Your Dream Home in Sun

Al-Andalus : Alhambra Palace قصر الحمراء

2011-12-11T03:44:00.000-08:00

Corfu - Greece

2011-06-24T01:50:00.000-07:00

Coasta del Sol, Spain

2011-06-12T04:32:00.001-07:00

SARASOTA - Florida West

2011-05-29T03:31:00.000-07:00

FOR RENT: SARASOTA FLORIDA (Siesta Key) - Brand new 2011 renovation -1 bedroom, 1 bathroom condo for rent with partial views of the Intracoastal. Open concept suite with double lanai to sit and enjoy! Bayfront complex with 2 heated pools, tennis court, fishing pier, walking distance to Siesta Key Beach, restaurants & shops. Please enquire for monthly rentals. 416-433-1671

Please note this property no longer has availability for January 1 - April 30th 2012.

Seville - Andalucia

2011-03-19T04:09:00.000-07:00

Cyprus: a quick guide

2010-08-25T23:11:00.001-07:00

Crete ..

2010-08-25T23:07:00.000-07:00

Cyprus - part 2 of 2

2010-08-21T02:09:00.000-07:00

Cyprus - part 1 of 2

2010-08-21T02:06:00.000-07:00

Goa - a sunset

2010-07-12T11:01:00.000-07:00

Barcelona

2010-05-23T03:57:00.001-07:00

Oahu Beaches - So Cool !

2010-04-24T00:43:00.000-07:00

Just to get you in the mood - so peaceful and relaxing. Watch it in full screen HD 480p.

Portugal

2010-04-23T23:57:00.000-07:00

Some property agents in Portugal :

Chavetejo in Tomar, has property for rent as well as sale.

Casa Sapo covers all of Portugal but the website is in Portugese. Lots to choose from and you can get around the site - use a web translator.

PurePortugal - vacation and property in Central Portugal region.

Wild Provence, France

2010-03-27T04:43:00.000-07:00

Provence is a region of southeastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy.

Crete

2010-03-14T01:43:00.000-08:00

Owning Abroad for real estate in popular sunny destinations.

Britsincrete - a blog with information on taking up residence in Crete - pakced with loads of info. Also has a discussion forum.

Crete

2010-03-14T01:35:00.000-08:00

An estate agency / realtor in Crete offers vacation property to buy or rent for short periods. Also advice on taxtation for non-residents, mortgages and much more. More at Ktimato Emporiki.

Disclosure: We are not connected in anyway with is firm, do your own due diligence before you part with your hard earned roubles.

Wild Mallorca

2010-03-06T06:14:00.001-08:00

It may take a minute or so to start this movie but it is well worth the wait. Best viewed in full screen mode. Duration approx. 30min. Have fun!

Leader Proprty - Spain

Spain - Capital Gains Tax

2010-01-14T02:00:00.000-08:00

In 2007, Costa l Álvarez l Manglano initiated and are currently leading a legal action to reclaim from the Spanish Government part of the Capital Gains Tax paid by EU citizens on the sale of their property in Spain. Non residents were charged 35%; Spanish residents only 15% (Discrimination forbidden by EU Treaty).

If you sold a Spanish property between January 1997 and December 2006, you may be entitled to reclaim.

Read More ...

Seville - Andalucia, Spain

2009-11-24T05:25:00.000-08:00

Spain property site (real estate) worth checking ..

Coasta Casa Rural

Coasta Casa Rural Twitter

Spirit of Malta

2009-11-07T03:11:00.000-08:00

Crete

2009-10-01T05:54:00.001-07:00

Crete

Crete with Freelance Holidays .. offers accomodation whether hotels or apartments.

Rhodes Accomodation

2009-09-24T07:28:00.000-07:00

Olive Garden Houses is a small family owned agency business established in 2005 offering Lodging Services, vacation rentals, holiday apartments and home villas, short and long term, throughout the year even winter.

Contacting us you will communicate with George Nikolis who is responsible for availability and reservations and taking care of your arrival and how you will reach our place.

Olive Garden Houses operates mainly through Internet, since tour operators and travel agencies they prefer big establishments.

More on Olive Garden Agency.

Please do your own research and due diligence before making any bookings - we are not connected with any businesses mentioned on this website.

Foreign Currency

2009-09-24T07:23:00.000-07:00

Foreign currency transfers can be arranged by UKForex .

Egypt

2009-09-12T04:32:00.000-07:00

Egypt is sound for investment ... property and more.

