Yard cleaning dumpster rental

The benefits of a dumpster rental for cleaning up your yard

Hiring a dumpster from a dumpster rental franchise can be a good idea if you have lots of leaves and other organic waste you need to get rid of. If you own a large yard, there might be enough garden waste and cut branches to fill a dumpster. When you rent one, it is delivered and then taken away when you are done. The cost is paid only for the time it is here.

Benefits include the convenience of only having to do the heavy lifting once, since you fill up the dumpster. This can save you money if you don’t have many helpers to help you move heavy waste. You also don’t have to spend time on weekends, because your dumpster can be dropped off on weekdays.

If you’re doing a lot of renovations and have a lot of garbage junk to get rid of, then you might want to consider renting a dumpster. Dumpster rental companies often have policies that require a certain amount of time the dumpster can be out on your property. It’s a good idea to make sure that you check out the terms and conditions of your rental before you sign anything. You want to make sure that you don’t end up with a large fine for leaving it out for longer than you were supposed to.

What is included in dumpster rental services

Content creation is one of the most important parts of any good business. When people are looking for your products online, they’re going to want to know what they’re getting into. If your content is lacking, people will skip over you for your competitors who provide better detail.

Our content team can create content to help you display your product in the best light possible. Most services start off with a consultation to understand your business and goals. We’ll work closely with you to create copy that will appeal to your audience and lead them to your store. We also create blog posts for your business blog and lifestyle posts for social media.

How a dumpster rental can save you from the hassles

Dumpster rental is a service that provides you a place to throw away all the trash in your home renovation. This service is a relief for those who do not have enough room for garbage. It is also beneficial for long-term projects.

Dumpster rental services are flexible and you can use it according to your needs. This service is cost-effective. These services are available to you at affordable prices. You can hire a dumpster for multiple days or weeks. It is a beneficial service to have as you can throw away all the trash with ease.

If you’ve had your share of experiences with the garbage collection services, then you might want to consider getting yourself a dumpster. Getting a dumpster is the best way to protect your home from those pesky bugs and rodents. As a homeowner, you probably have many responsibilities to fulfill. The last thing you need is to be worrying about the cleanliness of your house. It’s also good for your budget. You can save more money by taking up the responsibility of managing it all by yourself.

Tips to rent a dumpster for your yard cleaning

When you’re preparing to start remodeling or doing work around your house, one thing you can do to make it easier and help ensure your safety is to rent a dumpster. Here are some tips to help you know what kind of dumpster to rent for your job and then how to rent it.

First, the type of dumpster you rent depends on how much waste you will generate. If you are just doing some landscaping and painting, you can likely get away with renting a small dumpster or trash can. If you’re planning to take out a large tree or tearing down a shed, you’ll need a larger dumpster.

Why it is a good idea to use a dumpster for your yard cleaning

When you want to clean out your yard, you can feel overwhelmed by how much there is to do. One way to get the job done faster, is to use a dumpster. Before you get started, however, it’s important to call a rental company and explain what you want. You don’t need to have too much experience with dumpsters, but you will need to know some basic information about what size you need and how you want it handled.

If you are using a dumpster for yard cleaning, you will probably want to opt for a dumpster that has a door on the front. This will make things easier when you want to throw things in. You’ll want to make sure that if you are using the dumpster for yard cleaning, you can easily get it to your yard, or wherever you are cleaning.

Tips for picking a dumpster

It’s important to choose a dumpster that has a door that doesn’t leak, and a door that locks. Also, you want to make sure that the dumpster is easy to pick up, otherwise you will have to go to a different location and that could be annoying.

A good place to find a dumpster is at a nearby waste management facility. Go to one in your region and ask the people working there where the best dumpster is on the property. Remember to look for the words “dumpster” or “trash container” on it. The best ones are usually yellow or orange so they stand out against the other trash cans.

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How to Protect Your Epoxy Flooring Investment

Beautiful epoxy shineIf all ceramic tile was installed the way it should be, there would be less wear and tear damage and degradation of finishes and home improvement would be a walk in the park. Unless you have an epoxy floor of course!

