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Passive Perfection – The 5 Passive Income Streams With The Best Returns

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Working smarter, not harder, is the mantra of the day. People are no longer willing to spend most of their lives at work. We want our jobs to enrich our lives and fund our personal pursuits. Now more than ever, we want to spend our time in a fulfilling work environment with minimal stress. Below are some ways that you can invest in passive income sources so that even while you are sleeping, you can be making money.

  1. Real estate

Have you considered investing in property but been put off by the idea of all the hassles involved in renting out a house? The good news is that you can generate passive income from real estate by investing in commercial property management. In this type of arrangement, you can reap the rewards without too much initial effort.

Many people decide that they want to be a silent partner in this type of venture because all it requires is that you invest some initial capital. If, however, you want to take a more active role, you can choose to take on the property management yourself. Either way, by owning property and leasing it out, you can earn a significant amount of extra income.

  1. The stock market

Another way to earn passive income with an initial startup cost is through dividend-paying stocks, EFTs, and other investments such as lending clubs. These types of investments can help you earn money around the clock with no work on your end. It does take time to build up a strong and legitimate portfolio, but with the proper guidance from a reputable investment firm, you can be sure that your dividend investments will pay off.

  1. Affiliate marketing

If you are a heavy internet user (like most of us), then there are several ways you can leverage your online presence to create passive income for yourself. Affiliate marketing is an income idea that requires you to have one or more platforms on which you can promote products for other companies. This works extremely well on social media platforms within your local community where you can see what people are after and provide affiliate links that help them while earning you a commission. When someone uses the promotion link on your site or post to buy from another company, you get paid.

  1. Website ads

In conjunction with affiliate marketing, you can also leverage your internet space by displaying ads on your website. Again, this does require you to set up a site, but the more visibility you can create, the more money goes straight into your pocket. This can be so profitable that it’s often called owning online property. Advertisers pay to display ads on your site, and you get paid simply for attracting traffic. How easy is that?

  1. CPC ads

The final way to leverage your online property is to go with cost per clicks (CPC) ads. Unlike affiliate marketing and display ads, you get paid every time someone views or clicks on an ad versus only when someone buys something after clicking on the ad. You can make money simply by driving traffic to your website and letting the adverts sell themselves.

Whether you choose one or all of these methods to generate passive income, you can earn a significant amount of money by investing in ideas that will help you down the road. You may not see an immediate influx of funds into your bank account, but hold out for the long haul, and you’ll eventually be able to live without working.

10 Office Waste Management and Reduction Tips

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Australia is one of the world’s strictest countries when it comes to recycling and waste disposal. Unfortunately, despite most of us adhering closely to laws concerning waste recycling, we are still in the midst of a full-blown recycling crisis.

In any case, we can all still do our part to help offset the effects of the ongoing issue. The key is to reduce the amount of waste we produce so that less needs to be processed. Given that commercial establishments are some of the biggest waste contributors, it makes sense to start there.

Here are some ways your office can be part of the solution:

1.) Consider renting rather than buying some equipment

Many workplaces only need to use certain types of equipment occasionally. Photocopiers and projectors, for instance, are not likely to see daily use in most small offices. Rather than storing these onsite, where they may deteriorate with disuse, it may be better to simply rent infrequently-used equipment as needed.

2.) Invest in long-lasting fixtures

On the other hand, you’ll want to invest in more durable versions of the types of fixtures and equipment you do use. For instance, it may make sense to spend a little more on chairs if they are more likely to last longer. This can significantly cut down on the fixtures and equipment that you would otherwise have to write off every year.

3.) Ask vendors to reduce packaging

If you purchase certain supplies in bulk, ask your vendor to provide you with these without the individual packaging. Also, try to see if they can ship the items in reusable containers that they could take back and refill.

4.) Reuse durable office supplies

Folders, binders, poster board, and other similar items that could be used more than once, saving them from an otherwise premature fate at the landfill. Envelopes could also be reused if adhesive labels are used for the addresses.

5.) Only print reports on demand

The paperless office might not yet be a reality, but there are now plenty of digital alternatives to paper for many applications. Email and app suites such as MS Office and Google Drive make the use of paper for reports and other documents redundant in most cases. Try to discourage the use of paper unless specifically asked for.

