Buy Property

BBC - Homes - Property - Buying abroad Home TV Radio Talk Where I Live A-Z Index 29 December 2005 Accessibility help Text only BBC Homepage Lifestyle Homes Property Buying Buying at auction Viewing checklist How to rescue an empty property Buying checklist Money matters checklist Buying a property Buying abroad Auction glossary TV and radio Talk Newsletter Contact Us Like this page? Send it to a friend! Buying a property abroad Buying property abroad is more popular than ever, with increasing numbers of people following their dream in purchasing a holiday home, a buy-to-let, or moving lock, stock and barrel to the sun. If you're planning such a move, read our guide before you buy. In this article Location checklist Professional advice Costs Making an offer Buying in Spain Buying outside Europe Location checklist Before you start looking for a property, it's worth asking yourself a few basic questions, which should save you time and money in the long run: Do you prefer the town or country? Do you want to be inland or on the coast? Do you want to be isolated or in the thick of it? (Most people prefer to be within about an hour's travel time of a town.) How much outside space do you want? How close do you want to be to your neighbours? How close do you want to be to shops, bars and restaurants? Where's the nearest public transport, how often does it run, what time does it end? How far is the beach? How close are you to the nearest airport? How far is it to sports facilities, golf, tennis, swimming, and so on? How good are the local health and social services? Arts and entertainment - what's available in the area? Neighbours - what are they like and how often do you want to see them? If you're relocating abroad, take a look at the Practicalities checklist from Fresh Start to help you get organised for the big move. Professional advice Use qualified professionals to protect your interests and make the purchase of your new home a stress-free experience. Estate agents are a good source of advice. Only negotiate with ones that are officially registered and hold a licence. Ensure you have a good lawyer with an excellent command of English and the native tongue, to deal with the endless stream of rules and regulations. For instance, did you know that if you're buying in Spain you'll need to make out a will in Spanish before buying, or that you can inherit debts from a previous vendor? Costs Research all legal issues and costs involved. Your solicitor/lawyer will advise and assist you. Before you have decided on a property it's important to be fully aware of the legal process and costs involved in your puchase. Obtain professional advice and check your finances, taking account of these additional costs. Be well prepared with your finances; taxes can be high when buying. Set up a direct debit from a native bank account to pay for bills. Be careful not to miss payments and read those red letters; foreign banks are not lenient with those who don't pay up in time. If you're considering renting out the property when it's empty, bear in mind that advertising in the UK for a property abroad could result in tax demands from both the English and foreign authorities. Making an offer Make your offer in writing if possible (of course, subject to contract), and include not only the price, but also the amount of deposit, when you're prepared to pay it, when you're prepared to complete, what you understand to be included in the price (for example furniture and fittings if applicable) and, an often neglected point, that all machinery equipment and installations are in normal working order. For more information about buying abroad, the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has a number of leaflets available. In Lifestyle DIY Living the dream Fresh Start Working abroad Holiday Uncharted Territory Elsewhere on bbc.co.uk Weather Business Languages Elsewhere on the web Buying property abroad The BBC is not responsible for content on external websites About the BBC | Help | Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookies Policy

Colorado Real Estate .

