Renovating a Home to Improve its Resale Value

by Clay Davis

Buying a fixer upper can be an exciting venture. Not only are you possibly starting a new business, but you stand to make a tidy profit if done right. Even simply adding a few cosmetic touches and some healthy cleaning can help you turn an outdated home into a real profit maker. Buying a fixer upper is an investment and the more work you put into it, the more money you can make when you go to resell the home.

A fixer upper home may not be great to look at when you first buy it, but by the time you finish you should definitely be able to see how the improvements will expand your profit. There is a great market for these homes because they are considerably less expensive than buying a home that is new or totally renovated. This usually means more money in your pocket and a happy buyer once the work is complete. There are some ways to maximize the resale value of the home that you are fixing up so you can gain the most from your investment.

Casually looking around and choosing the optimal location is usually the best place to start. Without the right location you will be hard pressed to find a buyer later, no matter how beautiful the house becomes. It is important to determine a location that appeals to many different buyer tastes and is safe and friendly. After preliminarily choosing - but prior to buying - a home, have a professional inspection done to make sure that you know exactly what you are getting into. It is hard to obtain the most for your resale value if you have to put a lot more money into it than expected. On that note, you also don't want to rush any of the improvements to get the house on the market quickly. Taking the time to do quality work will really make the house shine.

The extra time includes making sure you fix the house from the bottom to the top. Problems like ants or mice in the basement may seem insignificant compared to the work performed, but they are more than likely going to turn off potential buyers. (Put yourself in their shoes.) The same can be said about cosmetic deficiencies, such as loose wall paper in the bathroom. People do not want to buy a home that requires a great deal of work after moving in, so you should plan to make all necessary changes before you even think about selling it.

Finally, sell the home during the right time. If the housing market is slowly falling then you may want to hold onto it for a while and consider renting it out until the market changes in the sellers' favor. Fixing up a home for resale is an excellent way to make money if you remain focused on your original goals and take the steps necessary to ensure you are selling a great residence.

Scope of Cyber Cities and Cyber Parks in Haryana

by Vinay Choubey

In the present era of Science and Technology, the working techniques of all fields of the economy are changing very fastly. Advancement in computer technology, automation through remote control system, expansion in the science of communication and software development have brought revolution in modernizing every sphere of the economy.

In town planning profession, this revolution has given birth to colonies of Cyber Cities and Cyber Parks to accommodate the working spaces of highly specialized professionals who requires a special pollution free air-conditioned environment associated with high-level physical and communication infrastructure. The colonies of cyber cities, cyber parks and Information Technology Parks are developed to provide floor spaces to companies engaged in software development activities and Information Technology enabled services.

The software development and information technology enabled services are carried out in virus and dust free air conditioned environment through sophisticated computers of high precision wherein scientific data is processed and analyzed through high speed processors and servers having hyperlinks of signals communicated through global satellites and Radar Net work system. In order to create special environment for the sustaining of working atmosphere of highly specialized professionals, a high quality infrastructure associated with well-landscaped and attractive surroundings is developed around all buildings of cyber cities and cyber parks.

Data processing and analyzing through high speed computers attached with global satellites and Radar Net Work and settling the scientific issues through video conferencings and personal meetings among professionals is a continuous process of all units of cyber cities and cyber parks. The Haryana State has a special privilege of being located very close to the Indira Gandhi International Airport and Foreign Embassies located at New Delhi due to which the professionals of Cyber Cities and cyber Parks are being facilitated to have their frequent meetings with their counter parts with other countries of the world.

The pollution free environment conceived in Gurgaon Development Plan cupped with availability of high level infrastructure is the main reason for the polarization of international level Cyber Parks and Cyber cities at Gurgaon. Today, Gurgaon has become the main choice of all Multi National Companies for the aforesaid purposes. The other towns of Haryana state particularly the towns located within National Capital Region and District Headquarters Towns located on National Highways and Railway Tracks are equally potential for the development of Cyber Cities and Cyber Parks.

