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To maintain our real estate blog with fresh and interesting content we are happy to receive ideas from our audience. Maybe there is a real estate topic you would like us to cover. If so, please feel free to suggest a topic.

We are happy to write articles that are interesting for our readers

As we have real estate listings from all over the world there are endless questions from the buyer’s side as well as from the seller. This means there are limitless subjects to cover. Also, there might be some interesting developments on the real estate market you think our readers should know about.

If you inform us of some latest real estate news, please don’t forget to give us your source Of course, we will not publish anything where there is a chance of being fake news.

Contact us to suggest a topic

Please contact us at guestpost@listproperty4free.com to suggest a topic.

A word about links

We are fans of natural links – those happen “naturally” when website owners link to your content because they think is beneficial for their audience and adds value to their websites or pages. This being said, although we like you to suggest a topic, we cannot be pressured to cover your subject or to give a backlink to your website. We will only do so if we see that it is valuable for our audience.

This is not a paid service

Please note, although we are happy to receive suggestions, we are not selling any service to write articles to promote your brand. If we write an article about a subject that you suggested we do so free of charge. Please don’t be disappointed if we cannot write about your topic. We receive many suggestions and have to choose.

Do you want to submit a guest post?

There are some fantastic, high-quality guest bloggers out there. Therefore, if you are one of them you can send us in your unique article for approval. Please see our Real Estate Guest Post Guidelines for more details.

Thank you.

Find what you Search in Real Estate Listings?

These days, thousands of real estate listings are being scrolled in the pursuit of finding the best property deal. It is just a quick and easy way to get a first glimpse at the real estate market. Although, it’s easy to feel like you’re not getting the full picture of your possible future home.

Being just curious

For many, searching properties starts out as a curiosity. You may have heard about a great place with very cheap homes or you simply like to check out what is available in your area. Maybe you are considering to just move a few neighbourhoods away, where real estate is more affordable. This can open up new possibilities for having more space and comfort.

Online searching saves time

A lot has been done lately to improve the finding process. Especially the 3D viewings of houses are wonderful, I just love them. I think in this covid-19 pandemic I have been on more house viewings than all my life before, all thanks to the virtual viewings. They have been around for quite a while but this challenging time really increased their popularity.

It just saves so much time. Otherwise you would need to drive around all day long to see all the houses in person. It would take weeks and months what now you can see from the comfort of your own home in a few hours.

But in the end, seeing properties in person is really the only way you can find out if a property feels right and seriously narrow down your search and eventually get the buying process started. After all, there are more factors that need consideration before making a decision.

Scrolling millions of real estate listings

It can be very frustrating to see all the available listing and not finding what you are looking for. A good way to find the right deal is to sign up for search alerts on real estate portals.

This means, if you are looking for ads in specific countries or price ranges you can sign up to be notified every time a new ad is posted that fits your search criteria.

To set up your search alert on our website please visit https://www.listproperty4free.com/manage-my-searches.php

Want to sell your property?

Often people start searching properties online to try and gain an understanding of their own home’s value. Maybe this the case with you? If so, please remember that you can list your home for sale with us for free.

Has quarantine forced you to reconsider your home?

Has spending more time at home due to the covid-19 restrictions lead you to question your home? While you had a busy live away from your place before, going to work, meeting friends… suddenly you find yourself stuck in your own 4 walls. The oddities you lived with before might not be so easy to overlook when you’re trapped with them all day long, every day. Let’s see if you can fix the relationship with your place or if it’s time to move on.

Doing a makeover can do miracles to your home. This can be done even on a small budget.

Renovation is not your cup of tea

Your property might be in need of renovation or a little makeover. If you can do it yourself – fantastic. Sometimes decluttering your home and give it some new paint can already do the trick.

If you are not a handy person, and the idea of living in a dirty construction site with builders coming in and out seems unbearable to you, then it may be time for a fresh start.

You are tired of your neighbourhood

Location, location, location! That’s usually the first thing you decide when you go house hunting. Maybe the location you live in looked like a good idea when you moved there, close to work, shops, school… Maybe you changed your work since, your children left school or the area developed in a way that you had not expected.

If your neighbourhood doesn’t work for you anymore it looks like it’s time to move on.

Your home is not the right size

You may discover that your home is either too big or too small. So many families in quarantine felt the need for more space. Many parents had to work from home making it almost impossible to manage the available space to suit everybody’s needs.

