I have recently slipt with my fiance and we own a flat together. Because we moved with work this flat is currently being let out. If we sell it we will be lucky to break even, should I buy him out of his share as I intend to live in this area? I am living with my parents at the moment and could continue to rent it out for the time being untill I get some money together and I am afraid I will not be able to buy somewhere on my own in future and will have to rent if I move out (which I would like to do!) but this would be a waste of money. The other thing is I would like to travel – would owning this place prevent that? I suppose I could keep it rented. Help!!! I am only 26, so I could buy later but I need some impartial advice…. should I cut lose or keep the investment?

One of the biggest causes for the housing bubble (and, later, it’s big pop) was the difficulty and complexity of shopping for home mortgages. With so many different fees and rates and penalties and points to compare, the average home buyer had an incredibly difficult time trying to figure out what kind of mortgage was best for them, while many dishonest lenders tried to confuse consumers into more costly options.

Now the Department of Housing and Urban Development are trying to help. New rules for RESPA (the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) that were announced all the way back in November of 2008 are finally being put into place. The changes will require that all lenders provide a standardized three-page Good Faith Estimate that helps consumers compare various offers and encourages them to shop around. Consumers are entitled to these estimates within three days of the lender receiving their loan application.

Also, according to the new rules, lenders cannot increase the origination fee from the one listed on the estimate. Other fees can be increased, but only if, combined, they add up to 10% or less of the original estimate. Estimates for other third party charges, such as homeowner’s insurance and title insurance, are not subject to such limits. Speaking of title insurance, the new estimate forms inform consumers that they do not have to choose the insurer suggested by their lender and, once again, are encouraged to shop around for the best rate.

Back in July, the Fed also proposed some changes in the Truth in Lending Act that would bar brokers and loan officers from steering people from one type or loan or another, which will hopefully allow consumers to avoid the mortgage messes that they allowed themselves to be led into a few years ago.

Some in the industry are not pleased with implementing these changes at all, while others feel that they may not be enough to make any real difference. But most agree that something, at least, is better than nothing.

Lee Cameron is a professional REALTOR® serving the Orlando real estate market. Lee has consistently proven his talent and knowledge in the real estate business and is known to his flair the business and the care with which he treats his clients. For more info on homes & properties in Orlando contact Lee today.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/new-mortgage-rules-1750715.html

British Colombia, Canada, is well-known throughout the world for its gorgeous and dazzling mountain views, vibrant and bustling cities, a strong and diverse culture, and its numerous recreational activities such as the stunning golf courses and exciting ski resorts. In British Columbia, the real estate market has always been a booming business. However, due to the recent down turn in the economy, the British Columbia real estate market had experienced a brief cooling off period. Now, this exciting and beautiful Canadian province has started to make a strong recovery. A distinct bounce back in consumer demand has turned a possible gloomy 2010 into a very strong year for home sales. A boost in consumer confidence, increased consumer demand, and low mortgage interest rates, have all played an important role in improving the British Columbia real estate market.

Real Estate developers are not only attracting retirees, but they are also attracting an innovative young work force. Many developers are responding to consumer demands for a private piece of paradise where people can enjoy the beautiful scenery, but still have access to a vibrant and culturally diverse city such as Vancouver. Whether you are looking for a cozy and private residential home or looking for new real estate investment opportunities, British Columbia provides many real estate options for the informed investor. Investors and home buyers are recognizing these opportunities. For instance, the average annual MLS (R) residential price in the province is expected to rise 2 per cent. In 2010, many experts are also expecting to see another increase of 4 per cent in the price of real estate. More specifically, home sales in 2010 are projected to increase an additional 8 per cent.

The interior housing markets of British Colombia are also seeing vigorous consumer demand because of stronger market conditions and current low mortgage rates that are boosting home sales. Vancouver, BC has recently seen a large jump in quarterly sales. According to figures released by the Canadian Real Estate Association, Vancouver is fast becoming one of the hottest real estate markets in Canada. As well, Vancouver and Victoria have declared near record sales this past fall.

Many regions across the Province are now seeing strong home sales. For instance, home sales in the Fraser Valley and the city of Victorian have seen a rapid growth in home sales. In fact, sales in Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and Victoria have boosted the province’s overall home sales total to almost record levels. In December of 2009, The British Columbia Real Estate Association reported that Multiple Listing Service (R) residential sales in the province have made a remarkable increase this past November. However, it is important to note that the demand in these residential sales markets is expected to level off in 2010 as demand is exhausted and home prices begin to rise again.