6.) Provide reusable plates and utensils

Disposable plates and utensils are by far the biggest source of rubbish at most offices that use them. Traditional utensils and china tend to be a far more ecologically sustainable choice. Just make sure you can provide facilities for washing them thoroughly.

7.) Rent skip bins to handle higher volumes of waste

In many cases, the local rubbish collection services may not be able to adequately handle the volume of waste produced by your workplace. To improve sanitation and to ensure recyclable materials are sent to the right facilities, it’s often best simply rent skip bins. Skip bin rental services typically quite flexible and can rent out different types of bins depending on the volume and type of rubbish. Be sure to use a skip bin price comparison site such as Skip Compare to find the best long-term rental rates in your area.

8.) Optimize your mailing lists

Take some time to clear out duplicate addresses and long-unresponsive customers from your mailing lists. This will not only cut down on your paper consumption but will also help streamline your marketing expenses as well.

9.) Choose less wasteful landscaping

Choose native plants that don’t require too much maintenance or produce too much waste. You may also consider having a rock garden or some exterior artwork instead, especially if your office is a more arid area.

10.) Try bokashi composting for food scraps

If your office does have a garden, bokashi can be a good way to bring down your landscaping costs while reducing the amount of food waste that has to be hauled off. Bokashi is a traditional Japanese composting method that uses the bacteria naturally found on different types of grain bran to break down food scraps and other non-putrid biological waste. It produces a high-quality organic fertiliser that is almost odour-free, which makes the method an excellent fit for residential and office settings.

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Conclusion

In most cases, keeping office waste under control isn’t just a matter of reducing the business’s environmental impact, it’s usually quite financially sound as well. Given the many waste disposal issues facing Australia, reducing and repurposing the waste we create before it’s sent out to processing facilities seems to be the smartest solution.

Home Renovation Ideas & Tips to Increase Home Value

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Renovating your home makes it more attractive and comfortable. However, there are other renovations that you can undertake that increase the resale value of the home. It doesn’t matter whether you don’t plan to sell in the near future – it makes it worthwhile for you to have a return on investment from what you put in place. Not every renovation idea adds value to the property; some might give you just minimum returns. Here are renovations that give you maximum ROIs.

Home Renovation Ideas to Increase House Value

1. Remodel Your Kitchen

Whether it is a full or partial remodel, the changes you make to your kitchen will add some value to the property. This is because this is the single most room in the home and buyers consider it a priority. If your kitchen is cramped, make it spacious. Add a fresh coat of paint and clean the cabinets and other kitchen furniture. Replace any damaged appliances and install a countertop. Finally, make sure the light is bright and airy.

2. Update Your Bathroom

The bathroom also adds to the resale value of your home. Use modern styles when updating this part of the house because it has since turned from being a room for keeping clean and now it is a place of a luxury. Install new faucets and showerheads. Next, install tiles on the wall around the bathtub.

3. Invest in Interior Lighting

Lighting makes a huge difference in the way your indoors look. You need to know that buyers prefer as much natural light as possible because this saves on energy costs. Use different types of lights for various purposes. You can use lights to set the mood or use task lights to illuminate parts of your kitchen for easier handling of tasks. Move through the house and understand where changes are needed. Go online and shop for deals so that you save on costs and save more than 50 per cent on purchases.

4. Re-do Your Insulation

Redoing the insulation in your home is one of the eco-friendly renovations that you can undertake. Extra insulation makes your home more energy efficient, which means you pay less for gas and electricity. This reduces on utility bills, something that homebuyers are looking for. Work with a qualified contractor who will check the insulation and come up with an estimate depending on what you need.

5. Install New Cabinets

If working with a decent budget, go for new cabinets. Cabinets create a dramatic look that will transform your kitchen. The cabinets will add a different style and a different tone. You can also try a new layout.

Tips to Attract Lots of Potential Buyers

Now that you’ve made the decision to sell your home, the time has come to make sure people will want to buy it. Your real estate agent will tell you a little about how others have prepared their houses for sales, but ultimately the task of getting the house ready is in your hands. Here are some basics that will ensure the house presents well and attracts the right type of attention.

