those-charming-men: Property

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Sunday, November 3, 2013

Foreclosures - How Code Enforcement Tackles the Problem of Abandoned and Vacant Properties

Code Enforcement Departments for Counties and Municipalities across the United States have been grappling with the increased workload issues created by the rising number of vacant and abandoned properties due to the continuous pursuit of foreclosures by mortgagees (banks, lenders, and lien-holders). ForeclosureListings.com, confirmed that the "national foreclosure rate in January 2010 was one foreclosure filing for every 466 U.S. households; the most severe problems continue in the West and in Florida. Unemployment, economic hardship, negative equity, and credit availability are driving the foreclosures." If a property owner was in default with their mortgage payments and could not satisfy the outstanding debt or bring the mortgage and any outstanding penalties current during the pre-foreclosure stage, they were surely going to be faced with having to leave their home. In some cases, property owners that were upside down in their mortgage or through financial hardship found themselves in a position where expenses were just too overwhelming may have chosen to just walk away from their homes, no matter how difficult it was for them and their families. In a time when most jurisdictions, especially, small local governments are also dealing with the difficulties created by financial dilemmas and hardships that are reducing the workforce and resources, the rising foreclosures have taken its toll on code enforcement departments that are tasked with trying to keep neighborhoods and communities from becoming blighted, unsafe, and depreciated in value.

The problems that were created by sitting vacant residential properties, such as vandalism, unsafe open structures, stagnant swimming pools, just to name a few, created immense expense as communities where tasked with securing and abating these problems without the assistance from any property owners or residents. Often, the property owners who were responsible for maintaining their homes during this difficult time felt it unfair that they were still required to provide for regular upkeep of their properties or face code enforcement penalties while the abandoned foreclosed homes next door were neglected and left to bring down the value of their homes and detract from their neighborhoods. According to the latest report from RealtyTrac, a company that monitors the trends of foreclosures across each state, "Florida posted the nation's second highest state foreclosure rate in November 2009 with one in every 165 housing units receiving a foreclosure filing during the month. Florida took the No. 2 spot from California, which posted the nation's third highest foreclosure rate." It became common for community members and leaders around the State of Florida to feel that the mortgagees were slow to take responsibility for these assets and started to put pressure on county and local governments to address these properties, without using their tax dollars to do so.

Foreclosure Procedure in the State of Florida

There are a few different types of foreclosure procedures in the United States. According to Erate.com, "One common type of foreclosure is the 'deed in lieu of foreclosure' arrangement. Often called 'strict foreclosure,' the bank claims the title and possession of the property back to satisfy the debt. The other most common type is the proceeding known simply as 'foreclosure' or 'judicial foreclosure.' Here the property is exposed to auction by a county or court official. The winning bidder receives a deed to the property. Banks and other lenders usually bid on the property in the amount of the owed debt, and if no other buyers step forth they will receive the title to the property. Other states employ yet another type of foreclosure, called 'non-judicial' or 'statutory' foreclosure. In this case, when a borrower fails to make payments, the lender may be issued a notice of default and intent to sell. If the borrower does not solve the default with payments or other means, the property will be sold at public auction." In the State of Florida, foreclosures are handled as judicial procedures that are processed through the court system. This process can take a bit of time, 5 months or more, beginning with the lender advising a mortgagor that they are in default and subsequently recording a notice of Lis Pendens. The homeowner will be served notice of complaint, which basically provides notice of intent to foreclose and contains the total debt. The property owner gets to have an opportunity to appear in court to answer the complaint, however, if the court rules against the property owner, a judgment of foreclosure will be issued. After the judgment has been entered, a writ will be issued by the court authorizing a sheriff's sale. Usually, if the property owners remain inside the home, they would be considered as trespassing. If the property is sold by judicial sale, Certificate of Title will be issued to the new property owner or returned to mortgagee.

Challenges for code compliance

Code enforcement officers typically have to address code violations on occupied properties where the residents are either unaware of the code requirements, neglectful, financially distressed, or possibly violating code requirements intentionally, however, in the case of abandoned or vacant homes, these residents have either walked away or have been required to vacate the properties leaving the property maintenance and violations for another responsible party who have control over the properties which in most cases are the holders of the mortgage notes. This becomes a difficult task as property owners were often required to vacate the premises before the property was either sold or taken back by the mortgagee through completion of the foreclosure process leaving the ownership records unchanged. Code enforcement officers were now faced with dealing with code violations on vacant properties where tracking down the responsible parties for these properties was extremely difficult. Even when a mortgagee's name was located from researching foreclosure filing papers, there would only be large corporate bank or financial institution name and an address that would not lead you directly to someone who was responsible for the property and would get lost in the maze. With strapped resources and increasing demands from community members, local governments started to adopt various vacant property registration programs that required mortgagees to become more involved with these foreclosure properties either from the time the property owners was going into default or when a property became vacant and abandoned. Although some registration programs may only consists of providing information such as responsible party name and contact information, some programs have required significant steps be taken for a vacant, abandoned property including providing electronic security systems.

Sample Registration Program, Broward County Florida

Local governments have had to take steps to bolster local communities against the negative effects of vacant and abandoned properties and obtain voluntary compliance with property maintenance and building code violations. For example, in Broward County Florida, Building Code Inspectors and Code Compliance Officers respond to numerous complaints and concerns regarding single-family homes, condominiums, townhouses and duplexes that are being vandalized, in severe states of blight, lack of maintenance, security, hazardous conditions, and other health and safety issues that these properties present. Requiring mortgagees and absentee owners of vacant and abandoned properties to correct such violations presents significant challenges to the Code Enforcement process. Additionally, when these properties are abandoned and vacant for extended periods of time, there may be unexpected problems for purchasers of these properties such as property maintenance issues, outstanding building permits, and code enforcement liens and/or assessments. In response to recent events in the housing market which have led to a drastic rise in the number of foreclosed homes located within the unincorporated areas of Broward County, the Abandoned/Vacant Real Property Registration and Certification ordinance was created to protect unincorporated residential neighborhoods from becoming blighted through the lack of adequate maintenance and security of abandoned and vacant properties. The program is intended to address those properties that are vacant and abandoned that have come under the control of a mortgagee or beneficiary as a result of the default of the borrower and/or the foreclosure process. The program also applies to properties that were obtained under a deed in lieu of foreclosure. The program requires mortgage lenders to inspect defaulted properties to confirm that they are occupied. If a property is found to be vacant, the program requires that the lender exercise the abandonment clause within their mortgage contract, register the property with the County and immediately begin to secure and maintain the property to program standards.

The ordinance also requires that a local property management company be contracted to perform bi-weekly inspections to verify compliance with the requirements of the ordinance, if the owner of the property is a corporation, partnership, and/or out of area mortgagee/owner. The property must also be posted with the name and 24-hour contact number for the property manager who can respond to problems or concerns. The inspections and certification portion of this program offers added protection for buyers of foreclosed residential properties in the unincorporated areas of Broward County by requiring all title holders of these properties which are acquired through a Certificate of Title (Foreclosures and Judgments), in accordance with Chapter 45, Florida Statutes or under a deed in lieu of foreclosure/sale to obtain a Certificate of Foreclosure Inspection prior to offering the property for sale, transfer, or other alienation. This requirement allows for the performance of a cursory visual inspection of the property and an inspection report by a code enforcement officer to provide a disclosure of any non-compliance with property maintenance codes, outstanding County liens and/or special assessments encumbering the property and to also identify any outstanding building permits.

Steps taken to address problems with foreclosures

As the federal, state, and local governments look for ways to assist distressed homeowner's in keeping their homes or to assist purchaser's and investors to acquire foreclosed homes to get them repaired, maintained and occupied, the banks have also focused on addressing the concerns of local governments in regards to the problems associated with vacant and abandoned properties. Mortgagees may utilize their own staff or obtain the services of companies such as asset managers or mortgage servicers to handle numerous functions and responsibilities related to foreclosed properties from pre-foreclosure thru property preservation ultimately to sale or transfer to a new owner. The companies employ a variety of staff to handle such broad areas such as property management, real estate and title services and have started to place a greater emphasis on property preservation and code compliance. These companies employed by the banks that utilize their services have recently focused their attention on the ordinance requirements for properties under their management, at the same time, promoting a partnership with local jurisdiction code enforcement staff to help alleviate the problems with vacant and abandoned properties and create a better method of communication when problems are not being addressed with property maintenance issues. According to information provided on the website for The Mortgage Bankers Association, this organization promotes the utilization of the MERS ® Mortgage Electronic Registration System database to obtain a list of property preservation contacts to assist local jurisdictions in their efforts, especially in the case of securing open and unguarded, vacant properties.