Cyprus

2009-07-22T01:04:00.001-07:00

Lucca - Toscana - Italia

2009-05-30T08:46:00.000-07:00

Two beautiful and spacious Olive grove farmhouses with pool. Breathtaking location, views Pisa Tower and the Mediterranean. email: luisa.riddiford@gmail.com - web: La Lucertola .

Valencia, Spain

2009-05-05T14:46:00.000-07:00

Spain - Southern Catalunya

2009-05-04T03:15:00.000-07:00

Situated in beautiful Catalunya with the River Ebro running alongside the property.

Bedrooms: 7

This property has access to the river Ebro.The main house of 130m2 has 5 bedrooms 1 with access to upper terrace,family bathroom with shower.The ground floor has living room with log burner,fully equipped kitchen,walk in larder shower room secure storage room. There is also a 2 bedroomed cottage of approx 50m2 fully furnished with 2 bedrooms,large living area with sofa bed,sat.tv kitchen,shower room,large covered terrace with b.b.q tables ,chairs etc, this is rented out for holidays.The land is approx 1700m2 with river access and mooring..Fruit trees,pony paddock and shelter,chicken house and run,fully filtered swimming pool sunbathing area with loungers and tables.Playground for children with swings etc.Vegetable beds with watering system.Just 45mins to Reus airport,Fantastic views of the mountains. At present this is run as a business with 20 weeks booked for 2009,own website,bike hire.All furniture included in the sale.Own well and mains electric .tel +34 627740044

Agents in Spain for above property is CatalunyaFincas .

Another property company worth considering is LiveMedCoast .

Altinkum, Turkey

2009-04-26T07:21:00.000-07:00

This fantastic apartment is situated off marina road, close to town centre built to a high standard it has beautiful sea views and represents excelleny value for money.Only 20 mins from the beach. only 10 mins from all facalities and town centre.All apartments are fitted kitchen and fully decorated.

Property features as follows:

PVC double glazed windows
Ceiling spotlights in lounge / kitchen
Light fittings in all bedrooms and hallways
Ceiling coving in all bedrooms and halls
Smooth plaster finish on all interior walls
Fully tiled bathroom
Tiles on all floors
American style metal front door
All Internal Electric Points and Switches
Decorative Coving to all Cevilings
Fully Fitted Kitchens
Fully Fitted Bathrooms
Electric immersion water heater
Fully Decorated Throughout
Communal pool
Communal car parking
Sea View
Spotlights fitted in lounge

Contact Altinkum Dream Homes

Disclaimer: We are NOT under commission from this seller - do your own diligence before you enter into any transactions. We are not responsible for any financial losses you incur.

Travel Research

2009-04-26T00:39:00.001-07:00

A detailed look at how to go about researching your destination ... some invaluable information worth checking out ...
Social Media for Travel Research

Just learnt of another ... Couchsurfing.

Nerja - Spain

2009-04-19T23:11:00.000-07:00

1. - Andrea and Trevor offer luxury bed and breakfast set in a tropical garden with pool. email : trevorsjbrooks (Spain: 0034 952524743)

2. - 2 bedroom apartment, fully fitted. Gardens and pool. Ideal location. 1 min. walk to Burriana beach, 5 min. to Nerja Centre.
email : NerjaApartment (UK: 01892 853755 / 0779 053 7725)

Cyprus

2009-03-02T02:30:00.000-08:00

Bazaraki for Cyprus classified ads - real estate for sale & rent.

Flights SearchEngine

2009-02-07T04:58:00.001-08:00

Amadeus

Flights SearchEngine ..

travel.kelkoo.co.uk

TravelJungle.co.uk

Travelsupermarket.com

skyscanner.net.

CheapFlights.co.uk

Directline-Flights

MoneySavingExpert

Vacation Real Estate Twitters - USA

2009-01-11T01:49:00.001-08:00

Top vacation Real Estate Twitterers that you should follow –

Part 1 and Part 2.

Didem Turkish Belly Dancer

2008-12-20T03:29:00.000-08:00

Didem Turkish bellydancer .... more Belly Dancing here.

Check out some Tours while you are in Turkey ..... more of Turkey.

Paris, France

2008-12-18T06:01:00.000-08:00

More of Paris.

France

2008-09-25T10:59:00.000-07:00

Website Lagiraudiere has tons of information on South West France including accomodation, transport links and so on. Then there is Relaxinfranceonline.

If all else fails try France and more.

This one is packed with Info France Francethisway ..

