Lately I have been reading a lot about Feng Shui. One of the topics on feng shui that interests me is about increasing the value of your home, as well as achieving emotional balance and harmony of the occupants thru Feng Shui.

What is Feng Shui?

Wikipedia says Feng shui is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to use the laws of both Heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help a person improve life by receiving positive qi or energy flow.

The term feng shui literally translates as “wind-water” in English. It is deeply rooted in connection to nature, a philosophy that supports living in awareness and harmony with our surroundings.

How do you increase the value of your home and attain harmony?  According to Free Articles, here’s the tips:

Tip 1 : Main Entrance

The main door is like the mouth for the house. It is the gateway between the world and the privacy of the home and air currents literally enter and exit at this point.

The positioning of a main door can determine the fortune or misfortune of the occupants. Therefore you must keep the entrance clear of any clutter to allow the energies to flow freely.

Make sure there is nothing in direct alignment with the door such as a tree or telegraph pole. To remedy this place a Bagua mirror over the door so it is reflecting the Sha Qi.

Avoid facing a dark, pokey room, an interior staircase, mirror, stove, sink, fireplace, the door of a toilet, laundry, bathroom or bedroom. To remedy this keep the doors closed or place a screen between the doors.

Tip 2 : Bedrooms

Bedrooms should be sacred spaces where an adult or child can retreat and regenerate. Most people spent roughly one third of their lives in their bedroom, so maintaining balance and serenity in this area is essential.

Tip 3 : Kitchen

In any case, it’s better if you don’t see the kitchen immediately upon entering the house, as this can portend digestive, nutritional, and eating problems. Having the kitchen at the entry point can also mean that guests will come over and eat and then leave immediately, and such a placement can also encourage the inhabitants to eat all the time.

Tip 4 : Windows

A house should have sufficient windows. Windows are in very important to allow sufficient light or pleasant views into the room.

Tip 5 : Dining & Living Room

Whenever possible the dining room should be separate from the living room. It is a social area for family members, thus it better to have as big as possible.

Summary

Hopefully, by using the above tips, you can increase the value of your home and, more importantly, live in harmony therein.

* source of image: rittenhousemovie.com

Because a home is still one of the biggest investments most people will make, it pays to spend a little money and time protecting its value. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2009 Cost vs. Value Report, home repairs and remodeling are still worth the investment.

For example, big projects such as adding an additional room or outdoor deck will generally offer the best return. However, big home improvement projects come with big price tags, so it’s smart to weigh your options.

No matter the project size, the key is to have a plan and a budget. Create a detailed spending plan and don’t forget to budget for incidentals such as equipment rentals and delivery charges. For large projects, consider the cost of contractors and permits.

Taking good care of your home can help you avoid costly repairs down the road, so if nothing else consider small projects that help to maintain efficient functioning. For a big impact with little cost, consider the following home improvement projects:

Fix what’s broken. Basic repairs may not be as exciting as adding on a new room or installing a pool, but may be the most practical choice for your weekend do-it-yourself project. Visit your local home improvement store and take classes to learn how to repair a leaky faucet or toilet, replace electrical outlets, fix a squeaky door or floor board, as well as many other general home improvement projects.

Focus on first impressions. Fresh paint and a few flowers can be purchased for a minimal cost, but curb appeal can go a long way in creating a cozy finished look for your home. Keep gutters and shingles secure. Consider replacing windows with energy efficient material to save big on utility cost.

Consider the wet areas. Kitchens and bathrooms are the most common value-add remodeling projects. Both spaces offer an opportunity to either start really small with new facets and lighting to really large expansion projects. Simple do-it-yourself improvement projects for these areas include adding new hardware to cabinets, retiling the floor or countertops, and freshening up the walls with new paint and wallpaper.

Finally, update old appliances to more energy efficient models. The cost to use appliances can quickly outweigh the purchase price, so it pays to buy energy efficient models and save big on utility cost.

Now the answer is clear. Home improvement does result to an increase in return on investment.

* source of image: homeimprovementloans.us

Buying a home (house and lot) or any other real estate property is one of the biggest purchases you will make –an investment for a lifetime.

To stay liquid and leverage your own funds (either your savings, borrowed money, proceeds from sale of other properties) it is wise to seek financing when buying your house.

