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Colorado HomeFinder | Aurora Real Estate, Search Aurora Homes for Sale in the MLS Call 800.231.9153 | Contact Us If you already have an account, sign in here Aurora Colorado Real Estate - find out first about the newest Aurora real estate listings! You learn about Aurora homes for sale the day they hit the market - before other buyers. Automated HomeAlert emails you new listings that fit your personal home search criteria and gives you access to all the Aurora Colorado real estate listings. It's easy - Just submit your email address and home search criteria. Your email is not shared or sold to anyone. You incur no obligation or cost for this free Aurora real estate service. Our Privacy Policy: We respect your privacy. All information provided is strictly confidential and you can unsubscribe at any time. Colorado HomeFinder will never sell or share your information with any outside parties. Click here to review our Privacy Policy . 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Bulgaria property portal, buying property in bulgaria, buy bulgarian properties, bulgarian properties - imoti.net Property in Bulgaria Bulgarian Regions About Bulgaria Buying information bg Bulgaria 's biggest property portal - Search for any real estate for sale or for rent ( imoti = real estate in bulgarian) Sales Rents Off plan property Agents Home Agent login Articles Real estate forums Search for sale for rent investment email alert saved list email alert Get ads that match your criteria sent straight to your inbox. Create email alert Agencies Find a Real Estate agent News Real estate news Expo and forums Tourism Region info Sites international properties Buying information Having in mind that in two years Bulgaria will be joining the European Union, the Bulgarian property market presents very good possibilities for potential investments which can be quite profitable in the long-term. There are diverse offers on the market which can meet different requirements and have considerably better value for money than in other European destinations. Most of the people looking for property in Bulgaria usually want to find holiday home but the number of investors who buy property in order to profit in the long term is also increasing. If you start to consider buying a property in Bulgaria you have to take into consideration the following points: 1. First of all, you have to identify a property which corresponds to your requirements. 2. If you want to buy land as well, take into consideration that you’ll have to register a company as the law still doesn’t allow the purchase of land by foreigners. 3. If you do not want to acquire the land, then you directly move to the next step, i.e. negotiate the price of the property. 4. Then you can sign a preliminary contract and the property will be removed from the market. 5. The next step is to carefully check the title deed documents, licences and permissions, debts on the title and terms of contract. 6. From there you proceed to signing of the contract of purchase and confirming in front of a notary public the buying of the property. 7. If you have completed all the previous steps, it means that you are already an owner of property in Bulgaria. 8. Do not forget to insure you property after the purchase. 9. Remember to register your new property with the local authorities within 60 days following completion of the deal. What can be found on the market? The prices for a villa close to the sea are about £30,000 and for the ones in rural areas they can be even around £5,000. In many cases though, you will have to make some refirbishments in order to have the usual standards of living. In all cases, it is advisable to personally visit the property and not to buy it after judging only the photos. You can also consider the purchase of a new development under construction, which is now wide spread practice, especially in the capital, in ski resorts and on the coast. Properties may be purchased 'off plan' either directly from the developer or via brokers. Law on foreigners owning property in Bulgaria According to the Bulgarian Constitution, foreign individuals can buy buildings but not land. Therefore, the most common method for foreigners buying property in Bulgaria where they also wish to own the land is to set up a company which then owns the land and the buildings. The law is expected to change on this within the short to medium term with the expected entry of Bulgaria into the European Union (2007). This historic restriction is one of the reasons why property in Bulgaria is so competitively priced compared to Western and Central Europe. Current amendments to the constitution will allow citizens of countries with which Bulgaria has agreements on land sales to buy land in 2007 when the amendments would come into effect, while EU citizens will have the right to buy land in 2014. In the meantime a company is still required for land ownership. If your purchase includes land a