Lisboa - Portugal

2008-08-10T00:19:00.000-07:00

.
Lisbon (Portuguese: Lisboa, IPA: [liʒ'boɐ]) is the capital and largest city of Portugal. It is also the seat of the district of Lisbon and capital of the Lisbon region. Its municipality, which matches the city proper excluding the larger continuous conurbation, has a municipal population of 564,477[1] in 84.8 km² (33 sq mi), while the Lisbon Metropolitan Area in total has around 2.8 million inhabitants, and 3.34 million people live in the broader agglomeration of Lisbon Metropolitan Region (includes cities ranging from Leiria to Setúbal).[2] Due to its economic output, standard of living, and market size, the Grande Lisboa (Greater Lisbon) subregion is considered the second most important financial and economic center of the Iberian Peninsula.The Lisbon region is the wealthiest region in Portugal and it is well above the European Union's GDP per capita average - it produces 45% of the Portuguese GDP. It is also the political center of the country, as seat of government and residence of the Head of State.

Lisbon was under Roman rule from 205 BC; Julius Caesar made it a municipium called Felicitas Julia. Ruled by a series of Germanic tribes from the 5th century, it was captured by Moors in the 8th century. In 1147, the Crusaders under Afonso Henriques reconquered the city for the Christians and since then it has been a major political, economic and cultural center of Portugal. Unlike most capital cities, Lisbon's status as the capital of Portugal has never been granted or confirmed officially—by statute or in written form. Its position as the capital has formed through constitutional convention, making its position as de facto capital a part of the Constitution of Portugal.

Click the tag below to see all posts relating to Portugal.

Rhodes, Greece

2008-07-26T03:12:00.000-07:00

Enya - Caribbean Blue

2008-07-24T00:45:00.000-07:00

Would you rather be here? Haha... and why not? For once in a lifetime at least !

Spain - a photo tour

2008-07-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

Panramio has thousand of photographs on Spain - you can select down to the city or town of your choice, just try their search and wait for a pleasant surprise.

Of course you can choose any location on earth - the photo will be shown in relation to a map so you know exactly where it was taken, works in conjuction with Google earth.

Crete Tour

2008-06-24T22:30:00.000-07:00

USA - Vacation Rentals

2008-06-24T22:13:00.000-07:00

If you are planning to have holiday or a vacation in the USA here are the main websites which will help you locate a suitable rental property.

HomeAway

Vacation Rentals.com

Vacation Rentals by Owner you will be dealing directly with the owners.

PickPackGo properties are managed through professional property agents.

Domegos search for vacation / holiday property anywhere in the world - for people who wish to rent and also for Owners who wish to rent out their property.

To be read with other USA postings, click on the label USA in the footer below.

Corfu Island - part 1

2008-06-16T02:51:00.000-07:00

Townhouse in Bodrum

2008-06-14T23:13:00.000-07:00

Luxury townhouse for sale in Bodrum. Exclusive private beach front development.

2 BEDROOM 2 BATHROOM TOWNHOUSE IN GULLUK, which is on the BODRUM PENINSULA. Due for completion in JUNE 2008. More details.

Holiday homes in Turkey

2008-06-11T00:35:00.000-07:00

Kusadasi courtesy Kusadasi Properties

Turkey is fast becoming a favoured country after Spain for a home abroad.

A company with checking out is Holiday Homes Turkey. They help with location, finance, legal procedure, language, transaction and so on. They also do rentals which will allow one to explore the area, region etc. before committing to any purchase. They also do commercial property - guess you will not need that but it gives one an idea of their capability.

A three-bedroom holiday home is available in Kusadasi - this can be hired while you explore the surrounding area and the region. The owner has a contact address in Somerset, UK.

Worth a check for Kusadasi is Kusadasi Properties. This company is based in Kusadasi but seems capable to deal on international basis. They help with the searching, location, buying process, legal issues. inspection trips and so on. Also deal in land sales.

A slightly larger property developer is Carsons based in UK, comparable to a major housebuilder company. You will receive a lot of information from their website, worth looking at the links on their website. Also check out TurkishHolidayHomes - their head office is in Turkey with a subsidiary in London, UK. Plenty to read and study on their website including weather, legal issues, geography, locations and so on.

Disclaimer applies - see the margin on your right.

Greece - a family tour

2008-06-05T15:06:00.000-07:00

Don't you wish you were here .. it is fabulous! Come soon ..

Proprty Greece

Barcelona accomodation

2008-06-04T21:39:00.000-07:00

The following advert is from the Owners in Barcelona, we are not connected with them. Contact information is available for USD$ 5, email is on my profile, see right margin.

We have various rooms & apartments available for short term rentals here in the center of Barça. They are clean, safe & friendly environments and will add the extra special touch to your vacation. No dorms or room sharing! Mostly for respectful, like-minded individuals & friends/partners that want affordable accommodation in a great part of this amazing city...