Other may feel their home is too big. Maybe your children grew up and moved out or you have to cut your costs down due to some financial loss due to the covid-19 pandemic. Whatever the case, getting the size right can add a lot of comfort and peace of mind.

Moving house is always a challenge

Although it can be hard to leave your home where you have all these nice memories you may be able to simplify your life and have more time for things that matter more to you. Especially with old age it usually is increasingly difficult to look after a big place. Swapping size for more comfort can be key to find more joy living in your home.

Selling your home and looking for a new? Visit www.listproperty4free.com

First 3 steps to become a real estate investor

It all sounds easy; A monthly cash flow generated by renting out real estate. You can quit your job and live the life you always wanted. But not so quick. What sounds simple in theory is not as simple in reality. It all needs careful preparation and investigation. Careful planning is crucial. In this article, you will read 3 practical first steps for who wants to become a real estate investor.

A property offers many advantages, but the purchase of the rental property needs to be considered carefully. After all, you will be making a decision with a large financial impact – the right strategy is vital. If you consider the following steps, there is nothing standing in the way of your first property investment.

Step 1: save money

The more money you can save, the easier the later financing of the property will be. You should therefore start saving as early as possible and also improve your creditworthiness.

While you save capital on the purchase of your first property, you can of course invest the money you have accumulated. However, make sure that your assets will be available in time for purchase. Long-term investments are therefore less suitable.

Step 2: plan financing

Before you actually start looking for a property, you need to be clear about the size of the investment you want or can invest in. Will you start small with a one- or two-room apartment or do you start directly with an apartment building?

When talking to a bank advisor, you will know the loan amount you can get. Together with the money you have saved this results in the upper limit for your investment, which enables you to narrow down your property search.

When calculating, take into consideration additional costs: real estate transfer tax, notary and estate agent fees.

Step 3: object selection

Knowing your upper limit, you will now be able to decide in what type of real estate you like to invest in. You can now study a few scenarios to figure out

what type of real estate (house or apartments…)
in which location
long or short-term rentals

you should invest in to bring you the most profit.

Your time as a real estate investor

Don’t forget to take into consideration your own time that you need to spend regularly to look after your real estate investments.

Although short-term holiday rentals can be a lot more profitable, they will also need more of your attention and time.

Correctly estimate your time

It is not so easy to correct mistakes when buying a property – so make sure to take your time before you decide to buy a certain property.

And even after buying, be aware that you still need to invest time: be it to make accounts, organising repairs and renovations, dealing with your tenants… There will be always something that will need your attention.

A competitive market for a real estate investor

Generally, the real estate market has been on the upswing for several years. If you want to be a real estate investor today, you are therefore dealing with a competitive market.

A big advantage of real estate is the opportunity to generate a cash flow month after month. With rented houses and apartments, you can still make a profit after covering all costs and already collect capital for the purchase of the next real estate.

You have not much money available for your investment? Why not start small. Have a look at www.propertyunder20k.com to find cheap real estate for sale.

Lanzarote’s Lure for Overseas Investors

As Lanzarote starts to reopen its doors to international flights in July and international tourism starts to reboot again we take a closer look at the factors that have made this small Spanish island located off the coast of Africa such a big hit with overseas property investors over the last few decades.

Tourism first started taking off on Lanzarote (and in the rest of Spain) during the 1970’s. With the advent of package holidays and a general increase in air travel from richer European nations such as Germany and the Scandinavian countries. Along with the desire of General Franco to bring in some much-needed foreign currency.

But it was the arrival of British holidaymakers in serious numbers during the 1990’s which really started to fuel the boom in overseas investment and the UK continues to account for around 50% of all visitors to Lanzarote to this day.

What Factors Attract Overseas Property Investors to Lanzarote?

Climate is a key factor. As Lanzarote’s location just 80 miles off the coast of Africa means that the island enjoys great weather all year round. So, anyone who owns a property here can rent it out to tourists for 12 months of the year – as opposed to a seven to eight-month season in other parts of Spain. Whilst owners can also enjoy a break in the sun in their own holiday home whenever they fancy.

Over the last decade, investors have enjoyed a good deal of capital appreciation too. The entry level price of studios and holiday apartments in the main resorts have risen by 50% or more. Yet prices still remain very affordable by comparison with other parts of Spain, with one bed apartments still available from around €90,000.

