All About Realestate

By Lance Mohr

Beginning in the 1920s, Florida was a magnet for people looking for an ideal place to call home. For example, senior citizens and retired persons started to move to Florida in ever increasing numbers. The number of retired men and women that flocked to Florida became a proverbial flood after World War II.

Beyond senior citizens, there are over a million so-called Snow Birds that spend part of the year in the Sunshine State. These people spend the summer months in other locales.

Over the course of the past ten years, Florida has started to experience some head on competition in regard to the recruitment of retired individuals and Snow Birds alike. A number of other states have developed intense programs to draw retired men and women to their states as permanent residents and have striven to attract Snow Birds in their own right.

For example, Arizona has been on the forefront of developing a concerted campaign to attract both retired persons and Snow Birds into its borders over the course of the past decade. Indeed, the Phoenix-Scottsdale metro-plex is the fastest growing community in all of the United States.

In addition, many other Southern states have become residential destinations for an increasing number of retirees and Snow Birds alike. For example, a growing number of men and women who might otherwise have landed in Florida are settling instead in the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee. There are other retiree residential destinations such as Branson, Missouri, that have enjoyed tremendous growth.

However, Florida remains the dream locale for many, many people heading towards retirement and for men and women who want to spend winter in a relaxing environment. Additionally, a most concerted effort is being made to stabilize and enhance the Florida real estate market.

First of all, there are a number of important efforts being made to lessen the property tax burden on people who purchase residences in the State. Indeed, there are some constitutional amendments that have been proposed and that are likely to be enacted that should provide significant property tax relief to residents.

In addition, more generalized efforts are being made to stabilize and improve the Florida real estate market more broadly. As with other states across the country, the Florida real estate market has taken some hits in recent years.

Finally, a great deal of effort is being spent on developing a system to improve the availability of more affordable housing. Due to the high dollar damages caused by natural disasters in Florida (and in some other Gulf States) the cost of homeowners insurance actually has made homeownership an impossibility for some men and women today.

In the end, experts who understand the Florida real estate market tend to agree that improvement will be seen in the market in 2008 and beyond. Because direct action is being taken to enhance the state of the Florida real estate market, most predict that the Sunshine State will remain a residential goal for many people.

About The Author

Lance Mohr is your Tampa real estate expert, with over ten years of experience in real estate sales and has been investing in real estate for over 18 yrs. Lance can be reached at lance@lancemohr.com. Please visit http://www.tampa2enjoy.com.

By Tom Beaty

Purchasing a new Florida home can be a fun and exciting process. With numerous homes for sale in various price ranges, today”s real estate market is heavily skewed in favor of the buyer. Sellers are offering incredible incentives, Realtors are working harder than ever before to make their buyers happy, interest rates remain low, and banks are eager to lend money to responsible buyers with good credit.

Today”s Florida home buyer can take their time, explore target neighborhoods, and find the perfect home to suit their needs and their budget. It is, however, very difficult to find the perfect home if the buyer is not prepared. In fact, the primary focus of any Florida home buyer should be to learn as much as possible about the current housing market, and most importantly, about pitfalls the Florida home buyer may face.

Potential pitfall number one: Overestimating your budget

The very first step every Florida home buyer should take is to do a thorough analysis of their personal finances, and of all the costs associated with owning a home. This will help to determine how much home you can truly afford and eliminate any unpleasant surprises.

After taking stock of your monthly income, monthly debt, and credit rating, you should have a good idea of how much money you can allocate to a house payment. A few additional costs you may want to consider are insurance costs, taxes, and lender fees. This is a good time to find a mortgage lender and obtain pre-approval for a loan.

A pre-approval is a solid estimate of how much a bank is willing to lend, how many points (if any) they will add, and an estimate of the interest rate they are willing to offer. Once you have this, you can calculate monthly payments and insurance costs, and determine with reasonable certainty how much home you can afford.