  1. Taking Care of the Essentials of the House

Your first task is to ensure that the structure of the home is in great condition. To this end, you want the wiring, plumbing, and the foundation checked by a professional. If there is any type of repairs needed, you’ll want to hire handyman manly services to take care of those issues. When a prospective buyer asks if the roof has been inspected recently or if the wiring is up to date, you can answer in the affirmative. That will help keep the conversation going.

2. The Clutter Goes Now

Since you are offering the property for sale, no one really wants to look at your collection of knick-knacks or stuffed animals. As much as you like them, they are preventing buyers from seeing what the house has to offer.

Before you have the first person come to look at your house, get rid of the clutter. See this as the opportunity to decide what makes the move with you and what needs to be donated or given away to friends. Pack up all but a few accent pieces to help give some character to the rooms. Everything that you plan on keeping can go into storage for now.

3. Clean Everything

Once the clutter is out of the way, every inch of the home must be cleaned thoroughly. You may not detect the scent left by the dog because you are used to it. Buyers entering the home will quickly notice the smell and begin to be turned off immediately.

Leave nothing undone when it comes to the cleaning. Wash down the walls, have the window treatments cleaned, and hire a service to steam clean all the carpeting. Don’t forget to clean all the bathrooms thoroughly and go over the hardwood floors and tiles. Even the kitchen cabinets need to be cleaned. All this hard work will leave the home smelling fresh and looking great.

Remember if you don’t have the time or are not that great at cleaning, you can always hire a professional house cleaning service to do the job. Rest assured that the money will be well spent.

4. Staging: Less is More

With the clutter gone and everything cleaned, you need to turn your attention to staging the home. This will likely mean putting some pieces of furniture in storage. Your goal is to leave enough in each room to provide inspiration for using the space while providing the opportunity for buyers to see the architectural details of each room. This provides them with the ability to envision their belongings in the space, something that could lead to receiving an offer.

Remember that while your real estate agent will do a great job of finding potential buyers and bringing them to the property, preparing the house for sale is up to you. Get things in order, and ensure that the house is always at its best. Doing so will mean receiving an offer sooner than later, and maybe even getting an offer that is a little more than your original asking price.

This article comes courtesy of Rokco Builds, trusted customer-centric services in building and construction based in Morningside, QLD.

5 Tips To Ensure That You Get The Right Personal Loan For Your Needs

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With the accessibility to financing today and also to technology, more Australians can access funding hassle-free. Online funding, for one, has become a very normal part of life where those seeking financing can do so with ease in order to pay for a home, car, boat, business, or any personal project you may be embarking on. Traditional financing institutions have a variety of loan products that can meet the needs of the average consumer, allowing you to pursue your goals.

A personal loan is one of the many products offered through lending institutions, and it allows consumers to borrow money for a variety of projects. Typically, consumers only need to supply lenders with the reason for the loan and other important information related to their financial health. Through the many personal loans, Australia can be the backdrop to fulfilling your financial dreams and goals, once you have secured the right financing to meet your needs.

Continue reading to learn how you can successfully obtain a personal loan that best meets your needs.

Consider The Purpose

When looking to take out a loan, consumers should pay attention to the purpose of the loan because it will help them in choosing a loan program that best suits their needs. For example, when taking out a personal loan used to fund a trip overseas, certain considerations will be of import. For one, the length of the loan is important because you want to pay it off quickly so as to avoid interest. The loan amount is important as well because the trip might not require full financing. When thinking deliberately regarding the loan’s use, consumers are more likely to make wise choices.

Get Schooled On Lending

Consumers should also take time to research different lending practices. In the last decade or so, financing has drastically changed to the point where consumers can choose from a variety of ways to fund a project. Furthermore, with the introduction of online institutions and a quick and easy application process, consumers can access funding quickly and easily. Also, lending institutions have made it possible for some people, who typically would not have access to financing, with the ability to borrow. Finally, with many of the lending institutions competing against one another, usual application standards can supplement an application that might not meet the normal standards.

