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Over the last few years, the trend of investing in land has taken a great leap forward. As a result, property values have soared through the roof high and are still ascending. And the popularity of property development is also increasing because of the anticipated return on investment.
In fact, returns on property development are considered more promising as compared to those of the stock market. Hence, when property prices are experiencing a steady growth, property buying and development are believed to be assured investments. This whole concept has even been a great kick-start and boost to the business of property development.
When it comes to property development, developers need to follow certain norms and sequences of steps for managing entire projects. Important things to keep in mind for successful results are:
1) For any project involving property development, finances most often play a major role because the financial status largely decides the nature and vision of the project.
2) Organizing a team of consultants is of utmost importance. This team can guide you on the projects viability and can include a development manager to co-ordinate the entire property development process, a solicitor, an architect, a surveyor along with town planner and an estate agent to give you honest advice on end values and marketability.
3) The main consideration in any project of property development is the land. If you have a lot of land already on hand, fine and good. But if you are planning to buy a piece of land then, always purchase land that has potential for development. IN other words look ahead, plan ahead. Think bigger.
4) Once, you have made a decision about the purchasing of a “potential site”, giving a thought to its development conception is necessary. For deciding upon the project concept, for example, consider important factors such as whether to built the land for residential or commercial use, the size of the project, assessing the local council’s policy towards your development strategy and other key community issues that may surround your plans – are all very important. These will also help the architect in drawing up the project plans according to the planning regulations and according to the local council’s development process.
5) In order to have a successful property development project, a survey must be completed for that particular and nearby areas, to give you a clear idea of what the market bears and wants in that area. Survey data can help you understand what would sell or lease well in that area, for instance. Keep in minds always that it is important to build a project that is marketable.
6) Doing the math with the help of an accountant / bookkeeper for your property development can also help you understand what the land is worth to you and your business interests. These calculations should include the total construction cost added with the fees of the consultants and also includes the likely end sales values and the profit margin you want.
7) Before starting with the actual construction of the property development, ensure that the detailed plans from your architect along with the working drawings of any contractors & subcontractors are developed and meet with your approved, plus of course, obtain any building and other permits needed.
Pay the builder and other contractors / subcontractors progressively after the completion of each stage. This gives a proper flow to the entire construction process and on completing the construction; the project will be inspected by the local authority granting you the completion certificate making your property development project ready for sale or lease.
When it comes to property development, make sure to keep good records and copies of all receipts, estimates, bids, and other important documents. Keep everything together, too, all in one place like a special project folder, drawer or sealed box for handy reference.

However, it is not just these pleasant images which make Caribbean property so appealing.

There are many Caribbean property opportunities available which are tailored for investment and anticipated to generate substantial profits for astute investors.

For a Caribbean property to be tailored for investment, there are two important principles which must be followed.

Firstly, setup costs must be minimised to allow investment opportunities to be a viable option to most investors. Also, the less your setup costs are in comparison to profit, the higher your return on investment will be.

Secondly, profit must be maximised. To maximise profit on your Caribbean property, there are several factors which must be given due care and consideration.

For example, many investors would require that their Caribbean property be fully managed to provide a healthy rental income. Therefore a management agency or company would ideally be setup to maximise rental occupancy, room rate charged and to fully manage the day-to-day running of the Caribbean property and surrounding land/site.

A favourable way for this to be setup is to buy a Caribbean property within a hotel or resort which is run by a well known and respected operator. This added brand name can greatly benefit the rental potential of your Caribbean property from day one.

Capital growth is also an important aspect to consider. Investors ideally need to conduct research to ensure that they are buying a Caribbean property which will experience sufficient demand for rental and for re-sale. This ongoing demand will ensure that property values will continue to increase and generate a substantial capital profit if and when the investor wishes to sell their Caribbean property.

There are many tax breaks to benefit from on your chosen Caribbean property. On some islands, there are no capital gains or inheritance tax to pay, making buying a Caribbean property a very attractive proposition compared to buying in other countries.