With the current low interest rates available on mortgages, many experts suggest that it may be a good time to look at the real estate investment opportunities in British Colombia. As the economy slowly rebounds, one may find themselves with a lucrative investment in a beautiful province.

If you are looking for BC real estate, or even just the best ski condos around the area, then look no further! We offer the best locations and prices!Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/the-real-estate-market-in-british-columbia-1744476.html

Would you get a fair price, would you pay a fair rent. Is the house bought outright, or just part of it. How does it work. UK only.

For those unfamiliar with Auckland, especially those living offshore, it may be a daunting task when first attempting to identify potential properties to rent or purchase.The first task is to narrow the region of interest to a particular suburb.

My advice to everyone looking to purchase particularly is as follows;

- firstly define your absolute requirements i.e. 3 bedrooms, 2 car garaging, pool etc
- then decide upon your maximum budget
- the next step is to select a major real estate website and insert the search criteria house for sale Auckland, inserting the criteria as defined above (its always useful to insert a price range a little above your budget to allow for negotiation.)

The resulting properties identified will be across all Auckland regions and will allow you to decide which areas to eliminate immediately by the standard and type of properties on offer.

For those unfamiliar with the suburbs identified, a map search will give a clear picture of where each suburb is located in relation to main commercial and geographical features. This will, again, enable you to eliminate regions and begin to define suburbs of interest.

Repeating this process on a number of websites, commencing with the criteria house for sale Auckland and working through the above process will confirm your selection of appropriate suburbs.

For those wishing to sell a property, commencing with the heading house for sale Auckland is likely to render your investment in marketing, at best, ineffectual as, like all major cities those looking to purchase have much more closely defined geographic criteria and the likelihood of such wide criteria catching a buyer’s attention is minimal.

Those wishing to sell a motor vehicle would never use a heading “car for sale” and yet we do see people being equally as ineffectual when attempting to sell homes of far greater value.

Simon Damerell is one of the co-principals at Ray White Ponsonby, Auckland New Zealand. Having lived in the greater Ponsonby area, on and off, for the past 40 years, Simon’s respect, dedication, and knowledge of the area is unparalleled. Ray White Ponsonby : House Sales Auckland New Zealand

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/houses-for-sale-in-auckland-advice-for-buyers-1738093.html

Being happy when purchasing a new house is one thing but the mere thought of moving the contents from your old house to that dream house of yours can be quite frustrating. Furthermore, in this dog eat dog world, customers are susceptible to scams. So before we become “lunch”, it’s wise if we are aware of common scams that even national moving companies might unleash upon us, customers.

The most common scam is when the company gives a rough estimation and then ships your items to the designated location only to add on extra charges on the way. Then, the moving company will hold back your items and only return it to you once you agree to pay the price they insist upon. This is similar to keeping “hostages” in view of kidnapping.

There are also moving companies who lure you to them by enticing you with a very low price only to jack up the price at they very last minute which is most probably during when the items are on delivery. There are some moving companies who give quotation based on the weight of items first. However when the items are on the moving truck, the moving company changes the quotation to the space occupied by the items. This is of course more expensive as the charges are based on cubic metres. So the important reminder here is that there is no such thing as free lunch in this world.

The worst scam of all is when the moving company demands for payment when the items are being delivered. Once the customer pays up, the moving company disappears with the customer’s items. If lady luck smiles upon the deceived, the customer might find the items abandoned somewhere or else the items could be sold off in the black market.

To avoid such scams, here are some hints. Reliable national moving companies provide on site estimates which is then confirmed in an agreement between the two parties involved. Customers should also check the existence of the moving company by checking the address. It is also advisable to get quotations from three or more moving companies similar to getting second opinions from different doctors. A tell tale sign of a fraudulent moving company is through the moving company’s complaint history.

At the end, I’d like to share cool website with more information on topics like movers new york and movers nyc . Visit for more details.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/common-moving-company-problems-we-should-avoid-1735623.html

There are four major methods of foundation repair in the southern part of the United States. They are known as concrete pressed pilings, concrete pressed pilings with insert, steel pressed pilings, and poured concrete piers (Bell Bottom Piers). It should be noted that the Federal Housing Authority has not certified or expressly established “approved foundation repair methods.”

