Kentucky Real Estate Business

Posts Tagged ‘Need’

Article by Craig Stanford

All of us like to keep as much of our money as we can. It’s human nature. So when we make one of the biggest sales of our lives, we have to pause for a moment when we think about spending thousands of dollars on a real estate agent to handle the sale.

One of the biggest reasons that someone hires a real estate agent comes down to just one thing: time. If someone is selling a house, then they are probably looking for a new house or are shopping for items for a new house. They won’t have the time to advertise, take calls, show the house, handle the negotiations and close the deal.

I don’t know if it’s this way in your state, but in mine, real estate agents have to be licensed by the state. Applicants sign up for a class at the end of which they take their real estate license test.

When selling your house, one of the first things that you need to do is set an accurate asking price. It’s hard to set a price if you don’t know how much the houses in your area have been selling for. A real estate professional has spent many hours going through the local listings and showing local houses, so he or she may have a far better idea as to what your house is worth.

Another area where real estate agents have a lot of experience is in negotiations. If more that one party wants your house, a skilful negotiator may be able to get more that the asking price for your house.

If you’re thinking about selling your house by yourself, ask yourself how much do you know about escrow, inspection, appraisal, earnest money and closing? Be sure to think about all of these things when thinking about trusting a pro to handle your real estate transaction.

Naturally, you could always decide to be your own agent. Most of the people who sell their houses themselves, do so because they would like to put more cash in their pockets at closing.

I bought my first house in 1984 for ,000.00. I beleave the going rate back then was 6%, so the real estate agent would have received 0.00.I could probably sell the house now for 0,000.00. I would have to pay a real estate agent about ,000.00. This is a lot of money. I can see why people consider selling their own house.

The thing that I have to keep in mind is that I have experienced a significant amount of equity appreciation in the last 23 years. The trouble is; I won’t see any of that appreciation unless I sell the house.

If you’re confident that your house will sell for a great deal, perhaps you can talk your agent into accepting a flat fee for the transaction.

If I did sell the house myself I could lower the asking price by the amount equal to what a real estate agent would charge or if I could get my full asking price, or I could keep all of the profits, but this would be a gamble.

Whether or not you decide to sell you own home will be up to you. Your decision will be based mainly on whether you have the time available, the patience, the knowledge and the confidence

In summary, I can understand the peace of mind that comes from hiring a real estate professional, but then maybe I just lack the confidence. My hope is that you can use the above paragraphs to honestly evaluate your strengths and weaknesses when deciding whether or not to hire a real estate professional to help with your sale.

http://goarticles.com/article/Do-I-Need-a-Real-Estate-Agent/648767/

Rental apartments in Moscow are suitable for people having different tastes. If you need to rent an apartment in the capital city of Russia, then you are sure to be spoiled for choices. You will find from one room to more than three room apartments in Moscow. These apartments can be rented for long or short periods of time. Whatever your need be, you will find a Moscow apartment that is suitable for you.

It may get a bit difficult to find your dream apartment in the largest city of Russia. There are so many rental apartments to choose from that you could get confused. The best option is to seek help from websites that enable you to search a database and choose the kind of rental apartment you have been looking for. You can also use online services providing assistance in settling in to the apartment you have chosen.

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You can rent Moscow apartments, many of which are high in demand. You have the option to take your pick from the apartments which have a desirable location. There are apartments in Moscow which are surrounded by many notable places of interest. You can find an apartment close to mansions and palaces, various public and residential buildings, 16th century avant-garde monuments, as well as residences of emperors and tsars. If you prefer staying in a tranquil atmosphere, then you can also look for apartments which are located in calm, residential areas. Businessmen will do good renting an apartment located near to the business, cultural and trade areas.

A favorable location is a must. See that the location suits your requirements. Depending on the lifestyle you lead, you will find apartments to stay in.

Make sure that the rental apartment is a fully serviced one. The apartment can have free high-speed Wi-Fi Internet connection, free satellite or Internet television, a 3-in-1 computer printer/scanner/copier, a DVD/CD player, and a telephone with free local calling service.

The bedroom/bedrooms in the rental apartment can have central heating or air conditioning, a workstation, a coffee table, comfortable bed, and a swivel office chair.

