Algarve Hot Properties
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
  Real Estate Guide: Taking Photos of Your Home for Listings
If you are considering selling your property, you will need photographs for your marketing efforts. If you are going to take the photographs yourself, here are some tips.

I love reading National Geographic to see the amazing photographs of far off places I will probably never visit. I consistently play the lotto, but one has to be realistic. Regardless, the photographs are works of art and I often find myself wishing I could go to the location in the photograph. This is true even though I had no knowledge of the place until I saw the photograph and probably would have blanched had anyone suggested such a trip. This is the power of a good photograph.

Photographs of properties in marketing materials should inspire the same type of response from homebuyers. Make no mistake about it, your photographs represent the first impression, known a curb appeal, the buyer will have of your property. Given this fact, it is vital that your photographs present the best aspects of your property. Simply walking out to the curb and firing off a couple snapshots is a mistake of the highest order. Don’t do it!

At this point, you should consider using a professional photographer. They understand issues such as lighting, bordering, spacing and angles. Trust me, they are worth every penny.

Assuming you are going to shoot the pictures yourself, consider the following tips:

1. Lighting is critical. First, make sure there is enough light to detail what you are shooting. On the other hand, try to avoid situations where the entire picture is to bright. Strategic shadows in a corner can add definition and the impression of uniqueness.

2. If you have a view, make sure to take a picture of it. If the view can be seen from inside the home, make sure the photograph shows as much by taking it from the interior. You want the photograph to contain some evidence that the view can be seen from inside.

3. When it comes to the front of your home, don’t take a flat picture. A flat picture is when you shoot the home dead on. Stand off to one side or the other to give it some definition.

4. On interior shoots, add props to the room such as flowers. Make sure drapes and so on are positioned in an attractive manner. Hide all cords. Really hide all pets!

5. Experiment with angles. Taking pictures of your home is not a task to be done as quickly as possible. Take as many photographs as possible and then pick out the best. This is what professional photographers do.

Taking photographs of your property is hardly a difficult task. That being said, if you put a bit of thought and effort into it, you can make your listing stand out from the others on the market.

By: Raynor James is with the site - FSBOAmerica.org - FSBO homes for sale by owner.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com
 
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Thursday, July 20, 2006
  Property: Taste of Japan in middle of Algarve

This ground floor house is situated in Southern Portugal, Algarve. Built from 1991-1993 in combination of Japanese classical architecture with European luxury and American Standard, on 315 meters above the sea level, 24 km from the airport of Faro.
The built area is 500 M2 (five hundred square meters) of the most exquisite style among the modern villas.
The construction material is imported from Japan, USA, Italy and France.
One symphony of French Oakwood, Italian grey purple granite, Japanese black slate stone and African mahogany treated in Italy.

Gardens area of 3,500 M2 (three thousands five hundred square meters) in Japanese style is divided in three parts.

Before the main gate entrance to the garden there is a huge parking space, a stone garden surrounded by palm and pine trees, all around a wooden fence. From there you enter into a big garage with two remote control doors.

From the main entrance is another stone garden with very high bamboo trees planted around a pond with a waterfall, lush of fishes, and a wooden Japanese bridge crossing the entrance from the garage area to the main entrance of the house.

The second part of the garden is green with the highest bamboo I’ve ever seen. In the garden you can find ten by five meters covered swimming pool with heated air and water, what practically gives you the possibility to enjoy the swimming pool all around the year, during the day and night as well.
You will also find in the garden a separate house dimensions 3, 30 x 5, 50 meters presently a Meditation room, which could serve a new owner for different purposes. (Guest room, office, winter tea house or bedroom). In this part of the garden there is also an area with two original Brazilian hammocks, where you can enjoy the afternoon breeze.

The house is covered with security cameras and sensors that detect every movement around the house.
The villa contains four bedrooms; of these one is a master bedroom with fifty square meters. In front of the beds is a stone fire place imported from France. In the bedroom area there’s a Jacuzzi, a sauna, big walk-in closet and separate stone cabins with shower, toilet and washing basins, and another three bedrooms each with their own bathrooms.

