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Pune has successfully emerged as the most preferred centre for multinational companies due to its strategic location. This city, located on outskirts of the state of Maharashtra is witnessing a boom in its real estate sector. In spite of the global slowdown, the demand for residential and commercial property in Pune has been growing. This ‘tech city’ was never really put forward for its realty market until recently and has today, become one of the hottest property destinations.

Some of the important reasons that contributed to rise of real estate in Pune could be low rate of interests offered by banks, its proximity to Mumbai, immense potential for growth, excellent infrastructure, good climatic conditions and many others. This ‘cultural capital of Maharashtra’ has a well know name as an education hub since it houses large number of esteemed colleges and educational institutions. Students from all over the country throng the city, raising the demand for all kinds of residential properties like apartments, houses, flats, etc.

It is primarily the flourishing of IT industry that drives the demand of real estate in a city and the same applies to development of Pune. Along with various commercial establishments being set in the city like commercial complexes, offices, world class infrastructure, etc., there is a need for creating more living spaces. The professionals employed in these IT and BPO industries also have to be accommodated in the city which needs building up of various types of residential properties, thereby, fuelling the demand for housing.  

The real estate industry of Pune has not been affected much even during recession and even the prices were found to be quite stable. There was a very minimal drop in prices back then and with market already picking up, they are all set to rise. The demand for property in both residential and commercial sector has been increasing so much so that it has exceeded the supply. Pune property market is one the most active markets of Western India and one of the fastest growing too. More and more investments are being poured in by the leading property developers, local realty players and multinational companies setting their foot in the city.

Various affordable housing projects are also planned along the borders of the city. The focus on these bordering areas has risen due to high capital and rental values and real estate developers are obviously grabbing the opportunity with open arms. The demand for medium budget housing is also continuously seeing an upward trend in Pune. According to the estimates, Pune is required to construct more than 50, 000 residential setups every year in order to meet the housing needs of the inhabitants. Maharashtrian Government has given the nod for various real estate projects like integrated townships by private players under the model of Public Private Participation (PPP).

Some of the projects include ‘Amanora Park Town’ by City Group; Greensville Sky Villas and Emerald City in Kharadi, Regent Park in Baner by Gera; Bloomfield in Ambegaon by Amit Enterprises; Princetown in Undri by Kumar Properties; Picasso in Hadapsar by Kumar Properties and others.

Popularly known as ‘Oxford of the East’, Pune is now the centre of development with a slew of both IT and residential projects coming in. It has now become a competitor to India’s ‘Silicon valley’, Bangalore in regard to the IT investments. Pune was once famous as ‘Pensioner’s Paradise’, a sleepy suburb with a cover of greenery, the salubrious climate and the pollution free surroundings. But, it has now forsaken the identity of being a laid-back city and started in full gear to come close to IT destinations like Bangalore and Hyderabad.

The ‘Queen of Deccan’, Pune is clealy an upcoming cosmopolitan city.  

East Delhi comprises of localities like Anand Vihar, Dilshad Colony, Indirapuram, Lakshmi Nagar, Mayur Vihar, Patparganj, Shahdara, Vivek Vihar and various others. It is bordered by Uttar Pradesh regions of Noida and Ghaziabad. There was a time when East Delhi was considered to be the most underdeveloped region of Delhi, inhabited only by members of the low-income group. But today, due to constant efforts of State government, the whole eastern region of Delhi has been transformed into a decent and developed area. The beliefs have changed and property market of East Delhi is now among the sought after destinations.

Just few years back, no one even considered buying property or investing in real estate market of East Delhi. It offered none of the basic facilities of quality education, healthcare facilities, entertainment zones, etc. making it the least preferred residential area. But gone are the days when it was known for its clumsy visage and overshadowed buildings. Rapid development of East Delhi has led to creation of better roads, well established residential and commercial spaces, shopping malls and temples. It has seen immense development in last three years with number of multiplexes, malls, amusement parks, entertainment zones, township projects, etc coming up.

East Delhi has now established its presence and is counted with regions like Ghaziabad, Noida and Greater Noida. Akshardham, Sanjay Lake, Uttara Guruvayur Temple, Gandhi Nagar and Laxmi Nagar Markets are some of the main attractions in and around East Delhi. These places hold high importance as they help encourage tourism in the region. Such developments have uplifted the overall standard of living and will continue to do so in the coming years.

