Buying New Construction...How Do I Begin?
The prospect of shopping for a new construction residence can be quite daunting, but the rewards of owning a brand new home out-weight the disadvantages if you know the potential pitfalls. The following are important considerations: Overall Dollar Budget, Location, Cost Per Square Foot, Finishes, Upgrades, Parking and Delivery Date.
Overall Dollar Budget
To establish a budget for purchasing a home, you should speak with a mortgage professional prior to looking for property. In terms of your budget, keep in mind that parking is usually not included in the purchase price that is quoted by the developer. In addition, in today's market the list price of the unit is typically not negotiable.
The best way to establish a budget is to determine how much money you will need as a down payment and how much money you will need as a down payment and how much you feel comfortable spending, based on your gross income, for monthly payments. Remember that the real estate taxes are generally included in your monthly mortgage payment and should be calculated at a minimum of 2% of the purchase price.
If your down payment is less than 20% of the purchase price, your lender will require that you purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI) this charge will also be included in your monthly payment. Also factored into your monthly expenses are your assessments, both for the unit itself and a separate assessment for parking. And finally, add your monthly mortgage payment.
Location
Generally speaking, the higher the density of the area, the more costly the condominium or townhouse will be. Then checking out locations, you may want to consider less developed areas of the city. Such areas are typically less expensive than those in more developed areas. Note, that as density increases with new development, it is highly likely that your property will gain in value, resulting in a higher return on your investment.
Cost Per Square Foot
When purchasing new construction, the favored method of comparing value is cost per square foot. This is the method used by developers to initially price their developments. With the cost per square foot in mind, you will be able to compare different properties on an equal basis and determine whether you are purchasing at a favorable price.
Also to be considered when looking at the cost per square foot price is whether the developer has included such items as granite counter tops, marble bathrooms, and black or stainless appliances as standard features. In Chicago, prices per square foot range from $225 to as much as $1000 per square foot in the Gold Coast.
Finishes
You will need to carefully examine which finishes and appliances the developer has included in the base price versus which are considered upgrades. Note that the more expensive finishes such as granite and marble are not usually included in the base price of a one-bedroom unit.
Be sure to get a detailed list of specifications in writing from the developer, indicating the brand and model number of each appliance. Don't be confused by the finishes and appliances that are shown in the models you see- they may not be the same as those included in the quoted price. Models are typically finished with granite and marble, undermount sinks and hardwood floor laid diagonally but such features may not be considered standard, particularly in smaller or less expensive units.
Upgrades
As you can imagine, the cost of upgrades can vary considerably. Developers commonly charge their cost plus a 20% mark-up for upgrades; others may charge even more. Try to determine the costs when you and your realtor are writing up the initial offer. By determining all costs during the contract period you reduce the chance that upgrade costs will exceed your budget.
If you keep in mind that many new construction units are not ready for occupancy for a year or two, you will understand the importance of having all upgrade costs in writing as part of the initial contract at today's prices rather than at costs calculated at inflated prices one or two years later.
Parking
One of the essential elements of resale value is parking. In a loft conversion or a high-rise building, parking can vary from approximately $25,000 to as much as $60,000 depending upon the level of luxury of the building and the availability of parking in the area.
Since parking spaces have dramatically increased in value, you should seriously consider purchasing a space whether or not you currently own a car. Without parking, the later sale of a unit may be more difficult than that of a comparable unit for which parking is included in the price.
Delivery Date
Although your contract will specify a delivery date, provisions in the contract will often allow the developer to deliver your unit much later than the specified date without penalty. If this is an important issue to you, you should keep in constant contact with your Realtor during the construction process as delivery dates can be delayed for as long as a year and, in rare occasions, even beyond that. You should also speak with your attorney and incorporate terms into the contract so that your interests are protected in the event this should occur.
Working With A Realtor
Purchasing a new construction residence can be a rewarding experience and a wise investment. But there are definitely nuances involved in purchasing new construction, including the track record of the developer, the number of "flippers" purchasing in the project, and the percentage of sold units.
You will be best served by using a Realtor who is familiar with new construction market, the various developers and their product. With your Realtor at hand to answer all your questions, your interests will be represented and protected in all communication with the developer.
If you rely on a real estate professional, you will spare yourself a great deal of the aggrevation associated with purchasing a new construction home and, best of all, this representation will be at no cost to you - the developer pays your Realtor's commission.
About The Author
Sheldon Salnick is a Realtor with Rubloff Residential Properties. He has worked with new construction buyers for the last 13 years and has represented over $200 million in new construction. For more information or guidance in the purchase of a new construction home, townhome or condominium, he can be reached him at SSalnick@Rubloff.com or www.SheldonChicago.com.
