for exciting and different holiday venues. These are all fantastic signals for those investors who are thinking about buying property in Turkey.

As well as attracting new holiday makers, the country is attracting a lot of overseas investment with a number of blue chip companies opening up manufacturing and service operations in the country. This in turn is adding to the vibrant economy which is also encouraging further infrastructure investment. While initially the government may have been a little slow to encourage overseas investment, they now seem to making up for lost time, and the forthcoming membership of the European Union can only open up new avenues.

Recent increases in the value of properties have been in the region of 50% and while this cannot continue indefinitely there is still substantial demand in the pipeline to ensure above average returns in the short to medium term. The country has a prime site, with local access to central Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the mainland European markets and a double taxation agreement with many of its trading partners also adds a further attraction for investors.

In brief, Turkey has embraced the free market economy and has a young and willing work force who are helping to power the country’s economy. Vibrant, open to new ideas and with recent government reforms starting to take effect there are many positives to look forward to.

Future for Property in Turkey

As the Turkish economy continues to expand and the standard of living improves further, the forthcoming membership of the European Union will further lift what is already a buoyant economy. As ongoing government reforms continue to be introduced, the period of co-operation with business and overseas investors continues to develop to facilitate an ever increasing inventory of property in Turkey being bought and sold.

After a very difficult economic period, which resulted in near collapse in 2001, the country has recovered and inflation is now under control. In hindsight the fall to the brink of disaster caused the government into radical reforms which are still coming into effect now. The economy is being supported by the ever growing population of the country which reflects the general air of confidence in the future. A recovery in the value of the currency and the fact that inflation is now under control adds to the positive outlook for the country.

Do not be put off by recent property price rises, as these were from a very low base and look set to continue for the foreseeable future.

Parag Sheth
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/property-in-turkey-123114.html

Although the junior mining sector began crumbling in May, savvy investor Mike Halvorson, president of Halcorp Capital, still ended up having a very busy summer. Welcome to the world of a substantial investor in mining stocks, who gets in early and then enjoys sizeable profits as, one by one, his companies become takeover targets. “I’ve been fortunate,” the humble Halvorson told us, “I’ve gotten associated with top explorationists, the people who do know a quality project.” And because they have credibility, quality projects come to those geologists. Halvorson claims his wealth-building strategy comes from investing in the projects of these credible geologists.

On May 3rd, Glamis Gold acquired Western Silver. “I recognized the project and the main geologist behind it, Tom Patton,” Halvorson explained. “I was a director of Western Silver. I didn’t stay associated for the whole run, but I was there for the best part of it.” August has been his busiest month. As a director of NovaGold, Barrick Gold recently announced a hostile takeover of this company, and which is now being disputed. In mid August, Yamana Gold made a bid to take over the shares of Viceroy Exploration, which has proven and probable gold reserves in excess of seven million ounces in Argentina.

So how does someone emulate Mike Halvorson’s success in picking major winners in the mining sector? “The average investor is going to have a tough time,” he commiserated during our phone conversation. “If I were an average investor, I would rely on some sort of advisory service, or two or three, to help me pick my stocks.” We both agreed some of the uranium projects weren’t going to make it. “So many of these uranium projects will never see a shovel to the ground, they will never see anything close to production,” he cautioned.

But many advisory services look out for themselves first, then their subscribers, maybe if at all. He advised us to avoid the self-serving ones. “I have a long record with a couple of guys that are honest and have good abilities,” Halvorson said. He subscribes to Bob Bishop’s Gold Mining Stock Report. “I like Bob,” Halvorson told us. “He covers people. He knows a lot of individuals in the industry. One of the gifts, a guy like Bishop has, is he doesn’t try to fit the same model over every company, like a lot of analysts do. He just tries to figure out whether the stock is going up. What makes Bob Bishop better at picking stocks than most of the guys is that he doesn’t walk around with a model. He walks around with instincts and the ability to judge the people involved. He has a great network to check facts out with.”

“I guess for the average person, if they don’t rely on an advisory service, they should go to the (resource) conferences,” Halvorson recommended. Such conferences occur throughout the year. One resource conference takes place this week in Las Vegas. Another popular resource show will be held later in September in Toronto.

Valuing Uranium Mining Stocks

“The (uranium) companies are so new,” Halvorson said. “Some of them aren’t really that acquainted with their own assets, let alone the assets of other companies. It’s not like the oil and gas business where you’ve got … in western Canada, there are a dozen or fifteen blue-chip engineering firms that provide reserve and reservoir evaluations. If you see one of those engineering reports, you can really put a market value on those assets.”

