Yogyakarta Ijinkan Pengembang Bangun Hunian Vertikal

Untuk mengakomodir kebutuhan masyarakat serta pengusaha developer yang ingin membuat hunian di daerah istimewa Yogyakarta, kini pemerintah mengijinkan untuk membangun hunian yang berkonsep vertikal. Hal ini dimaksudkan agar lahan-lahan perkebunan dan persawahan yang selama ini diincar oleh pengembang atau masyarakat yang ingin membangun hunian baru dapat terselamatkan karena pemerintah hanya memperbolehkan bangunan dibuat untuk vertikal seperti apartemen atau rumah susun.

Kebijakan ini sendiri setidaknya mencontoh daerah khusus ibukota Jakarta yang sudah menerapkan hal itu untuk memperkecil peluang pengembang properti untuk membuka lahan dan mengurangi kawasan hijau karena membangun rumah petak atau kompleks perumahaan horisontal.

Diungkapkan oleh Wali Kota Yogyakarta Haryadi Suyudi, dengan luas wilayah kota Yogyakarta yang tidak seberapa luas, maka masyarakat diminta untuk tidak membangun rumah petak didaerah Yoryakarta, dan lebih memilih membeli rumah susun atau apartemen sebagai hunian agar lahan yang selama ini diperuntukkan untuk kesejahteraan masyarakat tidak terusik karena pembelian tanah yang marak dilakukan. Hal ini sendiri juga diharapkan kepada pengmbangan agar menurut perintah yang diajukan oleh pemerintah Yogyakarta.

"Perumahan diharapkan tumbuh vertikal. Bisa saja, di Kota Yogyakarta sudah tidak diperbolehkan lagi membangun perumahan horisontal, tetapi harus vertikal seperti rumah susun atau apartemen," kata wali Kota Yogyakarta Haryadi Suyuti.

Sementara itu, pembangunan rumah susun atau apartemen sendiri juga setidaknya harus menyediakan sekitar 20 persen bagi penduduk berpendapatan rendah / miskin. Karena dengan hal ini, pihak developer menginjinkan kepada masyarakat tersebut untuk tetap mendapatkan rumah karena pemerintah kota Yogyakarta sekali lagi tidak mempebolehkan adanya pembukaan lahan untuk rumah petak.

Selain itu, Kota Yogyakarta juga berbenah dengan melakukan kajian terntang daya dukung lingkungan terhadap pembangunan. Direncanakan bahwa kajian ini sendiri dapat selesai pada tahun 2015, dengan kajian ini sendiri pemerintah kota Yogyakarta berharap akan ada konsep yang tepat untuk mengarahkan pertumbuhan kota Yogyakarta untuk dapat lebih baik dan dapat terus nyaman ditinggali oleh masyarakatnya.

Tidak hanya itu, kajian tersebut juga akan mengetahui dengan jelas, kira-kira apa saja investasi yang dapat berpotensi menimbulkan kerusakan lingkungan kota Yogyakarta. Sehingga Pemkot Yogyakarta dapat bertindak tegas terhadap investor yang dimaksud.

"Jika sudah masuk dalam daftar investasi negatif, maka akan dilakukan rasionalisasi," kata Haryadi.

Cara Dapat KPR Jika Penghasilan Rp 2,5 Juta/Bulan

Sesuai aturan yang ditetapkan oleh Kementerian Perumahan Rakyat (Kemenpera) terkait Fasilitas Likuiditas Pembiayaan Perumahan atau KPR Bersubsidi akan diberikan apabila masyarakat memiliki pendapatan Rp 2,5 juta sampai Rp 3 Juta per bulan.

Walaupun diberikan batas atas bagi masyarakat untuk mendapatkan KPR Bersubsidi, pemerintah sama sekali tidak menetapkan batas bawah agar KPR dapat diberikan oleh bank. Meski begitu Bank memiliki ketentuan bahwa untuk mendapatkan rumah sebagiknya seseorang yang berpendapatan di bawah Rp 2,5 juta per bulan harus memenuhi batas maksimal cicilan 30 persen dari penghasilan.

"Batas bawahnya tidak ada, yang penting sepertiga (30%) penghasilannya cukup untuk membayar angsuran KPR," ungkap Sri Hartoyo selaku Deputi Pembiayaan Perumahan Kemenpera melalui detikFinance, Kamis (4/9/2014).

Dengan kebijakan ini, masyarakat yang bergaji dibawah 2,5 juta / bulan tetap bisa menikmati fasilitas KPR dari bank. Sementara itu, latar belakang kemenpera membuat kebijakan ini ialah karena rata-rata konsumen yang lolos mendapatkan FLPP (Fasilitas Likuiditas Pembiayaan Perumahan) adalah mereka yang bergaji Rp 2,5 juta sampai Rp 3 juta per bulan.

Sementara itu, apa jadinya jika masyarakat tidak memiliki pendapatan perbulan sebanyak Rp 2,5 juta per bulan serta tidak sanggup memenuhi ketentuan batas cicilan maksimal 30% dari penghasilan? Sri Hartoyo menyarankan agar masyarakat menambah uang mukanya (DP) menjadi lebih besar, agar cicilannya per bulannya lebib rendah, sehingga bank dapat menyetujui pengajuan KPR-nya.

"Biasanya kalau kemampuan untuk membayar angsuran KPR kecil hal ini dapat disiasati dengan uang muka yang relatif besar, sehingga pokok KPR-nya kecil, angsuran KPR jadi relatif kecil juga," katanya.

Sementara itu, sesuai KPR Subsidi atau FLPP Konsumen akan mendapatkan bunga cicilan tetap yaitu 7,25% dengan jangka waktu kredit ialah 15-20 tahun. Sementara itu, harga rumah yang diajukan untuk KPR Bersubsidi maksimal sebesar Rp 120 juta untuk wilayah Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, dan Bekasi (Bodetabek). Sehingga cicilan per bulan untuk KPR Bersubsidi dari Fasilitas Likuiditas Pembiayaan Perumahaan ialah sekitar Rp 800 ribu – 900 ribu.