Five Tips to Boost Holiday PR Campaigns Success
It's that time of the year to give thanks for good cheer! During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons most businesses have the best time to increase revenue and profit earnings. Public relations campaigns are usually launched by the masses during the holiday seasons and standing out in the crowd requires strategic planning and persistence.
The one great thing about the November and December holiday seasons is that people usually feel generous during this particular time of the year. Public relations campaigns that key in on emotions can quickly receive massive publicity equity returns.
Here is how-to launch good spirits holiday PR campaigns:
1. Express Themes - Draw attention to Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons and make sure that your PR campaigns expresses the emotions for the holiday seasons.
2. Pretty Packaging - Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons are mostly known for glitz and glam! Pretty up brochures, packaging, etc.
3. Holiday Publications - Aim for and target top publications that are widely promoted and displayed during the holiday seasons.
4. Customize Campaigns - Create specialized seasonal holiday websites, blogs etc.
5. Holiday Appreciations - Show off seasonal holiday spirits by offering special promotions, rewards, gifts, and discounts.
Capturing the essence of the holiday seasons and increasing profit margins presents winning solutions for public relations campaigns. During this time of the year competition among PR campaigns become extremely competitive. Stay in good taste and you will always out shine the competition every single time. Wishing you the best success for wonderful upcoming holiday seasons and the best year yet!
"CR" Cataunya Ransom is the Co-founder of Mosnar Communications, INC. She developed a niche for Luxury PR & Global Marketing. Guiding clients on how to brand, market, and promote luxury products, events, and services. Highly respected as a luxury public relations expert! "CR" consults clients and speaks to audiences about luxury public relations and global marketing practices. http://www.mosnarcommunications.com
Asthma Home Treatment
Asthma, a respiratory condition caused by the narrowing of airways and inflammation in the lungs, can be treated at home effectively by following some simple rules and using natural remedies. Home remedies are made at home and work out less expensive than other alternative forms of medicines. Generally, homemade remedies are harmless when compared to other forms of modern medicines and rarely cause reactions or side effects.
Since ages, herbal remedies and home made medicines have been used by our ancestors to cure common ailments. Honey when taken orally or by inhaling the air from a jar of honey is an effective decongestant. It thins out the mucus and helps in the elimination of the same from the system.
A spoonful of turmeric powder in tomato juice or milk taken once daily will help in reducing tropical eosinophilia and free the pangs of breathlessness in asthmatics. A teaspoon of lettuce seeds mixed with honey when taken twice daily on empty stomach, during the treatment of asthma and bronchitis is a very useful tonic and when used regularly, will reduce dependence on asthma medicines and improve the quality of life.
Lettuce seeds contain lignose, which is an effective intestinal antiseptic also. A teaspoonful of fresh mint juice with 2 teaspoonfuls of pure malt vinegar and an equal quantity of honey stirred in four ounces of carrot juice given thrice daily as a medicated tonic during the treatment of bronchitis and asthma has many positive effects as it helps in reducing the swellings in the air passages and helps build immunity to various allergens.
ASTHMA HOME TREATMENT
Fresh spinach leaves prepared with two teaspoonfuls of fenugreek seeds mixed with a pinch of ammonium chloride and honey, taken thrice daily is an effective expectorant during treatment of bronchitis, asthma and dry cough. It helps open up the chest and removes mucous that is forming in the upper chest and soothes the bronchioles, liquefies the tenacious sputum and forms healthy tissue in lungs and membranes and helps prevent respiratory infections. A cupful of fresh Bitter Gourd juice mixed with a table spoonful of honey taken once daily for three months can cure asthma and bronchitis in specific cases. This remedy is effective in mild recurrent asthma. The leaves of Brinjal or egg plant are antispasmodic. When taken as a juice mixed with honey, thrice daily is really effective in congestion in the lungs, bronchitis and whooping cough and particularly in allergic cough and allergic bronchitis. However the treatment should be discontinued after 10 days or if no relief is seen.
BLOCKBUSTER herbal formulation for ASTHMA - CURE your ASTHMA in 10 days
Women's Self-Defense - Why Most Programs Are Wrong
Women's self defense issues are constantly in the news and a 'hot' topic for conversations. It seems that everyone from police officers to karate instructors has his or her own philosophy and theories about the how's and why's of self defense for women and girls.
The truth is though, that many of the same techniques and tactics taught to men for self-protection simply will not work for a woman. Why?...
... because attacks perpetrated on women have, at their foundation, certain inherent problems, issues, and conditions that are often very different for men who find themselves in defensive situations. Women have to deal with things that, quite frankly, men don't.
If this is something you're really concerned about, you owe it to yourself to do some serious research to get more information about real-world self-defense for women designed around issues specifically related to womens self-defense.