Compare Rate Types

The two more popular interest rate types are fixed and variable with each having their own benefits. Both rates are set by the market and financing institutions, but the fixed interest rate does not change throughout the life of the loan. The variable interest rate loan, however, changes throughout the loan, and the great benefit to borrowers is that they can get a very low rate loan if the market is good, which decreases the total loan amount financed. Alternatively, if interest rates spike for any reason, the monthly payment can balloon increasing this balance.

Prepare Your Budget

Before you apply, consider putting together a budget to see how much of a loan you can actually afford. A simple budget can list all of your expenses and all of your income. Then, subtract the expenses from your income to get an estimate of how much extra income you have available.

Use An Online Calculator

Figuring out how much to borrow can begin right at home because today’s online calculators make doing the calculations very simple. Many calculators can give you a variety of information including monthly payment, interest rate, time, principal balance, and total payments. These calculators range from the very simple that asks you to plug in information to ones that can calculate for different factors.

Guaranteed Approval

Getting approved for a loan is not a difficult feat, especially with all of the tools available to consumers. In fact, most of the work required to get your loan approved can be done from the comfort of your living room. Ultimately, the more prepared you are before applying the more likely you are likely to successfully find a loan that will meet your needs.

What is a Surge Diverter and How Does It Work?

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A key safety issue in any home is to protect appliances, personal computers, and other sensitive electrical equipment from damage resulting from a spike in excess voltage.

This may occur during an electrical thunderstorm, for example. While most surge diverters will not protect from a direct lightning strike on the house — thankfully this is quite a rare occurrence! — they will help protect from the surge in energy caused by lightning strikes in the vicinity.

One way to keep your appliances safe is through surge protectors and plug adapters that cut out when a spike in electricity occurs. However, while there are many excellent surge protection devices, such as power boards and wall units that offer some protection for appliances, they will not give the whole house the protection against the power surge that you require.

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Many people think that power boards installed in the home are sufficient to protect against power surges. However, different power spike protection products perform different tasks. In redirecting power surges to the ground, a surge diverter can provide the all-round protection that your household needs.

If you’re a homeowner and you like proper protection from excess voltage, consider installing a surge diverter.

What is a Surge Diverter?

A surge diverter (or arrestor) is a device attached to the main power board which gives protection against damaging power surges, either from outside or from within (such as from faulty wiring or appliances).

The device prevents excess power from damaging or destroying sensitive electrical and electronic appliances such as computers and audio gear.

How Does It Work?

Surge diverters work by capturing the excess electricity that would otherwise be absorbed into the house’s electrical circuit. They will help protect the property by diverting this power away from the house by “shunting” it to the earth. Installed in the switchboard, the surge diverter will help protect against most excess energy spikes. Any electricity over 260 volts will automatically be diverted to the ground. This then renders the excess power harmless and prevents a damaging surge in your home.

Does a Surge Diverter Act as a Safety Switch for Your Home?

No. A surge diverter is not a safety switch or circuit breaker. It should be considered as a separate safety function and should work in conjunction with these devices to fully protect your home. A safety switch will monitor the electrical current through your home’s circuit and automatically cut the power within 0.03 of a second should it detect a fault.

However, a surge diverter does not act as personal protection, nor does it act through one power point. It goes further by protecting the entire property by diverting excess voltage before it travels through the circuit and causes damage.

A surge diverter is an excellent investment to protect you, your family, and your expensive electrical appliances from a dangerous surge in power. In conjunction with other surge protection measures such as power boards and safety switches, a surge diverter can play a central role in keeping your house safe. The cost of a diverter is small when compared to the problem of replacing expensive electrical appliances damaged by a spike or the frustration of having to deal with insurance companies to replace valuable equipment!

Remember to always practice electrical safety in your home; install a diverter as part of your overall safety plan and stop worrying about power surges today.

Author Bio

Ray Loh is the General Manager of Perth, WA based West Australian Power Protection dedicated to offering earthing, surge and lightning protection products aligned with the latest safety standards.

Top 10 Tips For First Home Buyers

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Buying your first home in any of Australia’s major cities is a difficult task. From getting your finance approval, finding a home that will suit your needs, competing with other buyers and investors at auction and most importantly not paying too much for a property.