The property prices in East Delhi have doubled and even trebled in just a matter of few years as leading property developers are eyeing them. Real estate developers feel that this surge in East Delhi property was expected due to the rapid development of Tier-II cities across India. The increasing economic potential of this Trans Yamuna area is now acknowledged by corporates and property developers. With the aim of building social infrastructure and good living, large numbers of schools and hospitals, shopping malls, family entertainment centres, etc are being constructed. In fact, one of the largest malls in India, Shipra Mall is located in Indirapuram, developed by Shipra Group. Various houses, apartments, offices, shops, etc are also being opened up in both residential and commercial sectors.

One of the reasons for East Delhi’s increasing popularity and growth in real estate demand is its proximity to most of the important places and cultural centres, particularly in Central Delhi and New Delhi. With the new Metro route connecting eastern suburb of the capital to rest of the Delhi, property prices are all set to reach a higher magnitude.

Delhi’s Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit has inaugurated four new road projects barely a month ago. This project of Rs. 412 crores includes flyovers, a bridge and an underpass. Further plans aim at rehabilitating slum dwellers of at least 1700 slums by providing them with more than 4 lakh flats. In addition to this, the government plans to build second Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor in East Delhi between Karawal Nagar and Shastri Nagar. Moreover, projects like residential complex Antriksh Greens, the Akshardham temple complex, construction of the Commonwealth Games Village and the proposed cultural centre on the lines of the India Habitat Centre are surely going to take property prices to new heights.

The demand for property in East Delhi has grown so high that there is a crunch and market is blocked. Real estate agents express concerns over no properties being available for sale, the only hope comes from renting needs.

The constant flourishing of property demand suffices to exhibit the growing value of the new hotspot, East Delhi.

Searching for cheap houses for sale in England? The term, cheap houses in UK, means something different to different property investors. Turning your private home into an investment property while attempting to buy another cheap house, this is now a HUGE concern for rental property and the new rules states:If the property owner is landing out their personnel property and purchasing a new cheap house as a primary residence, to use rental income to qualify, the following requirements must be met: seventy-five percentage of rental income may be used to offset the mortgage payment in qualifying if there is documented equity of at least thirty percentage in the existing property.People who want to buy cheap houses in UK; the biggest factor working against it is the substantial property investment in time. Lending a cheap house in UK can run you ragged – you have to fix it up, manage the tenants, look for new tenants, and generally do all the things you would have to do as a property owner. Having a property management company to run the cheap house as a property for you can save your time and enable you to make more investments properties in real estate. Buying a cheap house overseas is that the owners stay there, free, whenever they want. They can also earn rent by renting out that property. On the internet home seekers can easily find hundreds of listings and a wide variety of cheap houses for sale or rent in Uk- right at your fingertips. Online you can browse in major search engines to buy cheap houses while property seekers, buyers & renters want to connect with each other on a global basis. When it comes to get a home rentals or cheap houses for sale, there are no limitations! If you’re seeking for cheap houses for sale, home rentals, flats, apartment rentals, condominiums, townhouses for sale, multi-family homes, duplexes, single family homes for sale, lofts, waterfront property for sale, villas, coops, and land for sale or vacation rentals – you’ll find them on most popular UK property investment websites! Property seekers are looking to get the best price on cheap houses in UK or buying investment properties, online real estate firms and home valuations provide property investors with the best way to search for a new house or condo.

Properties for sale in Gurgaon can be located with the help of real estate consultants and dealers.  Also, there are property portals giving information about Gurgaon properties.  Both residential and commercial properties are available.  Flats and apartments of various levels can be located at the prime locations.  You can buy commercial and industrial spaces, condominiums, apartments, flats, villas, shops, office spaces, plots, farm houses, builder floors, agricultural land, etc.  Premium structures constructed by construction majors like DLF, Spaze, Ansal, Bestech, Parsvanath, Omaxe, etc. are among the best properties in Gurgaon.

Commercial spots such as Udyog Vihar, IMT Manesar, Pace City, Info City, etc. are great attractions for property sale and purchase in Gurgaon.  Another location for premium structures is golf course road.  Augusta Point, Vatika Towers, Vipul Tech Square, Global Foyer, Orchid Square, Centrum Plaza, etc. make the location a highly valuable properties spot.  Other prime locations of Gurgaon properties are: Part 2 of Sector 15, DLF Phase I, DLF Phase II, DLF Phase VI, Sohna Road, National Highway No.8, etc.

In the post era of recent economic recession, it is beneficial for buyers since there prevails a slump in the property sector in Gurgaon.  Those who want to invest in properties in Gurgaon, they should look for premium properties.  In commercial properties also there is a little slump.  Compared with any other investment options, property investment is a better choice.