With due care and consideration, investors will be able to buy a Caribbean property which should adhere to all the above aspects and prove to be a profitable long term investment.

Thailand’s recent tourism push is reaping dividends and it is on schedule for ten per cent annual growth in international visitors. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, there were 13.82 million visitors in 2006; 14.8 million visited in 2007 and 15.5 million are targeted this year.

According to Liam Bailey of David Stanley Redfern: “The Thai economy got off to a scintillating start in 2008, with first quarter growth up six per cent on the same period last year, and up 5.7% on the last quarter of 2007. After two years of political turmoil culminating in a coup last year, it seems the new government is finally settling in, and has made economic growth its top priority. The main thrust of its efforts is centred on generating internal and regional investment, with global investment currently slowing.”

This economic growth is reflected in the rude health of the property market. The stratospheric capital growth of the early years of this century – in the region of 25 per cent per year – is a thing of the past, but a regular five to ten per cent a year is expected for the next few years.

Much of the interest from overseas property buyers is centred on two distinct and very different areas: Chiang Mai in the north – the highlands – and the islands of the south, where buyer activity is at its highest in Phuket, followed by the emerging markets of Koh Chang and Koh Samui.

Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second city – in atmosphere and character it is very much the slower-paced, laid-back cousin to the frenetic capital Bangkok. But this is no sleepy backwater. Famous for its superb food, varied nightlife, temperate climate and incredible mountain scenery, Chiang Mai is a fascinating mix of history and modernity. It was founded in 1296 and is home to more than 300 temples, including some of the most beautiful in the Buddhist world. It has an excellent infrastructure, a spate of newly opened five-star hotels, golf clubs, international schools and investment from numerous multinational companies. Outside the city and into the countryside, visitors find themselves in a world of adventure, with jungle safaris, whitewater rafting, elephant rides and visits to hill tribes all on offer.

The property market in Chiang Mai offers similar variety, and, according to Todd Jones of Elephant Real Estate, it is currently a buyer’s market, with domestic market activity falling: “The local real estate market has experienced an overall slowdown in response to numerous political and economic pressures. The number of transactions registered at the Chiang Mai Land Office declined from 15,000 in 2005 to 10,000 in 2006 and 9,800 last year, but in the middle and upper tiers, where around 20 projects are under way, sales remained strong. Major developers are moving forward with numerous residential projects in and around Chiang Mai.”

Around 80 per cent of the region’s property sells for under £32,000, while overseas property buyers are most active in what Jones describes as the mid-tier market, with prices from £90,000 to £180,000. The market goes all the way up to custom homes on huge plots that can cost as much as £1 million.

A significant recent development is the provision of freehold residences attached to the region’s five-star hotels. Most of the top resorts offer this option, with the best known being those at the Four Seasons Chiang Mai which are strictly for those with very deep pockets.

A more typical property would be a newly built, three-bedroom, three-bathroom house with swimming pool, carport and guest apartment for around £130,000 or a two-bedroom two-bathroom apartment with an area of 110 square metres for £50,000.

Heading to the islands, you find yourself in a true tropical paradise. Phuket is one of Asia’s most popular beach destinations thanks to its combination of stunning beaches, great diving, high-octane nightlife and great food.

It is also increasingly popular with overseas property buyers. Agent CBRE estimates that there are now more than 2,000 foreign owners on the island: “Virtually all of these property buyers have seen their investment increase in value. Capital appreciation over the past four years has varied from 15 to 20 per cent per annum, although some properties have seen the value of their asset rise by as much as 50 or 100 per cent between the launch of a project and the transfer of title.”

As well as capital growth, Phuket is popular with property buyers looking for rental income. The island is a popular holiday destination and has its own international airport, which hosted more than eight million passengers in 2004 and 2005. CBRE says that a well-managed property should produce between six and 12 per cent gross returns annually based on 100 nights’ occupancy.