For an inexperienced buyer, it is normal for the buying process to take up to six months to a year. We look at the top ten tips to shortening your time on market and getting your weekends back, to save you money.

Tip 1. Finance Pre Approval.
Having your finances in check empowers the buyer to not spend time looking at the wrong area in the wrong price range. It also gives you a negotiating ceiling so you know when to walk away if things get too heated.

Tip 2. Do Your Research.

Understanding what a similar property sells for in a similar area is vital to knowing the market value. When you see something you like, check a similar spec property that has sold in the last three months. This will help you spend your time wisely, on the right property.

Tip 3. Building Inspection.
Once you have successfully completed step 1 & 2 and you have found a house you like. It is important to do a building and pest inspection to make sure your not buying a maintenance nightmare. A typical building inspection can cost anywhere between $550 to $850. It is a worthwhile investment and will help reduce the chance of buyer’s remorse once the property negotiating is done.

Tip 4. Seek assistance in negotiating.

Real estate agents are negotiating pros. An average agent will sell one property each week where an average buyer might only purchase a house once every ten years. Different negotiating tactics apply to different real estate markets.
Buyer’s agents (https://wiserealestateadvice.com.au/home-buyers-agent/) are real estate agents for hire, they serve only the buyer and are employed to get you the best price and selling terms. To save a few dollars, find a buyer’s agent that offers a negotiating-only plan rather than a fully serviced plan. This should save you thousands.

Tip 5. Compromise your criteria for success.

If you keep losing auctions, it is better to adjust your criteria to give you more buying power. For instance, choose a property that may need a light renovation, a three bedroom property instead of a four bedroom property, smaller land allotment or peg back a suburb away from the CBD.


Tip 6. Government Grants.

First homeowner’s grants are a great help to minimizing some of the overheads when it comes to buying a property. To check if you are eligible, visit the state revenue office website for more information.

Tip 7. Conveyancers
You will need to hire a conveyancer to complete your sale. They will ensure all the conditions in a contract are fulfilled and make sure everything is legally signed over into your name. Normally they cost around $1000 per property purchase.
It is wise to get the contract of sale read over by your conveyancer prior to signing any contact of sale. A good conveyancer will provide this service free of charge and warn you of any risky conditions.

Tip 8. Add Clauses To Your Written Offer.
When submitting an offer on a property, every buyer has the right to add protection clauses to reduce their risk when buying. For instance, a ‘subject to finance’ clause or a ‘building-inspection clause’. These clauses can be like a ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ card if something goes wrong.

Tip 9. Don’t give agents verbal offers.
Always negotiate in writing using a Contact of Sale and Section 32’s. This process makes sure the vendor / seller visually sees your offer and responds back in writing using a counter-offer tactic rather than trusting the real estate agent’s story.

Tip 10. Never disclose your budget.
Keeping this secret is your key to saving money on a property negotiation https://wiserealestateadvice.com.au/negotiating-property-price/

Real estate agents highly skilled with negotiating strategies and know how to increase an offer if they know how far they can go. If the agent is kept in the dark they are less likely to empty an unsuspecting buyer’s pockets.

Smoke and Mirrors – 5 Secrets to Making Your Small Business Look Great

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Every business has to start somewhere. Even with a limited budget you still need to make your business appealing to customers. Without a façade that screams “I’m successful,” you risk appearing unprofessional and inexperienced. Here are five secrets to making your small business look the part even as you’re finding your feet in your chosen market:

Think Smart with Offices

Where you work can make a difference to the appeal of your business. Therefore, there’s every reason to consider serviced offices or virtual offices when you’re looking for suitable premises. A serviced office in a premium location can offer a sense of professionalism while still being affordable. The best part about a serviced office is you can utilize WiFi, reception services, office furniture and more, all built into one convenient weekly or monthly cost.

Virtual offices, on the other hand, are perfect for small businesses operating from home. You can benefit from an official business address and phone number, with forwarding services directing it to your home. No one need ever know you don’t work in a premium location.

