The Advantages of Condo Living

From empty nesters to young couples starting out, many homebuyers are finding tha tocndominiums offer attractions over the traditional single family home.

Condos are now an important housing option for homebuyers. According to the Greater Vancouver Home Builder’s Association, condos – highrise, lowrise and townhouses – represent nearly 80 per cent of all new residential construction throughout the Lower Mainland.

Today’s condos are well designed; even the smallest space is very liveable. Many homebuyers find that condos offer advantages over the traditional single family home. For example, you may want to consider purchasing a condo if you are nearing retirement, frequently vacation in a specific area or own a home that is larger than you need after your grown children have moved out. For younger buyers, looking to purchase their first homes, condos are definitely the most affordable housing optin in Vancouver and surrounding municipalities.

Baby Boomers: baby boomers anticipating retirement frequently purchase condos or townhomes, often in areas boasting cultural attractions and easy access to good medical facilities. Consider the fact that as you age, activities like mowing the lawn and cleaning the gutters may lose their charm. If you invest in a condo, many everday maintenance activities are no longer necessary, and the few that are required generally are covered by your monthly strata fee.

Vacationers: Historically, the market for condos in scenic or vacation locations has been strong, thanks to consistently high resale values. Keeping a second home tidy and undisturbed in the off-season can be a chore. When you purchase a condo, however, either as part of a condo community or in a condo-hotel, most of the unit’s upkeep is covered by your monthly strata fee, whether or not you are in the residence.

Empty Nesters: Many empty nesters are simply thinking about enjoying their freedom now that the kids are out of the house. Older copules – especially those who once lived in urban areas- are returning to the cities, leaving behind the larger house, yard maintenance and the lengthy commute to downtown offices. If you fall into this category, you may want to opt for a smaller, easier to manage condo home that’s not only close to your job, but also near shopping, good restaurants and entertainment.

First-Time Homebuyers: during the recent period of relatively low mortgage interest rates, young people found that buying their first home was both more financially attractive a dmore feasible than they had anticipated. Many of today’s condos are easily accessible via mass transit, and in neighbourhoods that are appealing to young homebuyers.

While a condo can be the first step on an ownership ladder, it often is a good stand-alone investment in real estate. And some families are finding that it makes financial sense for them to purchase a condo in a university community as an investment – one that can be used by ehtir child during his or her college career, then rented or resold after graduation.

For more information on new homes or renovations, visit the Greater Vancouver Home Builder’s Association’s website at www.gvhba.org.

NOVA VITALIS Washington DC Condominiums - GRAND OPENING

NOVA VITALIS - GRAND OPENING this Sunday 6/3 1-5 PM at 1106 Columbia Road, NW (11th & Columbia, NW). Sweet condos at unbelievable prices! What a location - in the heart of the Columbia Heights, it's a hop, skip and jump to the booming Columbia Heights shopping district and the DC USA retail complex - with stores like Target, Best Buy, Washington Sports Club, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Modells, Staples and Marshalls. Plus, from Nova Vitalis Condos, you're a block or two from cool local gems like Wonderland Ballroom, Columbia Heights Coffee, the new international Giant, Rumbero's and Mayorga Cuisine. Walk to Metro! Stroll to hip, happening U Street!

Why rent? This is a great opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of home
ownership with little money down and monthly payments lower than your
current rent. And, seller pays up to 3% closing credit!

1 Bedroom units below $200K!
2 Bedroom units below $300K!
2 Bedroom duplexes!


Nova Vitalis offers the features that urban homebuyers seek:

- High Ceilings
- Open Floor Plans
- Verticial Bamboo Flooring (ECO friendly)
- Open Kitchens
- Contemporary Kitchen Cabinets
- Granite Countertops
- Stainless Steel Appliances
- Custom and Recessed Lighting
- Travertine Tile Baths w/Contemporary Fixtures


RSVP by replying to this email

Contracts will be written at the Open House

See you there!

Additional information is available at www.urbanlandcompany.com

Going green in luxurious style on the Sunshine Coast at Wakefield Beach

Advertorial from the Vancouver Sun newspaper in May 2007 for the Wakefield Beach Sunshine Coast real estate development of waterfront properties.

Wakefield Beach offesr deluxe waterfront living with a deep green sensibility along the beautiful Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. Luxurious space, inspired architecture, a prized waterfront location. Wakefield Beach Sunshine Coast has everything you look for in a neighbourhood. And it also has something extra: a deep green sensibility that influences just about every aspect of the real estate development in the Sunshine Coast.

Located on the water in West Sechelt, just a 40-minute ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay and a 35-minute drive up Highway 101, Wakefield Beach along the Sunshine Coast of BC is a new real estate waterfront community of 46 luxurious seaside homes.

Designed to have minimal impact on the environment without sacrificing comfort or luxury, Wakefield Beach homes are high quality, low maintenance, and environmentally conscious. “There are many reasons I bought at Sunshine Coast Sechelt’s Wakefield Beach, however, the main one is the environmentally friendly aspect of the real estate development,” says Patricia Keen who is moving from Whistler to the Sunshine Coast.

“I was sold on the efforts of Wakefield Beach developer made to use only organic materials like wood, stone and wool carpets, as well as aspects such as Energy Star appliances, dual flush toilets, green roofs and geothermal heating.”

To ensure excellence in every aspect of the waterfront real estate Sechelt development, Sparling brought together a team of highly qualified experts to work on this real etate waterfront property along the Sunshine Coast. Renowned architects Bo Helliwell and Kim Smith of BlueSky Architecture designed the waterfront seaside residences at Wakefield Beach Sechelt with dramatic curved roof lines and striking vertical beams. They seamlessly blend indoor and outdoor living with soaring ceilings and massive windows and doors.

Peter Busby, award-winning architect and industry leader in green design, spearheaded environmental efforts. “With geothermal power systems and green roofs, Wakefield Beach provides us with a sustainable design solution that is unprecendented on the West Coast, but demonstrates that the future is here,” Busby says. “At Wakefield Beach Sechelt, we are defining a new archetype of living on the Sunshine Coast,” adds Sparling. “We’re creating a traditional neighbourhood that has modern sensibility.”

The first phase, which includes 31 homes, is 90% sold out and will soon be completed. Fifteen second phase homes at Sunshine Coast’s Wakefield Beach in Sechelt – three of which are oceanfront – are now available for sale and are scheduled for completion in spring 2008.

For more information on this beautifully innovative seaside real estate development in the Sunshine Coast waterfront, visit the website at www.wakefieldbeach.com. The Wakefield Beach presentation centre is open daily in Sechelt.

5370 Wakefield Beach Lane,
Off the 6500 block of the Sunshine Coast Highway
1-888-741-9899 or info@wakefieldbeach.com

If you are looking at purchasing more resort recreational real estate in Greater Vancouver pre-construction market or in the Whistler property market, you can refer to these links for more information.

Wakefield Beach Sunshine Coast

Oceanfront homes on the Sunshine Coast real estate market. Learn why Coastal Living Magazine named Wakefield Beach as the 2008 community development of the year. Visit the web site at wakefieldbeach.com or call 604.741.9899. Oceanfront homes at Wakefield Beach starting from mid $600,000. For more information, please contact Wakefield Beach at 604.741.9899 or visit the show home at Wakefield Beach Sechelt, BC.

Update on Wakefield Beach Sechelt Single Family Homes

An innovative, eco-friendly Sechelt real estate development in the Sunshine Coast, Wakefield Beach is about to release the final 15 pre-construction homes as they are completed. Located on 700 feet of south facing, low bank waterfront, Wakefield Beach Sechelt family homes is a mix of detached single level, two level and three level pre-sales Sunshine Coast hoes ranging from 1450 to 2250 square feet and priced from the mid $600,000s to $1.5 million. Each home has an ocean view plus “deep green” features such as landscaping that tolerates drought yet absorbs run-off, green roofs, geothermal heating, low flow plumbing and solar powered outdoor lighting. The sunshine Coast Wakefield Beach display beach home is located at 5373 Wakefield Beach Lane in Sechelt, BC recreational property and is open 9 to 6pm daily. For more information about this waterfront home development in the Sunshine Coast BC, please call 604.741.9899 or toll free at 1.888.741.9899 or you can visit the Wakefield Beach home web site at www.wakefieldbeach.com.