Limited Liability Company (OOD) will need to be formed. Who can form a Limited Liability Company & how? A foreign or Bulgarian person (judicial or physical). The company owners will be liable for the company's obligations to the value of his/hers share in the company's registered capital. Articles of Incorporation are prepared & signed by all shareholders. A company bank account is opened to collect all share capital. The minimum share capital required is 5,000 leva. Shareholders at time of registration must have paid up at least one third of their respective shares. It is required that at least 70% (3,500 leva) of the capital is raised at time of registration. The company exists from the moment it is added to the Commercial Register of the district court of where the company will be based. The entry is made upon issue of a district court decision for the incorporation. The following documents must be available at the time of the submission of the application to the district court: 1. Articles of incorporation; 2. Memorandum for appointment of Directors; 3. Proof that each shareholder has paid at least one third of its interest, but not less than 10 leva; 4. Proof that at least 70 per cent of the registered capital has been paid. The Bulgarian State Gazette is the official paper within which all Bulgarian legislation is published. Publication of the company entry in the Commercial Register does not complete your company formation, it announces to the general public the act of formation. The process of forming your company can take anywhere between a few days to a few weeks. Finally, your new company will need to register immediately with the National Tax Register Authority. The costs involved are: 3,500 leva = 70% share capital. Administrative costs (payable to the state & registration court) are 250 leva (just over £70). This is the minimum capital that you need to raise for registration. Once the entire share capital has been paid up these funds can be accessed and withdrawn. Allow betwen EUR 500 - 700 for charges relating to the formation and registration of your company. Real Estate Tax According to the Bulgarian tax legislation the buyer has to pay notary and municipal fees. The notary fees are paid on the higher of the market price or the book value of the property at varying rates, with the maximum being BGN 3,500. In addition, 2% of the market value of the property is paid to the municipality where the property is situated upon completion of the purchase. Local taxes and rates The owner of a building or land in Bulgaria has to pay a property tax. The tax is equal to 0.15% of the book value of the property. There are no local taxes for arable land. The owners also have to pay waste-collection fees which are determined when the ownership is registered with the municipality, which should be done within 60 days of completion. Value Added Tax Transactions with land and lease of property for residential purposes are exempt from VAT (Value Added Tax), all other real estate transactions are subject to VAT of 20% if the seller is VAT registered. The buyer is entitled to a VAT refund, provided that it is registered for VAT purposes. Real Estate Agencies The Real Estate Agencies have varying charges for their services - from 3% of the purchase price to about 10%! Some agencies can also set up a “minimum” commission which does not depend on purchase price. Some agents may also charge for the viewing of the properties. 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Getting real about real estate investing - Nov. 17, 2004 Web CNN/Money Buying & Selling Investment Property Home Improvement Million $ Life Financing Best Places Getting real about real estate investing Being a landlord can be profitable -- or a big headache. Take some advice from these investors. November 17, 2004: 4:03 PM EST By Jon Birger , MONEY Magazine. Additional reporting by Joan Caplin and Amy Feldman. NEW YORK (MONEY Magazine) - Successful real estate investors sometimes make what they do sound almost too easy. "Rentals freed me from ever having to get a job again," says Orlando Rodriguez, a 38-year-old San Antonio landlord who makes about $100,000 a year off the 90 apartments he owns. "I'm a high school dropout -- seventh-grade dropout, actually -- so my story should tell people this isn't rocket science." Yes, landlording isn't science (which is not to say it isn't often a lot of hard work), but if you're willing to put in the time and effort, buying and operating rental properties can pay off big. Try this math on for size: You purchase a $100,000 condominium with $30,000 down and a $70,000 mortgage. If the condo rents for $1,200 a month, your net profits -- after costs such as mortgage, maintenance and property taxes -- should be in the $2,000-a-year range. Conservatively invested, that sum should earn enough to pay off the entire mortgage within 14 years. You'd have turned $30,000 in equity into $100,000, even if rents didn't go up and property values didn't