The Most Expensive Real Estate In The World

World’s Expensive Real Estate

When you are looking for a place to live, you may want to look around the world, but when you have a lot of money, you may want to look in these locations, which are considered to be some of the most expensive cities and neighborhoods in the entire world.

San Diego, California

San Diego has beautiful weather, the Pacific Ocean and plenty of places to go and see in this world-class city. One of the most expensive areas in this city is La Jolla, where the average home price runs about $1.7 million per house. In this area you get a clear view of the Pacific Ocean and wonderful weather all year long.

Tokyo, Japan

One of the largest cities in the world, Tokyo has everything for person who wants to live in the island nation of Japan. Plenty of huge stores, high technology and amazing history, Tokyo is a great place to live. One of the best places to live within the city is the Shibuya Neighbourhood, where homes cost roughly $1.8 million.

Monte Carlo, Monaco

Sitting along the coast, complete with beautiful beaches, a thriving nightlife, a deep history and very favourable taxes for the rich, this is one of the most expensive countries in the world to live in. Monte Carlo often ranks as the highest priced city to live in with homes costing on average $4,420 per square foot.

Hong Kong, China

For a century, Hong Kong grew as part of the British Empire and in 1999 it transferred over to China. Since then, the city has continued to grow and prosper, bringing up some of the most expensive real estate in the world with it. Currently, the average home in the high class neighbourhood of Victoria Peak costs about $3.5 million.

Moscow, Russia

The economy of Russia is beginning to grow again thanks to high oil prices, and that has pushed the real estate prices in this city skyward. Moscow may seem cold and uninviting but it is actually a very beautiful city that has much to offer, even at $1,937 per square foot for real estate.

Jupiter Island, Florida

Probably the most expensive place to live in all of the United States, you are only a short drive away from Palm Beach, Jupiter Island has many golf courses, yacht clubs and places to spend oodles of money. Former president George H.W. Bush used to live here, where homes cost on average $5.6 million.

London, England

One of the most expensive cities in the world to live, London is a city of history, culture and more. It has everything you could possibly want out of a city but that comes at a very high price. In the area of Kensington Palace Gardens, where the average home price is a whopping $85 million, the richest Londoners live, including Middle Eastern royalty and business tycoons.

So, if you got the money then these are the cities you may want to move
to, where you can enjoy the good life that money buys.

The Shard of Glass London Skyscraper

Shard of Glass

First Published Date: Feb 3, 2011

It may not be the tallest building in the world, in fact it is less than half the height of the tallest building in the world, but the Shard of Glass, also known as Shard London Bridge, is a truly beautiful building.

Currently under construction in London, England, this skyscraper is scheduled to be finished in 2012 for the Summer Olympics in London. Upon its completion, it will become the 45th tallest building in the world, the second-tallest freestanding structure in the United Kingdom after the Emley Moor Transmitting Station and the tallest building in the European Union.

The tower will stand 1,017 feet, or 310 meters and have 72 floors. In addition, there will be an additional 15 radiator floors that sit on the roof.

One of the more interesting factors about this building, and its defining characteristic, is the fact that it has an irregular triangular shape. As well, the building is completely covered in glass, which is where the name Shard of Glass comes from.

The skyscraper, which will have an open-air observation deck on the top of the 72nd floor, was designed by noted architect Renzo Piano who considers the slender form of the skyscraper a positive addition ot the skyline of London.

Piano created the unique angles of the Shard of Glass so that it will reflect light and the changing patterns in the sky, depending on the time of day, year and season.

The public viewing gallery on the top is expected to draw over two million people per year. The skyscraper, along with its smaller companion building known as London Bridge Place, are part of a revitalization project for the surrounding area, which also includes a museum, a concours and a public piazza.