Conclusion

Properties that continue to be abandoned, neglected, and unsecured for extended period of times, which may include years, work against the mortgagees, as these conditions continue to force property values continue to decline, costs for repairs to increase due to vandalism and deterioration and liability for the mortgagees remain as squatters and children get access inside unsecured residences. In order for code enforcement to be truly proactive, it must take steps to prevent problems not address them after the fact. Even though most jurisdictions charge a fee for registering these properties, the fees are usually intended to offset the operating costs for the program which includes all administrative work involved, as well as the increased field investigations work that these vacant and abandoned properties require. The proactive nature of these programs to seek out the responsible property preservation and servicers work to reduce the costs for the mortgagees as well as the local jurisdiction. Fines and liens that are placed on these properties due to daily running penalties and costs for abatement work such as performing board-ups, stagnant pool abatement, lot mowing, and junk, trash removal may reach in the hundreds and even thousands. Because many of these properties remain in the name of the previous owner until the property is transferred and the new owner is properly recorded in the county records, most jurisdictions are only required to cite the owner shown on their tax assessor's records or deeds in order to address violations. The property registration programs have accomplished numerous goals which include increased responsibility and accountability by the mortgagees in regards to these assets, adherence to local property maintenance and safety building codes, and increased attention towards making these properties viable again for ownership and heightened steps toward re-occupancy. The more properties remain occupied and less are bank owned or abandoned, the less for the need for these types of vacant property ordinances and registration programs.

This article was designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It was written with the understanding that the author is not engaged in rendering legal or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

The author of this article, Gerald Henry, is a Certified Code Enforcement Professional in the State of Florida who holds a Baccalaureate Degree in Criminal Justice and Graduate Certificate in Public Administration.

Profiting From Buy to Let - Finding the Right Property

When it comes to profiting from rental property, the most important thing is to buy the RIGHT property at the RIGHT price.

However strong the local rental demand and general availability of good quality tenants, it will all be to little use if your investment property is poorly located or unattractive and/or of the wrong type for the local market. So time spent surfing the net, building relationships with good local agents and actually viewing properties yourself, will be time well spent!

Concentrating on yield

For years, property investors have been concentrating on potential capital growth and being prepared to accept fairly unimpressive net yields of 3% or 4%. Obviously in a property market where there is little inflation, this will no longer do and investors must look at what sort of yield a property might realise, while still of course regarding the property as a long term capital investment.

The problem will be that you will need fairly serious amounts of capital to capitalise on this developing situation. There will still be mortgages available, but only to people who are regarded as a reasonably good credit risk. The days of the 90% and 100% mortgages are generally over for the foreseeable future, and in the end that will not be a bad thing.

When the current boom began back in the 'gold rush days of the late nineties it was relatively easy to profit from buy to let. Landlords with the right properties could achieve as much as 15% yield along with phenomenal capital growth and even a 'so-so' property could be profitable.

That is no longer the case. With the huge increase in property prices and the increasing competition between landlords for tenants, it's become hard to get more than a 5.5% Net Yield, so more than ever it's very important to buy the 'right' property.

Buying investment property Do's and Don'ts

I suppose these do's and don'ts are not really hard and fast 'rules', and there are always exceptions, but you would do well to follow these guidelines where practical in order to profit from your properties.

1. Don't get too personal

Don't buy an investment property just because you personally would like to live in it. Always look at it from potential tenants' points of view.

Also, try to avoid spending too much refurbishing the property. You may fall in love with a fantastic £20,000.00 kitchen and a £10,000.00 bathroom with taps costing over £200.00 each, but unless yours is an extremely up-market apartment, you will be wasting your money, as there tends to be a 'ceiling' rent for a given size flat or house in any given location.

2. Do research the market. Who will be your tenants?

Where and who are your potential tenants? Are there businesses and organisations locally with an ever changing workforce, such as hospitals, universities, even TV studios where people are usually employed on short-term contracts?

Flats and house conveniently located for these kind of places should usually let easily.

3. Do be well connected

The old adage, 'Location, Location, Location' is paramount when it comes to suitable buy-to-let property. It is always helpful for the property to be no more than 15 minutes walk from a station if in a city like London, or at least close to other travel links such as motorways, bus routes etc. Also, look for handy shopping facilities, bars and restaurants, as these are always attractive to tenants.

4. Don't fool yourself!

If you're buying a leasehold property, always remember to factor in ALL the costs.

Here is a useful checklist:

Check the Service Charges

Check the Ground Rent

Check the Buildings Insurance (usually included in the service charge)

Remember that you may well have void periods, possibly up to two months in every 12 during change of tenants etc.

Remember repairs and renewal costs

Gas and possibly electricity safety checks can cost up to £150.00 a year, although if you shop around you can probably spend less.

5. Do pay attention to things you can't control

If you are buying a flat, pay particular attention to the common parts, it's no use ending up with your very own 'palace' set in a 'slum'! This can often be an issue in converted property, where there can sometimes be no formal or at best an ill-defined responsibility for the maintenance and cleaning of common parts such as hallways, drives and gardens.

Finding the 'right' property

So what is the 'right' property? Although it may be blindingly obvious, first of all, the right property is one you pay the right price for! Successful buying to let is all about return on investment, whether that be capital appreciation over the long term or rental return. If you pay too much, no one is going to pay you more rent to compensate you.

This does not mean that you should always opt for the cheapest property. I once saw a two bedroomed terraced property in Manchester on the market for about £12000.00. I mentioned it to someone who knows that city very well and she asked me the name of the street. When I told her, she said the house was overpriced!

As a general rule, it's better to look for good buy-to-let property in urban or suburban areas, rather than rural ones, simply because there are likely to be far more people looking for rented accommodation in urban and suburban areas. The countryside and the shires are more attractive for people nesting, older people who are settling down or retiring - these folk usually choose to purchase rather than rent.

For example, someone I know used to rent a two bed-roomed property that was worth around £270,000.00 in a semi-rural location and was paying around £800.00 per month in rent. Many properties at that time that were costing less than this within inner London were returning over £1200.00 per month in rent.

What about Ex-Local Authority Property?

Ex-local authority property, originally purchased under the right to buy scheme, can be a good investment, but you must do your homework, and a lot of legwork. A few council estates are run down, poorly managed and have significant problems of anti-social behaviour, but most are OK and have no more problems than other private inner city areas.

Check out the property, walk around the estate a bit. Is there much graffiti? Is the place generally litter-free? How does it feel? If it's a high rise block, what are the lifts like?

In general it's best to be a bit flexible. Offer the property furnished or part furnished and be prepared to accommodate the wishes of a tenant you feel is worth it.

New Build or Old Build?

Be careful when buying brand new. Bright shiny city centre apartments are so seductive, with their designer kitchens and bathrooms, but they are not always good value for money. Very often the developer will have set a price that is not really a true market price.

Property Clubs

City centre developments are also favourite of 'Property Clubs', who profess to negotiate bulk deals with developers and pass on a so-called discount to their members. No doubt there are bargains to be had occasionally by buying in this way but I personally would avoid them like the plague!

If you must buy new, it's sometimes best to buy the last flat in the block as the developer wants to move on to the next project and may be open to lower offers.

Where is the best place to look for suitable investment property?

As I have already said, for the best rental yield and minimum void periods it's usually best to purchase in urban areas, cities, places with universities, hospitals, good employment opportunities etc.

But should you consider buying a property a long way away, in another part of the UK. It is certainly true that some cities and areas of the UK are better than others when it comes to renting out property.

For various historical, cultural and employment security reasons, apart from London, many northern and midlands cities offer good opportunities for rental investment, with very healthy rental yields.

Local can be best

If you already live in or near a good investment area it is in my opinion, best to research your local area first because you know it best. Also, you can easily go back several times to check that you are making the right decision, whereas this is often very difficult if you're faced with a long journey to go back and forth to make these necessary checks. Again, investing locally was the policy followed by Judith and Fergus Wilson when building their buy to let empire around Ashford in Kent.

Is it worth buying at auction?

Most people tend to buy property in the traditional way. They see a suitable property put in an offer subject to contract (in England & Wales), once accepted they proceed to arrange a mortgage and employ a solicitor, surveyor etc to deal with conveyancing and surveys that may be required. This process can take up to three months and purchasing leasehold property is a particularly drawn-out process.

But there is a quicker way. Buy at auction. You can usually buy property at auction for less than in the traditional way, but there are some very important limitations to bear in mind. Your bid is NOT 'subject to contract', as the hammer falls you have to pay the 10% deposit plus any auctioneer's fees, and within 28 days you must complete the purchase.

So, auctions are really for people with available funds, and you are also strongly advised to have checked through the legal pack and carried out a survey before bidding - so you really need to know what you're doing. In times of high property demand, auctions are usually best left to professional developers and builders as they have the available funds and know pretty clearly how much they will have to spend refurbishing the property. And in the case of builders of course the refurbishments are an internal cost.

Buying investment property in Scotland

Also, please bear in mind that even Scotland's property law is quite different from England's. In England and Wales a purchaser's offer is always 'subject to contract', which means that either party can withdraw at any time without penalty right up to Exchange of Contracts. In Scotland, people are usually required to put in sealed bids, based on 'offers over' a given price. Confusingly, these offers can sometimes be up to 20% over the 'asking price'.

Once your sealed bid is formally accepted by the vendor you are locked into a contract and both parties risk substantial penalties for withdrawal. So...it's important to do necessary legal searches and surveys before putting in the offer.

Although the English system does have the problem of gazumping and gazundering and people just withdrawing, I still think that the Scottish system is a bit too rigid and 'clunky'. Personally, I believe that the English system could easily be improved by each party placing say £1000.00 not returnable deposit with a stakeholder once a purchaser's offer is formally accepted.

