When considering buying a prepaid meter as a home owner or a landlord there are several options that one should be aware of. In the electricity prepaid metering industry there are two options and many types of meters.

The two options are: municipal prepaid meter and landlord owned meter.
Many landlords and home owners are not aware of the difference between a municipal prepaid meter (primary meter) and a landlord owned meter (secondary meter).

Both landlords and home owners come across two main barriers to entry when inquiring about installing prepaid meters: First is the price, second barrier is the simple fact that municipality simply does not supply prepaid meters in some areas or that the waiting list to get a prepaid meter installed is 6 months to 2 years with some municipalities. That said, they are not aware of the fact that they are only inquiring for the first option, the municipal prepaid electricity meter.

While landlords with rental property have the option to install sub-meters, also called secondary meters that are owned and managed by the landlord, the home owner wanting a prepaid meter for their primary dwelling unfortunately does not have this option and must turn to the municipality.

To better under this we will look now at the difference between the municipal prepaid meter also called “primary” and the sub-meters which are landlord owned and managed meters.

1. The municipal meter is owned by the municipality and the applicant will only get one at the price of the municipality, waiting list they have and provision of the area if such exists.

2. The secondary meter can be purchased by any landlord, it can be received and installed in a matter of days, the landlord manages the meter and the kwh rate is the same as the municipal tariff for the area.

The first option means that they are at the mercy of the rules and pricing of the municipalities. If the municipality does not provide prepaid meters for their area or the price is prohibitive then really this options is not viable.

Furthermore, with a municipal meter the landlord has absolutely no control of the meter. In other words, the tenant can purchase electricity from any Point of Sale the municipality prescribes and in the same time carry on living without paying the rent to the landlord or avoiding the landlord in that regard.

The second option that landlords have is to purchase a landlord owned meter. Owning a sub-meter does not require municipal approval of any sort. With sub-meters the landlord can buy a meter, often at a third of a municipal meter price and the availability is almost immediate, no long waiting lists for installation.

Sub-meters are also used in multiple dwelling ERFs. Municipality will not provide in almost all cases more than one meter per ERF, which means that if the landlord is letting out a house with one granny flat/cottage or more, the only option is a sub-meter for each tenant. This is being done also in shopping centers and industrial properties, where here are many tenants on one ERF.

Should the landlord opt for a sub-meter, this will mean that the primary meter owned by the municipality will not be removed and the landlord will continue to received the municipal bills. However, the landlord will receive all moneys for prepaid electricity from the tenants. From the amounts collected during the month, the landlord can now pay the bill that will arrive at the end of the month from municipally.

When understanding this setup it becomes evident why the home owner doesn’t really have the sub-meter option. A landlord is avoiding arrears from late or non-payment by a tenant and ensuring the tenant can monitor their own use of electricity. However, as a home owner, one would still receive the municipal bill, which in effect can make a sub-meter of no effect as home owners want to alleviate themselves from municipal bills.

With sub-meters though the landlord is not allowed to re-sell electricity (in South Africa) at a tariff greater than that which the municipality stipulates, the landlord is entitled to install a secondary meter and issue electricity tokens for electricity sold at the municipal rate and, at the same time, the landlord is allowed to charge a service fee for doing this.

Because sub-meters are managed and controlled by the landlord, this also means that the tenant has to approach the landlord to receive electricity tokens, which in turn means that if tenants does not pay for their rental, they will have to face the landlord sooner or later to get electricity tokens.

As opposed to primary prepaid meters, landlord owned and controlled meters now add the additional value of not having to chase the tenant who is avoiding calls from their landlord for late or non-payment of rental, sooner or later will have to approach the landlord for additional electricity tokens.

In summary, though primary meters seem to be the only solution known by landlords, savvy property investors and property owners that need to manage tenants are finding out that sub-meters are often a cheaper, faster to get and install solution that affords them a level of control that is non-existent with primary prepaid metering provided by the municipality.

As for home owners, unfortunately if the wish to stop getting bills from municipalities then, this means that they will have to go the municipal route and go through their local municipality process to purchase a municipal prepaid meter at the municipal cost and installation time.

Sean Wheller is the founder of www.PrePaidMeters.co.za, a PrePaid Metering provider in Africa, dedicated to create efficiency in metering electricity and water for the benefit of both tenants and landlords.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/primary-or-secondary-prepaid-meters-for-real-estate-investors-1149024.html

It’s a family members property. No lease in effect, just a letter given at beginning of rental 2 years ago.
It’s a family members property. No lease in effect, just a letter given at beginning of rental 2 years ago. I was doing them a favor – person elderly didn’t want to rent to a stranger.

Full details at www.vrbo.com . The Botanical Waterfront house is characterized by its Asian influenced accents, both inside and out. The garden area has a very private feel with many unique landscape and water features. The dock area and sunken patio is very cozy with its own accent lighting for those who enjoy late-night chats. As you proceed back to the house, you follow along hedge-lined paths past the pool with its own waterfall to the sundeck area with 4 sun chaise loungers. Water …

California is one of those states where you find all kinds of properties and where the climatic conditions vary hugely from place to place. You have places with moderate temperatures and you have places which experience all four seasons in their full glory. Traffic Jams, beaches and mild earthquakes are all characteristics of California. So there are a number of things to consider before you actually go for investing in California real estate.

