Showing posts with label Real estate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Real estate. Show all posts

30 June 2023

Travel and Vacation : The Bahamas - Beautiful Beaches, Conch Shells and Mangos

Both my father and my husband were from Nassau, Bahamas, so I always like to say a little something about this beloved country at different sites that I write for. Rather than rehash the content of my various articles published elsewhere on the web, decided that in this bubble I would simply share the YouTube video clip which is the famous scene from the very first James Bond movie, "Dr. No", where James Bond (played by Sean Connery) sings a few words from "Underneath the Mango Tree"; and Honey Rider (played by Ursula Andress) was also singing that song while she was collecting conch shells on a beach in The Bahamas.



The video doesn't include the complete dialogue, but Honey said that she could get $50 for one shell in Florida!

Grew in Miami, Florida. "Dr. No" was released 1962. Often wonder what the market price for a conch shell is these days. Enjoy the video!


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More about The Bahamas Around the Web:







International Real Estate Investing Choices: South Africa, Bahamas, Panama and Costa Rica

Thinking of international real estate investing? South Africa, Bahamas, Panama and Costa Rica invite and encourage foreign investors. Here is a quick overview of their programs.

Retirement Planning : Texas Cities : Athens is a Great Place to Live Out Your Golden Years

Dallas, Texas is a great place to work and live, but for retirement, some may prefer Athens, Texas; a small town nearby that offers good fortune and adventure!



By Danny S. (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons


English: Category:Images of Dallas, Texas
English: Category:Images of Dallas, Texas (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Looking for a Great Place to Live Out Your Golden Years? Planning Retirement? Athens, Texas is a Certified Retirement Community. Learn More

* * *
July 2011, Forbes magazine published a TOP 10 List of Cities considered to be "economic superstars". Dallas, Texas was chosen as one of those cities because of its relatively low housing prices and its attractive job market. While Dallas may be a terrific place to work and live, some may prefer to retire to one of the surrounding Texan communities or towns such as Athens (population 10,000+ as of 2010).



Good Luck Peas and Texas Caviar
In 1971, Athens held the first-ever Black-Eyed Pea Jamboree. The history behind this event is as follows.


The late J. B. Henry, an Athens businessman, decided to grow the black-eyed pea and market the legumes on a commercial scale as "Good Luck Peas for New Year's Day"; and for the wealthy and well-to-do (or those who like to dream they are), pickled black-eyed peas were sold as "Texas Caviar".


Mr. Henry passed away in 1940 but to this day he is still referred to as the "Black-Eyed Pea King of East Texas". Such loyalty to his kingship is deserved. Giving black-eyed peas the aura of "good fortune" and calling them "caviar" for the rich folks. Who would've thunk it? That was genius!!!


Today, all the credit being given to the savvy marketing talents of Mr. Henry, Athens, Texas is referred to as the "Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World".


First GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community
In addition to the honor of being designated the "Black-Eyed Pea Capital of the World", Athens holds the honor of being chosen as one of the first "GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Communities" in the state.


If you visit the site Retire in Texas, and go to the respective page, you will find a list of all the communities that have been approved for this program. The Texas Department of Agriculture, Trade and Business Development state their intentions plainly as follows:


"The GO TEXAN Certified Retirement Community Program is a certification and promotion program provided by the Texas Department of Agriculture.  The GO TEXAN stamp of approval ensures each certified community has demonstrated through its application that it can meet the living, employment/volunteer, health, entertainment, education and safety needs of its citizens and visitors - all the things that make Texas a great place to retire."


Other Texas cities or towns are welcome to apply for this program.


Final Accolade
Per USA Today, ziplining is a zany form of adventure for thrill-seekers that first became popular in Costa Rica but has now become popular in the USA.


Athens, Texas is the first city that I have ever known that puts New York and Texas together and makes it work. Not New York, New York (which is what I thought of when I first saw one of the advertisements for the New York, Texas ZipLine Adventures; but New York, Texas (about 20 miles east of Athens). It's easy to get confused, especially when you discover that there is also an Athens, New York!


But an article by freelance writer, Veronica Terres, entitled "Get Up and Get Out" in the May-June 2011 issue of the East Texas Outdoors Magazine made everything plain when she pointed out the location of the NY TX Zip Line Adventures and aptly described this attraction in two words: "Adrenaline Rush".


But why would this attraction about a ziplining adventure be significant if you're planning to retire to Athens, Texas, instead of say ... assurances about golfing? I don't know! Why did former President George Bush Sr. decide to go parachuting on his 80th and 85th birthdays and plan to do it again when he turns 90? Ziplining may be a key factor in deciding whether or not you want to retire to Athens, Texas.