In order to have planned development of Cyber Cities and Cyber Parks, the Haryana Govt. has formulated town planning norms and has also laid down the procedures for obtaining licenses for such Cities and Parks under the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, 1975, the Punjab Scheduled Roads and Controlled Areas Restriction of Unregulated Development Act, 1963 and Development Plans published under the said Act. For obtaining complete knowledge relating to all issues of selection of sites, documents required for licensing, planning parameters, licensing procedure, licensing fee and development charges etc. study of "Haryana Town Planning Guide" and "Development Plans of related towns" which are available at this site is recommended.

Green Washing And Your Real Estate Carbon Footprint

by David Syring

As an internet platform for green, energy efficient and sustainable homes, we have reviewed some interesting and creative verbiage used by some sellers in the real estate marketplace. In the environmental business we call this "green washing".

Green washing is when someone uses "green" terminology to help drive more interest to an otherwise typical (in this case) home for sale, in a currently flat and bloated real estate market.

This "green" terminology could be words such as:

* Solar
* Stewardship
* Eco-friendly
* Environmental
* Healthy environment

We've seen ads that would say "a solar home", when all they really had was a wall that faced south.

Or maybe the home just has CFL's (compact florescent lighting) and not much else in the home. Although minimal improvements help the environment in a small way, there are cool innovative green homes out there that are making heads really turn in a BIG way. includes ( loves to promote) innovative building technologies that we believe will make the quickest (and the biggest) change in the environment regarding the way we live, the homes we live in and the way we build them.

Listed Green

Things we take for granted every day, do have a direct impact on global warming. The toilets we flush, the indoor air we breathe, the utility bills we pay; all these everyday duties affect the environment and our health.

There currently are so many new technologies in sustainable home building, that we could make a huge impact right now, not years later. We can currently heat most of our water with thermal solar and not the black stuff you see on roofs, but innovative glass tubes that absorb UV rays year-round; recycle all our grey water (sinks and showers) and redirect that water to flush our toilets; building design and orientation to take advantage of the natural heating and cooling effects in a particular location; construct living environments utilizing innovative building materials that may come from recycled or renewable sources that also offer a tremendous R-factor.

A one-two punch in not only saving our limited building material resources, but also less requirement from fossil fuels and the like, to heat and cool our homes everyday.

Building A Home In Sarasota, Florida - What You Need

Sarasota, Florida certainly is a magnet for those seeking the ultimate vacation house, as well as the permanent home, since the place offers a wide variety of enlightening experiences within beautiful surroundings.

Historically, people are not quite sure how Sarasota derived its name. One theory is that it was named after the daughter of Hernando De Soto, Sara. De Soto, along with Ponce de Leon and Panfilo Narvez, were the first explorers to land on the Gulf Coast in search of gold and silver. Another legend says that the name may have been derived from the Spanish "sarao sota", which when translated means "a place of dancing."

Sarasota, Florida is a fantastic, and colorful city. With a population of over 53,000, there are a lot of options for housing that are accessible to prospective homeowners. If you are considering building a home in Sarasota and need more information in regard to modular homes, there are assorted companies available to provide you and your family the very best home for your needs.

The Sarasota market continues to gain strength compared to the overall state of Florida, according to the Sarasota Association of Realtors. For example, Condominium purchases went up by 12% in July 2007, as compared with 141 sales in July 2006. The median sales price was up 14.8%, from $269,990 in July 2006 to $310,000 in July 2007. Single family home sales went up by 5% from 351 in July 2006 to 369 in July 2007, but median sales price was down 14.5%. Statewide however, the real estate market saw a decline of 24% from July to July for single family homes.

In deciding to build a home in Sarasota, there are some more questions to ask yourself and priorities you need to establish. Here are the stuff you need to consider:

* How much could you really afford in buying a home. A local mortgage company can help you answer this question.

* How much space do you need, or want.

* Are there specific areas of town that you prefer.

* How many bedrooms and baths do you feel you need ?

* Find out other amenities are important to you (ex: eat-in kitchens, family room, pool, attached garage, etc)

* How big a lot of land would you like to have

* Should the house be close to certain schools, your job, or public transport

In looking for housing developers and contractors in Sarasota, it would be best to check out the local yellow pages for additional support, or chck on online developers and real estate agents. One notable local developer would be McKenzie Builders LLC. McKenzie Builders is a full service residential construction company building affordable homes in Manatee and South Hillsborough counties on Florida's beautiful Gulf Coast, with over 20 years of building experience in this area.