Spacious living room with an open fire place imported from France, and very original sunken dinning area in front of an aquarium hundred eighty by hundred centimeters, built in the wall and receiving natural light from the outside.
Beside the main living area there is a tea room surrounded by Belgium tinted glass, with the view of the bamboo forest, and the swimming pool.

Among the other spaces there is a small dinning room with a bar and closed fire place.

By the garage area there are rooms for servants with a bathroom, additional kitchen, working room, and space for drying laundry.

In every room and kitchen as well, there is an air-condition unit installed for the heating and cooling, and also the house has modern central heating by oil.

The kitchen is built in Italian grey purple granite with two washing basins designed by a worldwide-known fashion designer. Owner’s good who’s name I’m not going to tell, because you wouldn’t believe me (let’s just say is first name starts with a ‘C’, and the last name with a ‘K’).

In front of the swimming pool there is an opened dinning area covered by natural Indonesian straw with a barbecue place, refrigerator and stone thirteenth century washing basin.

Included in the price of the property are: fully furnished rooms, two parabolic motorized antennas with receptions of 350 channels including all movies channels with decoders, HI-FI of the highest quality and ISDN & ADSL connections 5 phone lines, modern Siemens switchboard connecting all rooms by wireless interphone. Fully equipped kitchen with electronic cookers, washing machine, refrigerator, freezer, and all other kitchen equipment.

Asking price for this property: 725.000,00€ Why is this a good business? Considering the quality of everything inside and outside the house, the quality of the surroundings and the quality of life you’ll find in here, I know for sure, the property is well, well worth almost the double!



 
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  Property: Gorgeous 3+1 bedroom Villa with Moorish influence

As you arrive to the gates of this property, surrounded by tall trees and walls, it becomes hard to guess what to expect inside.
It’s only when you cross the first gates, revealing a parking area with 2 outside parking spaces and a garage, and arrive to the second set of gates, that the charm of this property starts revealing it self.
As you walk inside, you’re welcomed with luxurious and leafy green gardens, and you start noticing discrete Moorish influences as you head to the pool.
There’s not one centimetre of this 2000m2 property that hasn’t been carefully planned and covered with beautiful and healthy plants or grass.
The interior is equally appealing as there is plenty of natural light to enhance the clever features of this Villa; 1 bedroom, 1suite with dressing room, 1 master suite with a huge 40m2 dressing/bath room that also supports the pool…ideal for when you have visits, living room, laundry and storage, breakfast room, fully equipped American-style kitchen, indoor patio, total of 3 bathrooms, all ground floor.
Outside we can also find a nice barbecue, a gorgeous swimming pool with very pleasant covered terrace, a green area with volleyball net, a beautiful lake and a ‘granny-annexe’.
Just outside Quarteira, if there’s a place one can experiment the laid back way of living in the Algarve…this is it!
Asking price for this property? 845.000,00€. Is it negotiable?...it doesn’t hurt to ask…


 
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Monday, July 17, 2006
  Property: Commercial opportunity in the heart of Vilamoura

One of the last remaining commercial areas within, the heart of Vilamoura and close to the main hotels with a total combined area of approximately 1680m2. Parking is not a problem as there is an abundant parking space close by.

The area is divided in two, but can be joined up to create one spacious area. This space holds a license for gym or supermarket respectively but may be used for other commercial means as long as the project is approved.

The gym section comes equipped with an indoor pool and the pump-house is separate. A squash court with natural light, two reception areas, a gym zone for all workout machinery, WC´s for Ladies and Gents and with locker room area. 5 smaller rooms for steam bath, sauna and massage cabins. The entrance is visible from the main street and receives natural light as well.

The supermarket area has one office and WC´s for both Ladies and Gents and a small store room. A central extractor and inlet air system machine room is near the office room. One entrance visible from the main avenue and also receives natural light. The other entrance is situated at the back and may only be accessed by the property owners within the Aparthotel (Apartment Hotel).

This commercial area also comes with two underground parking spaces and one extra storage room.

