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The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Business Monday , October 21, 2002, Chandigarh, India THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS 50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS B U S I N E S S Y O U R M O N E Y A GUIDE TO PERSONAL FINANCE REAL ESTATE Buy house in the colony developed by a coloniser I t is a misconception that the group-housing concept to provide affordable housing accommodation to the public at no-profit no-loss basis has failed in this region. Marginal success to the scheme is mainly attributed to the faulty policies of the government. Tips for buyers A word of caution MARKET SCAN Low response to good results D uring this fortnight corporate results announced so far for the quarter ended September 2002 were good and encouraging but the market response was low and unencouraging. Local residents look at an Italian-made "Pagani Zonda C12S" car in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, on Saturday. The car will be displayed at an auto show which starts on October 22 in Guangzhou. The car has an approximate value of 4 million Hong Kong Dollars ($500,000). Reuters EARLIER STORIES Disinvestment programme has come to a halt: Shourie October 20, 2002 Wipro net profit inches up 2 pc October 19, 2002 Ranbaxy net profit rockets 79 pc October 18, 2002 Disinvestment of A-I, IA ruled out October 17, 2002 SBI and ICICI among top 100 Asian banks October 16, 2002 Cotton output falls October 15, 2002 Gold does not glitter any more October 14, 2002 Deadlines for polluting firms may be extended October 13, 2002 Hughes Soft clocks 32 pc growth in net October 12, 2002 CHECK-OUT Get expensive items insured before mailing S ending an expensive Divali gift to someone special through speed post? Well, here is a note of warning: if the gift gets lost or damaged during transit, all you are entitled to as compensation is twice the amount of money that you have paid towards speed post charges. PREPARING FOR RETIREMENT Sun Life provides umbrella R isks are an integral part of human life. Events that occur in our daily lives indicate time and again that we must prepare ourselves to deal with these risks in a well-planned manner. One of the important precautionary measures stems from an insurance cover. Aims at building wealth Value for money Retirement benefits Flexi Save Endowment Plan FIIs net buyers in equities Inflation falls REAL ESTATE Buy house in the colony developed by a coloniser R. P. Malhotra I t is a misconception that the group-housing concept to provide affordable housing accommodation to the public at no-profit no-loss basis has failed in this region. Marginal success to the scheme is mainly attributed to the faulty policies of the government. For want of a foolproof process to register only the genuinely deserving members (end consumers) in the housing societies, the most of the members of these societies happen to be the speculators who have invested in the schemes for resale. Even the planners have not taken pains to study the demand factor while planning these housing projects as majority of these flats are of HIG category which are out of reach of the low budget buyers falling in the Rs 5-10 lakh slab. In Chandigarh, too, in the series of amendments to the existing building byelaws recently notified by the administration nothing has been done to the stringent conditions applicable to the transfer of property falling under the low budget category keeping the housing board flats/houses, nor transferable properties allotted on concessional rates and group-housing societies flats still forbidden for resale. Tips for buyers For the buyers intending to have a plot/house in these colonies, it is suggested to opt for only approved colonies. As per provisions of the Punjab Apartment Act any land owner, who wish to sell his property in parts as a residential colony, shall have to get the scheme approved from the local authority i.e., Local town planning Office by giving sample provisions for roads, parks, sewerage and water supply. A set percentage of land up to 35 per cent shall have to be left for these public utility services under this act. A word of caution Apart from this certain unscrupulous developers also illegally sell the land on GFA basis without leaving the prescribed area of land for common utility services thus creating unhealthy and inhabitable conditions for the habitats later on. Whereas plots are available @ Rs 2200 to Rs 2500 per square yard on inner roads and Rs 2500/- to Rs 3000/- per square yard on wider roads in approved colonies as compared to corresponding rate of 500/- and 1800/- per square yard in unapproved colonies. In addition to the deteriorated quality of life in the unapproved /unauthorised colonies there is permanent risk of demolition in case of departmental action. For a better community life the intending purchasers are suggested to constitute small group housing societies having members (as small as a group of ten people even less) from their own working circle. By pooling funds they can bargain with the coloniser for a fixed number of plots in one go and by entrusting the project to a single contractor they can save themselves from the construction hassles besides saving money on wholesale purchases. Sanctioning of loan cases will also be an easy process and the things can be processed on a single table. The buyers interested in going for built up flats/houses are also suggested to form small groups. Besides having a competitive bargain they