Don't be an 'armchair investor'

Over the past few years many people have believed that all they need to do in order to invest in property was to browse a few websites, maybe join a property club and let the club select properties from which they then select.

When it comes to successful property investment, whether you're buying to let or looking to develop, there is no alternative to 'getting your hands dirty'. You have to actually view property yourself - no one is going to be as careful with your money as you. It can be pretty hard and tedious work but unfortunately, as in slimming where the only thing that really works is eating less and exercising more...there is no simple substitute.

Yield or Capital Growth?

A very important consideration when buying any investment property is to decide what is more important to you, YIELD or CAPITAL GROWTH, or a good combination of the two?

The way to work out the yield on a property is to take the annual gross rent, subtract ALL costs (ie service charges, ground rent, buildings insurance, repairs and renewals) and divide it into the TOTAL cost price and multiply by 100 - this will give you the Gross Yield in percent. In order to determine the all important Net Yield you must subtract any letting agent commission.

Here is an example:

Total cost of leasehold flat: £200,000.00 including fees, stamp duty etc.

Annual Gross Rent: £11,000.00

Annual Service Charge, Buildings Insurance, Ground Rent: £1140.00

Letting Agent's Commission (8% Let Only): £880.00 plus VAT = £1034.00

Gross Yield = £11000.00 - £1140 = £9860.00 ÷ £200,000.00 x 100 = 4.93% Gross Yield

Net Yield = £9860.00 - £1034.00* = £8826.00 ÷ £200,000.00 x 100 = 4.41% Net Yield

*agent's commission

Remember that this is the TRUE way to work out whether a property offers a good yield. Don't just add up all your costs, including the mortgage repayments, subtract them from the rent and say, 'that's how much I'm making'. Of course this calculation is essential, but only for your own personal circumstances. In other words, can YOU afford it, can you pay the mortgage, service charges etc during void periods, but it will not tell you the actual investment potential.

Barring major disasters, I would say that good property well located in the UK will usually be a superb long-term and probably medium term investment. But, assuming you are not concerned with capital growth, or believe there will be none in the short term and need to know whether you should buy to let or simply stuff it all in the bank then, as the Americans say, 'just do the math'. Work out the Net Yield and see how it compares with current savings rates.

Top 10 Overseas Property Investments in 2010

1. Brazil

The Brazilian property market has got a lot going for it. The country is attracting a lot of inward investment, has one of the world's fastest growing economies, a rapidly emerging mortgage market, a general shortage of quality homes, and has been selected to host the 2014 football World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games. This will lead to the construction of new and improved infrastructures and homes across Brazil.

Property investors from around the world are flocking to Brazilian shores with a view to snapping up real estate, in anticipation of future capital growth.

One local expect projects Brazilian property prices could appreciate by up to 200% over the next decade, driven by the country's burgeoning economy, and the pending introduction of mortgages to overseas nationals.

Investment banking firm Goldman Sachs believes that Brazil's economic growth could outstrip that of the other BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) member nations over the next few years.

Brazil's economy is widely expected to become the fifth largest in the world by the time the Olympic Games kicks off in 2016, and yet Brazil property and land prices still remain a fraction of those found in more developed nations.

The Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has already pledged to spend up to £11.5bn on building a million new homes in Brazil between now and 2011.

However, potential high property investment rewards are not with out their risks, as crime and corruption still remains widespread in Brazil.

2. France

In stark contrast to the relatively high risk, high return nature of investing in Brazil, the risks associated with investing in French property are far lower.

France has traditionally always been a rather safe haven for property investors. The nation was the first European country to come out of recession in 2009, reflecting the fact that the global credit crunch had much less of an impact, compared to other European counterparts.

France's strong economy is having a positive impact on its property market, which now appears to be on the road to recovery.

Increasing property and mortgage transactions are boosting residential values, with the latest FNAIM data revealing that the average price of a French property appreciated by 2.8% between April and September 2009.

Although average prices remain down 7.8% year-on-year, the market is generally expected to improve further, due to France's prudent attitude to mortgage lending.

Anyone taking out a mortgage in France is generally only permitted to borrow one third of their total gross monthly income. This has ensured that mortgages remain readily available, with 100% loan-to-value home loans available at competitive borrowing rates.

Consequently, mortgage lending in France is soaring. French mortgage broker Athena Mortgages reports that there was a 21% rise in mortgage enquiries in Q3 2009 compared with the previous quarter.

The buy-to-let and leaseback sectors are reportedly attracting particular interest from investors, due to improved yields across the country.

The capital city of Paris has long been identified as one of the most attractive European cities for investment, and is typically the most popular place to buy a home in France, along with Cannes, Marseille and Nice, which are all located along the southern Mediterranean coast.

3. USA

The USA property market may be showing tentative signs of improvement, following one of the worst economic and property crashes in living memory, but the downturn has come at a cost to many US homeowners.

Data from RealtyTrac shows that a record high of 938,000 US homes foreclosed in the third quarter of 2009. If this trend continues, foreclosures would reach around 3.5m by the end of 2009, up from around 2.3m properties last year.

Properties in Nevada had the highest foreclosures rates in Q3, followed by homes in Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Utah, Georgia, Michigan, Colorado and Illinois.
Rising unemployment levels - currently at a 26-year high of 9.8% - was cited as the main reason for the increase in foreclosure levels. Yet, there may be worst to come, as the unemployment rate is not expected to peak until mid-2010.

Unfortunately, one person's misfortune is another's gain. With around 7m properties currently in the foreclosure process, compared with 1.3m for the same period in 2005, predatory investors are buying up distressed, abandoned and repossessed homes at bargain-basement prices, as now appears to be the ideal time to fill your boots.

Although the sub-prime mortgage crisis started in the USA, there are growing signs that the property market may now be at or near the bottom of the cyclical downturn. Various indices reveal that average residential prices started to rise, albeit marginally, during the second quarter of 2009.

4. Norway

Sales in Norway have nosedived over the past year or so, as residential values have cooled.

However, the Norwegian property market downturn, which has not been anywhere near as severe as in other neighbouring countries, appears to have already bottomed out, and looks ready to lead the Scandinavian property market recovery.

The key to the Norwegian property market is the strength of the country's economy, which has made it one of the wealthiest in the world, while new housing output has dropped below average, which could fall short of demand next year.

Norway is rich in both gas and oil and this helps to support the country's economy and ensure that its currency also stays strong - both alluring to property investors.

The country's population is estimated to increase by 23% - approximately one million people - over the next 40 years, which should make sure that long-term residential demand is robust.

Another positive is the fact that unemployment is extremely low - approximately 3% - compared to its European counterparts.

Almost half of the Norwegian population resides in the counties of Oslo, Rogaland, Akershus and Hordaland, and so this is where property investors should focus their attentions. Property prices in these places remain relatively cheap compared to wages in Norway.

5. Switzerland

Many of the high earners currently living in Britain look set to quit the UK in droves ahead of the introduction of a 50% top tax rate in April 2010, and escape to more tax-friendly shores, such as Switzerland.

The Swiss authorities are actively lobbying to attract many of these disillusioned high-net worth individuals, who are being tempted by assurances that they will be allowed to steer clear of European Union regulation and Britain's Financial Services Authority.

It is estimated that hedge funds managing in the region of £10 billion in assets have already moved to Switzerland in the past year alone. This has increased demand for homes to rent and buy.

Due to canton restrictions, it has previously been difficult for foreigners to buy property in Switzerland. However, the country has now eased its strict property buying regulations, and opened its doors to more international buyers, partly through the introduction of 'residence de tourisme' style investments, which is similar to the ever-popular 'leaseback' formula in France.

Switzerland, one of the richest nations in the world, is of course a tax haven.
Anyone who sets up permanent residency in Switzerland would be entitled to take advantage of the country's favourable tax law, including the lump sum taxation, which charges a levy based on people's lifestyle and spending habits.

Given that one's taxable income is charged at just five times their annual rent or rental value of their property, and the fact that assets outside Switzerland remain tax-free, should ensure demand for Swiss properties - to rent and buy - remains strong for years to come.

Historically, Swiss property values have typically appreciated in line with inflation. Properties located at the top end of the market, in cantons like Valais and Vaud, have reportedly increased by up to 20% in the past year.

6. Australia

The Australian economic and property market recovery has been swifter than the other leading nations around the world.

It has been claimed that the revival in the country's property market and economy is as much as 12 months ahead of the other developed countries in the economic cycle.

Unemployment peaked in September 2009, in stark contrast to Britain and the USA, while increasing commodity demand from China has forced the Australian Central Bank to raise benchmark interest rates. Yet this has failed to cool strong residential demand, which coupled with a general housing shortage, is forcing property values higher.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics house price index shows that the average price of a residential property in Australia appreciated by 4.2% in the third quarter of 2009, which means that in the year to September, residential prices increased 6.2%.

Australia could be set for a residential property price boom over the next few years, as the country's economy continues to show genuine signs of recovery.

A recent Australia property report projected that average residential prices in nearly all capital cities would increase by between 11% and 19% by 2012, with the greatest property price rises expected to be recorded in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne.