Potential pitfall number two: Realtor remorse

A Realtor can, quite literally, make or break your Florida home buying experience. This is why it is so important to take your time when selecting a Realtor. Ask friends and family members for recommendations, or at the very least, visit several agencies before making your final selection. It is very important to find a Realtor who listens carefully to determine what type of house you are looking for, and the price range which best suits your budget.

If a Realtor immediately pushes you toward a home outside your price range, does not thoroughly answer all of your questions, or simply gives you the feeling that they are not truly listening to what you want, move on. If there is anything about an agency or agent that makes you feel uncomfortable, trust that feeling and continue your search elsewhere.

Potential pitfall number three: Hefty repair costs
Failure to take repair costs into account when purchasing a home can lead to serious problems for the Florida home buyer. If you decide to purchase a home that is at the top of your price range, you should be reasonably certain that the home will not require any major repairs. The Florida climate can be brutal on homes, which means that a thorough home inspection is of vital importance before any home purchase.

Home inspections can be costly, so learning about potentially expensive repairs and how to spot potential issues in a home can save money by eliminating prospects from your list before they ever reach the inspection process. A few things to look for are cracked foundations, rotted wood, outdated plumbing and electrical systems, and signs of mold or flood damage. Also consider that if you purchase a newly-constructed home, there is no need to worry about repair costs. Everything is brand-new, and most builders offer a home warranty.

Finding the perfect home

The preceding list is by no means exhaustive, and there are many other ways in which a Florida home buyer can prepare themselves to purchase a new home. These are simply a few of the major pitfalls you can avoid as a Florida home buyer, and the suggestions will help you to better navigate the Florida housing market. By making these simple preparations and taking a few necessary precautions, you will be well on your way to finding your perfect Florida home.

About The Author

Real Estate Palm Coast Fl – Tom Beaty a real estate broker and home builders in Palm Coast, Flagler County, and Volusia County. Visit: http://www.FavoriteProperties.com or http://www.AffordableFloridaHomes.com

By Kris Koonar

Selling a house anywhere in the world is a cumbersome process. It takes patience and time to find the right buyer who is prepared to pay a suitable price for your home. When one lives in a home, it is not just the fact of it being an abode that makes it valuable for the owner but the attachment that he develops over time with a shelter that offers rest, comfort and security. However, sentimental values do not affect the desirability and price of the house during an assessment made by a new buyer. His assessment will more likely be based on practical considerations like whether the house is in good repair or not. He will have a mental or written checklist, which can run something like:

. What is the state of the plumbing?
. Is the drain clear?
. Are the toilets in proper functioning order?
. Does the roof leak?
. Are the walls of the house dirty and flaky or are they clean and painted.
. Are all electrical fittings and switches in order?
. Are the doors nice and solid, with properly functioning latches and locks?
. Are windows and other opening wind and watertight?

Therefore, for ”fast selling” property in Florida you need to draw up a strategic plan. You must make sure to first repair and renovate your house in order to garner the best deal from a buyer. Using simple renovation and modification techniques, you can transform your house and add to its appeal making it attractive and inviting for a buyer and get better value for your property.

First of all make sure that the buyer finds the answer to every question in the checklist above as ”YES”. Make sure that the doors and windows are properly painted or varnished. Doorknobs, latches and handles should be matching and should function without rattling. Ensure that the entrance to the house has a pleasing appearance and the interiors are immaculately clean and simply designed, but with a stylish appeal. Simple touch ups work well for adding beauty and appeal to a home.

It is said that first impressions are lasting impressions and also that one never gets a second chance to make a first impression. Be mindful of the outside appearance of your home and don”t leave the gutters unattended. Make sure they are not clogged and there are no weeds growing out of them. The landscaping is equally important. Left untended, it can create the impression of an ill-maintained house that can put off many buyers. The lawn should be watered and should present a healthy green appearance, free from weeds and scattered dry leaves. By placing fresh mulch in flowerbeds, around trees and plants you can effectively enhance the curb appeal of your home.