Wakefield Beach Sechelt Family Homes

Waterfront homes in the heart of the recreational Sunshine Coast BC resort real estate market are a rare find. Now, the final release of the Sechelt Wakefield Beach homes are upon us, with detached single level and some two or three level single family Sunshine Coast waterfront homes for sale between $600s to $1.5 M. Right now, the pre-construction Wakefield Beach waterfront home display presentation centre is located on site at 5373 Wakefield Beach Lane in Sechelt and is open from 9 to 6. You can also visit wakefieldbeach.com for additional details regarding these final fifteen pre-construction Sechelt Wakefield Beach luxury waterfront homes in the BC resort real estate market. There are deep green features, menaing that these Sechelt waterfront homes at Wakefield Beach will have a minimal impact on the environment through building construction processes that make sure that nature is protected in the development process.

Denver Rail Yard Lofts and Residences

In one of the most revolving and revitalized residential communities in the beautiful city of Denver Colorado, the Rail Yard Lofts and condominium style apartments are now for sale today at their presentation center.

With all the perks of a resort style condominium real estate development in presales and under construction phase in Denver, the Rail Yard Lofts in Colorado will also provide home buyers (including first timers as well as property investors) spacious rooms, unlimited amenities on site as well as great features that resemble those of the east coast loft residences. The centrally located Rail Yard Lofts Denver are a set of condo style apartment residences that are close to the business district if you work there in addition to numerous outdoor/indoor cafes, casual/fine dining restaurants in addition to theatres, museums, breweries, ice cream, live music venues and recreational areas.

A quick overview of this development

The Denver Rail Yard Lofts and presales residence condominiums are affordable, spacious and bright and are also close to Coors Field, Pepsi Centre, Invesco Field, the central business quarters as well as Commons Park. The luxurious pre-sales Denver Rail Yard Lofts and apartments are by far some of the most unique traditional loft style residences in the city and represent a great property investment for both short and long-term investors. The contact name for the pre-construction Rail Yard Lofts sales office is Shannon Tiger of the Fullerton Company and you can reach her at 303.717.2134 (cell) or by fax at 303.571.5902 or at the office at 303.571.5900. The marketing telephone number for the Denver Rail Yard Loft residences is at 303.455.RAIL and the email address is Shannon.tiger@fulltertoncompany.com. You can also get more details about the Rail Yard Lofts apartments in Denver CO online at their web site located at http://www.railyardlofts.com/component/option,com_contact/Itemid,3/. You may also register online at their website at http://www.railyardlofts.com/component/option,com_facileforms/Itemid,49/ and the sales presentation model suites for the Denver Rail Yard Lofts and condo residences will be opening in May this year for public viewing. For a great virtual tour and video of the presale Denver pre-construction condominiums here, please visit http://www.railyardlofts.com/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,52/. For other pre-sales Rail yard Lofts Denver real estate properties images and photo gallery, please select this link: http://www.railyardlofts.com/content/view/19/53/. For the detailed site plan of the Colorado pre-sales Rail Yard Lofts masterplanned community of condo homes in Denver, please visit http://www.railyardlofts.com/images/stories/Floorplans/siteplan.pdf to download the PDF doc.

Floorplans and Pricing at Rail Yard Lofts

There are many different Rail Yard Loft layout plans available for sale at this pre-construction presales Denver Colorado property real estate. This includes the Caboose floorplan which features two bedroom and two bathroom condominium residences between the sizes of one thousand four hundred and ninety three to one thousand five hundred and six square feet in size over lower and upper levels. The Rail Yard Lofts Denver condo suites will provide the most amazing lofted living space in Denver CO and will have spacious master suites and historic accent brick walls that are absolutely stunning in design and construction. Also, the Denver CO Rail Yard Lofts will have twenty five foot soaring timber ceilings as well as exposed wood trusses for that true loft feeling. The Caboose floorplans at the Rail Yard residence loft homes in Colorado will also have unique rolling glass garage door off the patio and GE stainless steel appliances. The official floorplan PDF is located here http://www.railyardlofts.com/images/stories/Floorplans/caboose.pdf. The Locomotive floor plan at the Rail Yard Lofts in Denver will be one bed and 1.5 bath units between nine hundred nad seventy to one thousand and three sf and the PDF is located online http://www.railyardlofts.com/images/stories/Floorplans/locomotive.pdf. The Switch (http://www.railyardlofts.com/images/stories/Floorplans/switch.pdf) floor layout at the Rail Yard Lofts Denver presales real estate properties have a den and are one thousand one hundred and thirty three sqft and the Shoofly layout (http://www.railyardlofts.com/images/stories/Floorplans/shoofly.pdf) is a spacious 2 bed and 2 bath loft residence between 1139 to 1156 size. The Flatcar is one of the most spacious loft homes at this pre-construction community and has 2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths with a large 228 sq ft patio and 1517 indoor space. The Tanker corner unit floorplan is 1557 sqft in interior space with a completely open and functional plan located http://www.railyardlofts.com/images/stories/Floorplans/tanker.pdf. The Rail Yard Lofts in Denver will also feature the Carriage homes which are 2 and 2 with 1548 to 1562 sf. The last three layouts floorplans are all one bed with 1 or 1.5 baths and are called the Bunker, Banker and boxcar and the range from nine hundred and eighty three to one thousand one hundred and eighty seven square feet in living area.

The Urban yet quiet lifestyle

The Rail Yard Lofts is a pre-construction Denver presales condominium style apartment complex that is now released to the public for sale. Close to many hiking and biking trails as well as the natural environment that Denver Colorado is so well known for, the Rail Yard Lofts and apartment residences are close enough to downtown and the business district in addition to all the entertainment and relaxation and recreational facilities that you can enjoy. Authentic loft living is now available at the Rail Yard Denver loft residences in Colorado and you can read more about the outstanding neighbourhood online at http://www.railyardlofts.com/content/view/14/29/.

23 Ways to Cut your Overhead in Real Estate Investing

Is your cash flow a bit tight? Here are some ways you can make things a bit easier. Written by Michaela Ryan for the API Magazine May 2007 issue.

Many beginner investors in real estate put a high proportion of their income towards their mortgages. Eventually rents rise and cash flow becomes a lot easier. But in the meantime, there could be a few years when you’re strapped for cash. So here are some suggestions for cuttng your living and property expenses, to free up some cash flow and make life a little easier for real estate investors.

1 | Stick to a real estate investment budget

Karen Novak, a certified financial planner with Westpac, says the first thing you need to do is work out where you’re spending your money. There are a lot of pro forma budgets available online or through financial advisers. You could use one of these or simply go through al your bills and work out what you’re spending each month. According to Novak, the problem areas for most people isn’t their bills, it’s their discretionary spending. Most real estate investors underestimate the amount they spend on items such as groceries, entertainment, takeaway and clothes. That’s why Novak recommends tracking your expenditure for a month and copmaring it to your initial estimates. Once you know how much you’re really spending you’ll be in a good position to establish a realistic weekly limit.

2 | Identify your weaknesses

All real estate investment professionals and beginners have weaknesses. As you track your spending, you’ll see where your greatest weaknesses are. For example, Novak says some people regularly go to the supermarket for one thing and end up coming home with six additional items. Another person’s weakness might be shouting rounds at the pub on their keycard once their cash runs out. Once you’re aware of your weakness, you’ll be able to change your behaviour.

3 | Negotiate with a property manager

Do you own a number of properties, managed by different property managers? If you offer several properties to one manager, you’re in a strong position to ask for a discount. These days there are a number of property management real estate companies that service an entire city rather than one suburb. Tenant enquiry tends to come largely from the internet these days, so it isn’t as important to have a local manager as it once was.

4 | Do real estate property repairs yourself

If you need to spend a handyman around to a property it can set you back $60 or more. If you employ a gardener to attend a property regularly, it can cost you several hundred dollars a year. Are you capable of doing these jobs yourself?

5 | Shop around for insurance on property

Do you know how competitive your insurance premium is? Not just landloards’ insurance. What about your health, car, and home and contents insurance? It sounds like tedious work shopping around for a better deal. But it’s just a matter of making a few calls that might save you hundreds of dollars each year. Alternatively you can ask an insurance broker to shop around for you. Or you could try an online service such as www.iselect.com.au to compare a wide range of health insurance premiums.

6 | Shop around for phone and internet services

While we’re on the topic of shopping around, there are huge savings to be made on your home phone, mobile and internet bills. When your contracts expire, it’s a good time to consider your options. Or if the cost of breaking an existing contract is small compared to the savings you’ll receive from a different service provider, it could be worth while making the switch even earlier. There are attractive deals in each of these areas individually. Or you could bundle the three services with one provider to attractive discounts. You just need to set aside a hour to go online and consider the packages that various companies offer.