7. Malaysia

I tipped Malaysia to be the number one place to invest in property in 2009, due to the country's robust property ownership laws, lack of capital gains tax and attractive mortgage rates.

However, residential sales were sluggish during the early half of the year, as the market struggled as a direct consequence of the global credit crunch, while there are some political uncertainties emerging.

But with consumer sentiment improving, the recent positive market recovery, supported by the construction of new residential schemes across the country, should continue in 2010.

While property prices race ahead across much of Asia - in countries like China, Vietnam and Singapore - which has led to heightened fears of budding property bubbles, the Malaysian property market has merely stabilised, making it suited to more balanced investors.

With an extremely young and well-educated population, long-term demand for property in Malaysia looks set to grow.

Domestically, an increasing number of people are moving from the countryside into the larger cities, while internationally Malaysia looks set to cross a demographic landmark of huge social and economic importance.

Malaysia's population is growing by around 2%, or an extra 500,000 people, every year. The World Bank projects the country's population will grow annually by 1% until 2050, which will place further pent-up demand on property values.

Malaysia's property prices are still lower than they were in 1997, due partly to the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990's, suggesting very real room for growth.

8. Abu Dhabi

The recent property price falls in the fast growing UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, the richest and largest of all the seven UAE states, have been nowhere near as severe as in neighbouring Dubai.

The tax-efficient emirate has the largest fossil fuel reserve in the UAE, is the fourth biggest natural gas producer in the world, has the world's highest income per capita, is home to almost all of the Arabic Fortune 500 companies, and is currently sitting on over 88 billion barrels of proven oil reserves.

Yet Abu Dhabi is now actively trying to reduce its reliance on oil, and is diversify its economy into the financial services and tourism sectors. Billions of pounds have been allocated for infrastructure projects and the development of residential, leisure and cultural schemes across the oil-rich emirate. The plans are truly remarkable.

Nevertheless, investors seeking out bargain deals will find some of the best opportunities for distressed property investments in the Gulf region in Abu Dhabi.

The recent slowdown in the property market means that just 45,000 are anticipated to be completed in the capital in the next four years, augmenting the exiting housing shortage.

The supply of housing stock remains scant, partly because Abu Dhabi is not part of a community master-plan like those pioneered by Emaar and Nakheel in Dubai.

The housing shortfall in the capital is expected to stand at around 15,000 homes next year, which could mean that property prices and rents are forced up, while residential demand - domestic and international - is expected to increase.

Because Abu Dhabi does not have the same high level of exposure to the global financial crisis, compared with other UAE emirates, mortgages for non-residents - at up to 75% loan-to-value - are readily available again. This is likely to appeal to buy-to-let investors, as well as those people seeking equity release and to remortgage their properties in Abu Dhabi.

9. Oman

The relaxed Arabian state of Oman, voted 'destination of the year 2008' by Vogue magazine, has long been a popular holidaying destination for people living within the GCC.

With a population of around 2.3m, Oman is being modernised and liberalised culturally and economically by hereditary Sultan, Qaboos Bin Said Al-Said, a forward-thinking leader.

Sultan Qaboos strategy for economic growth - Vision 2020 - aims to diversify Oman's economic dependency on oil, and focus on other industries, such as property and tourism.

Demand for property in Oman is primarily being driven by the Sultan's decision to introduce legislation in 2004 - ratified in 2006 - permitting foreigners to buy freehold property and land in designated tourist areas, most notably Muscat. These projects are referred to as Integrated Tourism Complexes (ITC). Furthermore, foreign homeowners can now apply for residency visas.

A number of luxurious developments are being erected across Oman including, The Chedi, Azaiba, Wadi Kabi, The Wave, Barr Al Jissah Residences, Jebel Sifah, Salalah Beach, The Malkai, Muscat Hills, Al Madina A'Zarqa, Jebel Sifah, and Salalah Beach.

The fact that Oman appeals to end-users - not just investors - means that the medium to long-term prospect for Omani property market growth looks good.

10. South Africa

South African property market conditions look ripe for investment, as the country starts to come out of recession. Recent property price falls appear to be bottoming out, while FIFA's 2010 football World Cup fast approaches.

From the moment world football's governing body, FIFA, awarded South Africa the rights to host the World Cup in 2010, shrewd property investors from around the globe have been looking on with great interest, with one eye firmly on cashing in on the sport's popularity.

The first ever FIFA World Cup to be hosted on African soil has the potential to be the biggest sporting event of all time.

The tournament is expected to attract around 350,000 football fans for a month of football mayhem, starting on 11 June 2010, which is tipped to contribute around £1.5bn to South Africa's gross domestic product and generate another £500m in government taxes.

South Africa property prices haven softened over the past year or so, due to a fall in residential demand, caused by reduced housing affordability, higher inflation and interest rates.

But residential prices could soon experience growth, on the back of what should be a reinvigorated economy, spurred by the football tournament.

While the odds may be stacked up against the South African football winning the World Cup in 2010, it is not too far fetched to assume that the country's housing market could prove to be the real winner of the tournament, generating significant returns for property investors in the process.

Discover the Top 15 Secrets of Successful Commercial Property Ownership!

1.) What's Your Type?

There are many different types of commercial properties that you can purchase including:

o Office
o Retail Space
o Warehouse Facility
o Restaurant
o Commercial Condo
o Strip Mall

The first step is clearly defining what type of property you want to purchase and how you want to use it. The following information will help you maximize your investment dollars to get the best possible deal when purchasing your property.

2. Build Equity With Your Investment

Equity is Money

Building equity is the primary if not the ultimate reason to buy instead of rent a commercial property. Let's face it. It's money in the bank. In fact, it's better than money in the bank because you can't get the same kind of return on your money when it's sitting in the bank as opposed to when you're building equity. Moreover, if you choose the right financing for your commercial real estate purchase, you can not only build equity through ownership, but you can also leverage your capital saving in order to grow your business, hire additional employees, or even purchase an additional location when the time comes.

Owning beats renting because you can sell your investment once you outgrow the space or sell the business. Even if commercial property in your area has not appreciated (which is unlikely), you can recoup your investment by renting out the space once you move out and by selling when the time is right.

If you plan on growing into your building, buy something larger than your current needs, and rent out the extra space until you need it for expansion. This will provide you with steady income that you can use to help pay your mortgage or invest in your business.

3. Calculate Your Savings And Your Potential Profit

Lower Monthly Payments

Consider buying commercial real estate as a savings for your business. Real estate costs are the third largest business expense, behind payroll and taxes. Long loan amortizations mean that your monthly payments could wind up being less than what you would pay for rent, since landlords usually charge more than their monthly loan payment. In other words, owning your own commercial property may actually be more affordable, depending on current market conditions.

Ask your lender to provide you with an analysis of the current market in your area so that you can see which scenario is best for you (renting or buying). The lender should be able to explain your options in detail with examples of monthly rental costs vs. monthly loan payments and the benefits of each.

Analyze the Rent Value

Upon finding a property that peaks your interest, find out the status of the current tenants (if it is a multi-tenant property) in terms of how much rent they are paying. Check the current market to see if the rents are undervalued, meaning below what you can get in the current market. Your realtor or lender should be able to help you figure out how much you could charge for rent and determine how much of a profit you can make each month.

Tax Advantages

There are many tax advantages to becoming an owner of a commercial property. In most cases, you can deduct part of the value of the building at tax time, as well as improvements you've made as depreciation, which can save you more money on your taxes. Buying the property under your business or corporation's name is also a better tax strategy than under your personal name.

4. Do Your Research

The more you can learn about property types and options, mortgages, financing, zoning and remodeling; the better position you'll be in to make wise decisions concerning the acquisition of a commercial property.

However, you don't have to know everything. That's where putting together a powerful team of professionals proficient in their areas of expertise may be your most important step. Building a team of advisors - people you can trust to steer you in the right direction is critical to your success.

Understand Current Market Conditions

Keep your eyes open for news articles pertaining to the commercial real estate market. Is it "hot" right now? Is it a buyers' or sellers' market? What kinds of interest rates are available?

The Internet is a great place to start. Conducting a Google search for "commercial real estate market," for instance, will give you results that include news and resources for national trends, analytics and market research.

In addition, many realtors, lenders and lawyers across the country offer free and timely articles on their websites that shed light on current commercial real estate trends nationwide. Again, make sure you listen to both sides of the story.

Tap Expert Resources

National market research companies can give you specific information about the area where you're preparing to locate your business. You can also find information on demographics including the median age, household income, breakdown of ethnicities, and more from censuses available from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Also contact commercial lenders or realtors for additional resources. In looking for help, it's usually better to talk to a lender or realtor with nationwide experience and up-to-date information than a small-time operation that might not have recent data for you. If the lender/realtor hasn't gotten updated demographics since 1996, you've essentially wasted your time. Also, a lender or realtor that specializes in the type of property you're looking for will be more likely to have the specific information you need, which will save you time in research.

Study the Current Vacancy Rate

Research what the vacancy rate has been over the past few years for the area you're taking into consideration. If there seem to be high levels of vacancies, try to find why. Is it a bad neighborhood? Talk to store owners in the immediate area and find out how long they've been doing business there. Ask if they have any concerns that you as a potential property owner should know about the area.