Go Professional with Design

The worst thing you can do when you’re trying to launch a business is skimp on design. As IBM president Thomas Watson Jr. once said, good design is good business. If you create a logo on your own, you risk plastering your business with an unprofessional image that you can’t shake. The result? Wariness from potential customers who may otherwise have purchased your products if your image appeared more appealing.

Get Creative with Marketing

When you launch a new business, it can be challenging to get the word out. While you may have hoped that by merely by opening your doors the customers will come flocking, that’s often not the case. To put your business in a league of its own, you need to get creative with marketing. Offer your customers a solution to their problems in an “out of the box” way and ensure your business branding is everywhere.

To do so professionally, you may need to call upon the expertise of a marketing consultant. They can help you to understand where you need to market yourself, how best to approach your audience, as well as whom you should target. Hitting the bullseye with a killer campaign can be all it takes to get customers rolling through your doors.

Know Your Competition

There is a high chance that you are entering the world of business with a fair amount of competition. For example, if you’ve opened a new restaurant, there’s a good chance there will be at least a handful of restaurants nearby. Therefore, when you hit the market, you need to watch your competition like a hawk.

Find out what they are doing successfully and where they’re weak. By doing so, you can establish your business model with a competitive edge. Do it differently, do it better and your business is going to look far more successful to the general public.

Encourage Online Reviews

More and more people are turning to online reviews as their primary source of information about a new business. The more positive reviews your venture has, the better it is for your image. As a trickle of customers slowly comes through, encourage them to review the service you provided. You can even offer incentives for them to do so – such as discounts on their next purchase.

Your business isn’t going to look the part without a little effort and planning. While you might have a limited budget, there are so many things you can do to present your business to the public in a favorable light without breaking the bank.

Real Estate Investment: Why You Should Opt for a Preferred Equity

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Real estate is considered as one of the best investment sectors. It’s because the property values usually stay stable for long and you can earn a good return on your investment. If the country is economically strong, you’re likely to earn big profits with time.

Preferred equity is another way of investing in real estate sector. You may have heard of the term ‘preferred’ in the stock market where investors are allowed to buy preferred shares of the stock. Although these stocks are relatively expensive, they offer a good ROI.

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When it comes to preferred equity in real estate, you can go for a project that has a low priority in terms of mortgage debt but possesses a higher priority in terms of the equity of project sponsor.

The project financers usually offer a loan within the range of 60-70% of the original commercial property’s value. This way, they’re able to earn profits without risking their investment. Therefore, most mortgage debts are usually funded by the investors. However, when investors are willing to invest even more funds, preferred equity comes into play.

 

Why Investors Go for a Preferred Equity

Preferred equity is more expensive than mortgage debts or senior debt. Although it offers more revenue, the investment encounters more risks. If the property value suddenly drops, the investors can lose their entire investment in no time. But the probability of higher profits attracts investors.

Also, preferred equity holds capital repayment priority. It depicts that even if the commercial property is unable to generate the expected revenue, you can claim your original investment once the property is sold. It reduces the risks to your investment.

Be it real estate or any other investment sectors, you can’t earn a good return unless you’re ready to take risks. By opting for the preferred equity, you can claim benefits from property appreciation, get tax deductions and earn rental income benefits.

A majority of preferred equity investors choose a fixed return on their investment as well as of their investment. It aids them in protecting their original investment and increasing their profit.

A preferred equity usually involves a fixed term of 2 to 3 years. The sponsor can upgrade the interest rate after this term on the basis of the unreturned capital.

 

How to Invest in a Preferred Equity

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Investing in a preferred equity can help you earn a good income over time without risking your savings. However, it’s recommended to get in touch with a professional commercial property advisory service to make the most of the investment opportunity. You can visit http://www.stamfordcapital.com.au/ to know more about preferred equity.

 

Stamford Capital is a reliable name when it comes to financial advisory services. They can guide you about the most suitable real estate projects that will work for you. Since they have contacts in the industry, they can suggest investment opportunities on the basis of your financial needs and goals.

All in all, a preferred equity is a feasible way of investing in commercial real estate. With professional guidance of Stamford Capital Australia, you can further increase the return on your investment.

