Investing in Rio de Janeiro Real Estate and Land - A General Overview

Rio de Janeiro is a state located in the south east region of Brazil with its motto being: "conduct the affairs of the public with righteousness." It occupies a total area of 43,653 km² and its capital is a city of the same name. Excluding its shore of the Atlantic Ocean, Rio de Janeiro borders the states of Minas Gerais to the north and north west, Espirito Santo to the north east and São Paulo to the South West.

The state's most prominent regions are Rio de Janeiro City, Nova Iguaçu, Niterói, Duque de Caxias, São Gonçalo, São João de Meriti, Campos dos Goytacazes, Petrópolis and Volta Redonda. The principal rivers of the state are the Guandu River, the Piraí, the Paraíba do Sul, the Macaé and the Muriaé. It remains the number one tourist destination and contains some of the most valuable real estate and land in Latin America (particularly in Rio de Janeiro city).

Established in 1565, the states development commenced in the 17th century with the export of sugar cane, cattle and gold to surrounding areas (mainly São Paulo and Minas Gerais). In 1763, the state became the headquarters of colonial Brazil which was shortly followed by the first bank of the country (Banco de Brasil which, today, is owned by the government), the basis of a media industry, educational establishments, transportation routes and several other infrastructural developments. In 1834, the city was named the capital until this was changed to Brasília in 1960 (which was chosen due to its more central location in the country).

Today over 50 percent of the states economy lies in industry, closely followed by tertiary services and agriculture. Much international attention has come to the region when the discovery of the Tupi (2006) and Jupiter (2008) oil fields were formally announced - with more findings being expected. As a result, Rio de Janeiro state is now the largest producer of petroleum and gas in Brazil (neighbouring state Espírito Santo also has significant reserves). The production of oil in Rio de Janeiro state has meant that the country has advanced up the global league table in terms of production, having grown 95 percent in the last 10 years (compared with the world average production increasing by 22 percent). The local economy also continues to benefit from taxation offsets and production royalties as well as the arrival of domestic and international corporations attracted to the increased wealth opportunities that oil brings. As well as petroleum, primary exports include other fuels (such as ethanol) as well as chemicals, textiles, metals (mainly steel, iron and tin), glass, processed fish, glass, dairy products, coffee, cachaça (Brazilian rum), livestock, cement and vehicles.

The state is made up of numerous municipal regions, each with a varied history from the times of indigenous occupation, through colonisation and the present day. Overflowing with history, architecture and culture, the state offers very attractive features to both the tourist and investor. There are many universities throughout the state, with hundreds of campuses in the various municipalities, offering courses in everything from agricultural studies to computer science and high technology.

As with most regions in the world with such vast areas and many cities, Rio de Janeiro state has a diverse population and standards of living depending on the area or municipality. The larger and more prosperous cities (such as Rio de Janeiro) attract citizens from all over the state and country, many seeking well-paid employment or a better life than in their rural towns and villages, but not holding the relevant experience or qualifications. Because of this, favelas (slums) have formed especially in the city of Rio de Janeiro which, while decreasing as the wealth of the country ameliorates, should be carefully observed when investing in land and real estate.

Despite this, the state continues to be a beautiful and vibrant region of Brazil - particularly its beautiful coast, many lagoons and vast conservation areas. One of the most exciting and looked-forward-to events of the year is the Rio de Janeiro carnival (celebrated throughout the municipalities) which is world famous for being the greatest, most colourful and ear-pleasing festival in the world. The metropolitan areas have also become increasingly appealing for the real estate and land investor - offering all the excitement and infrastructure expected, but with many sights of natural beauty.

Real Estate and the Internet - New Technologies Can Help (And Hurt) Agents

The Internet has been changing practically every industry and every professional-and the real estate business was not left unaffected. Of course, the changes in the real estate business, thanks to the wonders of the Internet, have all been good both for the realtor and the property buyer. With the use of online tools and techniques, real estate marketing has never been easier. And since an interested individual can simply search for his or her desired property with a click of a button, looking for property has never been easier either. But needless to say, the advantage and benefits brought about by technology can be felt more by the agents. After all, competition is becoming stiffer and stiffer by the minute, with the economic crunch and the number of agents engaged in the business.

