Archive for August, 2009

« Older Entries

Explore the Ancient Rainforests South of Brisbane

Monday, August 31st, 2009

It has been said that Australia was once a continent covered in forest, in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The Australian rainforests are remnants from this era, and a sight that you truly need to witness. The Gondwana Rainforest, in the Lamington National Park, is a lovely habitat full of ancient trees and considered to be the world’s greatest sub tropical rainforest.

An incredible tourist attraction it is hard to believe that it is located so close to Brisbane City , however its location makes it a great day trip when on holiday in Brisbane . This incredible national park, not only contains this amazing rainforest, but also a complete living museum, which allows you to gain understanding of how the flora of today came from the plant life of the past.

The Lamington National Park is not only home to plant life, as it houses various natural wildlife from 160 different species of birds, to frogs, reptiles, mammals and much more. While you are vacationing in Brisbane, whether with the family or on a romantic getaway, you will want to be sure to take a trip and visit all that the National Park has to offer.

Holidaymakers can also enjoy a tour of the one hundred and twenty miles of walking paths through the wilderness, either self guided or with a tour guide. While on the paths you will have the opportunity to view beautiful waterfalls, and nature. You also have an option of staying the night, week or more, at the O’Reillys Guest House, which is a rainforest retreat area. With the deluxe accommodation and fabulous spa, O’Reillys will provide you with a relaxing break in one of the most natural settings.

Just a few miles away from the hustle and bustle of Brisbane City this tropical adventure land awaits all those looking for a day trip to the exotic or a romantic getaway in the rainforest. Australia is home to the most amazing cities, beaches and natural wonders imaginable, so consider taking your next holiday to this diverse, eclectic vacation destination.

Kathy Smith is an expert on all things Australian. From brisbane accommodation to upcoming events, she will guide you through it all. Take a look at her articles prior to deciding on which brisbane hotels are most suitable for you.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Destinations | No Comments »

Realty Micromanagement

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Recently, my clients and I threw a hat in the ring for a bank-owned property. Form my previous experience, it seemed like everything was going smoothly.

A week or so went by, and I didn’t become concerned yet. Red flags went off however, after the second week came and went. I began calling and E-mailing the listing agent up to three times a day for three days in a row trying to get a response from him. When that didn’t get a rise out of anybody, I finally had to call the broker to suggest maybe they needed to get an agent on the dealings that knew what they were doing. I was then sent over to their assistant, who luckily for me, appeared to know what she was doing.

After this whole process and the waiting game, I received an E-mail stating that the bank was requesting an extension due to the escrow being opened with the wrong company! This took two weeks before anybody noticed. If I wasn’t on top of the deal like you should be, my agent would have sat around twiddling his thumbs until the whole deal went in the dump.

I’ve also been fortunate enough to experience dealings that were completely opposite from this situation. I had sold a property not to long ago for an agent listed in Lake Arrowhead. It wasn’t a surprise when it took awhile for the bank to finally open the escrow, but the rest of the closing process was very successful. This agent was very good at keeping me updated, as well was her assistant. I was then able to complete all of my paperwork correctly and in a timely fashion.

Because of this, I was able to deliver excellent customer service to my client. Please be aware when you are hiring an agent, and make sure you are asking plenty of questions to make sure they are on the up and up. It is important to make sure that your Realtor is a fulltime agent and can devote all his time to you. Always make sure they are knowledgeable about how the of your local housing market.

If you do have plans on purchasing a property in the Big Bear area, I wouldn’t suggest using a Realtor from the L.A or Orange County area. If you find yourself wanting to purchase a bank owned property, it is very important that you work with a Realtor that is familiar with how this process works. If you do have an agent that isn’t familiar with the differences in a bank owned property, you could find yourself out a chuck of money or even worse, your property.

Author Info: Ali Combs knows all about researching single-family homes for sale and realty in general. Check out her other articles on the internet.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Vacation Homes | No Comments »

Cleaning Up Realty Messes

Monday, August 31st, 2009

A little while ago, some clients of mine made an offer on an REO. Everything seemed to be proceeding according to plan.

A week had come and gone, and I still hadn’t had any concerns yet. Then after two weeks went by, and no response still, I knew something was going on. I called and e-mailed the selling agent religiously for three days, and still no response. Finally, as a last ditch approach to getting some type of response, I had to call the agents broker. They then turned me over to their assistant, and she did appear to have more knowledge then I had expected about what was going on.

