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| SECTION
ONE - EXOTIC REAL ESTATE |
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| Land
that time forgot - Real Estate in the Galapagos Islands |
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One of the best kept secrets in international real estate investing is
that it is still possible for foreigners to purchase property in the world
famous Galapagos Islands. This is something even most Ecuadorians
don't know since various bills have been drafted and approved to exclude
foreign investors and developers. But, these bills have never been
passed into law. There is still time to grab a little piece of this wonderland
although real estate opportunities are admittedly somewhat limited. |
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| Mysteries
of Venezuela Revealed |
| - Since 1999,
when Hugo Chavez first became president of Venezuela, the country has been
clouded in mystery and intrigue. Chavez' socialist agenda and ongoing
theatrics with Cuban dictator Fidel Castro and U.S. President George Bush
have sent up red flags regarding Venezuela all over the democratic world.
In spite of all the political posturing and bloviating in the media, the
country remains one of the most unspoiled vacation destinations in the
world, whether visiting the beaches, mountains, Amazon, or plains.
It also remains one of the best countries to get more bang for your dollar,
whether buying real estate, or just eating dinner out. The most recent
background information on the political and econmomic situations in Venezuela
will surprise a lot of readers and challenge their perceptions that this
is a "communist" country or that the future of this place is bleak... |
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| When
Disaster Strikes |
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Should Real Estate Investors Shy Away From Areas Recovering From Disasters
or Move Forward with Purchases? When a disaster strikes a region, such
as Asia’s deadly tsunami or the U.S.’s devastating hurricane Katrina, the
area becomes the focus of international attention. Newscasts show the suffering
of people who live there and broadcast the promises of politicians to rebuild.
Locals who have lived in the area for years react differently when disaster
strikes. Some decide to rebuild their homes and businesses, others decide
they can’t face the heart-breaking loss and put their property on the market.
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York, for example, many long-time
Manhattan residents decided to leave the city, causing a boost in the upstate
New York real estate market. Others saw an opportunity to buy property
that had decreased in value and to own a residence or business in a city
that they had been unable to afford before. For those interested in real
estate, there are both opportunities and pitfalls in buying property in
places that have been hit by a disaster. |
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| Honduras
is a country for dreamers... |
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Honduras sits at the knee of Central America and possesses a spectacular
400 miles of unspoiled Caribbean coastline and another 80 miles of Pacific
coast. All year round, temperatures hover in the 80s—with cooler, forested
areas inland. Jaguars, armadillos, toucans, and herons complete this scene
of a wild, untamed paradise. The Bay Islands—and the coral reef surrounding
them, which is second in size only to the Great Barrier Reef—have been
a well-kept secret of divers, snorkelers, and explorers around the world
for many years. But there’s much more to this tropical paradise than you
might have thought… |
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| Real
Estate in Europe - Why Bulgaria? |
| - Because
no other European country offers better value for your money! Located in
South Eastern Europe, Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey to the
South, Romania to the North and Macedonia and Serbia to the West. Its Eastern
Border is formed by the beautiful Black Sea Coast. A country of outstanding
natural beauty the environment remains unspoilt and is incredibly varied.
A relatively small country, a few hours drive will take you from the snow
covered central Pirin mountain Ranges to the long sandy beaches of the
Black Sea coast. |
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| The
Slovak Tiger Economy - Real Estate Investment in Bratislava |
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Slovakia has long been identified by corporations and economic commentators
as one of the most progressive new economies in Central Europe and most
promising for foreign investment. A combination of solid macroeconomic
policies, comprehensive tax and social welfare reform, a strategic location
to European markets and a tradition of manufacturing excellence and highly
qualified labour are among the factors that have attracted high levels
of foreign direct investment.While the Slovak economy continues apace,
there are key milestones as investors we need to keep in mind. One of these
is entry into the Euro, which Slovakia is scheduled to join in Jan 2009. |
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| Real
Estate in Nice - Quality over Quantity |
| -
In 1991 America’s most influential current affairs TV program - 60
Minutes - broadcast a report on what was soon to be known as the “French
Paradox”. They asked the question - why are the French slimmer than their
American or British counterparts, why do they live longer and have better
cardiovascular health than almost all other nations on the planet – especially
when the French diet is stuffed with cream, butter, cheese, meat, and wine.
