Real Estate In Melbourne

Moving to Melbourne

First Published Date: July 30, 2010

One of the most beautiful cities on the planet is Melbourne, Australia. The capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia, it is a common destination for moving to Australia. Melbourne, as of 2009, had roughly the population of four million residents, putting it just behind Sydney in terms of population in Australia.

Melbourne has excellent weather, it features stunning landscapes and very friendly people. As well, it is often considered to be one of the most liveable cities on the planet. The Economist recently chose the most liveable cities on the planet, with Melbourne, Australia coming in third in the world behind just Vancouver, Canada and Vienna, Austria. Another study by Monocle Magazine found that Melbourne ranked number nine for most liveable cities in the world. The reasons to move to Melbourne do not end there. Melbourne is classified as a Beta World City by Loughborough University and as a City of Literature by UNESCO Creative Cities Network. It is also one of the top 10 Global University Cities, and one of the top 20 Global Innovation Cities. The city also has the world’s largest tram network, making it a great place to live, one of the best in the world.

When you decide to buy property in Australia, specifically Melbourne, there are some things to consider when dealing with fees and costs. These will be very different than what you may be used to in your home country. Some fees to be aware of include:

·    Stamp duty

·    Registration of Mortgage

·    Municipal rates

·    Registration of Title Deed

·    Land Transfer Registration Fee

You will also have to deal with various costs associated with the bank that you get your mortgage through. These include:

·    Stamp duty on your loan

·    Property Valuation fee

·    Legal fees

·    Loan servicing fees

·    Loan Establishment Fee

You also have to look at paying things like solicitors’ fees. All in all, you are going to be paying a lot for your property and this does not even take into consideration the fact that you will probably have to pay real estate agent fees.

Since you are going to be buying property in Melbourne, you will want to have someone living in Melbourne who can look at the house for you. In addition, it is important that you find a real estate agent. Rather than buy a home straight from an owner, you need to go with the protection offered by real estate agencies. While Melbourne is a great city, there are plenty of people who may want to use you and get money from you, and a real estate agent can help prevent that from happening.

Melbourne, Australia is one of the most beautiful and liveable cities on the planet. It is a great place to live and a great place to be. If you are going to move there, remember fees and talk with a real estate agent to see what your options are.

How to find a Real Estate Agent in Canada

Real Estate Agent In Canada

First Published Date: Feb 19, 2010

If you’re ready to go home shopping in Canada, you may want to learn a trick or two about selecting a Real Estate Agent that is right for you. From Quebec City to the Yukon, there are Real Estate Agents all over the streets and the first thing you need to do is to choose one that is going to be right for you as you search for your dream house.

The following is a simple guide that will help you choose your Real Estate Agent in Canada and get you into your new home with no hassle.

·    MLS– You need a realtor that can find your property in any genre chosen and it is all in a click of the mouse. MLS means Multiple Listing Service. You can type in a city name, school district or even type in the name of the old street you lived on as a kid. An MLS realtor will have more choices for you and there is no driving all over the countryside to find the properties you’re interested in.

·    Local– You will certainly want to find a realtor that is either living or has been working in the city you want to buy your home in. You certainly do not want a realtor from Toronto to show you property in Vancouver. You want a realtor that knows the area very well so you do not end up in a home that is not to your taste in an area you do not desire living in. You want a realtor that is going to be able to talk to you about the good and the bad of the area with an honest opinion. You do not want a realtor that only has general information that’s found on a listing only.

·    Time– You should really look for a realtor that has time to deal with you and your family. Let’s face it, we know they need to make money, but if they can not even remember who you are each time you walk through the door, it’s time to give them their walking papers. You need a realtor that you can easily reach when you find a property that interests you.

·    Proper License– in order to avoid being duped. Make sure you work with a real estate agent that has proper license. You can always ask him or her politely about this. Again, you may need to ask others that have got their homes through that agent involved.

Indeed, Buying a home is a very big step in your life and finding a realtor that is easy to get along with and can empathizes with what you are going through is a big deal. You need to weigh your options and think through because this is the person that will be spending time with you and speaking on your behalf when it comes to bidding on your home. It may never be easy to make the transition from a renter to a homeowner. So, do it as smooth as possible with the help of a real estate agent. Follow the tips we have laid out for you here and you will soon be packing those boxes.

The Digital Media City Landmark Building

Digital Media City Landmark Tower, Korea

First Published Date : July 11, 2010

When we think about skyscrapers, we usually only think of how tall they are, but the Digital Media City Landmark Building in South Korea shows that it is about what is inside the skyscraper, not how tall it is in many cases. This building, which will be 640 metres tall and has 133 floors, will be the third tallest building in the world and the tallest building in Korea and East Asia. With construction beginning last October, it is expected that it will be completed by April 2015, for the low cost of $2.9 billion.

The skyscraper itself will feature a wide assortment of things within it including an observation deck on the 133rd floor that will allow everyone to see all of Seoul, and as far away as Gaeseong, North Korea. This will be the tallest observation deck in the world, a full 11 floors ahead of the observation deck on the tallest building in the world; Burj Khalifa. From the 108th floor to the 130th floor, there will be several six and eight-star hotels, which surpasses the Park Hyatt Hotel for the highest hotel rooms on the planet.

It does not stop there though. The building will also house high-tech offices, apartments, a department store, shopping malls, a convention center, restaurants, media facilities and an interactive aquarium. The aquarium will be an 110,000 square feet and will be the largest of its kind in the world. This aquarium will be extremely high-tech and interactive, costing over one billion dollars over the course of the next five years.