Having discussed the physical details, to sell the house fast, realistic and competitive pricing remains a prime consideration. Florida real estate market has always been a buyer”s market. A buyer would become interested only if the house is structurally sound, possesses aesthetic appeal and is realistically priced. The proper price for your home can be arrived at by checking the prices of similar houses located nearby or by getting an evaluation done through a real estate professional.

About The Author

Real Estate Investments are easy when you follow the 4 simple steps by RealNet USA. We help you Find, Fund, Fix and now Sell your Real Estate Investment. To view actual property view our website http://www.realnetusa.com.

By Kris Koonar

If you have a lot of experience in buying and selling real estate properties then you must be aware of the difficulties that you have to face in order to complete a deal all by yourself. There are many people who feel that sticking the “for sale” sign outside their property would be more than enough to get potential buyers. They fail to realize that this notion is far from correct and the whole process of selling or buying involves a lot more than just a sign board.

If you want to succeed in either selling or buying a property in the real estate market, especially in Florida, then you will have to plan and prepare and develop a good understanding of the market. One important step you can take is hiring a realty broker. The Florida realty market is one of the best markets for investment and since many investors would be more than willing to buy your property, it is a good idea to hire a realty broker so that you can keep your best foot forward. A broker will not only provide you the required information regarding the deal, but also help you make the right decision so that you benefit a lot.

When you take on the services of a broker in Florida, make sure that he or she possesses some of the established real estate broker qualities. You should find three to four good realty brokers so that some comparison is possible. If you want to know whether a broker knows his or her job, first inquire about the license because it will mean that the broker has the skills and knowledge that is necessary for any realty market. Make sure that the broker is legally recognised and worth your trust.

Experience is another important factor that needs to be taken into consideration when you search for a good Florida realty broker. Never hesitate to ask the broker about his or her previous transactions and clients and whether the dealings were performed as pert he client”s expectations. Asking for reference will also help you in making a decision. You can ask their former clients about their performance.

The real estate market in Florida is very popular and in the last few years there has been so much growth in this market that one right decision can make any individual a successful realty investor. If you ever plan to sell your Florida property then there will be no shortage of good offers because investors are always ready to buy.

So, when you place your property in the market for sale, make sure that you hire a real estate broker who does not only have a very good understanding of the market, but also has the knowledge to help you get a good deal. If the broker is experienced and genuine he or she will not have any problem handling the entire process of selling and buying, to provide with you the best transaction. Hiring a good realty broker can make a lot of difference to you and your property.

About The Author

Real Estate Investments are easy when you follow the 4 simple steps by RealNet USA. We help you Find, Fund, Fix and now Sell your Real Estate Investment. To view actual property view our website http://www.realnetusa.com.

By Ajeet Khurana

You can”t buy a house in a day. It starts with us wanting to buy a house of our own. Then we begin to look at the real estate section of the newspaper to see if we might be able to buy one of the houses in our favored localities. Once we have pinpointed a few suitable homes, we might even drive down and meet the owners or the brokers and ask them about the prices.

Well, the next step would involve gathering the funds. Thus, we should first of all be calculating what our savings are. This will help us estimate what kind of a down payment we should be looking at.

When it comes to buying houses, down payment is everything. If you can only afford to pay a very low down payment, you will not be able to access a wide range of loans. However, if you can afford to put down a large sum as your down payment, you should have a wide range of loan packages at your disposal. Isn”t that how it is everywhere? The more that you can afford; the more will be the options available to you. That is and has been the way things have been for a long while.

Much will also depend on what the source of your down payment will be. Are you planning to draw from your savings? Will someone be paying part of your down payment? Are you hoping to get some of it from your retirement plan?

Each of these questions is important. They will eventually determine what kind of loan offers will be available to you. And then, you have to actually go and look around for the loan packages that shall be the best for you. Anybody who is looking to buy a house will have to attempt to minimize expenses as far as possible.