7 | Reduce bank fees

Bank fess and charges can take a nasty bit out of your savings each month. If you shop around, you might be able to swap to a bank or building society with much lower fees. In some cases you can be stung withfees even though your account is closed.

8 | Use your own ATMs

For beginner real estate investors in Australia, do you know how much you pay every time you use the ATM of another bank? If you’re regularly incurring fees of two or three dollars, you might want to think about locating the nearest ATM or branch belonging to your bank, and doing your withdrawals so you don’t have to find an ATM so often. Check your bank’s terms and conditions to find out whether you’re charged a fee for getting cash out via EFTPOS. It might be that you can get your weekly pocket money when you do your grocery shopping.

9 | Reduce credit card costs

Beware of late payment fees and over-limit fees on your credit card, which can be up to $40 a pop. According to the ACA, if you don’t make a payment by the due date, some credit unions even charge $15 every seven days until a payment is received. By shopping around you might be able to change to a credit card which offers a much lower interest rate and perhaps no annual fee. The market is becoming much more competitive.

10 | Consolidate Debt

Novak says you can save money by consolidating the debt that you have. Novak suggest you could settle your other credit card debts using the new card, and then pay of the debt on the new card in a focused period to time so that there’s no debt remaining by the end of the honeymoon period. This strategy could get you out of the cycle of making costly ongoing interest payments – so long as you have the discipline to carry it out properly. Alternatively you can speak to your mortgage broker or banker about consolidating personal loans and credit car debts by refinancing your home loan on your residence property.

11 | Pay less interest

in some cases you will be able to reduce your monthly mortgage commitment if you refinance to a new lender or negotiate with your current lender to get a reduced rate. This is extremely great for first time real estate investors and investment professionals who can lower their monthly costs by a lot.

12 | Pay interest only

There are pros and cons if you pay interest only on your mortgages (as opposed to principal and interest on your real estate investment properties). For example, sometimes it can hold back you borrowing capacity (i.e. next time you apply for a loan the bank might not be willing to lend you as much money as it otherwise would.) However, paying interest only on loans is a common strategy for reducing the overheads of property investment.

Points 13 through 23 are coming soon! Stay tuned.

UrbanLand Company Washington DC Pre-Construction and New Real Estate Condo Developments For Sale

Grand Opening & 7 Open Houses - Thurs Eve, Sat & Sun - Great Variety!

UrbanLand Company Open Houses
Seven Open Houses This Week
May 24-27th, including...

GRAND OPENING - 50 RHODE ISLAND AVE, NE Washington DC Condominiums at Deanwood Station

5/24 6-8 PM
4810 Quarles St, NE @ Deanwood METRO
Ready for occupancy! Some of the best values in the city!
Bamboo Hardwood Floors, Granite Kitchens, Stainless Steel Appliances incl.
Gas Range, Bright Tile Baths, Great Closet Space, Laundry Facilities,
Storage, PARKING INCLUDED
from $194,900

DIRECTIONS:
From Florida Ave, NW/NE DC:
Travel in a SE Direction and Bear Left onto H St, NE. Bear Immediate Right
onto Benning Road. Take Left on Minnesota Ave. Take Right onto Sheriff. Take
Left onto 49th St, NE. 49th Turns into Quarles St - 4810 is on your right.
_____________________

Washington DC The FLORIDIAN Condominiums

913 Florida Ave, NW
118 Lofts @ U Street METRO - FEATURES: 10' Floor-to-Ceiling Windows, Exposed
Conc Ceilings & Spiral Ducts, Hardwood Floors, Floating Quartz-Topped Bath
Vanities & Overmount Vessel Sinks, Maple Kitchens w/Conc or Stainless Steel
Counters, Gas Cooking, W/D in Unit, Incredible Roof Deck & Garage Parking
Available.
Lofts, 1BRs, 1BR+Lofts, 2BR/2BAs & Huge Penthouse Units
_____________________

50 RHODE ISLAND AVE, NE

GRAND OPENING!!! Sunday 5/27 1-5 PM
50 RHODE ISLAND AVE, NE
3BR/2.5BA - Huge 2-Level Duplex Condo w/rear Patio & Deck. Oak Hardwood
Floors Throughout, High Ceilings w/Recessed Lighting, Separate Kit w/Dining
Room. Second Level Features 3 Large Bedrooms w/Travertine Marble Glass
Shower & Jacuzzi. Parking Available $475,000
_____________________

CAPITOL OVERLOOK II - GREAT SPACES!

223-227 R Street, NE - 5/27 1-5 PM
6 2-Level Townhouse Lofts - 2BR+Den or Lofts
FEATURES: 10'-20' Ceils, Floor-to-Ceiling Windows, Contemporary
Glass/Stone/Steel Kitchens, Luxe Tile Baths w/Vessel Sinks, Walk-In &
Built-In Closet Sys, Speakers/Intercom Systems Throughout, Full Size W/D,
Private Balconies/Decks & Patios, Garaged Parking Included.
from $497K
_____________________

1301 FIRST STREET, NW

Wide Open Custom Pad w/2-Levels - 3BR/2.5BA
FEATURES: New Construction w/Private Entrance, Deep Kitchen w/Pendant Lit
Island, Mosaic Tile, Cherry Hardwood Floors Throughout, Massive
Living/Dining Room w/Fireplace, Master Bath w/Jacuzzi Tub & Separate Shower,
Master BR w/Private Balcony.
from $689,900
_____________________

THE WINTHROP furnished model condo suite

5/27 1-5 PM - Furnished Model - 3% Credit
ECKINGTON / NY METRO
1956 3RD Street, NE -
5 New Condos On an Eckington Hill. 1BR, 1BR+Den & 2BRs w/Parking Included.
FEATURES: Bamboo Hardwoods Throughout, Big Kitchens w/Granite Islands &
Stainless Steel Appliances, Marble Baths w/Separate Glass Shower,
Washer/Dryer In-Unit. PARKING INCLUDED
1BR from $199K
1BR+Den from $299K
2BRs from $329K
_____________________

THE FLORIDIAN - 5/27 1-5 PM - URBAN CONTEMPORARY

U STREET'S EAST END
913 Florida Ave, NW
118 Lofts @ U Street METRO -
FEATURES: 10' Floor-to-Ceiling Windows, Exposed Conc Ceilings & Spiral
Ducts, Hardwood Floors, Floating Quartz-Topped Bath Vanities & Overmount
Vessel Sinks, Maple Kitchens w/Conc or Stainless Steel Counters, Gas
Cooking, W/D in Unit, Incredible Roof Deck & Garage Parking Available.
Lofts, 1BRs, 1BR+Lofts, 2BR/2BAs & Huge Penthouse Units


See you there!

UrbanLand Company
Real Estate Brokerage
202.299.9223
www.urbanlandcompany.com

Look What’s New in the BC Resorts Real Estate Market

Great new pre-sales developments you haven’t discovered yet by Susan M. Boyce for BC Homes & Resorts published by www.HomeBase.ca.

Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa Osoyoos Condominiums

Located on the shores of Lake Osoyoos amidst the Nk’Mip Cellars Winery vineyards and adjacent to Sonora Dunes Golf Resort and the Nk’Mip Cultural Centre, presales Osoyoos Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa is the South Okanagan’s only four-star resort. Inspired by rich, warm colours of classic adobe architecture, pre-construction Spirit Ridge offers an extensive amenities package including three rooftop lounging terraces, two year round outdoor pools with hot tub, on site riding stable, and a variety of water sports equiprmnt from speed boats to kayaks. The Spirit Ridge Condominiums Vineyard Resort & Spa in Osoyoos Okanagan BC all homes are fully furnished – right downt to the corkscrew and patio barbeque. There is also an optional, professional managed rental program at the presales Osoyoos Spirit Ridge Vineyard Condos. The pre-sales Condominium suites at Spirit Ridge Osoyoos are priced from $67,000 (quarter fractional interest) or $271,000 (full interest). The pre-construction Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa presentation centre is open 10am to 4pm daily at 1200 Rancher Creek Road in Osoyoos BC. For more information, call 1-877-313-9463 or visit on the web anytime at www.OwnSpiritRidge.ca. Other Lower Mainland and pre-construction real estate in Vancouver are located here.