Finally, after almost three weeks, I was emailed an extension agreement that stated we were requesting an extension due to the listing office opening escrow with the wrong company and not realizing it for two weeks. Two weeks? If I hadn’t called the broker with my concerns the listing agent would have just coasted along obliviously and incompetently until our deal crashed and burned.

Luckily I also have had some good experiences with bank owned properties. I did recently sell one of these properties for a property listed by an agent from Lake Arrowhead. Like before, it did take the bank quite awhile to open the escrow, but everything else was top notch. The agent I was working with was very good about keeping me updating, and her assistant was on top of it as well. I was then able to file all my paperwork in a timely fashion.

Since the agent I worked with was knowledgeable and on top of the situation, it allowed me to deliver outstanding customer service to my client. It is always a wise decision to ask your Realtor a couple of detailed questions about how they work so you can be sure you are getting the service you deserve. It is always beneficial to work with an agent that is full time versus someone who is only part time. Your Realtor should also be very intuitive about your local market and how it works.

If you are planning on buying in Big Bear, it is a very bad idea to use somebody from L.A. or Orange County. If you are planning on buying a Bank Owned listing, it is especially important to use somebody who is experienced in selling them. The banks do thing very differently and a Realtor who doesn’t know what they are doing can blow the deal or end up costing you a great deal of money.

Author Info: Ali Combs has much experience researching single-family homes for sale and realty overall. Check out her other articles on the internet.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Vacation Homes | No Comments »

REO Clockwork

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Buying a bank owned (REO) property is a much different process than a traditional listing and it is imperative that your Realtor know the difference. If your Realtor is not aware of the differences, they could not only cause you to lose the property, but also cost you money in the process. Let me explain.

When a bank owns a property, they have complete control over the situation. They have the ability to make the rules and do not have to follow any disclosure requirements. The bank will typically have you, the buyer, sign an addendum which will give them full disclosure to the process, and leave you with no protections.

The bank will set a timeline that they demand you stay on top of, or they will enforce consequences on you. The odd thing is that they can take all the time they need before they deliver any type of response to you. Almost a month ago, I was approved and have been holding money in escrow for a bank owned property. It took the bank three weeks into the thirty-day period before they even opened my escrow.

It took a full three weeks before we received my contract and addendum. Not so lucky for us that when we first signed into this contract, it stated that we would be charged $100 per day per Diem for every day that went past the thirty-day period!

They didn’t help us in anyway to meet our deadlines either. As you may already be aware, most short sales do not have a successful closing. Typically this happens because the listing agent that takes on the contract isn’t familiar with how a short sale works, but still takes the home anyway. In the same breath, REO’s can also turn out the same. In my case, the listing agent was very confident that he had all of his ducks in a row, and the bank was ready to close.

Submitted by: B. Stein has much experience shopping new homes for sale and properties overall. Read his other posts online.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Vacation Homes | No Comments »

Elephantine Island of the Nile River

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Known to the Ancient Egyptians as Abu or Yabu, meaning elephant, Elephantine Island is a truly ancient site resting as it does at the First Cataract of the Nile, and creating a natural boundary between Egypt and Nubia.

Being the largest island at Aswan, it was easily defensible and at one time was thought to be a major ivory trading center, possibly giving rise to its name. But rumor has it the name may also arise from the elephant-shaped granite boulders lying around its shores.

It is said that Khnum, the ram-headed god of the cataracts, lived in caves beneath the island and controlled the waters of the Nile. Nowadays, the southern tip of the island holds the ruins of the Temple of Khnurn, which was rebuilt in the 30th dynasty. Up until 1822, there were also temples to Thutmose III and Amenhotep III here, but the Ottoman government in their wisdom destroyed them.

Elephantine is an exquisite island, steeped in ancient history and blessed with significant artifacts. Transported instantly back in time, you wander under banana trees and date palms through colorful Nubian villages with narrow, dusty alleyways and mud houses painted or carved with crocodiles and fish.

On the edge of the island is one of the oldest Nilometers in Egypt. It is a stone `yardstick’ used to measure the height of the River Nile. It was last reconstructed in Roman times and was still in use as late as the 19th century.

Its 90 steps, leading down to the river, are marked with Hindu-Arabic, Roman and hieroglyphic numerals, and inscriptions carved deep into the rock during the 17th century can be seen at the water’s edge.