A comparison of foundation repair methods must include the poured concrete piers or Bell Bottom Pier method. It was the first foundation repair method developed to stabilize concrete slab foundations. It was developed in the 1960s and its primary disadvantages are higher cost and longer construction time. However, this method has impressive advantages. It is based on the same construction concept that is used to build support columns for highway overpasses. It is a thoroughly researched concrete slab repair method that is recommended by the vast majority of structural engineers. Large holes are dug under the areas that need foundation support. Concrete is poured into the holes and steel rebar is placed in the wet concrete. When the concrete is dry the building structure can be leveled. The Bell Bottom Piers are extremely strong and will resist all horizontal and vertical soil movement. It is the most permanent foundation repair method available.

In the 1980s a lower cost but remarkably inferior method of foundation repair was developed called concrete pressed pilings. It is probably the simplest and lowest cost of all the methods of foundation repair. It is still used today because in can be completed in a short amount of time and there is no waiting time for the concrete to cure. However, it has major disadvantages. This process uses the weight of the building structure, or a portion of it, to leverage or vertically drive precast concrete cylinders into the ground. The depth of the driving process is limited by both soil conditions and the weight of the building structure. There is a point called the refusal point, which is the point where it takes more force to drive additional piles than it does to lift the building structure. The refusal point is the limit that piles can be driven into the soil because any additional force would raise the foundation of the building structure rather than driving the piles further into the soil. Therefore, the precast pressed pilings, which are driven-in vertically, many not reach bedrock or stable soil. Perhaps the greatest disadvantage of this method is the fact that there is nothing preventing the misalignment of the precast concrete cylinders. There is no way to determine if piles have been driven in the ground in a straight vertical column. If the first pile hits a big rock it could break or become misdirected and continue at an angle. Any of the concrete piles could fracture and break and misalign the entire column. Even if the concrete piles are aligned in a vertical column they have no way to resist future horizontal soil movement, which is very common with any building structure that is experiencing foundation problems. And another potential drawback is that the repair crew may improperly exceed the driving limitation while forcing these concrete piles into the ground and thus severely crack the foundation they are supposed to be stabilizing. This method is an unproven foundation repair method and typically no soil test is performed prior to installation. For these reasons, the concrete pressed pilings method is recommended far less frequently than in the past.

Because of the severe deficiencies of the concrete pressed pilings method, a variation was developed called the concrete pressed pilings with insert method. A comparison of these methods of foundation repair will reveal that they are very similar. The minor difference is that the precast concrete piles have a hole in the center for placement of a steel rod. The steel rod, if inserted during the driving process, will help keep the concrete piles in a vertically aligned column. However, the steel rod will not prevent all potential misalignment problems. The steel rod will help the entire column resist horizontal soil movement. Unfortunately, this new method does not address the other disadvantages mentioned earlier. The depth of the driven vertical concrete piles is still limited by the weight of the building structure. And the foundation of the building structure is still as risk of damage if the repair crew exceeds the driving limitations. In addition, this method introduced a center hole in the vertical column of the concrete piles that will accumulate water. An accumulation of water in expansive soils will put additional forces on the vertical column as well as the foundation.

The steel piling method is the latest version of the pressed piling method. A comparison of these three similar methods of foundation repair will reveal some improvement with the latest version. Steel pilings are stronger than concrete piles and can be driven deeper into the soil. However, the driving depth is still limited by the weight of the building structure and the refusal point. And the steel pilings are thinner than the precast concrete pilings and less able to resist the forces of vertical and horizontal soil movement. And steel piling also share the other disadvantages of concrete piling such as misalignment that cannot be detected and unconnected piling segments that can not resist uplift forces of soil movement.

Martin Dawson is the co-founder of Dawson Foundation Repair headquartered in Houston, Texas. He is a leading authority on repairing failed commercial and home foundations using the time tested and thoroughly researched drilled Bell Bottom Pier method. His company has serviced Texas since 1984, and since 2009 began to expand into other southern states.Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/comparison-of-methods-of-foundation-repair-1733898.html

Hi,

I live close to London Bridge and was wondering where I could go with my boyfriend to rent bikes. We want to cycle to somewhere like Greenwich or North London on a nice day. Anyone know the best place to go? I’m not sure but I think there is a place on Tooley Street near More London – has anyone tried there? I used to work in More London and can’t remember if that place just sells bikes or rents them.

Thanks!