Not so in the uranium business. With uranium assets, Halvorson explained, “A lot it is historical work, some of them are National Instrument 43-101 and some aren’t.” But he warned that despite the regulatory insistence that companies file independent geological documents confirming their resources, “You have to be careful if you run out and buy some 43-101 resources.” He added, “I’m not sure that one would solely base investment decisions on them.”

For example, he described how it might be possible that a company could only solution mine (ISR uranium recovery) the resource. What happens if after doing the tests, the company discovers solution mining won’t work? “That is something that will concern me,” he told us. “I think there are an awful lot of projects out there that are being called ‘good projects’ by companies that have them. And I don’t think these people have a clue as to what is required for solution mining.”

If so, then what should investors be looking for in uranium mining stocks? “At this stage, I would try to look at undervalued companies because that’s the least risk,” Halvorson advised. “I don’t think I would look at the market leaders, per se. Companies like Cameco and Denison are awfully pricey. International Uranium is pricey in my opinion.” So where would Halvorson look today? “I would look at the undervalued ones, the ones that have projects, but for some reason maybe not as much traction in the market,” he suggested. “I think ultimately the market will recognize those values or they’ll get taken over at premiums.”

Two of Halvorson’s favorites came from his network. “I originally got involved in Strathmore Minerals because I knew they had some good properties and some very good consultants and contacts in the business,” he explained. “And, they have David Miller, who really knows the business inside out. Talking to him, I got comfortable with those U.S. assets. So, I literally backed the truck up and bought lots of stock.” Halvorson subsequently became a director of Strathmore Minerals.

Another Halvorson favors is Kilgore Minerals. “With Kilgore, it is because Norm Burmeister had such a good track record with Silver Standard and Bull Run,” Halvorson said. “Norm is the kind of guy who has a great appreciation for an economic play. I got involved with Kilgore fairly early on and was semi-responsible for the stock moving out of the 30 — 50 cent range. Norm has a huge gold property. We both laughed about Kilgore’s major downside, and he added, “There’s a company that if it was aggressively promoted, would probably be trading at maybe three times where it’s at. Their gold property is probably worth what they trade for.”

Halvorson discussed his other uranium holdings, “I was a fairly substantial shareholder of UR-Energy, but you can’t own all your stocks all the time. They had a very good market so I left.” He noted those were his three substantial holdings and that he also has minor holdings elsewhere. One of those holdings, Santoy Resources, comes from his association with Ron Netolitzky, who is also a director of Viceroy. “There’s not anybody who’s got a better track record than Ron of recognizing an economic deposit early,” Halvorson said of his long-time acquaintance. “Ron worked in the uranium field in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the gold sector, so he knows all about uranium exploration.”

Of the sector, Halvorson believes there is more consolidation ahead with the quality uranium companies. “Some of these guys have got pretty rich valuations, such as SXR Uranium One with their pricey currency and extremely strong market support from Europe and Canada,” he told us. “Because of their market cap, they’re big enough that they can use their currency and do acquisitions.” He spoke highly of SXR Uranium One, “I’ve been to their main project in South Africa. They’re building it. It’s happening. They will be mining. And they are miners.”

And that’s the big difference, going back to his comment about some projects which will never see a shovel in the ground. “How do you compare Denison to some of these other companies?” he asked. “That’s part of the difference. Denison looks like it’s priced through the stratosphere, but they are mining. I think if Strathmore Minerals, which is sort of undervalued right now, if we could get Church Rock producing, I think there would be a huge revaluation.”

He sees a bright future ahead for the mining sector, and believes investors can do well if they study companies before investing in them and get the right advice. “For people coming new to the market, I would look for undervalued stocks,” Halvorson advised. “I would probably take a portfolio approach. I wouldn’t buy just one. I would buy several.”

Halvorson expects more consolidation in the uranium sector. “As the companies get more comfortable with everybody else’s share price, and also getting more comfortable with other people’s assets, then you will see people saying, ‘We can use our shares as currency because we’re trading at roughly our Net Asset Value (NAV), but this company is trading at a discount of 30 percent to their NAV. So, if we can do a transaction with them, it’s going to be accretive.’”

That’s not the case right now, though. “You’ll hear companies talking about this wonderful asset they’ve got,” he said. “Then, I’ll go ask somebody I know in the business about the play, and he might say, ‘Oh god, I don’t like that.’ Right now, I don’t think people have any way of judging a lot of these properties. If you remember the analogy I used in the oil and gas business, where you have companies trading properties all the time, it’s because people can rely on engineering.”