The rundown of the floors for this building is as follows:

·    132nd to 133rd Floors: Observation deck and media art center

·    131st Floor: An open studio and broadcasting facility

·    128th to 130rd Floors: Concert restaurant

·    108th to 130rd Floors: six to eight star Hotels

·    85th to 107th Floors: Family and business hotels

·    46th to 84th Floors: First class apartments

·    9th to 45th Floors: High tech offices

·    7th to 8th Floors: Convention centers

·    1st to 7th Floors: Department stores and shopping malls

·    Basement Sixth to First Floors: Aquarium

The skyscraper will have windows that will look like windows in traditional Korean houses, and the exterior of the skyscraper will have 40,000 LED panels that will emit light at various colors. The middle of the building will be empty, which allows the structure to move and improves the resistance to bending roughly three-fold. Like many skyscrapers these days, being environmentally friendly is also important and this skyscraper will feature a green roof, and automatic ventilation windows. Mirrors will also be used to direct light throughout the building, helping to save energy on powering lights within the skyscraper. The Digital Media Tower shows that skyscrapers these days are not being built with being the tallest in mind, but having the most in them and being the most environmentally-friendly.  This tower is truly going to be a sight to see and experience.

What to know before buying a home in Canada

Home Buying Tips in Canada

First Published Date: Feb 21, 2010

Canada is not for the weary or those that do not love nature and all of the beauty of a winter wonderland. Everyone has heard of Niagara Falls, and all of the night life that Canadian cities have to offer. There is hunting, hiking, skiing and more. Those that do enjoy the outdoor life would really appreciate the picturesque beauty of any city in Canada.

There are some things to know before you buy a home in Canada and here we will review a few of the items to get you better acquainted.

If you’re looking for good home in Canada you may choose to live in Mont-Tremblant in Quebec, there you will find the Laurentian Mountains and you will never be left wanting more. This is the place to be if you’re looking to be close to a place where you can enjoy your favourite sport.

If you’re more of a night life person, buying a home in Toronto might be the best choice for you. Toronto has great nightlife and can keep you busy for years to come. In fact, living in any of the Canadian cities is a wholesome experience.

If you’re looking for a city that prides itself on family, you may choose to live in a place like Quebec City. The school systems there is the best around and it’s a great place to raise the family.

Now that you know abou t the ambiance that is available keep in mind some other things before you go shopping.

Never get emotionally attached to the home you’re looking at. You could end up paying a price that is just not the best for your wallet especially when you choose a home with only your heart, be practical and choose carefully.

Keep in close contact with your realtor or estate agent and make sure he or she is not pushing a property on you. You have to check properly before you buy. Again, mind the kind of agent you’re dealing with. Make sure he or she is properly licensed to avoid being duped of your resources.

Keep the price you want to pay in the forefront. Always look for the best home at the price you can afford and you will save yourself a lot of worry in the long run.

Another thing to remember when you’re buying your home is not to worry if the first bid is not accepted. There are many beautiful homes in Canada and the one that is right for you and your family will come along. Remember this is still a business transaction so keep your emotions out of it and think ahead. If you can afford the home and it is a good feel for you then don’t be afraid to make a fair offer to win the bid in the end.

Know the area where you are choosing to live and don’t forget that the right house is there, just around the corner. Know what you want and where you want it and you will be a happy homeowner in the end. Your house will be a home no matter where you choose to live in Canada.

Canada Gets New Credit Card Rules

Understanding the New Credit Card Laws

First Published Date: Oct 17, 2010

In an effort to make it easier for customers to pay back their credit cards and not fall behind to the point where they are swimming in debt. These rules actually came in effect on Sept. 1, but many residents of Canada do not know about them. To help educate people on the new rules, here is a brief rundown of what you need to know.

1.    There is a minimum grace period now of 21 days that are interest free on all new credit card purchases when a customer pays the outstanding balance completely.

2.    When a customer pays the minimum payment in excess, meaning they pay more than the minimum payment, the credit card company must allocate the excess so that it is put on the balance with the higher interest rate first, and then distributed proportionally to all other types of balance such as cash advances.

3.    Credit card issuers must inform consumers of their monthly statement and how long it will take to fully repay the balance if only the minimum payment is paid. This gives you a better understanding of how much time it is going to take for you to pay it off if you make no purchases on it.

4.    Another rule is that there must be a complete disclosure of interest-rate increases prior to those rates taking effect at all.

The biggest problem with these rules is that the Canadian public has not been educated on them, so many do not even know that they exist. The main reason is the government has not worked hard enough to publicize the rules, which means that many credit card companies can break the rules illegally, and consumers will not even know that their rights are being stepped on. It is very important that consumers learn these rules and pay attention to their credit cards so they can know whether or not they are being cheated out of the regulations put in effect to help them.

There was a voluntary code in place that would help to stop merchants from paying higher and higher costs from credit card companies but the problem was that credit card companies chose not to comply with it. As a result, those temporary rules became permanent and credit card companies are now forced to follow them, including allow merchants to cancel contracts without a penalty.

Credit card debt can literally sink a household and make it impossible for the house to pay their bills and survive day to day on what they have left. As a result, Canada is making it much easier for consumers to pay their credit card bills by ensuring that there are rules in place to protect the consumer. However, it is up to you as the consumer to know the rules and to make sure that the credit card companies are following them when they are dealing with you. It is your right as a Canadian citizen, so do not let credit card companies off the hook.