The first thing to consider for investing in California real estate is to select the place/area for your California real estate investment. This is more applicable to people who are looking at California real estate more as an option for leading their life (rather than an investment option). That said, even if you have chosen the region for investing in California real estate, you need to be careful with selecting the location in that region i.e. the California real estate piece that will fetch you good profit. Generally, growth of business (e.g. big companies acquiring land for establishing their offices) is an indicator of appreciation in real estate (whether California real estate or any other). That is the consideration with regards to new developments in California real estate or with respect to significant changes in the economic situation of a particular place in California. However, there are always opportunities and they are there everywhere. You just have to hunt those opportunities in order to profitably invest in California real estate. Post cards, phone call, public auctions, foreclosures etc are all possible opportunities/ways of getting a good deal for California real estate investment. You could also partner with the local attorneys in the region i.e. attorneys who handle property matters in case of death, divorce, defaults etc. These people can give you good leads on California real estate investments. In such cases, whoever gets the information first gets the advantage. You can really lay your hands on some good California real estate deals in this way.

Yes, that does take effort and if you were to think that money can be earned without putting-in even that much effort, I would tend to disagree with you. A small amount of effort can really make a difference of thousands of dollars in terms of the California real estate deal that you get. Another good idea is to inform your friends in California that you are looking to buy a piece of California real estate and, in fact, let everyone know that you are looking for a piece of California real estate. A very good California real estate deal might come to you through one of your contacts, you never know.

So with the California real estate prices rising (as always), investing in California real estate does seem like a great idea.

Yanni Raz is a mentor for many in the Real Estate Mortgage industry, Yanni Raz is been tutoring many homeowners in California and help some also to save their homes. http://www.homesinsale.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/investing-in-real-estate-in-california-1148535.html

Anne Arundel is a beautiful county based in Maryland, USA. The name actually derives from the UK, from the Anne Arundell, a member of the Arundells family. The capital of the state is actually Annapolis, which is one of the most popular places in the area to visit. It is a quiet and peaceful place with some wonderful views making it a real hotspot for real estate purchases. A lot of the homes that are purchased or rented are for vacation and get-away purchases, as the area is a great country retreat.

Anne Arundel County is home to over 500,000 residents, a population that has increased at a rapid rate over the last decade or so. Both Baltimore and Washington, D.C are easily accessibly, which means that it is not only a good place to live, but the potential for a professional career is just a short trip away.

What gets most people that visit the area is the vast coastline. The country actually boasts over 500 miles of beautiful coastlines, which is adequately premium waterfront real estate, which is in extremely high demand. If that’s not enough, then there are plenty of activities available within the local community for all ages. The most popular include the likes of sports and extreme water sports, all kinds of fishing, crabbing and swimming.

For the younger people in the area there are two major skate parks which offer both fun and excitement. For the older people in the area there are over 70 country parks which work well with the nature reserves that are also open to the public on a daily basis. Anne Arundel caters for almost all ages and interests, so it is understandable why it is so popular for both residency and vacation related visits.

The only problem with the area is that if you visit, it is likely that you won’t want to return home. Don’t think this is a place for a ‘party’ retreat, but instead look at it as a place that embraces the good aspects of life. For instance, most mornings the 13-mile Baltimore and Annapolis Trail is a great place to visit. Here you’ll meet a range of hikers, joggers, bicycle riders and of course horse riders. Bird watchers are also a regular occurrence here. This is mainly due to the fact that there are a huge range of rare birds spotted on a regular basis such as heron, egrets and eagles.

If you are looking at purchasing real estate in the Anne Arundel County, then all of the above will aid the decision. If you are looking to move based on jobs and family based activities, then the following will definitely interest you. The local area is jam packed of action filled days and weekends for children and adults alike. There are camping weekends for youths as well as football and baseball home teams, that have had some decent success over the last couple of years. Of course, every year there is an annual Bay Bridge Walk, which is an experience not to be missed.

On the employment side of things, it is just as positive. Over the last few years the growth of employment in the area as been huge and has been recognised as one of the strongest in the state. On the flip side, the unemployment rate is also one of the lowest compared with surrounding areas. This makes it both a great place to purchase real estate and an extremely stable place to be employed.

Because of the desire to live and visit the area, residential and commercial investors are jumping on the real estate ladder. You’ll see a range of properties that have been developed to an extremely high standard. A lot of the properties that have been redeveloped by real estate professionals are available to rent for vacation rentals or even long term rentals. Quick research on local property sites will see the high demand that the area gets. Property prices are steadily rising and as the local residents develop the area to become even more active, it is likely that property prices will see a sharp rise over the next few years, regardless of the economic downturn.

This article is provided courtesy of Thomasville Homes, experts in Anne Arundel real estate for over 15 years.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/learn-about-anne-arundel-county-real-estate-1144621.html

Seven Hills, Georgia: Spells Fun, Fun and Fun!