Summit County Colorado Real Estate Experts RE/MAX Breckenridge, Keystone, Frisco, Silverthorne COLORADO MOUNTAIN REAL ESTATE Featuring Real Estate for sale in Breckenridge, Keystone, Frisco, Silverthorne, Dillon and all of Summit County Colorado RE/MAX Home | Real Estate Center | Services | About Us | Contact Us Find Real Estate Search 178 Real Estate Listings in Summit County and nearby Colorado Mountain areas. Select Location ================== All Locations Alma Blue river Breckenridge Copper mountain County Dillon Fairplay Frisco Heeney Jefferson Keystone Kremmling Leadville Out of mls area Placer valley Silverthorne Summit cove Twin lakes Wildernest Select Type ================== All Types AC Condo Duplex Home Land Mobile Home Timeshare Townhome Select Price ================== Any Price Under $150,000 $150,000-$250,000 $250,000-$350,000 $350,000-$500,000 $500,000-$750,000 $750,000-$900,000 $900,000-$1,000,000 $1000,000+ Find Summit County Real Estate Listings in: Breckenridge Frisco Keystone Dillon Silverthorne Copper Mountain All Colorado Locations Properties of Interest: Slopeside Ski Real Estate Golf Real Estate Luxury Homes New Real Estate Best Buy Properties Meet Our REALTORS® Choose from our 69 Summit County Colorado REALTORS®. Please select a Summit County office location below: Breckenridge Office Frisco Office Keystone Office Silverthorne Office Select an Office Breckenridge, CO Frisco, CO Keystone, CO Silverthorne, CO //-- Welcome to Summit County's #1 Real Estate Company. T hank you for visiting our website! We are absolutely thrilled to have you here. You can find a wide selection of Real Estate listed by RE/MAX Properties of the Summit in Summit County and Surrounding Colorado Mountain Areas. If there is anything we can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask - we are here to help you. Contact us via email or call us in Breckenridge at: 1-800-289-7005, Keystone at: 1-866-513-0404, Frisco at: 1-800-289-5305, Silverthorne at: 1-800-289-2005 . W hy RE/MAX? RE/MAX Properties of the Summit is the leading real estate company in Summit County. What we mean by leading, is that we help more buyers buy property in Summit County and we help more sellers sell property in Summit County . We come close to tripling our nearest competitors sales every year! W hy Summit County? Summit County is Colorado's home for 4 World Class Ski Resorts and some of the most breathtaking scenery in Colorado. Get more infomation on the Breckenridge Ski Area and the Town of Breckenridge . Visit Lake Dillon informational pages and learn about the history and activities Summit County's Largest Lake offers. Keystone Resort , a Colorado Destination for individuals and families vacationing in Colorado. Frisco, Colorado : Summit County's Hub, reach all of the Summit's ski resorts in minutes. Best Buys Property price reductions 4 Bedroom Silverthorne Duplex EAGLES GLEN, Silverthorne, Colorado $740,000 now: $725,000 View All 22 Best Buy Properties Real Estate Updates Receive Summit County and Mountain Real Estate updates with RE/MAX's eListing Update . Signup today and receive new listings and price change alerts for your specific Real Estate Needs via Email. If you would like to UNsubscribe from eListing Updates please click here . SUMMIT COUNTY & COLORADO MOUNTAIN REAL ESTATE Home | Summit County Real Estate | Breckenridge Real Estate | Keystone Real Estate | Frisco Real Estate | Dillon Real Estate | Silverthorne Real Estate | About RE/MAX Properties of the Summit | Contact Us | Services The Real Estate information contained herein is based on information updated daily by copying data manually from databases maintained by the Summit County MLS. Accordingly, we make no guarantee of its accuracy and suggest you make an independent inquiry of any Real Estate matter you regard as important. RE/MAX Real Estate News . Colorado Real Estate . Nationwide Real Estate and other resources RE/MAX PROPERTIES OF THE SUMMIT | Powered by: Summit Colorado .com © 2005

Selling Home

Selling A Home - Selling a Home Made Simple - RBC Royal Bank RBC.com | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | Legal Terms | Français Select Region Canada US International Other RBC Sites: Banking Investments Insurance SIGN IN Online Services Online Banking Online Investing Visa Inquiry RBC ROYAL BANK SELLING A HOME Preparing Your Home Real Estate Agents Selling on Your Own Negotiating the Sale The Closing Financing Planning Your Move Downsizing Your Home MORTGAGE RATES SEARCH Selling a Home Made Simple Preparing Your Home So you've decided to sell your home. Let's take a look at all the things you can do to increase your chances of success. Price it to sell Tips to higher prices Real Estate Agents As the vendor, you may hire a real estate professional to help you sell your home. Understand what services you can expect from your real estate agent. Selling on Your Own You need to carefully examine your capabilities and skills as a potential real estate agent before jumping in. Negotiating the Sale If you accept an offer, what can go wrong? And what measures should you take to protect yourself legally? For extra convenience, fill in a RBC Royal Bank Pre-Approved Mortgage Application online. Talk to a Mortgage Specialist How Much can You Afford? Mortgage Calculator Choosing the Right Mortgage Term Mortgages Insurance Mutual Funds GICs Buying a Home Renovating a Home back to top rbcroyalbank.com is operated by Royal Bank of Canada. Privacy | Legal Terms | Security ©Royal Bank of Canada 1995 - 2005 Last modified: 03/03/2005 13:33:33