But it’s the rental returns that are the real draw – as owners are lured by those year-round bookings from holidaymakers.

Lanzarote boasts a very buoyant tourist market. During the course of 2019 over 3 million holidaymakers booked a break on the island – a figure which has doubled in the last 20 years. And this boom in arrivals has attracted inward investment from hotel chains as well as smaller private investors.

Despite these buoyant tourist arrival figures Lanzarote also retains an unspoilt, authentic charm – especially when you venture away from the three main resorts which are all well contained on the island’s south eastern coast. So there is something to attract all types of property investors – from holiday apartments for sale in Lanzarote through to rural, rustic fincas in need of renovation.

Quality of life on Lanzarote is also high. There are over 60 beautiful beaches, tons of great restaurants and a really relaxed vibe. The island is also very small, so it’s easy to get around and take in both the scenery and the fantastic attractions created by the famous local artist and architect Cesar Manrique.

Which Are the Best Locations for Investors?

The main resorts on the island all offer a guaranteed stream of bookings for investors looking to crate their own holiday rental business. Puerto del Carmen is the largest of these three resorts but both Playa Blanca and Costa Teguise are also very popular.

Rural tourism is also growing in popularity – numerous expats and overseas investors have created delightful rental properties in the countryside by renovating old fincas and farmhouses.

Author: Nick Ball

4 ways how to survive in a tenants’ market

Landlords face increased competition for long-term tenants. With short term holiday rentals being down due to covid-19 – many switched to renting their property long term. How can landlords survive in this tenants’ market?

Here are 4 tips to get landlords through this tough period in a tenants’ market.

Leasing a residential property has always been a challenge, now it got a little harder

We saw a trend in some cities where residential properties where used to rent it out to tourists. This short-term rental was far more lucrative and therefore very attractive for the owner. With that almost coming to a complete hold, we see a reverse effect as those landlords now are entering the long-term rental market.

Another difficulty we face is the social distancing rules – although they recently relaxed those rules slightly. Still, some prospective tenants are uncomfortable about entering a property and worst, if there are tenants still living at the place, they might not like any strangers entering their home at this time.

1 Adapt to new conditions

The smart landlord will do some research to recognise and adapt to these new conditions. Luckily, we can do so by doing our research online.

You may eve find an opportunity here in this challenging tenants’ market. For example, some landlords that own property near hospitals were able to rent out their places to hospitals or medical staff as those needed to stay separate from their family to don’t put them at risk.

2 Stay realistic

Don’t push the rent up to test the limit. This can cost you valuable time and money, in the end, you might only get a smaller rent anyway but maybe wasted 2 months in which you could have already earned. Make sure you are realistic and meet the market.

You may also consider to rent the property for a shorter period than the typical 12-month period. This might be more convenient for some tenants that are in an uncertain situation. Being flexible in that way can give you this little extra advantage.

3 Present your property in the best light

To present your place at its best is crucial. Some landlords or agents who take some quick photos with their cell may not take a good approach. As always, and especially now, the first impression is important. Great photos, with good light, showing a tidy property can make all the difference to stand out from other offers.

If it is not possible to show your property at its best because it just isn’t at its best maybe now would be a good time to do some maintenance or upgrading. A little bit of paint and well-chosen decoration can make miracles.

4 Advertise on a wider market

Take advantage of online real estate platforms such as www.listproperty4free.com where you can list property ads for free. Also, often a local classified portal can get you the right audience.

How Covid-19 affects house prices

Experts are far from agreeing how Covid-19 affects house prices. Most pros advise investors to stay calm.

There is no clear answer to the question of how the prices for residential or commercial real estate will develop as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

House Prices Forecast

The forecasts range from price drops of up to 25 percent to stable prices and even further rising rents to further price increases.

We are currently in a situation that never happened before therefore it is very difficult to predict the outcome as we cannot compare it with any other time in history. There is one thing though experts agree on which can be summed up in the following quote

“There is only one thing certain and that is that nothing is certain.”
— Gilbert K. Chesterton

House prices forecasts are for this year or a maximum of twelve months. Afterwards, the experts seem to agree, the prices tend to go up rather than down. All on the premise that the recession will be overcome by 2021 at the latest. Nobody speaks of a price bubble that could burst.

Corona would at most lead to a cycle break, meaning a temporary interruption of the general upward trend.