The apartments are very well situated in Goticó, Borne, and Las Ramblas to experience the best that Barcelona has to offer. The majority of our rooms are double bedrooms and suitable for couples or 2 friends sharing. We do however have a couple of single bedrooms, big double rooms for three people to share. We also have a studio & two bedrooms apartment as well. These are slightly different in price, but we can provide you with the details on request. Also installed in all these apartments is the all important WIFI broadband internet connection and is password protected. All these prices are guidelines to what we can offer, but further negociasions can provide better options for everyone involved. Please provide us with as much details in terms of requirements, budgets, etc.

LOCATION: The apartment is situated in the cultural and ancient Gothic area, also known as "Ciutat Vella" (old town). El Barri Gòtico (Gothic district), it's the oldest district of Barcelona, with his old constructions and ancient rich history gives the impression you went back to the medieval period. You will experience the old and narrow streets of a medieval town where you see street artists and musicians offering captivating spectacles to the passerby. Visit ancient constructions of this time like the impressive "Cathedral of Barcelona" or the old Roman Walls. Travel into time by visiting the Catalan Historical Museum. Go shopping in the old and little traditional shops, or in the stylish art galleries. Visit beautiful squares like Plaça del Pi with his wonderful medieval church, or Plaça de Angel.

Prices as at June 05, 2008

Single bedroom €35/night (1-7 nights)
(1 person only) €30/night (8-14 nights)
€25/night (15 nights or more)

Double bedroom €65/night (1-7 nights)
(2 people sharing) €60/night (8-14 nights)
€55/night (15 nights or more)

Triple bedroom €75/night (1-7 nights)
(3 people sharing) €65/night (8-14 nights)
€60/night (15 nights or more)

Studio Apartment €85/night (1-7 nights)
(2 people sharing) €75/night (8-14 nights)
€65/night (15 nights or more)

Two bedroom Apartment €150/night (1-7 nights)
(4 people sharing) €135/night (8-14 nights)
€120/night (15 nights or more)

Please do not hesitate to contact us in connection with more information, details of the apartments or anything else that you need to know in order to go ahead and secure a space for you. We are open to negociations, but it all depends on your requirements & of course of what is possible.

Owner's Contact information is available for USD$ 5, email is on our profile, see right margin.

Code : 1145 796 843 389

Technorati Tags: Spain, Barcelona

Tuscany, Italia

2008-06-02T00:41:00.000-07:00

Flight Search

2008-06-01T04:02:00.000-07:00

You will find the best selection of airlines to your chosen destination through DoHop , definitely worth a try.

Holiday & Travel Blogs

2008-06-01T00:41:00.000-07:00

Citycatalogue is worth checking out especially if you are getting married soon - read about the top 10 most popular cities for getting married in Europe. Top of the list is Barcelona would you believe and then Santorini. Both are covered here.

More at CheapHolidays24

Tax & Tourist Authorities - Spain

2008-05-31T00:29:00.000-07:00

This is a warning to all Spanish holiday home owners. Second home owners letting out property have to be registered with Spanish tax and tourism authorities. Failure to do so may cost dearly.
This is from an article at HomesWorldWide. We do not wish to break copyrights of HomesWorldWide so we acknowledge their website and we quote :

"Those people who own holiday homes in Spain to rent out to tourists may be breaking the law.

According to reports on the website thinkSPAIN, tourism and tax authorities are clamping down on unregistered lets and owners face fines of up to €30,000 if they are caught.

All apartments and villas which are let out to tourists should be registered with the tourism authorities, but at the moment conditions are extremely stringent.

Property owners could also face the wrath of the Spanish tax authorities if they are living in Spain and are not declaring rental earnings.

This comes at a time when more and more British home owners in Spain are deciding to rent out their properties in order to offset their losses. Many have opted to take out buy-to-let mortgages so their rental income covers the mortgage payments and provides them with additional income.

But a growing number of holiday home owners are advertising their properties on websites unaware they need a licence from the tourist authorities to do so, and now face heavy fines as a consequence."

You are advised to check with Spanish Tax and local tourist office regards letting out of your second home.

Country information

2008-05-30T05:28:00.000-07:00

One of the latest website addition to the web is TripTouch , it will give you all the information on your destination city such as current weather, what's on, restaurants, local entertainment information, highlights of the city etc. You can even put up a public announcement of your arrival for the whole world to see when you will land.
Infoplease section on countries of the world has a great deal of detailed information regards each country. Others are Wikipedia and always a great source of information WikiTravel. Finally you cannot do better then Lonely Planet if you want geographic information as well as in depth city guides.

For city guides try TimeOut.