Unfortunately, tile setters are paid only to lay tile and install the grout. Most of the contractors who hire them don’t consider the long term use of the product and how important proper grout sealing and maintenance is.

Some builders are simply under the impression that tile and stone will stay attractive; they aren’t around to see the finishes after months or years of use.

They leave the installation to the tile setter or epoxy contractor, assuming anything to do with that scope of work will be taken care of by them. Usually even in new construction, sealing and protecting the floor finish simply gets left up to the homeowner.

Taking a few steps to protect tile and grout as soon as they are installed will save some grief down the road.

Using appropriate sealers on new tile will ensure that dirt will have a tougher time reaching the surface; but any surface, sealed or not, will need cleaning after continuous use. Grout and tile respond differently to stains and dirt, but both become worn and need attention through the years.

Dirt Affects Tile and Grout Differently

Grout cleaning requires a deeper penetration than is necessary for cleaning tile. Even though grout sealing will lessen the effects of surface grime, it cannot completely stop it. The primary sign that grout cleaning is necessary is when the grout coloring becomes inconsistent. Dirty areas will appear darker than the others. That’s why epoxy flooring is much simpler, as there is no grout!

Tile has a glazed finish in most cases. This helps stop deep penetration of stains, but any breaches in the finish will allow impurities to get through the armor. Clay tiles do not always have a protective sealer and need to be sealed or waxed to keep the dirt out. Tile cleaning encompasses many different restorative actions based on materials and the extent of the damage, so no two cleaning jobs are exactly the same.

Continuous Tile Care and Maintenance

Caring for tile is ongoing to lessen the number of times tile cleaning needs to be performed. Whenever a spill occurs, it should be addressed immediately to lessen any penetrations or chemical reactions it might have with the surface. Some liquids are more damaging than others to grout, and some are damaging to tile too, especially in the case of natural stone.

Cleaning itself can be detrimental depending on the cleansers used. A clean dry cloth to blot up the spill is the first course of action and a damp cloth to wipe with afterwards. Any cleaner necessary should be used sparingly and designed for the specific surface material.

Look for signs of wear and staining though the grout coloring, surface appearance, and luster of the tiles. Be sure that you don’t procrastinate too long when tile cleaning is necessary. Ignoring dirty tile only adds to the amount of tile or grout cleaning necessary and can also lead to a need for repair and/or restoration.

Taking proper care of tile floors will extend their beauty and when it comes time for tile cleaning, be sure to utilize specialists who can restore the appearance of tile so it looks brand new again. At Great White Floor Cleaning, we have the knowledge and the experience to protect your investment properly.

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The Very Best New Home Improvement Tips

renovating your homeThe mere thought of DIY home improvement may have you shaking in your boots.

There are plenty of home improvement projects that novices can master. Making improvements to your home can be beneficial over time, and this article provides some ideas for projects you can complete yourself.

Prepare for extensive remodeling work

You need to give a thought to the context of your neighborhood before you engage in extensive remodeling work. If your home is the only Victorian in an neighborhood of saltbox cottages, it will look out of place. Your remodeling plans should compliment your house and the neighborhood and not clash.

When you are going to be doing home improvements, make sure you do things that will be viable. Improvements that don’t make sense include anything that isn’t conducive to the climate in which you live. Only renovate in a fashion that matches your climate and works for a variety of tastes and styles.

You can make decorative pillows easily. Reuse old clothing by cutting it into pillow-sized squares, then turn them into pillows. This will enhance their room with a bit more flavor and personality.

If you can, try to fix an issue as soon as it pops up. A good deal of damage results from things that are easy to overlook or postpone. Do not think that way! Keep in mind that some damage to one area or system of your home can quickly spread to other areas. Before you know it, your little problem has snowballed out of control.

