How to Conduct a Chain of Title Search

There are many factors involved when it comes to buying a property. More than likely, you will need to organize a mortgage. As well as this, it is important to have a look at the property. There may be certain types of environmental damage to the property itself which can make

you question it. This usually brings the price down, but you will have to spend your own money when it comes to repairing it. Sometimes, finding the right solution isn’t easy. You may need to go back to the original owners. The original owners may be long gone, however, and finding them can be difficult. As a result, a chain of title search can be conducted in order to let you find out who originally owned the building and what was done.

What Is a Chain of Title Search?

Essentially, a chain of title search is a specialprocess that is carried out by a professional. This search is used in order to trace the different owners of the property that you now own. In order to do this, they will usually need to take a look through different things like paperwork and more. This can end up taking a while and there are different steps involved. The first thing you will need to get is a copy of the current vesting instrument. You will also need to get a list of ownership transfers. There will also need to be other forms of information including the dates that the ownership itself transferred. There will also need to be recorded historical leases when it comes to the property. A lot of the time, it will be quite easy to trace the ownership back to a specific year, but it can end up getting difficult after that. This is where you will need to have a professional who will be able to conduct the chain of title search for you.

What a Chain of Title Search Can Do

If you get a chain of title search done then you will be able to understand what happened to the house. A lot of the time, it is easier to get a chain of title search done on a house that was built only a couple of decades ago. Other houses may end up taking longer so you will need to have the original owner. Throughout the search, you will be able to see what happened to each home. The more recent that the search happens to be then the more of a chance that you will have when it comes to finding the owner and asking them about what happened to the house before you decided to take up ownership of it.

Author Bio:

Ashley shares tips on how you can begin searching for your chain of title. TheseEnvironmental Data Resources are important to know how to protect your family and what to expect in your new home.

Reasons To Invest In Spain

A lot of people have been unwilling to invest money in the property market since the global financial crisis and economic climate took a turn for the worse in 2007.
The property sector was hit badly, never seen before scenarios began to appear; many people were left unable to afford their mortgages, people could not get mortgages and banks were not willing to lend money – in summary the confidence in the property industry was at an all time low and over the past 6 years people have been extremely cautious about investing their money.
Spain has been one of the worst affected nations since the recession began and property prices are now at an all time low after the boom of the late 1990′s and early to mid 2000′s.
The banks in Spain have repossessed thousands of properties from builders, developers and from people unable to pay their mortgages or who have simply locked the doors and headed back to their country of origin.
Whilst this all sounds like doom and gloom, there have been some huge positives over the past few years which makes Spain a very attractive place to consider property investment.

• Tourism – Despite the struggles of the past few years, regions such as Costa Blanca have reported record numbers of tourists flying to Spain to holiday. Whilst people may not be as loose with their spending as they were ten years ago, the fact that more and more people are heading to Spain than ever before is a good sign for property owners wanting to invest for letting purposes.
• Price – The price of pre-owned, new builds, repossessed and owned property is lower than ever before. Many people took mortgages prior to the crash and cannot afford repayments. Due to the building boom of the peak years there are literally thousands upon thousands of property owners all looking to sell their property simply to pay off their mortgage. This means you can get a fantastic deal and make huge savings on the average market price.
• Long Term Returns – As with any period of economic downturn there is always going to be a time when the economy starts to pick up and reward property owners who have bought a property at rock bottom price . Many people who bought houses in the UK during the 1980′s for next to nothing saw the prices rocket in the 1990′s and were able to cash in due to demand and make massive returns on their investment.
• Price Increases – Property prices have in Spain have leveled out recently and the signs are that they will start to increase again very soon. Why wait and pay more in 6 months; you will be kicking yourself if you have missed out on a genuine bargain only to see someone else reap the rewards.

Bill Gates bets early on Spanish recovery with FCC stake

American billionaire Bill Gates has bought a 6pc stake in the Spanish infrastructure group FCC, a powerful vote of confidence in Spain’s battered economy.