Elephantine Island is a green, flower-festooned oasis of calm lapped by the turquoise waters of the Nile and clinging quietly to its exotic past.

For cheap airfares on Singapore airlines visit Flight Centre today. We also have cheap domestic flights, including flights to Melbourne.

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Destinations | No Comments »

The History Of Reno’s Mapes Hotel

Monday, August 31st, 2009

On a cold, gray morning in late January 2000, the historic Mapes Hotel in Reno was imploded by 75 pounds of explosives tucked into the art-deco structures support columns. The controlled demolition came despite years of effort by a number of groups within the community and nationally to preserve the building with lawsuits, redevelopment proposals, and grass roots lobbying efforts.

While the efficacy and justification of demolishing the Mapes is debatable, one thing that is not is the glorious history of the hotel. It was built in 1947, and signaled the start of the modern era of casino gambling. Despite the notoriety of Bugsy Siegel and the Flamingo in Las Vegas, it was the Mapes that became the first building in the nation to have a hotel, casino and live entertainment under one roof. It also became the hotel of choice for celebrities staying in Northern Nevada. Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe stayed at The Mapes during the filming of ‘The Misfits’. Joseph McCarthy, America’s famed anti-Communist crusader, admitted to a reporter over cocktails in the Mapes Lounge that he really didn’t have a list of Communists in the US despite his frequent and vitriolic insistence to the contrary.

During the ‘Rat Pack’ era of the 50’s and 60’s it became along with the Cal-Neva Lodge in Lake Tahoe the place to be seen in Northern Nevada. The 11th floor, window walled Sky Room Lounge hosted performances by a roster of entertainment legends including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Milton Berle and Mae West. Downtown Reno struggled during the 1960’s and 70’s but the Mapes continued to prosper. The hotel finally closed in 1982, due to financial problems experienced by the Mapes Family brought about by their other Northern Nevada casino holdings.

While the last twenty years brought an amazing boom in the population and economy of Southern Nevada, the Northern part of the state didn’t see much of it at all. For that reason, the urgency of destroying the Mapes is even more questionable. In the Las Vegas area, its easy to justify the demolition of older hotels with simple economics–the older properties simply can’t compete in the current mega-resort dominated marketplace. Furthermore, the insane valuation of the land on which they sit makes it financially unfeasible to preserve them as pop culture museums.

That’s not the case in Reno, where vacant land and/or buildings ripe for redevelopment are abundant downtown and in the other casino areas of the city. The official reason that the Mapes had to come down was that the city needed the land to expand its vision for downtown redevelopment. While this is certainly a much needed effort, to suggest that the existence of the Mapes was a barrier is absurd. In fact, many of the proposals rejected by the city would have gone a long way to enhance the revitalization of downtown Reno and included artists lofts, office space and other mixed used properties. Despite receiving a number of viable concepts for the Mapes Building, the City Redevelopment Authority rejected all of them and the Mapes was destined for demolition.

The role of the City Redevelopment Authority was questioned throughout the process. Overlooking the Truckee River, the hotel was on a prime location between the downtown casino area and the riverfront district. A number of sound financial proposals were presented that would preserve the integrity of the structure including condominiums, office space, and perhaps most viable, upscale senior apartments. Oddly, all of these proposals were turned down by the citys Redevelopment Agency which continued to maintain that demolition was the only viable option despite copious evidence to the contrary.

After the demolition of The Mapes Hotel, the lot remained vacant for almost a year until a temporary ice skating rink was constructed in the winter of 2001. The site now houses a permanent ice skating rink which, while not a bad use for the land, brings into question the insistence by the City Redevelopment Agency that none of the proposals to preserve the building were viable. Clearly, they had no specific plan or even general idea of what to do with the land but for some reason wanted to see the hotel come down. This has led to all manner of speculation, ranging from financial self interest to a rumor that the structure was ‘haunted’ and needed to be destroyed to forestall future paranormal activity in Washoe County. Whatever the reason, the city of Reno lost a valuable landmark of a more civilized era.

Ross Everett is popular culture editor for The Savage Science, a website covering both MMA news and popular entertainment culture. He’s an avid MMA and boxing enthusiast as well, and reportsUFC news for several mainstream sports broadcasts and websites. He’s practiced several martial arts forms since childhood and holds a black belt in judo.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Destinations | No Comments »

A Sour REO

Monday, August 31st, 2009

I just had the REO from heck nightmare with some insane per diem issues. I anted to spread the word of caution around to anyone who is listening.

