How to Buy a TOWNHOUSE the No-Regrets Way– (Part One)
Townhouses are becoming very popular in Melbourne these days. For most couples, buying a townhouse is a neat downsizing option, especially after the children have grown up and are starting to leave the family nest to buy their own apartment and house.
Used to be that townhouses were just for a few wealthy people, European and English aristocracy and the ‘nouveau riche’. Now, real estate agents don't have to be surprised when young ordinary newly-wed couples approach them with the interest of buying a townhouse. And in light of the real estate climate in Victoria, more and more people are indeed discovering the cost-effectiveness of townhouses in terms of investment.
People's initial reservations about buying a townhouse is that now they will have to sell their house, their ‘old’ family home, where countless memories have been nurtured. No doubt this is a frightening concept, that, of course, applies to any real estate venture. But the real estate bubble hasn't been able to curb the rising cost of free-standing’ houses, which is why people are readier now more than ever to give up their old houses and move to a gorgeous townhouse.
What to Look for When Buying a Townhouse?
1. Space
Space is a consistent troubling factor for most residents of Melbourne. Apartments don't just have to be nice and affordable; they have to be spacious too. This, sadly is not usually possible, and so townhouses then offer a nice alternative to either the restrictions of an apartment or the continuing maintenance headache of a smaller home.
2. Convenience
Is your prospective townhouse near your workplace, the kids' school, commercial areas, or other places that matter to your life? How's the climate? How's the environment? How's traffic during rush hours? What's the cultural atmosphere like? How's the people in the neighborhood? You're going to be living in your townhouse for a long time, so make sure every second of it is all worth it.
3. Aesthetics
Of course, you'll want a gorgeous townhouse. A nice interior and exterior you can show off to your family and friends, and whoever cares to drop by your new humble abode. And a breathtaking view outside wouldn't hurt too. But remember it isn't just all about aesthetics; consider functionality and common-sense too.
4. Availability
The widespread popularity of townhouses has had them mushrooming all over the place, but this doesn't necessarily mean every townhouse for sale is a good buy. Do some research on current real estate prices, and how they vary from one locale to another, or according to season.
Buying real estate online is becoming popular too, and this is one of the most cost-effective ways in landing a good deal. Not only do you escape steep commission rates from real estate agents, you also get to feel the rewarding feeling of having bought own townhouse on your own, without any help from a third-party.
5. Professional Real Estate
Then again if you think you'd be more comfortable entering into a transaction with a trusted real estate agent, by all means do so. Commissions are secondary, compared to the peace of mind you'll be getting from a reliable agent. Real estate agents can spare you a lot of unnecessary headaches.
6.Affordability
Because a townhouse is more affordable than a freestanding house, it is attractive to first-home buyers, particularly if it is bought “off the plan.” Check your budget. Don't splurge it all on just the townhouse, because after all, after you move in, comes the next financial hurdles in your life. Yes, things are just starting to get exciting. And it's all worth it.
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About the author:
Amos writes articles and press releases for OzfreeOnline - this piece she made served as an article exclusive for Real Estate - which offers a comprehensive list of office & commercial real estates, apartment and house for rent, online real estate, house for sale, property listing, real property search and an apartment finder to thousands of properties in Australia.
Las Vegas Real Estate
When one conjures up images of Las Vegas, the first thing that comes to mind or the casinos, the neon lights, the shows, and of course the amazing food. However, Vegas is also home to some of the most beautiful real estate in the nation. In recent years Las Vegas has seen explosive growth in the real estate sector, this is primarily due to the increasing popularity of the area and the amazing growth in the business sector as Vegas has developed into a vacation destination for the whole family.
For much of Vegas's history the city was associated with gambling and was a high-class retreat for high-rollers. Over the last 15 years that image has changed drastically. Gone are the old days of Vegas's reputation as a huge gambling mecca and the Vegas of today is a thriving and vital resort destination that offers the finest entertainment and live shows and has really become a city-wide theme park with a little something for everyone.
Vegas has also developed a fantastic residential sector as the drawing power of this area's beautiful weather for much of the year has attracted home owners of all ages, and for good reason. The greater Las Vegas area features a wide variety of top-notch schools and recreational options and is world renowned for the golf courses that weave their way through this desert oasis. In addition there is a booming housing industry that has supplied some fantastic homes at great prices throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Of course if you are looking for a more luxurious housing option then Vegas can easily supply that as well. From sprawling estate homes to funky loft condos on the strip Vegas is simply one of "the" places to be in the United States.
John West is the owner/broker of Specialists Real Estate. With over 25 years of real estate experience, John is the elite buyer's choice for Las Vegas real estate. For more information on homes and properties in Las Vegas, contact John & The Specialists team today!
Moving Help: How I Saved A Colleague $250 Recommending A Pods Moving Company
Introduction
So I guess the first question you have is how did I go about saving my work colleague $250, and what type of moving help did I offer? I checked out her requirements, did some research and recommended a Pods moving company. Let me explain why this was the best option for her.
Moving Help Required
A few months back a work colleague called Susie who lives in California State came to me for some moving help with regard to which type of moving service she should use to make her current move.
When I first spoke to her she was considering using a professional moving company because of her particular set of circumstances, which were:
· She had two young children and worked and therefore time to pack was at a minimum.
· Her husband worked shifts and would not be around much of the time to help with the packing.
· She could also foresee that she might need some storage between the move.
I asked for the zip code she was moving from and to and an approximate idea of the square footage of the house she was moving from. With that I said I would be in contact with a moving quote and assured her I could beat the one she already had hands down and meet her moving requirements.
Hiring A Pods Moving Company
Given Susie’s particular set of circumstances I felt that a PODS moving solution was best for Susie. “PODS” stands for portable storage on demand and is essentially a cross between a moving truck and storage container.
The great advantage of using such a system for Susie is that it provided her with the following features which matched her moving requirements exactly:
· A reasonable time to allow for packing, up to one month without any additional charge being made.
This allowed Susie and her husband to manage the packing around their busy work schedules and the children.
· As Pods moving companies are very competitively priced for local moves I was sure that any quote would beat the price she had been given by her professional moving company.
Getting A Quote From A Pods Moving Company
Using the zip codes and the house square footage I popped onto www.pods.com and got a quote in a matter of minutes. The quote gave me details of the cost per mile and the number of containers that would be required. I then telephoned Susie with the information.
The Pods Process In Detail
When I explained that using Pods would save her $250 on her local move and storage costs she was naturally delighted. I told Susie that once the Pod containers had been dropped off at her house she should try to pack them as tightly as possible to prevent the need for additional containers and any movement of the load once the container was on the road. Although Pods have a specially patented hydraulic lifting system, there are reports of movement of container contents, so don’t solely rely on this.
Conclusion
When you move using Pods you are paying for the convenience of are being able to pack you belongings over a period of time and the option storing the container(s) at one of the Pod storage depots. Pods are competitive compared to Professional moving companies if you are only moving over a short distance. There is quite a lot of evidence to suggest that they are not competitive when moving across country and you would be better served looking at another moving solution is this where you are at.
Steve Wentworth writes for www.movinghelpsite.com, first for cheap moving pod information