Below are the financing options available which you can consider:

1. Loan from Pag IBIG Fund. Pag-IBIG provides low-interest housing loans to its members payable in 30 years, on a monthly installment.

2. Assumable loans. You can take over someone else home mortgage, such as the one available in  the National Home Mortgage and Finance Corporation (NHMFC), or in the Pag-IBIG, or in  the Government Service Insurance Corporation (GSIS).

3. Lease-To-Purchase. Renting a home with an option to buy at the end of a specific period or during the lifetime of the lease contract. It must be specified in your Lease To Purchase Agreement with the owner. Presently there are owners / developers who offer this kind of feature of home ownership.

4. In-House Subdivision Financing. Some subdivision developers/owners provide in-house financing to home buyers. Check this offer in the subdivision where you want to buy your house.

5. Bank Financing. Commercial banks grant housing loans for building a house, by using your lot as collateral. You will execute in favor of the bank a real estate mortgage (REM) which includes the terms and conditions of the loan, the interest rates, amortization period, and other provisions.

Buying a home does not necessarily involves all cash from your own pocket and a one-shot deal payment with a huge cash out which will make you cash-strapped as a result.

Of course, there are other options available, like the foregoing home financing alternatives. This way, you can still have a home and stay liquid.

Bacolod real estate properties for sale or joint venture, are prime lots in Bacolod City and in the nearby town of Murcia, Negros Occidental, Philippines.

These Bacolod real estate properties are the last remaining large tracts of land situated in Bacolod-Murcia area.

The real estate is ideal either for housing subdivision projects, business park, industrial park, retirement villages, or for mixed land uses.

The Bacolod real estate properties consist of six individually titled lots, containing a total of 694.63 hectares, broken down as follows: Hacienda Josefa, 235.99 hectares; Hacienda Candongon, 67.91 hectares; Hacienda Guadalupe, 121.99 hectares; Hacienda Cristona, 42.31 hectares; Hacienda Oliva-Murcia, 34.31 hectares; and Hacienda Oliva-Bacolod, 191.5058 hectares.

Bacolod City is the center of commerce and finance in Negros island, in central Philippines. It is a highly urbanized city of 500,000 people, and is the capital city of the province of Negros Occidental.

Bacolod has been awarded as the cleanest and greenest highly urbanized city in the Philippines, most competitive and livable mid-sized city and home of the world-famous MassKara festival.

Bacolod was also named by MoneySense Magazine as the best place to live in the Philippines in 2008.  Bacolod City is the entry point to Negros Occidental. By air, Bacolod is 50 minutes from Manila and 30 minutes from Cebu.  Negros Occidental, on the other hand, is the Philippines’ major sugar producer and home to 2.8 million people.

The Bacolod real estate properties are prime lots and are surely a very good real estate investment. On the Murcia side, it is near the Bacolod Golf Club, Tanduay Distellery and Mambukal Moutain Resort.

The Mambukal Mountain Resort, just 31 kilometers east of Bacolod City, is surrounded by therapeutic sulfur springs, seven waterfalls, mountain streams, lush valleys and hiking trails leading up to Mt. Kanlaon.

These real estate can be bought either individually, on a per lot /title basis, or as a whole, for housing subdivision projects, business park, industrial park, retirement villages, or for mixed land uses.

For particulars, please e-mail:  businessphere1@gmail.com

image from: accesslossmitigation.com

Yet, six months after, they have yet to see the title to their lot. The developer keeps on promising  them every month that their land title is forthcoming and will be delivered to them soon.

Understandably the couple are worried, because they need the title as collateral in a bank for their housing loan, to construct their house on the lot.

The problem of the young couple is too common. There are many people who bought subdivision lots on installment basis, but after they have fully paid the purchase price, they still have to wait for the subdivision developer/owner to give them their respective titles.

Therefore, what should you do when buying real estate properties to protect your hard-earned money? What are the documents that must be looked into?

In case you are planning to buy a real estate property, especially a subdivision lot, condominium or townhouse, the first thing you must do is to for or ask your realtor the following:

1. Development permit of the developer.

2. Certificate of Registration of the developer and his License To Sell, either for subdivision lot, condominium unit or townhouse unit, issued by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).

3. Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) for subdivision lot or house and lot, Condominium Certificate of Title (CCT) for condominiums and townhouses, issued by the Register of Deeds of the province or city where the property is located.