Don’t forget the kitchen

Your kitchen and bathroom renovations will start with turning off water sources so that you don’t create flooding when you work on your pipes or fixtures. While this should be obvious, too many homeowners forget to turn the water supply off. As a result, they end up with floods and rooms that require further renovating to repair water damage.

By repainting your walls, you can transform the look of a dreary, dated house. An entire room can be changed with paint. It is inexpensive to do and will boost the value of the home. Use colors that are light and match your home decor.

If you have bought a home in an undeveloped area, or in the midst of a wooded area, consider installing a quality fence around the boundaries of your property. That way, you can prevent intrusions into your garden from coyotes, skunks, and rabbits.

Individual solar lights come in an abundance of styles and are cheap, however they serve very little purpose other than decoration. If strong lighting is what you require for a pathway, you probably need electric lights. These lights are high in quality and will last you a long time.

Many times contractors lower construction costs by using solid wood cabinets with no hardware. Fortunately, you can purchase cabinet knobs, drawer pulls, and handles online or at any home improvement store. You may want to get older looking pulls, modern ones or designer ones and these are able to be installed in a few minutes.

Pay attention to the details

A fence keeps the good yard in and the bad animals out. It will allow guests, pets and family to avoid any stray animals that may be roaming around. You can also keep your pet at bay. A fence is something that all homes need to look complete.

Money that a homeowner invests in installing new windows is seldom wasted. Quality energy-efficient windows can make heating and cooling a home significantly cheaper, thanks to the way that they prevent unwanted heat transfer and keep internal and external air separated. This project is very rewarding for any area of the home.

Crown molding can add a remarkable effect to walls. Plain, boring walls can be spiced up with the addition of some crown molding. Not only is crown molding affordable, but it’s also easy to put in.

Before you hang blinds, you’ll need to take careful measurements rather than approximating your window size. If you fail to properly measure, you are not going to be able to install the blinds properly.

Blinds come in different sizes and many are made specifically for interior window frame installation and some for the outside frame.

Be sure that contractors you hire are insured. If they cause damage to your house, you might have to take them to court if they are not insured. If you want to know whether or not a contractor has insurance, just ask them for visual proof.

Likewise if you hire a dumpster rental company to remove the construction debris, make sure to pick a reputable local company. Check the market for pricing and conditions, and make sure to pick a service that has positive reviews from past customers.

Sprucing up your kitchen is a great home improvement job, and you needn’t sink a ton of money into new cabinets to do it. Repainting them can really recreate your space. There are a myriad of different finishes and stains that you can choose to improve your cabinets with.

Check out the possibilities at various home improvement websites, then go with the one that fits within your style and budget. There is a lot of value in quality US real estate properties.

As mentioned earlier, there are lots of easy project anyone can take on. You should now feel much more comfortable with taking on your own home improvement projects. It is going to make you feel great to see your own work!

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The US real estate market in 2020

US real estateWe will cover all aspects of a real estate investment in the United States so that you can make an informed decision on the subject and especially understand why investing in real estate in the United States is a great idea and how to do it in a secure context.

Why invest in real estate in the USA?

Buying real estate in the USA, new or old, for the purpose of renting it, has a lot of interest currently and often brings in around 10% gross, 6% net. Europeans invest massively in the rental and not necessarily close to home. However, rarely do they consider investing in real estate abroad. However, some real estate markets, such as that of the USA, have interesting characteristics and this is an option to integrate when thinking about it.

It is obvious that it is often by comparison between the American real estate market and the European real estate market and which one you know better. Below are the main reasons to invest in real estate in the USA.

It is an affordable market. As in Europe, there are large disparities between certain sectors in the United States. Investing in real estate in California, Miami, Phoenix, Detroit will be very different like Paris, London or Rome. However, overall, the rent to price ratio is much more favorable in the United States than in Europee and the price of real estate per square meter is lower than in France, in comparable cities. The IMF recently mentioned France as one of the most overvalued countries in the world.

it is a profitable market. The rent to price ratio is favorable and it is the basis of rental profitability. Renting a property purchased at the right price, i.e. at a fair price (at market price) will generate high profitability. Overall, we can say that real estate is sold for less than 15 years of rent in the USA. Rather, it’s the equivalent of 30 years of rent in France.