Trumpeter Pointe Waterfront Lots in Duncan BC

Nestled on the south shores of Quamichan Lake, this lakeshore community of single family homes at pre-sales Trumpeter Pointe Duncan waterfront features sunny southern exposures plus lakefront residences, lake views, and mountain view homesites. presales Duncan custom homes are creafully located to maximize enjoyment of the surrounding natural beauty. Here you can watch swans and herons, stroll forested walking and wetland trails, or spend a lazy afternoon fishing for stocked rainbow and cutthroat trout –all this, yet your only minutes from city amenities. Trumpeter Pointe waterfront lots and pre-construction lakefront homes in Duncan BC offers 17 lakefront and 49 view lots all with careful attention paid to preserve and protect the habitat and ecosystem, as well as minimize the impact of storm water run-off and riparian zone disturbances. For more information about presales Duncan Trumpeter Swan lakefront homesites please call 250.748.8080 or 250.743.5151. You may also call toll free at 1-888-748-8088 or visit www.trumpeterpointe.ca.

Parksville Tanglewood Beach Homes and Vacation Residences

An intimate, year-round waterfront community adjacent to Rathtrevor Beach in Parksville BC, long considered the premier beach on the east coast of Vancouver Island – as well as to the 347 hectare Rathtrevor Park. Offering only pre-sales 46 beach homes at presales Tanglewood Parksville Beach and vAcation Homes, many with soaring two storey vaulted ceilings, pre-construction Tanglewood blends seaside tranquility with city-savvy sophistication. Features include large covered entry porch, nine-foot ceilings in bedrooms and bathrooms, clerestory windows strategically placed to maximize winter sunshine, two sided natural gas fireplace with built in bench, wood floors in main living areas and gourmet kitchens. The Parksville Tanglewood Beach homes are priced from $367,000. For more information about the Tanglewood Parksville vacation residences, please call 1-888-243-1071 or you can visit on the web anytime at www.tanglewoodbc.com.

Victoria Aquattro Condominiums and Townhomes in Colwood

After an official sod turning ceremony early this spring, presales Victoria’s Aquattro Condos is preparing for a June opening for their presentation centre located at Anchorage Avenue just off Lagoon Road in Colwood on Vancouver Island’s West Shore. Adjacent to the Esquimalt Lagoon near Victoria, pre-construction Aquattro Condominiums and townhomes is a master planned community featuring townhouses, low and mid rise condominiums plus tower residences. The real estate development at Colwood Aquattro Victoria condos will features ponds, protected waterfront, and a 22,000 square foot amenities building. Phase One Aquattro homes are expected to start in the high $700,000s. For more information, and to priority register for Aquattro Condos, visit www.aquattroliving.com.

Terra Vita Kelowna Condominiums

Located beside the Third Fairway at Shannon Golf Course on Kelowna’s Westside, Terra Vita Condos and residences is comprised of four low rise condominiums. These one bedroom with den, two bedroom and two bed plus den homes at Kelowna Westside Terra Vita real estate properties are finished to exceptionally high standards sure to appeal to the home buyers who insist on quality construction. A rock entry at pre-construction Kelowna Terra Vita condominiums on the Westside of the city gives this gated Okanagan community a dramatic sense of arrival and privacy. For more information about the presales Terra Vita condos in Kelowna BC and to priority register, please call Debbie Harding at 250.763.5703. Website coming soon at www.terravitaliving.com where you can find all the details pertaining to the official launch of the Terra Vita condominiums in Kelowna’s Westside.

British Columbia Resort Owners offered property tax relief

Published in the Real Estate Weekly of Vancouver, this is an important step and leap for fractional ownership real estate developments in Vancouver and British Columbia resorts.

Those who have purchased or plan to purchase a “fractional” ownership rental unit at a British Columbia resort have had fears of a higher property taxes eased by a recent provincial government ruling. Fractional ownerships, meant to lower the cost for resort buyers, allow investors in property to purchase a share of a property, usually a one-quarter share. Some such units are then placed in a managed rental pool.

However, in a ruling last year, the BC Assessment Authority, said that some resort condominiums may be subject to commercial rather than residential taxation, which would raise the tax exposure by up to six times.

Legislation introduced this month would create a more uniform system for these fractional ownership units. Under new regulations, that come into effect next year, property assessments will reflect how the units are actually used in these fractional ownership type of resorts in BC. Properties already in the residential classification will not be affected.

Rick Thorpe, Minister of Small Business and Revenue, explained, “today, a majority of new tourism and resort properties are strates, and providing certainty on how they are assessed will support growth in our all-season resort capacity and our goal to double tourism by 2015.” For more Vancouver pre-construction and presales real estate properties, click here:

Essence Condos in White Rock
Port Moody Room Loft Living
Surrey Morgan Heights Condominiums
Downtown Vancouver Patina Condo Residences
Foundry Residence Condos in South False Creek
Downtown Vancouver Dolce Condos at Symphony Place

Some Comfortable with Mortgages
Canada’s boomer generation of homeowners isn’t much concerned about being mortgage free when they retire, according to RBC’s 14th Annual Homeownership Survey. While 66 per cent of all Canadians think it’s very important to have their mortgages entirely paid off by the time they retire, this sentiment decreases with age, dropping to 59 per cent among those aged 55 plus – the lowest percentage among all age groups. More than a third (37 per cent) of the 55 plus age group still has a mortgage on their homes, compared to 71 per cent of those aged 45-54 who have a mortgage – an indication that many older Canadians are successfully paying down their mortgages leading up to retirement. While the national average remaining on Canadians’ mortgages stands at $105,557, Canada’s boomers have an average of $80,331. “It appears that the level of importance in being mortgage free in retirement is decreasing for boomers,” explained Catherine Adams, a vice-president of RBC Royal Bank. You can find more information about new Edmonton Condo real estate properties online.

Most in Greater Vancouver could handle a mortgage rate hike

A new study shows that most Canadian home buyers and owners would shrug off a modest hike in mortgage interest rates according to an article published in the Real Estate Weekly newspaper in May 2007. The Pacific Northwest pre-construction property market in condo tower residences has followed these findings as well.

A report from the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP), states: “Mortgage holders continue to be satisfied with their current rates and could absorb a further 0.5 per cent increase, without it having a ‘significant impact’ on their standard of living.”

The report, authored by CAAMP’s Chief Economist Will Dunning, was based on information gathered by Maritz Research in a phone survey in February. “Canadians are financially fit and the mortgage market reflects this,” said Jim Murphy, President and CEO of the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals. “CAAMP asked Canadians how aware they aware of alternative products such as interest-only mortgages, longer amortization periods and no down payment mortgages. About half of consumers, 51 per cent, said they were aware. Thirty-six per cent responded positively to the alternatives, 27 per cent were negative and 31 per cent expressed a neutral view. Younger Canadians who did not own homes were most interested in these alternatives. On the whole, the CAAMP survey shows Canadians remain confident and optimistic about the future of the real estate market.

Still, borrowers remain cautious. Seventy-three per cent opt for a fixed term compared to 67 per cent a year ago. Variable rate mortgages account for 21 per cent of the total mortgage market and combination mortgages for only 6 per cent (down from 11 per cent a year ago).

Responding to recent increases in mortgage rates, only 16 per cent of Canadians noted a positive impact, whereas 26 per cent noted a negative impact on their overall standard of living.

Single Women Active in Real Estate Market
Single females continue to knock down barriers by purchasing real estate and tackling home repairs. Currently, 30 per cent of single, never-before married women own their own home, while 45 per cent of divorced or separated women and 64 per cent of widowed women are homeowners, according to the Royal LePage Female Buyers Report released last week. Additional new details about pre-construction and Whistler fractional real estate ownership properties are online.

Chicago Vetro Condominiums

Creative floorplans and residences with high ceilings and open urban spaces and rooms are what the Vetro Chicago condos can provide in addition to the spectacular cityscape views from all homes in this residence tower.

The Vetro Condominiums located in Chicago IL are now open to the general public for purchase as well as for great investment opportunities. The presales real estate property at Vetro Chicago condos will have a perfect balance of light, space and functionality and the construction materials used by the Vetro real estate development team will include a solid blend of concrete, glass and steel. Timeless, maintenance free living is provided in this thirty one storey high-rise condominium tower in Chicago’s Vetro residences. The entire offering at Vetro Chicago includes only two hundred and thirty three residence condos with a host of different amenities and features that compliment today’s healthy and busy lifestyle for most residents. In addition to a Fitness Center, the Chicago Vetro condominium homes will also have a pilates and yoga room in addition to an outdoor Level 7 Terrace with a sundeck, pool and entertainment/relaxation spaces for everyone to enjoy. Not your ordinary pre-sales Chicago real estate condo tower, the Vetro condominium residences are truly unique in all aspects of the development, so find out today why you should purchase a home here at Vetro online: http://vetrochicago.com/. The real estate marketing materials and the Vetro website are provided by Kitchen Sink Studios Inc. For exterior renderings and images of the Chicago Vetro site, please download the latest PDFs online at http://vetrochicago.com/pdfs/exterior_full.pdf. For full details and listings of pre-construction Chicago condominium tower residences click on this following link for the details.