Recommended Reading:
Practical advice and information from Jeff Brown (aka "The Bawld Guy"), who has extensive knowledge and experience in long term retirement planning.


General Information Links:

References:
  • Terres, Veronica. "Get Up and Get Out." East Texas Outdoors Magazine. Youblisher, May-June 2011. Web. 04 Feb. 2012.

17 January 2021

Foreign Investors Are Buying U.S. Real Estate

There are foreign investors who think that the “grass is greener in the USA” and they are buying a lot of real estate. Foreign investors who are buying up the “American Dream” hail from North and South America ( Canada , Mexico , Columbia ) and Asia ( China and India ) and other places around the globe.



In 2011, the states they viewed as having prime real estate are Arizona, Hawaii, Michigan, Nevada, Florida, and California. Florida was the top state. Yeah! Beat out California and Hawaii?? Yes well ... probably because Florida has no state tax. Also, by comparison, life on the West coast is way more expensive. Top 10 US Cities Foreign Investors Were Targeting in 2011.

As of March 2017, Bellingham, WA; Kahulul, HI; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; and New York, NY, were the Top 5 US Cities Foreign Investors Were Targeting.

Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic did have an impact on this investing trend.

Foreign buying of American real estate plunged before the coronavirus pandemic — and experts say it’s only going to get worse – MarketWatch


Whew! Quite frankly, as an American, I'm happy about this prediction.


Have you ever considered investing in US real estate?

If that prediction did not dissuade or discourage you, then this link should interest you.

20 Best Places To Invest In Real Estate In 2021


HAPPY INVESTING!


* * *  Original Source


If you liked this content, you might also like: "Real Estate Investing: Global REIT: The First Sharia-Compliant REIT Launched in the Cryptocurrency Market

26 June 2020

International Real Estate Investing - South Africa, Costa Rica, Panama and The Bahamas are Awesome Choices!

International real estate investing is not for the faint of heart.  Thinking of international real estate investing? South Africa, Bahamas, Panama, and Costa Rica invite and encourage foreign investors. Here is a quick overview of their programs. 

International Real Estate Investing - Awesome Choices!




(Image credit: Pixabay.com)


International Real Estate Investing Choices: South Africa, Bahamas, Panama and Costa Rica

Mrs. Fox, aka cmoneyspinner, former civil servant, now self-employed; engaged in multiple online endeavors, including freelance writing. ... Thinking of international real estate investing? South Africa, Bahamas, Panama an

HubPages

31 January 2020

Investing Advice: Real Estate Investment Trusts: A Primer

Always an old year out and a new year in and many assess and reassess their current financial situation.  Most are hoping the coming year will be better.   Looking for a practical investment vehicle for the upcoming new year?  

Have you considered REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts)?


  • September 14, 2010, marked the 50th anniversary of the U.S. REIT industry.


  • President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1960 creating REITs.


The legislation combined the best attributes of real estate and stock-based investment and placed investments in large-scale income-producing real estate properties within the reach of the small investor.


This made it possible for average investors to invest in REITs in the same way they invested in other industries, i.e. through the purchase of equity-type units. The investor's ownership of real estate is divided into various "units", the value of a unit being a portion of the value of the property/properties owned by the REIT.


REITs are investment vehicles, classified as:

  • equity (EREIT - where a company buys, owns and manages income-generating properties like apartments, shopping malls, buildings with offices, etc.);

  • mortgage (MREIT - which either loan money for mortgages to real estate owners or purchase existing mortgages or MBS (mortgage-backed-securities; also known as "mortgage pass-through."); or

  • hybrid (a portfolio of equity and mortgage REITs combined).


REITs are a means of allowing investors to directly participate in the higher returns generated by real estate properties because, in essence, they own a "piece" of property/properties in the trust.



REITs can be publicly or privately held; however, typically REIT units are publicly quoted and traded, similarly to mutual funds. NAREIT, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, categorizes REITs as publicly traded, private, and non-exchange traded. Public REITs are registered with the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and traded in major stock exchanges just like shares of common stock in other companies are listed and traded. By contrast, private REITs are not registered or traded with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Non-exchange traded REITs are registered with the SEC but not traded on any of the public exchanges.


Two main IRS requirements for REITs are: (1) a company must have most of its assets and income tied to real estate investment, and (2) that company must distribute at least 90 percent of its taxable income to its shareholders yearly. If a company qualifies as a REIT, it can deduct dividends paid to its unit-holders (or shareholders) from its corporate taxable income, and consequently, owe no corporate tax. Applicable taxes will be paid by the unit-holders. Furthermore, in line with IRS treatment, most states do not require REITs to pay state income tax.


