Real Estate

All About Real Estate ; Home Buying, Investing, Property Management, Real Estate maeketing and others Related Topics.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

A Luxury Home Apartment?

Many people feel that in order to have a luxury home you have to have a house, condominium or a penthouse. That is not the case being that a luxury home can include a bungalow, a log cabin or even a two-bedroom apartment. There are many decorating and remodeling ideas an individual can attempt, while living in an apartment home. The first thing to do is to describe what type of living space is included in an apartment home. An apartment home is normally constructed into mini-garden flats or suites. Many apartment homes contain the following: wall to wall carpeting, a nice spacious kitchen, a garden room, living room with an eat-in dining area, 1-2 bedrooms usually with 1-2 bathrooms and walk-in closet space.

The kitchen area may contain a breakfast nook with marble flooring. The spacious garden room or sunroom has a room filled with windows decorated in mini blinds or curtains. This room may also contain marble flooring, with a ceiling fan. This can be converted into a dining room or a person can turn it into an indoor botanical garden room.

The living room will have a spacious black-colored fireplace against white walls. This gives it a sophisticated feel. On each side of the fireplace contains window columns. The dining room contains a beautiful chandelier.

The master bedroom is large and contains a large window overlooking the yard of the apartment home complex. Some apartment homes contain large master bedroom suites that have sliding glass doors that lead to a balcony where breakfast is served.

The guest room and the master bedroom will both have walk in closet space. The guest room can be converted into a café. Yes, a person can have a café within their home (off the kitchen, of course). This café can contain a coffee maker or a cappuccino machine along with a rack filled with your favorite magazine issues and your favorite books. A café will not be complete without your computer with wireless internet access. Make sure that everything is spill-proof. Place a large mat around the coffee area and serve family and guests with spill-proof coffee mugs.

The master bathroom suite normally contains a tub/shower, toilet with marble flooring and a Jacuzzi-style bathtub. This master bathroom has a vanity on the outside of the bathroom with a mother and daughter sink, which is generally a luxury in an apartment home. The second bathroom is larger than the master bathroom, but it is also fit for a queen to use.

So, gone are the days when an individual would have to purchase a luxury home in the Hampton Bays, New York or Beverly Hills, California. A person can have a luxury home within a garden apartment. It’s true when one says, “Home is where the heart is.” In home decorating or remodeling, home is where the luxury is as well.

By: Jena Luthovski

Washington Real Estate

If you are looking to move into Washington State, knowing the Washington real estate market for the area you are looking into is important to making a good decision. Here are some of the areas of Washington real estate that may interest you if you are looking into this state.

Seattle metro area is in the heart of everything and it shows. Average housing prices are little over half a million. It is an even market with an increasing market trend. Prices are up five to ten percent over last year with a good supply of inventory in all price ranges. Sellers are receiving 95-100% of their asking price and there are no multiple offers. First time buyers seem to be running the market with good economic news driving it.

Seattle West has the nearest city as Seattle with more sellers than buyers houses are still only staying on the market for thirty to sixty days with a decreasing market trend. There is a good supply with an average housing price of $375,000 indicating no change from the previous year. Condominiums and Town homes seem to be doing the best with sellers getting multiple offers and 95-100% of their asking price.

The Tacoma area of Washington real estate is experiencing an increasing market trend with decreasing prices. Prices are down five to ten percent in this area to $250,000 on average. There are more sellers than buyers so a good supply is available. However, expect your home to sit on the market for 90-120 days before selling. Sellers can also expect to receive ninety five to one hundred percent of the asking price of their home and first time buyers are driving a no multiple offer market.

Spokane, Washington is seeing a steady supply of homes available as more sellers enter the market than there are buyers looking. The market trend is increasing with homes sitting thirty to sixty days before sale. The average housing price is up nearly ten percent to a solid $200,000 over last years prices. Sellers can expect to receive 95-100% of their asking price with no multiple offers in the market at this time. Repeat buyers and an increase in population are behind the markets activity.

Maple Valley is another area of Washington real estate that is seeing more sellers than buyers. This market trend is increasing and so is the average pricing of homes, homes are up 10-15% to rest at an average of $375,000. There is a good inventory with homes sitting only 60-90 days on the market. Seattle is the nearest metro area and single-family homes are showing the greatest activity. This is because of population growth that is currently active in the area.

Washington real estate is some of the finest in the country offering a variety of different landscapes and a very hospitable climate in most area. Whether you are looking to move into one of the larger cities or out in the country you will find something of interest in this state. There are a number of resources available to help you find the location that is right for you.

By: Tom Beaty

New York Real Estate – The Empire State

From Niagara Falls to the Catskills to a little city with the Big Apple nickname, New York is truly the Empire State. New York real estate prices reflect this lofty nickname.

New York

While New York City gets a lot of publicity, New York is a state with a lot more to offer. Go upstate and you’ll find spas, horse farms and resorts in the green, towering Catskills and Adirondacks. Lakes and springs present throughout the state are also popular places to live and visit. Of course, if city life is your thing, there’s a little, unassuming place called New York City.

New York City

Where does one even begin to describe New York City? I’m not even going to try other than to say it is perhaps the dominant “big city” in the world. Space is at a premium and so are real estate prices. This is one of those situations where if you have to ask about the price of a home, you can’t afford it.