Another noted Sarasota developer would be Vision Homes of Southwest Florida. Vision Homes, according to its website, "has redefined what "Excellence" means when it comes to residential design and building for the 21st Century". Vision Homes is also acknowledged as Sarasota's Leading Builder of Energy-Efficient Green Building Technology. For prospective home buyers, looking for advice online would also be a good option, and one of the suggested sites to go would be www.siestakeysrealestate.com.

by Vanessa A. Doctor

Buying Your First Home And Sleeping Well At Night

The real estate process of buying a home for the typical family can be a very stressful event, almost at the top of the charts. The selection of a professional agent can be a tremendous benefit as a counselor and guide to navigate you through the process with as little stress as possible. The average home buyer spends very little time interviewing and investigating agents for the role as their agent.

The first part of the home buying process for many is the desire to look at homes and not the careful selection of a real estate agent. This can be a huge mistake as the knowledge and experience level of an agent can change the outcome of the stressful process to a smooth one. Many homebuyers end up with an agent by default, what I mean by this is that the buyer has no plan of action for selecting their agent. The introduction may have been as casual as the buyer calling on an ad or attending an open house.

Of course you want to start the home buying process with a strong foundation and finding the right agent will make a big difference in the total experience. As a first time home buyer you will depend on the expertise of your agent. You will not know what to expect or when to expect it within this very challenging process.

You will want to interview several agents before you even start looking for a home. By pursuing an interview process you will also educate yourself. Here are several areas you will want to discuss with agents that you are interviewing.

1. What is the experience level of the agent? Selecting someone that has at least two years or more of experience will show they have survived the test of time and the knowledge to assist you in the home buying process.

2. What is the geographical area that they service. As an agent works in a given neighborhood they will gain additional non-real estate knowledge such as which area has better schools, less rush-hour traffic or lower crime rates.

3. Does the agent carry errors and omissions insurance? This protects them and you when there is a contractual issue or an undisclosed defect in the home. The Department of real estate doesn't require a broker to carry it, and this is not something you want to find out after closing.

4. Many agents work only on a buyer broker agreement basis, you will be asked to sign a contract for several months during which you will be obligated to work with this agent exclusively for that time period. Other agents will ask you for this agreement once they have worked with you, both parties feel it is a good relationship, and you are ready to make an offer.

5. Always ask for references. A good agent will have their references ready for you.

6. In order to serve their client as best as possible some agents have decided not to represent both a buyer and seller in the same transaction. One of the main reasons for this is that it is very difficult to be an advocate for two parties with opposite goals.

7. How does the agent select the homes that they show you? Many agents will e-mail their clients a lot of properties and let the buyer decide which homes to see, this can be a very ineffective and time consuming process in which the buyer sees many homes that do not suit their needs. The best agents will preview all of the homes on the market that fit a buyer’s general criteria and then show their client only the best homes. This process leads to a much more efficient and beneficial outcome for the buyer.

8. Does the agent have a close relationship with a trustworthy and knowledgeable lender? By working closely with the lender an agent will be more able to guide the process ensuring that the buyer gets the best loan program for their situation and is only looking at homes that fit their budget.

So as you can see, by methodically and strategically selecting an agent you can positively influence the outcome of your home purchase.

by James Dedolph and Randy Nathan

Go Green and Fit In

Just a thought on Going Green...

With the recent “Go Green” headlines getting splashed around the media arena it might not be a bad idea for home builders to find effective cost cutting strategies to free up a little money for Green Building. Our environment needs our help and people are beginning to realize the potential of doing a few little things to help save energy. Home builders are also learning the value of Green Building and some builders are creating a buzz by offering Green Friendly Homes. It might not be a bad idea for all builders to start producing green homes. They could get more sales, headlines and referrals from their efforts.

A couple things we can do as consumers to lower energy costs in our homes include changing traditional light bulbs in for energy efficient bulbs. I heard that if every American household changes one light bulb it would be equivalent to removing 1,000,000 cars from our roads annually. We can also buy energy efficient appliances and turn computers, receivers and laptops off instead of leaving them in power save mode. Another great way to save energy is to make a conscious effort to turn lights off when they’re not being used.