You can also find properties for sale in Gurgaon in the classified columns of the leading newspapers of the place such as Times of India, Hindustan Times, Navabharat Times, Hindustan, etc.  Owing to the increased infrastructure of the region, Gurgaon properties have more buyers now than ever before.  The Gurgaon-Jaipur National Highway, the Gurgaon-Delhi 8-line expressway, the Delhi-Gurgaon metro rail line, the proposed Gurgaon metro rail, etc. have contributed considerably to the appreciation of properties in the region.  The presence of major corporate offices in the region is another reason for the increasing property value in Gurgaon.  India as an emerging market of the world has attracted the major multinational corporations.  Gurgaon lying in the Delhi NCR region with better infrastructure is attracting these companies.  This has resulted in the increased demand for properties in Gurgaon.  As a result, the real estate market in Gurgaon has become one of the primary destinations in India.

As a beginning investor in real estate, it is imperative that you start with a solid strategy and understand the fundamentals. In this article, it is my intention to offer a few insights into real estate investing for beginners.A few ground rules…

First let’s agree that unlike stocks or bonds investing, real estate investing is not considered a ‘Liquid’ investment. What this means is, you can not sell real estate as quickly as you can sell stocks or bonds. Stocks or bonds can typically be traded very quickly through a stocks brokerage firm.

Real estate however, requires skill, patience, a marketable product and technique to liquidate. Even when using a professional, it may take awhile to sell investment property.

Realizing this at the beginning of your investment strategy will save you grief and money during the life of your investments. Knowing you can not simply ‘Flip’ (the process by which you can buy and sell real estate property very quickly) every real estate investment opportunity that comes along will assist you in making sound investment decisions.Commercial Real Estate Investing

Due to the complexity of commercial real estate investing and the calculations used in strategies, this article will focus primarily on residential real estate investment strategies. At times, we may discuss items relating to commercial investments, but only when needed for clarification.Investment Financing

Before you begin to look for a real estate investment , it is advisable to research how much you can afford. One way to accomplish this is to find and work with a qualified professional real estate agent who knows the area in which you are interested in purchasing. Agents often work with and can suggest a lending company or mortgage professional.

In addition you can work directly with a lender or mortgage professional.

Working with a real estate agent provides you with several benefits, not the least of which is they are typically well informed of news and growth markets in the area you are interested in investing.Investment Strategy

Long term or Short term Investing: Let’s describe long term investing as real estate purchases that are maintained for more than 5 years. Short term investments we will consider purchases maintained less than 5 years. The length of time for either of these strategies canvary greatly depending on market conditions and income/expense ratios from the investments and other factors.

Along with your investment strategy of long or short term investments, an advisable consideration is what do you expect from a Return On Investment (ROI) perspective. ROI can best be described as how much money you expect to make on your real estate purchase and in what time frame.Summary

Intelligent investing is about balancing risk and reward.

Real estate investing requires education, and for new investors it is advisable to work with an experienced real estate professional. Let’s not forget lots and lots of homework and research.

If you take your time, work with a knowledegable real estate professional, there is no reason why you would not be able to realize the financial gains others have realized in real estate investing.

End of Part 1

© Copyright 2008 Jennifer MacKay. All Rights Reserved.

South East Asia has always had a special appeal for me. I first began spending time there about 5 years ago. I love the organised chaos of the roads in Bangkok, the food that is cooked right in front of you, and the haggling at the markets. Amazing.

Altogether I have spent over 3 months in Thailand and I have so many fond memories, add to that the fact that it is halfway to Australia and QANTAS offers a stopover of only 45 minutes which gets you to Oz quicker. It’s a great destination.

I usually spend a week stopover on the way back to the UK. It gives me a break after 2 gruelling weeks with the family and friends and the 2 hour massages for around £7. What more could you want?

So naturally l thought if I’m spending so much time here l might as well buy a property. Then naturally if I am prepared to buy and have done extensive research why wouldn’t my investors also buy as well?

Having looked into Phuket property before the tsunami, I thought I would check out Pattaya (pronounced “Pat-e-ya”) which is only around 1 hour 20 minutes drive from the new international airport in Bangkok (the capital).

Pattaya is a seaside town (tick-These ticks and crosses are my due diligence) with a new highway which will mean it will only take around 45 minutes to get to and from the airport. (tick).

Pattaya has 3 distinct property markets.

The first is the local market. The properties are priced between 1 and 3 million Baht (70 Baht to £1) So £15,000 – £45,000. Sounds good right. Well maybe not. Unless you are a local it’s unlikely you would buy at this level.

You could only rent to locals and the investment returns I don’t feel would be great enough. (Cross)

The second and most interesting market is the 20 to 30 million Baht. £285,000 – £430,000. Incredible you say? Well thats what I thought too. In fact forget incredible — l was downright shocked. But this is the market of the off plan speculators. In my books, another word for ’speculator’ is ‘gambler’ and hopefully you know by now what I think of gamblers.