For instance, a number of studies and researchers say that more than half of the current homebuyers look for property first online. This is the exact opposite of the current misconception that people avoid the Internet when purchasing property. Although the Internet is home to some scams and dubious plots, it is always easy to spot them-and homebuyers know this. Homebuyers are not exactly completely trusting, but they know who and when to trust. They also know the proper protocol when dealing with agents and brokers online.

The age of recent homebuyers also play a part in the importance of the Internet in real estate. Homebuyers of recent years are becoming younger and younger. And as younger customers, they are more adept with the Internet, unlike their older, more senior counterparts. While not totally reliant on the Internet, these young homebuyers know enough to use real estate websites as the starting point of their search for a property.

But why are homebuyers leaning more towards online realtors or looking for properties online? For one, the Internet affords them easy access not just to the basic information about the property; it also allows homebuyers to pose a question directly to a realtor without the need to see an agent personally. In turn, these realtors deal with these queries properly and honorably, since they know whatever they will say can make or break a possible deal. Online reviews and quick access to information about the area where the property is located are also among the reasons.

And why are real estate agents depending on the Internet and using online tools for their marketing campaigns? The most obvious answer is market: there's where the market is. With the use of social networking websites and web logs (or blogs), a real estate agent can easily put his best face forward instantly. The Internet also makes the task of working with potential clients easier.

Of course, the Internet can also pose as a threat to both real estate agent and homebuyer. But generally, the advent of this trend in the real estate industry is a welcome change, as especially now that the tough market has made efficiency and cost savings more important than ever.

How to Use the Internet to Market Your Real Estate and Save Thousands of Dollars in Commissions

The vast majority of buyers are searching the Internet to find the real estate they are looking for. The figure keeps changing but somewhere between 85 to 90% of all buyers use the Internet as their main tool for property search.

In these economically challenging times most professional real estate offices (including the large national franchises) have cut way back on their budgets for print advertising in the newspapers. In real estate offices this is known as a BLACKOUT on advertising and it is happening all over the country.

The other reason why real estate agents and offices heavily utilize the Internet is because it costs next to nothing and it works! Plan and simple it works.

The Internet has changed the way real estate is marketed forever and agents have accepted it. Print advertising is extremely expensive and the Internet has now made print advertising passé.
This is not a bad thing. Agents place their efforts and energy on what works and now so can you!
Right now is the perfect time for the average home seller to learn this truth and use the Internet to sell their property without the expense of a listing real estate agent.

One of the best-kept secrets around is that for peanuts and very little effort, sellers can put their property on the Internet without an agent or a real estate broker.

If you have a digital camera and have ever used or seen eBay then you can figure out how to post your property on the Internet. It's that easy. Fill in the blanks, download some pictures and your property is out there for the world to see.

Oh sure, you are comfortable with the Internet. Maybe you have sold a car on it or have bought and sold other items on eBay or Craigslist. Or perhaps you are quite leading edge using all the latest technology. But this is real estate and it all seems a bit complicated. What about all the other steps that are involved in the real estate transaction?

Relax! This is not rocket science and most professionals in the real estate business are not scientists.

Use of the following 12 steps and it will make your transaction very manageable.

THE12 PRINCIPLES FOR SUCCESSFUL INTERNET REAL ESTATE SELLING is not only a guide for using the Internet to sell real estate online but also a formula for protecting and securing the seller throughout the entire transaction.

1. Be brave and set the price. The seller always has
2. You must perform all inspections before you market the property
3. Honestly represent the exact nature and condition of the property
4. Hire an Attorney. Do it early on in the sales process
5. Get proof of insurance from everyone
6. Anything you say can and will be used against you. So zip it!
7. You need to cooperate with and pay buyers brokers and agents
8. You can sell directly to buyers without an agent. If they don't have one
9. Online advertising is cheap
10. Showings are easy
11. Be effective and follow up
12. All information concerning the property becomes the property of the property

If sellers will follow these principles they can sell their real estate online with the confidence that they can accomplish this important transaction from beginning to end.