Rental Property

Vacation Condo Rentals - Vacation Rental Property www.CondoRentHelp.com Important Disclaimer Policy - read beforecontinuing Vacation Rental Properties To see our current rentals, continue down this page: Renters Owners/Advertisers To see what rentals (condo, house, villa, etc.)are listed, continue to scroll down this page then select a state from the following list or click here If you are a property owner with an existing listing, click here If you own a vacation property (condo, house, villa, etc.) and want to advertise with us, click here If you want to know why you should advertise with us, click here If you want to see if you qualify for our FREE introductory listing, click here To contact us, click here To see a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ), Click here To locate a listing by property number, enter the # and press the 'submit' button, Use the map to pick a state to see the vacation condo or other rental properties available Most Popular Rental States California Colorado Florida Hawaii North Carolina South Carolina Virginia Most Popular Rental States California Colorado Florida Hawaii North Carolina South Carolina Virginia Top rental cities Destin, Florida Disney Area, Florida Indian Rocks Beach, Florida Marco Island, Florida New Smyrna Beach, Florida Panama City Beach, Florida Sanibel Island, Florida Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Virginia Beach, Virginia CondoRentHelp.com handles condo, house, townhouse, and villa vacation rentals but specializes in condo rental properties.

buy property, the agent

The Peoples Guide to Mexico: Real Estate in Ajijic and Lake Chapala, Mexico People's Guide Homepage • Copper Canyon • Live & Retire • Carl's Notebooks • Letters • Favorite Books • Visit our Sponsors • Table of Contents • The Best of Mexico: Favorite Places Live & Retire in Mexico Lake Chapala area Buying Property in the Lake Chapala Area by Tony Harries & Teresa A. Kendrick In the last decade or so, it is estimated that more than 10,000 foreigners have purchased property on the Northshore of Lake Chapala. Long prized as a weekend retreat by wealthy Guadalajarans, the villages from Lake Chapala to Jocotepec now boast an expatriate community said to be the largest in the world. Ajijic has become the prime location for foreigners because of its infrastructure of services, such as internet access, and the existence of the Lake Chapala Society, an English-speaking resource center for newcomers and residents. The Real Estate Climate on the Northshore At present, the Northshore has 20 real estate agencies. Their level of competency and expertise vary. In Mexico, the real estate industry is not regulated by the government. It is self-regulated. Two associations are responsible for training agents and policing the ethics of the agencies: AMPI (Asociacion Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios) is the national organization (with a lakeside chapter) and Gil (Grupo Inmobiliario del Lago) is the local organization. Many offices belong to one or the other, and some belong to both. They provide multiple-listing services that allow agents to show properties listed by other agencies, an advantage for both buyer and seller. The most professional agencies also provide their own in-house training for new agents. Several agencies have websites that will allow you to get a feel for the company, the houses that are available and the prices of property and land. The websites allow you to interact with the agency via email, and, if the site is good, will offer background information and answers to frequently asked questions. It can also provide you with the name of an agent. Choosing an Agent Good agents tend to work for well-run organizations. When walking into the office for the first time, take a look around. Does it look professionally managed? Are key personnel bilingual? Are listings photographed, detailed and organized so you can spend time reviewing available properties and evaluating how much your money will buy? Talk with several agents to find one you feel is knowledgeable, experienced, available, compatible, and upfront. Professional, reliable agents provide service before, during, and after a sale. If a problem or error arise, your agent should work hard to correct it. After your initial meeting, ask around about the reputations of various agencies and agents, but be aware that while gathering information, it is very likely you will also gather misinformation. One person can easily contradict another; this is human nature and common in a small communities. Being a Good Client/Firing an Agent Agent- and agency-hopping is an ethical no-no, but after viewing several properties reevaluate your agent. If you feel that the agent is not