News that Microsoft’s founder and world’s richest man was dipping his toe into Spanish waters was greeted with euphoria on the Madrid bourse, though the rally later sputtered on fresh banking woes. FCC’s share price surged 8pc, lifting the whole construction sector.

Juan Bejar, FCC’s chief executive, said the €113m share purchase was a “referendum on economic recovery, both at national level and for the company itself. I think he chose FCC as an entry point because he sees Spain as attractive. It is a long-term investment because his funds don’t take opportunistic bets for short-term gain."

Santander Chief Emilio Botin said last week that there had been a “drastic change” in perceptions about Spain. “Money is pouring in from all sides. Everybody wants to invest in Spain,” he said.

Spanish heiress and philanthropist Esther Koplowitz, the 7th Marchioness of Casa Peñalver, remains FCC’s biggest shareholder with 53pc, while her daughter chairs the 80,000-strong company. The group was coy about the details of the deal, saying only that buyers were entities “related” to Mr Gates. The share deal entails dilution.

A builder of motorways and airports, FCC is best known for the Gate of Europe leaning towers in Madrid and the white shark-teeth design of Valencia’s Arts and Sciences City. It has just won a joint contract to build the Mersey Gateway Bridge in Liverpool.

Much of its daily business is sewage, waste management and recycling. It owns FCC Environment in Northampton, with 2,400 workers.
The group’s share price has jumped 130pc this year, despite an asphyxiating debt of €5bn and a string of troubles at its Austrian subsidiary, a venture that was supposed to shield it from losses at home. Mr Bejar aims to slash €2.2bn of debt through asset sales and stretch out the rest, a task that should now be much easier with Mr Gates standing behind him.
The company won a Saudi contract this year to build the Riyadh Metro, spearheading its overseas expansion. More than 56pc of turnover now comes from abroad. Its cement business in Spain has been devastated by the property crash, forcing the company to carry out waves of lay-offs. House prices have fallen 37pc so far, with a backlog of 1m unsold homes to be cleared.
House building has collapsed from 800,000 at the peak of the boom to 220,000 this year. A string of developers has gone bankrupt, but this has now flushed out the weakest.
Gonzalo Lardíes, from brokers BPA, said Mr Gates is buying a “distressed company” at a bargain price from a sector that “stinks like sardines”, and may be venturing out of his depth. “It looks as if he wants to get into Spain but doesn’t know how, and the only way he can think of is through companies that did well in the last cycle. FCC may be solvent but it remains to be seen whether it is really profitable,” he told El Confidencial.
Whether Mr Gates is right in betting that Spain’s economy has touched bottom after a five-year slump remains to be seen. Bad loans in the banking system reached a record 12.1pc in August. The International Monetary Fund expects the economy to contract 1.4pc this year, before eking out growth of just 0.5pc in 2014, and warned that the country is highly vulnerable if the EU authorities fail to deliver on their pledge for a genuine banking union.
Corporate debt is 172pc of GDP, one of the world's highest, and Spain's international investment position is still -92pc of GDP, leaving the country with a huge task ahead. While export growth has outperformed Germany, it comes from a low base and has not been enough to make a dent on unemployment, now 26pc. Spain has closed the current account deficit, but chiefly through an economic depression and mass shedding of labour.
Jamie Dannhauser from Lombard Street Research says Spain has quietly abandoned austerity, flattering the picture with a burst of stealth spending. The budget deficit has been running at a pace of 8.7pc of GDP this year, far higher than planned.
While less austerity would be desirable if part of a comprehensive reflation strategy by the eurozone, it is likely to lead to trouble when done alone and may test market patience once again. “It is a blatant reversal of policy. Madrid is on a collision course with Berlin,” he said.

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Foreign investment in Spanish real estate at a 9-year high

Foreign investment in Spanish real estate rose to 2.83 billion euros (about $3.87 billion) in the first half of 2013, up 16 percent compared to the same period last year and a nine-year high, a study by consulting firm Knight Frank said.