4. Tax Declaration issued by the Assessor’s Office.

5. Technical description of the lot, prepared by a licensed Geodetic Engineer and approved by the Land Management Services (formerly Bureau of Lands) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and,

6. Samples of the Reservation Agreement, Contract To Sell (if the sale is on installment), or Deed of Absolute Sale (if the sale is on cash basis).

If the subdivision developer/owner, through the real estate broker or realtor, cannot show you the above documents or if the documents are lacking, the best thing to do is to look for another developer who has the complete requirements.

Otherwise, you will later on face unnecessary problems like what many buyers are experiencing, waiting for their land titles to be issued to them even they have already fully paid the purchase price of the real estate properties.

As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is always worth more than a pound of cure. So, forewarned is forearmed.

To some people, buying a home for the first time is even scary, in the sense that you have to take a loan to pay for it and amortization could last up to 30 years.

In selecting and buying a home, there are several factors to consider, like the price, your family size, location of your workplace, the kind of neighborhood, and access to schools and market.

To guide you in buying the right home for you, here’s some proven tips.

1. Know what you want and go for it. What style of a house do you like? How many rooms? Do you want a big backyard or lawn? Go with your instincts. If you like a house with a big lawn and it fits in with other areas of your life, then buy it.

2. Explore and keep an open mind.  Where do you want to locate and live? What are your present and future needs for a house? Consider all home styles and the community where it is located. You may find that one of them is just right for your lifestyle, interests, and future plans.

3. Think about the neighborhood. Where do you want to live? Do you want to live in the city where life is active or in the town where there’s quiet? And how about your work?  Think of the distance of your work place from your house.

4. Visit a realtor. As a licensed real estate broker, a realtor has the listing of the different available houses for sale in many locations, especially in the location where he has his office and where you like to settle. A realtor can help find the right house for you, in a short time, and without you spending effort, time and money in looking for the house.

The realtor can also assist you in seeing to it that the title to the property is genuine, advise you on the financing options and in negotiating the deal with the seller.

5. Decide which homes you feel is right for you. After conducting the various checks and investigations, you may find yourself now having the house you like and want to buy. Then arrange for financing and the documents necessary to transfer ownership from the owner to you. A realtor can help you facilitate the transfer.

Buying a home is not easy. But knowing what to do makes everything right.

image source: positiverealestateprofessionals.com

When I asked her the reason for selling her house, she replied that she could no longer tolerate the noise and traffic in her neighborhood.

It appears that her house was located just across the main gate of a well-known private school and every morning there was heavy traffic because of the students coming to classes being brought by private vehicles and public transport.

I have also a friend who recently sold his house located in a subdivision because of thievery and two incidents of hold-ups inside the subdivision, and he was disturbed by the lack of peace and order inside.

That is why as a realtor, I always agree that the three most important words in buying a house are “location, location, and location.”

Location is really a factor to consider when you buy a house, and also in buying, you need to think about selling—that is, if you sell your house in the future, whether or not your investment will pay off.

What makes for the perfect location when you buy your home? It depends on your personal needs, but in general there are six basic factors to consider, as follows:

1.  Your safety. This includes a peaceful neighborhood, no gang activity, break-ins of thieves, with presence of the police force or private security guards. Some upscale subdivisions maintain a 24-hour security, but you must pay a relatively big amount of membership dues to include the salaries of the security force.

2.  Access to school. If you have children or having a family of your own, the quality of the schools is important. Your house should not be neighbor to the school, but must have easy access to it.

3.  Shopping, Malls, Medical Facilities, Market. Your home must have easy walking or driving distance to shopping malls, restaurants, hospitals, and markets so that you can live with ease and comfort.

4. Commute Time. Your home should be in a location where travel time to basic facilities and amenities is shorter. In addition, there should be the availability of public transport in going to work, to do shopping, and to school for your children.

5.  Recreational Facilities. If you like to exercise, go to the gym, walking or jogging, or like to spend time outside for recreation or sports, then choose a location or neighborhood that is near a park, walking spaces, jogging path, and other facilities.

6. Neighbors. Your neighbors must be a factor in choosing a location. Your peace of mind, quiet of abode, and enjoyment of your property depend on the kind of neighbors you have.