Obviously, we decided to proceed with our offer on the cabin, knowing it would probably be a prolem if we did not. This is where my experience came into play. I have had this happen to me numerous times on bank owned purchases and I have learned that my buyer just needs to forget about the bank and make sure he does everything he needs to do to stay on track.

As long as we can prove that the delay was not of our doing, we can get out of having to pay the per Diem. I made for sure that all inspections, including the termite inspection, was done by the listing agent, and done in a timely manner. Fortunately, since my client is paying for this property in cash, we needn’t worry about the appraisal. If a client were to be purchasing a home from a loan, you need to be in direct contact with the lender throughout the process, making sure the appraisal is completed in time.

You don’t want anything going wrong at the last minute if you can help it. You can’t always get everything to go the way you would like, but if you do everything you can do, things tend to turn out OK. I always have to remind my clients that most banks don’t really have any idea of what is going on at any given time. They seem to just flounder around in the hopes something will eventually happen.

It hasn’t been uncommon for me in the last few years to observe a bank doing something completely out of the ordinary. It doesn’t happen very often that a property owned by a bank has a smooth closing. As long as you hire an experienced Realtor that knows what they are doing, and you stay on top of things on your part, you should have a successful closing on a home.

Author Info: A. Brynn has much experience shopping property listings plus real estate in general. Check out her other articles on the internet.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Vacation Homes | No Comments »

4 Ways To Get Started On The Internet

Monday, August 31st, 2009

It is likely that either you know of someone that sells on ebay or someone who has a website. You may have even wondered how you could make money on the internet. There are 4 general methods to getting this done.

#1- Auction sites (ebay, amazon, craigslist) ? Auction sites are one of the easiest ways to get started on the internet. Many people make money selling things from home on auction sites. This does turn into, for some people, a full business selling new products on auction sites. If you want to make it to that point on an auction site, it will take a bit more time and learning on your part.

#2 ? Template driven websites(3xpweb) ? The next easiest option to make money online is to get into a template website. Most people do not understand how to build an ecommerce website, but they would like one. A solution for these people is to get into a template website where they make some choices (products, look and feel from predesigned templates, etc) and then the company that they are working with builds it for them.

#3 ? CMS (Droopal, Bluevoda, Joomla) ? CMS is an acronym for content management system. This method of building a website is probably the most used method used in ecommerce websites today. CMS offers a lot of flexibility to the user, giving them more control over their website without having to know how to implement website code. However, it gives even more flexibility to those who can use some website code. That is what makes it so popular.

#4 ? Build it from the ground up ? This one is likely not for you if you are reading this article. This is for the real geeky, code building, people that just have to have total control and so they will build the website from the ground up in pure code.

That is essentially the 4 basic methods you can use to build an ecommerce business on the internet. There are plenty of methods within each of these 4 basic methods that you will need to choose from, but start by making a choice of which of these is best for you. If you are new to internet business and feeling overwhelmed at doing it, but would really like to get into, then I would recommend that you either start with auction sites (ebay, amazon, craigslist) or a template website (3xpweb).

Jared Humphries Has broad experience using Travel Incentive Programs as a Utah County Real Estate Agent

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Destinations | No Comments »

Planning a Trip To Europe- Sightseeing And Special Events

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Honestly, many of us can’t afford the time off work, let alone the added time it takes to plan a European vacation; but, you know, you do get all those paid vacation days each year. Instead of using them as scattered personal days, why not call up a travel agent and have them organize an unforgettable vacation that includes London bus tours, Paris hotels and Rome tours?

Much of the stress of planning can be relieved for a small fee and you’ll enjoy a blend of planned excursions and free time, while knowing that the major details of transportation, breakfasts and accommodations have been taken care of for you.

Brendan Tours will take you to London England, where you’ll board one of the morning London bus tours that takes you to Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. You’ll have plenty of time to explore on your own during day two and day three. On day four, you’ll receive a number of itinerary options, whether it’s a day of museums and theater, walking through parks or along the Thames River outdoors or shopping in the Knightsbridge district. Day five will board you on a motor coach to travel from London to your next location Paris, France, where you’ll view White Cliffs, the French channel and over World War I battlefields. On day six, you’ll have a sightseeing tour that shows you the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Place de la Concorde and the Fragonard Perfumery. On day seven, many travelers visit the Louvre or the Musee d’Orsay. The following day, you’ll board a train that traverses through French vineyards and the Appennine Mountains to Rome, Italy, where Rome tours awaits you on day nine. This tour will take you to the Forum, the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican. Day ten many people spend at Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel or partaking in some of Italy’s delicious restaurants. Finally, your vacation will come to an end on day eleven, but you’ll be amazed at how much you were able to soak in during such a short amount of time.

