Buy Property
Buying Property in France Web TransitionsAbroad.com Home Work Study Travel Living As seen in Transitions Abroad Magazine March/April 2000 Related Topics Living Abroad Related Articles Legal Living in France Moving to France Buying a Home in France Property in France How to Find It, Buy It, And Live in It By Phyllis Cohen Buying property in France is not just for movie stars and celebrities. Ordinary people with a passable knowledge of French (or a friend who speaks it) and a lot of patience can acquire a bit of magic too. But before you attempt it, arm yourself with knowledge of how to find your special place, how to buy it, and how to live in it. Finding the Place As you look for what you want, here are several things to bear in mind: Dont expect American state-of-the-art appliances, floor layouts, or conveniences. Part of the charm of old buildings is that they are old, and that includes the kitchens and plumbing. Decide if you want a pied-à-terre (a small place where you can comfortably stay for several weeks or months at a time) or a year-round residence. Generally, an apartment is sold with an empty kitchenfour walls and a water outlet. There are stores that will help you design and install your own kitchen, ranging from pre-fabricated cabinets at IKEA to a kitchen created by cuisinistes . Get at least three estimates as well as references before selecting your vendor. If you will be in a city, decide whether or not you will have a car. Parking in Paris is difficult; having a parking place can greatly increase the resale value of your place. France offers a wide variety of locales. Before you go to the effort of buying something, you really need to explore. Paris itself is divided into 20 arrondissements , each with its own character. If you are willing to live in the banlieue , or suburbs, prices drop dramatically. Properties in the countryside are considerably cheaper. Finding the right house or flat is more complicated than in the U.S. There is no such thing as Multiple Listings in France. Only 30 percent of real estate transactions occur with the help of realtors; the rest are directly between buyer and seller. As a foreigner, you might be more comfortable working through an agent, or agent immobilier , who knows the laws of France. Getting Started Lets say youve decided to buy an appartement in Paris. Walk the streets to find an area you like, then hunt down some agencies that look promising. You can also check out the listings and realtors in various magazines, newspapers, and on the Internet. There is relatively little new construction in Paris. Those apartment complexes that are being developed are usually sold when ground is first broken; in other words, you basically buy an apartment two years before it is completed. Occasionally, you will find almost-completed apartments listed in newspapers and real estate magazines.If you are truly brave, you can buy a place at auction. Notices appear in newspapers such as Le Figaro and the International Herald Tribune. Let the buyer beware. At least take an architect with you when you go to look at the offering. Reading Listings No matter where you find your listings, they will all be posted as À Louer (For Rent) and À Vendre (To Buy). They will also tell you what arrondissement (if in Paris) or département (if in the rest of the country) the property is located in. Perhaps most importantly, they will give you the size in square meters and the number of rooms. Most apartments in Paris are small. Studios are 100-200 square feet, some smaller. Three-bedroom apartments are frequently under 1,000 square feet. Listings will tell you how many rooms there are other than the kitchen. A studio is one room. A one-bedroom apartment will have two pièces, or two rooms, plus the kitchen. Bedrooms are almost uniformly small, while the living rooms are comparatively large. Bear in mind that the French follow the European convention of counting the first floor as the ground floor (Rez-de-Chauseé or RdC); the second floor in American terminology is the first floor in Europe. Generally, the higher the floor, the more expensive the property. Closing the Deal Once you have decided on a place you like at a mutually-agreed upon price, you and the seller sign a document known as a promesse de vente . This is a legally binding document that confirms that the seller must sell the property to the buyer. The buyer, however, has 11 days to change his mind. The seller must also provide to the buyer an accurate floor plan of the apartment or house. All sales in France are conducted with notaires. Both the buyer and seller has his own notaire and they confirm that all aspects of the sale are done according to law. If you are buying a condominium, there will be a set of rules that govern the building. As an owner, you are a co-proprietaire and are bound by the laws of the building. Owners collectively determine such things as whether you are allowed to install a satellite antenna on your balcony, whether the building as a whole will subscribe to cable TV, how often and how much money will be spent on repainting the walls, etc. Do not make the mistake (as we did) of not personally reading all regulations before you sign. As a foreigner, it is advisable to hire an avocat , or lawyer, who specializes in real estate. In case of a disagreement, you are far better off having someone who knows the law and knows how to speak French. Tax Considerations Before buying property in France, you should know that the Government of France has very specific inheritance laws. By law, on your death your property is divided equally between your spouse and your surviving children. There are some steps you can take to ensure that the surviving spouse can continue to live in the house or flat. Speak with a lawyer about this before you buy the property. You will pay between 8 and10 percent in taxes and fees. If you buy an apartment less than five years old, however, you will pay only 3 to 5 percent or less. Ask also about property taxes, which