FLPP yang disebutkan sebelumnya merupakan untuk rumah tapak, namun jika masyarakat memilih rumah susun / apartemen maka ketentuan batas gaji maksimal adalah Rp 7 juta per bulan, dengan batas bawah tak ditentukan. Namun fasilitas kredit rumah subsidi bunga untuk rusun akan berakir pada 31 Maret 2015. Setelah itu, mulai 1 April 2015 subsidi bunga untuk rusun ditiadakan.

Inilah Alasan Pengembang Menaikkan Harga Lahan Industri

Pemerintah berencana untuk menaikkan harga bahan bakar minyak (BBM) bersubisidi, hal ini dilakukan untuk menarik tekanan APBN yang selama ini terjadi akibat tinggi penggelontoran subsidi yang dilakukan pemerintah untuk bahan bakar minyak.

Melihat adanya rencana pemerintah untuk menyesuaikan harga bahan bakar minyak (BBM), pengembang properti pun juga ikut-ikutan untuk menyesuaikan harga jual lahan di kawasan industri. Penyesuaian harga yang dilakukan developer ini berkisar antara 2,5 – 20 persen dari harga semula.

Salah satu pengembang yang melakukan penyesuaian harga menjelang kenaikan harga BBM adalah Lippo Cikarang dan Jababeka. Menurut Direktur PT Jababeka Tbk., Sutedja Sidarta Darmono, pihaknya melakukan penyesuaian harga lahan karena adanya koreksi harga yang terjadi pada material bangunan.

"Kami pasti meningkatkan harga lahan. Penyesuaian terkait juga dengan harga material bangunan. Sebelum pengumuman pemerintah, kami menaikkan harga per empat bulan dengan besaran 2,5 persen hingga 5 persen," ujar Sutedja, Selasa (2/9/2014).

Sementara itu untuk Lippo Cikarang penyesuaian harga yang dilakukan oleh korporasinya ditetapkan sekitar 10 persen hingga 20 persen tahun ini menurut Corporate Communication Manager PT Lippo Cikarang, Tbk., Ria Sormin.

"Kenaikan akan kami berlakukan efektif dalam waktu dekat ini," ujar Ria, Rabu (3/9/2014).

Menurut informasi yang didapatkan, saat ini harga lahan kawasan industri Jababeka di Cikarang, Jawa Barat, dipatok pada angka Rp 2 juta per meter persegi. Di Jababeka sendiri sudah berdiri sekitar 1.500 perusahaan. Sementara itu, di lahan industri yang juga dimiliki oleh Jababeka namun berlokasi di Kendal, Jawa Tengah, harga yang dipatok adalah sekitar 100 dollar AS atau jika dirupiahkan adalah sekitar Rp 1,1 juta per meter persegi.

Atas penyesuaian harga BBM yang berimbas pada naiknya harga lahan di kawasan industri Sutedja selaku Direktur di Jababeka mengaku optimis bahwa pasar tidak akan merespon negatir atas kenaikan tersebut. Karena sesuai dengan keputusan perusahaan bersama investor, pihaknya akan melakukan lonjakan harga yang masuk akal namun tetap terjangkau oleh pasar.

"Kami selaku pengembang dan pengelola kawasan industri menyambut baik policy making pemerintah. Saya yakin, pasar tidak akan merespon negatif kenaikan harga BBM ini," tandas Sutedja.

Dukungan terhadap kebijakan pemerintah yaitu menaikkan harga BBM juga diberikan oleh Ketua Umum Himpunan Kawasan Industri (HKI) Sanny Iskandar. Sanny mengungkapkan bahwa pemerintah memang sudah seharusnya menaikkan harga BBM, kalau perlu secara langsung atau tidak bertahap. Sebagai himpunan para pengembang kawasan industri, HKI sangat mendukung kenaikan tersebut.

"Bila perlu subsidi BBM dialihkan ke pembangunan infrastruktur, utilitas dan fasilitas untuk kepentingan yang lebih luas. Misalnya, infrastruktur akses dari kawasan industri penuju bandara, stasiun kereta api, atau ke pelabuhan. Selama ini, perusahaan-perusahaan yang beroperasi di kawasan industri-kawasan industri yang ada di Pulau Jawa dan luar Pulau Jawa terkendala keterbatasan infrastruktur sehingga menyebabkan ekonomi biaya tinggi," jelas Sanny.

140 Ribu Hektar Lahan Pertanian Berubah Menjadi Lahan Properti

Kejadian alih fungsi lahan yang awal digunakan sebagai lahan pertanian kemudian dijual menjadi lahan properti memang banyak terjadi di berbagai daerah. Bahkan hal ini marak terjadi di daerah penyangga ibu kota seperti bekasi, bogor, tangerang serta depok.

Masalah pengalihan fungsi lahan ini menjadi tidak berujung karena banyak faktor-faktor yang menjadi katalis atau pemicu seperti, pertumbuhan jumlah penduduk, perkembangan industri, serta nilai lahan properti yang lebih tinggi dibanding lahan pertanian.

Dalam diskusi yang bertajuk 'Rusunami : Solusi Penyediaan Perumahan bagi MBR di Perkotaan', Selasa (2/9), Ambo Ala selaku Guru Besar Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Hasanuddin mengungkapkan bahwa setidaknya Indonesia kehilangan 140.000 hektar sawah per tahunnya akibat alih fungsi lahan menjadi properti. Akibat hal ini, negara menjadi rugi hingga mencapai Rp 7 Triliun setiap tahun.

Kenapa pemerintah menjadi rugi gara-gara pengalihan fungsi lahan pertanian? Sebab berkurangnya lahan pertanian membuat Indonesia harus kekurangan produk hasil pertanian yang dikonsumsi oleh masyarakat. 

“Padahal, lahan pertanian diperlukan untuk ketahanan pangan yang menjadi penentu stabilitas ekonomi, keamanan negara, dan martabat bangsa,” kata Ambo.

Akhirnya untuk menstop kegiatan alih fungsi lahan pertanian menjadi lahan pertanian, pemerintah mencabut kebijakan pemberian subsidi kepemilikan rumah petak / tapak kepada masyarakat. Namun, pemerintah tetap memberikan subsidi, jika masyarakat terutama MBR (Masyarakat Berpendapatan Rendah) memilih memiliki hunian vertikal seperti Rumah Susun atau Apartemen.