Research Commercial Realtors

It's important to research commercial realtors that specialize in the type of space you're looking for. Grill the realtor you are considering selecting on the entire purchase process so you know what to expect. Ask how long the process usually takes so that there are no surprises. Check their references and their track record (more on finding a Commercial Realtor in #5).

Examine Experienced Commercial Lenders

Choosing a lender and financing program is just as important as choosing the property. Again, find out the entire process of financing, as well as your different options. Don't assume that just because you've had a relationship with your bank for years that using their financing is the best choice.

Banks don't always offer the lowest rate for commercial loans, and sometimes have a far longer turnaround than non-bank lenders. Some banks require that you transfer your accounts to them in order to qualify for a loan. Be aware of any stipulations when seeking a bank for a commercial loan.

5. Choose the Right Commercial Realtor

As mentioned before, you need qualified partners to help you with the process of buying commercial property. Start with a terrific commercial realtor.

Some commercial realtors work exclusively with individuals interested in investment properties. Others work with owners/users of commercial real estate, and among those some specialize in property management, which can be an added value to you.

Who Do You Know?

Referrals from trusted sources are usually the best way to find a good commercial realtor.

Ask Questions

Set up a meeting with more than one potential commercial realtor. Find out as much as you can about their professional background, education, and experience with your type of property. You can ask for a list of recent transactions to give you an idea of what they deal with on a regular basis, and how many properties they've actually sold in the last year or two. And most importantly, ask for client references (testimonials)! Real client feedback is the most effective measure for potential success.

The Right Match

Make sure you choose a realtor that understands your specific needs. If you are a small business, you don't want to work with a realtor that normally handles multi-million dollar deals. Your project may become less of a priority when that particular realtor gets a bigger commission to worry about.

6. Consider Your Time Frame

If the reason you are looking for commercial property is because your lease is ending, think twice before jumping into a decision you might regret. Finding just the right space, securing financing and going through the process of obtaining a commercial property can take months. If you don't have that kind of time, you may need to rent month-to-month for now.

Take Your Time

While you may be in a hurry to move into a space, take your time. Buying any kind of property is a major decision, and buying commercial property is even more important for the development and growth of your business. Selecting a property in the wrong area, or a space that doesn't allow you to grow can hinder your company and even cause it to fail, so plan carefully.

If the realtor or lender gives you an estimate of three months from start to close, plan for longer - just in case. Keep in mind there are many people involved in the process of buying property, from the seller, realtor, lender, appraiser, surveyor, paperwork approvers, secretaries, and more and this process can often take slightly longer.

7. Location, Location, Location

One of the most important factors in considering commercial property is location. If a property is located on a busy corner that is difficult to get to, your business may not do well (in fact, that's probably why the property is for sale). If you want to operate a dog kennel and the property you're considering is in a residential area, not only will your business disturb the residents, the zoning laws may prevent you from operating there.

Foot Traffic

For a retail business, look for areas with high foot traffic that will give you the exposure and increased walk-ins you need to be successful.

If you are looking for an industrial or manufacturing facility, then you can stay out of the retail limelight and buy something in a warehouse district. These areas are usually cheaper than retail space.

Easy Access

Make sure your location has easy access from the road. Look to see if the site is at a difficult intersection. Is there construction going on that seems like it won't be ending any time soon? On the other hand, what's the potential once the construction is completed?

Check out the Competition

If you want to open a bistro in a neighborhood that has several bistros, you might want to try somewhere else with less competition. However, a healthy population of restaurants usually means a healthy population of customers.

Know Your Customer

Find out the demographics of the area you're interested in. If you want to move your sports apparel shop to a new location, you'll probably want an area with a high percentage of youth and active adults. An urban area with a lot of pedestrian traffic might be better for this kind of retail shop than a suburban area in a retirement community.

8. Free Parking

We've all spent time driving around and around looking for a parking spot. It can be very frustrating, especially when you're running late. Whenever possible, you want a location that has ample parking for your visitors.
If you have a retail store, restaurant, or other high-traffic business, estimate how many customers or visitors you're likely to have at any given time and consider rejecting any properties that have fewer available parking spaces than your estimates. Again, use your best judgment and consult your realtor.

Avoid Headaches

Also pay attention to how your parking is situated. If it's located just off a major road, it may provide a headache for people trying to back out of the parking space, and may even cause accidents. When visiting the property, see how well you can maneuver the parking. If it's a hassle for you, it will be doubly so for a potential customer or visitor.

9. Get in the Zone

Before you begin the negotiation process for a commercial property, make sure to investigate the zoning laws, as well as what types of businesses you are able operate there. There are zoning laws about the type of business that can be conducted in certain spaces.

For instance, some spaces do not permit food and beverage to be served, or may have restrictions on how late a business can operate. The typical zoning districts in most cities include: residential, commercial, industrial and mixed-use.

Don't Assume

Zoning can be tricky, so do your due diligence on this topic. Don't assume that just because the previous tenant of the space had a restaurant that the property you're looking at is necessarily zoned for food and beverage. Many businesses slide under the radar for months or years while violating zoning laws. Making assumptions can cost you big time and big money when it comes to zoning.

Regulations

Zoning laws can regulate not only the type of business that can operate, but also parking, signs, water and air quality, waste management, noise, appearance of building and more. Find out any and all regulations regarding the property in advance.

Visit your local library or zoning office to get information on all the zoning laws, rules and regulations that apply to the property you're considering for purchase. Talk to people at the zoning office if you have concerns or questions prior to making the investment. Ask your realtor to double-check your efforts to ensure you've covered all your bases.

10. Inspection

Normally, if you are considering buying a home, you have an inspector look at the structure, pipes, electrical system, etc. A commercial property requires even more of a stringent inspection, not only to meet your needs, but also the requirements of the local government.

Before purchasing commercial property, hire professionals to thoroughly examine the electrical system, including the sprinkler and security system, as well as the plumbing, phone, and Internet systems. Since you will have already done your homework on zoning and regulations, you will be aware of the building codes. With the results from your various inspections you can get an estimate of how much work, if any, will need to be invested in order to get the building "up to code."

A Good Foundation

Hire an architect or engineer to examine the foundation and structure, especially if you have frequent natural disasters such as earthquakes or hurricanes in your area of the country.

Communication

If you are looking at an older building, there may be quite an investment up front to either meet city standards or meet your own standards. Don't overlook the importance of a high-tech phone and Internet system, especially if you have a lot of employees. If there is not already a T1 or fiber optic network in place, build this cost into your purchase, as it will save you money and headaches in the long term over more traditional (and older) phone and Internet systems.

Make sure to hire an expert to tell you if the changes you need are possible and within your budget. With most commercial real estate loans, you can include these remodeling costs in your financing. Again, make sure to ask.

11. Map Out Your Plan

As a business owner, you understand the importance of carefully planning every move. Buying a property requires no less preparation. Before you begin looking for a building, sit down with your finances and figure out how much of a mortgage you can afford to take on.

Create a Budget

When calculating your budget for buying property, don't leave out taxes, insurance premiums, and repair and maintenance, as well as costs involved in customizing the space to meet your needs. Failing to create a budget for these often overlooked expenses will quickly put you in the hole with your new property. If you need help creating this budget, ask your realtor or your commercial lender for advice.

Room to Grow

To determine the amount of mortgage you can afford, assess your income and expenses. Your mortgage and property expenses should leave you enough room to operate your business without cutting into your normal expenses.

Sometimes it is necessary to take a cut in profit in order to purchase the kind of space you need to grow. Think of it this way: buying a larger space will allow your company to stretch its wings, which will result in more profits down the road. It's a risk you sometimes need to be willing to take if you want to grow. Remember, if you buy more space than your company needs immediately, you can acquire tenants who will provide rental income that can significantly offset your monthly mortgage obligation.

Planning Ahead

It's almost always a good idea to buy slightly more room than you currently need. You can lease out the additional space until you need it. If this is your plan, map out how this will bring in income to help subsidize your mortgage. Remember, however, that you may have periods when some of the space is unoccupied, so don't rely on the rent coming in to cover your mortgage every time. Make sure you can cover the mortgage on your own.

Have an Exit Strategy

So, how does it all end? Hopefully with big dollar signs. After all, that's why you're investing, isn't it? To eventually cash in on your investment. Therefore, you need to have an exit strategy.

You might choose to hold onto your commercial property through retirement, as real estate is a great asset that can provide you with a steady passive income stream: a lucrative retirement strategy.

12. Before You Sign on the Dotted Line

Having a carefully drafted contract is key in your commercial real estate deal. You are required by law to have a written sales contract, and it is to your advantage to have one with each detail of the transaction documented.

Also, make sure to leave ample time for due diligence and closing, especially if any construction is involved!

Details

Despite the stories of real estate contracts being thicker than phone books, all you really need is a contract that lays out the important elements of your agreements. First, it needs to describe the property and the purchase price, as well as whether the price is due at closing or in installments.

Equipment, etc.

The contract should include any equipment, machinery, or personal property that is included in the purchase price. It should list any contingencies that must be met prior to completing the purchase. A common example of a contingency is whether you are able to obtain a loan to finance the purchase.