It is a liquid market. Real estate transactions go very quickly in the United States. Currently apartments and houses are sold between 60 and 90 days on healthy markets (we will discuss which cities to target below). A transaction lasts 45 days if a credit is requested, 15 days if the buyer pays cash.

There is strong rental demand. Americans move a lot for their jobs and, in this context, buy less. Each city has its own characteristics in this area, but some cities in the USA clearly have better indicators in terms of attractiveness and creditworthiness of tenants. Having a low rental vacancy rate has a strong impact on the profitability of your rental property investment.

Purchase costs are lower in the United States than in Europee, but above all they are 90% borne by the seller (including the agent’s commission).

There is a property right on the owner’s side. Nothing could be more unpleasant to invest in rental property and not to collect rents because of unscrupulous tenants. The law is clearly on the owner’s side in the United States and, should this unfortunately be necessary, an eviction procedure is generally quick and not too expensive.

In which region of the USA should you invest?

Of course, we all have our preferences for sentimental reasons, but here our goal is to argue our advice. First, in which city should we refrain from investing in the USA in our opinion? A number of sites and articles currently advise investing in real estate in Detroit: we don’t have the same opinion. Indeed, the demography of the city is unfavorable (constant drop in the number of inhabitants for more than 20 years). The unemployment rate is high, the average income low, the real estate very old (for the United States). Therefore, we do not recommend this city.

How about the west coast of the United States? We love California, Oregon, Washington state. On the other hand, real estate is expensive there overall, which makes the rental profitability lower, because the rents cannot go up to the sky, for lack of a solvent demand. Regarding California in particular, the area of ​​San Francisco/Palo Alto has become so expensive that the rental profitability is very low. On the other hand, the rise in prices has generated great capital gains in these cities in recent years.

A recent article by Forbes ranks the cities most favorable to rental investment in the United States: the cities of Florida are well ranked and the city of Orlando is again ranked first. A track to dig too is Texas. Another article by Business Insider shows the 20 best cities to invest. Like them, we recommend the city of Orlando for your Florida real estate investment project and Atlanta for the East Coast. The price of real estate is affordable. They have attractive rents in relation to the price of real estate. The demography is in perpetual increase bringing a constant flow of tenants. You can see a lot of construction dumpsters over there as residents keep on renovating and improving the local real estate.

The criteria for choosing a real estate investment in the United States must take into account the quality of the schools surrounding the property. In the USA, the schools are classified each year according to many criteria and obtain a grade from A to F. A is the best level (take your information to the education department of the targeted state, and not from certain sites where the grade can be given by the angry student against his teacher). The proximity of these good schools will have an immediate impact on rental demand.

The best location is a specific district of Orlando where the schools are all classified A (from elementary school to high school) and which is located 20 minutes from the campus of UCF (University of Central Florida , the largest campus in the United States with 65,000 students) and 20 minutes from Valencia College (which goes up to an associate degree, equivalent to Bac + 2). The other criteria to take into account, in our opinion, are the unemployment rate in the city, population growth in recent years and average household income compared to average American income (around $ 45,000 a year). Most of this information will be available on Census.gov or City-data.com.

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The Difference Between A Realtor And An Agent

Often people use the terms real estate agent and realtor interchangeably. However, these two professions are not exactly alike. Although the two require a license to be able to sell real estate properties, realtors are set apart as they are members of the National Association of Realtors.

Agents and realtors typically share the same nature of work and environment. They also have similar responsibilities towards their clients and their company. They help sell and purchase real estate properties for various clients–whether it is for investment or personal use.

Realtors are members of a national organization called National Association of Realtors. This group of professionals are bound to follow the association’s code of ethics and must pay yearly dues to remain as a member. Just like as agent, a realtor must possess excellent communication skills, customer service, and the drive to put their clients’ best interest first. They should not only be driven by the commissions they receive but should also see what their clients can get the most out of buying or selling a certain property.