REITs may have originated in the US, but the concept has spread around the world. There are Asian and European countries with REIT legislation. The Australian REIT market is the largest in Asia. (REITs are called LPTs there.) However, the US still boasts the largest REIT market.


Regardless of the host of issues adversely impacting the real estate market currently, REITs are still an easy convenient means for the average investor to invest in high-value income-producing property and other areas of real estate that would otherwise be totally inaccessible to them, because they simply do not have the funds to buy and sell properties in their own. REITs, as a sub-component of the financial industry, have become and will likely remain an integral segment of the economy.


REIT shares clearly can benefit most investors, whether value-driven or growth-oriented, individual or institutional. They offer the benefits of ongoing current income, with the potential for long-term capital appreciation that historically has met or exceeded inflation.


They are equities that derive a large part of their value from tangible, hard assets and the effective management of those assets.


They have been proven to bring the benefits of balance, diversification and greater risk/reward efficiency to a broad range of investment portfolios."


REITs Still Serve Their Legislative Intent
- Whether the real estate market is in crisis or stable, REITs serve their legislative intent, i.e. they are a means or method for the small investor aka "Joe the plumber", to invest in commercial real estate.

This article is just an introduction; a primer. NAREIT®, the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts®, the "voice for REITs" continues to supply significant news and reports affecting the real estate investment world, and more specifically REIT investors.


TreathylFOX (Cmoneyspinner) · Published 3 years ago via Yahoo Answers

Invest in reits text on blackboard with 3d house
© Photographer: Info40555 | Agency: Dreamstime.com





https://foxnet2017.tumblr.com/post/630269023614074880/tax-tips-for-real-estate-investment-trusts


https://foxnet2017.tumblr.com/post/630269100406505472/economy-creating-lots-more-millionaires-the

21 October 2019

The Snowman-Costa Rica Link

Ever see the movie “The Falcon and the Snowman” (1985)*? It provides a very convincing argument for buying real estate in Costa Rica.

*(View the official movie trailer.)



The Falcon and the Snowman starred Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn.   I think the movie should be incorporated into an orientation training class for all civil servants who work in the law enforcement agencies – CIA, NSA, ICE, FBI, etc.   The movie was intense. Riveting! A favorite word used by official movie critics. The best part of the movie for me is David Bowie and Pat Metheny on the soundtrack.   But I digress.

dvdThe movie is about a young guy (Christopher Boyce, played by Timothy Hutton) who works for the government and learns that “things” are not what they appear to be and feels betrayed by his country. He gets angry about it – as any red-blooded patriot would – and decides to sells secrets to “The Enemy”. He recruits his childhood friend (Daulton Lee, played by Sean Penn) who is a dope head! Long story short. In the end they both go to prison. In between, Mr. Lee gets caught and accused of murder. Of course, he didn’t commit the murder but that didn’t stop the law enforcement authorities who captured him from grilling him, thoroughly interrogating him, and torturing him to get the truth out of him.

After all is said and done – they say “He did!,” – he say ”He didn’t! He’s just a tourist, a businessman.” – there’s a scene where he’s about to be released and a man walks in and says something to the effect: “We’re going to give you 2 choices.” Before the man could tell what the choices were, Mr. Lee (Sean Penn) looks up at the guy, weary, scared, demoralized and says in questioning tone of voice: “Costa Rica?”

I CRACKED UP LAUGHING!!

I thought to myself: ‘Now ain’t that sumthin! They done beat the crap about this boy and he is totally weakened and confused, but he still had the clarity of mind to try to negotiate to get sent to Costa Rica!!’ :)
 

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Costa Rica Map (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Costa RicaThis is not a movie review.

Those were introductory remarks to bring the reader to the real topic to be discussed in this post:

 

COSTA RICA

Costa Rica means “Rich Coast”.
  • Capital:   San Jose
  • Primary Language: Spanish
  • Location:  Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama.
Located in the heart of Central America, thousands of tourists decide on Costa Rica as their top travel choice. Why wouldn’t they? Exquisite tropical beaches, entertaining and stimulating culture, adventurous – a land of volcanoes, rain forests, waterfalls, and rivers – and wonder-filled! – natural parks and amazing diving! It’s ideal for a vacation. In fact, the prestigious British newspaper, Daily Mail, recommended Costa Rica as the “perfect destination” for nature and adventure enthusiasts. Ref:  DAILY MAIL article, January 19, 2011.

So for people considering Living, Visiting, or Retiring in Costa Rica, click here to obtain a Free Costa Rica Fact Sheet -OR- click here to find out more about Costa Rica -OR- click here to see what others – possibly “tourists” – have written about it:  Costa Rica – Central America – HubPages.com.