Beach Villas - Hawaii

2008-05-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

This is not a popular choice for a European property investor simply because of the distance but suitable for mainland USA or the Americas buyer. Try Wailea Beach Villas just to see how the super rich live on a beach.

Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca

2008-05-24T22:09:00.000-07:00

.. I want to be right here right now !! Haha.. so beautiful ..enjoy!

The Azores - Portugal

2008-05-20T04:55:00.000-07:00

This video is good - just bear with the opening credits ...

Video Listings

2008-05-18T03:22:00.000-07:00

Video listing for real estate is fast becoming a norm. Check out ForSaleByLocals - interesting to visit all the foreign places from your desktop. Of course it does not beat the real thing so read on ..

Portugal - a video tour

2008-05-16T17:28:00.000-07:00

An interesting video tour of the regions of Portugal. Just discovered a weblog for real estate Portugal - they are Silver Coast in Coasta de Prata, worth checking out.

Mobile Homes & Camping - Barcelona

2008-05-11T00:16:00.000-07:00

Camping and mobile homes is an option worth considering when visiting any country. Weather is not a major issue is Southern Europe and Mediterranean as weather is likely to be dry and sunny most of the time. You can rent these mobile home units and they have almost every facility one would expect in a home. There is a campsite near Barcelone where one can rent self catering home units - may be the ideal thing for a family with young children or where one wants more independence to explore and tour the country instead of being restricted to hotel meal times.

Worth considering is Paramount Places which has much to offer such as restaurant, shopping market, shuttle service, gym, outdoor and indoor swimming pools.

Disclaimer : We do not recommend any company, you are advised to do your own reseach.

Lagos, Portugal

2008-05-10T21:50:00.000-07:00

Watch the video below and see some great sites in Lagos. More videos Lagos. If you are interested in finding out more on Lagos this is one of the sites Lagos Portugal.
.

A picture Tour of Spain

2008-05-10T08:58:00.000-07:00

Make sure you have plenty of time to enjoy this .. it is a virtual tour of Spain.

Take a slideshow Tour of Spain.

Marmaris, Turkey

2008-05-10T06:14:00.000-07:00

Marmaris.org has a blog with city information including maps, photographs and videos. Worth a read for a someone considering a property in Maramris or surrounding area.

Enya - Orinoco Flow

2008-05-09T00:51:00.000-07:00

Bulgaria Property

2008-05-09T00:47:00.000-07:00

Bulgarian property market has gone through a big transition during the four years of its development. In 2008 the following investment areas are proving with the most potential and maximum return on investment. Varna , Stara Zagora and Borovets are on the top of the list for best property investments in 2008!

More and more people are taking interest in Bularian investment property. BulgarianInvest provides search facilities, help with legal matters, finance arrangement, mailing list, RSS property info. feed, inspection trips, lifetime after sales support with the property and so on. Also language is not an issue as they seem to be fluent in English. Worth visiting their website.Another company dealing with Bulgaria but is PropertyShowrooms.com.

Holiday Homes - Italy

2008-05-04T23:04:00.000-07:00

Holiday homes in Italy - to rent or buy.

CORFU - Greece Beautiful Apartments & Villas

2008-05-03T12:07:00.000-07:00

Apartments and Villas available on the Aegean Islands, Corfu, Crete, Ionian Islands.
174 Holiday Villas in Greece to choose from. You can book on line direct with the owner.

For full details and photographs check Gamasl Greece rentals.

Cape Town - South Africa

2008-05-01T00:06:00.000-07:00

Northern Cyprus

2008-04-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Spain - Flights from UK

2008-04-19T21:22:00.000-07:00

There are quite a few airlines which get into Spain. One of the most well knows is EasyJet. Others are Thomson , RyanAir , FlyBe, Jet2 , BMIBaby , Monarch , XL and MyTravel. In addition there are the usual big name international carriers such as Iberia which is the national airline of Spain, British Airways and so on. Just the Flight is what it says on the tin ... do check out their offers.

One of my favourites is DoHop - it will deliver a selection of airlines to your destination starting with the cheapest. Worth a try - you will save quite a tidy sum.

Surf Centres - Spain

2008-04-06T22:26:00.000-07:00

San Sebastian in Spain has superb beaches and a humming nightlife.
For more information www.sansebastianspain.info.

Skiathos & Santorini

2008-04-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

Santorini is a Greek Island but is covered separately in this weblog. So is Rhodes and Crete.
Other lesser known islands will be placed under category Greek Islands.

Skiathos & Santorini are popular Greek Islands. More information can be found through web blogs similar to this one .. try Greek Islands for a read and you will need plenty of time.