can ask the developer/builder for their particular requirement for a block of houses/flats. Besides all this the intending buyers are advised to enquire from the promoter of the colony about the arrangements made for the supply of drinking water, provision for sewerage outlet, electric supply, width of roads and size of parks before going for a bargain. While selecting for the location of colony, care should be taken not to go for a location just on the main road, near the railway line and near the sewerage drain to avoid noise and pollution. Preference should be given to a colony having close proximity to the main road a school and a dispensary. Before going for a builders house/flat one must thoroughly study the technical blue prints and brochures of the builder. It is most important to ascertain what the builder is going to offer you in turn of your money. Various fittings, fixtures, facilities and services listed in the brochure may not turn out to be value-added services/items later while taking over the possession of the unit. One must also get conversant about the deceptive terminologies, such as of carpet area, covered area, plinth area and super area, being normally used by the builders. For example carpet area i.e. exact usable area is about 35-40% less than the supper area. Major details such as quality of material to be used type of flooring, type of joinery and quality of timber to be used and kind and variety of paint polish etc must also be ascertained and taken into writing before going for to bargain. Proper and effective arrangements of future maintenance of the area such as is roads sewerage water supply electricity and other civic services of the colony after the same is handed over to the occupiers should also be ensured before striking a deaf. Usually such bargains are struck on self-financing basis i.e., the buyers pay the builder in installments as the construction of the project progress through various stages. It becomes the foremost duty of the buyer to visit and supervise the construction activity of the entire project at different stages so as to ensure proper quality and workmanship. Notwithstanding anything contained in the one-sided agreement to purchase, executed between the buyer and the builder, the buyer is protected under the consumer protection act. Still the purchasers are advised to have an expert opinion before signing any of such agreements. cr MARKET SCAN Low response to good results J.C. Anand D uring this fortnight corporate results announced so far for the quarter ended September 2002 were good and encouraging but the market response was low and unencouraging. According to an analysis made by Business Standard, so far 116 companies have announced their results which indicate a growth of 15.06 per cent in sales and 34.42 per cent rise in net profits. The growth profit margin of these 116 companies has increased from 17.03 per cent to 19.86 per cent during the quarter, yet the Sensex has moved only by 2.41 per cent (71 points) during this quarter. Infosys Technologys second quarter results were higher than the markets expectations. It reported 16.1 per cent rise in software revenue with a net profit higher by 12.01 per cent. EPS is estimated at Rs 141 Rs 144, almost the same as in the first quarter. The company expects to have good growth rate in revenues for the third quarter. HDFC announced a bonus issue of one equity share for every share held and reported 21 per cent rise in net profit for the send quarter. FIIs also increased their holdings in software stock comprising Infosys, Mestak, Digital, Global Profit. Ranbaxys third quarter net profit was higher by 79 per cent. A large part of its sales and profitability came from exports. Hero Honda also reported excellent results for this quarter. Jai Bharat Marutis second quarter results indicate that its net profit has gone up to Rs 65.60 lakhs as against Rs 18.42 lakh for the corresponding period last year. Another good news was the AV Birla Groups announcement to buy Larson & Tubros share at Rs 190 per share from the open market, even though the open offer price was much lower than the market expectation. It is unlikely that the Birla Group will be able to collect the share at this price to push up their stake in the company from 14.9 per cent to about 35 per cent as it had announced its intention at the time of the open up. The UTI and financial institutions are unlikely to accept this offer as it is far lower than the price at which Birla Group had purchased Larson and Tubro shares from Reliance. I am of the view that those investors who hold Larson and Tubro shares should not sell it in the market at the open offer rate for the very fact that Birla Group is interested in acquiring management control of this company pushes up the market rating of this share. Even otherwise, Larson & Tubro is Indias top engineering and cement company in the private sector and its construction business is doing extremely well with a lot of fresh orders from India as well as from foreign countries. Another good news is that the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) indicates a growth rate of 5.7 per cent in the general index, though the growth rate in manufacturing is at 5.9 per cent and in capital goods at 10 per cent. India has also recorded a surplus in its current account for the first time in 24 years. The market response to the good corporate results and other welcome news has only been tepid. This is partially due to the fact that the date traders are anxious to book profit at the