In summary, choosing a location that is perfect for your needs when you buy a house is an important factor, just as important when you choose a house to buy that is right for you.

image source: www.aptblogger.com/boston/wp-con

Recently one of my clients, Michelle, came to my office, distraught. She told me that her tenants, a family of 6 who had been leasing her second house, was delayed in the payment of rents for three months now.  Michelle was asking for my advice on what to do.

Michelle’s problem is not uncommon for landlords who rent out their properties to tenants.

If you are renting your property or planning to engage in that business, finding good tenants is key to your success as a landlord and make money in the process.

Finding a good tenant is not as simple as a walk in the park. And do not believe your prospective tenant when he tell you that he will pay the rent on time, or treat your property with outmost care.

You have to conduct first basic verification or background check on your prospective tenants before you close the deal so that you can avoid the problem that Michelle has experienced. Here’s how:

1. Credit check.  Do a credit check with a prospective tenant. Call the credit association in your area, with the prospective tenant’s prior permission. Ask the tenant who are his creditors and inquire from these creditors the paying history of the tenant.

You should never rent to someone with a poor credit history. If the prospective tenant refuses to allow you to run a credit check, it is a sign that you will have problem later on in collection. Don’t waste your time with him, and move on to the next applicant.

2. Personal references check. Ask for at least 3 character references and call these people about the prospective tenants. This is to ensure that the applicants are good and responsible people.

3. Employers check. Talk to the tenant’s previous and current employers to make sure that the applicant is employed and that he is paid the salary that he is claiming to be.

4. Previous landlords check. The best information about a tenant comes from the previous landlord. Inquire from the previous landlord if the tenant is a good payer, e.g. if he paid the rent on time, damaged the property, disturbed the neighbors, or created other problems.

Be creative about your due diligence. Remember once again: Having good tenants is key to your success as a landlord and of your making money from rental income.

The reason is obvious. Returns on investment on homes are guaranteed because the property always appreciate or increase in value every year due to a growing population.

The more population there are, the more is the demand for homes. This makes investing in real estate, especially in home buying and selling, financially attractive.

If you want to invest in homes as real estate, here’s the three money making strategies, which I have presented in short and simple manner.

1. Buy, Fix and Sell for a Profit

This strategy involves buying a home, fix or renovate it, and then sell it for a profit.

2. Buy and Rent the Property

This strategy involves buying a home, renovate it, and then lease it to tenants. You earn a monthly rent which after a certain period you can already recoup your investment while still owning the property.

3. Buy cheap foreclosed property and sell dear

This strategy involves buying a foreclosed home for a cheaper price, renovate, and then sell it based on the fair market value, for a profit.

Or you can fix the property and have it rented out. Either ways, you make money.

If you intend to go into real estate investment, implementing the above strategies can help make money for you.

Buying a home (house and lot) or any other real estate property is one of the biggest purchases you will make –an investment for a lifetime.

To stay liquid and leverage your own funds (either your savings, borrowed money, proceeds from sale of other properties) it is wise to seek financing when buying your house.

Below are the financing options available which you can consider:

1. Loan from Pag IBIG Fund. Pag-IBIG provides low-interest housing loans to its members payable in 30 years, on a monthly installment.

2. Assumable loans. You can take over someone else home mortgage, such as the one available in  the National Home Mortgage and Finance Corporation (NHMFC), or in the Pag-IBIG, or in  the Government Service Insurance Corporation (GSIS).

3. Lease-To-Purchase. Renting a home with an option to buy at the end of a specific period or during the lifetime of the lease contract. It must be specified in your Lease To Purchase Agreement with the owner. Presently there are owners / developers who offer this kind of feature of home ownership.

4. In-House Subdivision Financing. Some subdivision developers/owners provide in-house financing to home buyers. Check this offer in the subdivision where you want to buy your house.

5. Bank Financing. Commercial banks grant housing loans for building a house, by using your lot as collateral. You will execute in favor of the bank a real estate mortgage (REM) which includes the terms and conditions of the loan, the interest rates, amortization period, and other provisions.

Buying a home does not necessarily involves all cash from your own pocket and a one-shot deal payment with a huge cash out which will make you cash-strapped as a result. There are other options available, like the foregoing home financing alternatives.

This way, you can still have a home and stay liquid.