Right now, a lot depends upon the underlying commodity. Rising spot uranium prices have helped a large number of the uranium ‘development’ companies, such as Strathmore Minerals, UR-Energy, Uranerz Energy and Energy Metals, move higher. Most recently, according to TradeTech LLC, the spot uranium price reached a new high at $52/pound. Many of the U.S. uranium projects became economic above $30 and $40/pound, which offers investors more opportunity for profit. “I think I’m going to make a lot of money in the resource sector over the coming years,” Halvorson said with excitement in his voice. “But you have to be nimble. If you buy high and just hold, you might just get your money back at the end of the day. If you like the sector and trade around core positions, I think it’s going to be one of the most attractive sectors out there.”

James Finch
http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/investment-manager-warns-about-investing-in-uranium-projects-54411.html

Many aspects of the financial industry are cyclical, meaning they have a discernable pattern of rise and fall, of good returns and of losses. The mortgage industry is no exception to the cyclical nature of the financial industry. Traditionally, to purchase a home, one would have to make a down payment, usually at least 20% of the purchase price and would finance the other 80% with a local or mortgage company. These loans were not easy to get and a common hyperbole in the industry was that in order to get a mortgage, you had to prove to the lender that you didn’t need it.

In the 1990s, and until the beginning of the mortgage meltdown in 2005, mortgage brokers were able to offer a wide variety of creative and non-traditional financing options for real estate investors purchasing houses to remodel and re-sell or to keep as rental properties. During that time period, an example of creative financing was the blanket lien, in which the borrower was purchasing multiple investment properties in the same area and the lender would extend one loan that placed a lien on all the properties.

Another example of creative financing for the real estate investor was the seller carry back, or the seller financed second mortgage. This was a loan designed to avoid the down payment requirement and to avoid private mortgage insurance(PMI). In this loan scenario, the seller would hold the note for a second mortgage on the property, usually for 20% of the purchase price and the traditional mortgage lender would extend a loan for 80% of the purchase price. By keeping the primary note under 81%, the borrower would not have to pay the PMI, which in some cases could be a significant amount.

Probably the most popular and widely used option over the past few years was the private financing, hard money loan. These loans are ideal for the average investor as they will not only fund the purchase of the home but also provide money for the rehabbing and fix up of the property. Finding private financing can be quite challenging but has a high return of reward for your efforts.

Yet another loan scenario available for real estate investors at that time was known as the 80/15/5. In this loan scenario, the primary mortgage lender would extend a loan for 80% of the purchase price, an additional loan as a second lien for 15% of the purchase price, and the borrower would make a 5% down payment. Despite the fact that the same lending institution extended both the first and second mortgages, this scenario would also allow the borrower to avoid having to pay PMI.

Loans like this have largely if not entirely disappeared today, due to the woes of the mortgage market. In true cyclical fashion, the mortgage market has mostly reverted to what it was twenty five years ago, when the best deal to be had was a 20% down payment. Today, creative financing ideas for the real estate investor are largely limited to leases purchases or contracts for deeds, both of which allow the investor to purchase the property while leaving the original loan and seller in place.

Derek Weeks
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/creative-financing-for-real-estate-investors-745540.html

The French Alps in the Eastern provinces of Savoie and Haute Savoie are among the most popular ski destinations in Europe. Every year hundreds of thousands of ski tourists descend on the French alpine ski resorts that border Switzerland and Italy to enjoy the snow, sun and to marvel at the fabulous French scenery.

Visitors to the French Alps tend to hire accommodation to suit their purposes. While some tourists select ski resort hotels for their holidays, others decide to rent apartments and ski chalets close to the ski lifts.

Ski-in / ski-out accommodation is preferred by many. This allows skiers to ski up to the front door of the French property they have hired, avoiding the need to take their skis off and trudge through the snow and ice to get back to where they are staying.

I have to admit here that I am a fan of the French Alps ski scene. In the past few years I have visited several ski resorts in France. My favourites are Meribel, which is a very picturesque village with wooden ski chalets overlooking a spectacular alpine valley, and Courchevel 1850 — one of the most prestigious ski resorts in the world.

A lot of people I have met on the French ski slopes have talked to me about their desire to buy French property in one of the ski resorts. For most it is only a pipe dream — they see the property prices in the windows of real estate agents in the ski resorts and immediately declare that they cannot afford to buy property there.

Yet, if they were to dig a little deeper; if they researched the French property market they would find that a ski property is in truth affordable, and would make for a very good property investment indeed.

Property investing in the French ski resorts

Ski resorts in France, by their very nature, are big tourist draws. Many ski resorts — like Meribel, Courchevel and Val d Isere — offer summer alpine activities as well as winter sports, making them all-year-round holiday destinations. It is here where the vast potential for investment in French apartments and chalets in the Alps starts to become apparent, as it is possible (with the right type of marketing behind you) to rent out French property under your ownership to tourists for the entire year.
Imagine the amount of rental income you could receive from such a property investment!