Selain itu, kepada pengembang yang sudah memiliki lahan pertanian, pemerintah membuat regulasi yang dikeluarkan dalam bentuk Undang-undang Nomor 41 Tahun 2009 tentang Perlindungan Lahan Pertanian Pangan Berkelanjutan (LPPB). Dalam regulasi tersebut, pengembang diwajibkan menyediakan lahan pengganti terhadap pengalihfungsian lahan pertanian.

Cukup berat bagi pengembang untuk menyediakan lahan pengganti karena memanfaatkan lahan pertanian untuk dibangun properti, sebab dalam undang-undang ini disebutkan, pengembang wajib mengganti paling sedikit tiga kali luas lahan beririgasi, dua kali luas lahan hasil reklamasi, dan satu kali luas lahan yang tidak beririgasi.

Pemerintah Dorong Masyarakat Pilih Hunian Vertikal

Pemerintah terutama daerah provinsi DKI Jakarta sedang gencar untuk mendorong masyarkat untuk tinggal di hunian vertikal atau rumah susun, alasannya sederhana karena hunian vertikal lebih hemat lahan dibanding membangun rumah tapak. Bahkan pemerintah menghitung apabila rumah dibuat susun atau vertikal ke atas akan terjadi penghematan lahan hingga 430 persen lebih. 

Menurut Sri Hartoyo selaku Deputi Pembiayaan Perumahan kementerian Perumahan Rakyat (Kemenpera) mengungkapkan bahwa untuk memenuhi kebutuhan hunian di Indonesia yang mencapai belasan juta unit, pemerintah setidaknya harus menyediakan lahan ratusan ribu hektar. Sri melakukan pengandaian, apabila membangun rumah tapak maka akan membutuhkan 1,7 miliar meter persegi atau 170.000 hektar lahan demi memenuhi kebutuhan hunian / rumah tapak.

Hal ini berbeda dengan hunian vertikal atau rumah susun, dengan berbagai tipe ketinggian seperti 3, 6, 8 atau 12 lantai dengan komposisi (1 unit luasnya 36 meter persegi) maka lahan yang dibutuhkan hanya sekitar 39.000 hektar. Jumlah ini merupakan pengiritan lahan yang luar biasa untuk mencegah semakin berkurangnya lahan hijau di Indonesia yang sebenarnya diperuntukkan untuk meminimalisir bencana seperti banjir atau tanah longsor.

"Dalam hal ini kita bisa mencapai efisiensi 436%," kata Sri dalam sebuah Diskusi Forwapera di Hotel Ambhara, Jakarta, Selasa (2/9/2014).

Pemerintah mendorong masyarakat untuk tinggal di hunian vertikal seperti rumah susun atau apartemen. Dorongan pemerintah tersebut dilakukan dalam bentuk hilangnya pemberian subsidi bunga untuk pembiayaan kredit rumah tapak mulai 31 Maret 2015. Kebijakan penghapusan subsidi ini sudah dibentuk dalam peraturan menteri perumahan rakyat atau Permenpera No. 3 Tahun 2014. 

Sementara itu, jika masyarakat ingin memiliki hunian vertikal seperti rumah susun atau apartemen, pemerintah tetap akan memberikan subsidi untuk meringankan biaya kepemilikan hunian.

"Ke depan jumlah penduduk Indonesia akan bertambah, tanah tidak bertambah kecuali melakukan reklamasi," katanya.

Sri menambahkan, sesuai aturan Perundang-undangan, memang Negara dalam hal ini pemerintah mempunyai kewajiban untuk menyediakan hunian yang layak bagi warga negaranya. Akan tetapi, kita perlu mengingat bahwa faktanya saat ini lahan khususnya di kota besar sudah menipis.

"Salah satu cara yang mulai dipraktikan di negara lain adalah pola hunian vertikal atau rumah susun," tutup Sri.

Summarecon Mall Serpong Bangun Ruang Terbuka Hijau

Dengan banyaknya mall-mall di Jakarta, akhirnya pengembang / developer mulai melirik pembangunan Mall di kota penyangga ibu kota. Salah satu Tangerang Raya (Kota Tangerang, Tangerang Selatan dan Kabupaten Tangerang). Namun agar pembangunan mall tidak menjadi suatu hal yang sia-sia karena sepi pengunjung, maka pembangunan mall-mall di penyangga ibu kota memiliki strategi yang inovatif untuk menarik minat pengunjung agar keluar rumah.

Summarecon Mall Serpong

Salah satu inovasi menarik yang dilakukan oleh salah satu mall terkenal di Serpong ialah Summarecon Mall Serpong (SMS), menurut Cut Meutia selaku General Manager Corporate Communications menyatakan bahwa inovasi yang dilakukan oleh SMS bukan hanya pada sektor pertokoan namun juga fasilitas penunjang seperti Taman Bermain, sarana komunikasi antar komunitas kreatif, komunitas akademisi dan lainnya.

Untuk menyiapkan fasilitas penunjang ini, SMS tengah membangun sebuah ruang terbuka hijau seluas 7.500 m2. Ruang terbuka hijau ini akan memberikan solusi kepada pengunjung agar dapat berkumpul dan bermain ditempat yang cukup luas. Penamaan ruang terbuka hijau ini oleh SMS adalah Scientia Square Park (SQP). Inovasi ini akan menarik hati pengunjung agar menggunakan waktunya selain untuk berbelanja barang kebutuhan serta dapat juga bercengkrama dengan keluarga.

Sementara itu, untuk memberikan inovasi dalam bidang pertokoan SMS sendiri sedang melakukan pembangunan Gedung SMS tahap ketiga.

“Pembangunan akan terus berlangsung. Dalam waktu dekat, perusahaan akan membangun gedung Summarecon Mal Serpong fase ketiga. Saat ini perusahaan telah memiliki gedung Summarecon Mal Serpong fase satu dan dua,” ujarnya kepada Bisnis, Kamis (28/8/2014).

