Belize Real Estate Links 
| Belize Real Estate Links | |
| |
|
Real Estate Information |
|
|
|
The Perils of the Property Ladder: Has Anyone Noticed the Silence?
There was a time when every conversation was focussed on property and every other TV programme was about property makeovers. Everybody wanted to get into property and those already on the ladder seemed fixated on becoming wealthy overnight. Remember those media-nominated millionaires who bought property for thousands and sold it for a million? How excited we all were, rich - with hardly any effort. But recently it's been rather quiet. Those who have yet to buy their first home have become sceptical, if not bored by chasing impossibly affordable homes and those who have bought property have become nervous, if not by the commentary that house prices are falling, but by the fact that they have bought property on top of other debts and the realisation that repayments are becoming more difficult. According to the Department of Trade and Industry, bankruptcies are still on the increase, up almost a third on the previous year. In the latest debt statistics by Credit Action, UK economist Vicky Redwood from Capital Economics states that the level of personal debt is at breaking point: "It is unlikely that the numbers have peaked but we estimate that households must be feeling the pain of borrowing too much. People are paying the equivalent of about 20 per cent of their disposable income on interest and debt repayments - the highest since 1990." In a survey by the Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB), the three most common reasons for debt problems were quoted as: * Sudden change in personal circumstances - resulting typically from job loss, relationship breakdown or illness; * Low income - the consequences of living for a long time on a low level of income; and * Over-commitment - in some cases related to money mismanagement. It is the third reason that is often highlighted in the context of mortgage borrowing. In a press release regarding the Chancellor's proposals to introduce cheaper mortgages, Keith Tondeur, Director of Credit Action warned that: "At first glance the offer of help to first time buyers sounds useful. However this scheme comes at a time when after several years of steep rises the market is cooling. One question that we should be asking is whether this is being done to keep the housing market buoyant so that people feel confident and therefore keep on spending". "House prices are undoubtedly too high for many people to afford which explains why numbers of first time buyers have been falling, with the average age of a first time buyer rising sharply. This scheme could therefore, if care is not taken, create a false market and lead to first time buyers taking on a large amount of long term debt that they could well struggle to repay." The seduction of the property market may cause a vicious circle of debt: if people borrow more than they can afford, they may damage their credit record if repayments cannot be met. An adverse credit record will brand the borrower "sub-prime", and is likely to prompt less favourable credit options later in life. It is true that products such non-standard mortgages, adverse loans and adverse credit cards serve a purpose, but their rates will always be less favourable than standard products. In addition to self-inflicted debt, it is also possible for your credit record to be manipulated by other parties. In June earlier this year, Callcredit issued a warning to guard against identity fraud when moving house. "Homeowners who fail to check their credit file before they move and register themselves on the Electoral Roll once they have moved are at risk from: * Identity fraud - a fraudster could obtain enough financial information about you from your rubbish to run up debts at your old address without your knowledge. People who just cut up cards and don't tell their lender are particularly at risk from this type of fraud. * Credit refusal - a person's credit history has to add up to the lender when you apply for credit, if you don't appear on the Electoral Roll at your current address it will make it more difficult to get credit." If you're thinking about buying a house, try the following sites for starting your own detective work in finding a good mortgage: * Make sure your credit record is in good shape: ( http://www.checkmyfile.com/ ) * Don't be lazy, shop around for the best mortgage: ( http://www.moneynet.co.uk/ ) Make sure you keep your finances flexible; ensure you know what you can afford and for how long you can afford it. What was the best mortgage, current account, ISA account five years ago, may not be performing as effectively now. About Rachel: Rachel writes for the personal finance blog Cashzilla: http://www.cashzilla.co.uk Cashzilla is a personalfinanosaurus. "Rachel" means sheep in Hebrew: "little lamb" or "one with purity". Cashzilla means financially savvy with great fiery ferocity.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Buying Foreclosures - Knowing Why Helps You Buy One big potential deal-killer in buying foreclosures is the homeowner. If the homeowner does not trust you, buying their home (even at a foreclosure auction) can become a greater challenge. How To Find An Experienced Monticello Illinois Realtor Finding a professional Monticello Realtor in Illinois is the best way to find the perfect property or home. A licensed realtor can assist you in locating the type of property you want in the price range you desire. Where To Start In Looking For A Central Illinois Realtor Central Illinois is an excellent location for families and businesses. Property values and local economies are growing constantly and the wide range of available properties is impressive. How Can Real Estate Investors Profit From The Internet? The Internet is a powerful marketing tool, but just how can a real estate investor make the best use of Web pages?We've spent some time experimenting with Web sites and we've found a couple of ways that they can be useful.First. Coming to Las Vegas - the Las Vegas Real Estate Boom Nobody seems to be 'Leaving Las Vegas' anymore - in fact just the opposite is true. Just