Going Green is becoming a big part of some American purchases and the trend will likely increase as exposure continues. Here’s an article about some things custom home builders are doing to accommodate the Green needs of home buyers.

by Jayson Gibson

Understanding the Green Building Boom

Demand for environmentally friendly buildings has grown considerably in recent years, and Realtors are making a lot of money helping investors buy and sell them. As this market grows, it's up to savvy agents to follow new green technology, and the changing interests of buyers. Government green building incentives and international treaties are also a big factor, and agents who know what policies are next can often anticipate demand.

Part of the reason green buildings took so long to attract demand was the lack of knowledge on the subject. Many developers assumed building costs would be inaccesibly high because of standards that had to be met, and materials required. But in recent years the opposite has happened - buyer awareness has helped expand the market, and many developers have found green buildings to be much less expensive than they assumed. As green buildings become more common, construction materials, such as insulative glass, and public information, have increased dramatically.

Realtors looking for the latest information and industry perspective on green buildings can attend now attend regular conferences on the subject, which are among the most popular events in the real estate industry these days. The most common theme at these events is how to stay ahead of the curve, and ensure green developments don't go out of date as new technologies emerge.

Green buildings are also having an impact on the buy-sell cycle of many real estate markets, because their owners act differently than other buyers and sellers. Many green building owners and renters keep their homes for longer before selling them, a trend running counter to the common practice of buying and flipping in many high-end markets. With sustainable value comes higher overall prices, and the demand for better construction and longer lasting buildings.

The benefits of environmentally friendly construction are now well known: these buildings have a smaller demand on power and plumbing, resources resulting in fewer greenhouse gases and less resource extraction, heating and cooling cost savings, and more comfortable living spaces. They're also generally more attractive and complementary to the cityscape.

Realtors who understand the benefits green construction, and know how to talk about it with buyers and sellers, will profit considerably as demand for these buildings increases. Now's the time to learn all you can about this exciting new home market.


by Rick LeForce

How To Design Your Own New House

It can be a deeply American experience to build a house. For upholding traditional ideas of the family, there is nothing like building from a plan. These days it is possible for completely unqualified people to design their own house, thanks to the wealth of house plans available. Whether you are a traditionalist or are looking for truly contemporary design, you can be sure that a professional has already done the donkey work for you – all you have to do is name your specifications and pick up a design.

For anyone with a little imagination – or a dream – and a computer with a mouse, house design has become as easy as drawing is for children. After learning the basics of a package, which are comparable to paint or Photoshop in terms of level of difficulty the sky’s the limit. No wonder this cost and time saving solution is catching on. Architects already use it – so why not you?

Most of us can’t imagine what a plan will pan out as, which is why the software is able to give you a preview projection of your design as you draw it up and modify it. If you do not wish to design a whole house, but only a certain feature like a porch, a particular room or the garden area, you should look for a specific package to further save on costs.

There are basically two types of house plan available the good ones, and the ones that are absolutely incomprehensible. Look consider carefully the following factors: Cost – be careful to make sure you understand not just the cost of buying the plan, but all the materials which you will need for executing it. Setting – how well does your plan match the neighbourhood and surrounding area? You are sure to be able to get just the right plan for your neck of the woods, if you shop around.

Optimal use of space – will the finished house meet your space requirements? The most successful plans are those which create a fine-looking house, with the required rooms, and just that little bit over for the yards to fill the plot. You don’t want to end up sharing your bedroom with the dog. Building regulations – these vary from state to state. The building plans available in your area are generally marketed there because they meet specifications. If you are buying plans out of state, check the packaging and if need be your local planning office.

If you are planning a house for a hot or tropical climate area, you would do well to choose a cool house plan. These tend to come with flat roofs – more efficient for heat-deflection- and a lot of ventilation features, as opposed to built-in air conditioning.

The materials for a cool house plan will be a little different from a conventional house, because insulating materials will be avoided. Instead, materials which readily absorb and let off heat will form part of the plan. The general design of a cool house is sure to include wrap-around porches and adequate space for ceiling fans. More information on this can be found at http://www.new-house-plans-guide.com, together with other tips and advice about house plans.