Florida, USA

2008-04-03T08:38:00.000-07:00

Florida has been a popular destination not only for vacation but also for a second home. We will develop this section further in due course. In the meantime we have a few links ...
TimeAwayExchange

It may be an idea to rent a place in Florida initially to explore and see what locations suit you the most. One company which deals in Florida rentals is Christina Felgenhauer of SWFloridaRentals and a weblog at Swfloridarentals .

Here are some highlights of Florida.

Renting Villas in the Mediterranean

2008-04-01T22:40:00.000-07:00

Rent a villa or house with friends who have children the same age. Avoid remote locations and ideally find somewhere within safe walking distance of a town or large village where teenagers can wander off independently.

Beware villas in “residential areas” of towns, which can be a long way from the centre. Corfu, Crete, Ibiza and Majorca are all good bases. For large villas, try CV Travel, www.cvtravel.co.uk or Abercrombie and Kent, www.abercrombiekent.co.uk.

Portugal - Turismo de Portugal (in english)

2008-03-13T06:42:00.000-07:00

Travel Health

2008-03-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

Travel Turtle for almost everything you need to know about medical and vaccination required for major of the countries worldwide.

and FitForTravel is another website for travel health information.

Abu Dhabi City - a tour

2008-03-10T01:51:00.000-07:00

Surf Centres - France

2008-03-06T22:24:00.000-08:00

Try the Aquitaine towns of Hossegor and St Jean de Luz for good waves and
relaxed atmosphere; the larger cities of Biarritz. It has superb beaches and a humming nightlife. For more information, see www.alternative-aquitaine.com.

10 Tips For Buying Florida Real Estate

2008-02-08T19:37:00.000-08:00

Below are 10 tips for International homebuyers who are considering a vacation home or investment in Florida real estate.

1. Use the Services of an Experienced Realtor

One of the biggest differences between the US real estate market and many other foreign nations is buyer agency. Hiring a Realtor in the US for representation does not typically cost the home buyer anything. Commissions are paid by the seller. Buyers can have an agent help them with all aspects of a real estate purchase at no charge. It is essential that foreign homebuyers align themselves with a Realtor possessing experience and expert market knowledge. An experienced agent will help buyers find the most suitable home and negotiate the best price and terms.

2. Consider the Services of a Real Estate Attorney

There are many US Tax laws that can have serious implications for foreign buyers. Hiring an attorney that is experienced in US Tax laws can lead to significant tax savings when it comes time to sell the property. A Real estate attorney can also help avoid unnecessary tax liabilities when buying real estate.

3. Consider setting up a Qualified Domestic Trust

United States real estate held at death by an alien of the United States can be taxed at very high rates. A properly setup Trust can help to defer the tax until the assets are taken out of the Trust.

4. Consider the Cost of Hurricane Shutters When Buying a Home in Florida

Hurricane Shutters are not a small investment. Most small homes are looking at a spending a minimum of $3,500 to protect their homes. If you are interested in buying a larger home and they have installed quality hurricane protection you should keep in mind how much money the sellers invested when negotiating a price.

5. Remember Sprinkler Systems

I am sure you are aware that it can get very hot in Florida. Homes need built in sprinkler systems to maintain the beauty of the landscaping. However, there are many homes that do not have sprinkler systems and there are those that do not have functioning sprinkler systems. The cost of adding or repairing a sprinkler system is considerable.

6. Barrier Islands vs. the Mainland

There are many buyers that believe they want to live in a barrier island because they have heard about the beauty and the instant water access, but there are those that are unhappy with their choice. There are many benefits of living on the mainland. For example in Sarasota, there are luxury condos in Downtown Sarasota that are minutes away from beaches and entertainment. You can have waterfront views and a boat and avoid paying the high prices of living on a barrier island.

7. Maintenance Fees

Maintenance fees can be quite high depending on where you buy. You will also have taxes and homeowners insurance costs to consider and sometimes the maintenance fees will put home buyers over their yearly budget.

8. Family Neighborhoods

Sarasota has neighborhoods that tend to be quieter than others and we have those that are full of children and all the noise that comes with them. If you are hoping to buying a home where you will have peace and quiet let your Realtor know. A knowledgeable Sarasota Realtor will know which neighborhoods are best suited to your needs.

9. Homeowners Insurance Deductions

Talk to your Realtor about which aspects of a home will give you a deduction on your homeowners insurance because they could save you a lot of money in the long run.

10. Owning a Home with a Pool and/or Jacuzzi

The Florida Department of Health reports, "Deaths from drowning for children less than age five in Florida are more than double the national average and are higher than any other state in the nation. More than two-thirds of these deaths occurred in swimming pools."