Sceptics of course will point out that achieving a high level of tenant occupation is rather difficult. The majority of French property owners simply do not have the resources to market their property efficiently and obtain the necessary bookings.

In answer, there is another way! Buy French leaseback property:

In the 1970s the French government introduced an investment concept in France. Called the French leaseback scheme it encouraged overseas property investors to buy French property in France’s popular tourist areas and then lease the property back to a tourist management company for a period of several years. The tourist management company would take on the responsibility of renting the property out and obtaining rental bookings for the property. As part of the lease agreement the management company would pay the French property owner a guaranteed percentage of the rental income received.

Today, french property leasebacks continue to grow in popularity. They offer property investors the opportunity to buy freehold property in French ski resorts, and receive a guaranteed income from the property for the life of the lease, which is normally between 8 — 11 years. Property owners can also elect to have built into the lease plan a clause that allows them to use the ski property themselves for anywhere between 2 and 6 weeks of the year. It is basically like having a holiday home in France that you can use, but having the security of a world class tourist management company that pays you for the use of the property for the rest of the year. It’s a perfect property investment!

French leaseback rental yields

As I’ve mentioned, rental income from French property leaseback acquisitions are guaranteed by the management company, courtesy of the French government’s involvement. Rental yields are generally between 2% and 5% depending on the type of rental lease program chosen, and subject to how many weeks of personal use are required from the ski property.

Some of the best leaseback property purchase opportunities in the French Alps at the moment are in the Three Valleys area (Trois Vallees).The Trois Vallees is a massive ski domain that offers hundreds of kilometres of ski runs and cross country skiing tracks. It is possible to ski between the different winter resorts in the Three Valleys — something that makes the area very popular with tourists who want to try out the different ski runs in other alpine villages. If you are keen on the idea of trekking through the snow to other alpine resorts it is always best to take a map of the french alps and a compass with you. Getting lost in the snow if a blizzard sweeps in across the French alps is not a pleasant experience!

Top ski investment spots in the Three Valleys include Meribel Mottaret

Meribel is a very beautiful place to enjoy a winter break and to own ski property. One-bed ski apartments on a French leaseback deal are available from around 380,000 euros. Currently, at les Crets ski residence there is a west-facing 6th floor apartment of 54m2 living space + 8.3m2 balcony. It sleeps 5-7 people and is priced at 382,255 euros excluding VAT without furniture or parking. With furniture and parking the price is 402,257 euros excluding VAT. Rental income of up to 19,000 euros is guaranteed as part of the French leaseback scheme.

http://www.europe-property.org/property/leaseback-investments.html

Les Menuires

Situated between St Martin de Belleville and Val Thorens the ski resort of Les Menuires is a quiet family-oriented alpine village. It offers some superb ski runs and plenty of childrens activities to keep the kids happy. Ski property in Les Menuires is reasonably priced. Prices for ski apartments at the Residence Aconit in the heart of the village start at 225,000 euros. Rental yields are guaranteed at up to 4%.

http://www.french-property-1st.co.uk/listing-Ski+leaseback+at+Les+Menuires+in+the+3+Vallees-264.html

Courchevel 1850

Looking for a French leaseback investment in a luxury ski location? The Chalets du Forum lease back residence could be your dream come true. In the heart of one of the most prestigious ski resorts in Europe the Chalets du Forum offers luxury ski apartments in chalet-style wood and stone buildings. Prices for the luxury lease back apartments start at around 500,000 euros. Rental income is guaranteed at 4%.

http://www.propertymagnate.com/property/listing-Chaletstyle+ski+leaseback+apartments+at+Courchevel+1850-150.html

Buying ski property in the French Alps is a good investment decision. If you play your cards right with your property loan or mortgage you could be enjoying positive cash flow from your French property leaseback investments for many years to come.

Howard Farmer
http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/ski-property-investments-in-the-french-alps-59738.html

To attain maximum financial benefits from your local Fraser Valley real estate investment with minimal risk and maximum gain, you must clearly define your goals and objectives and plan to achieve them. You can accomplish this in various steps. The process of determining your plan is comprised of several elements. First, Determine your current financial need. Then, assessing your future personal and financial needs brings you into your overall game plan for success.

Your success in real estate investments has a lot to do with the qualities that you bring to the table. Know your strengths and know your weaknesses so that you can focus on your strengths and compensate for you weaknesses. Are you considering group investments? Or a new home construction in Surrey, or Langley? This type of self annalist is crucial for success in this type of situation.