Whichever new house plan you end up choosing, you will be purchasing the right to use that plan once to build a house. They will be printed on a vellum, or transparent paper, to which minor modifications and extra copies can be made without infringing copy write laws. Likewise, the CAD files, in other words the construction drawings in electronic format, can also only be used for a single construction.


by Kelly Hunter

How to Successfully Move to Spain and Stay

At first sight the title of my book may seem a little odd? Well you might think it’s easy to move to Spain; just book a flight, and find somewhere to stay; the rest will sort itself out. “We just need to get there” and start to enjoy the new life in the Sun Right?

Wrong. Sorry but a lot of us that escape in search of the “Dream”, find it all goes wrong and they struggle like crazy to get everything in place, but in the end they return back home, with lost dreams, big debts, and having to start all over again.

It doesn’t have to be like that if you plan a ahead…

Did you know that every year more than 191,000 Britons emigrated but in the same year 105,000 returned having failed to make their dream work?

That’s 86,000 lost dreams, an awful lot of sadness indeed. Worse still it has caused each and every one of them, not only a great deal of heartache, but there are also the financial costs involved.

Coming home involves getting a job, finding a home and so on. Possibly you will have sold the car, and bought another in Spain. Inevitably you will have to sell that and start all over again.

This book aims to give you a few straight facts; albeit in a light hearted writing style, so that you can make a few plans ahead of your move, and truly make it a one way trip, and achieve the dream of a new life in Spain forever!

So, why do some people fail to survive abroad?

Often the reason is down to family level. It is a very simple decision if you live alone. If you have a partner then it is absolutely essential that you talk through everything very thoroughly.

In my many years of hosting Spanish Property Exhibitions in The United Kingdom, I met numerous couples that attended purely with the intention of “selling” the whole idea of the Spanish Dream to their respective partner. They hoped that by seeing the beautiful photographs of the lovely Villas. Happy couples sipping wine outside the traditional tapas bars, or relaxing on the long sandy beach in Guardamar on a lovely sunny December afternoon would do the trick. Unfortunately life is not quite that simple.

Don’t try selling the dream to your partner…

Hey, when you went on your last holiday to Spain, I’ll bet it was perfect? What you are now contemplating is not going to be a holiday; it is truly going to be something you both have to live, everyday maybe for the rest of your lives. You can’t persuade anybody, least of all your beloved partner to have the same dream as yourself. You may be lucky and truly both have the same dream. It is essential right now that you completely and absolutely have the same dream. If not of course there are alternatives to a complete move. Subject to your finances it may well be possible to compromise, and split your time between The UK and Spain. With the flight costs being reasonable these days, this is a distinct possibility for many of us.

If we step back say to the 1990’s for a moment, at that time many of us just wanted to sell our property in the UK, and with the pot of cash from that, it may well have been enough to purchase a satisfactory Spanish Villa, and still retain enough of that “pot” to invest in the Bank, and “live happily ever after off the interest and pensions received.

Property Prices are no longer at 1990 prices of course, and this scenario is not often possible any longer. Spanish Property Prices have leapt ahead faster than any other EC Country if you look back 20 Years, so by the time you make your property purchase in Spain, the “pot” may well be looking a little shaky.

Splitting your time between UK & Spain?

Both you and your partner must be completely honest with each other right now before you spend a single Euro. If you have even a 10% doubt about making it in Spain at this time, then that doubt will surely fester once you make the move, and things might just slide from there on.

What’s the way around this?

Clearly if you have doubts, then you can still go ahead and enjoy the dream, but with little “Home Breaks” built in. Maybe it will be that one of you will want to hop back to visit the Grandchildren? So build this into your plan now. After all it is pretty cheap to go back, you are not moving to Australia are you! This simple escape clause in your “agreement” can well make the difference between success and failure. Talk it through at great length.

This is possibly the most frequent cause of people “going back home”, so don’t skip over these issues. If you are still in doubt, take another holiday in Spain, but this time make certain you stay in a property that will be similar in cost to the type of property that you will be able to afford if you decide to move. That way it is almost like a dress rehearsal. You can taste “living in the real Spain” not insulated from reality in a five star hotel, with waiters offering you your every whim!