Contact and FAQs Answered

If you are interested in Vetro and learning more about this unique high-rise living experience in Chicago Illinois within the Loop district, please find more detailed info and a sneak preview of what’s to come by joining the preferred customer list online at http://vetrochicago.com/ and you can call a sales rep at 312.675.0601 today for further details. The Sales Center for Vetro Chicago condominiums is located at 161 West Harrison Street Ste 102 in Chicago, IL 60605 and the physical real estate devleompent location of the Vetro high-rise condo tower is at 611 South Wells in the city of Chicago IL. The winter hours of operation for the presentation sales office at Chicago Vetro condos is on Monday through Friday between 10 and 5 as well as over weekends between 11 and 5. You can also view the latest news updates online at the Vetro Chicago web site where you can get Volume 1/Spring 2006 and Volume II/Fall 2006 of the Vetro newsletters as well as the architectural development and construction news by Roszak/ADC News. Online are the various views and vantage points from the presales high-rise condominium tower, an experience video, construction web cam in addition to sales center images and renderings of the interiors and exteriors of Chicago Vetro condominiums. To view a number of new pre construction condo Chicago real estate properties online and other United States new developments, click here.

The Amenities

The Vetro Chicago condo tower residences will host a place to live, dine, work and sleep including nine foot ceilings at floors seven through twenty nine and eleven foot ceilings at penthouse levels thirty and thirty-one. Also, the residences at Vetro Chicago presales condos will host solid core maple entry doors at every home, bright spacious rooms, nine foot floor to ceilings windows with operable vents, pre-finished wood flooring at enter, live, dine an dwork areas, choice of luxury wall to wall carpeting at sleep areas and flush interior doors with painted finish. Also, the Chicago presales Vetro condominium homes and suites will have brushed chrome door hardware, painted off white walls and trim throughout residences, walk in closets depending on the unit layout you choose, sliding, mirrored closet doors and white vinyl clad wire closet shelving. The residences at Vetro will also have cable television pre wiring, multi line high speed telephone prewiring, private balconies with anodized aluminum railing and glass screen wall as well as exposed concrete ceilings and columns.

The Vetro Kitchens and Bathrooms

The pre-construction Vetro Chicago condominium kitchens will have Frigidaire stainless steel appliances including a fridge with icemaker, self cleaning gas oven/range, Vetro five cycle dishwasher, microwave, Kohler or equal double bowl stainless steel sink, granite counters ,island, designer cabinets, Grohe or equal one touch faucet, garbage disposal and pre-finished wood floors. The condo residences at the Vetro Chicago tower condominiums will also have a marble vanity top, 12” x 12” ceramic tiled floors, 8” x 8” ceramic tiling around the shower/tub surrounds, designer cabinetry, Kohler or equal toilets, Grohe faucets, linen closet, soaker tub by Kohler and showers in the master ensuite bathrooms. Other mechanical and electrical features at the master-planned tower residences at Chicago’s Vetro condominiums include individually metered and controlled electric service, emergency lighting system, high-efficiency heating and cooling, Chicago Vetro condo laundry hook-ups, fire alarm and fire sprinkler system, state of the art roofing system, glass façade, streetscape with water fountain and a terrace level. The Vetro Chicago condo residences unit amenities include one indoor parking space, hands free automatic vehicle ID access into the Garage, one storage space per unit and intercom closed circuit tv system. Other information about the Vetro condominiums in Chicago that you can read about online include the lifestyle choices and various Vetro floor plans for sale at the moment.

Sydney Waking From Real Estate Slumber

The Sydney housing real estate market is showing signs of increased buyer interest and price growth, according to the property analyst CPM Research.

Sydney was demonstrating a litany of positive signs, CPM managing director John Wakefield said. He cited five signs of life from the Sydney property market:

1. The number of listing climbed to more than 1600 in March, the highest since the end of 2003.
2. In the same month, $926 million worth of property real estate changed hands, again a level not seen for more than three years.
3. On a month-to-month basis, the median house price in Sydney increased 34 pre cent to $791,000 during March (although on an annual basis there was still a fall of 7 per cent).
4. The median unit price was up 1 per cent in the year to March and jumped 21 per cent over the month.
5. Auction clearance rates hit 68 per cent in Sydney’s real estate market in March, the highest they have been since September 2003.

“It is early days but it appears that we may be enterting a new phase of price growth, pushing prices back to boom levels,” Wakefield said.

At the same time, the Real Estate Institute of New South wals (REINSW) said the residential vacancy rate in Sydney hit a record low of 1.2 per cent in March, with the inner city even lower at 1.1 per cent.

“The inner city seriously has the no vacancy sign up,” REINSW vice president Steve Martin said. “Tenants are too scared to move because finding something else would be too hard.” For some of the latest Australia presales apartment condominium towers in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne, visit here. They are also called 'off-the-plan' property developments as home buyers will purchase these homes in pre-construction phase.

When a home becomes a rental

Australia based information from the API published in Dec 2006 that includes a question and answer from real estate professionals regarding renting and rental properties.

Question
We purchased a house in Scarborough (Queensland) in September 2003 for $400,000 and lived in the house until December 2005 as our principal place of residence (PPOR). In the first 15 months (up to December 2004) we spent approximately $75,000 on replacement and renovations (windows, doors, plumbing, electrical, insulation, driveway, fence, landscaping, floor coverings, painting, roof etc.) and another $25,000 on the construction of a large timber deck.

We intend to keep this real estate property for the long term, although from January 2006 we moved and have been renting out this property. It will remain as an investment real estate property for the foreseeable future, although we may move back into this house in 10 years or so.

We intend to claim interest on the remaining $200,000 mortgage from January 2006 onwards and we’d also like to know if we can claim depreciation on all or some of these items starting from the 2005 -06 financial year and beyond.

1. Could you please confirm if it’s valid to claim interest and depreciation?
2. Assuming it’s okay to claim both, does depreciation of these items have to commence from the year the money is expended or can depreciation start, say, two years later (as per our scenario)?
3. If we haven’t kept receipts for all items, can we still claim if we engage a quantity surveyor for a full estimate of all the works?
4. Finally, we have a small (but growing) investment property portfolio and don’t really need to claim the depreciation at this stage. If we can and decide to claim these expenses over the next several years, will we end up just paying a larger capital gains tax (CGT) bill when we eventually sell the property in 10 or 15 year’s time?

Answer
Yes, it’s entirely valid for you to claim interest on the loan used to buy the Scarborough property and yes, you’re also legally entitled to claim the depreciation on the original property along with the renovations undertaken by you while you lived in the property. The depreciation starts at the time the item of plant or equipment is first installed ready for use. However, the claims on your tax start at the time the property is first available for rent.

A quantity surveyor will estimate the depreciation that you’re legally entitled to claim, and they’ll do this whether you have receipts or not. The depreciation should be claimed each year as you go and shouldn’t be ignored. If the depreciation triggers tax losses for you, those losses will carry forward to offset against future income and capital gains.

Claiming depreciation shouldn’t have much of an impact on the capital gain made on the sale of an investment property. By the way, when a home is converted to a real estate investment property, it’s vitally important for you to determine the current market value at the time of the change of the use. This is because, for CGT purposes, you’re deemed to have bought the house from yourself at its real estate market value at the time the house ceased to be your PPOR and became your investment real estate property. So, given that there may have been some growth in the value of your real estate property while you were living in it you can lock in some tax-free gains now by either: obtaining a sworn valuation or getting three real estate agents to give you an appraisal and then taking the average as the market value.

Dale Gatherum-Goss for API Magazine

Sylvan Ridge Townhomes in Seattle

Less than ten minutes from downtown Seattle, the Sylvan Ridge Townhomes and Townhouses provide one hundred and seventy nine San Francisco style residences that combine impeccable design and affordable value to homebuyers and prospective investors alike.

Much like the traditional San Francisco rowhome or townhome development, the Sylvan Ridge Townhouses in Seattle Washington are nestled within a quiet neighbourhood with tree lined streets, contemporary designs and an unbeatable location within minutes of all the shops, restaurants, parks, beaches and entertainment you could ever want. IN addition, the Seattle Sylvan Ridge Townhomes and residences will be perfect not only for established home owners but also first time homebuyers and investors as the development presales properties are only a short 10 minutes away from downtown Seattle center. The new construction homes at this presales Seattle property at Sylvan Ridge Townhomes are spectacular in every way including the interior craftsmanship and detailing as well as the community amenities. The limited release of first homes are now available, so make sure you contact the Sylvan Ridge townhomes presentation sales office today for the latest in availability and pricing. Also, you can find out more about this pre-sales Seattle pre-construction property development project online at their web site at http://www.sylvan-ridge.com/.