Spain is such an attractive market that foreign investors may be willing to pump up to 14 billion euros into the Iberian nation's real estate market over the next year, Knight Frank said.
The severe economic downturn in Spain caused housing prices to plunge 47.7 percent since the peak of the boom, with the average cost now down to 1,253 euros per square meter, the Spanish Property Appraisers Association said in its latest report.
Although it is at its highest level since 2008, when the economic downturn started, foreign investment in Spain's real estate market is still well below the 3.5 billion euros registered in the first half of 2003.
The top foreign buyers of Spanish real estate are Belgians, whose purchases are up 78.1 percent; French citizens, whose purchases are up 70 percent; and Germans, whose purchases have risen 35.3 percent, General Notaries Council figures show.
Britons, however, are still the top non-resident purchasers of Spanish real estate, buying 1,244 properties during the period, up 24.6 percent from the comparable period. EFE

Source: latino.foxnews.com

BANK REPOSSESSION PROPERTY IN SPAIN

Exceptional Investemnt opportunity

   

Apartments From 49,000€

 

New Property Investment Visa Attracts Foreign Buyers To Spain

Spanish real estate is being snapped up by international buyers with non-residents making up the biggest chunk of foreign demand, according to a report published by the General Council of Notaries. Foreigners purchased 14,593 homes in the second quarter of 2013, which is a 23% increase compared to the same period the previous year.

Non- resident buyers in Spain made up 43% of the total residential property sale the previous year, while foreigners resident in the country registered only a 4% increase in real estate purchases.
New investor visa category

This boom in the Spanish property market is attributed to the nation's new residency investment visa program. The new law enables non European Union nationals to obtain residency status in Spain if they invest in real estate. At present the threshold of such investments is 500,000 euros. This amount can be distributed across multiple properties.

The new visa program is retroactive. Therefore, non-EU nationals who have already spent 500,000 euros or more should be able to obtain a residency permit, provided their paperwork is correct. The lure of a Spanish residency permit and the ability to travel visa-free in Europe are attracting investors from outside the Eurozone like China and Russia. Property sale is brisk also for the reason that real estate in Spain is now selling at bargain basement prices.
New buyers replace traditional ones

The buyers of Spanish properties are traditionally the British, Germans and the Dutch. But real estate agents are reporting an increase of interest and buying from investors in the Middle East, China and Russia. According to Lucas Fox, a real estate consulting firm, there has been a healthy boost in sales of real estate located along the Spanish coastline. Buoyed by the new demand, the company has already established a new concern, Residency in Spain, to meet up inquiries from non-EU potential buyers.

The new visa category has attracted buyers not only from India and China, but also from Brazil, South Africa and the Middle East. Spanish real estate firms hope that these new buyers will stimulate the Spanish real estate market in places where high quality property is available. This in turn will encourage developers to build new properties particularly with overseas buyers in mind.
Popular places to invest

The most popular location of overseas buyers is found to be the Costa del Sol. The place is famous throughout the world for glamor and glitz and is the place to be seen in for investors from the Middle East. According to Taylor Wimpey Espana, a real estate firm, Marbella is the most popular choice. The resort town has always seen higher demand than the rest of Spain, with Middle Eastern scions investing in Marbella for years now.

But, according to Chris Mercer, director of real estate firm Mercers, not all regions of Spain will benefit equally. This is because average prices in other areas of the country are much lower and will not reach the minimum 500,000 euros requirement. For these areas, he said, an investment in the range of 250,000 to 350,000 euros would suffice. This also would attract more potential investors.

Source: www.property-abroad.com/

PORTUGAL AND SPAIN MORE AFFORDDABLE FOR BRITS DESPITE WEAKNESS OF THE POUND AGAINST THE EURO.

The tumbling prices mean favourite spots in Portugal and Spain are more affordable for Britons despite the weakness of the pound against the euro.

