July 2021 - listproperty4free.com

Top 5 Tips for Building Your Own Home in Portugal

When you are planning to build your own home in Portugal, you need to be aware of the documents and procedures that you need to undertake. The following will help you understand what documents you will need for construction permits to build your own home in Portugal.

There may be some cases where an application for construction permits is not required, such as when building with temporary materials or when reconstructing existing buildings.

1. Find the right location

Portugal is a small country and it may be more difficult to find a suitable location than you imagine. if you are thinking to be building your own home in Portugal you may already have a nice region in mind that you like most. But don’t overlook the hidden jems Portugal has to offer.

There are some regions that are more affordable than others, some are actually not far from the beach and mountains.

2. Apply for a planning permission

This is absolutely mandatory and will save you from potential problems later on. But don’t worry there is offices out there who are specialized in helping you in this process, such as an architectural office. Hiring an architect in Portugal is not as expensive as you might think. Depending on the size of your project it can cost you as little as 10 € per square metre.

3. Find and hire an architect

It might seem like an unnecessary expense, but it will make your life much easier in the long run by ensuring that everything gets done correctly, within budget and on time. Also, the architect in Portugal can design your home in a way that will actually save you money, in the end you probably pay the same that you would have without an architect.

4. Consider buying land

If you are only looking to build a home for yourself in Portugal, then make sure you look in the area that is right for you and have everything nearby that you will need. Also, it is important to check if the land is suitable for construction. If you buy a land in Portugal that is located in an estate make sure to check the estate rules – sometimes there are rules regarding colours of the house or windows or the roof needs to have a certain colour and angle… etc.

5. Speak to a solicitor

Better safe than sorry. Getting legal advice will help you to understand the procedure involved and be aware of potential pitfalls.

Conclusion: Building Your Own Home in Portugal

With these few simple steps you can be building your own home in Portugal and invest in the healthy and growing housing market of sunny Portugal.

Image by Steffen Zimmermann on Pixabay

Cheap Houses: What You Should Know

Houses are expensive. Especially in densely populated urban areas. But there are some houses on the market that only cost a few thousand dollars.

Where can you find those dirt-cheap houses? One place we found for example is Bulgaria where you can get affordable houses, even some that are close to the beach.

Example: Cheap Houses in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a country in the Balkans, Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the north and the Republic of Macedonia to the east. The country has a population of 7,6 million people and is one of the oldest countries in Europe.

Bulgaria offers beauty and history for all types of travellers willing to explore it. It is very affordable as well. For instance, a meal in a restaurant will cost you around 2 euros maximum, while accommodation will cost you anything from 10 euros per night for an apartment up to 50 euros per night for a hotel room with 4 stars. Bulgaria also has some remarkable festivals that are worth checking out – like the folk festival “Kukeri” during which participants dress up as masked characters with colourful outfits and dance around bonfires!

There are also many other reasons why you might want to consider property investment in Bulgaria such as:

– The country has a low crime rate

– There are plenty of opportunities for owning businesses

– Land prices are very low

4 Factors Affecting the Cost of a House

The cost of a house can vary in four main ways.

1) Location: the cost of a house will depend on where it is located. For example, a house right at the beach will cost you more than one in the middle of nowhere.

2) Size: the size of the property will also affect the price. For example, properties with a bigger backyard or more rooms might be more expensive than other homes with less space to offer.

3) Age: this factor is closely related to size and features but it also includes things like how old are the pipes? Or how new are the appliances? This is important because older homes might need lots of repairs and upgrades.

4) Amenities: another thing that affects housing prices is what kind of amenities, such as a pool or a gym, come with the property.

3 Ways to Make Your Home More Affordable

There are many simple ways to make your home more affordable. Here are 3 of them:

– Consider downsizing

– Look for a mortgage with a lower interest rate

– Consider walking away from your mortgage

– Consider to move to the Countryside

Downsizing is the most common way to make your home more affordable. The truth is that the size and space of your home can have an impact on its value. You could also look for a mortgage with a lower interest rate, which would help decrease the amount of money you spend each month. Lastly, it may be time to consider walking away from your mortgage if you have reached the end of what you can afford or if you are struggling to come up with additional funds.

Conclusion

Don’t look for a house that is bigger than you actually need it. Know what you can comfortably afford and then be flexible about the location as well as be ready to do some repair works yourself. Like that you will find cheap houses in no time.

Bio

Our Property under 20k team are the founders of www.all-real-estate.com and www.listproperty4free.com with the goal to search the cheapest real estate in the world and make it easy for others to find. The team is made up of landlords, real estate investors, architects and builders from several different countries. We just love to have a good strong cup of coffee while we write our experiences in this blog.

Image by Martin Winkler on Pixabay

How can I get a house for 100k or less?

You may be surprised to learn that you don’t need to be rich in order to buy a house. In fact, there are many ways you can save money and still get a house under 100k.

Houses are a big investment and one that should not be taken lightly. That is why it is important to find the perfect house for you, in the best location and for a price that fits your budget.

Average house prices

According to the survey, the average amount people are spending on a house now is around $400,000. So, it would take a lot of research and work to find a house that’s cheaper than 100k.

There are many ways you can get a house for close to 100k or even less than that. It just takes some time and work on your end.

Find the best value for your money

It’s not always easy to find cheap homes in the marketplace. There are many aspects that affect the value of a home. The general rule of thumb, however, is to buy close to the city centre if you want better value.

Some people say that it might be easier to find a cheap home by looking at area listings, or by looking at other more affordable areas outside of the city centre. However, this might not be possible for everyone who wants to live in an urban setting.

Be more creative in your search

So, what should you do? Get creative with your search and don’t limit yourself too much by just looking at one area when there are so many others out there for you to explore!