Upon its completion, it will surpass the Frankfurt Commerzbank Tower, which is currently the tallest building in the European Union, and has been since 1997. It was hoped that the Shard of Glass would also be the tallest building in Europe, taking into account cities in Russia including Moscow, but this may not be the case. The Triumph-Palace and Naberezhnaya Tower have both been completed and both are taller than the Shard of Glass. Another building in Moscow, the Mercury City Tower, will also be taller than the Shard of Glass when it is completed.

Needless to say, the Shard of Glass will be the tallest building in the European Union but not for long. It is expected that the Hermitage Plaza, which will rise to 323 metres, will become the tallest building in the European Union when it is completed in France in 2016.

Due to the collapse of the World Trade Center in 2001, a complete re-evaluation was done on tall structures across the planet and the Shard of Glass is among the first in the United Kingdom to be built using the US National Institute of Standards and Technology report on the WTC collapse, meaning it will withstand the most difficult conditions nature and man can put up against it.

What To Expect From Your Lawyer When Buying A Condo?

What Does A Condo Lawyer Do?

First Published Date: Nov 14, 2010

When you are buying a condo, you need to have a lawyer because they will help you get through all the complicated parts of the condo purchasing process, helping you make sure you get exactly what you want when you buy a home.

The lawyer is going to talk to you about several things that will be of interest to you, many of which you may not know about. Knowing these things will help ensure you get what you want out of your purchase.

HST is something that many people do not understand, nor like. It is also something to consider when you are buying a condo. There is an HST Rebate that is meant to give you money back on large purchases like a house, but if you don’t know how to file for this rebate, you could lose out big time. A condo lawyer can help you get the rebate, which will help you pay for that new condo of yours.

The contract can be very complicated and you may feel as though it is written in a different language. A condo lawyer is going to be able to go over that contract with you and give you help in understanding what is being said in the contract. One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they are buying a house or a condo is they just buy the condo and sign the contract without reading it. However, did you know about things like caps? Just like a salary cap in the NHL, a cap on fees keeps you from paying too much. Cap costs have gone up by nine times in ten years, but if you just sign a condo contract without having a lawyer look at it first, you could end up paying as much as $10,000 more than what you needed to, just in closing cap costs like gas hook ups.

There are going to be several fees associated with your purchase and developers love these fees because it is essentially free money for them. As a result, if you don’t read the condo contract properly, you could end up paying thousands in useless and unwanted fees. A condo lawyer knows what developers try to do and they know how to keep you from paying for fees. Everything from purchase fees to fees on utility hookups are going to be charged, and you don’t want that to happen. Have the lawyer look over the contract carefully because the savings you get from not paying too much for your condo will offset the amount you pay for a lawyer immensely.

Here are a few things you can expect from a lawyer:

– Explain, prepare and register all related legal documents, such as purchase contract, title, HST rebate etc.
– Scrutinize that there are no liens, easements, covenants, unpaid taxes, unpaid utilities etc against the condo.
– Arrange title insurance protection, review all the closing papers you need to sign, and ensure your registered
ownership does not make you liable for more than what you have accepted.
-  Explain and advice you on your rights, obligations and protect your interests in case of a dispute.
– Assist you to close the transaction through province’s electronic registration system.

Before you hire a condo lawyer, you should talk with friends and families to find out any lawyers they have used and whether or not you should need one. You can also talk to your realtor but it is better to get a lawyer who is not affiliated with a realty agency. Finding a good condo lawyer will ensure you do not pay too much and you get exactly what you paid for.

Real Estate Buying Process In Canada

Canadian Real Estate Purchasing Process Explained

First Published Date: March 26, 2010

Real Estate 101 buying knowledge is very important to sellers and buyers of properties. Learning its basics can facilitate the process of buying. Property buying will always require a client to select his or her realtor, also called an agent. It is very easy to make a mistake at this point by selecting the wrong agency. When trying to purchase a Canadian house, avoid working with a dual agency because of some decision-making limitations. Certainly it has its advantages but as it represents both buyers and sellers, every decision is made after consulting each other.