But Italy is still proving an expensive place to visit, the report from Post Office Travel Money showed.
The report looked at in-resort prices, such as meals and drinks, at 20 locations, including Bournemouth and Blackpool in England.
Judged on 10 items, Albufeira in the Portuguese Algarve had the lowest prices, with the items costing £46.34. This was fractionally cheaper than in Torremolinos in southern Spain, where the items cost £46.50, and Javea on Spain's Costa Blanca (£47.14)
Prices at these three resorts are between 15% and 20% lower than this time last year.
Blackpool, where the items cost £65.96, was the 11th least-expensive resort in the 20-strong list, with Bournemouth (£78.01) 14th.
Most expensive resort in the list was the Jumeirah region of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates where the items cost £103.23. Sorrento in Italy (£101.79) and the Italian region of Tuscany (£94.92) were the next dearest destinations.
While a three-course evening meal for two, with wine, was just £20.56 in Albufeira, it was as much as £70.09 in Tuscany.
A cup of coffee in a bar or cafe in Albuefeira was 93p, but as much as £3.91 in Dubai.
Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money said: "The pound may be worth less in Europe than a year ago but fierce competition means that lower prices in several of the resorts we surveyed can easily offset the falling value of sterling. Taking some time to check out resort costs and add them to package prices to find the best overall deal will pay dividends this summer.

Luxury Holiday in Javea

When having the right budget for an amazing holiday with beautiful beaches and exclusive villas then you are lucky.
The selection of accommodations in Spain offer something for every wallet.

Luxury living is available in all areas of Spain. Famous luxury areas are the Balearic Islands, the comunidad Valenciana and the coasts of Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol.
There are no limitations to the luxury villas in Spain.
Luxury Accommodations in these areas are unique and are well known around the world.
Luxury Villas in Javea feature many possibilities for an exclusive holiday in with all modern amenities.
Luxury estates provide heating and cooling for the complete property. Luxury villas in Spain offer satellite television in both English and Spanish.
A high quality sound system is also installed in most of these luxurious properties.
Luxury villas have a lot of space for big holiday groups and families.

Wardrobes and walk in closets is a frequent feature in the accommodation. Luxury Villas in Spain are equipped with full kitchens and all appliances.
Dining areas are fully furnished. If you don´t feel like preparing your meals yourself,there are other options.
Catering staff will prepare and serve meals to you if wanted. Get more information about those services from the estate agency that is handling your holiday rentals.
The bigger properties even include staff to serve you for your every day need.
Spanish villas often include fireplaces for a warm and cosy feeling. Fuel should be provided during your stay.


Javea is well known for its luxury accommodations. There are 326 days of sunshine every year, in this area. There are more than 30 golf courses in this part of Spain.
The nearby port of Denia offers direct ferry connection to Mallorca which is very nice for countless wares from popular stores all over Europe.


The larger villas most often include features for big groups, like private Spa with Gym and private swimming pools. Heated floors, gyms and saunas.
Clients can also locate luxury villas in Spain that offer small amenities such as coffeemakers,espresso/cappuccino machines or even juicers.
Your rate for a luxury villa in Spain will be based on two factors. The time of year you are travelling and how many people in your party.
Prices can plummet during the off season. It is worth considering to make your travel arrangements during that period to avoid the crowds and rental competition.
You should read your rental agreement thoroughly and understand how the security deposit and payment will be accepted.
You will need to know what types of staffing options are available.
Does the facility offer a concierge service? Is this service a full-time benefit or are there specific daily hours?

Be aware of as many details as possible when you rent your property. If any small children are travelling with you check what accommodations are available for them.
Are linens and towels provided? Will you have enough living space and the features you need?
It takes much planning and consideration to reserve a luxury villa in Spain, but the time invested is worthwhile. Reputable Estate Agents will make sure to find you the best Holiday Rental that best suits you needs, and take care of most of the planning for you.
You will ensure all details are covered by approaching the holiday with the proper forethought.
This will eliminate the possibility for any unpleasant surprises.