When you move you will have to go shopping for Groceries; decorate the spare room with real paint and get hot and dirty too!

We once did just that in the middle of August in temperatures exceeding 36c inside. Being too hot to wear “overalls” or pretty much anything at all, (well apart from the essential coverings of course) we ended up with more emulsion paint on ourselves than the walls, and vowed to leave all future decorating jobs until the winter!

Splitting Countries

If costs are a little strained, you might well be able to “trade down” your UK property, and use the profits form the sale to purchase your Spanish Property. Another popular way to afford a home in both countries is to Rent out part of your UK property, but keep an “apartment” (or create one) for your home visits. Often the rental achieved can mean that your home “apartment” comes “free”, that is to say, the tenanted part of your property covers all of the property costs including your portion.

Another option if you have family in the UK is to consider extending their property in some way. Our own example was to extend our daughters property by building a Garage Conversion. This provides us with a low cost, but comfortable home stay property with its own facilities, whilst adding value to the property at the same time.

If you can try to “think outside the box” you might surprise yourselves just how creative you can be.

It’s always better to have a home base if you have any lingering doubts.

Even though in reality you may only use the “home base” quite infrequently, the simple fact that it is there for you if you should need it, and will almost certainly solve any of those nagging emotional or homesickness thoughts that you or your partner might have. You can then feel ready to face the new life in Spain with confidence, in the sound knowledge that there is a bolthole back home should the need arise at anytime.

Where in Spain will you live?

Countless times I am told that the Spanish dream property is something like this… In the Country, with lovely views, near the beach, large gardens, quiet location away from it all. How practical is this? You are both planning to move to Spain for the rest of your lives, so pause for a moment and ask yourselves, How much would that dream cost? Given a quick internet search, I can tell you now that it would not be a cheap option. Lovely views do not come cheap, especially if you want that view near the beach.

Let’s take a look at each of these options in more detail…

Buying inland is normally cheaper than coastal, but you still have to go grocery shopping.

How far is it to the nearest Supermarket?
What if you want an evening out?
How far is it to the Restaurants and Bars?

Remember in Spain, the drinking laws are quite strict, and now comply with EC directives. In effect this means that even a small glass of Lager will place you over the limit, and liable to arrest, a fine and a possible driving ban. If you like a small end of evening tipple then it is best that you have a local bar, from which you can easily walk home.

What about a Finca?

Some 10 years ago, that was our dream too. A lovely finca which really is a Spanish Farmhouse, or smallholding, tucked away in the countryside.

In reality it often involves a long winding single track road leading up to the Finca, so imagine getting home, and as I am sure we have all done at times, realise that we have forgotten to get some essential items for dinner that night. Yes we have to trail right back along that winding single track road again. Pretty soon you will hate that road intensely.

It’s one thing getting away from the tourist hustle and bustle, but think carefully before you buy something in the middle of nowhere, with no local services.

Another downside to consider when “getting away from it all” is of course it is going to take you that extra journey when you decide to hop back home for a week. Having done this now for the past seven years, I can assure you it is quite important to have easy access to Motorways and subsequently The Nearest Airport.

Expectation and the Reality

Watching one of the numerous “Place in the Sun” television shows, might give the impression that everything is just so perfect. In reality you will still have to stand in queues to Pay Bills, visit banks, builders, even the tax office perhaps? You cannot escape from the reality of life completely. Yes of course you can put behind you your past mistakes, but you have to make that extra effort not to make those same mistakes again in your new Country.

Finding the perfect home in Spain.

The fact is that you might not find the ideal home first time for two reasons. Firstly it is quite different to finding the ideal home in your home town in the UK, as you will already know the good areas that you would like to move to. This is of course not obvious on a short visit to Spain. It is good advice to rent short term, but you should remember that every penny spent on renting is working to reduce your final capital available to you when you buy in Spain.

If you find a property that “ticks most of the boxes” for you, and you buy it at the lowest possible price, then you will be in a good position to sell on and move up the property ladder just as most of us are doing now (realise it or not) in The UK. Thus retaining your capital, and quite likely even making a profit in the process.