Now selling – a great presales opportunity

As many people in Seattle realize, the real estate market is in a boom state and will continue to do so as the economic fundamentals of the city remain very strong unlike other major cities across the united States. IN addition, the Sylvan Ridge Townhomes in Seattle WA are now in their first release of luxury residences and for more information, you can either register online or you can call a sales manager at 206.933.6800 to setup an appointment. Their email address is info@sylvan-ridge.com and the URL for the online registration form is at http://www.sylvan-ridge.com/contact/contact.html. This West Seattle Sylvan Ridge townhouse development is marketed by Miller Condominiums. Located in a great community area for parks and beaches, stores and shopping and school and colleges, you can view online the various amenities and neighbourhood conveniences online at the Townhomes at Sylvan Ridge Seattle website at http://www.sylvan-ridge.com/location/location1.html. Some of the driving times to local attractions from your private home at the Sylvan Ridge Town Homes in Seattle include Queen Anne Hill in nine minutes, Capitol Hill within ten minutes, eight min to Downtown Seattle, Safeco Field within eight minutes, as with Beacon Hill too and Alki Beach is only ten minutes away too. Whatever you want to do or see, the launch pad for all your experiences will be from the Sylvan Ridge Seattle townhomes, now in the presales and pre-construction phase.

Some Features

The Feature listing for the townhomes at Sylvan Ridge are located online at the following URL address: http://www.sylvan-ridge.com/features/features.html. The homes and residences wil have gas furnaces/fireplaces in addition to high quality Mohawk carpeting on the upper floors. The townhomes at Seattle’s Sylvan Ridge presales properties will also have an appliance set with stainless steel finishing in addition to solid alder cabinetry in both the bathrooms and the kitchen. The Seattle Washington Sylvan Ridge pre-construction townhomes will also have plank style hardwood flooring throughout the main level which includes everything from the kitchen to living and dining rooms in addition to the powder rooms if applicable and there is built in shelving around the gas fireplaces. Home buyers and investors in the townhomes and town houses here at Seattle’s premier development will also have a choice between three designer palettes. Info about the newest developments in the Pacific Northwest real estate market including Seattle condos, San Francisco and Vancouver properties are on this site. All Sylvan Ridge townhomes will have attached two car garages and some home sites at this presales real estate development will give the homebuyer an option of an additional room and a downsize to one garage parkingspace. The homes here will feature two beds, two baths, powder room and dens in most instances and the Sylvan Ridge Seattle development will offer three storey rowhomes in 2, 3 or four plex configurations, which is very unique for this city. Find out more online at http://www.sylvan-ridge.com/features/features.html.

Townhouse Plan Layouts

The site plan for this pre-construction Seattle project is located online as a downloadable PDF document at http://www.sylvan-ridge.com/floorplans/SylvanSiteMap-Phase1b.pdf. The fifteen foot extended exterior floorplan at Sylvan Ridge townhomes introduces a two bedroom plus bonus room and two bathroom residence with fifteen hundred and twenty five square feet in living space. The 15 floor exterior floor plan layout is of the same rooms and bathrooms but slightly smaller at fourteen hundred and thirteen sq ft. The interior plan at the Seattle WA Sylvan Ridge townhomes will have two and two and 1413 square footage while the sixteen foot interior plans will feature a bit more square footage at fifteen hundred and forty six in total. The spacious seventeen foot plan will also have the option for a bonus room and this Sylvan Ridge Seattle townhouse will have 1546 sq ft. Lastly, the 18 foot plan will be sixteen hundred and thirty eight square feet. Plus, you can now download all the PDF floorplans online at their marketing site at http://www.sylvan-ridge.com/floorplans/sitemap.html.

Boca Raton Las Vegas Luxury Condos

The new presales real estate development project at Boca Raton Las Vegas provides an offering of luxury condominiums along the South Strip of LV Nevada.

Marketed as where the South Beach meets the South Strip, the Boca Raton Las Vegas condominium real estate presales properties is the ultimate Las Vegas home that you will want to see. If you want more information about the las Vegas Boca condo development and residences, please register online at http://www.bocalasvegas.com/contact.html#reg. Please note that there is a separate online form for homebuyers and investors from the Boca Raton Luxury condominiums Las Vegas agents and brokers reg form. You may also call the Las Vegas Boca Raton condo residences by phone at 877.889.8976 or 702.367.7256. Lastly, you can contact a sales rep at the Boca Raton luxury condo presales Las Vegas properties at info@bocalasvegas.com. The web site address for these Las Vegas condominiums is at http://www.bocalasvegas.com/home.html. For the President’s Message and a live web cam of the construction site, please visit their website for the details. For the latest press and articles featuring news from the Boca Raton Las Vegas luxury condominiums, please visit this web page for all the details: http://www.bocalasvegas.com/news.html. For financing options including zero down payment or special investor’s packages, please visit the luxury condo Boca Raton web site page at http://www.bocalasvegas.com/financing.html. You can see more presales and pre-construction Las Vegas real estate condo tower residences online here.

Boca Raton Amenities

Nothing puts the finishing touches on a presales and pre-construction Las Vegas real estate development than a host of different on site community building amenities that will make life that much more easier and fulfilling for residents here. At the Las Vegas Boca Raton luxury condo suites and residences, you can expect to find the best of everything that you would be looking for in a new property including a resort hotel like lifestyle and feeling compelte with the finest finishes, interior design of natural stone, tiling and wood finishes in addition to a complete array of community features for resident use only. Many of the floor plans at the Boca Raton luxury condominiums in Las Vegas’ South Strip will have covered balconies or terraces depending on the level that you purchase at as well as four elevators (high-speed) per building, making your ascent and descent as quick as possible. In addition, the residential buildings at the luxury condos at Boca Raton Las Vegas Nevada will also have their own centralized cooling towers and all residences will be of concrete construction, which makes for quiet urban living spaces. Other great construction features at the Las Vegas Boca Raton condo residences includes centralized hot water and water softener system as well as pet comfort stations for both cats and dogs … as this presales LV property is pet friendly. There are numerous outdoor trails for biking, hiking and walking surrounding the properties as well as on site, there will be grilling facilities, outdoor fireplaces and gazebos for you to relax by yourself or with resident friends. Other onsite community building features at the Las Vegas Boca luxury condominiums include twenty four hour security through a gated entryway as well as private underground parking and private screening room for movies and sports events. Residents and guests at the Boca Raton condominums and luxury homes in Las Vegas will also get complimentary shuttle service to the Strip as well as to the McCarren International Airport. For fitness nuts, the community amenities listing at the new presales Boca Raton Las Vegas real estate properties will also have a full fitness and health center in addition to five star VIP concierge services for all residents. There will also be a resident Club House and multiple hot tubs in addition to a resort style pool, actually two in total.

More Info

The Boca Raton luxury condominium complex will be located at 2475 W. Serene Avenue in Las Vegas NV. For a beautiful location map of the luxury condominium presales at Boca Raton LV, please visit this online map for the details: http://www.bocalasvegas.com/location.html. For more information about the various lifestyle choices that you have in purchasing a luxury home and residence at the luxurious Boca Raton condos, please visit http://www.bocalasvegas.com/experience.html and follow the easy steps in owning your home here. There are three different types of floor plans available at the luxury condominium Las Vegas development that includes the Casitas, Caravellas and Boca Raton Penthouse suites. The Casitas provide distinct floor plans between one and two bedroom condo residences (some with dens) and they also surround lush central courtyards and have views of the mountain ranges around Boca Raton Las Vegas. For the Boca Raton Casitas floorplans, please visit this URL http://www.bocalasvegas.com/casita.html. The Las Vegas Caravellas at Boca Raton luxury condominiums, these residences feature unique interior and exterior designs with private entry to your homes and two assigned parking spaces. In addition, residents who purchase a Caravellas will have extra storage units and more than ten floorplans to choose from. Eleven foot ceilings are another great feature. THE Boca Raton Caravallas floor plans are located here http://www.bocalasvegas.com/caravella.html. Lastly, the Las Vegas Boca Raton penthouse suites will exceed all your expectations and will have spacious designs, inspiring twelve foot ceilings, private balconies, nine different floorplate layouts, two underground parking stalls and much more. You can view the Boca Raton Las Vegas penthouse unit floor plans online here http://www.bocalasvegas.com/penthouse.html.