Most people dream of having a home in Florida with a pool and it is a great dream, but everyone needs to consider pool safety. Again, ask your Realtor what you should be looking for and/or avoiding.

There are many more tips and laws that are important to International buyers. It is important for International home buyers to choose a Realtor that knows the Florida real estate market well.

John Allen is a Florida real estate agent representing buyers and sellers of fine real estate. He specializes in Sarasota condominiums, waterfront properties and golf course homes.

We will be happy to put you in touch with John Allen, email address on profile.

USA - General

2007-12-20T02:39:00.000-08:00

Just a collection of links for research ..

Charleston, South Carolina

Greece - does it get any better ?

2007-12-16T02:09:00.001-08:00

Crete Music (Greece)

2007-12-16T02:05:00.000-08:00

Portugal - Romance Eterno

2007-12-16T02:04:00.000-08:00

Paris Holiday Guide - MyTravel

2007-12-16T02:03:00.000-08:00

Greece - Tourist Information

2007-10-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

A good source of information is Greek Tourism Official website for any information on Greece
including all the Greek Islands, accomodation, travel, sailing, surfing etc. Also Greece-Travel weblog has lots of information on Greece and the region.

Just Music

2007-09-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Santorini

2007-09-03T21:36:00.000-07:00

Some interesting informaion on Atlantis/Santorini Connection.

For detailed information on Santorini click on the label below.

Just musique

2007-08-31T11:07:00.000-07:00

Relax

2007-08-31T11:04:00.001-07:00

DiscoverLanzarote

Rome, Italy

2007-08-31T11:04:00.000-07:00

Market in Firenze - Italy

2007-08-28T23:20:00.000-07:00

Lore

Here are some thoughts of a traveller to Italy ..

"It might be worth it to invest in a Lonely Planet book for Italy. It will give you good advice on places to see, some of the history, dining suggestions, a list of cheap hostels, and good maps of city centers. Hostels are nice and cheap and a great way to meet fellow travellers if you are willing to deal with sharing rooms. I would say plan to take the train rather than renting a car. Trenitalia and other train companies are rather cheap if you are just travelling within Italy. If you are going from the north to the south you might even be able to book a overnight sleeper to save on lodging for the night. Trattorias and osterias are supposed to be cheaper eats. Ristorantes are more upscale. Try a risoteria, multiple dishes of risotto, and limoncello. Never eat in a main square/touristy area. Don't expect food there to be much like Italian food here. (i.e. garlic bread, caesar salad, and heavy red sauces do not exist) Rome - obivous places to visit are coloseum, castle st. angelo, st. peter's basilica, pantheon, and trevi fountain (beautiful at night) Venice - I personally thought it wasn't too worth it. Don't plan more than a day here. Pisa - Not too much to see here except for the main plaza where the Tower is. Worth seeing though. If you made it out to here you might want take another day in this area and check out Cinque Terre. It is the considered the Italian Riviera. Seaside cliffs and five beautiful small towns. You can hike from the first town to the last through hills, vineyards, and woody areas. Medium level hike. Or come here to relax towards the end of your trip. Milan - Only thing to see here really is the Duomo. Second most beautiful curch after St. Peter's in Rome. Only other thing to do here is shop for expensive stuff. Don't go on a Sunday though because everything will be closed. Verona - Smaller town between Venice and Milan. It's very quaint and has an amazing opera stadium. If you are into it at all, I say it's worth it to try to catch a performance. During the second act of the opera, when the sun is down, local tradition is to bring small candles and light them up, so you see a stadium full of candle light. Sicily - It's actually a lot of travel time to get to Sicily so you might want to stop by Naples or Messina to make it a little more worth it."

Santorini

2007-08-27T02:57:00.000-07:00

img.icez.net

Finance for Your Dream Home !

2007-08-27T02:02:00.000-07:00

Yahoo UK has a good article on buying property abroad which highlights the pitfalls and the checks one should make. Similarly check ThisIsMoney .
There are several overseas property blogs around, TravelFinance is certainly worth perusing. Others include OverseasProperty.

Barclays Bank, a UK bank with branch offices in most countries, now provide finance for properties abroad. This particular site covers main EU countries such as Spain, Portugal, France and Italy. It also gves a brief overview of the legal issues and steps necessary to safeguard your property purchase. Others UK banks include RBS, HSBC and Abbey which is part of Bank Santander, Spain.
More info. will follow soon.

The Arch

2007-08-26T01:02:00.000-07:00

Michael Lurie

View through an archway in Rhodes.

