As the month comes to a close, we have rounded up the viewing statistics to find the most popular articles for November. Because we are sure our readers will enjoy discovering the interests of other investors around the world, we have compiled the Property Investing Overseas Top 10 viewed Blog articles for the month. Each of the articles is listed with an excerpt and the full article can be read by clicking on each title.

1. 2010 Real estate Market Outlook

Investment approaches will evolve from excessive speculative buying into strategies with improved stability and market demand. Long term investments and buy-to-let ventures are expected to be the strongest growth areas, with fewer risks involved and excellent gains potential due to the exceptionally low priced investment options available in both emerging and established markets.

2. Turkish Real Estate Investor Guide

The growth and development of the Turkish real estate market amongst foreign investors has been largely attributed to the excellent realistic opportunities the market represents for pure investment, buy-to-let and lifestyle purchases.

3. Understanding Mexican Real Estate Trust Agreements

The processes involved in acquiring Mexican real estate are relatively straight forward, yet a little bit of initial knowledge can go a long way in comprehending the regulations relating to the purchasing processes.

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Following many years of real estate in both emerging and established markets around the world situated within a ‘seller’s market’ environment, the transition into a buyer’s market has offered a distinctive turn-around.

A buyer’s market is determined when there is an excess supply over demand, resulting in lower property prices and extensive advantages to those with the ability to enter the market as a buyer.

Due to the worldwide financial crisis, many owners have been forced into a position of necessity to sell their properties, creating an excess of units available. With an extensive number of properties for sale, the buyer’s market environment has evolved.

Many governments around the world have created additional benefits for those in a position to purchase. Reductions in associated purchasing costs, reduced interest rates on mortgage loans and tax rebates have all contributed to stimulus packages designed to attract buyers, assisting the growth of the market.

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Changes in the real estate market over recent months have resulted in a growth trend in the lettings market. Property investors are increasingly attracted to yield returns obtainable from the buy-to-let potential of properties currently undergoing slow capital growth rates.

The attraction for placing properties onto the rental market while waiting for the re-sale market to improve is clear, yet as the number of properties available for rental increases, the need to optimise a property to obtain the best returns possible has also increased.

The attraction of the lettings market has grown due to the high demand for rental properties. As many potential buyers are unable to obtain mortgages or have insecure career prospects, property owners are in an ideal position for earning an additional income from their homes on the letting market.

Due to the high demand in sought after areas, strong yields are available in both local and overseas markets. In order to obtain the optimum yield potential it is necessary to ensure properties are presented in their best possible conditions.

While a full refurbishment of a property can be a costly process, the long term benefits and additional value can place the initial outlay costs into perspective. Simplistic changes can often create an entirely new atmosphere to a home, adding a clean and fresh appearance. (more…)

Investor interest in the Turkish real estate market has been steadily on the increase, despite the downturn affecting various other world property markets. Not only is the investment market progressively growing, lifestyle purchases are gaining appeal from many European buyers.

Buying a property for either investment or lifestyle follows a very straight forward process, where additional incentives have been imposed by the Turkish government to further attract buyers. These incentives include the temporary lowering of title deed fees, along with the absence of capital gains taxes on properties re-sold after a specific time period.

Interest in Turkey’s sought after emerging real estate market has developed significantly with various benefits including pre-EU property prices, strong capital growth, economic stability and ideal buy-to-let market opportunities.

The payment of a holding deposit will be required once the property to be purchased has been selected. The holding deposit may vary between developers or agents, yet usually amounts to approximately €3,000 or £2,000. The holding deposit will remove the property from sales listings while the legal paperwork and due diligence is carried out. (more…)

2010 will begin an interesting phase for Bulgarian real estate, with property prices at the lowest they have been for some years, mortgage loans becoming increasingly accessible at lower rates and the possibility of the new Notary Act coming into effect. The Bulgarian real estate market is expected to begin its revival with the new Notary Act, enabling transparency of all real estate transactions to be processed through the State Depository Bank.

With the passing of an amendment to the Notary Act, all new transactions such as real estate and vehicle purchases will be required to pass through the State Depository Bank. Designed to end the common existence of excessive cash purchases, the declaration of all acquisitions will be a major change to the current purchasing methods from many investors.

The new Notary Act is expected to come into force from the 1^st January 2010 in an effort to reduce real estate fraud, corruption and money laundering. The changes will also ensure that all necessary fees and taxes relating to the sale and purchase are paid.