Now different loan programs are going to have different terms. Fixed rate mortgages and those with adjustable rates are bound to have different terms and conditions. Moreover, different lenders are definitely going to differ in the interest rates that they offer. Thus, it helps to go and ask your neighborhood banker or have a telephonic conversation with a loan seller to find out what your best options are.

If you are checking out loans on the net, you should have already done your research before you decide which loans would be most suitable for you. There are hundreds of loans that you can choose from, and you must pick out the best.

About The Author

Visit us for cheap mortgages at http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/mortgages.html or for a homeowner loan at http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/home_loans_doc.html We specialize in getting you the best deals on loans at http://www.ukpersonalloanstore.co.uk/

By Kris Koonar

Generally people keep wondering whether they should invest in real estate or not. The answer to this question is always “YES”. The realty business is a booming one and if you are a professional in the investing world, then you might have already confronted many frustrations and mood swings. This is the real side of real estate investing. The real estate investment final objective is to generate both an inert stream of cash flow required for monthly lifestyle management, as well as to build a sizeable net worth. True financial success is achieved by combining these two fundamentals- the cash flow and net worth.

Real estate business is all about associations, and people are your most important sources. The more you are familiar with the network, the more likely you are to find good properties to invest in or sell. There is little jeopardy involved in this business, but you can prevent it, if you conduct a thorough research especially in your favorite niche. This business requires nominal expense, as there is no office space rent, salaries, utilities or business clothing to be taken care of, to name some of the probable expenses incurred in other investments.

Real estate investment can be a great opportunity for the youth to attain their specific goals like:

. Buying a car
. Working simultaneously while going to school, as realty business is not time restricted
. While traveling, keeping tabs on the business by using a laptop
. Helping the family if the need arises

Our youth generally lack patience but they don”t realize that investors who look successful today have slogged for many hours to achieve this success. Success rarely happens overnight and it takes in a lot of perseverance and patience to build an investment portfolio. But once the portfolio grows, it keeps growing. So be patient and take time to build a strong foundation and then reap rewards. Slow progress can yield results for many years ahead.

If you are a senior citizen then real estate investing business is the right thing for you, as it can keep your mind active and also reward you continuously with a considerable amount. With investing there is always something to learn and you can meet many people, who can help you out in your realty business.

Investment can yield you several benefits like:

. Extra income to help your grandchildren to graduate
. Get extra money to mange household expenses as well as travel
. Fund expensive hobbies that you have started after retirement
. Supplement your medical expenses

Being senior, you are fortunate that you have enough time and money to invest and this can speed the process of accumulating wealth. Due to age, you might turn impatient, but be cool and open to learning some basic technical computer knowledge to get going.

Middle aged people also can start a real estate investing business to help them balance their life and raise their children, as well as manage jobs and marriage simultaneously. realty investing business does not require more than two hours per day to build a profitable real estate portfolio.

About The Author

Real Estate Investments are easy if you follow the 4 step program. Do not be scammed by Real Estate Investment Guru”s. Our program is free. http://www.realnetusa.com.

By Ki Gray

What do you know about Feng Shui? If you”re like most people, you probably are not even sure if I spelled it right just now. Maybe you picture an old man doing the world”s slowest kung fu at dawn (that”s Tai Chi, totally different.) Feng shui is a sorta guidebook about the placement and architecture of a house to allow good flow of energy. And it”s not just placement of the bed and couch. The placement of the actual house and landscaping will affect the ch”i (energy) of the house in a big way. Let”s start with a few tips to bear in mind when looking examining the location for your dream home.

1. First and most important, research the history of a property. Find out what happened with the previous tenants, and the ones before them. And even the ones before them. Ask neighbors, or selling agent. If all the previous inhabitants have had money problems, family problems, etc., chances are there”s bad feng shui going on. Best to move on and look for another house.

2. Pay attention to the road placement. The road in front of your house should not be pointing directly into your home. If a house is sitting at a dead end, in a T-intersection, or in the center of cul-de-sac, then energy is constantly flowing straight down that road into the house, then building up and stagnating there. This is not good; the ch”i must continue to flow, like air. If it gets stuck in your home, it can go bad.