earliest. It is also possible that the market does not expect equally good results from those companies which have yet to report their second quarter results. Perhaps the more basic reason is that the market is worried about the state of our economy. Apart from S&Ps rating about the national currency, the drought caused by erratic and deficient monsoon rains this year are bound to depress our GDP growth rate this year. According to CMIEs analysis drought conditions are expected to lower overall agriculture production by 7 per cent. As a result, the real GDP is expected to grow only by 3.1 per cent. According to CMIE the real GDP growth rate has never reached 5 per cent in a year of agriculture decline in the past 30 years. Any long term investment should be made with a time scale of at least 2 to 3 years and this investment should be made only in a weak market. co CHECK-OUT by Pushpa Girimaji Get expensive items insured before mailing S ending an expensive Divali gift to someone special through speed post? Well, here is a note of warning: if the gift gets lost or damaged during transit, all you are entitled to as compensation is twice the amount of money that you have paid towards speed post charges. Even here, the maximum that you can get is Rs 1000! And if you think that you can approach the consumer court for relief , forget it. You will get no help there too. Recently, the apex consumer court examined in detail the liability of the post office in case of delay or non-delivery of postal articles sent by speed post. Its verdict was that the consumer courts cannot go beyond the statutory provisions and grant compensation in excess of what is statutorily fixed. And in case of speed post, since Rule 66B of the Indian Post Office Rules says that in case of loss or damage , the compensation shall be double the amount of the composite speed post charges or Rs 1000, whichever is less, the consumer courts cannot grant compensation beyond this amount, the court said. (In case of delay in delivery, whatever may be the consequence of such delay, you are entitled to only a refund of the Speed Post charge). In its order of September 18, 2002, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal commission examined three different petitions all pertaining to Speed Post service.. In the first petition Head Post Master, Post Office Railway Road, Kurukshetra, Haryana vs Vijay Rattan Aggarwal, the complaint pertained to two bank drafts for the sum of Rs 5 lakh sent by Speed Post on January 18, 1995. The post office, which undertook to deliver it within 24 hours, did not do so, forcing the complainant to obtain duplicate bank drafts on March 7, 1995. Claiming loss of interest and loss in business plus harassment, the complainant sought damages from the post office. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum awarded Rs 20,000 as compensation, besides interest of 18 per cent on the amount of Rs 5 lakh for one and a half months. When this was upheld by the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, the post office filed a revision petition before the National Commission. In the second case, Union India vs Brahm Dev Upadhyay, the complainant, having passed the preliminary examination for Uttar Pradesh administrative service, sent by Speed Post the necessary papers required for the final examination. They were not delivered on time, as a result of which the complainant could not appear for the final examination. The District Forum awarded Rs 10,000 as damages . When the State Commission affirmed this order, the post office filed a revision petition. In the third case, Varun Garg vs Assistant Post Master, Post Office, the complainant sent an application form for admission to LLB course in Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak by speed post on May 19, 2000. The last date for submission of the application was May 22, but the application was received by the university after this date and was therefore not entertained. The District Forum before which Varun Garg filed a complaint said he was only entitled to a refund of Rs 20 paid towards speed post charges. This was upheld by the State Commission, upon which the complainant filed a revision petition before the apex consumer court. After examining the Indian Post Office Act and the Rules framed therein pertaining to Speed Post, the National Commission said there was no justification for grant of any compensation to the complainants. Said the Commission: Under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, we cannot go beyond the statutory provisions and grant compensation more than what is statutorily fixed. A Consumer Forum is even bound by the terms of the contract howsoever oppressive these may be unless those terms are against public policy, illegal or void. In other words, consumers cannot get compensation commensurate with the loss suffered on account of delay in delivery or loss or damage to the article entrusted for delivery through Speed Post. So if you are sending expensive goods by Speed Post or through a private courier, get it insured. If you are sending important documents for which you cannot take an insurance policy, just keep your fingers crossed and hope that it reaches the addressee on time and in good condition. PREPARING FOR RETIREMENT Sun Life provides umbrella Naveen S. Garewal R isks are an integral part of human life. Events that occur in our daily lives indicate time and again that we must prepare ourselves to deal with these risks in a well-planned manner. One of the important precautionary measures