Real Estate is “concrete gold” – a rather safe investment

Although the price boom we saw before covid-19 would be a thing of the past, real estate seems to stay a rather safe investment compared with other ventures.

Researchers cite five factors for their forecast of short-term price declines: rising interest rates, less influx into booming cities, emergency sales due to less liquidity, for example among freelancers, fewer new buildings and less demand from investors.

The good news for home owners is that we currently have no indications of falling house prices.

Capital investors who were interested in buying an apartment before the epidemic are advised to simply pursue their plans. Residential properties still offer relatively good returns.

Conclusion

People need to live somewhere. Even if some who were planning to buy a house can’t do it anymore due to financial difficulties, they still need a place – meaning they rent a place, which in return is good for the owner as he receives the rent.

Surely, we always like to get a good bargain that’s why some buyers are hoping that the current situation will make houses more affordable.

11 years ago, we set on a quest to find the cheapest houses in the world and are surprised with what we found. So much so, that we created a website for cheap real estate. Check it out at https://www.propertyunder20k.com/

Change Orders and Cost Control-All That You Need to Know

When it comes to the completion of construction projects, change orders happen to be one of the major sources of frustration for contractors. At the same time, they have a far-reaching impact on the project scope, cost and timelines, yet it is something that cannot be avoided. However, having a proper change order management system in place enables teams to mitigate the disruptions in costs and schedules. But effective change order management remains a crucial pain point for a majority of construction companies.

Thankfully, big and small firms alike have realised the value of effective project management and cost control software solutions in construction, which have the potential to steer change management in the right direction. But before we talk about these solutions, it is vital to understand the costs associated with change orders in the first place.

Calculating the actual cost of change orders

Even before you start working on project cost control strategies in the face of change orders, it is vital to grasp their actual impact. Apart from the quantified costs, change orders also result in a significant loss of productivity. There is a lot more that exists below the surface. Let us explain the true cost of change orders as segmentation of direct, indirect and consequential costs.

Direct Costs: As the name implies, these are the costs directly influenced by the change order. Typically, this includes labour, equipment, material and other expenses related to the change. Apart from these costs, less obvious expenses such as the cost of the structure redesign, expenses of extra set up and clean up and cost of communication with engineers and crew specifically for implementing the order also come in this category.

Indirect Costs: Essentially, indirect costs include overheads. They may be a fixed or variable part of the project, based on the accounting practices followed by the business. When indirect costs are calculated as a percentage of the overall job, they tend to rise.

Consequential Costs: These are the costs associated with the timing of the change order. It is common for these orders to slow down the efficiency, which can result in consequential expenses that are hard to quantify. This can happen due to factors such as reassigning supervision, diluting labour power and more.

Cost Control with a Digital Solution

Considering the myriad of costs associated with change orders, managing them can be more challenging than you may think. Handling them manually can take a lot of work, right from budgeting for the change to tracking costs, analysing them and preparing reports that are to be passed on to the stakeholders. Apart from the complexity of the manual cost control operations, the chances of error run high when you have to record, access and process information across multiple spreadsheets. To handle such scenarios effectively, a project cost control software solution can prove beneficial as it automates the entire lifecycle and provides actionable insights to take the right steps for monitoring the change order-related costs.

Project managers should look for a holistic project management software solution that not only facilitates cost control but also encompasses other aspects such as ordering supplies, planning deliveries and scheduling labour. One that enables real-time updates in project information is a plus because it will keep the stakeholders informed about cost deviations at all stages.

About the author: The author is a construction project manager with Zepth.com and has a flair for writing as well. Since She has a rich experience in working on construction projects of diverse sizes and scales, he likes sharing them as articles on leading blogs and online platforms.

The safety features every tiny house needs

Living in a tiny house seems like the way to go nowadays. Proponents of the ‘tiny house movement’ argue that it is more economical and promotes a sense of mobility – many are built on trailers for easy transportation. Cynics argue that having to live in a small space with all of your belongings squeezed around you would quickly outweigh the positives – especially with the inevitable compromises on facilities and features taken into account.

But what about safety and security? Although you may think that having a smaller home means safety and security present a smaller challenge, this isn’t entirely true. In fact, living in a tiny house presents many of its own unique challenges! Just like any other living space, a home security system is obviously paramount – and there are other safety features that must be included too.

Whether you’re thinking of living in a tiny house yourself, you’re already the proud owner of a tiny house, or you’re simply interested in tiny houses in general, read on to find out more.