The bathroom and the kitchen in the apartment should be well equipped with required appliances.

Security system of the apartment should be given utmost importance. The door of the apartment should come with a double or triple deadlock.

The bottom line is that the rental apartment should be able to provide you with comfort, relaxation and the security that you need.

http://kathleenchester.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/apartment-rentals-moscow-one-for-every-need-993471.html

Choosing a home is never an easy task, especially if you are a first time home buyer since you want to make sure that you make the best investment possible. Whether you are looking at your first home as something you can use to build equity as a starter home or are looking at your first home as being your last home you want to make sure that you choose a St. Paul Real Estate Agent that you can trust. With this in mind, here are just a few questions you will want to ask.

The very first thing that you will want to check out when you speak with a St. Paul Real Estate Agent is their qualifications to act on your behalf as their real estate agent. This can be quickly done by asking them to see a valid state real estate license. They should be able to show you this without a problem, and if they are not able to then you should quickly move onto another agent because without a proper license they cannot legally represent you and you run the risk of being scammed.

Outside of worrying about getting scammed, you also need to be concerned about getting the best representation. This is because having a license does not guarantee that you will always get the best deal or the best representation given the fact that some real estate agents do not do business correctly acting on the side to get some extra bonus or commission. For this reason, you may want to think about checking with the Minnesota Department of Commerce to see if the real estate agent has any complaints against them or has faced disciplinary actions in the past.

By making sure that the St. Paul Real Estate Agent has a clean record you can help increase the chances that you will have a home purchase transaction that will precede without any problems. This is not the only thing that you will want to check out however, as there are more important things outside of credentials to check out such as their work history and references. References are the best way to know if they are going to do a great job with you because previous clients can tell you how comfortable they felt with the agent and how smoothly their purchase went.

You will also want to check to see if the agent you have in mind normally works half time or full time due to the fact that while part timers may be perfectly qualified, they are not always available to help you out since they have other jobs. This may make it harder to get final closing paperwork complete as quickly as possible and harder to get all the changes and bidding taken care of in the timely fashion that would be ideal. While these are small aspects to think about, they are important when it comes to getting the best representation possible.

http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-your-st-paul-real-estate-agent-4996790.html

Article by Chris B. Jenkins

With the current economic downturn we are all looking at possible ways to make good investments. These wells ensure that we can have a goof future for both ourselves and our family. There are many ways that you can go about investing. These will include bonds, stocks and properties.

Many people have started connecting investment with real estate. Seeing that the country is currently faced with a tough economic crisis, this has led many to be quite reluctant in terms of investing. Even those that have a lot of money to spare are worried about not seeing any return on their initial investments.

It is quite evident that businesses are not running as they use to before. However, going ahead with a real estate business is still effective. The reason being is that property prices are always known to increase over time which as a result will give you a nice profit once sold.

There are various guide lines that one should follow before entering into the real estate business. These would include the following:

1. If you are a beginner in terms of the real estate industry, then the best idea is to take things slow. The first thing that you need to focus on is research. Try having a look a round on the market to get as much information as possible. Use the internet as a great place to compare prices and look for potential buyers.

2. It is important to be realistic. Buying property is no child play. You need to make sure that you have the adequate amount of finance to support your self through out the payment periods. Look to see if you are already in debt as well would also be a good idea.

3. If you like a house, don’t just go ahead with the buy. Inspect the place as thoroughly as you can. Have a look around to see if there are any important things you missed out. Ask the owner what things he or she will be including with the house price such as furniture etc.

4. Before you decide to close a deal, make sure you have a mortgage sorted out that suit you in the long run. Even though you may think you have a mortgage, there is always the possibility of mortgage rates increasing. It is a good idea to get a financial advisor involved as well.

5. When doing a business the main aim is to make a profit. This means that you need to take care of all the paper work effectively. Make sure you are up to date with where the money is going and where it is coming. Seeing you will be in control this is your responsibility.