tend to be less in Paris than in the country. Generally, you will be responsible for both a land and a habitation tax. A larger question is your residency status. If you reside in France full time and earn a living here, you will become part of the French social system. The taxes are extraordinarily high (more than 50 percent). Again, you should seek the advice of a tax attorney who is familiar with both the American and French taxation systems. You can get a list of attorneys from the U.S. Consulate. Financing If you are able to pay cash for your new home, you will not need a mortgage, and many properties for sale in the country might well be within reach of your savings kitty. If you need a mortgage, things become a bit more complicated. A French bank will issue a mortgage to expats as long as you can show regular income. By French law the total of all of your mortgage payments worldwide cannot be more than 30 percent of your total income.Lastly, you must have mortgage insurance for a large mortgage and a physical examination at the banks expense. If you do not fall neatly into an income category (e.g., you are retired without a fixed income), Banque Woolwich is a good resource. The staff are used to dealing with expats and speak excellent English (Banque Woolwich, 9, rue Boudreau, 75009 Paris; 011-331-42-684-221, fax 011-331-474- 203-23; www.woolwich.co.uk ). Mary Fort is branch manager.The good news is that mortgages in France currently have excellent rates. Most mortgages (or prets) are for 15 years and currently run 4.5 percent annually. Once you are here in France, an excellent book to read is At Home in Paris , published by the Junior Service League of Paris. It gives all sorts of hints on differences of living in the States versus France (like how to make sure your laundry pipes dont clog up with deposits). Living in France is a free publication, in English, that gives useful information on housing, employment, banking, insurance, etc. It can be found at various establishments around Paris that cater to foreigners. To absorb the flavor of a buying experience, read Peter Mayles A Year in Provence or Francis Mayes Under the Tuscan Sun. Both give agonizingly accurate pictures of the adventure of buying property abroad. All in all, buying property in France might seem like a daunting experience, but it is not an unpleasant one. Contrary to Frances reputation of being inhospitable to foreigners, we have found the opposite to be true. With the notable exception of a few surly cab drivers, we have found the French to be polite and helpful. And as we take our evening walks across the Alexander III bridge we cant help but be amazed that a small part of this City of Lights belongs to us! Real Estate Listings De Particulier A Particulier (From Buyer to Seller), published weekly on Thursdays, is the most popular nationwide resource. LHebdo Immobilier (Weekly Realtor), published weekly on Wednesdays, also has an Internet site at www.immobilierenfrance.com . Demeures de France, a bi-monthly publication that specializes in upscale offerings, is in English and in French and also has an Internet site at www.demeures.com . Demeures de Charme is similar to Demeures de France, and is also in English and in French. FUSAC , a bi-weekly free publication for English-speaking residents of Paris, has advertisements for rentals, purchases, and agencies which can help you do either. FUSAC is available at many locations around the city including W.H. Smith and Brentanos, two English-language bookstores. PHYLLIS COHEN and her husband Bob have taken a year off from their software company, packed their bags, and moved to Paris (See " Moving to France " in the January February Issue of Transitions Abroad Magazine). Web TransitionsAbroad.com Home Work Study Travel Living Disclaimer ©Transitions Abroad
Home Loan Bank of
FHLBank Atlanta Login | News | Careers | Events | Site Map | Contact Us * Learn More * Member Login * FAQs * Learn More * Approved PFIs * View Pricing * 2006 AHP Announcement * 2006 AHP Updates * CIS Sponsor Login * Sponsor Registration Highlights from the Bank Bank Declares 4.60 Dividend The board of directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta has approved an annualized dividend rate of 4.60 percent. Readmore Historical Interest Rates Now on FHLBAccess All FHLBank interest rates are available on FHLBAccess, the Banks online, members-onlysystem. In early 2006, current and historical interest rates will no longer beavailable on the Bank's public website. Readmore Learn More About Funding In Key West FHLBank representatives will be presenting at the Southeastern Conference of Community Bankers on Jan. 27, 2005. They will be describing innovative ways to fund your loan growth. Read more New Forms for EDP\CIP Advances Available The Bank has revised the application and supporting documentation for the Community Investment and Economic Development advance programs. New forms are in effect immediately and can be downloaded from our website. View EDP forms View CIP forms First-time Homebuyer Funds Still Available The Bank has nearly $200,000 of matching funds available for member financialinstitutions that are working with first-time homebuyers who need down paymentor closing cost assistance. Read more November BankTalk and HillTalk Available Get the details behind structured repos, streamline securities safekeeping and wire transfers with FHLBAccess, and learn how the Banks Community Investment Program can help you save money. Read more Structured Repo Discussion The Expander Advance Member Products and Services Guide Capital Plan Reference Contact List COLLATERAL CVR Fee Schedule Webinar Recording Eligibility Qualifying Collateral Reports (QCRs) Verifications Government & Industry Relations Legislative Action Center HillNet: Grassroots Advocacy Program Terms and Conditions | Member Privacy Statement | General Privacy Policy © 2005, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. All Rights Reserved. Atlanta, GA, 30309; 1.800.536.9650.