How To Build A Cash Flow Model For Your Real Estate Investment Property

Are you about to start investing in real estate? Or perhaps you've already put your toe in the water but want to learn more. Here is an overview of the factors you need to take a look at in order to project your potential return on an investment.

• Purchase price - obviously, the amount of money you put out for the property is significant in determining your investment outcome.
• The annual appreciation rate at which you expect the property's value to increase.
• How many years you expect to hold the property. Combined with the 2 figures above, this will enable you to estimate a future selling price.
• Number of rental units, and rent you expect to receive from each unit.
• Annual rate of rent appreciation.
• Expected unoccupancy rate - it's important to remember that tenants come and go, and will occasionally leave you with empty rental units. It's best to plan that into your projection.
• Any miscellaneous revenue you anticipate (laundry facilities, etc.), and the rate at which you expect those revenues to grow.
• Property management fees. Even if you expect to manage the property yourself, it's best to budget in an allowance for professional property management. First, this rewards you for the time and effort you invest. Second, it ensures that you are covered if for some unanticipated reason you need to turn the management over to a pro at some point in the future.
• Last, but not least, you need to know your opportunity cost, something that big investors would call the 'cost of capital'. For example, if you can earn 5% by keeping your money in the bank, you're going to want a lot more than 5% for taking on the risk and time investments required by a rental property!
• Annual operating expenses, and the rate at which you expect those expenses to increase over your term of ownership.
• Property taxes and rate of annual increase.
• Insurance and rate of annual increase. It's critical to insure your substantial investment!
• Any miscellaneous expenses, and rate of annual increase.
• Depreciation expense. To determine this, you'll need to estimate the building's assessed value as a percent of the total purchase price.
• Your annual capital investments in the property. You were planning to budget on capital improvements, weren't you?
• Downpayment - how much cash are you putting in upfront?
• Bank fees - how many points do you expect to pay, and what closing fees do you expect to incur if you will putting a mortgage on the property?
• What mortgage interest rate do you expect? And how long will the payback period be?

Now that you've got all the numbers laid out in front of you, you 'just' need to build a financial model which will allow you to project cash flow throughout your ownership term, and then use time value of money calculations to create a present value of those flows. Compare the present value of your future cash receipts against the amount of cash you will outlay upfront. If it's greater, congratulations- you have positive Net Present Value, and this property looks attractive. If the result is negative, it's a red flag-- you need to take another look, because this may not be a good deal for you.

The obvious comment you might have is... "This all sounds awful hard! Aren't there tools which can help me?"

The good news is that there are! In fact you can use an online investment property calculator which will do all of the heavy calculating for you. You simply plug in the numbers, and review the results. Now THAT's some smart investing!

The Best Insurance Quotes on the Net Are Hidden

Health insurance and all types of insurance for that matter can be extremely expensive if you don't do the proper research before picking a policy. The most useful tool in this search is without a doubt the internet. All the best insurance quotes have been moved online. There are web pages now where all the best insurance quotes are consolidated for you already, cutting down on your research time ten- fold. These sites prove to be extremely helpful especially when you have a busy schedule and the last thing you really want to be doing is scouring the internet for a cheaper policy.

These sites are just one tool that the internet provides that you can use when it comes to finding the best insurance quotes for you and your family. You can also do it the old fashioned way; give the insurance agencies a call. No need to bust out the phonebook just jump on the internet and all the numbers you need are there. This is just one other instance of the internet and technology cutting down on research time when it comes to finding the best product for the best price.

The internet will aid you greatly in your search, but you must still be a savvy consumer. Read the fine print and don't ever sign up for the first quote you find. Keep these things in mind while utilizing the internet to find the best insurance quotes and you'll find the policy you are looking in no time.