Development on the island is spreading fairly quickly. From the west coast, where the property boom started between Nai Thon and Kata Noi and where new plots are scarce or very expensive, developers have moved to the formerly overlooked south and east coasts. Inland properties overlooking golf courses are also becoming popular.

Prices on Phuket are among the highest in the country. As a rough guide, CBRE says you can expect to pay up to £240,000 for a ‘low-end’ villa and £160,000 for a ‘low-end apartment; up to £500,000 for a middle market villa and £300,000 for a middle market apartment; and if it’s the very top of the market you’re after, expect to pay upwards of £750,000 for a villa and £500,000 for a luxury apartment.

Recent research from Knight Frank reveals an average price per square metre on Phuket of £1,800, while prices went up 11 per cent in 2007. Rental properties achieved an average return of 6.8 per cent.

As prices of property for sale in Phuket continue to rise, property buyers are looking to other, less developed islands, where they can get more for their money.

David Stanley Redfern (DSR) describes Koh Samui as a semi-mature market. The island has more five- and six-star resorts than any other in the world, according to the company and prices of property for sale in Koh Samui went up by as much as 50 per cent during in 2006 and 2007. DSR is selling two-bedroom villas for £100,000 in the island’s Maenam Hills area. Other islands that are attracting attention include Koh Chang – the second largest Thai island after Phuket – and Koh Phangan.

What is an investment property?
An investment property is a land or place, which is sold or bought for different spatial functions, which is carried on for a long period of time. By investing a property, people are able to gain more profits because a land’s value increases over time.
Getting or acquiring properties has become very popular across different societies all around the world. Investors in the stock market seem to be very excited with the results of their stocks at the end of the day because of the good effects brought about by many investments.
For a person who decides on getting an investment property, he or she must be able to determine for what purpose should this property have. In that case, knowing the different aspects of getting a property is very important. Location, accessibility and budget constraints are just some of the facets that one should consider in getting an investment property. Of course, you would rather want to have your investment property stand the pillars of time than it be wasted just because of some poor conditions such as environmental, economic and others. Thus, it is just very essential that a person have the right knowledge in property acquisition. By this, good research on the real estate industry as well as a attentive and keen look on the market should be done.
Things you need to know in looking for a good investment property
In looking for a good investment property, one should be able to know the span of time the land will be used and for what purpose. By this, you will be able to plan very well your strategies in utilizing the property that you would like to invest in. Remember that time is very important especially in investing a property. The longer you would like a property to serve a certain purpose or function, then the greater the rate of maintenance and improvements you will need to keep your property in good, working condition. Moreover, you will have to invest as well with the different features that will help enhance and improve the scale of your property’s usage such as appliances, furniture pieces, furnishings and accessories that will keep up with the trends of the current time.
Next, you should be able to set up a bridge amongst different people who may help you in knowing which properties are about to be sold. By this, you will have a list of different properties, which you can acquire to make a good investment. Aside from depending on your colleagues, you may also try searching on your own. Finding different prospective properties with your own effort may help increase your knowledge on the different site locations and features which can help aid you in your decision to choose which among the properties you will invest in.
Lastly, you should check if your finances are in good shape to accommodate the different price ranges that might come along the way in your search for a good property to invest in. Remember, looking for a good investment property needs to have a good amount of budget on the part of the buyer. If you want a property, which you need to last for a long time, then you will probably have to spend a lot of money to have it in your possession.

The fear and hesitation that surrounded investment in overseas real estate till the recent past seem to be evaporating with sufficient confidence building measures by the world’s major property markets. Governments are becoming more accommodating towards international property investors and are making property ownership possible for them. Even the countries with the strictest property laws are having second thoughts and seem prepared to let the foreign investment pour in. Many of the world’s leading real estate markets have even launched mega projects dedicated for investment from overseas buyers.