Try making sure you have enough information before you opt to go into the real estate business.

http://goarticles.com/article/Basic-Tips-That-You-ll-Need-to-Know-For-Starting-a-Real-Estate-Business/1914925/

Buyers in the search for a Hollywood Hills real estate agent need to set their expectations before choosing a provider. Hollywood Hills real estate agents are each unique and work with a different set of guidelines and philosophies. Clients who are expecting to require a lot of attention through the process would want to choose a Hollywood Hills real estate agent who boasts of being accessible at all hours and making time in their days to meet all the needs of their clients. Those clients who do not anticipate needing a lot of attention may be able to go with a larger real estate agency that has an excellent pool of resources but does not claim agents will be available 24 hours a day. Estate agents may have a niche they have carved in the market by representing a high percentage of families, individuals, social or cultural demographics. Targeting a Hollywood hills real estate agent on the recommendation of a peer or colleague who shares many of the same preferences might be the best way to find good representation.

The service fees of a Hollywood Hills real estate agent will vary based on a number of considerations. The process itself – searching for a home – is one that involves several different steps from open houses to closing. Real estate agents are likely to charge fees either on an hourly basis or as commission at the end of the process. Clients who have a specific budget allowance for the entire process of buying or selling a property should be upfront with their candidates to give the Hollywood Hills real estate agent an idea of the price point. Agencies of different scale and specialty exist throughout Southern California, so clients in the market for Hollywood Hills property will be able to find representation suited to a compromise of their needs and budget if necessary.

A Hollywood Hills real estate agent can be useful in helping potential buyers redirect their thinking on a property when other circumstances come into consideration. The benefits of a property will not always be immediately apparent to a home buyer who does not have a deep working knowledge of a region or current real estate trends. Furthermore, for potential buyers who are drawn to a property with hidden issues, Hollywood Hills real estate agents can help to persuade clients against further pursuing an offer or attempting to buy something with renovations likely to cost a great deal of money. Buyers should inquire at an agency how experienced their staff is in handling renovations, which types of properties they specialize in and how easy it will be to get a hold of their agent.

Let’s say it right up front. There is no really cheap car insurance. However, there is almost certainly insurance available that costs less — possibly significantly less — than you are paying now.

Auto Insurance is a mandatory product by law for all car owners. Car owners may opt for a third party insurance or a comprehensive cover. Third party insurance is the minimum requirement for driving the car on road; however there are several benefits of a comprehensive cover. It covers the losses occurred due to own damage of car or injury to you or your passengers. In addition to this it covers theft losses and other perils (fire, Act of God perils, cyclone, terrorism, etc.) arising due to unforeseen circumstances.

First and foremost, UK road users need to have a basic level of insurance to indemnify third parties. This has been law since 1930, and was updated in the Road Traffic Act 1988. The law provides that you must have some kind of insurance or protection against their liability to third parties (which could mean other road users or pedestrians) in the event that personal injury is inflicted upon them, or that their property is damaged, as a result of your use of the road. In simple terms, other people deserve to be protected against any fallout that may result from your use of a vehicle. Being insured will protect unwitting parties therefore against costs incurred due to injury, damage to their vehicle, and legal costs.

When you sign a contract for an auto insurance policy, the insurance company agrees to provide you with a shared liability for specific losses or risks mentioned in the policy contract. The coverage limits and an indication of the chances of dangerous occurrences such as terrorism are mentioned in the insurance agreement.

It is normal procedure for you to pay auto insurance premiums once a month, once a year, or once every three months. There are varied and flexible plans offered by auto insurance companies; the policies cover only the events or financial losses mentioned in them. An auto insurance provider is liable for coverage in the amount listed in the policy if there is an accident and the losses are great. Auto insurance coverage usually includes theft, vandalism, property damages due to an accident, and destruction of the vehicle from an accident or a natural disaster like a storm and maybe a flood. According to the auto policy agreement, you are entitled to get complete coverage for your losses when you are involved in an accident even though the claims cost more than the premiums you pay.

Car insurance is one of those annoying expenses in our lives that has no immediately apparent benefit, unlike the cost of a meal in a nice restaurant or the purchase of new music CD. State laws require it and we know deep down we should have it, but that doesn’t make it easier to pay for it. Of course, it can bring some peace of mind knowing that we are protected financially if bad things happen. And there is nobody who denies being happy they have insurance when bad things do happen.