appreciate. Factor in 4 percent annual rent increases and price appreciation, and the property's net value to the owner would be closer to $200,000. A stock fund would need to return 15 percent a year for 14 years to beat that performance -- and funds don't give you any of the tax breaks that can come with being a property owner. The key thing to remember, though, is that buying rental properties is not for point-and-click investors. Even landlords who hire out the plumbing, painting and rent collection to contractors and management companies typically make a big time commitment. Rick Lionhardt of Dallas, a 55-year-old retired telecom worker, owns 33 properties with wife Helen, 49, a secretary. Even when he was working full time, Lionhardt says, he spent 70 to 80 hours a week on real estate. "I'd make calls during lunch and drive around at night looking for more things to buy." For the first-time landlord, there is plenty to learn -- about taxes, financing, dealing with difficult tenants -- and usually there are many mistakes to be made. The payoff can be terrific though, even for investors who own just one or two properties. Doing it right will get you extra income now and a valuable addition to your retirement nest egg down the road. What does "doing it right" mean? Read on for some key tips and secrets -- as well as pitfalls to avoid -- from successful investors who had to learn the hard way. Know how to take your market's temperature. When considering a rental property, your top concern should be whether you can make money renting it out now, not how much its price might appreciate in the future (although that's important too). All you're doing is speculating on real estate prices if you're shelling out more than you're taking in -- and that can be dangerous, especially if you're doing it with borrowed money. "You never want to buy a property where every month you have to feed it," says Neil Binder, co-founder of New York City's Bellmarc Realty. So before you buy, add up your projected property taxes, mortgage payments and maintenance costs, and make sure the total is less than your expected rental income. Experienced real estate investors say they generally look to pay anywhere from 45 to 85 times monthly rent for a property. That means annual rental revenue should be about 15 to 25 percent of the property's value. Finding places with those kinds of yields can be difficult. Take California, probably the most bubblicious market in the country. A condominium renting for $1,200 a month in Southern California sells for $350,000 today, according to veteran California real estate investor Bruce Norris. A $1,200-a-month condo in the Dallas/Fort Worth area can be had for $95,000. To a landlord, that's the difference between an annual return on investment of 4 percent vs. 15 percent. Mortgages and home equity loans Search for rates from hundreds of lenders. No points only Select Loan: Select a Mortgage 15 Yr Fixed Jumbo - $385K 15 Yr Fixed Conforming - $165K 30 Yr Fixed Conforming - $165K 30 Yr Fixed Jumbo - $385K 1 Yr ARM Conforming - $165K 1 Yr ARM Jumbo - $385K 3/1 Yr ARM Conforming - $165K 3/1 ARM Jumbo - $385K 5/1 Yr ARM Conforming - $165K 5/1 ARM Jumbo - $385K 7/1 Yr ARM Conforming - $165K ARM Jumbo - $385K State: Select State Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Washington DC Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming "The only reason you'd be a California landlord at today's prices is because you're expecting price appreciation," says Norris, who thinks prices in the state are due for a fall. "Monthly cash flow would be almost impossible to achieve without an enormous down payment." Another tool experienced investors use to measure the profitability of a market is price-to-rent -- that is, the ratio of median home price to annual rent for three-bedroom homes. The bigger the number, the less likely you are to make money as a landlord. California has a price-to-rent ratio of 25 these days, the highest in the country. Hawaii (23) is second from the top, and Massachusetts (19) is third. Far more inviting to investors are states like Delaware, Missouri, Texas and Vermont, where the price-to-rent ratios are 11 or 12. For more information on median home prices and market rents in your area, visit realtor.org and huduser.org . Find smart ways to cut your financing costs. Borrowing to buy real estate as an investment is more expensive than borrowing to buy a home. Lenders generally think they are taking more of a risk on buildings that the owner doesn't live in. Consequently, the interest rates they charge tend to be 0.5 percentage points or more above those for traditional home mortgages. Not only that, but borrowers need excellent credit scores to qualify for the lowest rates. In addition, the minimum down payment is usually 20 or 25 percent, instead of the 10 percent for standard home mortgages. There are a couple of ways around the higher rates and steeper down payments. To qualify for a traditional