Not very long ago, any type of real estate transaction be it buying, selling or renting, was a tedious and tiring task involving physical presence and lot of paper work. Thanks to today’s technology, most part of the labour involved in property ownership process has been removed. International property buyers can now search for their desired property through internet and even pay a virtual visit to the property right from the comfort of their home. There are hundreds of real estate websites available on the internet whose property listings are regularly updated. All the buyer needs to do is simply browse the relevant property listings and the right property is just a few clicks away.

Overseas Investment property gives the owner a double edged opportunity for profit making. After buying the property remotely, the owner can rent it out and enjoy handsome regular income while staying home. On the other hand, the value of property also keeps rising at the same time and its resale after a short holding period can bring very attractive profits to the owner. And more interestingly, a residential property can serve a great second home away from home for the investor. Overseas property investors are well aware of these lucrative benefits of investing in international real estate and for them; high rental yields and rapid capital appreciation are two of the most attractive features of this type of investment.

UAE, especially Dubai, ranks first among the most favorite global investment locations. Other major property investment hubs of the world include Brazil, Dominican Republic, Egypt, India, Italy, Morocco, Panama and Turkey. Property investment, whether it is residential or commercial, in any of the said locations can bring the investor multiple income-generating opportunities which are way better than any other investment. Even an old and shabby property purchased at low price can be resold at amazing rates after a bit of refurbishing.

Nowadays a popular method of buying a property is through auctions, with plenty of info found about them at property investor shows. You see, nearly 21,000 homes are being auctioned every year.
And since 1998, the buying and selling of homes in auction by is increased by 60%. Hence thousands of professional investors and bargain seekers are turning to auction to find a perfect property at a reasonable price.
One reason of buying at auction is that the properties at auctions are often significantly cheaper than in the open market. For example, it is possible to purchase an overseas property at auction at a price 50% lower than other similar properties. However, overseas investments can and do often involve complicated legal procedures. Hence, novices in this field need to be cautious and should do sufficient checks before a deal is finalized.
Other points to consider are;
1) A property investor show offers the best of the property investment world. More than 100 exhibitors cover every aspect of making money from property. They also offer the expertise from UK and overseas, for both the residential and commercial investments. Specialists help you with mortgage and financial advice for local, national and international investments.
2) A property investor show is the best source of information for people who want to earn money from property. It is also a source of inspiration. The show brings together buyers, sellers and professional services that aid you investing in property. This is profitable and straightforward.
3) The property investor show conducts seminars at nominal cost to help you. This makes your journey to the property investment goal easier and more profitable. The show is an opportunity for investors. This show is a treasure trove of information that is useful for investors. And the show can develop an insight that helps you build a successful portfolio.
4) Now is the perfect time to invest, trade up and expand your portfolio. It is the first foot on the property ladder. With advice of industry experts, do your research and see what future hold for you at property investor show.
5) If you are serious about making money through investments in property, then the property investor show NEC Birmingham is a unique opportunity. This show has gained a reputation among serious property investors. This event proposes to feature property and its related services. Nearly 130 exhibitors are supposed to appear for the first time. The exhibitors include chief house builders, estate agents, brokers, developers, lenders, the companies that provide property training, property experts and property owner associations. The show features more than 70 seminars, various debates. These will cover all the facets like how to buy, finance and manage your property.
6) The property investor show is not limited to just industry professionals. First time investors are also welcomed. This show is the perfect destination if you are searching for a property to invest in. The show is priceless resource and allows you to have most of the outstanding opportunities. You can interact with experts and use the information to decide about acquisition.
7) The property investor show also allows you to judge the opportunities in overseas markets like France, Spain and USA. It also includes the opportunities in comparatively new locations like Croatia, Hungary, Cyprus, Montenegro, and Dubai.
In conclusion, you will find that the seminars are not merely sale pitches but are truly informative. Visitors and the attendees usually book seminar tickets online to save time and ticket trouble. And the property investor show seminars are sure for gaining understanding in real property investments.