21 February 2019

23 December 2018

Movie-Dash-Travel : The Snowman-Costa Rica Link

Ever see the movie "The Falcon and the Snowman" (1985)*? It provides a very convincing argument for buying real estate in Costa Rica. 

*(View the official movie trailer.)




dvd "The Falcon and the Snowman" starred Timothy Hutton and Sean Penn. I think the movie should be incorporated into an orientation training class for all civil servants who work in the law enforcement agencies “ CIA, NSA, ICE, FBI, etc. The movie was intense. Riveting! A favorite word used by official movie critics. The best part of the movie for me is David Bowie and Pat Metheny on the soundtrack. But I digress. The movie is about a young guy (Christopher Boyce, played by Timothy Hutton) who works for the government and learns that "things" are not what they appear to be and feels betrayed by his country. He gets angry about it “ as any red-blooded patriot would - and decides to sells secrets to "The Enemy". He recruits his childhood friend (Daulton Lee, played by Sean Penn) who is a dope head! Long story short. In the end, they both go to prison.  There is also a book written about this story as well.
The Falcon and the Snowman: A True Story of Friendship and Espionage by Robert Lindsey (2002-06-02)

In between, Mr. Lee gets caught and accused of murder. Of course, he didn't commit the murder but that didn't stop the law enforcement authorities who captured him from grilling him, thoroughly interrogating him, and torturing him to get the truth out of him.
After all is said and done “ they say "He did!," - he say "He didn't! He's just a tourist, a businessman." - there's a scene where he's about to be released and a man walks in and says something to the effect: "We're going to give you 2 choices." Before the man could tell what the choices were, Mr. Lee (Sean Penn) looks up at the guy, weary, scared, demoralized and says in questioning tone of voice: "Costa Rica?" I CRACKED UP LAUGHING!! I thought to myself: 'Now ain't that sumthin! They done beat the crap about this boy and he is totally weakened and confused, but he still had the clarity of mind to try to negotiate to get sent to Costa Rica!!' :)


Costa Rica
Costa Rica (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is not a movie review.

Those were introductory remarks to bring the reader to the real topic to be discussed in this post:

COSTA RICA

Costa Rica means "Rich Coast".
  • Capital: San Jose
  • Primary Language: Spanish
  • Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama.
Located in the heart of Central America, thousands of tourists decide on Costa Rica as their top travel choice. Why wouldn't they? Exquisite tropical beaches, entertaining and stimulating culture, adventurous - a land of volcanoes, rain forests, waterfalls, and rivers - and wonder-filled! “ natural parks and amazing diving! It's ideal for a vacation. In fact, the prestigious British newspaper, Daily Mail, recommended Costa Rica as the "perfect destination" for nature and adventure enthusiasts. Ref: DAILY MAIL article, January 19, 2011. So for people considering Living, Visiting, or Retiring in Costa Rica, click here to obtain a Free Costa Rica Fact Sheet -OR- click here to find out more about Costa Rica -OR- click here to see what others “ possibly "tourists" - have written about it: Costa Rica - Central America - HubPages.com.

* * Vacation Rentals in Costa Rica * *

* * Costa Rica on a Budget: It Can Be Done * *

By the way, if you're in Costa Rica and you want to make a side trip, Nicaragua might be an adventure!

International Real Estate Investing Choices: South Africa, Bahamas, Panama and Costa Rica

Thinking of international real estate investing? South Africa, Bahamas, Panama and Costa Rica invite and encourage foreign investors. Here is a quick overview of their programs.


* Duplicate Post.  Apologies.  (It happens.) *

18 April 2017

Panama Welcomes Foreign Investors

Why Invest in Panama Real Estate?  It's an easy question to answer.


International Real Estate Investing Choices: South Africa, Bahamas, Panama and Costa Rica

Thinking of international real estate investing? South Africa, Bahamas, Panama and Costa Rica invite and encourage foreign investors. Here is a quick overview of their programs.


Fun Fact About Panama:  "The Pollera is the most beautiful and admired national costume of the Americas. There are many tales related about its origin, but the popular opinion is that it was adapted from a gypsy dress worn in Spain at the time of the conquest of Peru and brought to Panama by the servants of the colonial families. It normally consists of a blouse or shirt and a two-tiered full skirt. ..." (Source: Polleras of Panama | PanamaLiving.com)





Real Estate Investing in the Rainbow Nation, South Africa

Thank you for visiting.  This content has been republished elsewhere on the web.