mortgage, you are required by most lenders to live in the property for a minimum of one year. But there's nothing stopping you from buying a home or a condo with a traditional mortgage, living in it for a year and then renting it out afterward. YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Mortgages Personal Debt Real Estate Loan Markets or Create your own Manage alerts | What is this? If the down payment rather than the rate is the stumbling block, ask the seller whether he's willing to self-finance the mortgage. With owner financing, the buyer signs a promissory note in which he agrees to make his mortgage payments directly to the seller. In exchange for forgoing a down payment, the seller typically gets a premium rate -- 8 to 10 percent, perhaps. Why would a seller take the additional risk implicit in skipping the down payment? "It's a lot faster to sell a house owner-financed than conventionally," says San Antonio landlord Rodriguez. (There are also brokers who buy owner-financed notes from sellers who want their money up front.) Click here to learn about interest-only mortgages and some of their advantages. Learn to take advantage of the many tax breaks. For tax purposes, what you make in rent is generally taxable as regular income. Real estate taxes and mortgage interest on an investment property are fully tax deductible though. Operating expenses such as utilities, insurance, repairs and condominium common charges are also deductible. So are rental fees paid to brokers, although they must be spread out over the life of the lease. Even better, the federal tax code entitles rental-property owners to a depreciation deduction even though housing prices usually go up, not down, over time. (There are, however, numerous conditions and catches, which is why it is essential to consult a tax adviser before you invest a cent.) Anticipate problems (they will be numerous). Reliable, prompt-paying tenants do up and leave suddenly. Minor leaks have a way of becoming expensive repair jobs. That's why it's smart to line up inspectors and contractors before you buy. And why it's important to establish rainy-day funds. Two or three months' rent is usually -- but not always -- sufficient. Just ask Marla Renee, a 55-year-old semiretired hairdresser who owns six rental properties in the Detroit area. Five years ago Renee bought a run-down duplex for $28,000. She figured the house needed $10,000 worth of work, but three months later the tally was nearly three times that. "The last tenant had turned on the water on purpose and flooded the whole place," she says. "The floor, ceiling and walls were all messed up." Finally, don't skimp on fees should you decide to hire a management company to tend to your rental property. The typical fee is 5 to 10 percent of rental income. Experienced landlords say it's not worth it to be cheap: Property managers often work harder to fill vacancies and to maximize rent when they are better compensated. Put potential tenants under the microscope. Picking tenants may ultimately be the most important real estate decision you make. This is where listening to the voices of experience really pays off -- although you should be discreet about how you apply their lessons. Elderly people are better tenants than college kids, as everyone knows, but in many states, landlords acting on that type of common sense judgment would be running afoul of fair-housing laws. Michelle Bizik, 35, of Lake Ariel, Pa. owns two small apartment buildings with her husband Goran, 30. For the most part, they've had lots of success finding good tenants. They require potential renters to provide Social Security numbers, ostensibly for criminal and credit background checks (which are a good idea), but Bizik says it's more about renters proving to her that they have nothing to hide. She also checks references with employers and prior landlords. If prospects pass those tests, she and her husband always meet them in person. "I need to get a vibe off of them," she explains. These are all good ideas for screening tenants. Here are a couple more. When checking references, don't stop with the most recent landlord. Contact the second or third most recent as well. "The current landlord may just want him out of the property," says Ellis San Jose, a 39-year-old real estate investor from Los Angeles. Also, consider making an unannounced visit to the prospect's current residence. Marcia Glantz, a Coldwell Banker broker for 27 years in Yorktown, N.Y., says, "Explain that your house is important to you, and that you want to get a sense for how they live." Saying no can be tough when a vacancy is burning a hole in your wallet. Stay strong. The one time Michelle Bizik caved proved to be a big mistake. "We were both against him," she recalls, "but the apartment was empty and he was a friend of another tenant." Soon after the guy moved in, his pregnant girlfriend, five cats and two friends did too. And he was late with the rent. "All the tenants were complaining," Bizik