Selecting a seller agency is not safe too because, as the name suggests, a buyer enjoys no representation at all. A buyer agency is the answer when a person wants to get more information about a real estate ad. Avoid choosing just about any Canadian buyer agency available. There is a realtor available to professionally handle the exact interests any client desires. These agents work on commission basis. Money should only be paid to them if a property is bought.

How does Real Estate 101 purchase process work?

The very first step to fulfill in the property buying process is seeking a mortgage pre-approval. This is a very positive progress that impresses any seller. It involves Mortgage form filling and forwarding all the required documents for approval. This can amazingly boost a buyer’s negotiation position because pre-approval shows his or her seriousness. This makes an agent’s job much easier and swift. He or she won’t continue searching for other properties that might interest the buyer.

Another very important document involved in the process is called a Property Condition Disclosure. A buyer must read it to know about the current property condition, its appliances, heating and water systems and so on. Failure to disclose any crucial detail about the property by the seller is not acceptable legally. An agent’s work is to help a buyer report and solve such a problem legally even after closing the sale.

Do you know what earnest money is in real estate 101 buying? A buyer is required to set a side a predetermined percentage of property cost in a Trust account. This money will be locked in the account until the parties reach an agreement and actually finalize the sale. Any realtor knows about this requirement anywhere in Canada and can provide help. If the first offer made by the buyer is good, a seller might accept it right away. If not a seller will reject this offer and propose another.

A buyer is free to accept, meaning he or she does not have a problem with any changes a seller proposes. Rejecting an offer means that a buyer is done and want to sign a Terminate Contract document. He or she wants to have his or her earnest money back. This gets buyer and the agent in the first step of finding a different property. A counter offer can be disappointing if no agreement is reached. However, if both the seller and buyer negotiate fairly, a final solution can be found. After this the parties are ready to close the sale and the buyer will own the property henceforth.

Real Estate In Varna

The Eternal City of Varna and Moving There

First Published Date: Aug 29, 2010

If you are going to move somewhere in Europe, one of the best places to go has to be Varna. This Bulgarian city is the largest city along the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and the third largest city in all of Bulgaria after Plovdiv and Sofia. In all, it is the 92nd largest city in the European Union. Currently, it has a population of about 357,821 and it is often called the summer capital of Bulgaria because it is a major tourist city for the country and much of Europe. The city is a major business city, as well as an education one with its university. As well, it has a seaport where the Bulgarian Navy is stationed. In April of 2008, it became the seat of the Black Sea Euro-Region by the Council of Europe. Varna is generally considered to be the second-most important economic center in the country after the capital of Sofia thanks to its trade link over the Black Sea to Russia.

The country has a humid sub-tropical climate, which means it is generally warm all year round, something that many people like about it.

There are also many different sights within the city including Roman Baths, parks, an archaeological museum, the museum ship of the Drazki Torpedo Boat, as well as the Sea Garden, which is an open-air theatre and garden with museums, a zoo and more within it.

Now, if you are thinking of moving to the city, there are plenty of options for the city you decide to move to and you want to make sure you choose the right place for yourself. When you have a friend or someone within the city find you a good location, you need to do a few more things before you get the place.

1.    In Bulgaria, you need to own a Limited Liability Company within the country beforehand before you can buy property in Bulgaria. It is usually best to have the company with someone who is in the country to make it easier to manage.

2.    There are some fees you will have to pay out, including real estate fees, which can push roughly 10 percent of what the total cost of the purchase is. You need to make sure you are aware of the fees before buying.

3.    Make sure you have the proper visa through the Bulgarian government before you buy property. You need to have a visa that lets you live and work in the country for longer than 90 days.

4.    Once you have made the purchase, you need to have a notary process and approve the sale as they are the only ones within the country who can oversee a real estate sale.

Varna is a beautiful city and one you should truly consider if you are going to move to Bulgaria, as one that you may want to live in. It is a beautiful city, with plenty of history behind it.