1. Trailer brakes

It is vital to have electric brakes if you are building your house on a trailer. In case your mobile home detaches from the vehicle towing it, the brakes are activated. It’s obviously an essential safety precaution to test that the brakes are working as they should before you set off on the open road.

Additionally, ensure that the trailer you select can withstand the weight load of your house, as they have different maximum load capacities. Moreover, the tow vehicle you choose should be able to withstand the trailer’s weight.

2. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors

Smoke detectors are a quick and essential means of informing you of a fire. It goes without saying, but every house – no matter how tiny – should have one. Some smoke detectors can even connect to an app on your phone, allowing you to receive alerts regardless of your location.

It’s also important to make sure that you have a carbon monoxide detector. These are a necessity in any house, but even more important in a tiny house. In confined spaces, carbon monoxide can spread and overwhelm you even more quickly than usual.

3. Fire extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are crucial firefighting tools to have in your home. Space is obviously more limited in tiny homes, but this is one item you should not be tempted to store away. Keep in it an open, easy to reach area – and ensure that it’s still working and within its expiration date!

4. Automated controls

Automated controls help you to protect your home during an emergency, even when you’re not there in person. If your smoke alarm activates, for example, an automatic control system can immediately turn off the main gas supply. This will decrease the fuel for a fire and minimise its spread.

5. Indoor and outdoor security cameras

According to figures from Direct Line, a property is criminally damaged every five minutes in the UK alone – underlying how attractive our homes can be to potential criminals. Tiny home owners may also benefit from the peace of mind of having a video surveillance system. It’s a good idea to install cameras inside and outside your home, making sure that all points of entry are covered. You can even connect the cameras to your phone, which will alert you when there’s a disturbance and show you a direct stream of the cameras’ viewpoint.

6. Exhaust fan

Every tiny house needs to have this powerful tool. Exhaust fans maintain the air quality in your home by removing moisture, fumes, and bad odours. This is vital for small houses, which can be more prone to damp and grow mould. When using a propane stove, it’s best to ensure that your exhaust fan is always on.

Tiny houses may be smaller, but that doesn’t mean you can get by with a smaller number of safety features! A house is a house, no matter how big – and every house needs to be safe and secure. Although tiny houses come with some of their own safety challenges, they also come with their own positives. They allow their owners to live a simpler life, with fewer belongings, a healthier bank balance, and the freedom to take their home with them wherever they go.

Author: Hubert Day

Homes are still selling despite Covid-19

As latest numbers are in, there is a wave of relief going through the real estate sector. The good news is, homes are still selling.

No doubt, the covid-19 virus will have severe consequences on the real estate market, but it seems with low interest rates people are still buying homes.

All over the world people have lost part of their income due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The first shock

When the coronavirus hit the world most of us were under shock. I never spend so much time to watch the news than the first weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, always checking the latest numbers. After a couple of weeks though we kind a got used to it – although there are still moments when the whole situation seems incredibly unreal.

It is true that we also saw a decrease of visitor to our website for a couple of weeks but we are happy to say that all numbers are back to normal now. People are still interested in good real estate deals and they didn’t give up of buying homes.

Homes are still selling – a home is one of the basic needs

One reason might be that people became more aware of their “needs” rather than their “wants”. Staying at home and trying to keep everybody in the family sane has shown many the importance of having a home that has everything they need. Having a home definitely is a need. Even if someone needs to downsize and move to a smaller more affordable home it still means that there is movement and therefore home sales are happening in the real estate market.

Challenge to close the sale

In some countries it has become more challenging than in others when it comes to closing the sale legally. With solicitor and notary offices closed or not fully operational this is really a challenge. But surely, as some countries have already started to lift their covid-19 lockdowns this will just be a matter of time.

Time for new ideas

All these new challenges truly have given fuel for new ideas and innovations to simplify the home buying process.

Stuart Miller from Lennar Corp., one of the USA’s largest homebuilders, said they are working on new ways for buyers to buy houses, including through the company’s digital programs as well as drive-through closings, where homebuyers can close on a home through their car.

Positive Outlook for Real Estate

To know that homes are still selling is really good news. It helps us, home buyers as well as sellers, to see the future more optimistic. It’s been a nerve wrecking couple of weeks, even months for some. For me it was great to see how quick real estate agents adapted to the new challenges and finding alternative ways of showing homes to interested buyers.

Keep up the good work.