Now, before some of you start rolling your eyes or nodding your head in agreement, this is not a women's lib issue or anything of the sort. It's simply the way it is.
What kind of things make self-defense for women different? I'm glad you asked.
Well, for starters, physiologically speaking, there is a 7-to-3 strength ratio between male and female bodies. That means that if you were to stand a man and a woman, having the same height, weight, and build, side-by-side, and all things considered (health, fitness, etc.)...
... the man would still be two-and-a-half times stronger than the woman!
This is not theory or one person's belief over those of others. It's scientific fact.
Next, women are more likely to be slapped, grabbed and pinned than punched or kicked. For men, it's just the opposite. The fact is that, most of us have been conditioned since childhood to act, play, and, yes, fight with each gender very differently. And attackers are no different.
The good news is that more and more women are being drawn to the life-enhancing benefits of the martial arts and basic self-defense programs for increasing their level of self-confidence and overall feelings of safety and security. The not-so-good news is that...
... there is a shortage of:
* Martial arts instructors who understand scientific self-defense, 'and' have the necessary life experience to be able to teach from a perspective that shares that experience.
After all...
... if an instructor has never been in a real-world self defense situation themselves, it will make it nearly impossible for them to teach real self defense to anyone - let alone self defense for women. It's kind of like going to a priest of counselor for marriage counselling who has never been married themselves. They both have information passed on by others but, neither has anyway of expressing that information based on real-word knowledge.
However, there is an over-abundance of...
...so-called self-defense experts who are of the tough-guy, fighter type or the "This is Reality - Deal With it! macho-type.
These people, by their very nature are the "slugger-types" who rely and depend on speed, strength and size to win. Since self defense situations usually involve a bigger, faster, stronger attacker victimizing a smaller, less-prepared target - and, that'sexactly what most women are up against when they're attacked...
... these instructors, and their "strike-first-and-crush-them-where-they-stand mentalities, are far from being suited, knowledgeable, or able to deliver the necessary lessons needed by women to effectively protect themselves from an assailant intent on dominating them physically.
Other Considerations for Girls and Womens Self Defense
The following is a partial list of some of the other major differences between self defense for women and men. The important thing to remember is that...
... a self-defense situation is very different from a sport or competition-based contest where the individuals are willing participants. They are evenly matched to insure for a "fair fight." I have been in contests and I have been attacked and I can tell you without a moment's doubt that...
... there is nothing "fair" or "even" about a real attack. NOTHING! And, once your personal space is invaded by another human being wanting to beat you to your core, you will know what I mean and never, ever, buy into the crap that most of these so-called experts are shovelling.
With that said, please know that I have not said that every self-defense or martial arts instructor is full of it. Just that you must know what you need and make sure that that's what you're getting. Remember - you're not buying a couch that you can take back. A mistake in this area could literally cost you your life!
Here are some other differences between men's and women's training that a good program must address:
* Cultural Influences - girls have been taught from a very early age that fighting was not "lady-like."
Oh my god! What would people think!
* Situational Self-Defense - rape and sexual assault are two of the biggest differences between the genders when it comes to suriviving an attack.
The fact that men are usually dealing with the more obvious situations (muggings and competitive ("oh-yeah! let's go!"-type fighting), while women, and more and more young girls, are required to deal with subtle tactics like date-rape or being ambushed by a group.
Add to this the strength differential discussed earlier, and you have a very different situation, requiring very different self-protection tactics.
* Incorrect Information - I believe that the majority of teachers and instructors mean well. They aren't out to con you. It's just that they have no real experience to go on so they do what everyone does when they don't know any better...
... they make assumptions that seem logical and rational within their own frame of reference.
The problem is that we're talking about self-protection here...
... self defense for women...
... girls self-defense. Not...
... vegetable soup. Where, if you make a mistake, you can just dump the pot and start over.
As I said earlier, a mistake in a women's self-defense situation, in any situation requiring defense against an attack from an assailant bent on damaging you, could be very, very costly indeed.
Jeffrey M. Miller is the president and CEO of Warrior Concepts International, and specializes in teaching the lessons for effective self-protection and personal development to individuals, groups, and business organizations. He has been studying and teaching these methods for over two-thirds of his life. He is a former federal police officer, private investigator, and bodyguard - all professions that demanded that the techniques, strategies and tactics that he used in the line of duty worked, and worked every time.
Mr. Miller is the founder and creator of the EDR: Non-Martial Arts Defensive Training SystemTM. EDR stands for Emotion-based Defensive Response and focuses on teaching adults how to tap into their body's own natural defensive response system to effectively deal with over 95% of the assaults that might happen to them. And they learn in hours instead of months or years as required by most karate programs. Get more information about the EDR System, or to have him speak or conduct a seminar for you, at http://www.warrior-concepts-online.com