Property Prices in Spain

Over the past 20 years, property prices have in Spain increased faster than all other European Countries. Rumours are awash that the bubble in Spain has finally burst. My research, backed up with facts, does show that in some areas, particularly that of Valencia they have indeed fallen some 10%. In all other areas of Spain including The Costa Blanca and The Costa Del Sol they are still rising at 8% per annum. What has changed is the supply and demand situation, and understandably this has caused builders and Estate Agents big financial headaches in terms of Cash Flow. That said the stronger Companies, are riding through this, and already there are signs that demand is returning. This lack of demand is thought to have been started by the upsurge of Eastern European Countries like Bulgaria & Turkey offering competition. Gradually though the old favourite Spain is winning through once again.

And Finally…

If you have thought things through carefully, it may well be time to “make it all happen for you” and start the ball rolling. Moving to Spain full time, or on a split time basis, is not the one way decision it used to be. So many flights everyday, mean that you can always afford to “hop” and get the best of both worlds, so why wait any longer.

Have a Happy new Life



by Patrick Holland

Build Your Own Home - The World of Wacky Property

Are you looking for an alternative to the standard two up, two down, red brick house in the suburbs? Do you want to live in a home with a difference? Well, you're not alone; inspired by TV shows such as Grand Designs, more and more people are designing and building their own quirky property that is very different to the average home.

The chance to live in a home that you've designed and even built yourself is a huge draw for many adventurous architectural types. The ever rising costs of buying a property in the UK, has meant that building your own home is now a much more economically viable option compared to a decade or two ago; and adventurous individuals are using the current economic atmosphere to build a house of their dreams.

Self built homes are often regarded as being of a higher construction quality than commercial developers' properties. The personal touch, and the fact that the designer will actually be living in the property, tends to mean that they won't scrimp and save on materials and construction; whereas some less scrupulous construction companies tend to have less consideration for running and maintenance costs, and are generally more interested in meeting basic building regulations and keeping construction costs down.

Some estate agents say that self builds can be a little harder to sell than the average red brick home. The fact that self builds are very personal to their creators, means that they may have limited appeal, especially in some of the most quirky designs, such as church conversions or eco-friendly houses. In saying that, although the appeal may be less widespread, these designs are so different from the average home that there is always somebody, somewhere who wants a room with a slightly different view.

The range of quirky property which is being built by individuals is huge, and is not limited to any one place or style; interesting self builds are popping up all over the country; from modern concept property in Lancashire, to rustic and rural thatched projects in Scotland, to inner city urban conversions in London.

If you need inspiration for your own self build project, here are a few ideas: how about converting an old river barge into a modern, floating home? Or try to build with straw bales - a surprisingly sturdy, cheap and easy building material with excellent insulating properties. And you could always go green with an off-grid eco build, using wood as the main material and incorporating photovoltaic cells, wind turbines and a composting toilet into the design.

Self build homes are on the increase, and there are even specialist self build mortgages and insurance available, so rather than buying a ready made home, why not build your own?

by Andrew Regan

The Footprints Of Arizona Home Builders

Arizona is a growing state with a lot to offer current residents, new residents and visitors. Arizona home builders and industry professionals have consistently met the wants and needs of Arizona residents. Arizona's population increased by more than 200,000 from July 1st, 2005 - July 1st, 2006 (Les Christie, Growth states: Arizona overtakes Nevada); the infrastructure of Arizona is relatively new and is constantly changing to accommodate the steady expansion, one change includes the addition of a much anticipate light rail system. The economy is booming and is enjoying low unemployment and constant growth. Metro Phoenix is the 5th largest metropolitan area in the nation and offers an array of sporting, entertainment and educational attractions.

Arizona has hundreds of beautiful single-family, condominium, custom and active-adult new home communities. Local and national home builders design these communities to include incredible amenities and homes that help afford desirable lifestyles. Many single-family and custom home communities have pools, walking trails, bike paths and large parks. Master-planned communities often include new schools and commercial centers giving residents' convenient access to everyday wants and needs. Condominium developers also focus on meeting the needs and wants of their residents. Many condo builders rely on an overabundance of attractive amenities to draw home shoppers looking for an urban lifestyle. In addition to the same amenities found in new home communities, condominium projects often have a movie theatre, extravagant clubhouse, concierge service, fitness center and some include a sky lounge. In both cases, home builders and condo developers strive to give their residents, and Arizona, a beautiful home and community.