listening to you, tell him or her; they will appreciate you restating your requirements. Often clients are confused about what they want, or unrealistic about what their money can buy. Be clear about what you want. Buying a house is an emotional process, so be prepared to experience some unusual feelings and reactions and understand that an agent has the dual job of steering you through the process of buying property in another country and your own learning curve. If you are unable to work with your agent, graciously fire that agent and find another. You might use a simple, “Thank you for your time and efforts. We feel we wish to expand our search and thought we might consult with another agency. If we feel you can be of further service, we will get back to you.” Remember, the agent you are releasing is a member of the community in which you will live and diplomacy will save some feelings down the line. How to be a good Client If your first visit to the area is an exploratory excursion, tell your agent. He or she will guide you as you gather preliminary information. If you are not in a position to buy at the time, limit the time you spend with the agent as he or she has other clients to serve. If you have funds available to buy property, the agent will intensify the search for a suitable property and guide you through the process. Be clear about how much you can spend and when you plan to resettle. Remember agents often work for months without reimbursement for their out of pocket expenses. The Nitty Gritty At this time, prices for houses on the Northshore run anywhere from $22,000 US to 1.35 million US. The average home with the amenities sought by North American buyers are in the $100,000 US range. Location, as everywhere, is one of the most determining factors for setting the price. The further out from services you go, the lower prices will be. View, construction type, size and amenities determine the rest. Clients can choose from gated communities which offer security (a plus for residents who spend 6 months in Mexico and 6 months elsewhere), large country estates, and village living. Village homes are connected to one another by common exterior, and, occasionally, interior walls and allow residents to live within walking distance of most services and activities. Do not let any agent sell you ejido land. No matter what future promises anyone may make, you will not get a legal title. This is land set aside by the government for the indigenous people of Mexico and cannot be sold to foreigners. Also, there are a few places on the Northshore known for their instability due to soft soil or geothermal faults, and some places have water supply problems. Informed, wise agents will steer you away from these trouble spots. The Buying Process Purchasing a home or lot on the Northshore is primarily a cash transaction, but occasionally short-term owner financing is available. When you make an offer to the seller you must present a check for 10% of the value of the house. A photocopy is made of this “earnest money” and the check itself is placed in the agency safe. Once negotiations are completed under the supervision of the respective buying and selling real estate agents, and both parties have signed a purchase agreement, the check is deposited into the escrow account of the selling agency. The check is later applied to the balance of the purchase price at the notary public’s office. (Note: The actual sale price of a property is not a matter of public record in Mexico, nor is it registered with the government. It is unethical for an agent to tell you the sale price of a property. He or she can tell you what the property was listed for, but not what was paid.) The Closing Closings take place in the office of a Notario Publico, or notary public. These are lawyers of very high standing who, after 5 years of legal practice, apply to the government for notario status and must undergo strict scrutiny to be awarded the title. With it comes many responsibilities and important legal functions. One of these is to preside over and ensure the legality of property transfer. The notary authenticates the seller’s right to sell the property, scrutinizes the history of the property for any irregularities, and makes sure the deed is clear and free of liens through appropriate government offices. Since the buyer pays for the closing costs and notary’s fees, it is his or her privilege to select the notary. The notary can advise the buyer which type of deed meets his needs: direct deed or bank trust deed. The notary will file with the Mexican government the application for the transfer of the deed from seller to buyer. His official signature on all documents finalizes the purchase and makes it a legal transaction under