stems from an insurance cover. A life cover cannot prevent any unfortunate happening, but at least it mitigates the financial loss arising out of an unfortunate happening. It provides strength to face the financial loss that may arise from the loss of a bread earner. Life Insurance addresses multiple needs such as protection against disabilities, preparing one to face the unexpected mishaps, besides providing a plan for a retired life. Aims at building wealth Birla Sun Life insurance, a recent entrant into the insurance sector aims at targeting the youth, providing them with a financial plan. The company says that it provides to the youth a right step to build wealth through a systematic process that offers economic security and provides what each of us craves for - peace of mind. Value for money The Birla Sun Life Insurance that offers five products boasts that its products offer investment options, market driven returns, guaranteed values, high surrender values no exit loads beyond five years, free look period, mix and match options, large protection cover, favourable premiums for female clients, tax benefits and automatic premium payment. Birla Sun Life also offers what it calls Riders. Riders are additional benefits that you may buy and add to your policy in a way that it customises the policy according to an individuals needs. These include the accidental death and dismemberment rider, term rider and critical illness rider. Retirement benefits What you get at retirement is directly proportional to what you save. The age when you start saving in an endowment plan can drastically alter the wealth you acquire at retirement. Take a simple case study where Mr. A, aged 30 years with an annual income of Rs 2 lakh (growing 15 per cent annually) started saving 15 per cent annually till retirement age of 60 years. Given a return of 12 per cent and an expected inflation of 6 per cent, he should have a retirement income of Rs 95,000 per month taking the inflation into count. But if he were to wait till age 40 before he started saving (from an income of Rs 3 lakh annual), he would get a pension of only Rs 24,000 per month. Flexi Save Endowment Plan The Flexi Save Plus Endowment Plan has been designed to offer insurance protection; while at the same time provide an opportunity for investment. Birla Sun Life aims at stressing the point that the premium paid over the years helps the savings to grow and thus helps meet expenses like childrens higher studies, their marriages, retirement funding etc The flexi save plus endowment plan is designed to accumulate the savings through regular premium payment for a fixed duration of time or in a single lump sum to realise the long-term goals and protect the family with insurance cover unique features of the Flexi Save Plus Endowment Plan include choice of duration plan, flexibility of premium payment, choice of investment options, automatic premium payment and access to your funds during the plan duration. The Flexi Save Plus Endowment Plan is available to all between age 1 to 65 years wherein the minimum face amount (Sum Assured) is Rs 50,000 for minors and Rs 75,000 for adults. The duration of the plan can be 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years as per the policy plan or as per maturity age of 60, 65,70 and 80 years. The premium-paying period varies from a single pay to 5,10, 15, 20 years with a paying option of premium payment frequency ranging from annually, semi-annually, quarterly or one-time payment. The policy offers a transparency in surrender values and lets you know the exact amount due in case of pre-mature plan termination. Also the policy tells you before hand the amount due on survival up to maturity, surrender value in the maturity year + the balance in additional holding account. Besides the amount due to nominee in event of death of the life insured is disclosed before hand. Riders on the policy that can be bought at an additional cost include accidental death and dismemberment, term and critical illness. The policy also offers a tax benefits under section 88 Sec 10 (10 D) of the Income Tax Act (To be concluded) FIIs net buyers in equities Mumbai, October 20 The foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers in equities at Rs 56.1 crore ($ 11.5 million) during the trading week ended October 18. The FIIs, however, for the third straight trading week of the month stayed away from the debt market and did not transact a single deal, according to data available with the SEBI here. As per SEBI information, mutual funds netted sales of Rs 165.63 crore in equities and were net buyers to the tune of Rs 394.07 crore in debt instruments. PTI bb Inflation falls New Delhi, October 20 Notwithstanding the domestic oil price hike, inflation declined by another 0.32 per cent to 3.02 per cent for the week ended October 5 even as vegetables became costlier. The hike in vegetable prices was to a great extent contained by fall in the price of foodgrains and fruits, leading to point-to-point Wholesale Price Index (WPI) dip for the third consecutive week from 3.34 per cent in the previous week and the index was 3.18 per cent a year ago. PTI | Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir | Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs | Nation | Editorial | | Business | Sport | World | Mailbag | In Spotlight | Chandigarh Tribune | Ludhiana Tribune 50 years of Independence | Tercentenary Celebrations | | 122 Years of Trust | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail |

purchase property in Paris.