By definition, investment property is property that is utilized for rental income or capital growth. It is not necessarily occupied by the owner. More and more investors are considering investment property for profit generation. Contrary to the stock market that is volatile as values of the stocks fluctuate in more or less unpredictable manner, investment property can be stable and predictable. One simply needs to understand the market value of the property if they want to resell it. Likewise, if the investment property is for rental, what the costs to be considered are maintenance, improvement or repair. In other words, investment property can be managed considerably than investment in shares, stocks or bonds.

Every investment opportunity has a promise of great return of your money. What you need to know is the reason to invest in properties. The benefits of investment property include, but are not limited to: tax incentives on properties; strong and predictable investment portfolio; a good retirement plan; capital gains tax can be deferred; instant equity; and increasing value.

Now that you know the benefits of investment properties, you are faced with the option to answer where to buy properties. The options include overseas property and local property. Investing in overseas property has its advantages. One advantage is that you can look for overseas property under a nation with great tax incentive. This alone can provide you higher return of what you invested because your money will purely be on the property and not on the pocket of the government. Second, overseas property is a variation of the local market. There are potential markets in other nations that respond immediately to requirements. Lastly, your currency rate may affect the amount of the property. In other words, you might find cheaper property based on you currency value than when you buy local property using your national currency. For example, your 1000 pounds will be worth an acre in a civilized place in India while it is only worth half an acre in suburbs in your locality. Local investment property is also advantageous since it means more investment property privilege as a citizen, more security, and more supports from close network.

Just like any investments, it takes a lot of decision making processes to derive at the right investment property. The best thing to do is to ask for expert advice on property details. One way to do that it to join investment property clubs that offer you lists of properties with corresponding details on the contracts, future development of the area, and other information on the property for loaning purposes. It must be done by professional and experienced agents to ensure that you are getting the right information that is crucial for the right decision. One example of this club is the WPI Investment Property Club in UK. This club offers its members with carefully-chosen high quality properties for investment. They have wide range of connection to developers both for local and overseas property. They also offer properties in discount through bulk buying. All these are offered to members with as little as finder’s fee. With WPI investment Property Club, you will get investment property that you can evaluate for that investment decision.

More and more investors are into rental investment property as they experience a lot of uncertainties in stocks market. Although not every investor has what it takes to be a landlord, it is still good way of gaining capital growth. Anyway, being a landlord does not require skills. Just like any investors, it simply requires wisdom and understanding on people and money management.

Once investor decides on rental investment property, the next thing to do is to look and choose the right property. They can decide on overseas property or local property.

When choosing overseas property, one should know where to invest. One can gain enough capital growth in overseas property from nations with property tax incentives. Also, the place to buy overseas property should encourage foreign investment. In nations like this, it is not hard for foreigners to buy and own property.

Buying local investment property also has its benefits such as tax benefits, security as local resident, and currency consistency among many others.

How to Get Started

In buying investment property both locally and overseas, time is of the essence. Just like investing in stocks and other assets, one needs to know when the property can actually be purchased. This is critical because the longer the time to invest, the more likely one will spend for maintenance, improvements and repair costs of the property. Remember properties can also wear and tear (except land). In this case, there is tendency that one needs to renovate before it can be used for rental.

Another way to get started is to look for a network. Some investors buy property form foreclosures while others can buy through agents. Networks are important to lead you where to find foreclosed properties or they may be there to refer to the right agents who will offer you properties for rental. Networks or contacts that can lead you to foreclosed properties can only be good if one is purely considering local investment property. However, if you are into overseas property, one should contact professional agents to ensure that there are no fraudulent or fake properties.

One of the ways to look for a close network is to join investment property clubs who offer investment property to buyers. For example, UK has what is called the WPI Investment Property Club that provides its members with various investment property options including overseas property. They required fee for the initial investment opportunity is the finder’s fee. They also offer discounted property from bulk buying.