Traditionally, as new home sales increase, the health of Arizona's economy increases. New home production and the real estate industry have fueled much of Arizona's development for many years and provide thousands of jobs statewide. Home builders and their many vendors have helped support thousands of Arizona families. For many other residents, new home production in Arizona has allowed a quality home and thriving community. Home builders have helped build Arizona, and in doing so; they have left an incredible footprint, countless communities and excellent homes.

by Jayson Gibson

It is a Log Home? A Timber Frame Home? Hybrid Log & Timber Homes - The New Industry Trend

Over the past few years, the log and timber home industry has taken a new turn. Today the industry sees more and more homes combining log elements with timber frame components and conventional framing.

Employing a combination of materials and building styles is referred to as "hybrid" and is often done to achieve a particular design look. Many clients enjoy the flexibility in design that a hybrid style home allows. Below are a few examples illustrating how a combination of different materials can come together to create a truly amazing home:

Crested Butte - A hybrid log home design of large stone, milled log walls, and customized timber frame trusses.

Eagle's Nest - A hybrid log & timber home; square milled log walls with dovetail corners and custom timber frame trusses.

Upland Retreat - A handcrafted log & timber hybrid home; handcrafted wall logs and timber frame trusses, posts & roof.

Many designers will use timber and log elements in combination with conventional framing. Of course, the log & timber home purist prefers a more authentic log and timber style construction. But, decorative log and timber elements added to conventional framing can achieve a mountain flavor and sometimes save costs. This hybrid method is seen regularly in multi-unit condominiums and resort townhouses. Framing side wings in combination with a timber frame or log great room makes sense and can save in construction costs.

Log construction, however, can be very difficult to combine with other types of construction if the log home company doesn't utilize a non-settling system. If your goal is to decrease the cost to build your log home by mixing logs with framing or post & beam construction, remember to check out the company's non-settling system.

With any home design, the creativity of the designer will dictate the materials to be used. Find a company that is flexible in their manufacturing so as to accommodate the creativity of your design. Providing your designer with a broad palette of materials including log, timber, framing, glass, stone, steel and other materials creates more opportunity for a unique and creative custom home. The design must come first and the materials must then be able to accommodate.

by Jim B Young

How To Buy Off Plan Property Safely and Wisely

When you buy a property in Bulgaria 'off plan' you purchase it based on the developer's drawings, floor plans and artistic impressions. This is either before building work has even commenced or a long time before the completion date.

Buying off plan can be a safe and simple way to invest your money wisely. More and more people are choosing to do this, whether for holiday homes, buy-to-let opportunities or adding to their investment portfolios.

To make your investment as safe and secure as possible there are a number of things you can do.

1. Ensure the reliability of the developer. They must be financially secure and have a proven track record of building to a high standard. Get references from their customers, view examples of previous projects.

2. Get regular updates on construction. Make sure they give you photographs and don't just tell you what stage of build it is at. Keep yourself informed.

3. Get independent legal advice. Get your own solicitor to check the title deeds. You need to know that that the developer is the sole owner of the land and that there are no outstanding monies/mortgages/payments on the land. They will also confirm that the relevant authorities have approved planning permission and building warrant. In addition you need to get a legal contract drawn up that protects your rights and money during the construction period, and gives you guarantees on the finished structure and quality of the property.

4. Research the location. Find out what the area will look like when the building is completed. Are there plans for further developments nearby? Is the government planning anything for the local area? What are the transportation issues? If you are buying-to-let then research the rental market.

5. Take specialist mortgage advice. There are different options available when buying off plan. Speak to someone as early as possible.

So do your research and ask plenty of questions along the way. With the right preparation you may find buying a property 'off plan' to be the most secure investment of all.

Obviously, if you don't want to buy a property in Bulgaria but prefer to buy a property in Spain, Turkey or Cyprus, you can do the same.

by Kevin Mckay