Google Directory - Regional > Europe > United Kingdom > Business and Economy > Property > International Directory Help Search only in International Search the Web International Regional > Europe > United Kingdom > Business and Economy > Property > International Go to Directory Home Web Pages Viewing in Google PageRank order View in alphabetical order 1st for French Property - http://www.1st-for-french-property.co.uk/ Offers property search by region and includes information about adding properties. WEF - http://www.vefuk.com/ Estate agents specialising in the sale of properties in France, and international new build property. Federation of Overseas Property Developers, Agents and Consultants - http://www.fopdac.com Trade association for specialists in the international property market. Contains a directory of members and fact sheets. Owners Overseas - http://www.ownersoverseas.com/ Properties mainly in Spain and the USA. Site includes a database of properties and a buyers' guide. Solvista - http://www.solvista.co.uk Specialise in country properties in Andalucia, Southern Spain. Luxury coastal apartments, villas and farm houses with land for renovation. Spanish Connection - http://www.spanish-connection.co.uk Information for UK residents wishing to buy properties in Spain. Ultra Villas - http://www.ultravillas.co.uk/ Spanish property consultants specialising in the sale of freehold properties. Details of homes and prices available. Elite Spanish Properties - http://www.espvillas.com Offer estate agency service for villas on the Costa Blanca and Costa Calida coast. David Headland Associates - http://www.headlands.co.uk/ Offering property in Spain, Portugal and Cyprus. Includes a search feature and a brochure request form. French Property Service - http://www.frenchpropertyservice.com Buy, sell or rent French property. Searchable database. Spanish Property Auctions - http://spanishpropertyauctions.com Re-possesed property coming to auction in Spain. Fine Property France Estate - http://www.finepropertyfrance.com Properties for sale in South West France. Search the property database. The Turkish Property Centre - http://www.theturkishpropertycentre.com/ Turkish homes for sale. Details of properties, advice, rentals, services and customer testimonials. Sunny Property - http://www.sunny-property.co.uk/ UK and Turkey based estate agents offering property for sale in North Cyprus. Eurofarms - http://www.eurofarms.com Help for farmers wanting to relocate to continental Europe. Lemon Tree Villas - http://www.lemontreevillas.com/ British property management agents for the Costa del Sol offering both property for sale and holiday rental management and advertising. World Class Homes - http://www.worldclasshomes.co.uk Independent international real estate agency. Offering homes throughout Spain, the Balearic Islands, Gibraltar, Portugal and Bermuda. Spanish Property Company - http://www.spanishpropertycompany.co.uk Country properties and building plots for sale in Almeria, inland from Mojacar Southern Spain. Coastal Estates - http://www.coastal-estates.com/ Offers for homes for sale, rent and investment in Orlando, Florida. Details of properties and service. Based in Southampton. Propertunities - http://www.propertunities.co.uk Selling properties, villas, apartments, maisonettes, on the Spanish Costa Blanca. Spain Direct Ltd - http://www.torrevieja.uk.com/ Sells new freehold property on the Costa Blanca in and around Torrevieja. Profile, services and brochure request., CIPS International - http://www.cipsinternational.co.uk/ Assists and guides people through the property purchasing procedure in Spain and Portugal. Spain SA - http://spainsa.com/ New and resale property in Costa Calida and La Manga, Spain. Profile, property database, brochure request and buying hints. London Paris Dream Home - http://www.parisdreamhome.com/ Provide search, legalities, renovation, refurbishment and decoration services for those wishing to purchase property in Paris. The International Property Show - http://www.internationalpropertyshow.com/index2.htm UK exhibition for information on properties overseas. Your Property Abroad - http://www.yourpropertyabroad.com Guide for UK residents wishing to manage their properties abroad. Assist in property inspections, relocation, property sales, and holiday homes. Homes in Bulgaria - http://www.homesinbulgaria.co.uk/ Property and real estate purcasing in all areas of Bulgaria including advice on business and holidays in ski resorts and on black sea coast. DSI Properties - http://www.dsiproperties.co.uk Spanish Property for sale on the Costa Calida, Costa Almeria and Lanzarote. Harringtons Estates Limited - http://www.euro-properties.net Searchable database offering properties for sale in Spain. Information on schools, taxation, mortgages and legal terminology. Bluewater Homes - http://www.bluewater-homes.co.uk UK based real estate company specialising in the sale of properties on the Costa del Sol, Spain and in Crete. Overseas Property Shop - http://www.overseaspropertyshop.com/ Offers freehold apartments, villas, bungalows located in Jalon Valley, Moraira, Calpe, Denia, Torreveija and La Marina. Spanish Dream Homes Ltd - http://www.spanishdreamhomes.co.uk/ Offer a selection of properties for sales in Torrevieja. Rose Developments - http://www.rosedevelopments.com/ Independent Spanish home finder service focused on Almeria area. Details of service, location and buyer's guide. Office in Cheltenham. Spanish Property Sales - http://www.spanishpropertysales.co.uk Spanish properties for sale. Hotspotz - http://www.hotspotz.co.uk/ Sells new and used mobile homes in Spain, France, Portugal and the Canaries. Profile, services, available properties and FAQ. Classic Florida Realty, UK - http://www.classicfloridarealty.com/ Specializes in Florida villas for sale and rental. El Sol de Espana - http://www.elsoldeespana.co.uk/ Independent Spanish property agency with two offices in the UK. Details of regions and properties. Zafra - http://zafra.