Don't Forget...

The contract should cover how the property taxes and utility bills will be pro-rated between you and the seller, as well as what type of title insurance you must provide. The date for closing and delivery of possession should be in the document, as well as what legal recourse either the buyer or seller has in the event that the other party defaults on the agreement.

And Always...

Once the contract has been drafted, have a lawyer review it prior to signing it. A lawyer may be able to help you negotiate a better deal than what is originally presented.

Unfortunately, not all property sellers are honest, and some will try to hide their true purpose in technical legalese within a contract. Having a trusted lawyer and commercial realtor review your contract will keep you safe in your transaction.

13. Choose a Lender with Care

There are many types of lenders available to assist you with your commercial real estate financing. But keep in mind: not all are created equal. Do your homework in finding a lender that meets your specific needs.

It's important to find a firm that can give you broad access to capital, understand your priorities, offer you the best deal on your loan and complete the process in a timely manner.

Types of Lenders

There are three basic categories of lenders: direct lenders, indirect lenders and hybrid lenders. Direct lenders lend their own funds. Some examples of direct lenders include commercial real estate lending institutions, banks, and private lenders. Indirect lenders place funds on behalf of others, and include mortgage brokers and mortgage bankers, as well as financial intermediaries. Hybrid lenders both lend their own funds and lend on behalf of others, and include certain investment banks, investment advisors and credit companies.

Banks usually generalize in services, and offer a wide array of products. While this may sound good, think about it for a moment. Would you rather have a lender that knows a little about many financing options, or a lot about three or four products designed specifically for you?

Lending institutions are more specific in nature, and are experts in the products they offer. Banks are more traditional in their financing products, while lending institutions are more entrepreneurial and creative.

Banks often require that you move all of your financial relationships under their umbrella, including deposits, LOCs, etc., while non-bank lenders only work with your real estate loan.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is a great resource for small companies looking to expand their business or purchase real estate for commercial use. The SBA offers tools that can help you plan your next move, as well as loan programs for a variety of business purposes. The SBA itself does not offer loans, but works through banks and non-bank lenders to provide small businesses with loan programs that meet their needs.

Get Started Early

It is important to choose your lender early in the process so that you can maximize leverage and get a lower cost of funds. Your lender will ask for certain forms in order to determine your eligibility for financing, as well as to figure out what kind of deal you can negotiate.

You will need to provide your income and expense statement, balance sheet and personal financial statements from all prospective owners of the property. If you don't have them written already, you will need to create profiles of the management team, including information on education and employment background, as well as experience relevant to your business. Other documents needed include a property appraisal, contract of sale, and plans for the use of the property. Providing these documents early can help streamline the process. Again, your realtor and lender will help you through the process.

14. Know Your Financing Options

While you are in the "shopping" phase of looking for a commercial property to purchase, you should begin to research your financing options. There are many kinds of commercial financing options available, so it is important that you find the one that best suits your needs. It's also very important to know how much you're qualified to borrow. This will help you and your real estate broker find the right type of property for you faster.

No matter what type of loan you wind up getting, negotiating the loan will be based on the same basic factors: anticipated use of the property, expected returns from the property or business conducted there, geography, type and size of real estate, perceived risk to lender and market conditions. There is no one rate applicable to all commercial financing. The rate you receive will be based on your specific situation.

If interest rates are low, securing a low fixed rate will mean you pay less interest over the entire mortgage. A variable rate, which is considered by some to be more risky, can give you a lower payment for a period (before it increases), which will let you use the money saved for other investments.

In weighing your financing choices, remember that some debt is good. Don't assume you should take the loan with the highest down payment requirement so you can "pay off your debt faster". Putting down more money means you have less to invest in your business.

Term Loans

Based on how much money you need to borrow, there are different financing options available. One option is a term loan. Term loans can be used for a variety of purposes, including financing permanent working capital, new equipment, refinancing, expansion, acquisitions and, of course, buildings.

There are loans specifically designed for commercial real estate or equipment. Banks typically lend up to 80% of the value of the real estate to be financed, and the loans must be repaid in 15 to 20 years. If you are able to come up with the remaining 20% on the cost of the property (and don't have anywhere better to invest the money), this is an option to consider.

Up Up and Away

Beware of balloon payments. While paying a very low monthly amount at the start sounds great, you often end up spending additional money to refinance your commercial mortgage as lenders reset interest rates or reexamine you and your business over the life of the loan.

Credit Line

If you want a more flexible loan, you may have the option of a credit line that can provide you with cash on an as-needed basis, up to a cap amount. Credit lines almost always have a variable rate, and have interest-only payments for the first one to three years.

Equity Financing/Joint Ventures

Equity financing involves joint ventures with investors that have the capital you need. Usually, the investor will receive a percentage of your business' profit in exchange for the capital you need to purchase the building or stock in the company if it is public.

Some investors will take a back seat to your executive decisions, while others will want a say in the operation of your company. Joint ventures are not for everyone, so keep in mind all of these factors when considering one.

The SBA 7(a) Loan Program

The SBA has a variety of financing products that are ideal for small businesses. The most commonly used SBA loan is the 7(a) Loan Program. The loan is provided through banks or non-bank lending institutions.

In order to be eligible for a 7(a) loan, your business must be for profit, and you cannot purchase real estate for investment purposes. There are many other guidelines to qualify for a 7(a) loan. The maximum amount a business can borrow from a 7(a) loan is $2 million. Furthermore, all SBA 7(a) loans have prime-based floating interest rates. This type of interest rate structure can leave you vulnerable to monthly/quarterly interest rate swings that can have a significant impact on your monthly mortgage payment.

Now you can see why it is so important to find a commercial lender who can help you digest all of this information and take the time to explain your options.

15. The Best Kept Financing Secret

One of the main reasons small businesses choose to rent instead of purchase their own commercial real estate property is the perception that they can't afford the down payment. Many of them are not aware that SBA-guaranteed loans are available to qualifying applicants and can provide up to 90 percent loan to cost financing.

In fact, the 504 loan program was designed to assist small businesses in building or purchasing properties while spurring business growth in the local economy.

Only 10% Down

While in some parts of the country, use of the 504 loan program is widespread, there are other areas, such as those east of the Rocky Mountains, where this program isn't getting the attention it deserves. If you are unable to put down much of the loan cost, the 504 is worth looking at: it only requires 10% - and there are no closing costs in addition to the 10% down! (Please note that there are certain basic criteria you will need to have to qualify for the 10% down program. A good lender work with you to do his or her best to help you qualify for this benefit.)

The other 90% of the financing comes from two places: up to 50% of the total cost (land, building, renovations, and soft costs) is paid for by a senior lien from a private-sector lender, and up to 40% comes from a junior lien from a Certified Development Company (this portion is backed by a 100 percent SBA-guaranteed debenture).

Smaller Payments

Since most banks and loan programs require a minimum of 20-30% of the property cost, and do not fold in soft costs and closing fees, 504 loans are a great way to get the best of everything: by paying only 10% down, you retain more capital and are able to make smaller payments over the life of your mortgage.

Because you have two separate loans with the 504, you end up getting a blended rate that is below market. The first loan is either fixed or variable, and is at or slightly higher than conventional financing rates. The second mortgage (the 40% loan) is considerably lower than market interest rates, and is fixed for the life of the loan. Having a lower interest rate lets your company retain more capital.

504 loans can close in 30 days or less, saving you time, and helping you get into your new property sooner. Another advantage is that there are usually fewer "hoops" to jump through to get approved, as long as you are dealing with a lender who specializes in this type of loan as opposed to one who might process one or two a year. The specialist knows this loan inside and out and can streamline the process, as well as make sure you are receiving all the benefits.

Many Would Be Interested in How to Go About Buying and Selling Property For Profit

Buying and selling for a profit used to be 'easy'. Through the millennium you could buy a property and be guaranteed it would make money in a few years and in some cases, a few months. Some people (and mortgage lenders!) seemed to think house prices would continue to rise, others warned of a housing bubble, but didn't seem to be able to accurately predict when it would burst.

However, burst it did, starting in the States and hitting the UK very hard. The recession appeared to start in the property sector and within months we saw sales drop by 50% prices fall by 20% from a 2007 peak. Rental income which normally rises when house prices fall, has suffered with year on year falls of 5% or more, voids have increased as have tenant rent arrears.

At the moment we seem to be in a strange state of flux. No-one seems to know what's going to happen next. No-one can quite believe that such a sharp recession, within less than 12 months, can appear to be 'over'. Yet, reports of green shoots in the property market and the wider economy seem to be talked about daily. The private sector is claiming their order books are growing again and recent figures even suggest unemployment is slowing.

But are things really starting to turn around? What about the huge debt we owe as a country, estimated at £13,000 per head of our population*? It is true that business has taken the brunt of the credit crunch and the public sector has yet to be heavily squeezed? If this is true, what effect would public sector job cuts and pay being frozen (or cut) have on our economy - and the property market - next year?

More importantly, as property investors, what does this mean for you? What's the good news? What's the bad news? And most importantly, if you have money to invest, are there any properties that are 'safe' to invest in? Are are short term profits from property possible, or is it only possible to make money out of property in the long term?