says. "The hall smelled like cat urine. The music was so loud, tenants were calling me at 11 o'clock at night." The Biziks offered to pay him to leave. He declined, so they had to go through the aggravation and expense of having him evicted. Think about investing in REITs instead. If you want to buy into real estate but don't want to deal with all the headaches that can come with managing it, you may want to consider a real estate investment trust (REIT). These are publicly traded building-management companies that pass the bulk of their earnings on to shareholders in the form of hefty dividends. That makes them a great choice for retirees and other income-hungry investors. One catch is that REIT dividends are taxed at higher rates than regular corporate dividends. REITs offer several advantages over buying properties on your own. First, there are economies of scale: On a per-square-foot basis, REIT maintenance costs are much lower than those of most individual landlords. The management expenses of a typical REIT are only 0.5 percent of total assets under management, says Russell Platt, manager of the Dividend Capital Realty Income fund. Another plus is diversification, since REITs typically invest in many markets and sometimes different types of property -- residential, commercial and retail. And finally, there's liquidity: You can sell a REIT whenever you want, and your brokerage commission will be a drop in the bucket compared with the 6 percent charged by most real estate brokers. A conservative REIT bet would be Equity Residential Properties ( Research ), run by Chicago mogul Sam Zell. Equity Residential is the nation's largest landlord, which makes it something like an index fund for apartment buildings. Earnings have taken a hit lately owing to, among other things, the Florida hurricanes. But occupancy rates have been ticking up, and Equity Residential still offers a juicy 5.1 percent dividend yield. A more aggressive play is Archstone-Smith Trust ( Research ), an apartment building owner with a big presence in suburban Washington, D.C. and other East Coast markets. Archstone-Smith also has a dividend yield of 5.1 percent. The company has profits from condo conversions, and high occupancy rates, which put it in a good position to raise rents. And that's a very nice position for any landlord to be in. --* Disclaimer Try an issue of MONEY magazine - FREE! More on REAL ESTATE • How to buy and build on rural land • Most overvalued housing markets • When booms go bust... TODAY'S TOP STORIES • Most overvalued housing markets • Risks to the economy in 2006 • Which was the worst ad of all in 2005? CNN Money contact us | subscribe to Money magazine advertising -- | site map | glossary | RSS | press room OTHER NEWS: CNN | SI | Fortune | Business 2.0 | Time © 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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Amazon.com: Home Alone: DVD: Macaulay Culkin,Joe Pesci,Daniel Stern,John Heard,Roberts Blossom,Catherine O'Hara,Angela Goethals,Devin Ratray,Gerry Bamman,Terrie Snell,Hillary Wolf,Larry Hankin,Michael C. Maronna,Kristin Minter,Daiana Campeanu,Jedidiah Cohen,Kieran Culkin,Senta Moses,Anna Slotky,John Candy,Chris Columbus Your Store DVD See All 32 Product Categories Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | Advanced Search | Browse Genres | Top Sellers | New & Future Releases | Television Central | Life & Learning | DVD Essentials | Blowout DVDs | Movie Showtimes | Used DVDs Search Amazon.com DVD Web Search Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in . DVD Information Explore this item buying info editorial reviews customer reviews cast and crew fun facts Listmania! Top 10 Best Christmas Movies : A list by "mjp260" Add your List Ready to buy? Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . MORE BUYING CHOICES 64 used & new from $11.00 Available for in-store pickup now from: $14.99 Price may vary based on availability Enter your ZIP Code Have one to sell? Home Alone (1990) Starring: Macaulay Culkin , Joe Pesci Director: Chris Columbus Rating: See larger image Share your own customer images List Price: $19.98 Price: $12.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details You Save: $6.99 (35%) Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Want it delivered Tuesday, January 3? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. See details 64 used & new available from $11.00 Edition: Other Versions and Languages Other Versions (DVD) List Price Price Other Offers: DVD Home Alone/Home Alone 2: Lost in New York $29.98 2 used & new from $59.99 DVD Home Alone Better Together Buy this DVD with Home Alone 2 - Lost in New York DVD ~ Macaulay Culkin today! Total List Price: $39.96 Buy Together Today: $25.98 Customers who bought this DVD also bought Home Alone 2 - Lost in New York DVD ~ Macaulay Culkin National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (Special Edition) DVD ~ Chevy Chase The Santa Clause (Widescreen Special Edition) DVD ~ Tim Allen A Christmas Story (Full Screen Edition) DVD ~ Yano Anaya Explore Similar Items : in DVD , in Video , and in Music Storyline Genres: Comedy , Crime , Family Tagline: A Family Comedy Without The Family. Plot Outline: An eight year-old, who is accidentally left behind while his family flies to France for Christmas, has to defend his home against idiotic burglars. Plot Synopsis: 8-year-old Kevin McAllister is accidentally left behind when his family takes off for a vacation in France over the holiday season. Once he realizes they've left him home by himself, Kevin learns to fend for himself, and eventually has to protect his house against bumbling burglars Harry and Marv, who are planning to rob every house in Kevin's suburban Chicago neighborhood. Kevin's mother Kate is frantic when she realizes that she and the family have unintentionally left Kevin behind in Chicago, and she tries to make it back to Chicago as fast as she can, getting help from a polka band leader named Gus Polinski. Plot Keywords: Blockbuster | Burglary | Christmas | Family | Home Alone | Kid Outsmarts Adult | Kids And Family | Famous Score | Booby Trap | Title Spoken By Character | Chicago Illinois | (Show all 97 plot keywords recommended by customers) Product Details Actors: Macaulay Culkin , Joe Pesci , Daniel Stern , John Heard , Roberts Blossom , See more Directors: Chris Columbus Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Widescreen, Ntsc, Widescreen Letterbox Region: Region 1 ( U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats. ) Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Number of discs: 1 Rated: Studio: 20th Century Fox DVD Release Date: October 5, 1999 Run Time: 103 minutes Average Customer Review: Based on 142 Reviews DVD Features: Available Subtitles: English Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround) From IMDb: Quotes & Trivia ASIN: B00000K3CL Amazon.com Sales Rank: #243 in DVD Theatrical Release Information US Theatrical Release Date: November 16, 1990 MPAA: Production Company: 20th Century Fox USA Box Office: $286 Million Worldwide Box Office: $534 Million Budget Estimate: $15 Million Filming Locations: 656 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, Illinois, USA| 671 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, Illinois, USA| Chicago, Illinois, USA| Evanston, Illinois, USA| Grace Episcopal Church - 924 Lake St., Oak Park, Illinois, USA| Haven Middle School - 2417 Prairie Ave., Evanston, Illinois, USA| Highland Park, Illinois, USA| Hubbard Woods Metra Station - 1065 Gage Street, Winnetka, Illinois, USA| O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, USA| Panera Bread Company--formerly Hubbard Woods Pharmacy - 940 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, Illinois, USA| Paris, France| Trinity Methodist Church - 1024 W. Lake Ave., Wilmette, Illinois, USA| Wilmette, Illinois, USA| Winnetka, Illinois, USA Editorial Reviews Amazon.com Now and forever a favorite among kids, this 1990 comedy written by John Hughes ( The Breakfast Club ) and directed by Chris Columbus ( Mrs. Doubtfire ) ushered Macaulay Culkin onto the screen as a troubled 8-year-old who doesn't comfortably mesh with his large family. He's forced to grow a little after being accidentally left behind when his folks and siblings fly off to Paris. A good-looking boy, Culkin lights up the screen during several funny sequences, the most famous of which finds him screaming for joy when he realizes he's unsupervised in his own house. A bit wooden with dialogue, the then-little star's voice could grate on the nerves (especially in long, wise-child passages of pure bromide), but he unquestionably carries the film. Billie Bird and John Candy show up as two of the interesting strangers Culkin's character meets. Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are entertainingly cartoonish as thieves, but the ensuing violence once the little hero decides to keep them out of his house is over-the-top. --Tom Keogh Customers who viewed this DVD also viewed Home Alone 3 DVD ~ Alex D. Linz It's a Wonderful Life DVD ~ James Stewart Miracle on 34th Street DVD ~ Maureen O'Hara The Santa Clause 2 - The Mrs. Clause (Widescreen Edition) DVD ~ Tim Allen Explore Similar Items : in DVD , in Music , and in Video Spotlight Reviews Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 8 of 11 people found the following review helpful: Christmas Alone is a Laugher , February 9, 2004 Reviewer: rodboomboom (Dearborn, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews This Christmas classic is so enjoyable, due to the engagement between Kevin and two superb burglars (ala Pesci and Stern). In my view, these two burglars make it the great comedy that it is. There expressiveness in being duped by the redhead protecting his family home is creative and simply good comedy to enjoy. The neighbor with the shovel is another outstanding character that pops up in key spots in the plotline. Candy is so-so as the polka king. The mother played by O'Hara is authentic too in her concern, and the rest are just support cast in this. The plot is possible due to the setup of the busy family preparing for the trip with all the chaos and Kevin being somewhat of a sore-thumb in all this. The results are a howl! Enjoy watching this periodically over the years. Too my way of thinking, this makes a movie truly great, its ability to have lasting power. This might be one of those that endures the fads and all that make many flicks ok, but would one buy them or rent them or watch them again? Likely not. But this, this one I've did all three, finally purchasing a copy for our own collection. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 8 of 9 people found the following review helpful: Be Careful What You Wish For! , October 31, 2002 Reviewer: L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (fountain valley, ca United States) - See all my reviews This review refers to the VHS(20th Cent Fox) edition... Second grader Kevin McCalister(Macaulay Culkin) is having a REALLY bad day. His family(including cousins, Aunt and Uncle) is getting ready to leave on a Christmas vacation to Paris. There's lots of activity, he is the youngest. He feel's picked on(and he is),and brushed aside. He has to actually do things for himself, unheard of in his 8 yr old world.His older brother scares him with stories of the neighbor being "The Shovel Murderer". He wishes they would all "JUST GO AWAY". The next morning he awakes to discover his wish came true. Jubilant he immediatly preceeds to do all the things he's not allowed to. Meanwhile, halfway across "The Pond", to Paris, his parents make the grim discovery that they have accidentally left him behind. Panic sets in! With the feeling of worry and guilt only known to parents, his mom(Catherine O'Hara) makes a hasty retreat back to the states, hitting road blocks all the way. Kevin settles in to life alone, waivering between being a kid and the responiblities of the household chores.Lurking around his house though, are two bumbling cat burglers(Joe Pesci/Daniel Stern).Kevin must protect his domain. He goes about setting his plan into motion,using whatever available means to thwart the bad guys.He also gets a little help from a surprise source. What follows is very funny, kind of three stooges action, as the burglers fall into every trap he sets for them. Kevin learns several lessons in his time alone. One is that he really loves his family,that he can take care of himself, and not to judge others. The music by John Williams,including lots of seasonal classics, will leave you singing Christmas songs, whatever time of year you watch it. Directed By Chris Columbus who really makes you root for the good guys. The supporting cast includes,John Heard, Roberts Blossom, and Hilary Wolfe.Look for the wonderful John Candy as "The Polka King". "Home Alone" will have you laughing throughout.It is a funny,sometimes poignant story, that will be enjoyed year after year by the whole family. There are 2 sequels,the first has most of the same cast returning to do it again, this time in New York City! The VHS has a very good picture. It is in Dolby Surround Stereo,(nice for the soundtrack). Have fun...........Laurie Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. Never knew Christmas could be this fun! , December 26, 2005 Reviewer: Kirs Mabitad "AnGeLkirs" (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews First of all, the main thing about this movie is the irresponsibility of the parents. It angered me to know how they could just forget about their son like that. Overall, I thought McCauly Culkin was really great. He acted very naturally for a 9-year-old boy. The whole plot is fun for all ages. The music was very nice too. It gives you a christmas feel but at the same time, it makes you feel the cunningness of Kevin. I found it a very interesting movie...watch it! Kirstie Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) Being Left Alone is like a Christmas Gift! , December 24, 2005 Reviewer: Massacre "Weird Al" (Dracut) - See all my reviews Way Better than the 4 and 3! Two Burglurs that break in a house of a 8 year old smart cookie boy is just funny Enuff! Get this for Christmas if you don't have it! Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) HOME ALONE IS A HYSTARICALLY FUNNY MOVIE , December 6, 2005 Reviewer: BENJAMIN SANTINO FILIPPI "BENJAMIN" (BRECKSVILLE OHIO USA) - See all my reviews HOME ALONE IS A HYSTARICALLY FUNNY MOVIE DANIEL STERN AND JOE PESCI ARE HYSTARICALLY FUNNY YOU COULD OWN IT ON VIDEO CASSETTE AND YOU COULD OWN IT ON DVD IT'S VERY FUNNY PLEASE EMAIL ME bsfilippi@sbcglobal.net BENJAMIN SANTINO FILIPPI BRECKSVILLE OHIO Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 0 of 3 people found the following review helpful: Its a fun christmas family film but is not great , December 6, 2005 Reviewer: Jake - See all my reviews Home Alone is one of the top grosing films ever and is a family classic but it's not a great film. Yes the film is funny and it's a fun family film for the whole family but it's not a great film. Maybe I dont find it great becouse I've seen it so maney times and i dont find the traps funny anymore(I liekd the traps in the sequal better). The story is un beievale as a boy is left home alone by mistake during christmas and he sets the house full of traps to catch 2 bumbling robbers. Culkien is great and Stern and Pesi are funny. The movie is a good christmas film. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 142 customer reviews... Listmania! Favorite Movies 1989-1999 Part... : by "crgreen06172" 25 Cool Pre-Teen Kid Movies : by K. Ellis "kjjcellis" Top 10 Best Christmas Movies : by "mjp260" So You'd Like to... know the movies I like to watch : by Chris , As I said they are mostly comedies make your christmas DVD collection : by ldaman , DVD collector See Yet Another Essential Christmas Viewing List : by Devin Melancon , Cinema buff who won't shut up Fun Facts from IMDb.com: Awards Click here to see more Awards American Comedy Awards, USA: American Comedy Award for Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) BMI Film & TV Awards: BMI Film Music Award British Comedy Awards: British Comedy Award for Best Comedy Film Casting Society of America, USA: Artios for Best Casting for Feature Film, Comedy Chicago Film Critics Association Awards: CFCA Award for Most Promising Actor Golden Screen, Germany: Golden Screen Young Artist Awards: Young Artist Award for Most Entertaining Family Youth Motion Picture - Comedy/Action, Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture Nominations Click here to see more Nominations Academy Awards, USA: Oscar for Best Music, Original Score, Best Music, Original Song Golden Globes, USA: Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical Young Artist Awards: Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress Supporting Role in a Motion Picture Trivia Click here to see more Trivia The concept for this movie originated during the filming of a scene in Uncle Buck in which Macaulay Culkin plays a character who interrogates a would-be-babysitter through a letterbox. The movie that Kevin watches on video tape is not a real film, but footage especially created. It was called "Angels With Filthy Souls." Goofs Click here to see more Goofs Harry protects his burnt hand with a handkerchief when he climbs along the rope towards the tree house, but alternating shots show the tail of the handkerchief either sticking out or not. Movie Connections Click here to see more Movie Connections Followed by: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York | Home Alone 3 Alternate Versions Click here to see more Alternate Versions Television airings edited the following: Kevin saying that Fuller will pee all over him after explaining to Kate that Fuller wets the bed; Kevin calling Harry and Marv "horse's ass"; when everyone glares at Kevin after the dinner accident, the second scene with Peter and Buzz looking at him was removed. Quotes Click here to see more Quotes Kevin McCallister : This is my house, I have to defend it. [to the Scranton Ticket Agent] Kate McCallister : This is *Christmas*. The season of perpetual hope. And I don't care if I have to get out on your runway and hitchhike. If it costs me everything I own, if I have to sell my soul to the devil himself, I am going to get home to my son. For more information about "Home Alone" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) Look for similar items by category Browse similar items in: DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( B ) > Blossom, Roberts DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( C ) > Culkin, Kieran DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( C ) > Culkin, Macaulay DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( H ) > Hankin, Larry DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( H ) > Heard, John DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( M ) > Minter, Kristin DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( O ) > O'Hara, Catherine DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( P ) > Pesci, Joe DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( S ) > Stern, Daniel DVD > Actors & Actresses > ( W ) > Wolf, Hillary DVD > Directors > ( C ) > Columbus, Chris DVD > Genres > Comedy > By Theme > Mischievous Children DVD > Genres > Comedy > By Theme > Nothing Goes Right DVD > Genres > Comedy > Domestic Comedies DVD > Genres > Comedy > General DVD > Genres > Comedy > Series & Sequels > Home Alone DVD > Genres > Comedy > Slapstick DVD > Genres > Kids & Family > 10-12 Years DVD > Genres > Kids & Family > 7-9 Years DVD > Genres > Kids & Family > By Theme > Christmas DVD > Genres > Kids & Family > By Theme > Mischievous Children DVD > Genres > Kids & Family > Comedy DVD > Genres > Kids & Family > Family Films Suggestion Box Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. 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