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ London based firm specialising in finding properties in Spain. Flamenca Homes Spain - http://flamencahomes.tripod.com/ Covering aspects of purchasing property in Spain for holiday, retirement or investment. Details of properties and resources for buyers available. Property in France - http://www.propertyinfrance.co.uk/ Property company specialising in the sale and rental of property in France. Details of service, properties and company background. Based in Solihull. Wrights Overseas Properties - http://www.wrights-overseas.com Property available in the Costa Blanca. Lowery's USA - http://www.lowerys.co.uk Specialists in US property sales and rental accommodation, based in the UK, but with offices in Kissimmee, Florida. Belair Spanish Homes - http://www.belaircasas.com/ A Marbella-based estate agent with a UK office offering properties for sale in Spain. Details of properties and the region. Properties of Distinction - http://properties-of-distinction.com Offers a selection of properties for sale throughout France with a search facility by area. The Overseas Property Partnership - http://www.property-partnership.com/ Introduction agency for properties in Spain and Cyprus. Details of services, properties and flights for viewing. Based in Yorkshire. Mayenne Properties - http://www.mayenneproperties.com/ Land and houses for sale in northern France. Picture and prices available online. Belle Maison French Property Investments - http://www.belle-maison.co.uk Information on investments based on the renovation and resale of French properties. ReposenFrance - http://www.reposenfrance.net Property locating service for Normandy, Brittany and northern France. Spanish Homes Direct - http://www.spanishhomesdirect.com/ Offers a single point of contact for advice on buying, furnishing and renting property on the Costa Del Sol. Move to France - http://www.movetofrance.co.uk/ Offers property for sale in Brittany and Normandy. Profile, illustrated property list and information about fees. Sol Mar Properties - http://www.solmarproperties.com Property agents selling new property on the Costa blanca and the Costa del sol. Sunstate Properties - http://www.i-buy-property-in-spain.com/ UK estate agent offering properties for sale in Spain. Details of region and current properties. Exchange Estates Ltd - http://www.exchange-estates.co.uk/ Offers a Spanish villa sales service with a UK showroom. Based in Liverpool. Grassroots - http://homepage.ntlworld.com/p.hortonis Brittany garden and property maintenance service. Estates24 - http://www.estates24.com A searchable online database of international real estate listings of residential and commercial property for sale. Database entries concentrated in United Arab Emirates. Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web. Submit a Site - Open Directory Project - Become an Editor Modified by Google - ©2004 Google Advertise with Us - Jobs, Press, Cool Stuff...

Texas Land Trusts Top

TPWD: News Release — Nov. 24, 2003/Texas Land Trusts Top 1-Million Mark in Acres Conserved Maincontent Local Navigation print friendly search Regulations Publications Outdoor Learning Kids Game Warden Grants Get Involved Shop FAQ Calendar Español Experience Texas Fishing & Boating State Parks & Destinations Hunting & Wildlife Land & Water Doing Business Home Land & Water Land Private Tltc News Articles Links: What's a Lone Star Land Steward? Preserving Texas's Cultural Heritage Turning Brownfields Green Private Landowners Wildlife/Agricultural Tax Exemption Nov. 24, 2003 Texas Land Trusts Top 1-Million Mark in Acres Conserved AUSTIN, Texas -- Private landowners working with Texas land trusts have now conserved more than 1,307,681 acres of land, according to new statistics from the Texas Land Trust Council. The new acreage total sets another record, an increase from last year’s record total of 995,122 acres, a figure roughly comparable to the size of the entire Texas State Parks system. There are 39 land trusts in Texas. Some are national organizations with active Texas chapters, such as The Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land. But most are regional groups unique to Texas, such as the Katy Prairie Conservancy and the Valley Land Fund. “Land trusts have sometimes been behind-the-scenes players, working quietly but effectively to protect open space and wildlife habitat,” said Robert L. Cook, TPWD executive director. “But today the visibility and conservation role of land trusts in our state is growing. These organizations