Reasons to Locate your Business in Perth Scotland
December 23, 2009
Perth – the ‘Fair City’ – is also known as the gateway to the Scottish Highlands. The region is renowned for its beautiful scenery and natural environment, including forests, woodlands, lochs and glens. Many use Perth as a base for the numerous outdoor leisure pursuits available in the area – such as walking, fishing, cycling, water-sports or golf.
Perthshire also houses many castles and a palace, museums, monuments and country gardens and plays host to several antiques and arts & crafts fairs and flower markets. In the town itself are a theatre and cinema, galleries, a concert hall and numerous pubs and restaurants.
Given all this one can see why Perth is often sited as a great tourist attraction but it may not be so obvious why Perth is an ideal place to do business. There is a long tradition of financial services being based in the area – most notably insurance companies. Part of the attraction has been Perth’s location. Situated right in the centre of Scotland there has always been easy access to the major cities of Scotland: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee. Businesses have also been attracted to the area because of the high percentage of educated people – much higher than the national average.
A key industry for the region has been hotel and catering due to its attraction for tourists and business meetings and conventions. The quality of the accommodation is generally of a high standard. Perth has more up-market hotels as its customers tend to be those who come for business meetings, golf or winter sports. Each of these groups tend to be wealthier and so demand higher standards.
In the last few years the property boom has hit Perth. It seems that developers have suddenly woken up to the fact that real estate prices in Scotland are about half the equivalent average prices in England. New housing developments have been attracting new people into the area and in turn businesses are been enticed by a growing supply of educated potential employees. Prices have been growing year on year between 20 and 30%. Despite this, office space is still relatively cheap and this makes it appealing for many entrepreneurs.
Another sector which can’t be overlooked is the conference and convention industry. There are a large number of venues for meetings in Perth and these attract a number of international events. It’s likely that a significant factor in choosing Perth for these is the golf. It is no coincidence that St Andrews -’the home of golf’- is less than 30 minutes drive.
If you don’t want to move your entire business to Perth but would consider it for occasional meetings then you could do a lot worse than check out http://www.perthcentre.co.uk. This is a venue where you can hire rooms ideal for business meetings and conferences.
Fred Street
http://www.articlesbase.com/strategic-planning-articles/reasons-to-locate-your-business-in-perth-Scotland-69703.html
Buying Real Estate Steps
December 3, 2009
Buying Real Estate is part of the American dream. For those who have never been down the “buying real estate” path yet, you just…
1. Get Pre-Approved. Even if you don’t think you can afford it, or are concerned about a down payment, or your credit – the first thing you should do is talk to a skilled mortgage lender. It’s their job to help you fix your credit, tell you how much you can afford, and help make it all happen. They will advise you if a down payment is needed (it may not! Many people arrange to buy a home with nothing down, $500 down, or 5% down), how much your monthly payment will translate to (i.e. tell them you want to spend $X a month, and they’ll translate that into a purchase price of $Y). If you need to repair your credit, they’ll be able to refer someone or give you some tips and help on how to fix it up.
2. Once you meet with a mortgage lender, you’ll get a letter of pre-approval. It looks informal, but what matters is the listing agent (representing the sellers of a house you later want to buy) calling them and doing some research on whether you can in fact close and purchase the property. You then take this letter to a Realtor (R) / Real Estate Agent (note: Realtor is a real estate agent that adheres to a code of ethics; for practical purposes they’re essentially the same, though a Realtor(R) has more accountability and is therefore more highly recommended). This is step 2 of buying real estate.
3. The fun part: Shopping! Step 3 of buying real estate usually involves you looking at a bunch of properties on the internet, driving around some neighborhoods, then when you see some homes you think you might like, just email or call your agent and ask to go see it. Don’t get too hung up on this, and at first, go see some houses even if you know it’s not quite right – just to get some ideas of what you like and don’t like. On paper, or on the computer, a house is just a bunch of numbers – 3 bedrooms, 1873 square feet, etc. – but in person, you’ll find that the “bones” of a house, they layout, and the materials vary widely. On each home, communicate what you like and don’t like to your agent. Ideally, you should do this on each home, and by listing your favorite points, and factors you didn’t like, you’ll help your agent slowly hone in on what you really want. This is step 3 of buying real estate, and it usually turns out to be more work than you expect. By the way, it’s OK if a house or condo or lot seems ok on paper, but just doesn’t feel right. Trust your gut…buying real estate is emotional and you want to feel at home. Usually, if something doesn’t feel right, it’s because it reminds you of some other home, and many times, people ultimately buy a home that feels like a home they lived in as a child and therefore feel at home in.