Oftentimes, the realtors assess the value of the property by using their knowledge of the current real estate market. Moreover, they also evaluate the most beneficial transaction for both the seller and the buyer. Realtors do not just oversee documentation and contracts. They also check leases and deeds. They advertise and hold open houses just like real estate agents.

Here are the titles that you may come across when dealing with property investments:

Real Estate Agent – A person who is licensed to sell or buy properties for their clients. They can also be a broker or an associate broker. The requirements to become a real estate agent varies from state to state.
Realtor – They are a lot similar to real estate agents, but they are members of the National Association of Realtors. This entails that they uphold certain standards and follow their own code of ethics.
Real Estate Salesperson – Another term for real estate agent.
Real Estate Broker – A professional who took classes and licensure beyond agent level. This person has also passed a broker’s license exam. They can hire other agents to work for them, or they can work alone.
Real Estate Associate Broker – Someone who has also take classes and licensure exam beyond agent level but has chosen to work under certain management.

Many people ask the benefits of using a realtor over an agent. The truth is, realtors are more favorable when you are looking for buyers outside the property’s location. As they tend to have more knowledge of the market’s trends, they will be able to price properties more accurately. However, this does not mean that they are more superior than the other.

Real estate agents are just as hardworking and as dedicated as realtors. Whichever you choose, as long as the person is committed and looks out for your best interest, you will still get the most out of your property investment. But one important element is to pick a reputable and knowledgeable real estate company to help you in your investing journey. Take Chicago, and there is no better agent than Kale Realty. They know how to sell a property and can find the best deals for you if you are looking to buy.

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How to Sell a Property to a Chinese Buyer

Chicago real estateSelling any property is difficult because one has to find the right sort of takers, negotiate on the right kind of price and engage in lengthy paperwork.

Selling property to a Chinese buyer too requires that you do the right kind of homework before you embark on the transaction. The Chinese invest heavily in real estate in the United States and they are quite knowledgeable about properties in the US. Thus, before jumping on to the sale transaction, make sure you know the various requirements that a Chinese buyer might look for and are up to fulfilling such requirements.

Here are 4 tips to help you sell your property to a Chinese buyer.

1. Understand the buying cycle well

Understand that in a cross border property-transaction, the time period that is taken to process the sale is much longer than what it usually takes in a domestic transaction.

However for Chinese buyers, the average duration can be longer than all other international property buyers. This could be for several reasons like information assymentry in China because of lack of Google services like Google maps, barriers of language, lack of options for Chinese buyers to conduct research about properties independently, greater time needed for transferring money from China and so on.

Thus, if you want to stay in the loop as well as expedite the process, it is necessary for you to be in constant touch with the Chinese buyer. For instance you can set up a WeChat official account to ensure seamless and continuous communication. You can also team up with a Chinese concierge team that can conduct regular marketing activities on your behalf, whether through follow up calls or e-mails.

2.Understand the Language

With sufficient effort, you can break past the language barrier. Even though Chinese is not a very easy language to learn, yet often interested buyers take the help of translators and English/Chinese speaking acquaintances to finalize the deal. You can also use translation tools on WeChat for regular communication.

You can also hire Chinese people or set up an external Chinese concierge and send them translated brochures explaining the characteristics of the property. Even though this means that you will not be actively involved in the initial stages because the concierge team will do that on your behalf, you can of course take over the closing.

3. Use Digital Tools to your Advantage

It is important that you use technology media that is amenable to Chinese buyers in order to retain them. You can get on social media platforms like QQ, WeChat and Weibo and utilize them to your advantage. A lot of Chinese buyers are on these platforms and thus, they respond faster over these channels compared to traditional text messages and e-mails. Thus make sure you or your representatives are on these platforms to connect with more Chinese buyers.