are increasingly important to private landowners who are looking for help to address our biggest threat to wildlife, which is loss of habitat.” According to the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s 1997 National Resources Inventory, Texas led the nation during the 1990s in converting rural prairies, forests and coastline into shopping centers and houses, farms and factories. Texas loses about 283 square miles of rural open space to development each year. Land trusts join ranchers and other landowners together to combat these threats, and they represent the fastest growing conservation movement today, according to Carolyn Vogel, who works with the Texas Land Trust Council at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “With Texans searching for ways to address conservation at the local level, the number of land trusts has multiplied with 22 new land trusts established in Texas in the past 12 years,” she said. The Protected Lands Inventory Survey asked Texas land trust members about acres conserved in their operating area, conservation methods used, and conservation purposes such as providing wildlife habitat or protecting water quality. Lands conserved include cactus-studded deserts, mile-high mountains, sunny coasts and dense forests. “Today Texas has close to 21 million people,” said John Hamilton, Texas Land Trust Council board president. “In 25 years, the population is expected to grow by 50 percent to more than 30 million people. Our open spaces are under tremendous stress that is only going to multiply.” For a directory of Texas land trusts, plus information about tools such as conservation easements and links to other resources, see the Texas Land Trust Council Web pages ( http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/land/private/tltc/ ). TH 11/24/2003 Contact Us | Help | Accessibility | Media | Site Policies | Complaints | Intranet | State of Texas | TRAILS Search | TexasOnline | Compact with Texans Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744 Toll Free: (800) 792-1112, Austin: (512) 389-4800 Content of this site © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department unless otherwise noted. Last modified: October 12, 2005, 12:46 pm

DENVER REAL ESTATE AND

Denver Real Estate, Denver Lofts, Denver Homes, Denver MLS, Denver Homes Great Homes in Denver Ed and Tamie Seevers, Realtors Email Us! or Call us at 720-299-6717 Home Home Values Communities Denver Neighborhoods Denver Lofts Resources Credit Repair Credit Report For Sale By Owners Foreclosures Denver Home Loans Home Values New Homes Rentals Vacation Rentals About Us Background Contact Us DENVER REAL ESTATE AND HOMES GUIDE Database is updated every day with 25,000 + Denver real estate listings from all major brokerages. Search hundreds of apartment complexes, duplexes and multi-family properties for sale Check out the rental section to learn more about rental properties in Denver. Complete Denver Loft Resource! Tons of pictures, reviews and resources. Blog -- Read the Denver real estate blog ! For Sale By Owner -- Denver for sale by owner guide. Search hundreds of homes for sale by owner. Foreclosures -- Search lists of foreclosures in Denver and all of Colorado. Home Loans -- Calculate payments and shop for the best lenders in Denver . Home Values -- Check out the latest Denver home values ! Neighborhoods -- Read all about the best Denver neighborhoods . New Homes -- Get a 1% rebate on your new house! Search for new homes in Denver . Schools -- Guide to the schools in Denver . Denver Real Estate Market The Denver real estate market has been on a tear in recent years. Many Denver homes have appreciated over 25% in just the past year. Denver condos, homes and lofts are being built at an incredible pace. When a boom market occurs, speculators enter the market. This is true on both sides of the equation. Denver homes see huge price increases when they are put up for sale and sold in a matter of days. There are many speculative Denver real estate agents as well. These are young agents looking to make a quick buck in the Denver real estate market . Denver Real Estate Agent Qualifications If you are thinking of selling your Denver property, go with a real estate team who has been working in Denver for over fifteen years. Our team has closed on hundreds of Denver homes, condos and land. We go the extra mile to assure that your transaction is our first priority. Search the Denver Real Estate Market I know it's tough, there are thousands of homes for sale in Denver. Homes are not on the market very long before they are bought and then go back on the market again! Be prepared and use our Denver Home Search to not only search for homes, but also save your searches and get notified each day of new properties that hit the Denver market. Take some time and explore our comprehensive Denver lofts and condos guide, search all Denver homes for sale and ultimately choose a Denver realtor who will represent you honestly and fairly. Denver Real Estate and Homes Outside of the traditional MLS search, you might also want to try searching through our list of Denver Master Planned Communities and Denver Golf Course Homes. These homes are sizzling. However, the hottest aspect of the Denver real estate market has to be lofts