Upaya untuk terus melakukan inovasi ini dilakukan pihak Summarecon Mal Serpong karena mengingat tingginya jumlah kunjungan SMS pada hari kerja. Cut Meutia menuturkan bahwa pada hari kerja, SMS dapat dikunjungi hingga mencapai 13.500 orang, sementara pada akhir pekan meningkat hampir dua kali lipat atau sejumlah 23.000 orang per hari.

Salah satu alasan mengapa SMS didatangi dengan jumlah pengunjung yang begitu besar adalah karena akses ke Tangerang yang mudah sehingga menarik pengunjung dari wilayah Jabodetabek untuk datang ke SMS.

Mall SMS sendiri sebenarnya tidak hanya menyasar kalangan menengah atas saja, sebab manajemen juga melakukan kerja sama dengan sejumlah sekolahan dan universitas yang berada di wilayah Tangerang untuk melaksanakan kegiatan pada fasilitas yang tersedia di mall Summarecon Mall Serpong.

Menteri BUMN Minta Jajaran Direksi dan Komisaris Kerjasama Bisnis Properti

Dahlan Iskan selaku Menteri Badan Usaha Milik Negara (BUMN) mengumpulkan seluruh jajaran direksi dan komisaris BUMN untuk memberikan pesan-pesan sebelum dirinya digantikan oleh Menteri BUMN baru dari Kabinetnya Jokowi – JK.

Inisiasi Dahlan Iskan untuk mengumpulkan seluruh direksi dan komisaris BUMN ini salah satunya dilatar belakangi oleh banyaknya aset-aset negara yang hingga kini masih banyak yang belum dimanfaatkan BUMN. Aset-aset terbelengkalai BUMN seperti tanah dan lain-lain hingga kini masih belum diolah padahal menurut Menteri BUMN itu, jika Aset ini dioptimalkan maka bisnis properti sekelas Podomoro Group bakal kalah dengan aset yang dimiliki BUMN.

"Semua aset yang menganggur dijadikan satu maka Podomoro bisa kalah," kata Dahlan saat acara Halal Bihalal Kementerian BUMN bersama Direksi BUMN di kantornya, Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Jakarta, Senin (4/8/2041).

Memang, hingga saat ini sudah banyak BUMN yang mengajukan permohonan kepada Kementerian BUMN untuk memanfaatkan aset-aset yang kurang produktif untuk dijadikan bisnis properti. Namun, Dahlan Iskan memberi pesan agar kerjasama pengelolaan aset bisa menggandenga atau berkerja sama dengan BUMN lain seperti BUMN Karya. BUMN Karya hingga saat ini sudah diketahui memiliki anak usaha yang mengembangkan bisnis properti.

"Ini bagus sekali. Ini nanti akan ada review supaya ini betul-betul bagus. Memang ada omongan kalau semua BUMN punya real estet tapi nggak apa-apa," jelasnya.

Selain berbicara mengenai aset-aset yang terbelekalai, Dahlan Iskan juga meminta kepada seluruh jajaran direksi dan komisaris BUMN untuk merevisi Rencana Kerja dan Anggaran perusahaan (RKAP). Permintaan revisi ini sendiri dilakukan Dahlan Iskan karena menurutnya banyak BUMN yang sedikit sekali untuk mengalokasikan anggaran pada Research and Development (RnD). Padahal bila Research and Development (RnD) besar, maka pembangunan kualitas sumber daya manusia Indonesia dapat lebih ditingkatkan dan hal ini penting apalagi menjelang ASEAN Community pada tahun 2015.

"Saya ingin, terutama perusahaan yang padat teknologi, punya RKAP cukup besar. Pertamina bisa alokasikan Rp 100 miliar, PLN Rp 100 miliar, BUMN karya bisa alokasikan Rp 50 miliar," paparnya.

Selain itu, pesan Dahlan Iskan lainnya adalah soal maraknya nepotisme di BUMN. Untuk hal ini Dahlan lainnya telah membuat surat edaran resmi Menteri BUMN kepada seluruh jajaran direksi dan komisaris BUMN yang mengatur kepegawaian. Isinya sendiri adalah meminta kepada anak, istri atau suami bekerja di perusahaan pelat merah yang sama.

"Sudah ada surat edaran. Itu nepotisme bukan pidana. Tapi ini bagian agar manajemen sehat," katanya.

What to Consider When Renting a House

Renting a house can provide you more privacy than renting in an apartment. To make sure you have a good experience, take your time and think through your lifestyle objectives and your responsibilities to your landlord. Moving into a new place can turn into a nightmare quickly if you have expectations that are not based on fundamental realities. Asking a lot of questions before you sign the dotted line can save you from trouble later. Here are the very basic things to consider before renting:

The Budget
Take a hard look at your finances to determine your ability to make ends meet. Add up your monthly sources of income and make sure you have adequate cash reserve in your savings account if something goes wrong. In addition to your rental payments, budget for utilities, water and garbage expenses.

The House
Take a good look at the house you want to rent. Consider the time and distance of your commute to work or school. Ask about the utility costs and if any are included in your rent payment. Check out stairways for lights and security. Neighborhoods can project a distinct personality. Try to get a sense for the kind of neighbors you'll have. Consider nearby shopping opportunities and restaurant options if you enjoy the occasional meal out.

Rental Agreement
Your landlord will probably ask for credit references, personal references and your employment history. If you include a copy of your credit report with your application, you may gain an edge over other prospective renters. Your rental lease binds you legally to the terms it outlines. Read it carefully and make sure your understand everything you agree to when you sign the papers. If you are sharing the rent with a roommate, your signature could make you liable for your roommate's property damages or non-payment of rental obligations.

Roommates
You can certainly cut your expenses by sharing your house with roommates. Living together can ruin a perfectly good friendship, however. Compatibility issues you never imagined can rear their ugly heads easily when you share living space. Does your prospective roommate have a history of paying bills on time? You'll want to trust your roommate to enter into a partnership with you to share expenses, but also to meet other living obligations.

Property Buyer's Tips

When buying a new home, there are some general tips that you should always keep in mind. In summary, buyers need to : remember these points, Estate Agents & give yourself plenty of time.