International Real Estate Investing Choices: South Africa, Bahamas, Panama and Costa Rica

Thinking of international real estate investing? South Africa, Bahamas, Panama and Costa Rica invite and encourage foreign investors. Here is a quick overview of their programs.

23 July 2014

A Plan to Tailor a Seller-Finance Note for Resale

When property sellers need to receive as much cash as possible immediately for the down payment on their next house, it is critical to anticipate this need in order to use seller financing to their advantage.

Getting top dollar for a note
In a typical seller-financed closing, the seller only receives cash from the down payment at the time of sale. This amount could be used to pay the real estate agent and put the remainder toward their own down payment on another house, but in many cases, the amount received is not enough. In addition, sellers who use private financing to close the sale will not get the full amount financed when the note is sold.

Most sellers need as much money as possible when they "cash out" their newly created note, so their objective is to sell the note at the lowest discount possible. And to do this, they will need to create a secured cash flow that is attractive to note buyers.

Note pricing factors
The size of the discount - i.e., the difference between the purchase price and the remaining balance - depends largely on factors such as the specifics about the payer, the property/price, and the note terms. If the note is created without these important criteria in mind, the seller may have a difficult time finding a buyer to pay the amount that the homeowner needs.

The Payer
Clearly, there isn't much the seller can do about the "quality" of the payer because most people interested in accepting seller financing are higher-risk borrowers. Still, if there is more than one party interested in buying their property, sellers offering financing can still discriminate based on credit history or the amount of the down payment offered.

The Property/Price
Similarly, the seller can't change the basic facts about their property - where it's located, the type of structure, or its age or condition. But, the seller can control the price they set for their property.

Most sellers have a specific amount in mind that they need to get out of a sale. In traditional real estate sales, getting that money usually is determined by the property's price. But with seller financing, there is another step that is taken before the seller ends up with the total amount of money they were looking for - the note must be sold.

Since private notes are typically sold at a discount, the seller must set their price higher than the amount they were looking for to compensate for the drop that will come with the buyer's offer. By setting the price slightly higher than market value, the seller can create a note that sells with a minimal discount. Individuals that don't qualify for conventional funding are motivated to buy real estate, even if the price is somewhat higher than market value.

Increasing the sales price and the implied value of the property will not actually affect the buyer's discount, but the adjustment could lead to more money in the seller's pocket.
A higher sale price means a note with a larger unpaid balance, which could still bring the seller the desired net amount after discounting. Keep in mind that higher sale prices can also lead to larger down payments (as a set percentage of the price), resulting in more money in the seller's pocket.

The Note Terms
The most important thing for sellers to do is to structure their note so that the buyers won’t be forced to incorporate a deep discount into their offers. From the buyer’s point of view, higher interest rates and shorter terms are preferred. The actual offer made is based on the yield the buyer is looking for; in general, higher yields are associated with riskier notes. The discount is directly related to the difference between the interest rate on the note and the buyer’s desired yield.
While sellers can’t know exactly what a buyer’s required yield will be, the seller can certainly create a note that could minimize the expected discount. Generally, buyers will want to receive a yield anywhere between 12% and 20% on a note. While yield parameters will fluctuate with the market, a 10% yield is typically the lowest they will accept for new notes.

A Note Creation Example
Because buyers usually want to earn a yield above 12%, creating a note with an interest rate under 10% would automatically mean a steep discount when the note is sold.

For example, creating a cash flow with a 3% interest rate doesn’t make any sense if the seller needs to get top dollar for their note, because there is already a seven-point difference between the interest rate and the buyer's desired yield. In addition, most buyers will create a gap in their favor by yielding at least one point more than the interest rate.

Sellers can also avoid unnecessary discounts by reducing the terms of their notes. Another part of a buyer's discount is based on the time-value of money principle, meaning that notes that take longer to be paid off will usually be discounted accordingly. An ideal term for a private secured note is between five to ten years (60 to 120 months).

Conversely, it isn't a good idea to shorten the term down to two years or less because a foreclosure situation will be created - the monthly payment will likely be too steep for the payer to keep up with for long.

By keeping the eventual note buyer's criteria in mind when creating a private note, property sellers can ensure that their real estate note deal works out the best for them and that they net the highest amount possible when a cash settlement is reached.
********
Article first published under the title: “Strategies for Strong Resale”
Used by permission from the library of Russ Dalbey: Winning in the Cash Flow Business
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Originally Posted on May 13, 2013 at 3:25 PM - Cinex Notes Services
CNS Blog was discontinued; eff date June 11, 2014.








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RELEVANT NOTES:
  • One of the web domains formally used by Dalbey was http://www.notenetwork.com/.













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