Check with the your estate agent to assure what the holiday rent includes and what other services and offers are available. The Costa Blanca is the perfect location for your Holidays in Spain.


Find out more at http://www.paradisepropertysolutions.com

English classes for the Police

ALMOST half of Javea’s Local Police have put their names down for an English course.
The 35 members of the Policia Local will be attending lessons given by a group of volunteers to assist them in communicating with tourists and foreign residents.
“Knowledge of English is good, especially in a tourist resort like Javea,” said Public Safety councillor Juan Ortola.
Javea has a large British community, he said.  “Besides,” he added, “the majority of Europeans speak English.”
Officers will attend classes twice a week in the same building where Adult Education (EPA) classes are held.

Source:  www.euroweeklynews.com

Factors to Consider While Choosing Cleaning Service Providers

Chicago is a massive metropolis and has a lot of industries and homes. Industries concern themselves with core areas and do not like to concern themselves with extensive cleaning of the buildings and offices that hire them. Skyscrapers in the downtown area require professional cleaners. They are both utilitarian and symbolic. The symbols have to be clean!

Cleaning services Chicago provider’s housekeepers ensures that the domestic and commercial properties are clean, sanitized, and presentable. 

There are a few factors to consider while hiring or choosing cleaning services.

First and the foremost specific needs of the establishments have to be considered. Companies provide initial consultations on what sort of services would be needed. It would be prudent to hire them before getting into contractual obligation with a cleaning firm who cannot cater to your needs.

Secondly, experience is an important thing to consider while scouting for janitorial service provider.

Then, check if the cleaners can give you references of the past clients. This is the easiest way to check their credentials. 

Lastly make sure that the cleaners you hire have insurance. It is essential to only hire companies who are insured so that you can protect your finances from potential damages and lawsuits.  

Frequency of cleaning is an important thing to consider when contracting somebody.

A wide variety of cleaning methods is used in cleaning. Chemicals and equipment are used to facilitate and expedite the cleaning process. Special care is required to clean IT and other equipment.

Most companies who have a cleaning contract are supposed to provide consumables such as paper towels, toilet rolls, liquid soap, bin liners etc.

Cleaning services generally offer to clean:

·         Shops

·         High Rises

·         Function Centres

·         Data Centres

·         Restaurants

·         Offices

·         Showrooms

·         Warehouses

·         Factories

·         Schools

·         Medical Facilities

·         Government Facilities

·         Airports

·         Dormitories

·         Housing Estates

·         Public Roadways  

Cleanliness, hygiene, and presentability are very important. Besides the obvious sanitary-safety reasons, a clean environment get the mind focussed and clears the clutter. That is essential for the well being of the populace and their productivity.

General services provided by cleaning companies:

·         Carpet Cleaning

·         Window Cleaning

·         General Cleaning (Vacuuming/Dusting/Mopping)

·         Providing Consumables

·         Rubbish Collection

·         Cleaning Common Areas

·         Removing Graffiti

·         Cleaning Bathrooms

·         Hard Floor Maintenance (Sealing, Polishing, Buffing etc.)

·         Lawn Maintenance

·         Garden Maintenance

·         Recycling

·         Securing disposing of documents

Cleaning is an important part of a civilised society; it is the foundation public hygiene. This is one reason that apart from the health and aesthetic reason, the law mandates and enforces cleaning codes. 

Author:Robbie Foster

 

Is now the best time tin Invest in Property in the Sun?

Growing numbers of people are turning their thoughts to buying a place abroad, as evidenced by the fact that overseas mortgage specialist Conti has just undergone its two busiest months of the year in terms of enquiries.
Traditional favourites France and Spain still topping the popularity stakes. And confidence is picking up, with many buyers who have been putting their plans on hold deciding to take advantage of the favourable conditions open to them.
Clare Nessling, Conti’s director, provides ten reasons why the time is right to buy a place in the sun:

1. Historically low mortgage rates. In France, for example, mortgage rates are at their lowest in more than 60 years, starting at just 2.1%, and in Spain mortgage rates currently start from 3.23%.