I do believe you can make money on these, but only by ‘flipping’ before completion but obviously there are no guarantees with prices already so high. Incidentally, this market has seen an incredible amount of growth so that waterfront apartments are as expensive as central London, Sydney or New York. (Cross)

I feel that this market has been driven by paper gains rather than underlying fundamentals. I see this happen quite often, and it’s one of the reasons I deal in properties 99% of people would rent.

The final level is the 5 to 9 million Baht. So £70,000 – £130,000. This is the retirees’ and expats’ market. You would be more than happy with these houses. 3-4 Bedrooms, large open spaces, ensuites, parking and best of all – air conditioning.

These I feel would be ideal for investment and present your best opportunities. (Tick)

Rentals are great as a lot of major multinationals have offices in Bangkok and the expats are happy to commute up daily or it’s cheap enough to rent a place in Bangkok during the week while spending the weekend home in Pattaya. (Tick)

As an investor in Thailand the first thing you have to realise is that you cannot own land (Cross) so at present you have two choices: either buy in the name of a Thai company and have Thai nationals who own it (but you have a signed deed saying you can replace the Thai nationals at any time). It’s a reasonably secure way of buying.

The other way and the way that is becoming more accepted is a freehold/leasehold similar to what we are use to in the UK. A lot of new builders are structuring ownership this way.

BUT… The Thai government has an unfortunate habit of changing laws so you may find yourself at the wrong end of a change. They made a decision early in 2006 that effectively stopped or severely curtailed foreign ownership (Cross) and the stock market began to spiral downwards so rapidly that they changed the law back by day’s end. This sort of government back peddling is a potential warning sign. (Cross)

The country has had 18 coups since 1932, although the past 15 years have seen none until 2006. Whilst they have all been peaceful coups, they still create political instability. (Cross) On the other hand a coup to a Thai person is probably like on of our Labour politicians voting with the Lib-Dems so it’s not that big a deal in reality.

Most coups have been backed by the King. Thai people have an amazing allegiance to their king, wherever you go in Thailand you will see him, and as long as the King has backed the coup everything is alright. (Tick)

The King is the real power in Thailand, he has been an active participant and a representative of the people, and is a stable force in a thriving country. (Tick)

The problem Thailand faces is that the King is getting old and may one day pass the throne onto his young son who is renowned for irresponsible antics. So no one really knows just how he will take to the position of King or whether the people will take to him. This could cause an instability in the investment market. (Cross)

One of the biggest things overlooked when inexperienced investors seek out exotic new investment regions is how to get your money back. Oftentimes the capital growth is fantastic, so your £20,000 investment doubles and doubles again (so you now have £80,000). This is a paper profit until you actually sell it or remortgage it.

So the essential question is not often will I make money? but how will I get paid? or who will sell it for me?, who will buy it from me?, how much tax will l pay?, how much will I have leftover? Or if you don’t want to sell it how will l make the equity work for me?.

Often the answer is you won’t. You won’t remortgage it and you won’t sell it, or if you do you’ll need to accept considerably less than you want for it.

In Thailand mortgages are very tight. The Asian economic crisis hit Thailand particularly hard, and in fact they’ve only just now started continuing a number of concrete highways which stood unfinished and vacant above the ground level. These massive highways stretch for miles with no entrance and no exits and are amazing to see.

The bottom line is Thai banks don’t trust farang (foreigners) so you might be made to jump through hoops just to get a 50% mortgage. And if you thought getting a mortgage was hard, try remortgaging. So that kind of leaves selling as the option which kind of goes against our entire philosophy.

All in all, I decided that it would be better to rent out a 5 star hotel or villa on the beach for 2 weeks a year than to own a property which has so many variables.

If you are interested in buying in Thailand, you can definitely make some money but as always ‘Do your due diligence?’ I am happy to give you the research that we undertook before I went if you are interested.

Live with passion,

Brett

PS. I love Thailand and if you get to go make sure you hire a bike and get out into the real Thailand rather than just around the cities and tourist places. The people are lovely and the food is soooo good.

The Key is to Buy at Pre-Sale PricingPanama real estate is red hot! We have read this from sources like ABC Nightline, The New York Times, The Washington Post, International Living, and the Wall Street Journal, to name just a few briefly. And if it is true that in Dubai you will find most of the Worlds construction cranes then Panama must be the second skyline filled with cranes. There’s construction everywhere. However if you try to book a hotel room in Panama City chances are you won’t find one. Recently the minister of tourism Ruben Blades published a report stating that there are only 17,000 hotel rooms in Panama, not quite enough for the double digits growth in tourism to the country. He stated that there is a deficit in hotel rooms of more than 20,000 rooms. And although we have a list of New Hotels that are in development in Panama, the demand is still higher than the supply. And we all know what that represents.