It is a hard learned fact that things these days are not the way they used to be. Gone are the times when you could hop in your hot rod, turn the ignition, and be off on the open road.  Modern people have a lot more to think about. Buckle up, get your smog checked, makes sure your lights and signals are all working: today there are a lot more things to consider when driving a car-much more than in the past.

While it might be tempting to opt for the cheapest deal, doing so could leave you seriously out of pocket in the event of a claim. Or it could even leave you uninsured.  The cheapest level of cover you can buy is third party insurance. It only covers damage or injury to other people and their property, caused by you. In the event of an accident you will have to meet the cost of damage to your own car.

The prospect of a more competitive insurance market offers the potential for significant consumer gains. As early as 1973 Professor Joskow at Massachusetts Institute for Technology demonstrated that markets for insurance had no characteristics suggesting a need for regulation. To varying degrees, states are evaluating the possibility of increasing the degree of competition in the insurance industry. Technological advances, financial services deregulation, and more effective risk management tools have compelled many states to reconsider the role of competition.

Kentucky has a population of over four million people and is a state sometimes associated with horse racing, bluegrass music and some fine whiskey distilleries. Not to mention traffic! Two of the state’s most populated cities, Louisville and Lexington, are high traffic areas. While you might try riding a horse without insurance, driving a car is a much bigger risk.

Why do we need Kentucky Auto Insurance? Well if the reasons stated above don’t help with that decision then the other reason is that auto insurance is not only the law in Kentucky but it is also the law in every state in the US. Kentucky Auto Insurance requires that all drivers hold a minimum of ,000 of bodily injury per person in other vehicles, ,000 per accident and ,000.00 in property damage. Is this enough? The answer is NO. As stated above there are so many drivers without Auto Insurance in Kentucky, if you should have an accident with these coverage’s you could find yourself in the poor house. If you have an at fault accident in Kentucky and only have the state minimum you could be out of pocket not only thousands but even millions of dollars.

If you are the owner of a car then you have to get insurance – It’s a legal requirement! It is a serious offence to drive without insurance and you run the risk of getting points on your licence and being fined. If you didn’t get insurance in the first place you’ll end up paying considerably more when you come to get it because you’re deemed a higher risk after avoiding buying it and being caught and fined!

Insurance will pay the costs, dependant on your level of cover if you are in an accident and your vehicle is damaged. Other people’s property will also be covered against any damage you may cause. Other road users and pedestrians, as well as your property are protected by car insurance and this is the main reason we have insurance.

The reason we compare car insurance quotes from multiple car insurance companies is to make sure we‘re getting the best rates possible. Of course nobody wants to pay more money than they have to, but in the other hand we also want to make sure that our car insurance company is going to respond quickly and fairly in case of an accident.

What is unknown to many is that there is not one single car insurance company that is cheaper than others. One particular car insurance company can be the cheapest for one person but the most expensive for another. Each car insurance company has a certain category of drivers they want to insure. If you fit their category they will offer you a cheap rate, if you don’t, they will offer you an expensive rate. That is their way of filtering the people they want and do not want to insure. That is the reason we need to compare insurance rates from multiple car insurance companies, to find out which company will offer us the cheapest rate. The key is to find the company that offers the cheapest rate for you, but of course, it is important to compare rates from quality companies only.

Today, buyers need not look further than their desktop computers or laptop to search for real estate properties. That’s why real estate agents develop web sites on top of their traditional advertisements in the hopes of generating real estate leads online.

After creating a real estate website, the next concern of a real estate agent is to come up with effective strategies that will make the site generate real estate leads. Two of the challenges that most real estate agents face in developing a lead generating website is driving traffic into the site and converting these visitors into real estate leads. Although it may sound simple, it actually requires a lot of time and financial resources in planning and devising online marketing strategies that will work.

How to Get More Visitors to Your Website

There are many ways to drive traffic to your site. You can use Pay per Click advertising, which is hosted by Yahoo, MSN or Google. All you have to do is set up a PPC account, name the search terms or keywords that you want to direct to you (ex. real estate, online real estate agent), and then come up with a short ad for your website.

When someone searches using one of your search terms, you ad will then appear in the Sponsored Link area on the results page. If potential real estate leads click on the link for your ad, you will be charged for it. But because of the cost involved, it’s not efficient to rely on this method alone in driving traffic to your site.