How To Ride The Downturn In Real Estate Prices

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As a property investor, one of the biggest challenges you will come across is a downturn in real estate prices. You need to be prepared for that. Using an old cliché, what goes up must come down. The beauty of real estate is that you can ride a downturn if you know the strategies of dealing with it. You may have already that real estate is all about patience and waiting for the right opportunity to strike. The first lesson for meeting a downturn challenge is to lie low for the time being. The second lesson is that tough times do not last but tough people do.

When prices start falling, they are known to touch the bottom. Instead of getting bogged down by changing market conditions, treat a downturn as an opportunity to buy. Markets are also known to bounce back after they hit the bottom. I must repeat here that in real estate, the land price is what matters the most. The reality is that there is limited land available and the population keeps rising. Real estate will always be in demand. Even if things go worse and liquidity problems continue over long periods, the government is bound to intervene and take measures to correct it.

If you are already fully invested and find it difficult to sell, you can consider changing your investment plan. Start looking for tenants even if you do not have prior experience as a landlord. Rental income can change the entire scene for investors. In case you have taken a loan against the property, you are actually making someone else pay your mortgage. If it is your own money that you have used then you can consider rental income as a reduction in the price that you paid for acquiring the property.

The idea of finding tenants and recovering rents may appear to be a daunting task, particularly if you have never been a landlord before, but if you go about it methodically, you will find that it is not all that difficult. You may not have chosen to become a landlord but as a real estate investor you should be ready for it.

Proper education and extensive research is the key to success, there are numerous online resources such as www.soundproperty.com.au who have useful information and can also provide someone to speak with. It is also a protection against a downturn. If you have applied your mind while choosing locations and negotiated for a price below market value, a downturn will not hit you hard. Your protection lies in the fact that you ensured that your profit was factored into the purchase price. That gives you an opportunity to exit early, as soon as you see signs of a downturn approaching.

If you want to succeed in property investment, take a downturn in real estate prices as an opportunity to do things differently and not a threat. If you’re still confused about how to deal with a downturn in real estate prices, get in touch with property investment professionals who are ready to share their knowledge with the world.

Why Listing Your Property Online Will Ensure A Sale

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The world is more connected today and the internet is quickly changing trends. Everyone who needs anything looks to the internet for solutions, which includes searching for the perfect home. As a home seller, there are tons of benefits for listing your property on the internet.

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The Internet is the Largest Source of Inquiry

A lot of people rely on the internet for property search. This is because it is a lot easier to just search for the particular features you want in a house and input the area where you are looking for than rummaging through the classifieds to see if any of the places match your criteria. In Australia, traditional media forecasts losing billions of dollars in the next four years because ad spreads are moving towards online options. Even if you signed up with a realtor, the first thing they will do is list the property on their website.

Online Advertising Lets You Dominate the Market

You may not have an agent by your side but you still stand a strong chance of making a sale through online marketing. You could be working from home on your computer and still be able to portray the good things about your place in a professional manner. Think about it, the realtor is probably doing the same thing, except he or she wears a suit.

The Internet is More Interactive than You Think

Unlike magazines and newspapers, which are restricted by space and force you to cut out words in the ad copy and leave you hoping that someone will call for more details, the internet allows you to freely boast about the features of your house. You can first view a website template yourself to see what is required. The basics are listing the details and then adding in pictures of every nook and cranny in the house. Potential buyers don’t even have to make the trip out to the house, and they will appreciate this convenience.

It’s Fast

The internet can reduce to half the amount if time that is required to search for a home. One of the advantages of the internet is that homebuyers can start searching for suitable places including yours without having to deal with a real estate agent first, which just extends the whole process. In fact, buyers are more confident in the properties they search themselves, they can do a comparison between yours and other properties online, so that you know if they reach out to you, they did it after doing some research and are to an extent serious about their interest in your property.

Exposure through Social Network

A lot of websites that list houses have social media pages with thousands of followers. When you list your house with them, you should know for sure you are reaching out to all of these people, making the whole marketing process a lot more effective. These companies have their own creative copy and posts to attract potential homebuyers so you don’t have to worry about it.