Greetings!
The Holiday Season is upon us again: a time that I, for one, REALLY enjoy. Thanksgiving was shared with friends here in Bahrain and was most enjoyable, albeit a little sad at being apart from our children for the second successive year. Fortunately, they have good friends and so they, too, had a good time Stateside; although they were scattered from the east coast to the west.
Christmas preparations are well underway: flights to the US have been booked for months; Christmas cakes have been made and wrapped; Christmas tree is up and decorated; gingerbread is made and ready to assemble into trees and houses; turron is yet to be made; distribution lists are being created. Lots of good smells are coming from the kitchen as I busy myself making the various treats, now I just have to locate the wrapping materials – always somewhat problematic in this part of the world! Oh well, we will search this weekend and adaptations, if necessary, will be made.
This year we are taking advantage of the Eid holiday to make a whistle-stop trip to the States: visiting for a few days with Larry’s Mother in the MidWest, before heading home to Sedona for Christmas with the children. We are looking forward to seeing the beautiful red rocks again and maybe even some snow in Flagstaff – who knows! – either way, there will be time for a couple of hikes to walk off the feasting and enjoy the clear, crisp morning air. New Year will find us back in Bahrain and, for the first time in quite a few years, we will be hosting a Fiesta de los Reyes party, which promises to be lots of fun: paella, tapas, sangria, yummy! Of course, it will have to be on the first Thursday after the 6th, but that will not prevent us enjoying it just as much.
When we return to Bahrain, Larry will be working on my Saudi visa and I will be making regular trips over the Causeway. Let me know if you would like to meet with me to discuss the property market, Stateside or Internationally, and I will be happy to set up an appointment with you. Naturally, if you are coming over to Bahrain and would like to meet here, then that also can be arranged. The telephone number here is 973-17-811-618.
So, what exactly IS happening with the property market? Well, depending upon whether you are trying to buy or sell, the answer is vastly different. Now is definitely a good time to buy, not just in the States, but also internationally. Country profiles, such as the ones issued by NAR, can be helpful in assisting you to better understand the areas in which you are considering purchasing. http://www.realtor.org/intlprof.nsf
Spain, for example, has been experiencing a definite slowing down in the purchase of property (especially in the new developments) and there are incentives available to the savvy buyer which, when combined with the interest rates, make it very attractive. http://www.amberlamb.com/index.php/property/spain
The media leaves no-one in any doubt about the state of the real estate market in the States: yet, as often happens, that is not the whole story. If you are a buyer, it is a great time for you: interest rates are still fairly low and the sellers are ready to move the properties, especially if they are downsizing, because they need to sell their existing property in order to take advantage of the lower house prices and buy that smaller unit. http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2007/mhp_20073q_median_home_prices_rise.html http://www.realtor.org/Research.nsf/pages/EconHousingData?OpenDocument
For those of us with our funds in US dollars, it may not be the best time to be investing abroad, just because of the exchange rate. However, funds in Euros or UK Pounds will buy much more Stateside than previously: combine this with the buyers’ market and it represents a great opportunity. There are rules and regulations for foreigners buying in the US, but it is not as difficult as you might think.
The Central American market, especially Panama, still shows excellent investment potential and, with the canal widening project and the Trump investment, now would be a good time to make your move, if your interest lies in that part of the world. http://www.amberlamb.com/index.php/property/panama
Bahrain is seeing unprecedented building development, as more properties are made available for foreign investors. Many Gulf country citizens are buying their second homes in Bahrain, especially as it is possible to drive here via Saudi Arabia and the Causeway. Weekends see many Kuwaiti, Qatari and Saudi licence plates on the Bahraini highways and, increasingly, these visitors own their own apartments or villas, rather than staying in hotels. As I write this newsletter, I am preparing to attend the annual property exhibition here in the Kingdom and am very interested to compare this year’s offerings with last year's. http://www.ameinfo.com/buyingpropertyintheuae http://www.amberlamb.com/index.php/property/bahrain
If you are trying to sell your property, then it is a somewhat different story. If you do not HAVE to sell, then it would probably be best to wait until the market revives, which is anticipated to be around the second quarter of 2008. If you are needing to sell, then correct staging of your home is key. Remember, our treasures are someone else’s clutter – I, for one, am guilty in that respect and would need to remove my many ‘treasures’ from the walls of our home. http://www.globalspan.net/staging.htm http://homebuying.about.com/od/sellingahouse/ht/homeprep.htm
In a market where buyers have so many choices, what makes YOUR property the one that they will buy? Do you have something hard to find, and therefore much sought after, in your area? For example, Larry and I own a four-bedroom home, with the fourth bedroom able to be used as an in-law suite; we are centrally located and yet in a quiet neighbourhood; schools, stores, restaurants, and other amenities are within walking distance. What are the desirable features of your area? Is your home on a golf course? In a marina complex? Does it have horse privileges? Knowing your market will help you sell your property in a more timely fashion. Finding the right real estate agent to help you is also important: I can help you here via my network of national and international brokers and agents. Do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance.