The good news

Many investors who had pulled out of the market back in 2006 (or before) have been buying heavily since October 2008. Those that bought within the first six months of the crash benefited by snapping up bargains from the huge over supply of property for sale and a massive rise in repossessions. Buying 'below market value' became the 'favourite phrase' of the property investment industry and canny investors were buying properties up to 50% below their true value.

The bad news

The credit crunch however meant that investing in these bargains was only for cash rich buyers as buy to let, commercial and development finance became difficult and in some cases impossible to secure. The return of 25% deposit requirements, higher finance costs and recently a dramatic fall in the supply of property in many areas has made even 'below market value' deals have, in the last few months been difficult to fund and find.

Added to the financing difficulties is the six month re-mortgage rule which stops an investor buying a property 'below market value' and then re-mortgaging it immediately to take cash out to invest in the next property. Although some still claim this can be done, most investment experts believe it's only possible if during the process, someone commits mortgage fraud.

So, if you can access cash, is this a good time to invest?

Currently there are two schools of thought. The first believes that we are in an 'artificial' state of recovery. Interest rates are artificially low, help from the government is currently stopping repossessions and we have yet to see the effect of reducing public sector costs. As a result one school of thought continues to predict property prices falling further and staying low for some years as the impact of unemployment and a return to normal interest rates continue to depress the economy.

The second school of thought is that although low demand and supply is causing the current signs of 'green shoots', the likelihood of lots of properties coming back onto the market is small. Some predict that interest rates will stay low for many years (CEBR estimate interest rates will only increase to 2% by 2014). As a result, their predictions are that property prices will remain stable, and in areas where there is a shortage of supply such as the South East and London prices may even show small rises.

Whichever of these scenarios you believe will happen, one thing is for sure, that spotting the 'bottom of the market' is impossible. You will only know it's been reached AFTER it's been recorded! For example, for those hoping to pick up repossession bargains, latest statistics from David Sandeman at the EI Group show that the 'bottom' of the repossessions market (ie when repossessions sold through auction houses were at their highest) was Quarter 4 2008 - nearly a year ago!

However, good investors will always be able to make money - in good and bad markets. And, although you may have missed some of the bargains that have been around in the 12 months, there are still plenty of areas and properties that are worth considering investing in, as long as you've:-

1. Carried out extensive research
2. Considered different ways of making money from property
3. Accurately valued the property you are buying
4. Identified potential future capital growth

Research, Research, Research

In my view few people carry out enough research when buying an investment property, especially in unfamiliar areas. Those that don't visit a property before they buy shouldn't be investing at all, unless they have previously tried, tested and trusted independent people who carry out valuations independent of any property clubs or sourcing businesses.

When researching an area or property it is essential to:-

1. Visit the street and surrounding areas, research current supply and demand from a buyers/tenants perspective.

2. If the property requires updating, make sure you have accurate quotes, and refurbishing the property will deliver a 20% return.

3. If you are planning to rent the property out, check the rental value from an agent that specialises in rentals, rather than an estate agent/letting agent that may have a conflict of interest or have only just started a lettings business to help survive the recession.

4. Check what properties are in short supply now for buying or renting. Areas that seem to be recovering from property price and rental falls already are likely to be the ones that will deliver good capital growth in the future.

5. Secure feedback on potential sales value from estate agents and an independent RICS surveyor who is acting on YOUR behalf.

6. Check out the future supply of other properties that might affect demand for your property. If you are buying a two bedroomed flat, what if another 1,000 are planned to be built? What planning permission has the local authority already given?

7. Find out about the future population changes. If you are buying a large property to rent out to students, will there be enough families who can afford to buy a big property when you want to sell?

8. If you are buying a three bedroomed property and are planning to turn it into a five bed, make sure the cost of the additional space will be covered by a real rise in the value of the property.

Consider different ways of making money from property

Many people just look to buy to let or renovation to make money from property. However, you can also invest in:-

1. Buying land and build to let or sell.
2. Commercial as opposed to residential property.
3. Develop mixed use property, for example buying a shop and a flat above and renovating to then sell or rent at a profit.
4. Property funds and syndicates.
5. Working with developers to buy properties below market value via a 'part exchange' scheme.

Accurately Valuing Property

When we used to value properties at a professional part exchange business, we used to spend approximately three full days and use five professionals to help value the property accurately. And we had to. To make money from part exchange you have to buy a property at a discount of between 10-20% and then sell the property (typically via agents) within a three month period, or you're likely to start losing money.

To value a property you need to:-

Understand what is happening in the local market

Use Hometrack and then visit local estate agents that have been selling similar properties. Hometrack will show you how many weeks and how many viewings properties require to sell, as well as what the average offer price is versus asking price. Use this information to check with local agents how accurate it is and what their experience of the market is currently.

Identify previously 'sold property prices':-

1. Go to a property portal for example Rightmove and click on 'sold prices'.
2. Put in the property's postcode.
3. Select a distance first time of 1 mile, then if few or no results select up to 3 miles.
4. Put in your type of property.
5. Put in 10% below the minimum price of the property valuations you currently have.
6. Put in 10% above for the maximum price of the property you have.
7. Then tick the box that says 'include sold, under offer, subject to contract'
8. Find properties that have just gone under offer/sold and then follow up with the agent who sold the property.

Find comparables of similar properties which have recently been sold

A recent comparable is vital in understanding a property's likely value, and is defined as a property that has sold recently in a similar location, ideally in the same road or a very similar property in a nearby street eg 1930's semi, detached or Victorian terrace.

Other Valuation Methods

You can use the 'on-line' automated systems, such as Zoopla but be warned, these are never as accurate as carrying out your own research and their figures are typically based on 'past' not future prices.

Finally if you are sure you have a property that is worth investing in, and especially if it's in a terrible state and difficult to value, call in a local RICS surveyor to give a professional valuation which includes the likely costs of works and check these costs with local tradesmen.

Identify potential future capital growth

Up until the credit crunch, terraced houses have outperformed other types of residential investments from a capital perspective for the last ten years. Both investors and first time buyers competed to buy this property type and it led to an increase in the value of these typically two bed properties.

Over the next five years, with a large public debt and recovering from a recession may mean people's income doesn't increase much and with a fall in the number of people able to invest, property prices are unlikely to increase much. In fact some reports (such as Knight Frank) suggest it will take until 2014 for prices to recover to their 2007 levels.

So, if you want to buy property now and sell it at a profit in the future, you'll need to start predicting which property types in your area are likely to sell in the future and appeal to as many buyers as possible.

It's unlikely that there will be a 'magic' answer to this. It'll depend on local property supply, demand (which will vary according to the population and availability of finance) as well as how well the local economy recovers. To help you do this you'll need to search for information on:-

1. Likely population changes.
2. Planned increased supply of new builds and social housing.
3. Transport changes that shorten or ease the time it takes to get to towns and cities.
4. Areas and property types that will remain in short supply now and in the future.

For example if the area you are investing in has an ageing population, then maybe there is a shortage of bungalows with manageable gardens. If another area has a shortage of two bedroom apartments within easy reach of a train station, shops and work and a relatively young population, then this type of property may be the best to invest in.

In summary there are 'no short cuts' to make money out of property in the future. You'll need to have cash for deposits and financial fees and carry out extensive research about the viability of an investment property now and in the future.

Finally, with the government wanting to find lots of ways of paying of their debt, you will also need to ensure you secure good legal and tax advice so you buy the properties in the right way and minimise any tax bills that may be due now and in the future!

I am one of the UK's top property experts being regularly quoted in the press including the Telegraph, Independent, Times, Daily Mail and Express and have appeared on BBC2, featured on BBC Radio 4, Channel 4 and a number of local BBC Radio stations.

I have been a consultant to the property sector for a number of years and renovating properties for over 20 years. I have also written a number of books, including four for Which? - Buy, Sell, Move House, Renting and Letting, Develop your Property and the Property Investment Handbook.

Selling Property in a Challenging Market

As the news stories about the woes of the property markets continue to pile up in the media, more people are tempted to put their homes on the market in the present climate to see if they are able to sell 'at the top of the curve' and take advantage of the capital gains they have made in the past years of the property bubble.

While experts disagree over the size of the market 'correction', or the length of any downturn in the market that is likely to take place over the next few months or even years, there is little doubt that more people will be in a position where they feel under pressure to sell their property as quickly as they can. The danger is that in putting your property up for sale you will be tempted into taking a much lower offer than you should, as well as the stress of dealing with demanding buyers.

On the other hand, being unrealistic about the value of your property, the motivation of your potential buyers, and the market conditions could lead to being stuck in a situation with a property that has been extensively marketed and still does not sell, despite discounts to the price.

Some of the situations you may encounter over this period of toughening market conditions are explored here, along with some possible strategies to help you sell your property at the right time and for the right value.

Be Objective - This is particularly important when you are selling your own home, rather than any kind of investment property, but it is vitally important that you are realistic and able to take the fact that agents or buyers may suggest you sell your property for less than you think it is worth.