as in the time of the rush Las Vegas real estate has been drawing the attention of investors and new citizens alike. Be A Realtor With Curb Appeal Are you a realtor with curb appeal or are you more of a fixer-upper needful of updating?How you present yourself to colleagues, buyers and sellers, from the very first moment, will influence your sales records as well as the confidence and satisfaction your new clients feel. Even if you're a Realtor in demand, with more listings than hours in a week, you may well find areas that you can polish. Dont Sell Your House--Ever! Keeping your existing house when you buy a new one could be THE most profitable financial decision you could make. Consider the following:1. Understanding the Escrow (Closing) Process 1. What is an escrow?Escrow is defined as a process where parties deposit instructions and funds with a "disinterested" third party until conditions of the instructions are met. Real Estate Investing and Home Ownership If you already own your home, you will probably make money in real estate without ever buying another property.The home you are currently buying with a mortgage is probably one of the most valuable appreciating assets you will ever own. Investing In Commercial Property Why commercial property?Compared to residential property investments, commercial property offers some key advantages:Long-term secure cashflow -- Commercial lets normally have long lease contracts, with periods of 10 years and more not being uncommon. In addition to this, commercial property tenants are less likely to default on payments and even if the tenant goes into liquidation, the liquidator may continue paying the rent in order to stop the lease being forfeited. Selling Your Home - Be Sure It Shows Well Whether you are selling a house, townhouse, condo or apartment, there are universal tips that will help it sell. Primary among those tips are making sure your home "shows well. Real Estate Marketing, Do You Use Direct Mail? Prospecting for leads is by far the most difficult part of being a Realtor or small business professional. In fact, lead development is by far the most expensive and time consuming aspect of your job. Are You Really A Twenty First Century Investor Today's residential real estate market for investors has become very competitive in most major markets. The vast majority of real estate investing seminars and clubs are encouraging you to search out desperate home owners or distressed properties to be rehabbed. Florida Investment Real Estate and What Are Considerations Before Buying Investment Real Estate, First Things FirstConsidering investing in property? What are some pertinent things to consider before taking this leap? Of all the investment possibilities, investment in land generally produces the most positive results. It is vital, however, to carefully investigate the pros and cons, benefits and deficits of real estate investment. Real Estate Investing in Rentals - the $10 Million Real Estate Investing Mistake Renting to tenants is no longer "where the money is" for real estate investing. I became a multi-millionaire landlord in the 1980s by buying $10 million in rental houses. 10 Top Considerations For Those Buying Property Abroad Are you one of a growing number of people considering buying a second home in the sun, an idyllic home from home abroad or a lucrative investment property overseas? If so you're not alone! Statistics show that globally we're all on the move with a recent survey by YouGov revealing that 55% of adult Britons were "seriously considering settling in another country" and the British Centre for Future Studies predicting that by 2020 one tenth of the current British population will be living or working abroad!Add to this the fact that there was a 250% increase between 2000 and 2004 in the number of Britons buying property abroad solely for investment purposes, that over one and a quarter million Brits own second homes in Spain and France already and that the Office for National Statistics in the UK recently revealed that 200,000 Britons go overseas yearly with the intention of remaining for at least twelve months, and you can see that the passion for buying that dream home abroad is universal.But what's fuelling this ever growing interest in the overseas property market?Well, despite reports to the contrary the UK housing market is seemingly ever on the up and those Britons who're acquiring massive levels of equity through their residential property are considering selling up, buying abroad and establishing a pension fund simply on the back of what they have left over from their house sale. Moving On: Powerful Tips For Selling Your Home Maybe you're moving to a larger home to accommodate a growing family, relocating for a new career opportunity, or purchasing a townhouse for retirement. Whatever the reason for the move, you'll need to take the necessary steps to sell your home for the best possible price, within a reasonable amount of time. Selling Your Home: 5 Deal Killers That Are Lurking In Older Homes You've listed your home for sale, you have a Buyer and now their Inspector is performing an inspection. You think you have a pretty good home, but do you really know for sure? What is he finding? Why is it taking so long? Here are 5 deal killers to watch out for when selling your home. Where is the Sophisticated Property Investor Putting his Money? The Traditional FavouritesOver the last five to ten years, UK investors buying property abroad have generally stuck to the traditional favourites Spain, France and Italy. With prices a fraction of those in the UK and a guarantee of more sunshine, these markets offered plenty of scope for capital appreciation, rental return and holiday home use. Apartment Loan 101 So you're interested in going into business as a property manager? Have you given any thought yet to you'll enter this potentially profitable market? Reality check-unless you've just inherited a large sum of money from a relative or are otherwise independently wealthy you're going to find someone to borrow from. This is where an apartment loan comes in.
|
| home | site map | Colorado Log Homes | Homes for Sale in Denver Metro |
| © 2006 |