Your Brendan Tours travel itinerary includes English Channel ferry tickets, Paris to Rome train tickets and airport transfers in London and Rome, since you will be flying to and from different cities. You will be responsible for booking your own flight from your home city, however. Included in your package price, you will also receive a choice of hotels in twin-bed-sized rooms, with all your hotel taxes, service charges and baggage handler tips included. Each day, you’ll receive a hot buffet breakfast (except for in London, where they eat breakfast cold).

Many meals and activities are covered, but you’ll still find the time to venture out on your own to enjoy some independent vacationing. You’ll appreciate having a local host in each city, (just a phone call away), to answer all your questions and suggest fun day trips while you’re in town. You can learn more about the tour operator at www.brendanvacation.com.

In addition to the Paris, London and Rome tours listed, Brendan Tours offers a number of low-cost vacation itineraries. In fact, their most-booked countries are Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States. For instance, you could spend a week in Munich, Salzberg and Vienna for just $1,272.

The advantage of going through a travel company is that you’ll gain access to itineraries, local host contacts and pre-arranged bus tours, so you won’t be stressed trying to plan out every last detail. Also, you can easily spend a fortune on hotel rooms, but you’ll receive special group discounts that wouldn’t otherwise be offered to you. With all the flight deals going on now, it’s hard to wait another minute on planning a European vacation!

Want more information on luxury latest travel visit http://www.luxurytravel.info-specials.com. Click here on how to spend Luxury Holidays in India

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Adventure Travel | No Comments »

Villa Holidays - A New Trend In Late Booking Holidays

Monday, August 31st, 2009

More Brits are seeking group bookings and a home from home feel holiday to help keep costs down this year.

Despite a recent surge in late holiday bookings due to Britains wetter weather, the weak pound, unstable economic climate and perceived expense of Eurozone resorts had led to an estimated 12 million people opting to holiday at home this year.

However, one company has revealed a real change in the way that were holidaying, ditching costly resort restaurants and expensive day trips in favour of home-cooked meals and quality time with friends and family.

Holidays used to be a time for over indulgence, however Villa Parade, is seeing more and more Brits opting for villa holidays which provide families and friends alike the option to enjoy an affordable break away without comprising on style and quality. At a time when many tour operators have seen sales dip, the villa specialist reports a 32 per cent increase in sales compared to 2008, and in particular more than 35 % of bookings are for larger villas ” a 10 per cent increase from previous years.

Large property villas are on sale besides smaller villas with can cater for large groups of people with all modern luxury’s such as TV’s playstation 3, WII along with private pools and large outdoor space with a private pool.

Many tour operators have been hit hard by the recession however Villa Parade are finding people are turning to villa holidays because they can be much more affordable than self-catering apartments.

The biggest expense on holiday is eating out and for a family of four costs can all mount up quickly. Having all the facilities you need in stylish surroundings is a real bonus as many of our customers prefer to make their own meals and spend time in their own environment.

Villa Parade has had more requests for its added extras. Requests for bicycle hire is up by 60 per cent and bookings for the companys Nintendo Wii are up by 100 per cent.

Were seeing more and more of our customers choosing from a full range of items from table tennis and outdoor hot-tubs at no extra charge.

A family of four can spend a day at a waterpark for around 45 and a Nintendo Wii hire for the entire holiday costs just 75.

For us, this shows a real change in what people want out of their holiday. Were still seeing Britons looking for that sense of staycation - where people enjoy the company of friends and family in their own environment- but doing so in sunnier climes and more picturesque locations! Nick continued.

For more information, visit http://www.villaparade.co.uk

Villa Parade specialises in holiday villa rentals across the Mediterranean. With 450 exclusive villa holiday retreats at some of Europes most desirable destinations such as Mallorca, Cyprus and Ibiza, its the perfect choice for families, couples and friends looking for an affordable but memorable holiday.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Hotel Accomodations | No Comments »

« Older Entries