Even if we take into account All the New Hotels & rooms currently in development in Panama:

34 Rooms The Holiday Inn City at Knowledge Opening March 27, 2008

102 Rooms The Radisson Colon 2000 Hotel and Casino Opening April 15th, 2008

134 Rooms The Bristol Buenaventura Opening December, 2008

103 Rooms The Radisson Summit Golf And Resort Opening April 2009

80 Rooms The Panama Marriott ext. 376 total Opening late 2009

125 Rooms The LeMeridian Hotel Opening June 2009

128 New Rooms Courtyard by Marriott ext. 248 total Opening fall 2009

800 Rooms Megapolis Condo-Apart-Hotel Opening late 2009 FIRST PHASE

300 Rooms Renaissance Panama Opening late 2010

Condo Hotels represent a great Investment option, since demand for hotel rooms in Panama is higher and growing, and the inventory at hand cannot keep up with the demand for rooms. Condo Hotels have become the NEW BOOM in Investment Opportunities. For those of us that like cash generating Investments, and returns of at least 15% annually and higher; investing in a condo hotel in Panama , Now is an excellent opportunity!Condo-Hotel’s Explained.

Condo-hotel’s are just like traditional hotels, however, each hotel room unit may belong to an individual owner, whereas in traditional hotels, there usually just one owner of the entire building.

Condo-hotel owners generally sign a contract with a management company to “operate and manage” the hotel facilities and each of the individual hotel rooms. This is done on a profit share basis, with anywhere from 50% to 75% of the rental income going to the individual unit owners. Additionally, some Condo-hotel management companies also pool the remaining annual net operating profits with an additional percentage being distributed at the end of the operating year to the owners. This percentage varies but can be as much as 15%. Additionally, condo-hotel owners get to use their hotel room units for limited number of days per year. Generally between 1 and 2 weeks. So if you plan to vacation in the destination where you own a Condo-hotel unit, this would be an added benefit.Additional Benefits.

With traditional real estate investments, you are generally looking to cover your maintenance and monthly mortgage costs if financed and hoping to generate a positive monthly cash flow and hope to make a profit from the increase in value of the property over the time you own it. As any landlord will tell you managing a rental property can be a huge headache – maintenance, dealing with Tenants, collecting rent etc., and these headaches are multiplied if the property you own is in a country different from where you reside.

With Condo-hotels, all of these headaches are taken away from you. The professional management company that is managing the hotel, takes care of all of these day-to-day issues, and you don’t ever have to even think about it.The Opportunity in Panama, is Now!

Recently there has been a huge demand for Hotel rooms in Panama due to the booming economy, increased Tourism, and plenty of Business travelers entering the country. The Panamanian Tourism Institute IPAT recently released a statement saying that based on the current growth trends of tourism there is a demand for an additional 20,000 hotel rooms over the coming years. With the current hotel occupancy rates at a steady 90% and above. And the constant infusion of foreign capital pouring into Panama, the construction boom, and mega investment projects like $5 + billion dollar expansion of the Panama Canal which is underway, The construction of the Panama International Merchandise Mart, the largest commercial structure in Latin America with 2 million square meters of construction 21,572,7820 square feet . Total investment is US$1 billion USD over a 3-year period, the development of the Panama-Pacific Special Economic Area [formerly Howard a U.S. Air Force base], a multi billion dollar real estate development underway by London Regional, and many more. Recently the company Caterpillar, which recently announced it was moving its regional headquarters to Panama, made a statement saying they alone would have a demand of approximately 12,000 room-nights per year!

ThinkPanama.com has reviewed the Condo-hotel offerings in Panama, and has selected two Condo-hotels to Promote: The Plaza Costa del Este, and The Orchid.GUARANTEED Returns of 15% +

The Plaza, Costa del Este: This outstanding project combines 150 unique and contemporary executive hotel rooms and 44 private residences is located in the Costa del Este part of Panama City – an up and coming area with Residential and Commercial areas including a major Office park complex.The Developers and Operators of The Plaza, have put together an incredible “Investor Incentive Program” unparalleled in the country. 15% Return on Investment GUARANTEED for 5 years! The pre-sale prices on these hotel Units start at just $193,000. In 5 years you would have recovered 50% of your total investment, plus owners get 70% of the rental income, and are allowed to use their units for one week a year. Even though this project will just break ground this year, you will start to receive your returns well before the hotel is open for business! Additionally, real estate prices in Panama still have a strong appreciation, so if you decide to sell out in 5 years, you’re guaranteed an excellent overall ROI.