Selling Home-Made Food Products
Selling Home Made Food Products Online Questions? Just Ask! Home > Start-Up > Questions from Readers > Food Product Regulations Question from reader: What kind of license/health inspections etc. do you think would be involved in selling a home made food product from a web site? Answer from Brett Krkosska: Comply With Regulations Before Selling Home-Made Food Products Online Before starting a home business selling food products it's a good idea to investigate regulations on the local level, as well as state and federal mandates. The Food and Drug Administration is the federal regulatory body who sets national guidelines. More information can be found by visiting their website. You'll need to make some phone calls to research your requirements on the state and local level, as regulations vary with location. State governments vary as to what products may or may not be prepared and sold from home. For instance, canned goods are often prohibited. Many states require a food permit, and inspections from your local health department are to be expected. You may find that a commercial kitchen, or at the very least, a separate kitchen is required for home prepared foods. Call your state and local health agencies for information on permits and regulations that apply to your business. You'll also want to make sure you are in compliance with local zoning and licensing laws. Your county and city clerks are a good place to start. And of course, normal tasks such as registering your business name, registering a trademark, obtaining a sales tax certificate, getting adequate insurance coverage... should all be attended to before opening for business. << More Questions from Readers Search for more information about Selling Home-Made Food Products Web HomeBizTools.com Real-world, common sense strategies for small and home based business success. Your issues... real answers. First Name: Your Email: Your email address is safe. Our Privacy policy .
Rental Property
Vacation Rentals, Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, and More - Rentalo.com -- Vacation Rentals, Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts Testimonials | Contact Rentalo | Help (Live) Enter a destination: Subscribe "This service is amazing!!! I live overseas, and was planning to meet some family members and stay with freinds in Vail free for my holiday. Two weeks prior to the holiday, my freinds informed me the house was no longer availalbe; wed have to find other accomodations. After three days and many hours of searching through websites, sometimes getting responses and sometimes not, I stumbled upon your service, sent one form off, and over the next 3 days received over 20 responses with places that I would have stayed at any one of! We ended up with a great home, at a VERY reasonable price, and NO STRESS. This service is FANSTASTIC for the renter/user." Cynthia Cupak "I THINK THIS IS A GREAT THING. IT SAVES HOURS OF SEARCHING!!!!" Wendi Kirby " I just wanted to tell you how much time and money your service saved me! Your excellent way of breaking down the listings was great! I did not have to deal with excess verbage. Keep up the good work! Thanks again, Mike Donohue" Mike Donohue "Just wanted to pass along my thanks. This service worked extremely well and I was able to find exactly what I was looking for in Mexico. What I liked best was not having to search for anything and having exactly what I requested sent to me. I have already recommended your service to several of my colleagues and friends who were equally impressed." Sue McGregor "Thanks so much for your help. We were able to book a condo for the dates we required to accomodate our needs. It is still winter in MN so we are really looking forward to visiting Florida. Thanks again for a great site that did the leg work for us." P Rehder "Great service, extremely friendly contact with everyone who has responded." Ty Miller "Thank you very much, you did a great job in making up this web page. Now to hear from potential customers........It is great!" Art Nunes See more testimonials United States Orlando Mammoth Lakes Miami Beach Poconos South Lake Tahoe Beech Mountain Ft Lauderdale Kissimmee Ocean City Las Vegas More... Europe London Zermatt Geneva Paris Interlaken Amsterdam Zuerich Rome Barcelona Dublin More... Canada Mont Tremblant Whistler Blue Mountain Banff Canmore Toronto Vancouver Montreal Victoria Shell Lake Prince Edward Island More... Caribbean Aruba St John St Maarten St Martin Cayman Islands Negril Bahamas Turks And Caicos Islands Bermuda San Juan Ocho Rios More... Mexico Puerto Vallarta Playa Del Carmen Mazatlan Cancun Rosarito Bucerias Tulum Acapulco Ixtapa Zihuatanejo Troncones San Felipe More... Asia Bangalore Jaipur Tokyo Agra Goa Chennai Hyderabad Mumbai New Delhi Singapore More... South America Rio De Janeiro Belo Horizonte Buenos Aires Punta Del Este Georgetown Quito Bogota Brasilia Margarita Island Lima More... Central America Belize Quepos Bocas Del Toro Managua Manuel Antonio El Salvador Antigua