4. Understand the preferences of the Chinese buyer well

According to the real estate broker spokesperson at Kale Realty, the Chinese are attracted to new amenity-rich residences in U.S. cities like Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York. They sometimes prefer newer homes that are located close to top-ranked colleges and universities. Chinese buyers value brands and locations like the Ritz Carlton, or Beverly Hills and they usually look out for value addition in property investments.

Thus, if you can tell them more about financial and tax issues with respect to the property transaction wherein they can make an informed purchase decision, they will really love you. Also learn about feng shui and certain other elements of the Chinese culture in order to be respectful towards your Chinese clientele.

Even though these transactions may take time, if you are honest, courteous and patient and know how to negotiate well, you may be able to win the trust of the Chinese buyer as well as get your asking price.

Thus, follow these tips now and impress a Chinese buyer! Chinese have a lot of money to spend, so do not omit them in your real estate activities.

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Hong Kong Real Estate Market Prospects and Trends

Hong Kong by nightThe real estate industry is one of the major sectors in Hong Kong and it plays an important role in the economic development of the country. There is a growing demand of both residential and commercial properties and this demand is intensifying following the increasing population, formation of new businesses and increasing purchasing power by the consumers.

In Hong Kong, residential property has been a popular mean of investment since the last a few years.  At present, investors are showing interest in commercial properties as well considering the fast inflow of various foreign businesses. In recent years, different foreign organizations have set up business in Hong Kong and experts are of the opinion that these number will increase in the future, which will further influence the growth of the real estate market in different Hong Kong districts.

What the Property Consultants Say

Property consultants of Hong Kong are anticipating approximately 10% rise in prices of residential properties and in retail rents within the second half of 2014 owing robust business development in Hong Kong and the low-interest pace environment. A property market that is sizzling of course ensures a constant demand from the realtors. The booming market has thus draw the attention of market professionals and new entrepreneurs are choosing this field to develop their career.

The Real Estate Market for 2013-14

For the fiscal year of 2013-14, the Hong Kong government is intending to increase the supply of land to invite more business ventures and to develop real estate property business relatively. The government is following the same policy that it followed for the last fiscal year. Moreover, the same rule is being followed to increase the rate of residential completion within the next a few years. The Hong Kong government actually has planned to increase the level to 20,000 units every year.

Starting a Real Estate Business in Hong Kong

To start a real estate business in Honk Kong, one needs to meet a few criteria. The government schedules a few rules that are to follow from applying for the license to starting the business. Here we will discuss these issues in brief.  Let’s learn first who can apply for the license and what criteria to meet to get one. 

Who Can Apply for A Real Estate Agent License?

  • Individual professionals who are already holding a real estate license are able to apply for the agent license
  • If any professional tend to develop a partnership business then any of the two partners must have an agent license to continue with the business successfully.
  • All the real estate agencies are supposed to have one manager who will hold the agents license to manage the business operations effectively.
  • In order to avail an estate agent license, the agencies have to show particulars of a business, along with the previous license.
  • Individual, holding sales person license will be able to work as professional of a particular licensed agency only

What is a Real-Estate License Pre-requisite

If we want to qualify as a real estate agent in Hong Kong, we have to satisfy the government-determined pre-requisites. For example, the applicant should be an adult to be eligible for the agents’ license. The person has to proof that he or she has been 18 year old showing enough documents. Moreover, the applicant must have to complete the Form V education level (that stands for secondary education level) to avail the license.

Last but not the least, an applicant has to pass the industry examination at least 12 months before the license is issued. Two different industry exams are arranged by the government to choose eligible candidate to issue them license. These are- EAQE and SQE that stands for Estate Agent Qualifying Examination and Salesperson Qualifying Examination.

Future of Hong Kong Real Estate Market

In the future, Kowloon is going to be the most important source of commercial land supply in Hong Kong. To increase business prospects of the district, the Hong Kong government is planning to speed up the process of releasing two individual bunch of government sites. Experts believe that this will promote commercial development not only in this district but in the entire Hong Kong. Along with this, they are also preparing to develop three more business and commercial sites in this district within the fiscal year of 2013-14.