Rubbing elbow with the stars: International Superstar and Grammy-award winning artist, Enrique Iglesias, and Latin Salsa sensation Gilberto Santa Rosa are confirmed owners of units in The Plaza. Enrique Iglesias bought the Penthouse and Gilberto Santa Rosa bought a residential unit in the development.

The Orchid.

This is the most recent project of Procasa Group launched , they launched their flagship Hotel-condo project “The Orchid” to a room full of Press and Industry Executives. The Orchid, a 200 room, Five-Star Condo-Hotel, will be located in the Financial district in Panama City, and will cater primarily to Business Travelers, boasting one of the best equipped Business Centers in the City.

The property will feature a full service Spa, Pool, Restaurants, Room Service, Gymnasium, Concierge service, housekeeping, etc.

Based on projections released by the company, owners can conservatively expect an average of 17% ROI , this is based on a very conservative 66% occupancy rate. The owners share of the rental income is set at 63%, with the balance to the Management Company. Pre Sale Prices Now start at $207,000, for a limited time.

For Reserve your units at Pre-Sale price contact Douglas M. Choy, Licensed Real Estate broker at ThinkPanama.com he will be happy to provide you with All information including cash flow plans for the condo hotel units, availability, current pricing, and negotiate on your behalf the down payment, payment terms, and conditions.

Sign up to our FREE Panama Real Estate & Investments Blog to get more data and reports on Condo Hotels & other Investment options in Panama.

The countdown from Thanksgiving to Christmas is a magical time of year, but it’s also a warning to real estate investors that December 31 – the end of the tax year – is almost upon us. If you haven’t yet gotten your financial house in order you’re running out of time to gather your records and do some last-minute planning to minimize your tax burden. The good news is, if you start now, you still have time to save yourself some money on the tax bill you’re going to have to pay in April. Here are 10 great money-saving tax tips that will put a warm smile on your face regardless of the temperature outside.

1. Home Office Deduction – If you’re new to real estate investing, you may not be aware of this timeless treasure that the IRS makes available to you. By setting up a dedicated workspace in your home, you can deduct much of the costs of doing business if you work out of your home. In addition, you can proportionally write off some of your living expenses, such as mortgage interest, utilities, and telephone expenses.

2. Mileage Deduction – Sky-high gas prices will really save you money at tax time. You’ll be able to get some of these expenses back, but the standard rate will vary, depending upon when you were driving for business. For the half of the year ending June 30, the deduction is 50.5 cents per mile. Starting July 1 and going to the end of the year, that rate increased to 58.5 cents per mile.

3. Educational Expenses – Did you decide you just had to pick up that investing course, book, or CD set that claimed it would put you on Easy Street in no time? Good news. It’s deductible as long as your purchase was designed to expand your business opportunities.

4. 401K Conversion – Did you finally decide it was time to fly solo? If you quit your job this year, you can convert that 401K plan that’s getting beat up by Wall Street into a self-directed IRA. Not only will it save you money, it will also free up valuable dollars you can use to invest in even more real estate – all with Uncle Sam’s blessing.

5. Self-employed Health Insurance – One of the biggest challenges faced by self-employed real estate investors is how to pay for health insurance once you leave the relatively safe ranks of the employed. This deduction can save you a bundle because insurance premiums are very high.

6. Charitable Contributions – Do you love that warm, fuzzy feeling you get inside when you spread around some of your hard earned cash – and it’s not being caught by a Washington politician? If that’s the case, give to your heart’s content, while enjoying a sizable IRS tax deduction.

7. 1031 Exchange – This money-saving tip can save you tens of thousands of tax dollars over the course of your real estate investing career. When you sell a property for a profit you would normally get hit with a substantial capital gains tax. This technique allows you to defer your tax penalty indefinitely – until death if you like. Use the 1031 exchange to defer taxes you’d otherwise have to pay. While it’s true that “you can’t take it with you”, why should you take the taxes with you?

8. Charrissa’s Mortgage Secret – This technique seems devious, but it’s an entirely legal way to reduce your tax liability. Your mortgage payments are probably due on the 1st of the month. By paying them a day early, not only can you save a day’s interest, but you gain the benefit of being able to deduct an extra month of mortgage interest. How much can you save with this technique? How many properties do you have?

9. Charrissa’s Stalling Technique – If you’re planning on selling a property in December you can save your capital gains liability by delaying the closing until the new year. While not as beneficial as the 1031 Exchange, it still allows you to delay paying the tax for a full year.