3. Pay attention to what”s around the house. Examine the terrain closely. Ideally, the property should have a dark turtle in the back (a mountain or hill, another house, a row of trees, a fence, etc.), a dragon (a house, a tree) to the left, a white tiger (a smaller house or tree) to the right, and a phoenix (open ground, a circular flowerbed, a meandering river or road) in front. All those exotic names are just a fun way to state the obvious a house by itself is not ideal, since there is nothing to slow the flow of ch”i. Most houses will have all of these things around them already, but it doesn”t hurt to think about it your first time seeing a place. Other things to think about are poison arrows, like telephone poles, flagpoles, or the corner of a house pointing your way. They can hinder the energy flow to the house. Even a hospital can be a source of bad energy.

4. Something that probably doesn”t automatically spring to mind is the shape of the property; but that can be very important as well. Always go for something symmetrical, like a square or a rectangle. If your real estate is pretty close to square, use hedges to fill in the spots that make it irregular. Triangle-shaped properties can create disharmony. If you just love a place and absolutely have to have a it but it”s on a triangle-shaped lot, it”s better for the wide side to be in the back; the other way indicates an inability to save money.

When you visit a property, notice the shapes of the things around. I know it sounds strange, but kind of squint your eyes and see what you see, like you used to do as a kid, when you were looking at the clouds in the sky. If anything looks like something hostile, then be careful. That could be an indication of some anti-ch”i. You want enough stuff to slow the energy down to capture it but allow it to also flow.

About The Author

Austin Real Estate Properties http://www.escapesomewhere.com is an Austin realty company. They provide a search for Austin Homes http://www.escapesomewhere.com/realestate_searchthemls.html along with info of Austin lofts http://www.escapesomewhere.com/downtownaustincondos.html.

By Leslie Hardy

The confirmation by the Bank of England of support for Northern Rock plc on 12 September 2007 is the first major sign of international fallout from the collapse of the US subprime mortgage lending market.

In the US, lenders such as New Century Financial Corporation, the second largest subprime lender in California, have gone bankrupt. In the UK, as Northern Rock is classed as a bank, the authorities intervened in order to prevent market panic. There have been persistent rumours that several leading UK banks, including Barclays, have liquidity issues and the Bank of England wished to send a clear signal that no major bank will be allowed to fail.

The irony of Northern Rock is that it was generally deemed to be a successful company. The share price was GBP12.58 in February, but by 14 September 2007 it had dropped to GBP4.33.

Northern Rock achieved sales growth by offering 100% mortgages on home valuations, plus an extras 25%. Their projected growth rate was 20% per annum and yet the market was only growing at around 10%. In order to gain this volume of business, they needed very attractive mortgage products and also to adopt a flexible approach to consumers with mixed credit records.

They were so successful that they gained 22% market share of all new mortgages taken out during the first 6 months of 2007. The growth in the issue of mortgages was primarily funded via the wholesale market, as opposed to deposits by individual savers. It is estimated that some 75% of funds come from this source. The near collapse of interbank lending in August effectively starved Northern Rock of funds and caused a liquidity crisis.

In comparison to the US subprime scene, Northern Rock appears almost prudent. New Century of California took such a lenient view on customers” poor credit ratings that it allegedly would make advances to a person who came out of bankruptcy on the previous day. Northern Rock, on the other hand, has not been accused of failures of diligence in its lending policies and mortgage risk assessment methods. Northern Rock has not been hit by mortgage defaults, but by a lack of finance which is required to fund its ambitious expansion.

The housing market in the UK is now set to follow the downward trend of the USA. Prices have dropped by more than 10% in some locations such as Stockton, California, where the repossession rate is running at 3.7% of households.

Despite the differences between Northern Rock and the bankrupt US mortgage lenders, the root cause remains the same. This is the persistent growth of consumer debt.