Stay the Course in Real Estate Investing

By Michaela Ryane for the Australian Property Investor magazine May 2007 issue. Not many of us are turned on by the idea of ‘getting rich slow’. But patience does pay off on the winding road that is property real estate investment.

Remember Veruca Salt, a.k.a. the girl who screeched: “I want an Oompa Loompa now!” in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Well, if we’re really honest, a lot of us have some Veruca in us – we crave for instant gratification.

Occasionally, property real estate investors get rich quick. But for most of us, it’s a case of sitting back for a while before the gains become obvious. In the meantime your inner Veruca might become impatient. She may even urge you to sell up. So how can you get out of the Veruca mindset and into the mindset of ‘staying the course’?

1. Consider historical data

If you’re influenced by short-term events, you’ll make yourself unnecessarily anxious. Historical data confirms that real estate property values and rents have always gone up in the past. Best selling property author Jan Somers has been investing in real estate since the seventies. She uses historical data to build her confidence. However, she cautions: “You shouldn’t rely on those statistics to decide when or where to invest.”

2. Take a long-term view

If you buy real estate property expecting strong short-term gains, there’s a reasonable chance you’ll be disappointed. With a long-term view there’s a much lower chance of disappointment. “Long term is more than four or five years,” Somers suggests. “I can’t tell you the number of people who in the late 1990s and early 2000s had held on to property for four or five or seven years and said, ‘look nothing’s happening and we’re going to bail out’. And they’ve bailed out and missed out (on significant gains).”

3. Remember why you’re doing it

Goal setting 101: if you set a goal, write down the reasons why you want to achieve the goal. If you didn’t do this when you started investing in real estate, do it now. This is your big picture – your motivation to stay the course. You can refer to it whenever you start to get impatient. You may be forced to make some sacrifices when you start investing in property and real estate investments, but if your big picture excites you, you’ll be more willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it.

4. Know your risk profile

If you’re prone to anxious worrying, look for ways to increase your ‘sleep-at-night’ factor. You can fix rates, hire property managers, get landlord’s insurance. Whatever it takes for you to stay the course.

W Minneapolis Condo Hotel

The ‘W’ Hotels are a signature landmark for most cities who have been blessed with this architectural excellence and unparalleled residential luxury. The W Minneapolis Condominium Hotel is the latest in the string of prestigious and truly exclusive condo homes by ‘W’.

There are many reasons why you can fall in love with the W Condominium Hotel in Minneapolis Minnesota. First of all, it is centrally located within the center of the city where you are close to all community conveniences, nightlife, shopping, fine and casual dining, entertainment, fitness centers, groceries, libraries, schools and public transportation hubs. Secondly, the Minneapolis W Condominium Hotel in Minnesota will offer the most affordable luxurious condo residences in the city with unparalleled views of the entire skyline of this beautiful and growing city. Thirdly, the W Minneapolis condo hotel residences will be the place to live, be seen and be active and will be the center point of all commercial, retail and residential points in the city. Whether you are first time home buyer or an avid real estate investor, the Minneapolis W condominium hotel will be the best real estate investment you will have ever made in your lifetime. A combination of both a five star resort style hotel plus unimaginable condo residences are now being offered at the amazing W Condo Hotel in Minneapolis Minnesota. Get in line to purchase one of these gems today before they are all sold out forever.

The Floor Plans

The offerings at the W Minneapolis will include condominium residences that are spacious, open, well finished and crafted by the established builders and real estate developers of this amazing development. Currently in the pre-construction phase, the Minneapolis presales W Hotel Condo residences will feature Floorplan A that is a one bed and one bath unit with six hundred and eighty six square feet of interior space and the dimensions of the room sinclude a bathroom that is seven by five, master bedroom that is seventeen by eleven and the kitchen which is eight and a half by fifteen feet. Next up at the W Minneapolis Condominium Hotel residences is Plan Layout B which is a two bed and two bath unit with eight hundred and thirty one square footage. Another one and one featured at the Minneapolis presales W condo hotel homes is Floorplan C that is five hundred and seventy seven square feet in interior space as well as Unit D which is four hundred and eighty nine sq ft with a fourteen by 14 foot living room which is very spacious and open to your design ideas. The W Minneapolis pre-construction condominiums will also feature Floor Plan E which is a studio layout with one bathroom and a total square footage of four hundred and five square ft. For photos of the W condo hotel residences in Minneapolis, please visit their marketing web site at http://wminneapolis.com/photos.php. In addition, there are virtual tours of two condominium units at the W Hotel that includes Unit 102 and Unit 104 where you can see what these residences are like in the interior finishes and features as well. For the MLS search on remaining availability at the Minneapolis pre-sales W Condominiums, please visit this following URL address for more information http://flippingrich.com/mls-search/. There are also more pre-construction Minneapolis condo developments online.

Contact Details

The W Minneapolis hotel condo residences are located within the south side of Whittier community in this beautiful city and east by interstate 35W. some of the oldest houses in the Minneapolis area are found here in this character and historic community that is home to many revitalized housing communities, eclectic restaurants, businesses and schools in addition to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. The Minneapolis presales W condos will be part of the Whittier neighbourhood that is rich in history and very safe. You may read more about this community online at http://wminneapolis.com/whittier.php. To contact the W Minneapolis pre-construction condominiums, please visit http://wminneapolis.com/contactus.php on their web site to submit a form. In addition, the two sales representatives for the W condominiums in Minneapolis are Derrik and Manny and you can contact them at 612.840.2500 or 612.290.4663 for availability and pricing. Some of the remaining units at the W Hotel condo includes Unit 101 which is Model A one bedroom suite with a remodelled cost of one hundred and thirty nine thousand and not remodelled at ninety nine thousand US dollars. The Unit 102 at the Minneapolis pre-sales W condos is only offered at the remodelled version and both have a square footage of six hundred and eighty six. Unit 104 at the Minneapolis pre-construction W Condos is a two bed and two bath in Plan B offered at one hundred and seventy five thousand and has 831 sq ft. The new fitness center will be located in 105 area. Plan 109 is a studio and is not being remodelled and will cost only $59,000 with 405 square footage and 112 will be 139,000 and 686 square feet. All the remaining W Condominium units and pricing complete with sizes and association fees are located online at http://wminneapolis.com/price.php.

Western Australia Real Estate | Still Opportunities in Perth Market

House price growth in the Perth real estate market has slowed but select locations will continue to rise and rents are set to increase 15 per cent or more, according to a property investment group. Written by Tracey Joynson for API Magazine, April 2007.

Hegney Property Group executive chairman Gavin Hegney says speculators in the real estate investment industry are being flushed out of the real estate market and the “buy anything” strategy will need to be replaced with careful choices.

“Price growth in the premium property sector in Perth should grow at 10 to 15 per cent whilst low price real estate property is predicted to move very selectively,” he says.

Real estate investors and Perth industry representatives at the launch of the 2007 Hegney Property Outlook Report were told that opportunities included the Scarborough beachfront and Claremont redevelopments, the new Port Coogee marina which will rub off on the nearby suburbs of South Beach, White Gum Valley, Beaconsfield, Spearwood and Munster and the Perth to Burnbury highway, known as the Peel deviation, which will revalue the strip from Halls Head to Port Bouvard.

Also, the planned Alkimos Eglinton real estate development, designed for 55,000 people, 40 km north of Perth will impact on that area while the extension of Marmion Avenue will benefit Yanchep and Two Rocks. Population growth, the resources boom and low unemployment continue in WA and the fundamentals of lack of supply, ongoing demand and growing returns remain – all pointing to continuing real estate Perth property price increases, Hegney says.

But risks include softening commodity prices, the flow-on effect from the drought, rising interest rates, delays to stamp duty reductions, and rising labour costs translating to increase infrastructure costs affecting the viability of some real estate projects which may stall WA’s growth and Perth’s and will impact on the housing market.

However, the long-term outlook for resource-rich states such as WA is strong, Hegney believes, because demand for Perth real estate from India will start to flow after demand from China begins to taper.

New Cycle | Rising Rents Lure Prospective Investors in Real Estate

Written for the Australian Investor Magazine for April 2007 on Page 7. Australian investors plan to plunge back into the residential property market during 2007 tot take advantage of a tightening rental real estate market, a survey suggests.