What to Examine Before Buying Real Estate Foreclosure Properties

Are you interested in buying real estate foreclosure properties with the hopes of turning them into investment properties and making money with them? If you are, you need to be familiar with real estate foreclosure properties. Not only do you need to know what they are, but you also need to know the best ways to go about finding and buying them.

When it comes to finding real estate foreclosure properties, there a number of different approaches that you can take. For instance, you can use the internet. There are a number of online real estate foreclosure listing services that you can use to browse through or search for foreclosures. You can also find real estate foreclosure properties by keeping an eye on your local newspapers or by examining the public records at local county clerk offices.

Now that you exactly how you can go about finding real estate foreclosure properties, your focus should then switch to buying the properties. Before buying any real estate foreclosure properties, you are advised to examine the properties in question, as much as possible. There are some instances where you may be required to make a purchase decision without actually seeing the property in question, but, with an address, you should at least be able to get a look at the property in question. Look for any signs that may indicate that repairs or updates may need to be made. Any additional money that you will have to invest in a real estate foreclosure property is important, as it should impact how much you are willing to pay for the property.

In addition to the real estate foreclosure property in question, you are also advised to examine its surroundings. For instance, is the real estate foreclosure property located in a good neighborhood? Are there many fun, but safe activities and attractions nearby? If there is, you have a better chance of turning a profit. Real estate investment properties are those that are later sold for a profit or rented out. You need to not only make sure that the real estate foreclosure you are interested in is marketable, but you also need to make sure that the area in which the foreclosure property is as well.

Of course, you will also want to look for real estate foreclosure properties that are being sold at great prices. Many real estate foreclosure properties are sold at prices which are less than the fair market value. This is what makes real estate foreclosure proprieties highly sought after, particularly with real estate investors. As stated above, when examining the cost of a real estate foreclosure or the bidding price if it is being auctioned off, you need to take any possible updates or repairs into consideration. This is important because you will want to invest in good real estate foreclosure properties, but you also want to try and limit your investments, if you can do so. The less you invest, the easier it is for you to make a profit.

The above mentioned points are just a few of the many that you will want to keep in mind, when looking to find and buy real estate foreclosure properties. For additional information, you may want to think about taking a real estate investing course, particularly one that places a large focus on real estate foreclosure properties.

Buy Stansbury Real Estate and Settle Down There to Enjoy Life With Your Family

Located just 25 minutes drive from Salt Lake City on interstate 80, Stansbury Park is a planned community on which work started in early 80s. Though its original developer had to withdraw due to bankruptcy, the plan went ahead and the project was completed as expected. Stansbury real estate is popular due to quite a few reasons.

Area selected for the development of Stansbury Park had a natural reservoir called the mill Pond at its northern end. However, an artificial lake was built to offer canoeing and boating for the residents of Stansbury Utah homes. In addition to the lake, an 18-hole golf course also has been built for the residents to play golf. The golf course has 14 lakes. In addition to these facilities, you have the baseball diamonds and several parks to take fresh air under the tranquil setting offered only by rural areas.

When it comes to the education facilities of children of residents living in these Stansbury real estate properties, there are three schools. Two of them are elementary schools and one is a high school. In case they need to be given University education, University of Utah is there for them.

There are five churches where the residents of Stansbury Utah homes could engage in their religious observances. In case they want their children to be subjected to the influence of the church, they have ample opportunity to do so.

Those who buy Stansbury real estate properties could select the type of property they wish to buy as there are different types of properties on offer for sale. In case you buy a smaller home that comes to you at a cheaper price, still you will enjoy all the benefits enjoyed by owners of expensive properties as you have access to all the public amenities offered to residents. This is a specialty you will find when you are living in this community.

As regards communication facilities with outside world, you have ample opportunities as you have access to interstate 80. Once you drive to Salt Lake City, you are open to the outside world through Salt Lake City international airport.

When you consider all these facilities offered to you by Stansbury Park, you will find that it is one of the best places to live. You live in quiet rural surroundings, yet you are only 20 minutes away from one of the big cities in the US. Therefore, you could think seriously on settling down there.