1. Remember these points!

You should verify that all details are as you believe, particularly the current asking price, room sizes, ownership and the tenure of a property before making an offer on the property.

Before making any journeys to view properties, you should also confirm their availability. In a quick moving market properties can sell very quickly and it can save you a wasted journey by telephoning first to find out if an offer has been accepted on the property.

You should also check that any services mentioned in the property details are as described when you actually view the property. Where a property is shown as sold "subject to contract" (SSTC) the price displayed is that at which the property was previously marketed and is not always the price agreed within that contract.

2. Estate Agents

Make sure that any agents you contact in your chosen locations can contact you immediately in the event that a property should come up for sale in your locality that fits your property wish list already supplied to the agent. In a fast moving market you need to be looking at a property within hours of it reaching the market and not within days.

Take advantage of viewing properties with local estate agents. If the property does not meet your expectation explain to them why and what you are looking for because they may know of another property in the locality that meets your requirements.

Remember to also consider new homes and contacting developers directly. Many new developments are now being made across the country and it may be a viable option for you in your desired location.

3. Be prepared and give yourself plenty of time

Make sure you allow time before your viewing in order to check out the local area. Get there early and go for a drive around the property to get a feel for local services and shops. Pay a quick visit to the local pub (if there is one) because the locals will be able to convey much (directly or indirectly) about the locality. This research will give you an opportunity to consider any questions you may want to ask the vendors once the property viewing has begun.

Be nosey and take a really good look around the home you think you might buy. If the property is vacant then look into cupboards and the loft to really get a feel for what you may be purchasing.

It is always best to view as many properties as possible within your desired location so you can fully compare the price, suitability and flexibility of the available property.

Be open-minded about property details when building up your short-list and view properties that might appear to be outside possibilities.

Understanding the Housing Price Forecast for 2011

The big statistic that most people want to know: might my home go up or down in value during 2011? Altos Research does not paint a rosy picture for the beginning of 2011.

This firm expects home prices to slide during the latter part of 2010 and into 2011 for a low that will compare to the bottom of 2009. From here, prices are expected to rise back up to 2010 levels.

While Standard and Poor’s forecast is more vague, it suggests that the weakness in the housing market over the summer of 2010 could lead to lower home prices if the trend continues.

Focusing on the good, the housing starts are expected to rapidly increase in 2011. This is a positive leading indicator for home owners and the real estate market in general. However, the short-term picture is a little bleaker. If you can afford to hold off on selling your home for another year or two, you might earn a few extra dollars profit.

The great news is that if you are interested in buying a home in 2011, you just might enter the market at a perfect time where house prices are low as well as interest rates.

Real Estate Trends 2010 and Outlook to 2011 (Part 2)

Please refer to article part 1, now we are going to have a deeper look. Other Real Estate Trends worth mention are in the arena of commercial properties: commercial properties have followed a different pattern than residential properties, holding on to the market value longer and only in this last year have started to lose their balance, as large mortgage notes have become due and refinancing has become harder. Some great deals are available in commercial investments, from larger apartment buildings to shopping centers.

This is definitely the time to buy and it will continue for another couple of years. Inventory in residential and now commercial properties is abundant, seller's contributions as allowed are more available and the Government (especially HUD) is providing grants and incentives not only to homeowners, but also investors, in an attempt to expedite the housing recovery.

Laura Al-Amery is a real estate investor and consultant with 23 years experience in several aspects of the real estate business. She has practiced real estate in Hawaii and Missouri, and presently lives in St Louis. She has hosted real estate seminars in St Louis for over 10 years, in real estate subjects like creative financing, building wealth with multi family buildings and short sales.

Real Estate Trends 2010 and Outlook to 2011 (Part 1)

Real Estate Trends in 2010 have followed a pattern that was expected: as mortgage rates and homes sales have dropped, inventories of unsold properties have risen. The inventory currently on the market is only a portion of a larger inventory of REO (Real Estate Owned) by banks, which is held back and released slowly over a period of time, in order not to cause an even greater decline in housing values.

As we approach the end of the year, trends of 2010 will continue into 2011, following the same general pattern, with a slow recovery expected towards the end of 2011.

Some speculations predicted that the recovery would have started towards the end of 2010, but with new problems in the international economic markets, it looked like we took a double dip into the current recession. However, economists state that a double dip recession is unlikely, although spending and investments in the established economies have been challenged by emerging economies, like India and China.

Real Estate Trends are following the larger economic picture: the mortgage crisis has indeed caused a lot of turmoil and scars, which have created a domino effect with high unemployment, low consumer spending, consumer credit slow down and weak housing markets.

The large number of homeowners, who have lost their house in foreclosure, are not going to buy another property in the near future, because of the impact of the foreclosure on their credit (banks will not even consider a mortgage for a borrower for 4 years, if he/she had a foreclosure, 3 years for FHA loans,) therefore there is a new population of renters.

Investors, who have access to capital, can acquire homes for 60 cents on the dollar or less, via short sales and REO. They in turn keep these properties as rentals and investments, waiting on an inevitable economic recovery and increase in values.

Advantages Buying Properties in the Time of Crisis

If you have some excess of money every month for loan repayment with good credit score history then, you seriously need to consider the opportunity that comes together with home loan crisis or known also as subprime loan squeeze.

In recent years, many financial institutions have been giving out lots of loans to Americans to purchase their dream homes without much concern about their credit history. As a result, many of these borrowers have defaulted their loans which have grown to a substantial amount and triggered the America's home loan crisis.

What does it means to you is there are lots of properties that are in the stage of pre-foreclosure or already foreclosure by the financier. Many of these properties actually are located in strategic locations nationwide, and the banks who call for the foreclosure could be selling them a very much lower price then the market value. This is because they are trying their best to recover their money as soon as possible to save themselves from being further sucked into this loan crisis.

Properties are known to be sold in the range 30% to 60% off its current market value by the financiers who call for a foreclosure. A person who is buying a property which is much lower than its market price enjoys almost instant home equity which could be used in future. Just imagine buying a property that has market value of USD200, 000 at only USD100, 000. You could save thousand of dollars. The property could be used either for own use or just as an investment. Many home investors are very keen towards foreclosure properties because of the high profit margin that the properties could offer.