The best way to get more traffic, and hopefully real estate leads is to use SEO or search engine optimization to get a higher ranking in the search engine results page. If someone searches using one of your search terms, your website will be listed in the results page itself, and not just in the Sponsored Link area.

How to Convert Visitors into Real Estate Leads

Your website design should motivate the visitors to stay much longer in your site, and hopefully become real estate leads. To do so, your website should provide the necessary information and research tools that will help buyers search for homes and other properties. This increases the chances of converting your visitors into real estate leads.

First, come up with an effective website design. This means you take everything into consideration, from the layout, navigation, aesthetic appeal, optimization, and quality content, among others. A first-time visitor should feel welcome in your website and should want to stay much longer to explore. Your contact information should also be easy to find.

To convert visitors into real estate leads, provide value. Allow them access to real estate information and search tools even without registering. Then, if they fully trust you and perceive the service you offer to be valuable, you can require them to register to access special features. You can then check on them and call them using the email address they provide or contact numbers. The rest depends on your marketing skills in converting real estate leads into clients.

For More information on getting more leads for your real estate business, visit the Official Real Estate SEO Website at http://www.realestateseocourse.com

When the time comes to buy a house or property, some home buyers or sellers believe they are able to get it done by themselves. They really feel they can save given that they will not need to pay a real estate agent fee and they can make much better decisions in purchasing, or if selling, keep more of the proceeds for themselves. But this isn’t really the case. Working with a real estate agent is critical when purchasing a house or property for several reasons. Listed here are a few of the main reasons you’ll want to employ a real estate agent as opposed to working through it all alone.

Representation

The work that real estate agents carry out is for a fee. Which implies that they don’t get paid unless they sell your house. That provides you with some assurance that they will do what can be done to get your house sold in as little time as possible.

Knowledge of the Industry

Can you deal with the behind-the-scenes maneuverings as well as the negotiations involved with a real estate deal? Are you aware of how to fill out all of the legal paperwork you’ll need to be able to purchase or sell a house? Probably not. That is why a real estate agent is so essential. They understand every aspect of the business. With so many legal guidelines and regulations involved with the legal transfer of property, it’s highly recommended to get a professional that has been through the procedure before.

Advertise on your Behalf

If you’re seeking to sell your home, your real estate agent handles the advertising and marketing of your house. They’re going to look after listing it on MLS, taking photos of the home, listing it in local publications and also showing the house for you. With all of these resources, you will certainly come out ahead by paying their fee and letting them care for these varieties of details.

Less Time Consuming

Without employing a real estate agent, you can spend numerous hours sifting through local listings. With new properties added everyday, this job alone may possibly require a lot of your time. If you hire a real estate agent, they usually do this for you. They’ll go through and create a checklist of the homes that fit your criteria so you don’t waste your time searching for homes that do not suit your needs. For many people, this service on it’s own could make hiring a real estate agent worthwhile.

Well Networked

For those who work with a local real estate agent, probabilities are that they have got very good connections with as well as knowledge of local businesses along with other realtors. This implies that they can find you a better deal than you could yourself. Real estate agencies also work together to share information and facts. This improves your alternatives for a great choice of homes and mortgage resources.

Hiring a real estate agent is easy. It’s unfortunate that many home buyers and sellers are usually unwilling to employ one mainly because of the commission. Once you think about the benefits of employing an agent, you’re going to clearly notice that their small commission is really a tiny price in comparison to the amount of additional net proceeds they are going to generate when you are selling your house or even the amount they are going to save you while you are buying a home.

The sale of a business creates many opportunities for planning: estate planning, business succession planning, and income tax planning are just a few of the topics business owners are faced with at this critical juncture. However, all too often, the business owners and their tax advisors hyper-focus on the conversion of those assets into cash. This one dimensional approach, does not fully take into account what is the end goal of many selling business owners: repositioning the business owner’s value into income-producing investments which produce a more tax-efficient return on equity. In some cases, there may be tax savings opportunities.