Now this maybe an odd question to pose in an article about enjoying your
life in the South of France, but it cuts right to the core of why France
continues to hold an enduring fascination for us - why we are still a little
mystified by its people and culture. Let me explain. |
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| Market
for Dubai Villas Remains Strong |
| - AMEInfo
- Middle East Finance and Economy ~ The slowdown reported in apartment
sales in Dubai has not been apparent for villas. Even off-plan villa sales
are still going strong, and the re-sale market remains a seller's market.
This new dynamic to the market has been developing for some time. The mismatch
between the supply of villas and the latent demand has been apparent for
many years. In the early days of the first Dubai Marina apartment sales
Emaar Properties noted huge demand for the very small number of villa units
at the base of the development. |
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| Protect
Your Home Against Weather Disasters |
| - The recent
destruction caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita serves as a reminder
of the type of havoc Mother Nature can cause. Water, wind, fire and earth
movement can be hazardous to your home, perhaps your most cherished and
largest investment. But, there are actions you can take now to protect
your property and prevent major damage should one of these elements strike.
Depending on the age of your home and the building codes in your area,
some of these improvements may already be in place. |
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| SECTION
TWO - FINANCE & INVESTMENT |
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| Why
Invest in Northeast Brazil? |
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Imagine 573km of sun-drenched coastline, white dunes, lines of coconut
trees, a warm ocean. Where the temperature is never below 24ºC, 3000
hours of sunshine a year. Constant breezes cool the sunny days and
lift sails to windsurf competitions. We are talking about the State of
Ceará, home of the city of Fortaleza. Located in the Northeast region
of Brazil, Ceará is full of enchantment and hospitable people. Many
foreigners, from all over the world, are just now discovering Fortaleza
and the State of Ceará. |
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| How
to make friends and influence exchange rates |
| - It looked
so easy; sell everything, move to a new country, new climate, new job and
new you. It was all going swimmingly while it was just a fanciful notion
in your head but when the decision was made to actually make it happen,
the nitty gritty of visas, taxation, money movements, local laws and regulations
probably made your head spin. |
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| Forex
Trading - understanding commissions, spreads and trading costs |
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The Forex market is quickly becoming one of the most popular markets for
trading. Not only are the experienced traders looking to this market to
maximize their trading returns, but many new, individual investors are
now able to trade the Forex market - just as they do stocks and futures. |
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| What
has caused the EUR to fluctuate against the USD and what does the future
hold? |
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During 2005 the Euro lost over 14% of its value against a resurgent US
Dollar. This move meant that had you purchased a property priced
at €200,000 in April 2005, you would have paid $260,000 (22 Apr 05
- 1.30). If you had purchased that same property in November you
would have paid 236,000, a saving of $24,000 (4 Nov 05 – 1.18). So
what caused the USD to appreciate so much? And will it continue to
do so through 2006? |
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| The
Age of ECash |
| - He’s big,
he’s bad. He sidles up to you on an otherwise deserted street and growls:
“Your phone or your life.” This alternate take on the highwayman’s traditional
choice for his victim—life vs. money—has probably not yet been uttered,
at least not in this country. But it may not be far off. |
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| 8
Asset Protection Tips - How to Keep From Putting Your Wealth at Risk |
| - If you have
some money and assets saved up, you need protection. How much depends on
how big your bank account is. A competent lawyer, financial planner or
accountant should be able to help you decide how far to go in building
your asset protection plan. And just a few simple steps — plus
some offshore advantages—can make sure that your hard-earned wealth remains
yours and can be passed on to your family and loved ones. |
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| The
Flight of American Retirement Dollars - From Wall Street to Self-Directed
IRAs |
| - There are
45,000,000 IRAs in America. And for 30 years, Wall Street has enjoyed an
uncontested 97% share of the trillions of dollars in those IRA funds. Well,
times are changing. Hundreds of millions of dollars are fleeing Wall Street
each month to the vaults of Self-Directed IRA custodians. For example,
PENSCO Trust Company (one of about 20 such custodians in the country) recently
said that it doubled its Self-Directed IRA assets under management from
one billion to two billion ... in just the last 18 months. This migration
of dollars is, at best, an irritant to Wall Street. However, if those millions
of monthly migrating dollars were to change to billions - and they will
- Wall Street may have to change its tune. |
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