10 Small House Dos

Homeowner Sheila York knows you don't have to live in a palace-size place to reap the benefits of good design. In fact, smart space-stretching ideas abound in her 1,200-square-foot Michigan home, from room-expanding paint treatments to efficient ways for displaying treasures. Here, she shares her design dos and don'ts for other homeowners who have more style than space.

DO Start at the ceiling. Sheila hung the window treatments in the dining room from the highest possible point on the wall (just under the crown molding). Hanging the curtains high lets the fabric flow freely and tugs the eye upward.

DO Include built-ins. They take up almost no floor space but yield plenty of much-needed storage -- both perfect characteristics for a small house. Sheila assigned double duties to a built-in bookcase in the living room: It not only holds books and display items but also serves as a mini-bar.

DO Reflect on the situation. Mirrors and panes of glass act as room expanders when strategically placed to reflect something pretty. The small mirror next to the built-in bookcase in Sheila's living room doubles the number of pretty glasses in view. And she made the dining room lustrous by adding glaze to yellow paint so the walls reflect the limited light.

DO Open rooms to each other. Though it's important to clearly define separate spaces, some openness between adjoining rooms makes all of them feel bigger. Sheila's cramped kitchen used to be cut off completely from the dining room, but now a large pass-through connects the two spaces. In a similar way, her office joins the living room through a French door, which allows the two rooms to share the same light and views.

DO Define different spaces subtly. Separate one room from another without choosing completely different wall colors or flooring. A checkerboard pattern in slate blue on the floor of the dining room looks like an area rug without being bulky.

DO Give each room its own treatment. To differentiate it from the living room, Sheila rag-rolled the walls of the dining room; the living room walls are covered in yellow striated wallpaper. Although the tones are similar (and therefore unifying), the texture in each space is unique.

DO Opt for light colors. One law of color is that pale tones advance, thus expanding a room, while dark colors recede and shrink a space. Sheila's kitchen gets a lift from airy white cabinets; her bedroom glows with walls covered in white linen.

DO Draw the eye upward. This creates the illusion of more volume, which makes up for a lack of square footage. Crown molding, painted crisp white, defines the ceiling in Sheila's living room; striped wallpaper also stretches the height of the walls in the kitchen. The dining room walls boast a special treatment: A chair rail, set about two-thirds of the way up the wall, caps pieces of trim that run vertically to the floor.

DO Keep flooring continuous. Maintaining the same flooring material throughout the house imparts a sense of continuity; the eye does not jump from one room to the next but rather wanders easily between the spaces. Sheila's hardwood floors are light-stained to look even more expansive.

DO Invite the sunshine inside. Large windows usher in sunlight to bounce off the walls and brighten even the dreariest room. In an area that requires privacy, such as a bath or bedroom, put up window treatments that can be adjusted easily to let the sun pour in. Light from the windows in Sheila's master bedroom, for instance, is dappled by hinged shutters. Sheila can leave them closed to stave off the sun's hot rays, leave one ajar for a little extra dribble of light, or open all of them for sheets of sunshine.

DO Stretch your space into the outdoors. A patio, deck, or screen porch, such as Sheila's, goes a long way toward increasing usable space -- without the expense of adding on. Sheila's porch provides all the comforts of an interior room, including screens to keep the bugs at bay, an awning to protect against harsh sun, and cozy, welcoming furnishings that invite lounging. "It's my favorite room in the house," she says.

Easy things you can do to protect your home!

Your home may not be as safe as you think. Fortunately, adequately securing your property isn't difficult. No matter where you live, here are some easy things you can do to protect your home when you can't be there.

1. Doors and Windows
Secure all doors and windows, including pet entrances and garage doors. An open window or door is an open invitation for burglars.

2. Sliding Doors
Secure sliding glass doors. Place a metal rod or a piece of plywood in the door's track and install vertical bolts. These will help prevent burglars from forcing the door open or lifting it off the track.

3. Indoor Lighting
Place timers on indoor lamps and appliances to light up your home at night. Set timers to turn on radios and televisions randomly during the day. Try a variable timer with 2 on/off settings per day. Before you leave for your vacation, check that all lightbulbs are working properly.

4. Outdoor Lighting
Keep the perimeter of your home well lighted. Install low voltage or solar lighting around porches, decks, entrances, walkways, pathways and other dark outdoor areas. Before you leave, make sure that all lightbulbs are working properly.

5. Mail and Newspapers
Stop mail and newspaper deliveries, or have a trusted neighbor collect them while you are away so that they don't accumulate. Ask your neighbor to also remove any advertising flyers that are deposited in your mailbox or around your door, driveway or lawn.

6. House Keys
Never hide keys under doormats or in mailboxes or flowerpots. Give an extra key to a trusted neighbor and ask them to check your home regularly while you're away.

7. Shades and Blinds
Keep some of your shades and blinds up and your curtains open to maintain a normal, everyday appearance in your home.

8. Voice Mail
Never leave a message on your voice mail or telephone answering machine telling people that you're away from home.

9. Landscaping
Keep shrubbery trimmed and away from entrances and walkways. While large, ornate hedges may be beautiful, they also provide a hiding place for burglars. Arrange to have someone care for your lawn or garden while you're away so your house doesn't look empty.

10. Local Police Departments
Check with your local police department. Many offer home security evaluations or checklists. Ask them to check your home or patrol your neighborhood more closely while you are away.

Gold Mine behind the Crisis!

Only few people really can see opportunity behind crisis; Frank Patrick is one of those few. At the time of real estate crisis, he challenges real estate agents to take opportunities to earn more money they could possibly imagine, which are to sale foreclosures properties. This is one type of property where bank fails to sell them on auction, bank then looking for qualified agents equipped with knowledge to sell those properties, successful agents will definitely to receive huge commission.