Buffalo

The second largest city in New York, Buffalo is a misunderstood city. Known for getting massive amounts of snow in the winter, Buffalo actually has a lot to offer. A very wealthy town during the industrial revolution, the town has beautiful art-deco architecture and historic Victorian homes in the downtown area. A bit sprawling in the suburbs, Buffalo offers reasonably priced real estate compared to the rest of Niagara Falls. Lake Erie to the west of Buffalo makes a great setting for summer fun.

Rochester

A sprawling city, Rochester is dominated by some of the best-known brands in the world. Home to such companies as Xerox, Kodak and Bausch & Lomb, the city offers plenty of jobs and a distinct well-healed atmosphere. This is particularly true in the downtown area, which reflects the economic strength of these companies.

New York Real Estate

New York real estate prices are entirely dependent upon the specific location. If you’re looking for a home in New York City proper, a bank robbery may be in your future as an absolute closet is going to run you close to a million if not more. Things aren’t as bad elsewhere.

A single family home in Buffalo will set you back roughly $225,000 on average, while the same home in Rochester will run an additional $30,000. Appreciation rates for New York real estate were a little more than 13 percent in 2005, but differ greatly by location.

By: Raynor James

Friday, November 28, 2008

Are Apartment Reviews Helpful? Consider the Source

By David Johnson

Apartment reviews are an interesting strategy. However one must consider the source of the reviews. In my opinion, there are basically 3 types of reviewers in the U.S.:

1. There are the ones that seem to dominate every review I've ever seen on the apartment internet sites and presumably, they are current or past apartment tenants themselves. I have what I think is a pretty good explanation why this hasn't taken off, so to speak, and why they seem to have little promotional punch totally opposite of reviews in say movies. Movie reviews are going to be subjective to the individual�s opinion as well but at least you get an educated third party critique that has their integrity to uphold.

Some tenants can be great & some unruly. There are a couple of types that need to be addressed, (I) is the tenant that is just plain rowdy, they have parties that cause disturbances, are loud and obnoxious and are only concerned about themselves. There was a certain age that all of us went through and can relate to. (II) Then there is the tenant that is never satisfied. The constant complainer, the tenant that is always calling the office. Both of these can leave nasty reviews if they don�t get their way and of course if they are reprimanded for their unruly actions. Unfortunately, on the apartment review sites, there is no real rebuttal system in place like on EBAY, where the Apartment management can comment on a complaint.

Two of the MOST IMPORTANT things you have to remember that there is always another side to the story and most people will go out of their way to complain but unfortunately will not go out of their way to praise.

2. Another type of reviewer is the media critic, and well, the apartment renting business is just not interesting enough to get positive media feedback.

3. The final and what I believe would be the most accurate source of information would be to talk with friends of who currently reside or resided at the property in the past.

Ok, so you are back to square one! - You cannot trust tenant reviews, there is no media coverage or third party critics to speak of, and you have no friends or family members who can give you a heads up.

NOT TO WORRY - There are viable solutions...
(I) approximately ten years ago, Houston apartment management companies had you sign and 6 -12 month lease and you were locked into a contract. Today, there are still contracts but many apartment complexes in Houston(and nationwide) actually offer a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. Please note that most of the properties that you find from the Apartment Owners on this site offer this (peace of mind) benefit.

(II) Sign a short term lease (usually 1-3 months) in order for you to have an earlier exit strategy if it doesn't go quite as you expected. The only problem with short term leases is that most always charge a premium for shorter terms.

Final Thoughts - You can read reviews and be misinformed, or get a referral from a friend or relative and/or focus on the management companies who offer satisfaction guarantees.
Good Luck!

Copyright protected: original article can be found at http://www.houstonapartments.com/apartment_ratings.php Houston apartments Home page located at http://www.houstonapartments.com/.

About the Author

Mr. Johnson has been in the rental and resale Real Estate Business since 1992. http://www.houstonapartments.com/ was started in 1996 and is a great source for a fast, user freindly site for houston apartment rental information with photos and multiple search capabilities.

FLORIDA REAL ESTATE

Jacksonville Real Estate, By Molley Retrev

Jacksonville Florida Real Estate For Sale became a real estate investor's dream after 1968. That year the city and county governments of Jacksonville merged.
One of the major attractions in Jacksonville is its pleasant weather all round the year. This fine climate has made Jacksonville a haven for people looking for a home in a place that would provide them a respite from the cold winter. As if this were not enough, the location of Jacksonville as an ocean and river port has provided a number of scenic attractions to the place.

At The Amelia Jacksonville residents have a scenic lake front vista laid out for them. Overlooking the lake is the Bertram Springs community. Its other attraction is its proximity to Jacksonville. The homes available have a stone accent and most of them are on the lines of ranch homes. The Briar Oaks community provides wonderful views from its home sites and other facilities.

Besides homes for good living, Jacksonville is a sports lovers' paradise. Real estate investment in this area is ideally tailored for the golfing community. Eagle Harbor for instance, has lake front home sites, with amenities for tennis, golfing, boating, shopping and is an award winning master planned communities property.

The North Hampton community, six miles east of 1-95 is a nature preserve, having a golf course view with a course designed by Arnold Palmer. Its close proximity to the beach, airport and downtown are it added attractions.

The village style Oak Leaf Plantation is a favorite with golf players, providing trails, golf courses, oak trees and ranch style accommodation.

Close to Jacksonville is the gated community of St John's Forest, an idyllic setting with the country's best public schools located here. Jacksonville real estate buyers have thus a selection for every pocket and every stage of life.