In order to stabilize real estate business in Hong Kong, the government is also ready to provide more than 16 hectares of land in Tuen Mun and Tsing Yi districts. This will promote the growth of logistics industry to some extend. All these initiatives will provide more than 3.2 million of logistics facilities in Hong Kong.

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120 yen per square meter in Japan

Ginza TokyoEnough to fall on the mat. Forget the over priced gold futon in uptown Tokyo. A Japanese town is trying to attract new inhabitants to the city with an unbeatable price: 1,20 euro per square meter!

Yuni, a small town of 5900 inhabitants on the large northern island of Hokkaido seeks to stop its decreasing population and repopulate. Are you ready for the country of the Rising Sun?

The proposed rate of 120 yen per square meter represents just 2% of the market price in this locality – 6,000 yen per square meter (75 US dollars) – and an infinitesimal fraction of the amount required for the same land area in the chic Ginza in Tokyo … more than 10 million yen (150,000 dollars).

“We want to encourage people from outside to come and live in our city to stop its demographic decline and revitalize,” said the municipality’s website.

A bit far from everything …

The authorities of Yuni, located an hour’s drive from the main city of Hokkaido, Sapporo, is selling eight lots, each 330 square meters for only 500 dollars! – From a former public housing project. The potential buyers must commit to build a house on the land and live there within three years.

Some 200 people, mostly residents of the metropolis of Tokyo, have informed about the terms of the sale two weeks after the commencement of the municipal offering, said an official of Yuni. Among these potential customers are few foreigners including a resident of Hong Kong. Only the Japanese or foreigners with a permanent residence in Japan have the right to buy the lots.

“Two Japanese have already filed all the necessary paperwork to buy,” the official added, Yasuhiko Nakamichi, noting that the municipality could hold a lottery to decide between multiple candidates for purchase after the deadline set for the submission of applications. “Our hills provide stunning views of the rice fields, it is one of our selling points,” he said, adding that the price of 120 yen per square meter was determined by reference to the age of the village based at the end of the 19th century.

Land prices in overcrowded Japanese metropolises remain among the highest in the world, despite years of deflation and economic mixed growth.

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A weak French market

The French real estate market seems to have frozen at the approach of winter. Over the past year, the number of sales has fallen sharply. After a rebound in late 2011 due to the anticipation of tightening of the taxation on real estate profits and the announcement of the demise of the zero loan in the second-hand market, the volume of transactions decreases inexorably.

In Ile-de-France, transactions have plunged 21% in the second quarter. France has entered into one of the three most serious housing crisis since the late 1970s. And this is likely to continue, because most sellers can wait. Without some public intervention to revive the market nothing will happen in the near term. While 858,200 transactions were recorded in 2011, the total sales could fall to 700,000 in 2012.

Despite this bleak picture, prices have so far resisted. In the Paris market, the imbalance between supply and demand appears relatively strong. In Paris, the drop should not exceed 5% to 8% a year, which should be enough to sustain demand. The Parisian market remains highly sought after and is so small that it is preserved from price collapse, as there is virtually no new buily homes.

Proof of this resilience, prices hit a new record this summer, with an average price per square meter of 8410 euros for the period from May to July, according to the Chamber of Notaries of Paris and Ile -de-France. For a four-room apartment, it costs 850,000 euros on average and no less than 250 000 euros for a studio of 30 m2. But this new record should not hide the fact that it is the price stabilization that dominates.

But Paris is not France: the capital is only a small fraction (3%) of transactions. In the provinces, cracks appear. The latest statistics show that the purge has begun in some cities. On the market for old apartments, significant declines were observed in Caen (- 13.4%), Pau (- 9.4%), Rouen (- 6.7%) and Metz (- 6%). For homes, it is in Marseille (- 5%), Valenciennes (- 6.1%) and Bethune (- 10.2%) than prices adjusted the fastest. Nothing dramatic, but the movement is initiated.