Puerto Viejo Limon Puntarenas San Jose More... South Pacific Sydney Gold Coast Auckland Byron Bay Perth Melbourne Coogee Beach Fiji Fiji Island Goroka More... Africa Cape Town Durban Cairo Cameroon Yaounde Egypt Somalia Algeria Libreville More... About rentalo.com - Rentalo is the largest, fastest growing, most relevant global directory for vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, hotels, and other lodgings, with over 100,000 property listings in close to 15,000 destinations worldwide. Travelers & Vacationers - In Rentalo you find the best values in vacation rentals, bed & breakfasts, hotels, and other lodgings. Property owners & managers - With Rentalo you receive the best return on investment (ROI) for your rental or lodging business. Enter your email to view the rental offers you have received help Search New Destination | Vacation Rentals | Press | Affiliates | Newsletter | Site Map | © 2005 Rentalo.com | Legal Disclaimer | Privacy
home for sale at
Buy or Sell a Home - For Sale By Owner Canada (FSBO) - Private Sale Real Estate Listing Service Home Search -- Featured New -- Articles FAQ's News About Directory Testimonials Contact -- -- City: Select City Barrhead Barrie Brampton Caledon Cambridge Campbellford Courtice East York Georgian Bay Georgina Hamilton King Kitchener Lambton Shores London London Magog Markham Meldrum Bay Milton Minden Mississauga Newmarket North York Oakville Orillia Oshawa Pickering Port Dover Port Perry Richmond Hill Rockwood Rosseau Scarborough Severn Stouffville Thornhill Toronto Vaughan Wassaga Beach Waterloo Woodbridge Property Type: Select Type Commercial Building Business Farm Industrial Investment Office Plaza Power Centres Retail Store w/ Apt, Office Vacant Land Condominium Co-Op Apartment Co-ownership Apartment Condo Apartment Condo Townhouse Detached Condo Semi-Detached Condo Time Share Freehold/House Attached/Row Townhouse Commercial/Residential Cottage Detached Duplex Farm Link Mobile/Trailer Multiplex Rural Residential Semi-Detached Triplex I Want to: Please Select buy rent Price Range: Price Range under 1 000 1 000 - 5 000 5 000 - 10 000 10 000 - 25 000 25 000 - 50 000 50 000 - 100 000 100 000 - 250 000 250 000 - 500 000 more than 500 000 $ 0 $380,000 4 bedroom(s) Magog $1,950,000 4 bedroom(s) Lambton Shores Please Select Your Province Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland Northwest Territories Nova Scotia Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan Yukon -- What is "For Sale By Owner" Real Estate? For Sale By Owner (FSBO) is a term that is used to refer to real estate , usually homes, which are being sold by the owner without the help of a real estate agent or broker. The For Sale By Owner method of selling a home enables the home seller to save thousands of dollars by not having to pay a large commission to a real estate agent upon the sale of their property. Sell Your Own Home , Save Thousands! Savings from an FSBO real estate sale can either be kept by the home seller as increased profit or passed on to the FSBO real estate buyer by offering the home for sale at a lower price. Typically, owners will list their home, land, condo or other property for sale using FSBO websites like PropertySold , local newspaper classified ads, word of mouth or other inexpensive advertising methods such as the placement of a For Sale By Owner Yard Sign in their front yard. Sell Property Buy Property Rent Property Sell Canadian Real Estate By Owner Sell a Home, Sell a Condo, Sell Land... Even Sell Commercial Real Estate! Do you have real estate for sale in Canada? Would you like to save thousands of dollars on the sale of your house or property? With real estate agent commissions averaging 5% of the total sale price of your property you owe it to yourself to try the " for sale by owner " method. According to the National Association of Realtors, over 70% of real estate buyers are turning to the internet to start their search for a property so it is essential to include an online listing of your property in any plans you may have to sell your home. A private Real Estate listing with PropertySold gives you, the real estate seller , the ability to expose your home, condo, land, commercial real estate or other property to qualified real estate buyers for as little as $14 . If you compare the cost of an mls listing with PropertySold with traditional MLS listing services or to the commissions you would have to pay to an agent upon the sale of your property it is easy to see why thousands of Canadians have already chosen the " For Sale By Owner " method to sell their own homes and save thousands in the process. PropertySold FSBO Listing Features Detailed online real estate listing of your property - comprehensive description + up to 12 images Affordable listing packages - sell your home for as little as $14! Flat fee listings - one time payment keeps your property listed on our website until it is sold - No commissions, ever! 24/7 online access to edit and manage your property listing Submission of your FSBO