Take for example a hypothetical coal company in Kentucky trading as Cleaner Coal Technologies. Cleaner Coal Technologies has been in business for twenty years. The primary owner, Henry Duggett, wants to sell Cleaner Coal Technologies, move to the Powder River Basin and reinvest the sales proceeds in new equipment, a new brand, and a new physical plant. The company recently received an offer to purchase all outstanding shares and the ownership entity for twenty million dollars. If Henry had significant negotiating power, he might be able to simply sell his stock and pay long-term capital gains on the sale. If he had the right buyer, he might be able to negotiate a tax free reorganization under IRC § 368 and then use his new stock as collateral for a loan to finance his new company. However, most buyers will either want to purchase the assets only or insist that the stock sale be classified as an asset sale under IRC § 338(h)(10). As such, the purchase price would be allocated among all of the company’s assets under IRC §1060 and Henry would have to pay taxes on the net capital gains taxes at the federal and state level. This gain would be exacerbated by depreciation recapture on any capital assets that were depreciated during the last twenty years. All-in-all, the sales price of twenty million dollars could be reduced as much as 35-40%.

If Henry considers an asset sale, then his tax advisor should be looking for other opportunities to save him money. In Henry’s case, he should exploring the possibility of like-kind exchanges. If Henry were to “map out” his sale and repurchase and convert his ownership in equipment, intellectual property, and real estate into new equipment, intellectual property, and real estate, Henry could bury his cost basis into his new investment and successfully defer a majority of his capital gain. Goodwill of one company is never going to be like-kind to the good will of another company. Treas. Reg. §1.1031(a)- 2(c)(2). Nevertheless, in ILM 200911006, the IRS clarified that intellectual property “such as trademarks, trade names, mastheads, and customer-based intangibles can be separately described and valued apart from goodwill.” The IRS further pointed out that exchangeclients must take heed of the like-kind definitions applicable to intellectual property and personal property and must make sure that their replacement property is like-kind in both the nature and character according to Treas. Reg. § 1.1031(a)-2(c)(1). Furthermore, Treas. Reg. § 1.1031(a)-2(b) provides that depreciable tangible personal properties are of a like class if they are either within the same General Asset Class (as defined in Treas. Reg. § 1.1031(a)-2(b)(2)) or within the same Product Class (as defined in Treas. Reg. § 1.1031(a)-2(b)(3)). Whether intangible personal property is of a like-kind to other intangible personal property generally depends on (i) the nature or character of the rights involved (e.g., a patent or a copyright) and (ii) the nature or character of the underlying property to which the intangible personal property relates.

Two examples are provided in the regulations concerning exchanges of intangibles. In Treas. Reg. § 1.1031(a)-2(c)(3), Example 1, Taxpayer K exchanges a copyright on a novel for a copyright on a different novel; these properties were of a like-kind. In contrast, in Example 2, Taxpayer J exchanged a copyright on a novel for a copyright on a song, and the properties exchanged were deemed not of a like-kind. Thus, both the nature or character of the rights involved and the nature or character of the underlying property are taken into account.

As tax advisors, deeper levels of planning provide more areas for you to create value for your clients. The tax planning related to the sale of a business, in particular, gives an opportunity to create a competitive advantage over your peers.

Thai condominium market – developers need to consider the law

There is some confusion over the law for foreign purchase in Thailand. Most developers and government officials agree that foreigners can buy up to 49% of the units in any one particular condominium building. However, the law used to limit foreign ownership at 40%, and this was increased to 49% on a 5 year basis. This 5 year period has now expired and so legally the limit should revert back to 40%. However, most people are still working on the 49% rule, meaning that many new condominium units perhaps are being sold to foreigners illegally.

For the rest of this article, let’s assume that the law is actually  49% (as is the common belief). I recently visited a very nice, luxury condominium in the Sukhumvit area. It is a low rise 8 story building, which is the maximum height that the law allows for given the width of the access road into the premises. Each unit in this deluxe new condominium project has 4 bedrooms and measures 300 sq.m. All I can say is that it is a stunning building, very classy. However, it also commands a very high price tag, with each unit being sold at over 40,000,000 Baht.

The developer had this concept of a deluxe condominium, where all owners are affluent and wealthy individuals. However, the developer has now hit a problem. They have sold 49%, the full foreign quota, to foreign buyers, but they have sold only about 10% of the remaining 51% to Thai Nationals, some of which were associates of the developer. The problem the developer faces now is that they cannot find enough wealthy Thai nationals to buy the remaining units, meaning that they are stuck with them. As a developer, this represents a very large percentage of the profits of this development.