2. Bargain property prices. Prices in some of the most desirable areas of Spain have fallen by up to 50% since 2007 and bargain properties are turning heads, particularly those of the British. A slower property market in France has been pushing prices down there too.

3. The stronger pound. The value of sterling has risen to €1.18, up from just €1.14 two months ago, and this difference is quite significant when you translate it into property prices – it means that for someone considering a home worth €200,000, the property now costs £169,492 compared with £175,439 at the start of August. A saving of £5,947, which is pretty good.

4. Growing tourism. Tourism is booming in France and Spain for many reasons: easy access, familiar cultures and fantastic diversity. Tourism is really growing in Turkey and Portugal too, and this is positive news for prospective property buyers as it means that rental opportunities are good.

5. Taxation. The word tax doesn’t necessarily mean bad news. For example, if you take a mortgage out on a property in France or Spain, it may reduce your inheritance tax liability as there is a debt on the property. And the recent reduction in the capital gains tax threshold for owners of second homes in France should lead to a greater number of properties coming on to the market, and at more competitive prices.

6. Better investment opportunities. Many British buyers are exploring overseas opportunities in their search for better investment potential than they’re seeing in the UK property market. Even some first-time buyers are opting to purchase property abroad after finding themselves priced out of the UK market.

7. Price negotiation with keen vendors. Buyers in Spain are in a strong position due to the number of homes available and the possibility of negotiating prices down with some very motivated vendors. It’s a similar situation in France – under current market conditions, people are keener to sell and therefore more likely to be receptive to offers lower than the asking price.

8. Rental income can help with mortgage payments. Renting out your overseas property can be a great way of helping to finance it, especially if the rental income is in euros (and you have a euro mortgage) as you won’t have to worry about exchanging currency to make your monthly repayments.

9. Easy access from UK. The number of flight routes to Europe from the UK, and their regularity, appears to be increasing every year, which is good news for overseas property buyers. But it’s also important to remember that there are no guarantees that cheap flights will continue indefinitely in one location.

10. Finance still available. There’s no doubt that the recent banking crises and economic gloom, across Europe in particular, have taken their toll on the international mortgage markets. But it’s still very possible to obtain finance, especially if you have a healthy deposit to put down and can demonstrate that your finances are in good order.

Source: www.ifaonline.co.u

THE CELTS GOLF SOCIETY

Today we The Celts had a very special challenge match against a Spanish selection which included two professionals.  Both teams were comprised of nine pairs who competed against each other in the four ball better ball format. 

The matches were orgainsed with similar handicaps within each fourball.  The demand  to play in this new tournament was very high and we had to have a four tee start.
The format was unusual for our Spanish opponents but they soon got the swing of things and after 6 holes three matches were level three had the Spanish team ahead and three with The Celts ahead.
The temperature rose as the time passed and the standard too, with long puts being holed out for birdies and even the occasional hole out from of the green. After nine hole again there was nothing in the overall standing of the matches.  As the closing holes loomed The Celts rose to the challenge and the level matches went their way.
To win a hole birdies became the order of the day and they were flying in from all over the course.  In thge last two or three holes The Celts finally achieved the necessary wins and the final result saw a win 6 matches to 3.
As a competition there were winners but I can say no losers as new friendships were forged and both teams are looking forward to a return match in the near future.  A special thanks  must go to the staff at La Serena for their support.  To all the players from the two teams, to Diego for arranging the game and to Manolo for the beautiful engraved trophy.  We look forward to the return match which has been proposed as a scratch match, very interesting.
Don't forget the President's prize this weekend, there are a couple of places left.  If you are interested in playing golf with The Celts please contact 615466398 or johnobrienalicante@gmail.com.  We are always  looking for new members.

SOURCE: www.theleader.info