listing to internet search engines Open House scheduling and exposure Text Link or Text Link + Image "Featured" Listing on our Home Page Free Access to our extensive set of FSBO home seller tools Mortgage Calculator Mortgage Application FSBO Home Sellers Guide Ad Writing Tips Professionally designed "For Sale By Owner" Yard Sign (optional) Professional photography service (optional) Knowledgeable customer service available by telephone or email More Information Package Options Advantages of the "For Sale By Owner" Private Sale Method Inexpensive - With mls listings starting at $14 , PropertySold offers you a virtually "risk-free" way to test the real estate market Sell Your Property Faster - Since there is no commission to pay for the sale of your home you can list your property at a more competitive price allowing you to sell it faster than if you had to factor a real estate agent's commission into your home selling price Exposure - Propertysold is regularly spidered and indexed by the major search engines. PropertySold averages over 15, 000 qualified Canadian real estate buyers visiting our website a month from internet search engines so you can be assured your listing will receive massive exposure to people who are already looking to purchase real estate in Canada Total Control - Schedule appointments or open houses when it is convenient for you, manage your fsbo listing from the comfort of your own home 24/7. With a PropertySold FSBO listing you are in control! It's Easy - If you can sell your own car then you can sell your own home, it's that simple! We will give you all the tools, training and resources you need to sell your property quickly and easily. It's really not as hard as you think. Who knows your home better than you? The obvious answer is no one. So why pay a stranger thousands of dollars to sell your property when the most knowledgeable, motivated salesperson is you? PropertySold gives you all the tools you need to sell your home yourself at a very affordable price. More Information Package Options Buy Canadian Real Estate By Owner Typically, property for sale through a traditional real estate agent is priced to accomodate the commission the property seller would need to pay the real estate agent upon the sale of the home. Since these commission charges are often added onto the actual value of the home and are included in the asking price you, the real estate buyer, is forced to pay up to 7% more for the property than it is actually worth. Buying " For Sale By Owner " private sale homes and property can help you avoid these commission charges and get you the real estate you want at a better price. PropertySold features nationwide FSBO listings of Canadian single family homes, vacant lots, commercial property, recreational property, farms and ranches, mobile homes and condos. Most of these FSBO properties can not be found in any other MLS listing service. Advantages of Buying "For Sale By Owner" Real Estate No Agents, No Commissions - Save thousands of dollars by purchasing real estate directly from the owner without the need for a middle man. Since there is no agent commissions involved in the sale of the property the seller is able to pass these savings on to you, the FSBO real estate buyer Knowledgeable Salesperson - Who knows a property better than the owner? 24/7 Online Access to View Property Listings - Our website is available to the real estate shopper 24/7/365. Convenience - Browse through hundreds of Canadian property listings from the comfort of your own home. All FSBO listings on this website can be printed or emailed with ease. Contact information is included with the listings making scheduling appointments a breeze. Search For Canadian Real Estate "For Sale By Owner" Magazine Locator » -- Detached $229,900 5 bedroom(s) Hamilton Rural Residential $229,995 2 bedroom(s) Barrhead Detached $369,900 4 bedroom(s) Oakville Username Password -- Mortgage Calculator Mortgage Application Mortgage Guide Equifax Credit Report -- Ad writing tips Seller's Guide Buyer's Guide -- Real Estate Lawyers Mortgage Brokers Home Inspector Other Services -- 4 bedroom, Magog See more details 4 bedroom, Lambton Shores See more details View All Featured 5 bedroom(s), Hamilton See more details 2 bedroom(s), Barrhead See more details 4 bedroom(s), Oakville See more details View All New Listings -- -- Home | Buy Home | Sell Home | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Affiliates | Links | Contact Us | Site Map | Advertisers Home Buy Sell Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Affiliates Links Contact Us Site Map Advertisers -- " Sell Your Own Home " - PropertySold.ca Inc. is the largest For Sale By Owner Private Sale MLS listing service in Canada. Buy a home by owner, sell a home by owner. Find real estate for sale in: Ontario - Quebec - British Columbia - Alberta - Manitoba - Saskatchewan - Newfoundland - New Brunswick - Nova Scotia - Prince Edward Island © 2004 PropertySOLD.ca Website Design - BDNwebdesign.com fsbo property listings -- 0.371662139893--