This does not mean that you should just give in without a fight to the first offer that comes along, when you are convinced that the property is worth far more, but make sure your position is backed up with solid facts. In market conditions as they are at present, research in the local area is even more important, and can be the key to making your sale successful. Check estate agents' windows regularly to see what at price similar properties are on the market, as well as how quickly they move.

Also, try to compare your property to other similar ones for sale in the same area, and be as objective as you can. Essentially, these similar properties are your competition for buyers, and you need to know where your property stands in relation to them. Think about things like proximity to schools, shops and leisure facilities on the positive side, and main roads, traffic black spots and industry on the negative.

Knowing all of this, and listing where your property is stronger than most of the other similar properties on the market at the time, will allow you to price your property effectively and realistically, as well as helping in its marketing. The knowledge that your property has the best gardens of the type, or has an extension as a utility room should allow you to bring out the advantages in the details as supplied by the agent, as well as helping you to sell the property when you are conducting viewings.

Aggressive buyers and tactics - One of the biggest problems with selling with the current turbulent market conditions is that buyers will feel they are in a true 'buyer's market'. This means they will feel emboldened by the prospect of being more sought-after than the property they are considering buying. Given this fact, buyers are taking up some practices that have not been seen by vendors for a few years - some of which are just a shift in the landscape and relationship between buyer and seller, other which are a degree more unsavoury or even immoral.

One of the biggest differences that sellers will notice in the current climate is the time factor. Buyers are now far less likely to be rushed into making an offer, or improving an existing offer as they will have the impression that you need them more than they need you. While this can be true, it pays to be prepared to wait for offers and responses to come in.

Of course, this is a legitimate buying tactic in the same way that in a rising market sellers are able to make buyers wait for their responses to try to make sure they would be prepared to move their offer upwards. Buyers will feel that by holding out on making their first or follow-up offer, they are sowing the seeds to make sure that you are 'softened-up' for a lower offer than would otherwise be normal.

Be aware in this situation of the research you have done on the right price for your property, and be prepared to stick to your guns - but not too much. While it is quite fair to ask for a fair price in negotiation, if you are completely inflexible in the money stakes, you will scare off legitimate and fair buyers.

Once you have accepted an offer for the property, there are other things that buyers may now feel emboldened to do given the market conditions. For one thing, the agreements for fittings and fixtures may go on longer and be more intense that you might expect. Again, buyers will feel that they are in a stronger position to demand that some of the items you would have taken with you remain in place or are prepared to pay less than you want for them.

In this situation you would be well-advised to try to keep the two issues separate, while the buyer may be keen to suggest that unless you move on the fixtures and fittings the whole deal could fall apart. If they continue to be stubborn on this point, and you feel that they are close to pulling out of the sale, there may come a time to make a difficult choice. If you give in to their demands, can you be sure that this is the only issue on which they will be aggressive, or will it be a signal to them that they can push you into a corner in any of the negotiations? Would you prefer to keep this sale, no matter how much you have to smile through gritted teeth, or are you confident in finding a buyer? There is no blanket answer to this, and each situation can only be judged upon your feelings at the time.

One of the more worrying trends in recent weeks has been the idea of buyers gazundering sellers. Gazundering is a process by which buyers agree a sale price and put the wheels of the sale in motion, only to demand a hefty discount on the property price at a very late stage, often just days before completion. The discount demands can be anything up to 20 per cent off the agreed price, and sellers are left with the option of either giving in to the demands of their buyers or risking losing their sale, the house they want to buy and causing the rest of the chain to collapse.

Some websites are deliberately promoting gazundering as a legitimate bargaining tool in the house buying process, and even go so far as to say buyers should have offers accepted on three different properties to maximize the chances of one of their gazundering attempts being successful. Most people will see this as a morally-questionable way of entering into a sale, but be aware that there may be some people out there who are willing to try it.

Make the most of what you have - Many of the properties that are coming on to the market at the moment are quite similar - in some areas there are so many two-bedroom apartments for sale at the moment that sellers are dropping their prices by up to £100,000 (approx $200,000) in order to attract attention from a smaller pool of potential buyers than has been seen for some years.

In this situation, the best thing you can do is to make sure that you have maximized the features of your property that are going to attract buyers and make it stand out from all of the other properties of the same type they will have viewed already. If you have a huge kitchen, make sure it is clean and tidy but that people can see you enjoy spending time in there, if the garden is 30 yards longer then the neighbouring properties, make sure it is tidy, the lawn mowed and some colour and life are evident. You may even want to demonstrate the its lifestyle possibilities by putting out garden furniture to show how it can be used.

A recent survey also suggested that spending a small amount of money on refurbishing and remodeling parts of your property can not only get you back almost the same amount of money as the investment you put in, but will also help to make the property stand out to buyers. Purely on a monetary basis, it is said that a minor remodeling of the main bathroom in a property is the best way to spend on the interior of a property, with up to 100 per cent of the investment being made back on the property sale.

Making your property ready for viewings is also important. Some say that brewing fresh coffee or baking bread in the kitchen is the best way of making an impression on people viewing the property, but nothing will stick in their minds more than a well-presented, well cared-for home. The much-vaunted 'kerb appeal' factor is very important in creating the right first impression and setting the tone of the viewing. Pets and clutter should both be banished for the duration of the viewing, and if possible and necessary, you may want to send the children and partner to the park for an hour while people are viewing the property.

What you really want to create in a competitive market like we have at the present time is a lasting impression on potential buyers. If you can let each of your viewings leave with a sense that they want to be in your property, and can see themselves happy there, you have won half of the battle and will have a better chance of sticking in their minds.

Think differently - Don't be afraid to do something a little different in marketing your property to the buyers that are out there. Remember that there are always people who are looking to buy property, even if there aren't as many as there were, or as many as you might want to see. In fact, many buy-to-let investors are looking to expand their property portfolios now as they see it as a perfect time to buy the properties they want, as well as a time when there will be more people who have to rent instead of buying themselves and getting on the property ladder.

Some sellers will see this as the right time to look into selling their property on their own, and not using an estate agent. Certainly the fees that will be saved on any purchase are a welcome bonus, and perhaps that will allow you to be a little more flexible on your pricing than someone who also has to pay their agent a commission at the end. Selling without an agent is not something that should be tackled without careful thought and preparation however, as doing things wrong will waste time and money, and will ultimately make it difficult to sell the property later through an agent if the independent route fails. Many agents will be reluctant to take on a property that has been on the market independently in the recent past, as they will feel that it has been overexposed to the market, and their chances of success are therefore diminished.

Even if you are using a real estate agent to sell, you can still get creative with your own marketing strategy. There are some wild and interesting ideas of how you can bring attention to your property sale, from having bumper stickers made up and taking out advertisements in local papers on your own. One of the more targeted approaches works very well if your property is in the catchment area of a well-regarded school. Some sellers have been known to hand out flyers at the time when parents are arriving to collect their children, as they often know someone who wants to move to the area.

If your property is particularly attractive and stands out from the crowd, you may want to consider holding an open house for potential buyers to come along. This is a particularly good idea for desirable properties - it brings in interested parties to have a more leisurely look around the property and even to take a little more time to discuss finer points with you personally, and if you are lucky it will also mean that they will see other interested potential buyers arriving to look around and spur them into making a good offer.

Don't panic! - Despite some of the media stories to the contrary, there are still properties that are being bought and sold across the country, so there are buyers out there. They may not have the huge and easily-accessible finance options that were available a year ago, and they may not be as willing to enter into a bidding war to get your property, but they are still out there. A well-presented, loved, realistically-priced property will sell, as there will be a buyer out there who wants it.

Try to be patient in waiting for viewings, offers and negotiations - not only will you find it stressful; you will also transmit a kind of desperation to the buyer that they can use to drive your price down.

It is also a good idea to have a set of limits and a back-up plan if the market turns out not to want to buy your property in the timeframe you have in mind. Set a lower limit for offers that you will accept, a time limit that you want to lave the property on the market. Should a sale not happen, or the price you are offered is too low, consider updating and improving the property you already have - either for you to continue to enjoy, or for a fresh assault on the market.

If you need to sell quickly - Should you get to the point where you need to sell your property quickly, there are a couple of options that should at least allow you to escape from a sticky financial situation. Sometimes these options are looked down on by many in the industry, and while they do offer opportunities to those involved to make money from buying your property cheaply, they can offer sellers a way out and still give them some equity to play with.

Auctioning property in the UK has not really taken off significantly, despite numerous efforts to promote it as a good way to buy property. Some properties are auctioned, and it is often repossessed or probate properties that make up the lots. This can be a good way to make sure that you achieve a reasonable sale, so long as you don't put an unrealistic reserve price and are prepared to accept a slightly below market value price. If you are lucky enough to have two or more bidders who are keen to get hold of your property you may get a higher price than you imagine.

Another option is to go to one of the quick sale companies in the UK market, who offer a range on service to allow you to sell your home quickly and get your money out in a short space of time. Backed by the fact that they have cash reserves, these companies are able to offer cash within days to most sellers. They make their money from buying properties below the true market value, but that is the price you pay for being able to get your hands on a significant amount of capital in a short space of time. For people who are in more dire financial straits, these companies also offer 'sale and rent back' schemes to allow them to get their capital out of the property and still have their home to live in.