4. The exciting part of buying real estate comes when you find a home you want. Just tell your agent this one feels right, and you’d like to put in an offer. Let your agent do the negotiating for you, it’s their job, and they get paid by the seller so the service is essentially free. You can call the mortgage lender back now and tell them you’re finally buying real estate, and give them the purchase price you want to offer, along with any other expenses such as taxes and insurance. They can give you a more exact payment on the house, which you’ll then give your agent a range to offer, starting low with a walk-away price. The agent helping you in buying real estate will know the conventions and strategy best for your local market and sniff out competing offers, etc. This offer will then be accepted or declined or counter-offered.
5. The nerve-wracking part of buying real estate is closing the actual transaction. Once your offer is accepted, you then start a 2-way “dance” called “escrow” or “under contract” or “closing”. This means the further you get into the deal, the more committed you are financially, and the more committed the seller is because they’re packing their life into boxes. Expect a bit of buyers remorse – it always happens about a week in, and just remind yourself why you like the house and imagine your life in your new home. Also, expect that the closing date is just a guideline, and it could be earlier by a few days, or later by a few days. Most commonly, people close in about 30-45 days. Depending on your state, you’ll sign a new loan on about day 25 or day 29, and then move in about day 30 (or 45, depending on your contract period). You’ll sign a binding loan and get keys, the seller gets cash (and their old loan paid off, if they have one), and the bank gets an enforceable contract that you make house payments toward. Once it “records” the deal is 100% done, you own the home, and about 6 weeks later you’ll make your first house payment to the bank.
Buying real estate is fun, and can make a big impact in how you live your life. For most Americans, buying real estate is one of the most important financial investments they ever make, and regardless of market it continues to prove a good investment simply due to inflation if not market appreciation. Just as your grandparents paid 15 cents for coffee and bought their first house for what seems like little money, so will your grandchildren (or you in your old age!) look back on buying real estate that first time as “cheap”. Back when people were buying real estate for $5,000 for a home, the average income was only $1200 a year for some… our relationship with money changes over time. Once you cross the buying real estate bridge, you’ll not only build wealth – but you’ll build a home filled with memories as well.
Roger Vetruba
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/buying-real-estate-steps-736743.html
Property Investment – Glasgow
December 1, 2009
Property In Glasgow
Owning property in the City of Glasgow is now more exciting than ever. This is due to capital infusion in the area as well as significantly increased property investment in Glasgow, by private, individual investors, developers and other interest groups.
There are a wide variety of choice property in Glasgow available is described by many, as a lively and cosmopolitan place to be, with the pulse of a modern-European city at its core. The real estate market is no exception to this rule.
From properties with a strong Victorian, historically-inspired architecture and numerous new developments, refurbishments by developers in the area, investors have the opportunity to profit and benefit from this reshaping and rekindling of the gentle spirit of this age-old UK city.
For many Glasgow has become the place of choice to visit, live and work. Boasting good shopping outside London and a lively inspirational nightlife, as well as many tourist attractions like museums, art and science centers, Glasgow is fast becoming a realtor and property investment paradise.
Planning, development and regeneration is at the top of the business headlines in the area, including mix-use, retail and residential projects. This opens a whole cadre of possibilities for private investors, syndicates and groups to capitalize on. Edinburgh and Glasgow are both considered, property and development hot spots.
Glasgow Cross is a good example of one such project. This is a £40million mixed-use regeneration development project by a major developer and property management company, in-progress. It consists of 18,000sq ft of retail space and 170 two and three bedroom luxury apartments with parking. Merchant City and the shopping Mecca on Argyle Street (only second to London for retailers) infuses the local market.
It is easy to see the potential here, what was once an older, somewhat quiet or run-down part of the city can instantaneously be revived with lots of investment property and opportunities up for grabs. Mixed residential/retail type configurations in ‘downtown’ Glasgow has now become a reality. Whether you plan to live there yourself or merely invest in Glasgow property for income purposes, it has lots to offer.
If you have always dreamt of owning a piece of Scotland yonder, then there is no time like the present to act! It has lots to offer. With lots of in-town property solutions and investment opportunities in residential serviced apartments, short lets, corporate accommodation and housing, new homes and mix-use developments that seems to be the newest trend for modern, contemporary lifestyles and city-living.
Unique ambience awaits you in this nuanced city and a real sense of community, with some pitting it as the best place to live outside of London, your smart investment decision to invest in property in Glasgow, is sure to reap you in some growth and profit over the next few years to come. This reputation alone, not even counting on the tourist traffic and business enterprise and travelers through this area, will all contribute to raised property values and the perfect time to invest before the wave or opportunity and profits to be had, crests.
From apartments in the heart of Glasgow, to homes and low-rises on its outskirts, there are something to suit every budget, preference and taste. Flats for rent, auction sales and properties, Glasgow harbor and city core add to the variety, with lots of parks and restaurants around to mingle and linger in, many will exercise their option to stay, relocate, work of visit the heart of Scotland, every opportunity they can or have. For investors this opens a plethora of opportunity.
K Damian Qualter BA MBA
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/property-investment-glasgow-74490.html