Archive for August, 2011

Looking For A Cyprus Investment Property?

If you are looking to invest in a secure and strong property market then if you do your homework you can’t really go wrong with a Cyprus investment property. There are many things to consider when investing in property such as capital growth mortgage rates rentability accessibility the weather and so on. This article discusses the reasons why I think Southern Cyprus is an excellent property investment opportunity. On the contrary I think Northern Cyprus is not a safe investment but I’ll discuss this one in a later article!

A Cyprus Property Example The Weather

There are approximately 340 days of sunshine a year in Cyprus where the tourists and the locals can enjoy basking in the sun. When the weather in the neighboring countries is getting cold Cyprus is still warm and sunny. If you buy a property and your main aim is rental then an allyearround rental season is a huge bonus especially with more and more holiday makers looking for winter sun.

The Law and Taxes

Cyprus is a very British island and has adopted many of the English common laws. Not only are the laws very similar to the UK but the locals also speak very good English as this is their adopted second language. For this reason there is a large amount of British buyers many of whom buy a property in Cyprus for retirement purposes. There is still a strong influx of second homebuyers and investors but the low taxes are a great incentive for permanent living and investment. In fact the inheritance tax in Cyprus is 0 and UK pensions are taxed at only 5.

The European Union EU

When Cyprus became a member of the EU property investors became increasingly interested in the Cyprus property market. On top of this a new VAT rate was of 20 was added to new build property where planning permission was not granted before the law came into affect. Previously VAT was 0 so together these factors caused a large influx of investors.

As of the 1st January 2008 Cyprus will also adopt the Euro single currency. These changes to the Cyprus investment property market will surely mean longer term security for your hard earned money.

Shortage of Land for Developers

There is a shortage of land for developers to build on in Cyprus and there are strict planning laws on the height and density of new developments. In the medium term the amount of new builds will decrease and the amount of resales will increase proving that getting into the market early should show some strong capital gains in 5 years.

Budget Airlines

The first budget flights from the UK were launched this year indicating a much stronger and predict growth for travelers. Again this can only benefit the buytolet market if that is your main goal for a Cyprus investment property.

Banks and Mortgages

It is relatively simple to get a mortgage in Cyprus and with mortgage rates falling inline with the EU it has become a great place to arrange your mortgage. Mortgage terms can be up to 90 of the LTV and repayment terms can be up to 30 years.

Short Term or Long Term?

I think the short term “buy to sell” market has cooled down due to the number of developments currently on offer and the shear volume of developers in competition. This could actually bring on uncertain and unpredictable turbulence in the next year or two. On the other hand this means you can still pickup bargains if you do your homework before visiting Cyprus. For a medium to long term investment in Cyprus property I really don’t think you can go wrong within Southern Cyprus. As a sun destination there are very few markets as safe and attractive as this one.

As for the areas of Cyprus and the different types of property to invest in I will cover this a separate article.

About the writer:  George Gonigal provides you the best and latest info on India Properties. He would also let you know about Mumbai Properties.

How To Manage The Customer And Get The Tricky Mortgage Deal Closed

One of the toughest things as a loan officer to do is to know when to keep or kill a deal. Of course we all want as much business as we can handle. But spending time on loans that dont close wastes more time and leaves you with nothing to show for it. Not to mention the good deals suffer and youre out your commission!

Knowing when to giveup on a loan is just as important as knowing how to get the loan to the closing table. Here are some suggestions on how to manage your customers and get more loans closed:

1. Keep control of the customer from day one. Set down your expectations for the loan process and what you expect from the customer. Tell them that this is a team effort and you are working as diligently as possible to get them the best rate and terms available for their situation. But in order to do this you need their cooperation and commitment to move forward. Tell them what you need and ask them on what day you can expect to receive things by. I like to pin people down to a specific day. They hold me accountable and I inturn am holding them accountable as well.

2. Build rapport early on. Get a sense of the customers personality and what matters to them. Understand completely what their reasons are for doing the loan and use these motivating factors to help steer them through the process. Every time I speak with a customer I again tell them why they are doing this and hit them with their benefits cashout debt consolidation monthly savings lower rate etc.. It is the customers point of view that is most important. By the way my system will help you to uncover the customers true motivation and build rapportI include very specific questions to ask! Visit http://www.loanclosingsystem.com to learn more.

3. Explain every detail of the loan process. Sometimes being in the industry we forget that not everyone understands how mortgages work. It can be a long road to the closing table and you want to make sure the customer understands exactly what is going to happen and when. You dont want them to think that they can just cancel thirdparty appointments such as appraisers or surveyors without consequence!