Finally, in rental investment property, one needs to have a good credit standing. This way, there is high chance of getting lenders to approve loans to buy the property. Also with good credit standing, there is possibility that the interest rate will be lower.

In conclusion, rental investment property could be a good choice of investment. What you need to do is to make the plan starting out with time frame, networks, and good credit standing. With everything in place, one can get the investment property needed and get see the wealth growing.

Five Considerations of Hiring Property Managers

1. Management Fee The property owner needs to understand the purpose of the management fee (typically 10%). The percentage management fee pays for the property manager’s time. The 10% allows someone else to help shoulder the burden of owning the property. The owner is paying for someone else to field 2:00 am calls. It is important to remember that the property manager cannot take all of the responsibility and burden off the owner. In the end, it is the owner’s property and the owner’s responsibility.

2. Interview When hiring any professional, an interview will be conducted to hire the correct candidate and then the professional is left to alone to do their job. Working with a property manager is no different. During the interview process ask good questions; require forthright answers, hire the right candidate, and then get out of their way. If an owner is a high micromanager then they should hire a certain type property manager (see Property Manager categories below).

3. Personality fit The owner’s personality has to fit the property manager’s systems and procedures. Sometimes owners will have difficulty with a property managers systems and procedures. If a property management company sets office hours between 9-5 Monday through Friday and owner wants an update on their property @ 6:00pm on a Friday evening they will have to wait until 9:00 am Monday. This may drive some owners crazy who want to be very involved in the day-to-day management. If this is the case they probably should hire a manager who will be more responsive to the owner’s needs.

4. Communication Communication is a two-way street. It is not only the property manager’s responsibility to communicate effectively. Owners should understand they have to lead the property manager in how they expect the manager to manage the property.

Here’s an example: My wife is a director of marketing for a company. She has to be the leader in guiding and directing the advertising agency as to what she wants for the project. She cannot expect the advertising agency to try to guess what she wants in the project.

If your property manager is slow in returning your phone calls explain to them the level of communication you expect. In return, ask them how much communication they expect from you.

Many property managers would rather only communicate with you on as needed basis. Much more than this level of communication from the owner is overkill.

5. Property Manager Categories While Property managers fall into three categories, the size of the property management company is neither better nor worse than the others. Choosing the size of property manager has more to do with the level of owner pampering and paperwork provided rather than a property manager being good or bad.

Small 1-50 units Property managers in the small category are usually unlicensed with no training in property management. These managers will have more time for the property owner. This type of property manager is usually not much more than a handyman who will show and rent apartments. If a property owner wants to be hands on and needs to be updated on every specific action of the property this is the manager they should hire.

Pros: These property managers have the time to cuddle and coddle the owner. They will provide the owner with receipts for repairs and nothing else in documentation.

Cons: These managers will have no systems in place to and will not be able to negotiate vendor discounts. No 1099s and no accounting documents prepared for your accountant.

Medium 50-150 units

Pros: These managers have more of a professional approach with the use of some systems. They have the purchase power to negotiate some vendor discounts.

Cons: The paperwork may be enough for the owner to understand the numbers, but may not be enough information to submit to an accountant or to the IRS.

Large 150+

Pros: Large companies have invested a lot of money in their systems procedures. They will have an in-house maintenance staff. Their accounting reports can be submitted to an accountant or the IRS.

Cons: No time with the owner. Communication is very professional, but impersonal, done mostly through email and voicemail. Large management companies offer very little owner pampering and handholding. The downside: even owners who have been in real estate for many years still need some positive reinforcement once in a while.

Ryan Windley coauthored The Property Management Start-Up Guide – How to Start a Property Management Business and Still Keep Your Life in order to introduce entrepreneurs to property management as a viable business.

If you would like to know more about starting your own property management company you can purchase the book @ http://www.propertyprof.info