Avalon Hotel is ideally located in the historic medieval city of Rhodes, close to the harbour, the promenade, the city centre and the places to eat and shop. It is surrounded by history and places to explore. More about Avalon Rhodes.

Italia - comment

2007-08-23T07:21:00.000-07:00

Lore

A picture of an Italian creation.

Here is a comment on Italy from a tourist ... just to give something different ..

"I think Italians are perfectly nice. We had some locals go out of their way to help us find the right bus back to our hotel in Rome just this past May, and also help us make sure to get off at the right stop. The African immigrants in Rome were especially helpful, perhaps because they know what it's like to be a foreigner in Rome. On the other hand, the guy who sold me train tickets in Naples ripped into me for trying to say hello in Italian. Italians will also often cut in front of you in line if they get a chance. It's a cultural thing I guess. On the other hand I still remember from back in 2001, on a previous trip, when the owner of a wine store offered to open a bottle of wine for takeout and gave me a couple of plastic cups - in the U.S. they probably make you buy a cork screw and cups. When we were in Italy in May a friend took us to some natural hot baths that are frequented by locals. This is out in the country – and the locals were curious at first, and started talking to us as if we were just another couple sharing the hot baths. They were obviously a little amused by us, but not in a condescending way. Their English was very good, and they made us feel welcome. Loud and nice are two different dimensions, you can be loud but still nice, up to a point anyway. The idea that Americans are somehow louder than Europeans is wrong though - in Italy they are loud because they speak emphatically. People from Britain on holiday are easily as loud as Americans - they know how to have a good time, to say the least. Witnessing a Saturday night in the Temple Bar area of Dublin, when the "hen parties" are raging, will give you second thoughts about the famously reserved demeanor of the English. There are plenty of not nice people here in the U.S. You are a lot more likely to find people in Europe go out of their way to help a foreigner. Generally if you are friendly and open you will be treated nicely, and fear of unfriendly locals is the last thing that should keep a person from traveling anywhere."

Eva la yerbabuena flamenco baile - Spain

2007-08-18T11:08:00.000-07:00

Latcho Drom España Flamenco 2

2007-08-18T11:07:00.001-07:00

What is Flamenco? It is folk art from Spain and it began in the Andalucian area of Spain, a region on the southern coast. First Flamenco public performances began around the year 1850 in small cafes in Andalucia. More at History of Flamenco.

Firenze - Italy

2007-08-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

Lore

More tips from another tourist to Italy ..

"I love Italy. First read Rick Steves and when you go to Rome be sure to take a train out to Ostia Antica. It is the ancient port city for Rome and there is a whole preserved Roman city with all the ruins you could wish for to walk around and enjoy. If you have a car start driving north and stop in some of the hill towns. They are all wonderful but outstanding are Orvieto, Civita de Bagnoregio, Pienza, Montepulciano, and the more you see of the hill towns, the more you will love them. If you like ceramics, visit Deruta. Modena is where balsamic vinegar comes from. Siena should not be missed and Florence (I do not like cities and only visit Florence for the art, but that is me. I love the countryside). Anywhere you drive it will be beautiful and if you stop at the "tourist information" offices they will book a place for you to stay in their town or in your next stop. They are found usually in the center of towns and will know inexpensive places to stay/eat/visit. Agritourismo is a room or apartment on a farm and can be luxurious of simple. Don't miss Venice. If you cannot find a place in your budget to stay, stay outside of Venice and take a bus into town and then just spend the day walking. If you go to a cafe/bar (especially in big cities) for a snack and notice that the Italians are standing and not sitting at the tables it is because it costs more if you sit at the table. There will be a menu posted with two different prices and the higher one is for sitting. So choose wisely. You will love it too."

Multi-country Agents

2007-08-18T11:02:00.000-07:00

There are property agents who only operate within their own country and these tend to be based locally. Here you will get more detailed help with specific area or the region of your choice. There are other agents who cover multiple countries - these agents or brokers tend be based in the prospective buyers country such as UK, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden etc. Such companies will be listed in this section and updated regularly. One such company is Property Frontiers.
Britain has a fair share of these in addition to country specific vendors.
Another company having covering the popular destinations, foreign currency assitance and help with mortgages for properties abroad is HolidayHome in UK - we are not connected with this company.
Another Barrasford and Bird , HolidayHomeNet , HomesWorldWide .

PropertyConnectOnline : for all your holiday properties around the Med.

Latest addition : Overseas Property Blog

Keywords : Holiday Home, Overseas Property, Property Abroad, Real Estate, Vacation Property.

The World - Dubai

2007-08-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

Himno a la alegría

2007-08-14T07:27:00.000-07:00