Seven Hills, Georgia: Summer is speedy nearing! You would popularly learn Seven Hills from households who are on the watch for a place to pass the night or two away from all the stir and bustle about of the city streets and disturbances. It is one of the greatest situations where a family can live in. Do you know why? It is because Seven Hills, Georgia is just situated confined to the proximity of Waleska, but although it may be close to Metro Atlanta, it yet inherited the ideals and precepts of a small town in the United States. The lake community is immaculate with the family and the family values, as well. They can have a laid-back lifestyles here at Seven Hills.

A Marvelous Sight

Seven Hills, Georgia is located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Driving north from Atlanta on I-285, it only necessitates about forty minutes to drive to Seven Hills, Georgia and see the calm beauty of nature that is being well protected to defend the ecological equilibrium of the lakes residential setting. From the city of Atlanta, you need to drive 52 miles and that will take you to where this deep blue impeccable lake is situated. Having this unlimited scenery prepares Seven Hills, Georgia one of the immaculate holiday getaways with its meticulous slackening atmosphere, even more challenging when you get to live here. The mountain peaks ravishing view plus the lakes unperturbed waters could solely be relished attaining the atmosphere all the m+ore clear. Glorious panorama of the private status of the lake affects the stay in Seven Hills a charming vacation escape.

What It Has to Offer

This lake, which boasts of unsurpassable amenities, is nestled on the foothill of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The waterfront community helps as the centerpiece of this huge piece of land with azure blue stream fed water. The total area of the entire Seven Hills, Georgia reaches depths of 80 feet and has 540 acres, which gives it one of the biggest privately possessed man-made lakes in Georgia and ranges first as the finest resort in the state. Recently, it has built its own Highlands Golf Course, which is an 18-hole golf course. Not simply that, the 8,000 acres of grassy woodland have all the honouring lifestyles to volunteer and it has all the components of a family vacation escapade that you and your family has invariably envisioned and intended of.

If you are anticipating for a situation where you and your family could all venture out to, then there’s nothing like experiencing one summer escapade every one of you will savour at Seven Hills, Georgia. It has all the characteristics of a remarkable and marvelous place where it would import fun, fun, and overwhelming fun. Skiing with ski boats, playing golf, fishing, listening to the lapping of the water, or simply viewing the children play near the lake, it all creates plenty feel that homes here at Seven Hills, Georgia is all about merriment and relaxation behavior!

The seven hills georgia is located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains available at http://ogilviesignaturehomes.comArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/seven-hills-georgia-get-close-to-the-nature-1145303.html

i moved into my rented council house 10 years ago and pay the same rent as my neighbours but my back garden is half the size because the council sold half of it to a neighbour who lives at the back of my house in another street. can i claim rent back?

There are many occasions when you have to consider a quick house sale to liquidate your property. These may range from repossession to a divorce or perhaps relocation to another country. Whatever the reason and however distressing the cause you don’t have to lose out on getting maximum equity from the sale of your home.

By using the services of a reputable and experienced broker you can actually concentrate on getting the best market value in the least stressful manner and sell your house conveniently. Whether your house is in great condition or rundown you can find a broker that can put the right of value on your home and let you get the most out of it.

This is the real challenge which only experienced and committed brokers can take on. After all it is your life saving and investment that they’re dealing with so you want to make sure that it is in professional hands.

When you take on the services of a good broker the process is finalized between 5 to 10 days and you can even sell commercial or residential property depending on your requirement.

Evaluation of The Market Value Of The Property

For a quick house sale it is essential to evaluate the market value of the commercial or residential property. This is done after assessing the location, covered area, plot size and the overall condition of the home or office.
After these factors are evaluated the financial experts prepare competitive rates for the property with a median high and low. The final value that you will derive on the sale of the property should fall in this median.

The reason why quick property sales are preferred by homeowners who want to liquidate their assets is because it is a cash sale and you can get the funds within 24 hours in your bank. Other than that the broker takes care of the sale deed and all other documentation necessary to close the deal with a buyer. Selling the property should be given as much if not more important than buying one. It is best to look for brokerage houses through referrals rather than advertisements. This way you will at least know that someone has tried and had a good experience with a particular organization.

Option two: rent back the property you sell

With the latest real estate trend you can actually rent out the home that you have sold. If your main reason for selling off the home was to get some cash then you don’t necessarily want to move out. In this situation you can sign up a long-term rental lease with the new owner and continue to live in the house.

However, in order to get the best market value for your home as well as a good rental agreement you need to contact brokers who are experienced in these matters. Generally you can live there indefinitely if the person has purchased the home as an investment. This means that they would ideally be looking to put it up for rent. What could be easier than to actually rent it out to people who currently reside in the house. This creates an ideal win-win situation for both the seller and the investor. The seller gets to save up on finding a new lease or house on mortgage and the investor gets to enjoy return on equity immediately through the rental earnings.

Stop repossession on your family home with reliable brokers at croftpropertyholdings.co.uk. The company is an expert in providing sell and rent back solutions to home owners.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/choose-reliable-brokers-for-quick-property-sale-1142360.html