Complete a personal cost of living budget for the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver area. Your cost of living may be different if you are located in Richmond, Coquitlam, New West, Burnaby, Maple Ridge, Langley or Surrey. Your cost of living is generally more in those areas. However, it’s generally less expensive in Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack. After your living budget, calculate your personal net worth as a statement. Then calculate your gross debt service ratio and total debt service ratio. Keep in mind that these are only guidelines and that there are several creative ways to manage your finances. Talking to a financial money manager is sometimes a good source of structure and advice.

The amount of risk your willing to take should reflect the kind of time commitment your involved in. Be realistic with short, medium and long term goals and objectives. Maybe you want to be financially independent within 10-15 years. Write this down as a “need to be” statement. With that kind of time frame, don’t look at real estate as a “get rich quick” scheme. There are many who have adopted that attitude, this has been their downfall. Avoid the prophets of profit! Some real estate seminars will show you how to become rich through property tax sales in the Fraser Valley. Or foreclosure sales in the lower mainland. Some will show you how to flip property in the Greater Vancouver area but in most cases in Canada the reality of these options are not applicable. If they are, you will be undertaking considerable difficulty and risk when undertaking such investments. The key is to give yourself a realistic time frame to achieve your investment objectives. For example, normal real estate cycles are 5-8 years. Work within that time frame for your success. Be patient and stay positive! You will be successful!

Thomas Berten
http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/fraser-valley-real-estate-investment-strategies-53275.html

Late night TV is convinced that investing in real estate is the best way to make a million. Many investors are looking at big returns with no money down. While that is unlikely, it is possible to make money in real estate.

But you have to know that this is simply an investment, and with investments come risk. If you don’t know what you are doing, you could loose a lot.

Investing in real estate takes forethought and preparation. It could be broken into two parts: choosing your investment and exiting your investment.

Choosing your investment

Beginning investors should start with a small project. For example, Justin has been involved in real estate for over ten years now, and has invested in many commercial and residential properties. He has found that the key to his investments are to purchase in a good location.

Justin started with a simple duplex, which he later refinanced to buy a four-plex. He painted and made a few changes to the four-plex, and sold it for a seven-plex. He also bought another four-plex. He renovated the units and made minor repairs and sold it for a decent return.

He found that fixer-uppers really work well if you live nearby and can do most of the work yourself. This cuts your expenses. Justin learned with each investment and learned to be conservative. Don’t let the dollar signs rush you into anything.

Whether you are looking to buy a house, a duplex or an apartment complex, you need to carefully review the property’s economics. Are the rents you plan to charge reasonable? Are your expenses correct? Can you live with the cost of the mortgage? What happens when a unit is empty? Do you still have enough income?

You may not want to be a landlord and prefer to buy a house, fix it and flip it. While you can make a lot of money if you are wise, there are still a lot of issues involved. You have to look at the neighborhood, the market and the budget you have for repairs. Do you have enough money to pay the mortgage if the property does not sell quickly? What if you have to go over budget on necessary repairs? What if things are uncovered that devalue the home? What will you do then?

Large cities tend to be better investment areas than small towns because there are more tenants and buyers. Communities on freeways are attractive as investments due to the access to metro areas. Vacation areas and towns are also fairly stable.

Exiting your investment

Things happen. The economy, interest rates, job opportunities and construction trend impact every real estate investor. You need to watch the trends and keep in touch with local brokers, appraisers, investors and real estate attorneys.

No matter what you are investing in, you need an exit strategy. You need to know when you will sell, if you will take money and pay taxes or complete an IRS 1031 tax deferred exchange. Does your plan include enough money for your retirement? Will you pay off the property or refinance it and use the proceeds to buy another investment? What if the value of the home drops?

A weak economy is something you should watch. You need to know if a depressed market will pull out of it or last. This tells you when to exit. If you can’t find buyers when you are ready to sell, what will you do? Can you restructure your mortgage or have it assumed by a buyer. Check out what loan assumption costs are and if financing terms change with an assumption. You should research your financing options before you make any decisions, paying attention to more than just interest rates.

You need to think well into the future. Plan for the best and the worst. If you invest with a friend, what will happen if they need to pull out? Do you have enough money to handle emergencies or will you need to liquidate the real estate?

Your exit strategy is vital in making your decisions for the future. Plan with your goals in mind. The key is to take your time, pick the right property and live with what happens. In the worst case, the market goes away from where you expect and the value of the home goes down — at least you can have the tenants pay for the mortgage.

Martin Lukac
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/investment-properties-101-83574.html