In the time of crisis like now, millions of real estate owned (REO) are waiting to be sold and this become a gold mine for those who have skills on selling foreclosures. Thanks to Frank Patrick who launches his detailed REO Training Course, many can learn from first hand expert the skills to sell REO. He exposes in his release do’s and don’t’s and you are learning from the first class agent who care to share his knowledge (and his hands-on experience), so you can follow his track to become successful real estate agents too. He himself has sold on averaging over 100 sales every year and he did that for the past seven years!

Patrick also mentioned, real estate agents must take this great opportunity as no bank actually would like to have millions of houses to become their assets, and this is one solid reason for you that with proper skills as offered by REO Training Course, you can join financial institution and be on board to add more real estate agents into REO Training Success Stories. For sure you can not just jump into the field, as REO can be a risky effort for those who are not well prepared with knowledge and skills. Grab the opportunity while they are still widely open, get prepares and learns first hand experience and follow his successful story!

Top 7 Foreclosure Stories of Past Year

The euphoria that surrounded six years of escalating home prices, record levels of home sales and rock-bottom interest rates crashed and burned in 2007, forcing many foreclosure investors to ratchet down their purchases and patiently wait for an expected flood of bargains to emerge from the ashes of the housing downturn.

Foreclosure-related stories saturated the headlines throughout the year, and the Foreclosure News Report has compiled the following top 7 stories of the year based on their impact on foreclosure investors.

#1 The ‘Mortgage Meltdown’
The national media used the phrase ‘mortgage meltdown’ to denote the biggest real estate story by far in 2007: the subprime mortgage fiasco that saw dozens of lenders close their doors, lay off employees, and left thousands of homeowners stranded with adjustable-rate mortgages they could no longer afford to pay as interest rates began to reset upward.

A number prominent subprime lenders — including New Century Financial Corp., Option One Mortgage Corp., Ameriquest Mortgage, ResMae Mortgage Corp., Fremont Investment and Loan and People’s Choice Home Loan Inc. — either closed their doors or reorganized under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Some major lenders, including Countrywide, Wells Fargo Bank and Washington Mutual, closed down their subprime operations, writing off losses and laying off employees go.

Doug Duncan, chief economist of the Mortgage Bankers Association, told Bloomberg News that he expected more than 100 other lenders to go out of business this year.

In the meantime the mortgage meltdown is a story with an ending that hasn’t been written yet and one which investors should continue to monitor in 2008 because it affects one of the pillars of real estate investing: financing.

#2 Foreclosures Surge
No matter how they were counted, or how their effects were interpreted by the media, the government or the public, rising numbers of foreclosures garnered national attention in 2007. When the final numbers are tallied, RealtyTrac is estimating about 2 million foreclosure filings on 1.2 million properties, an increase of more than 60 percent from 2006, when 1.2 million foreclosure filings on 735,000 properties were reported.

As of this writing, the nation’s foreclosure activity peaked in August at 239,851 foreclosure filings, a 36.7 percent increase from the previous month. The nation also experienced double-digit increases in January (35.4 percent) and May (19.25 percent). The largest decline in activity was posted in September (down 8.3 percent).

In this climate, most foreclosure investors have had to shift their investing strategy, typically from more of a buy-and-flip strategy to more of a buy-and-hold strategy. But as this story continues to play out and foreclosures become available at deeper discounts, investors may be able to shift back to the buy-and-flip method.

#3 Popped Housing Bubble
Many industry experts denied the possibility of it happening, but when the real estate bubble did finally burst in 2007 a lot more than just egos were deflated.

Inventories of unsold housing stock, which not too long ago were around a month a two, quickly ballooned up to a 10-month supply nationwide. The National Association of Realtors, which early in the year came out with a forecast calling for the housing market to turn around in late 2007, recently revised its forecast, now calling for the nation’s real estate market to finally turn the corner some time in 2008. Homebuilders likewise have become less confident that the national housing economy is in good shape, with their housing market index sinking to a 22 year low in October and staying at that level for November.

For savvy investors who weren’t overly influenced by the Goldilocks predictions of recent years, the deflated housing market is probably expected and could prove profitable.

#4 Return of Short Sales and Auctions
The year also saw a comeback of two popular methods of disposing of foreclosure properties resurrected from the early 1990s — the last time so many properties were going into foreclosure at one time. More and more lenders of defaulted loans agreed to a short sale/short payoff situation because the homes securing those loans were “upside down” financially.

And more lenders who had repossessed homes via foreclosure turned to auctions to help them unload their increasing inventory of real estate owned (REO) property.

“Sellers want to speed up the process. Some of these are new REOs, and have not been put on the market with a Realtor first. They’re sending them right to auction,” said Rob Friedman, who brought back his Real Estate Disposition Corp. to take advantage of the current change in the real estate business climate.

#5 Credit Crunch Hits Wall Street
With local lenders writing loan documents at breakneck pace between 2004 and 2006, many of the adjustable-rate, no-interest, negative amortizing, so-called exotic” loans ended up pooled together with more traditional loans and sold to Wall Street investors as mortgage-backed securities.

When many of those loans became delinquent, the end result was that many high flying Wall Street firms took major hits to their bottom line. The nation’s fifth largest investment banker, Bear Stearns, had two mortgage-based hedge funds valued at $3.2 billion totally wiped out in July, making it the first well-publicized victim.

Then in November the news hit that Citigroup’s chief executive officer, Charles Prince, had tendered his resignation amidst the growing subprime loan fallout. Prior to Prince’s departure the firm announced it would take additional write-downs of $8 billion to $11 billion in the fourth quarter, a large and unexpected loss that could wipe out profit for the entire period. Merrill Lynch also reported in November that it had suffered an $8.4 billion loss in the subprime mortgage sector — the biggest loss in the brokerage’s 93-year history. This significant loss ended up bringing down the firm’s chief executive officer Stan O’Neal.

Just how long the banks and Wall Street firms will need to flush out the remaining sediment left from sour subprime loans probably won’t be known until some time next year. In the meantime, investors and wannabe home buyers will have to deal with tightened lending standards that make it more difficult to get a loan in order to purchase a property.