So, I leave you with my last newsletter of 2007. I wish you all a wonderful holiday season: Merry Christmas, Eid Mubarak! And I look forward to chatting with you all again next year.
Warm regards,
Diane
Diane L. Jackson
Exclusive Buyer's Broker
Graduate, Realtor Institute
Certified International Property Specialist (candidate) Member, Council Residential Member, Women's Council of Realtors, e-Pro & e-Buyer
Telephone: 928-821-2237
Toll-free: 866-878-4411
Email: diane@TheJacksonsRealEstate.com
Website: www.arizonabuyers.com
Website: www.sedona-real-estate.info
"For Real Estate Action, Contact The Jacksons!"
You will find the resources listed below helpful as you either buy or sell a home.
General Information:
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Banking/Homebuyingguide/P61924.asp
Neighborhood Information:
Digital City http://www.digitalcity.com;
3 Steps Neighborhood (How to organize your neighborhood for emergencies) http://www.3steps.org;
Homefair.com (Neighborhood information and more) http://www.homefair.com;
Yahoo city information http://local.yahoo.com;
Lycos City Guides http://travel.lycos.com/destinations/location.asp?pid=36024
Home Information:
REALTOR.com (home buying, selling and renting) http://www.realtor.com;
Harmon Homes http://www.harmonhomes.com
Mortgage Information:
Mortgage Market Information Services, Inc. (Mortgage rate tables and lender database) http://www.interest.com;
Mortgage Select http://www.mortgageselect.com;
Home Price Check (home values) http://www.homepricecheck.com
Government Resources:
The Department of Housing and Urban Development http://www.hud.gov;
The Small Business Administration http://www.sbaonline.sba.gov;
The Internal Revenue Service http://www.irs.ustreas.gov;
The U.S. Census Bureau http://www.census.gov;
The St. Louis Federal Reserve Board (FRED) http://www.research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/
Investment:
EDGAR Database (Securities and Exchange Commission) http://www.sec.gov/edgarhp.htm
Real Estate Indexes:
Yahoo Business and Economy: Real Estate http://www.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Real_Estate/
IRED NEWS (more than 3,000 Real Estate-related listings) http://www.ired.com
Search Engines:
Google http://www.google.com;
Altavista http://www.altavista.com;
Yahoo! http://www.yahoo.com;
Infoseek http://www.infoseek.com;
Ask Jeeves http://www.ask.com;
Lycos http://www.lycos.com;
Excite http://www.excite.com
BUYERS!
We are Exclusive Buyers Agents, we take no listings, which means that we never face the possibility of dual agency. We will work for you, the buyer, to help you find your ideal home at the best possible price.
SELLERS!
If you are planning to sell your home in the next few months, ask for our free report to help you establish your home’s current market value. We will use comparable sold listings to help you calculate the fair market value of your home. Then, as we represent ONLY buyers and take no listings, we will assist you in finding a realtor who will best meet your needs I selling your home.
Exclusive Buyer's Broker
Graduate Realtor Institute
Certified International Property Specialist (candidate)
Member Council of Residential Specialists
e-Pro, e-Buyer
Member Women's Council of Realtors
Specialization
We specialize in representing our clients in the purchase of single-family residences, vacant and ranch land, and income property with Sedona, the Verde Valley and Flagstaff. We keep current with all transactions in these areas, and we are also very knowledgeable about the local schools and services.
Through the Certified International Property Specialist network, we can help you to buy or sell property anywhere in the world, provide you with country profiles showing the economic and demographic base and assist you in the relocation process. Whilst the GRI and CRS networks provide the same high standard of service throughout North America.
Having successfully completed the e-Pro and e-Buyer qualifications, I am now working on the Certified Residential Specialist and Certified Exclusive Buyer Agent courses .... education is never wasted!
Personal
Diane hails from England and met her American husband, Larry, whilst they were both working in Montreal, Canada. Shortly after their marriage they embarked upon an international career that spanned over twenty years and four children. Raising a family in Saudi Arabia, Spain and the United Kingdom has given Diane valuable insights into the trials and tribulations of local, national and international relocations, as well as a wealth of amusing anecdotes. Diane and Geoffrey, her son and associate, stand ready to guide you through the turbulent waters of real estate transactions. “For Real Estate Action, Contact The Jacksons!”
For Real Estate Action, Contact The Jacksons!
Telephone: 866-878-4411 Toll Free in the United States
Cell Phone: 928-821-2237
E-mail: diane@TheJacksonsRealEstate.com
Diane L. Jackson
Exclusive Buyer's Broker
Graduate, Realtor Institute
Certified International Property Specialist (candidate) Member, Council Residential Member, Women's Council of Realtors, e-Pro & e-Buyer
Toll-free: 866-878-4411
Email: diane@TheJacksonsRealEstate.com
Website: www.arizonabuyers.com
Website: www.sedona-real-estate.info