Mexican law. From purchasing to closing the norm is 30 to 60 days, but motivated parties can complete the process within 15 days. Differences in Home Construction There is no slab-frame construction in this part of Mexico. A home here is usually of concrete, glass, stone, brick, iron and rebar construction. Wood is expensive and used little except for design affect. Each wall is load-bearing and has its own foundation. Many houses have exterior walls and decorative metal work to ensure privacy and security. There are "aljibes" (cisterns) for water storage and in some of the newer homes, water purification and pressure systems are built-in. You will also find tanks for storing propane used for cooking and heating water as there is no infrastructure to supply natural gas. You will notice a lack of central heating and air conditioning, as it’s not essential. A fireplace on a cool evening or morning is charming and does the trick. There are no building codes so a good agent will provide you with information about levels of construction quality and what might be buried within the walls. Developers The north shore of Lake Chapala has recently seen a rise in new, speculative construction meant to appeal to buyers from the North. Much of this work is being done by young, Mexican architects from monied Guadalajara families with varying degrees of experience and dependability. There are also projects being developed by American, Canadian and European companies. Remodeling Many buyers purchase a home with the intent of upgrading and remodeling the existing structure. Craftsmen, laborers, architects and artisans abound in the area. If you are in the market for such services, perhaps your agent can help direct you to a general contractor who has a good reputation. Be sure to get a signed, witnessed contract stipulating prices and the quality of work and materials to be used. If language is a problem, get a translator to help you. Several translators are listed in the Lake Chapala Society directory, a members-only book that can be loaned to you by your agent. If, during the remodeling, you feel you have been financially abused, the government has an agency with an office in Chapala called PROFECO which helps consumers receive satisfaction. The pace of work is probably not what you are used to, but in Mexico, patience is required as distribution of materials, cultural standards, and community -- and family-based events interrupt building schedules. Real Estate Agencies/Developers/Internet Websites In Ajijic: Abode Realty: Adj Corporation Ajijic Developments: http://www.ajijicdevs.com Ajijic Real Estate, http://www.ajijic.com ; email: ajijic@infosel.net.mx Ambience Fine Home Builders: http://www.ambiance.com.mx America Mexico Builders Camille’s Realty/Coldwell Banker Chapala Realty: http://www.chapala.com Continental Realty Chula Vista Norte Eager & Asociados: http://www.mexconnect.com/MEX/ea/ea.html Laguna Real Estate: http://www.mexconnect.com/amex/lgna/ Marnher Group RE/Max Ajijic: http://www.desconresorts.com In Chapala: Coldwell Banker/Chapala Realty (Chapala Office), http://www.chapala.com Sierra Vista: In Chula Vista: Century 21 Vistas: http://www.lagunanet.net.mx/c21vistas In Jocotepec: Semprex Realty In Riberas del Pilar: Sunset Realty: http://www.sunsetrealty.com.mx In San Antonio Tlayacapán: Re/Max Fenix About the authors: Tony Harries is a real estate agent who has been working in the Lake Chapala area since June 1997. He is an award-winning school teacher from Texas who retired after 31 years of service. Proficient in Spanish, he has developed a deep appreciation of Mexico following several decades of travel in Mexico before his retirement. He has helped clients from all over the world buy property in the area and this year became a top producing agent for one of the area’s leading agencies. His email is tonyharr@prodigy.net.mx Teresa Kendrick is the author of the recently published book “Mexico’s lake Chapala and Ajijic: The Insiders Guide to the Northshore for International Travelers” Highly detailed and up-to-date, the 208 page book boasts 143 color photographs, a well-organized table of contents and index, and information about nearly everything available on the Northshore of Lake Chapala for travelers and newcomers. The book is available with a full-color map of the Northshore for $26 US plus shipping and handling. The book will be available to purchase locally by calling 76-6-3163 or by ordering from her website: http://www.chapalaguide.com Teresa's email is ajijic@chapalaguide.com . Top of Page Homepage Table of Contents Site Map Write to us, Carl & Lorena http://www.peoplesguide.com ©1972-2001 by Carl Franz & Lorena Havens Copper Canyon • Live & Retire • Table of Contents • Book Reviews • Letters