Saving up for a down payment is the first big step in achieving this goal. You can save the down payment by living with your parents or by renting an apartment in an inexpensive location and then saving up more money over time.

A lot of people want to purchase a home but they don’t have the money. It’s not uncommon for people to spend their life savings on a house – which is why many people end up living in their parents’ basement. That’s actually not a bad idea if it helps you to save up for your own home at the same time.

There are certainly ways to get houses for 100k or less if you have patience and know where to look.

Be more specific in your search

Buying a house is one of the biggest purchases that you will ever make. That said, if you are looking for a cheap home, it’s best to be more specific in your online search and don’t just rely on general words like ‘cheap home’ or ‘good deal’.

Be flexible when it comes to DIY

If you are up for DIY, you can get a fixer-upper home at a lower price. All you need is to take some time off and do the renovation work yourself. Not only will it make your home look better, but it will also help in saving money on labour costs.

Fixer Upper Homes: Fixer-upper homes are properties that have not been renovated or updated for a long time. Even if the property doesn’t have any major structural damage, they may need new paint and flooring, as well as other cosmetic improvements.

Investors are starting to pay attention to the potential in fixer-upper homes. With a low purchase price and a lower mortgage, it is easier than ever to buy a fixer-upper house.

The process of fixing up a home can be very rewarding; you have the opportunity to make your house uniquely yours. It also has the potential to be profitable, too. Fixing up your home can increase its value by hundreds of thousands of dollars if you do it right!

Conclusion

Now, you’ve seen the best ways to buy a house for 100k or less. So, what are you waiting for? Start scrolling and find your dream home today!

Bio

Our Property under 20k team are the founders of www.propertyunder20k.com and www.listproperty4free.com with the goal to search the cheapest real estate in the world and make it easy for others to find. The team is made up of landlords, real estate investors, architects and builders from several different countries. We just love to have a good strong cup of coffee while we write our experiences in this blog.

Image by Siggy Nowak on Pixabay

5 Benchmarks To Select A Real Estate Investment Platform Online

Real estate is traditionally one of the most sought-after investments. However, it had been a preserve for seasoned investors with a lot of capital. Today, you can build a real estate portfolio on an online platform regardless of your background or origin. All it takes is finding a great platform to cater to your real estate investment needs. Here are benchmarks to help you select the ideal real estate platform online to kick start your journey to become a real estate investor.

Image credit: apartmentcorp.com

Experienced And Professional Team

A great investment platform relies on the strength of its team. Successful real estate investment depends on having a team with appropriate knowledge of real estate fundamentals, finance, underwriting, and survival strategy. A real estate platform online connects real estate owners with investors. So, due diligence is still necessary just like when evaluating a brick and mortar real estate company. The ideal platform should have an expert team with a strict vetting procedure.

Equally important is to understand the company’s evaluation of financial projections for deals and factors influencing investment returns like the real estate value, business strategy of operator, and market quality. You have to be sure that the investment platform ensures all deals meet quality standards before availability. The leadership team behind the platform should have experience and expertise in related fields including underwriting, real estate, business strategy, and finance.

Company Portfolio

The best online real estate investment platform should have an impressive portfolio. You have to work with a team that has considerable real estate transaction experience in the niche you’re interested in. Working with a team that has adequate ‘skin in the game’ increases your chances of becoming a successful real estate investor. The investment platform should have safety guidelines in place to protect potential investors from downside risks such as potential loss of principal and illiquidity.

Performance of Underwriting Team

Ensure to look for a real estate investment platform online with a standard procedure for vetting deals. The team should not just work with numbers without verification. So, before you invest in such a company, check their vetting criteria to understand how the underwriting team does its work. All opportunities on the platform need vetting before they are made available to potential investors.

Some of the vetting aspects include:

Underwriting process for deals
Tallying of projected expenses with historical expenses
Rental assumption rate backed by market research
Assumptions backed by data from trusted third-party sources
Comparison of exit cap with going-in and market cap rate

Client Service Team

Another benchmark when selecting a real estate investment platform online is to check their service team. The ideal platform should have a knowledgeable customer service team to assist customers. This is very important since the service team is everyone’s first point of contact with the platform. So, any poor service gives a negative impression and is likely to make you look for a platform with better service.

Mentorship Program

The best online platform for real estate investment should try to help novice investors understand the nuances of the industry. Some of the benefits of a real estate mentorship program include:

Understanding property analysis
Acquiring knowledge regarding property development
Learning how to think like a property owner
Understanding investing and financing construction projects

Although the mentorship program comes at a cost, it is worth the investment given the knowledge you are likely to acquire for a lifetime career in real estate investment.

Extra Services Offered

Reputable real estate platforms online offer various services. So, ensure to check whether a platform that catches your fancy has extra services that you need. A platform with a legal team to help clients handle the processing of EB5 and E2 visas is a wonderful choice. The Employment-Based Fifth (EB5) visa offers eligible migrant investors a chance to become permanent residents like Green Card holders. A platform offering assistance to acquire an EB5 visa makes it easy for you to find the appropriate commercial investment you can invest in to qualify.

The E2 treaty visa allows someone to enter and work in the US after investing. Depending on your country of origin, this visa is valid from three months to five years with a chance for indefinite extension. If you need this visa, find a platform to assist you during the application process to ensure that you meet the five requirements required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Getting assistance from an all-service platform saves time and money.

Bottom Line

An online platform is a way to go when looking forward to making your first investment in real estate. Look for a company that offers a mentorship program for novices to understand the ins and outs of the industry. When from another country, look for a platform that offers assistance during EB5 or E2 visa applications.

Author: Eernesto Felder