#6 Federal Reserve Lowers Interest Rates
After 17 straight upward “adjustments” to interest rates and a year of unchanged rates, Ben Bernanke and the Federal Open Market Committee finally took the advice of real estate professionals and others, lowering the federal funds rate (the FFR is the short-term rate banks charge each other to borrow money) twice in a row starting in September 2007.

Combined, the downward adjustments totaled a decrease of 0.75 percent (or 75 basis points) in the FFR. The Fed cited a steeper than anticipated housing “correction” as a catalyst for the downward adjustments, but pointed to the continued threat of inflation to justify their caution in making the adjustments.

“Today’s action, combined with the policy action taken in September, should help forestall some of the adverse effects on the broader economy that might otherwise arise from the disruptions in financial markets and promote moderate growth over time,” the FOMC said in a statement published October 31.

#7 Politicizing of Foreclosures
Believe it or not, enough noise has been made about the mortgage meltdown and soaring foreclosure activity around the nation that even the presidential candidates have sat up and noticed to the extent of coming out with their own policy statements on how to handle the crisis.

In August, Bob Pisani, Wall Street correspondent for CNBC, called foreclosures “the hot potato of the political season.” The five states with the most foreclosures in the country that month also represented 25 percent of the available electoral votes, or roughly half of the electoral votes it will take to elect our next president.

But more significant than the posturing from presidential candidates was action taken on the local level from politicians coming out of the woodwork to “rescue” their constituents from a bad situation.

Many governors, mayors, city treasurers, city council members and eventually Congress members were interested in setting up some sort of task force to explore and examine the local foreclosure problem and to make procedural recommendations during 2007.

A number of bills were introduced at all levels of government to deal with fears over foreclosures. Many of them had “protection” somewhere in the title, whether it was consumer protection, borrower protection or mortgage loan protection. Some had mortgage “fraud” prevention or “scam” in the title.

With the mortgage meltdown far from over, investors and potential home buyers interested in purchasing property in any particular part of the country should keep tabs on proposed legislation coming down the pike in 2008 because some of these bills, if passed, may have a direct impact on how and whether pursuing property in that part of the country in worth the effort (Yahoo! RealEstate)

5 Ways to Find Deals on Foreclosed Homes

It's harsh but true: You can benefit from others' misfortune. The rise in foreclosures means that those in the market to buy a home can find great deals on houses that have been reclaimed by lenders. They are often sold for prices well under their market value because their owners are eager to unload them.

The cheap prices do come with potential downsides: Some homes have liens against them or mortgages associated with them, which can be inherited by their new owners. It can also be hard or impossible to inspect such homes in advance of their sale, which means there's no time to check if the basement is flooded or if the air conditioning still works.

But if you're willing to brave the risks, then your first challenge is locating the bargains. Here are five ways to find the best deals.

1) Search bank websites.

Banks often list their foreclosed properties for sale online. At Bank of America, for example, about 800 residential listings are posted, including 156 in California. Prices, photos, and home descriptions are listed along with agents' contact information. Willie Williams, a real estate agent in Inkster, Mich., says that it's a useful resource but warns that listings are often limited. He recommends also checking the online listings of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which purchase mortgages from banks.

2) Look up government-owned listings.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development lists the foreclosed homes that it owns on its website as well as through local real estate agents. Once you find a home you're interested in, you can make an offer through the agent representing the property. The department warns that the homes are sold "as is" and that after the sale is made, it is not responsible for any repairs or problems.

3) Visit your county's offices.

Foreclosure information is filed with county offices, some of which post it online. In Boulder County, Colo., for example, current foreclosure listings, as well as weekly sales, are published on the county website, where users can search by ZIP code or street address. Sheryl Del Rosario, a deputy public trustee in the office, says interested buyers can search from home or come into the office to use the public computers. They can then bid on available properties every Wednesday morning.

4) Pay for a foreclosure listing service.

Some companies, such as RealtyTrac, offer comprehensive foreclosure listings for a fee. At RealtyTrac, $49.95 a month gets users access to around a million listings that cover about 75 percent of the nation's counties. They include homes already in foreclosure as well as those approaching it. (Website visitors can search a simplified version of the database free of charge.) Users can make offers online for many of the properties, which aren't binding but get the process started, says spokesman Daren Blomquist. Users usually work with either the agent or owner listed in order to complete the purchase. The database also provides estimates of the property value based on comparable sales in the area, which Blomquist says helps buyers determine whether they are getting a good deal.

5) Work with a real estate agent.

Real estate agents often know about local properties that are nearing foreclosure because they network with other agents and are familiar with the local market, frequently working directly with banks and other lenders. Donna Dickson, an agent with Burgdorff Realtors in Maplewood, N.J., says that while online listings often include properties that are already under contract with new owners, real estate agents can help buyers find deals before it's too late. She suggests developing a relationship with an agent who will quickly let you know about new foreclosed properties (Source: Yahoo! RealEstate)

Your Credit Network - Easy Online Credit Card Application

There are so many websites offering credit cards nowadays but only few that come with great advice and easy steps. Your Credit Network is one among the few. This online site informs about credit card offers and finding your credit card on this site is as easy as 1, 2, 3. What you need to do is to research the type of credit card you are looking for. Select credit cards that fit to your needs; compare and decide which credit card is best for your needs and simply apply online!

Your Credit Network offers simple and clear navigation on their site. There is section where you can research your credit cards by credit cards issuers. Other section shows categories credit cards by features such as low interest, instant approval, bad credit section, reward credit cards, cash back facilities, student credit cards, business credit cards as well; there is also balance transfer, credit cards focus on hotels and airline, and prepaid credit cards.

On the homepage you will find recommended credit cards. There is brief information over the recommended credit cards, completed with rating, introduction rate if there is any, regular APR, annual or participation fee, the reward type, just click more info to get more details, then you can apply online as well. If you knew already the specific credit card just visit “search name” section. To make it complete, you will find credit cards blog on this site too.

This site urges its readers to use credit cards wisely, yes, to avoid getting credit cards troubles. When it comes the time for you to get a credit card, you know where to find the information and apply online. Your Credit Network is the answer, as said on their website’s ads “We Make It Easy to Apply for a Credit Card Online!

Getting Your Cash Advance Has Never Been Easier!

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