and condos. Browse through our Denver Condos directory and let us know if you see anything you like! Denver is Growing! Maybe you are not interested in Denver real estate per se, maybe some of the outlying areas are of more interest to you. There are still some values to be had. Check out out list of Denver Neighborhoods and communities and then search the Denver homes market to see if you can find a home that meets your needs! www.lifebrokers.co.uk Mortgage Protection Insurance Mortgage Insurance UK SearchSaver! Register to have this system notify you via email of any new listings that meet your search criteria. This allows you to keep on top of new listings the SAME day they hit the market! Real Estate Articles | H ome | Site Map | C ontact Us | Insurance | Links Featuring homes for sale in Adams , Arapahoe , Boulder , Denver and Jefferson counties Cheap Car Insurance UK Cash Advance Payday Loan Mortgage Homes For Sale By Owner Motor Insurance Mortgages Maui Real Estate Cheap Auto Insurance

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Buying a Home - HUD HUD News Newsroom Priorities About HUD Homes Buying Owning Selling Renting Homeless Home improvements HUD homes Fair housing FHA refunds Foreclosure Consumer info Communities About communities Volunteering Organizing Economic development Working with HUD Grants Programs Contracts Work online HUD jobs Complaints Resources Library Handbooks/ forms Common questions Tools Webcasts Mailing lists Contact us Help Buying a Home Information by State Esta página en español Print version Email this to a friend Counseling and Education Housing counseling agencies can give you advice about buying a home. Find a housing counselor near you. Common questions Homeownership videos More from HUD Mortgage glossary FHA mortgage limits HUD approved lenders HUD approved condos Healthy homes Environmental maps Energy info About appraisals Links Rural housing loan programs Loan programs for veterans Freddie Mac Fannie Mae US Postal Service Mover's Guide The homebuying process can seem complicated, but if you take things step-by-step, you will soon be holding the keys to your own home! Nine steps to buying a home Figure out how much you can afford Know your rights Shop for a loan Learn about homebuying programs Shop for a home Make an offer Get a home inspection Shop for homeowners insurance Sign papers Step 1: Figure out how much you can afford What you can afford depends on your income, credit rating, current monthly expenses, downpayment and the interest rate. The calculators below can help, but it is best to visit a lender to find out for sure. How much home can you afford? Buying vs. Renting Need help with your downpayment and/or closing costs? Homebuying programs in your state A housing counselor can help you figure out how to manage and pay off your debt, and start saving for that downpayment! Find a housing counselor near you Step 2: Know your rights Fair Housing: Equal Opportunity for All - brochure Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) Borrower's rights Predatory lending Back to Top Step 3: Shop for a loan Save money by doing your homework. Talk to several lenders, compare costs and interest rates, negotiate to get a better deal. Consider getting pre-approved for a loan. Looking for the best mortgage: shop, compare, negotiate - brochure Let FHA help you Step 4: Learn about homebuying programs Homebuying programs in your state FHA loan programs offer lower downpayments and are a good option for first-time homebuyers. Let FHA help you HUD's special homebuying programs Good Neighbor Next Door Program - for police officers, teachers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians Homeownership for public housing residents Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program (Section 184) Step 5: Shop for a home Choose a real estate agent Wish list - what features do you want? Home-shopping checklist take this list with you when comparing homes Homes for sale (including HUD homes) " Fixer-uppers " - home purchase and repair programs Manufactured (mobile) homes Build a home If you choose a home in a neighborhood with a Home Owners Association (HOA), be sure to request a copy of the HOA packet, so you can review before closing. Back to Top Step 6: Make an offer Discuss the process with your real estate agent. If the seller counters your offer, you may need to negotiate until you both agree to the terms of the sale. Making an offer Step 7: Get a home inspection Make your offer contingent on a home inspection. An inspection will tell you about the condition of the home, and can help you avoid buying a home that needs major repairs. For Your Protection Get a Home Inspection Step 8: Shop for homeowners insurance Lenders require that you have homeowners insurance. Be sure to shop around. Homeowners insurance 12 ways to lower your homeowners insurance costs Step 9: Sign papers You're finally ready to go to "settlement" or "closing." Be sure to read everything before you sign! Settlement Costs and Helpful Information Content updated December 1, 2005 Back to Top FOIA Privacy Web Policies and Important Links Home U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410 Telephone: (202) 708-1112 TTY: (202) 708-1455 Find the address of a HUD office near you