Thai law prohibits non-Thai nationals from owning land, so condominiums are the obvious alternative for foreign investors. However, if you are a Thai National, then you could buy a very large house for 40,000,000 Baht, so why would you spend that much on a 300 sq.m. condominium unit?

Because of this, there are a number of new condominium buildings in Bangkok targeting the high end market, that have sold-out the foreign quota and now are struggling to sell large and expensive units to Thais.

There aren’t that many Thais in Bangkok that could or would choose to buy a 40,000,000 + Baht condominium unit. If you did some research, you would discover that new condominium projects offering small studio, 1 and 2 bedroom units are selling like hot cakes and most of the buyers are Thai Nationals.

Here’s a thought, perhaps a developer who wanted to build a luxury Grade A condominium with only large and expensive units should consider building another condominium in an adjacent land plot, with small units, and register both areas as 1 condominium (like Tower 1 and Tower 2, but branded as two separate entities). That way, they could attract more Thais to purchase smaller units and the luxury units sell to wealthy foreign investors. Perhaps they could separate both buildings with a wall and have separate access points too, just a thought.

Or perhaps the Government could reconsider the 49% foreign ownership limit. The law has in the past allowed up to 100% foreign ownership of units in any one condominium building, but this was back when the economy was crashing and extra stimulation in the economy was required.

So, why 49% now? Well, technically as the owner of a condominium unit, you also own part of the voting rights of the building and part of the land. So, in theory if there was more than 50% foreign ownership in a condominium, there would be more than 50% ownership of the land. So what does this mean, that the foreign owners could collaborate together, outvote the Thai owners and sell the Land? Well no, the Condominium Act 2522 requires unanimous voting of all 100% of co-owners to demolish a condominium building. It also requires 75% co-owner approval to sell common area land of the condominium. So the real question is, should the government reconsider this 49% rule, after all it is really hurting some developers.

Author: Neil Simmons, a Director of Ideal Homes Real Estate Co. Ltd. Tel: (02) 714 3832-3 www.property-bangkok.net

All states in the USA levy local taxes to pay for local services. The level of taxation and the details of exemptions and refunds vary from state to state. It is important to be aware of what the tax law is in the state where you are resident, do business, work, or are just visiting.

Income tax is a progressive tax which means that as your income increases so you pay more tax. It is the basic form of taxation in Kentucky.

In the state of Kentucky the rate of income tax ranges from 2% to 6%. There are six income brackets. The lowest rate is 2% on the first 00 of taxable income. It then increases to 3% on the next 00 of taxable income and to 4% on incomes between 00 to 00. On taxable income between ,001 and ,000 tax is paid at 5% and at 5.8% on incomes between ,001 and ,000. Above that level tax is payable at 6%.

If you work within the state you will be liable to state income tax even if you do not live in Kentucky.

These income tax brackets apply whether the tax is filed by a couple or an individual. Income tax forms must be filed by April 15 every year. This is true for all states in the USA. There are however extensions and adjustments available to this due date.

Former state, federal local government and US railroad employees who have a pension have a tax exempt allowance up to ,110. This sum will vary and should be checked on the website of the relevant pension board website.

Tax credits based on the federal poverty level are available for families. Individuals on low incomes may also qualify. One person on an income of less than 133% of the threshold income of ,800 qualifies for a tax credit. For a family of two the threshold is ,200, for a family of three it is ,600, and for a family of four or more it is ,000.

Tax is levied on personal and real property in Kentucky. The rates vary according to the type of property. It is quite a complex system. You should check the rate for your property on the official website.

Unlike some states, Kentucky has an inheritance tax. There is also an estate tax which is determined by federal tax law. Intangible property, such as bonds,interests, annuities, trusts, money market accounts, loans to stockholders and notes, is liable to taxation in the State of Kentucky.

There is a diffent due date for tax forms relating to property in the State of Kentucky. They must be filed between January 1 and May 15 annually rather than April 15 as for income tax.

Sales tax applies to all goods bought in the state of Kentucky and to goods bought outside the state but used or consumed within the state. It is levied at the rate of 6% in Kentucky.