After a decade of euphoria, opinions are divided regarding future price drops. Some anticipate a decline of 8% to 10% for quality properties located in major regional cities within twelve to eighteen months. Downward could reach 20% to 40% in the periphery of cities under 100,000 inhabitants and in rural areas, according to housing quality and location. Against the backdrop of rising unemployment, fear paralyzes. Yet buying real estate homes commits over the long term. This is why it is the first to suffer in this kind of situation. However others do not believe in an adjustment with spectacular price changes. Historically, property prices in France go down very little in comparison to falling volumes, as most sellers prefer to wait rather than sell at a price below their expectation.

Particularly attractive mortgage rates, which helped the sharp decline in the market in 2008-2009, do not seem to support the market anymore. In September, they settled at 3.44% on average, against 3.95% six months earlier. As the average maturity, the elongation had helped fuel the surge in the purchase price over the past decade, it tends to decrease significantly since the beginning of the year. Evidence that banks take less risk in their lending to individuals. In September, the average maturity was 206 months, against 214 in early 2011.

In the first nine months of 2012, the mortgage market contracted by 31.9% yoy. Despite the rate getting lower and lower, the return takes place in a bleak time, with worried buyers. Month after month, the equation remains the same: the high price of real estate held by the scarcity of products, is at odds with the borrowing capacity of buyers.

In this situation the government’s room for maneuver is narrow. September 11, Cécile Duflot, Minister for Equal territories and housing, presented to the Senate a bill of general mobilization for housing. Among the key measures was included the provision of State land, the increase of 20% to 25% of the social housing in towns with more than 3500 inhabitants, a 20% reduction on thereal estate capital gains tax (excluding primary residences) in 2013 and the creation of new device tax incentives for rental investment.

Taking the objectives of the previous government, Cécile Duflot has announced plans to build 500,000 homes per year, including 150,000 social housing. An ambitious goal, while housing starts have not exceeded 380,000 in 2011 and are expected to fall to 320,000 in 2012. For a majority of experts, it can hardly be maintained. The government will not reach it in 2012, and probably not in 2013. This year, households are getting 120 billion of home loans. Given its budgetary situation, the state does not have the means to support the market. Only a powerful reinforcement of the support to the property market could change that, but it is not on the agenda.

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Property prices are stabilizing in China


Property prices in China have stabilized in June, with more cities on the upside then downside, the Chinese government announced, while buyers were encouraged by falling interest rates and waiting for a market rebound.

The new housing prices increased last month in 25 cities out of 70, against only six in May, according to a statement of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Prices remained unchanged in 24 other cities whereas they decreased in the remaining 21. This suggests some stabilization in the market after eight months of consecutive decline and despite the continued restrictions on the purchase of houses and apartments in China since more than two years.

To combat land speculation, the Beijin authorities have banned the purchase of a second housing, raised the minimum personal contribution to get a mortgage, introduced new property taxes in certain cities and implemented currency controls to purchase Chinese real estate.

Expectations of a market rebound is related to slower growth in the second world economy, which reached its lowest level in over three years in the second quarter at 7.6%, increasing the likelihood of further measures to support the activity in the second half of the year. The central bank has already cut interest rates twice in June and July, which drew upwards home sales by reducing the cost of mortgages, according to property analysts. Apparently some buyers had postponed their purchases and rushed to buy in June because of concerns about a rebound in housing prices.

Last week, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said that the stabilization of growth was the most urgent task of the Chinese government. Effectively they have to find a fine balance between cooling off the local market and avoiding a crash if the Chinese economy continues to slow down given the spectre of a global recession. Given that the restrictions have seriously curbed real estate speculation, reducing profits for most developers and pushing them near bankruptcy, it was time to stop pushing the brakes.

Ba Shusong, an economist close to the government, had among others called the authorities to lift the restrictions on the purchase of homes to support activity in real estate, pillar industry of the Chinese economy. Government officials are now considering if and when they should relax some of the restrictions to give some support to the local economy.

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