The introduction of a State Depository Bank will be set up to process all real estate payments, yet with restrictions as it will not be designed to function as a regular commercial bank. The bank will not be permitted to charge interest on payments; however a fee is expected to be charged on all transactions. (more…)

The popularity of purchasing a buy-to-let property along the coastal resort towns in Spain has lead to a variety of misunderstandings and general confusion regarding the rights of owners and tenants. Understanding Spanish rental contracts can assist with both owners and tenants to know the extent of their rights and obligations.

The extensive number of English speaking expats along the coastal resort areas has lead many tenants and landlord creating contracts in English. It should be noted that difficulties may be faced when using an English language contract, especially if any issues need to be bought to the attention of lawyers or the courts. Requesting a Spanish language contract is highly advisable and if the tenant or owner does not understand what is in the contract, going through the details with a lawyer, hired translator or trusted friend fluent in Spanish, will assist with full comprehension of the details.

Details that all contracts need to cover include the full names of the property owners and the tenant, along with their identification numbers and the address of the property. The contract will also need to include the length of the agreement and the amount of the rental payments. There are many other areas that both landlords and tenants should ensure are covered in the contracts to avoid future issues, rather than agree upon verbally. In fact, verbal agreements tend to cause the majority of problems which can be avoided by considering everything that may affect each party in the short and long term. (more…)

Following the past 2 years of decline, a full market recovery is highly unlikely during 2010. The strongest developments towards recovery will be experienced in markets where controls existed for avoiding excessive lending, speculative buying and instability. Regions that have been hardest hit during the downfall of the real estate market have taken strong steps to avoid continued excessive decline. Control strategies will begin to show their results throughout 2010, with the hardest hit markets beginning to stabilise, while growth patterns emerge in the markets least affected by the downturn.

Investment approaches will evolve from excessive speculative buying into strategies with improved stability and market demand. Long term investments and buy-to-let ventures are expected to be the strongest growth areas, with fewer risks involved and excellent gains potential due to the exceptionally low priced investment options available in both emerging and established markets.

In order to fully understand the position of world real estate markets and the outlook for 2010, it is necessary to understand issues relating to the lead up to the world real estate market downturn. How these issues have affected the market will assist in understanding the coming year’s ideal investment strategies and selections most suitable for optimum returns. (more…)

Florida has long been a preferred investment and re-location destination for North Americans along with buyers from around the world. As an investment location, Florida offers a wealth of attractions to buyers. The economic crisis has drawn additional interest into Florida’s real estate market amongst investors in financially stable positions for purchasing in the current economic climate.

As it is considered that the US real estate market has now reached its lowest point following around 2 years of falling house prices, the future signifies growth potential offering mid to long term investors with exceptional gains. The opportunities to obtain fantastic bargains are drawing growing numbers of foreign investors to the Florida real estate market. Some of the main reasons why Florida holds such a strong appeal as an investment location are outlined below. (more…)

In developed nations the idea of rent control may appear outdated, yet various types of rent control exist to provide stability in the real estate market, not only to enable struggling pensioners to maintain their homes as the surrounding market skyrockets.

Rent control is a restriction on the increase of rental charges, assisting markets to remain reasonable in extreme growth circumstances. In most world markets tenants are protected by a form of rent control, whether it is a limit on the percentage increase per year, or a system where rental is set at a pre-determined level by the local housing authorities based on the market value of the home.

Rent control has become extremely effective over the past decade with the excessive, fast growth of real estate in emerging markets. While the attraction of foreign investments to boost a country’s economy may appear attractive at the initial stages of the market’s growth, it can often result in excessive rents and unaffordable housing for the domestic market. To counteract this issue, restrictions may be placed on rental increases, enabling the domestic market to access the housing, often a necessity in poorer countries only beginning to experience economic growth. (more…)

The potential opportunities for making the most of land investments in Florida are as endless as the associated benefits. It is understandable to see why this key location continues to attract millions of visitors and people intent on re-location to the sunshine state.

Benefits of investing in land in Florida include the prices, currently at the lowest they are ever expected to be. Investing in land is a safe opportunity, where the high demand and limited supply allow for continuous capital growth potential. Gains increase as once a house has been constructed on the land, the value of the property increases dramatically.

Management and maintenance costs associated with land is favourable for foreign investors, as no further costs are connected to the property until planning for construction begins. This need can be eliminated completely if the plot is to be re-sold prior to building. The high demand for property and land in Florida is evident from the incredible population growth rate, assisted by the preferable lifestyle benefits of Florida and its strong employment opportunities. (more…)