In the UK, the average level of household debt, excluding mortgages, is GBP8,856. Average household debt is GBP56,000 if mortgages are included. It should be noted that these are average figures and they include a large number of households who do not have mortgages or credit card balances.

Some 11.8m UK households have mortgages and the average amount outstanding is GBP96,560. In addition, if non mortgage debt is limited to the households with unsecured loans, mainly credit cards, then the debt figure rises to GBP20,600. Therefore the average total debt of households with mortgages and credit card loans is a staggering GBP117,160.

Although the USA figures are calculated in different ways, average credit card and car loan debt is US$18,700 per household, and mortgage debt is US$74,000.

In both countries, but especially the UK, the increase in consumer debt is based on the expectation of rising house prices, full employment and low interest rates. If any of these conditions change, then the results will be serious if not catastrophic.

The growth of the UK economy over the last 20 years, has been driven by the steady increase in house prices and underpinned by North Sea oil. During this time, the manufacture of goods in the UK has continued its secular decline as has the number of British owned firms in both the manufacturing and service sectors. The major growth sector of the economy has been financial services and the City of London, which has eclipsed Wall Street.

In both countries, the dampening of inflationary pressures due to cheap imports, is unlikely to continue indefinitely. The process of globalisation is almost complete. Wages and material costs are set to rise in China and other far east manufacturers, and this imported inflation will bring to an end the period of consumer led growth in both the USA and UK. This will inevitably lead to period of re-adjustment, during which time interest rates could well rise to double digits.

In the meantime, the uncertainty surrounding financial institutions will continue to unnerve both the housing and stock markets of the western economies. Investors seeking serious returns need to look further afield, and borrowers need to reconsider their ability to repay loans in the event of a significant rise in interest rates.

About The Author

Leslie Hardy is the UK Chairman of Wellington Estates Ltd, a North Cyprus property development company. Read the full text of this article at http://www.wellestates.com

By Sarah Reiter

The Michigan real estate industry supports many other industries that create a slew of occupations and pay scales so that many other people beyond just the buyer and seller benefit from real estate. A few of those occupations are developers, builders, mortgage lenders, and a relative newcomer, Michigan real estate virtual assistants.

The virtual industry within the real estate industry is a direct result of increased activity real estate agents in that area. The flutter of increased activity has made for much more office work, and more papers to keep tabs on and have ready to finish up real estate dealings for the typical Michigan agent.

A successful agent must divide their time between office work and making important connections with the various people involved in the real estate transaction. Many agents are finding it wiser to delegate much of the office work to a Real Estate Virtual Assistant (REVA). This is a better division of time the agent has for making those important connections with the people in real estate. The more connections that an agent can make in a day, the more potential there is for converting these connections into real sales and profits. How much estate an agent moves and the profits made from doing so are the true measures of the success of leading REVA”s.

Although for many people, the term outsourcing has become synonymous with cutbacks and job eliminations, it is not so for the REVA.

REVA”s embrace outsourcing because it is through the outsourcing of office work from agents that they can afford to work from home with the opportunity to spend more time with family. Virtual assistants who are skilled with real estate office work and who can consistently meet deadlines will have no trouble finding agents to outsource work to them.

Organization is imperative for a virtual assistant to be successful. Otherwise you can get in the weeds so to speak and your customer service will take the hit. Tools such as Outlook or a customized CRM software will help you keep your contacts and tasks organized. Remember, it is not just the tasks of the business that need to stay organized but also each agents business and tasks need to stay organized as well.

Top earners in the VA industry have taken to advertising their services online with business websites. This seems only natural and sensible as most of the work that a VA handles is done online and with computers anyway. You can find many affordable resources online to help you build a powerful website to advertise your services.

About The Author

We specialize in Online Transaction Coordination and offer Virtual Assistant Coaching.

http://www.virtualcas.com/directory/MI.