10. Early Payment Discount – Will you owe state and local taxes this year? You have two choices: Pay them in January and wait a full year to take your deduction – or pay them in December and deduct them next April.

You may be wondering what to do with some of your tax savings. That’s really your call. You can use it for investing in another red-hot property or you might put it to good use as an extra nice Christmas gift for that special someone in your life, or you might even opt to perform a random act of kindness for someone less fortunate than you. If you play your cards right, you might be able to do all three.

Whatever you decide, enjoy doing it. Smile knowing that the money you’re spreading around is being spread by you – and not being squandered by your Uncle Sam.

Our search begins in Liverpool where real estate investment properties are forecasted to see substantial returns over the next five years. As the European City of Culture in 2008, Liverpool has been undergoing regeneration over the past few years. Much work has gone in to revitalising the Duke Street area, resulting in a fashionable new shopping and arts district. Liverpool’s China Town has also seen serious development with many modern warehouse apartments. A thriving business centre with an international airport and an expanding University population, Liverpool has obvious benefits for rental income.Real estate investment properties currently for sale include a number of trendy one-bedroom warehouse flats in Cornwallis Street L1, marketed from £120,000 to £140,000 on the NorthwoodUK.com website. Estate agent King Sturge has numerous one-bedroom flats available in the L3 university district starting from £119,950. And if you are looking for a spectacular penthouse apartment in a stunning development look no further than Alexandra Tower in Princess Dock where a 2-bedroom unit is available for £375,000 from BrightSale.com.Leeds is another area under regeneration where real estate investment properties are expected to see significant price increases . Leeds is the UK’s second financial centre after London and has a large university population. Holbeck to the south of Leeds is the latest focus for regeneration where prices of attractive, traditional Victorian terraces are expected to appreciate dramatically over the next five years. Holbeck benefits from good transport links with a local train station and is walking distance from the city’s theatre district. Your Move is currently listing a five-bedroom terrace in the area for £149,995.If you would prefer to select real estate investment properties in Leeds city centre, property consultants Sanderson Weatherall have over 50 one and two-bedroom apartments ranging from £95,000 to £400,000. These include several £130,000 units in a modern development built by the international design group Yoo.One of the most affordable places for real estate investment properties is Scotland where prices are almost one-third less than the national UK average. Scotland is also seeing higher-than-average growth due to economic prosperity from high oil prices. Head to the thriving university regions of Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh or Stirling and you’ll find some good buy-to-let prospects.In Dundee, Your Move is currently marketing a spacious three-bedroom flat in a converted mill close to the city centre for £137,950. If you prefer a brand-new development, Construction and Property Marketing are launching Discovery Wharf with two and three bedroom apartments from £161,000 and £187,750.Boasting an international airport and a great history, Aberdeen is full of potential for real estate investment properties. Gavin Bain & Co currently holds a wide range of properties in Aberdeen from £68,500 to £450,000, including a two-bedroom apartment in Candlemakers Lane for £165,000. For the same price, Andersonbain & Co is marketing a three-bedroom semi-detached family home in the popular Sheddocksley area.Taking advantage of a buyer’s market means that investors will be looking to the long term for significant returns on their property price. However, in the current property climate, forecasters are expecting Scotland to top the list of property price growth in the UK over the coming year. If you are buying to let, the university towns have obvious attraction and whether you are looking to renovate a character property or buy into a brand-new development there is much to be found.

With a relatively stable political structure and an enviably healthy economy derived largely from foreign investment into residential real estate and oil reserves, the Latin American giant Brazil is, it seems, bucking the global downturn that is affecting many markets around the world and emerging something of an investors’ dream. In fact, it was named the world’s most significant emerging market in the respected Morgan Stanley’s Emerging Market Index just recently. Beleaguered global financial markets are looking at Brazil’s economy with admiration it seems. 

“Brazil’s central bank believes that it has underestimated the strength of its economy and has moved its previous forecast of 4.5 per cent GDP growth for 2008 up to 4.8 per cent,” says Samantha Gore of uv10, a Brazil property specialist company based in Spain. “Having studied figures just released, which show Brazil’s current GDP to be £749 billion in 2007, up 5.4 per cent on 2006, the official number-crunchers decided that they’d been too cautious.

Brazil does seem to be resilient to the turbulence in the northern half of the Americas, a turbulence which has sent shockwaves across Europe. And, while the Spanish property market is currently down on its luck, Brazil has the very same to thank for making a major contribution to its current fortune.”

Its property market is still very much in its infancy, however. Prices are still well below the £80k mark in most areas and are expected to yield a good rate of capital growth over the next few years as current demand way outstrips supply.