 
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Wednesday, July 05, 2006
  Property: 4 bedroom apartment with stunning views in Quarteira

How would you like to wake up in the morning, step into your balcony, and enjoy this incredible view?
How would you like to seat down for a delicious and relaxed breakfast with the ocean breeze and warm, morning sun as your company?
How good it would be to know that the beach is just there, across the road, but for now…you’ll just enjoy your breakfast looking from above, from the 8th floor, to the spectacular view!
We’re talking about almost 400m2 between 4 Balconies (like the one in the picture), 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, kitchen, hall, huge living room and dinning room, all topped with a 360º view over the sea, city and country!
Quality of life is what this incredibly 4 bedroom, duplex penthouse will offer you.
Just Check out the pictures!!


 
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Monday, July 03, 2006
  Real Estate Guide: Why You Need to Find a Real Estate Agent Before Buying a House?
Buying a home is a major commitment in terms of both time and money. There are many things to consider when purchasing a home, and the services of a Real Estate Agent can be a big help when navigating this somewhat confusing world.

A Real Estate Agent is a professional who is trained in the ins and outs of the real estate industry. He or she will be able to guide you through the entire home selection and home buying process.

A realtor can also help the buyer to understand any disclosures and disclaimers that are being made by the seller. The real estate professional will know what questions to ask to bring out the information the buyer needs. The Realtor will know if there’s a particular issue regarding the property you want and will make sure there are no hidden pitfalls in your new home.

Once you have found the home of your dreams and had it thoroughly inspected, your real estate professional can guide you through the negotiation process and help ensure you get the best possible deal. The realtor will have a good idea of the fair market value of the home, as well as any other offers that may be on the table. You can use this valuable information to make sure you get a good deal. The services of a qualified realtor can prevent you from overpaying while insuring that you get the home you want.

As you can see, the services of a realtor are important throughout the entire home buying process. From the time the decision is made to buy a home to the date of the closing, the services of a realtor can make the entire home buying process easier, more pleasant and more affordable.

What to Look for In a Real Estate Agent?

A good real estate agent can help the home buyer find the perfect home and avoid potential pitfalls. A home is a major purchase, and a major financial commitment such as this demands the services of a professional. While you may think you can do it alone, the services of a good real estate agent can be a huge help any time you are looking for a home or any other type of real estate.

First of all, make sure the real estate agent you chose, works with a fully licensed real estate agency. Such an agency will always be identified by is full legal name and is ‘AMI’ number. This should be easily spotted in every public display made by the agency (its mandatory by law), like “for sale” signs, web pages, newspaper signs, etc.
I totally advice to reject the services of part-time realtors or free lancers, because if anything goes wrong, you’re in trouble, and you’re on your own.

Another very important factor in choosing a real estate agent is his or her experience. It is particularly important that the real estate agent have experience that is relevant to the part of the real estate market you are entering. For instance, if you are searching for investment properties, you will want to use a real estate agent who understands the challenges and opportunities of buying and selling investment properties.

The first time home buyer, or the home buyer moving up to a larger house, will also want to look for years of experience in their real estate agent. Ask probing questions about the number of homes he or she has found for buyers, the number of houses he or she has sold, and the areas in which he or she specializes. All real estate agents are more familiar with some areas than others; you will want to find an agent who is familiar with the area where you are shopping.

A real estate agent who lives in the area in which you are interested may have more insight into the nature and character of the neighbourhood than an agent who lives elsewhere. As you know, location is a paramount consideration with any type of real estate, whether it is your primary residence or an investment property. The outlook of the area, and its prospects for growth, will in large measure determine the future direction of home prices. You naturally want your home to appreciate over time, so paying attention to the area in which you invest is an important consideration.

Of course you will also want to make sure that your real estate agent has the backing of a strong company behind them. The support provided by a major real estate company can be a big help in helping you find the best home for your lifestyle and your budget.
 
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Real Estate in Algarve, notes of interest & hand-picked properties in the Sunniest Place in Europe!

Name: DivertidoAlvaro Justino
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