4. Always assume the loan if moving forward. Customers like to make excuses and waffle on certain things like getting their documents to you. What I do is always assume we are pressing ahead and on track. I am the driver of this bus and let the customer know it. For example Mr. Jones I was just getting your file ready for underwriting however there are just a few more pieces of information we need. Do you have a pen and paper ready? How soon do you think we can get these by? O.K. I will expect to see your documents on date. Let me give you my fax number etc.. Everyday you want to push the file ahead as far as you can. Push! Push! Push!

5. Listen for signs of waffling or hesitation. Here are some things to be aware of which may mean the customer is still shopping you or is not completely sold: customer holdsback on getting income/asset documents to you customer keeps putting off appraisal appointment there are recent inquiries on their credit report from other mortgage companies you have received negative feedback from the lawyer or any other third party customer doesnt return calls. These are signs of a customer that isnt fully onboard.

If youve done all these things and are still having difficulty with the customer then its probably a good idea to kill the deal. There are many roadblocks you can overcome but when the customer isnt fully committed you shouldnt be either. You cant drag someone to the closing table that doesnt want to be there. Get rid of the bad loan and focus on loans you can close successfully.

About the writer:  Rob Lawrence is ranked one of top national trainers in the mortgage industry. He is the currently the CEO of Battlecall.com coaching tools and resources to turn mortgage professionals into mortgage warriors. Visit http://www.battlecall.com for his free Sink Or Swim weekly newsletter mortgage training marketing advice and more! Jumpstart your career in the mortgage business starting today.

Sugarland Texas Has Garnered A Well-Deserved Reputation

Just fifty years ago Sugar Land Texas was a tiny hamlet that had grown up as a company owned town. Developed as a residential community to support the Imperial Sugar Company it was not until 1959 that the area became a city under law.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s the city grew but not in the haphazard way that many cities expanded during those years of growth. Instead the city’s government worked closely with developers to create master planned communities that offered amenities like golf courses public parks and greenbelts clubhouses and fitness centers. By the 1990s this city had garnered a welldeserved reputation as one of the best places to live in Fort Bend County.

That’s when things really started happening for the area. In the last half of the 1990s Sugar Land’s population grew by 158 making it the fastest growing county in Texas. As before much of the growth was in master planned communities offering lakefront home sites Houston luxury homes and beautiful landscaping along with community amenities that created a quality of life that was hard to match in any other community.

Swimming pools and tennis clubs golf courses hiking trails and community gardens contributed to the outdoor recreational lifestyle made possible by the wonderful climate. By the year 2000 the rest of the country began to take notice of this area and year after year the affluent Houston suburb has been ranked among the best places to live in the US. Among the honors that have been heaped on are:

Outstanding Achievement in the City Livability Awards 2007

Fittest City in Texas 2200099000 population

Texas Roundup Governor’s Challenge 2004 2005 2006 2007

Award of Merit American Society of Landscapers and Architects for achievement in Planning and Analysis 2007

Gold Certificate Award to the City of Sugar Land and Fort Bend Independent School District 2007

1 in 100 Best Communities for Young People from America’s Promise The Alliance for Youth 2006

Business Week Top 25 Best and Most Affordable Suburbs in the US 2006

CNN Money and Money Magazine’s Third Best Place to Live
in America 2006

Best of the Best in Standard of Living Education Health and Safety and Lifestyle by Best Places to Raise Your Family: The Top 100 Affordable Communities Wylie 2006

The list goes on and on but the message is unmistakable. It is the kind of city to quote Business Week …that most families dream about but can rarely find within their budget”.

The crime rate is among the lowest in the nation; the job growth rate among the highest. The cost of living is low and the quality of life is high. The community continues to grow as industries take heed of awards from publications like Business Week naming it as one of the top cities in America for business relocation. While many of the oldest homes here are still standing and occupied handed down from generation to generation new construction is keeping pace with the population growth.

New home construction here is an even mix of upscale townhomes and single family homes on beautifully landscaped home building sites. Buyers can choose from “production homes” created from established plans by the best new home builders in Fort Bend County or work with builders to create Houston luxury homes that are specifically designed with their own family in mind.

Those who choose to build new homes here enjoy all the benefits of living in a small town community that values culture arts recreation and education along with all the advantages of being within twenty miles of a major metropolitan city. World class dining entertainment and shopping are just a stone’s throw from the serenity and beauty of a city that was planned for nature and man to live in harmony.

About the writer:  When you bring together outstanding home builders exemplary Fort Bend schools centuryold trees and tons of recreational amenities you’ve got Sienna Plantation. Visit http://www.siennaplantation.com for more information.