By Wantanee Khamkongkaew

In the first quarter of 2007 institutional investors continued to show strong interest in the acquisition of logistics facilities, with high levels of investment activity in Japan and China. Demand for industrial property or land remained buoyant in most Asian cities on the back of robust economies and sustained growth in the manufacturing sector.

In Japan, investor interest in distribution facilities continued to grow during the first quarter of 2007, with domestic and international investors both active in the sector. Mitsui Soko and recent entrant Mapletree Logistics Trust were among those making purchases. At the same time, ProLogis and AMB remained among the most prolific developers of large, high-specification logistics facilities. The quarter saw domestic logistics leasing and asset management firm J-REP announce plans to construct five distribution facilities over the next 12 months.

Singapore saw increases in both rents and capital values of industrial property during the first quarter, with further appreciation expected. Developers displayed robust interest in the sector, purchasing four industrial development sites during the quarter at unit prices above those recorded in 2006. Though high-tech space continued to lead the sector, average factory rents rose after remaining unchanged throughout 2006 and the average rent for warehouse space increased for the first time since 2003.

In Hong Kong, demand for industrial space remained strong thanks to robust re-export activities and investors” optimism about the local economy. Landlords saw room for upward price and rental adjustments in all industrial sectors. However, completion of a number of upcoming office developments in East Kowloon will exert downward pressure on rents and prices in the industrial/office (I/O) sector. Investment activity was extremely brisk, with HK$2.5 billion in en bloc and site transactions recorded during the quarter.

Industrial land prices in China appreciated further following the Central Government”s introduction of minimum land prices and open market mechanisms for primary sales of industrial land in late 2006. The average price of Shanghai industrial land rose 3.2% q-o-q to RMB 879.4 psm (RMB 81.7 psf), while the average rent of industrial facilities increased 2.5% q-o-q to RMB 38.5 psm (RMB 3.6 psf) per month. Three industrial land parcels in Shanghai were transferred by means of public listing for the first time under the new regime.

The price of industrial land in Guangzhou similarly surged after the implementation of the new policies. The rise in land prices has not dampened industrialists” enthusiasm about the Pearl River Delta, and the industrial market saw brisk investment and leasing activity.

In Beijing, logistics has emerged as the hot spot in industrial property investment, with a number of international logistics property developers and investors including AMB, ProLogis and Mapletree actively seeking suitable investment opportunities. Investors have focused on mature industrial areas, including Shunyi Tianzhu in northwestern Beijing and Tongzhou Majuqiao in the southeastern city.

Chengdu”s industrial sector continued its rapid expansion in the first quarter of 2007. The first two months of the year saw 168 enterprises commit to entering Concentrated Manufacturing Industries Planned Areas. In March, PetroChina announced that it would invest RMB 38 billion in an oil refinery and ethylene plant in Pengzhou, Chengdu. The mega-project is expected to stimulate industrial property development throughout the Pengzhou area.

A number of MNCs are expanding their operations in the Philippines, with companies in the manufacturing and IT services sectors being the chief demand drivers. Occupiers in a number of industrial zones are expected to be awarded a number of tax perks following new legislation.

In Vietnam, the value of Ho Chi Minh City”s industrial output continued to grow rapidly, registering a 12% q-o-q increase in the first quarter of 2007, although the rate of growth was lower than that recorded in 2006. The quarter saw the announcement of additional large-scale industrial projects, many involving investments by MNCs. On the back of Hanoi”s strong export and buoyant economic growth, the majority of the city”s major industrial parks remained fully occupied, as demand has persisted in tandem with the growth in foreign investment.

In Thailand, recent events including the implementation of capital control measures and more stringent rules limiting foreign ownership of Thai companies continued to impact on sentiment in the industrial property market, leading to a drop in sales of serviced industrial land plots. However, the signing of a Thai-Japan free trade agreement in April 2007 provided some positive news to the market.

About The Author

Wantanee Khamkongkaew is an independent author evaluating and commenting on leading International Property Consultants in Asia and Greater China, especially CB Richard Ellis – http://www.cbre.com.hk