The number of Australians planning to buy an investment property in the next 12 months took a record 35 per cent leap from 577,000 in the September 2006 quarter to 779,000 in December 2006, the survey conducted by Nielsen Media Research showed.

Real estate investor sentiment in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory saw the greatest turnaround, with the number of intending rental real estate investors jumping 80 per cent from 169,000 to 308,000.

Wizard Home Loans chairman Mark Bouris, whose company sponsored research, said increasing rental returns were a major factor in drawing real estate rental investors back to the property market. “Our research indicated that borrowers are responding to and attempting to capitalise on increasing reports of limited supply of rental accommodations and predictions of sharp increases in rental yields,” Bouris said. “The appeal of high returns has helped lure borrowers in real estate property to the property investment market. However, adequate supply of property will be the critical issue affecting the vitality of the market in the next 12 months.”

Bouris said the research suggested 60 per cent of those keen to buy were first-time property investors, while workers in trade and related occupations accounted for almost half of the total increase in would-be investors.

“Australians in professional occupations remain the largest group of intending real estate investors but only just,” Bouris said. “The traditional so-called ‘blue collar workers’ are poised to make ground on the stronghold professional workers once held on property investments.”

“Those in trade and related occupations are capitalising on the skill shortgage and resources boom, and they’re making savvy financial choices and attempting to invest their higher wages into long-term investments such as property,” he said.

Real estate investor demand was up in all the mainland states except for South Australia and the Northern Territory, the survey showed.

Lofts at 777 Sixth Avenue San Diego

The San Diego presales condominium property market is again heating up, so would you want to pass on this perfect investment opportunity for your family? The Lofts at 777 Sixth Ave is a presales San Diego real estate project that features loft-style residences and greatly reduced purchase prices.

An introduction to the 777 Sixth Avenue Lofts and condominiums in San Diego should be an easy one as there has been a lot of marketing buzz and interest in these homes. Located in the very historic Gaslamp District which has steadily been revitalized into a mixed residential, retail and commercial center of San Diego CAlfornia, the Lofts at 777 Sixth Avenue will be within walking distance to: convention center, boutique five star hotels, East Village, Petco Park, Horton Plaza, restaurants, night life, dining, shopping, downtown, places to work, relax and revitalize. The Gaslamp District Lofts at 777 Sixth Avenue are a blend of everything you need to push yourself to the limits and to achieve everything you want in life. A collection of loft condominiums that are truly unique to San Diego and the Gaslamp District is what the 777 Sixth Avenuve Lofts brings to the presales real estate market today. Sophisticated and pure, amenity and feature rich, the San Diego Lofts at 777 Sixth Avenue are now available for purchase at reduced pricing too, so get on it soon before they are sold out.

More about the Lofts

The 777 Sixth Avenue San Diego condominium development will feature a mixed use building that will contain loft residences on the upper floors on top of a ground floor dining restaurant and parking lot. With a great selection of floor plans that are functional, modern and open, one can choose from one or two bedroom urban loft residence layouts that will have between nine and fifteen foot ceilings, the finest features and finishes, appliances and room spaces, storage and private decks that you could ever imagine in the city of San Diego and its presales loft condo property market. Located within the downtown core, the Lofts at 777 Sixth Ave give you something different that will allow you experience the city like you never have. The real estate development team behind the 777 Loft experience in San Diego includes Del Mar Pacific Group and the Loma Corporation who have build numerous master planned condo communities in Hawaii and California. Right now, homebuyers at the 777 Lofts at Sixth Avenue in San Diego can enjoy a major price reduction of up to ninety thousand dollars on select units.

It’s not too late

If you are a home buyer or investor in real estate and wish to preview the Lofts at 777 Sixth Avenue in downtown San Diego, the sales office is now open every day between the hours of ten in the morning to six o’clock in the evening. As the name of the presales San Diego development suggests, the loft residences are located at 777 Sixth Ave with a zipcode of 92101. The phone number to get a hold of a sales representative there is 619.544.0017 and fax number for documentation signing is at 619.544.0176. You may also book an appointment for purchase at the Lofts at 777 Sixth Ave condominium homes in San Diego California by emailing them at info@777lofts.com or by filling out an online form here: http://www.777lofts.com/contact.html. For more information about the 777 Lofts Sixth Ave, please visit their website at 777lofts.com where you can find more details about features, floorplans, the site plan, directions and more. To get directions and a map to this preconstruction San Diego property, please visit this following link: http://www.777lofts.com/contact.html. In addition, if you are seeking home financing through a bank mortgage or pre-qualifications for approval for your purchase at the Loft Residences at 777 San Diego, please contact Countrywide Home Loans at 12340 El Camino Real #325B in San Diego CA as they are the preferred lender. The siteplan (all four levels of the 777 Lofts) is also located on their marketing web site at: http://www.777lofts.com/siteplan.html.

Floorplans at the 777 Sixth Ave Loft Residences

The Unit A condominiums are one bedroom and one bathroom loft style apartments that have six hundred and fifty six square footage. Unit B-1 floorplan at the Lofts at 777 Sixth Avenue features seven hundred and forty nine square feet and Unit B-4 is slightly larger at 788 sqft. Unit B-5 Plan at these presales San Diego Loft residences is 746 sq ft and Unit C is smaller at five hundred and forty four square feet in living area. Still on one bedroom loft residences at 777 Sixth Avenue in San Diego is Unit E which is a spacious eleven hundred and eleven square feet with an impressive open kitchen and living area and the two bedroom and two bath residences with walk-in closet for Unit F (one thousand and two sq ft). For a full list of interior features at the Lofts at 777 Sixth Ave in San Diego, please visit this web page: http://www.777lofts.com/features.html.

The Lofts at Lakeview Collection Chicago

Where you live and how you live will ultimately determine whether or not you will enjoy life to the fullest and be the most successful person you can become. The Lakeview Collection Chicago Lofts pre-sales real estate properties will allow you to become yourself and more.

Contact Info

To get on the VIP list for priority purchasing order and view appointments, please visit the Chicago Lakeview Collection lofts web site at the following address: http://www.lakeviewcollectionlofts.com/ and submit your contact details so that a sales representative will be able to contact you. In addition, if you would like to visit the Sales Center and Designer Model suites of the Chicago Lofts at Lakeview Collection condominium luxury presales homes, you can do so today as the grand opening to the public release happened on March 31st, 2007. There are still some fabulous floorplans and homes at the Lofts at Lakeview Collection Chicago still available if you are looking to purchase a residence here. The Sales Center and presentation suite is open on Monday through Friday between 10 in the morning to 6 at night as well as over weekends between 11 and 5. The presentation designer model suite for the Lofts Lakeview Collection Chicago presales property development is located at 3126 N. Ashland Avenue in Chicago, IL 60657. You can call ahead to book a preview appointment with a sales staff at the Lakeview Lofts in Chicago at 773.296.0400 and if you ever need to fax them, you can do so at 773.529.2369. The latest media and press release articles will be available online soon and will include videos and an image gallery as well as the Lofts at Lakeview Collection condominium suites in Chicago marketing brochure which is located online as a downloadable PDF document here http://www.lakeviewcollectionlofts.com/LLV_Brochure.pdf. You can read about how the acclaimed designer of the Lakeview Collection Lofts in Chicago, Anna Simone of Cecconi Simone came up with the interior architectural design for this new real estate development. The Chicago Lofts at Lakeview will have the real estate builders and trusted developers behind the development too. Here are more pre-construction Chicago condo tower residences and loft homes.

Floorplates and Floorplans at this development

Although not many floorplans and details about the Lofts at Lakeview Collection are available on their marketing web site or other advertisements, you can take a look at their website for more details about some floorplates and visual descriptions and details about the presales Chicago properties here. They do want you to visit their sales suite and presentation center for purchase, but here are a few floorplans taken from their site. The first is floor plan 1B (Unit 32) that is a one bedroom and one bathroom condominium suite with seven hundred and forty five square feet of heated square footage. In addition, the Chicago Lofts at Lakeview Collection will also feature Unit 23 which is also a one bedroom loft condo but has 1.5 baths and is also slightly larger at eight hundred and thirty three interior space. Floorplan Unit 22 at the Lofts Chicago at Lakeview Collection will include 1 bed and 1.5 baths and eight hundred and sixty eight sq ft of interior urban living space for great entertainment as well as just relaxing by yourself. Unit 20 Loft Lakeview Chicago real estate properties will include 1 bed and 1 bath at six hundred and forty four sq feet. Floorplan Unit 15 at the Lakeview Collection Chicago Lofts will be 1bd/1ba and have seven hundred and four sq footage while Units 11