Estimates suggest capital growth could be as much as 20 per cent year-on-year. Nearly eight million new homes are needed to cater for the country’s growing population, but while its cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro may be home to the largest number of its residents, it is the north-east region that is seeing a surge in investment property.

Much of the current real estate development is focused on the Rio Grande do Norte region on the north-east coast, and more specifically around Natal, the region’s capital. The city is widely regarded as having some of the finest palm tree-lined beaches and lagoons in the world that stretch for 400 or more miles. The coastline is characterised by a chain of sand dunes, including the Genipabu and Tibau do Sul dunes that have bars and restaurants dotted along their length, and the bays of Pipa and Pirangi. Small resorts are springing up, although the whole area is still new in terms of real estate development.

Uv10 is currently marketing a number of developments in the north-east. Among them, the Quinta da Lagoa resort of 83 high-spec studio, townhouses and bungalows that the company says is ideal for rentals. Located in Tibau do Sul, near Natal, the development guarantees five per cent gross per annum for three years from delivery. “Judging by the figures from its sister resort, Pousada dos Girassois in Pipa, which enjoys 80 per cent occupancy per year, you could stand to make a lot more,” says Gore. “Girassois is one of the most successful developments in Pipa and the value of property for sale in Pipa has doubled in just two years.” Prices at Quinta da Lagoa start from around £45,200.

Around 80,000 new houses and apartments are earmarked for the north-eastern region, especially around Natal, to cater for the region’s growing population and the demand from foreigners for second residences. While this appears a large figure the area is vast however, and development is controlled by the government to protect the environment, adding to the area’s appeal as an investment hotspot. Combine this with the potential for some good rental returns from the region’s increasingly buoyant tourism sector that has seen significant investment in sports and leisure centres in recent years, and you have an area of Brazil that is becoming more and more appealing.

“The property market in Natal is in its relative infancy and the coastline is almost development-free; supply currently lags way below demand,” says Trevor Byrne, GEM Estates’ Brazil expert. “New development is springing up alongside sporting and leisure facilities but the authorities are paying great attention to the environment before granting licenses – aesthetics and stability are of greater importance to them than squeezing every last penny out of every last square metre.”

GEM Estates is currently offering spacious beachside apartments and villas in Tibau do Sul for as little as £75,200 and village apartments in nearby Maracajaú from £45,000. Its Lago Azul development in Tibau do Sul has a frontline beach position with ocean views. There are many on-site amenities, such as pools and tennis courts. So confident is the company in the project that it is offering all clients a seven per cent guaranteed rental return for three years from completion. The company also has Ma-Noa Park in the village of Maracajau, near Natal, which is famed for its on-site aqua park and extensive sports facilities, including a golf course and football pitch. Prices are low and capital growth expected to be high.

“Prices of property for sale in Natal are incredibly low right now but outside investment in infrastructure such as golf courses and a new airport will increase demand for property and inevitably trigger natural price hikes,” adds Byrne. “Being the closest part of Brazil to Europe, thus drastically cutting down flying times to between seven and nine hours from most European cities, Natal has phenomenal beaches, a permanent summer and with year-round rental potential suits both audiences – the pure investor and the holiday-home hunter.”

The whole area, which enjoys a glorious climate, has attracted government funding to protect the natural heritage as well as enhancing the tourist infrastructure. Development work is closely monitored so as not to detract from the area’s natural wonders. Its towns, villages and small resorts are connected by the coastal highway that winds its way through countryside overlooking the bays and dunes, while Natal’s Augusto Severo International Airport has regular flights to and from Europe. A brand new multimillion-pound airport is under construction and is due to be completed by 2010. It will be the largest airport in Latin America. 

Further investment has come though the likes of international sports stars Rubens Barrichello, who is building a motor sports facility in the region, and David Beckham, the force behind a football academy in Natal. The project is timely for when Brazil hosts the 2014 World Cup. The region around Natal is also earmarked for several large golf courses. Projects such as these increase the region’s potential for tourism, and thereby rental income and capital growth on real estate investment significantly.

“The investment in the general infrastructure and tourism in the north-east of Brazil has been significant over the past few years, and is set to continue for the foreseeable future,” says Deanne DuKhan, portfolio strategist with specialist property company Experience International in London. The company is currently marketing a number of new high specification projects, including the Jacuma Beach Resort in Natal where prices start from just £63,700, the nearby luxury beachside resort of Praia Bonita, where studios and apartments start from £39,070 and the gated community of Pipa Paradise, which comprises 128 sizable apartments and villas that offer good value at prices from £61,899.

“The government is committed to developing the area and with the new airport just a couple of years away we feel that property in the Natal area and along this coastline of Brazil offer some of the most exciting investment opportunities we have seen in a long time.”