The good news is that in Feng Shui and bathroom usage, the bathroom is closely related to the element of water. Let’s face it; the majority of purposes in the bath are connected to water in one way or another. Water represents cash flow and prosperity in addition to the career aspect of life and prosperity. Ensuring that this room is designed in the Feng Shui tradition can help improve those areas of your life tremendously.

On the other hand, it can’t be ignored that the bathroom is also used for elimination. Whether it is through the toilet or down the shower drain, this room is used for getting rid of toxins. Luckily when the proper Feng Shui and bathroom practices are followed, you can reduce the effects of negative chi, while increasing the helpful water element.

The first thing that needs to be done to Feng Shui friendly your bathroom is to give the room a thorough cleaning. Products sitting on the sink or the back of the toilet need to find a proper home if they are essential to your hygiene. If not, it’s time to get rid of the unnecessary items. Clutter is counterproductive to a good chi flow, and especially in the bathroom it is vital to keep this space debris free. Don’t forget to include under the sink and any linen closets in this process. They count too, and leaving them unorganized is not going to help you in combining good Feng Shui and bathroom décor.

Now that you have the bathroom clean and ready for its Feng Shui makeover, let’s talk colors. There is no need to go overboard on elaborate color schemes. Bright colors are distracting and not beneficial to the Feng Shui and bathroom design. Your best bets are neutral colors like cream and light blue. If that isn’t going to work for you, at least use a color that is relaxing and muted.

As far as the fixtures in the bathroom go, it is very important that they are all in excellent working order. Leaking facets represent your money and prosperity flowing down the drain. Be sure the sink and bath tub facets shut off effectively. Noisy drains are an issue as well. If you have a problem with any of these plumbing issues, and can’t fix them yourself, don’t hesitate to call in a professional to get you started on your way. Feng Shui and bathroom maintenance work best when all of the fixtures are working properly.

The non water element fixtures serve a purpose as well. For example the mirror should be as large as the space above the sink allows. Since you prepare for your day in the bathroom, it is important for you to have a clear, bright vision of yourself every day. The recent trend of placing a mirror split in two in the bathroom isn’t in touch with good Feng Shui and bathroom design.

It is essential to make sure your bathroom is as pleasant as possible. This is one of the most effective ways to ensure that the negative aspects of the bathroom are controlled and don’t cause any problems with the flow of positive chi. The use of crystals is helpful in creating and activating good energy.

Another thing to watch out for is if your bathroom is opposite your kitchen. It doesn’t take a genius to determine why this is not good for the flow of chi. If you do find yourself in this type of situation, the easiest solution is to always keep the bathroom door closed. It is also beneficial to leave the toilet lid down when not in use. Anything you can do to keep the negative chi from escaping into the kitchen and the rest of the house is a step in the right direction.

Feng Shui and bathroom design and placement are an important part of providing your family with a harmonious environment. Color choices and fixture maintenance are essential in allowing a positive energy flow.

This can be attributed to the growing number of people wanting to buy properties abroad for reasons of settlement or property investment and actually do something to achieve it. The majority of these people are retirees seeking a more peaceful abode, while at the same time enjoying tax benefits.

Overseas Investment Mortgages

A good number are simple investors who have seen how promising overseas investments are fast becoming. The strength of the pound is a major contributor to this improving trend. Also, the mortgage market both in the UK and in overseas banks has also become more flexible. If you are one of those seeking to buy properties overseas, you will probably want some mortgage to finance your investment.

In terms of getting a mortgage, you will be faced with two very common choices: getting an overseas mortgage or settling for a local mortgage in your local UK bank.

An overseas mortgage is available in most countries with an established overseas property market. This includes most of Europe (Spain, France, Switzerland, and Italy) and the United States of America. Relatively new to the industry are Greece, Poland, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Turkey, among many others.

Similarities Between Overseas and UK Mortgages Overseas property mortgages are much like your ordinary mortgage that you get from any UK bank. You are taking out a loan that is secured against your own property. You have to apply for a loan, wherein you need to submit necessary documents to prove your income. In both cases, your documents and finances will be reviewed, and your mortgage will be approved if everything looks seamless. The entire procedure for getting an overseas property mortgage is very similar as well.

Differences Between Overseas and UK Mortgages

There are major differences that can be seen between getting a UK mortgage and an overseas loan. It is important to note that the very nature of the market abroad means that everything about it works quite differently from the normal and typical approach that the UK market has adopted. For example, many lenders in other countries in Europe generally do not offer mortgages based on interest only or on the concept of buy-to-let.

They base the mortgage amount on your actual earnings rather than the potential rate you may receive. Consequently, the income multiplier that is all so common in the UK is not typically used in banks abroad. Instead, the affordability model is predominant. This model in turn, relies on the debt-to-income ratio that you have. You need to prove that no more than 40% or less of your income goes into paying debts and mortgages (including the one you are applying for).

By far the most obvious distinguishing difference between a UK-based ! and an overseas mortgage is the currency that the mortgage is to be denominated in. So if you buy a property and get a mortgage, you will be earning in sterling pounds but you will have to pay your mortgage in a foreign currency (USD, euros, and so on).

Advantages of an Overseas Mortgage

Getting an overseas mortgage has considerable advantages. Foreign banks and lenders have become very flexible when it comes to lending to UK buyers. This is largely part of their strategy to draw in more investors and property buyers. As if that was not enough, interest rates in the Euro zone for example are sometimes lower than rates in the UK.

Overseas mortgages are effectively back-supported by the foreign property market. So if you buy a property in Spain on a Euro mortgage, your interest rates will likely be based around the rates in the Euro zone as set by the European Central Bank. Today, most of these rates are less than those offered in the UK. Considering this and depending on the amount of loan, you may have a big difference in your monthly amortization and repayment.

Disadvantages of an Overseas Mortgage

The main disadvantage that can be discouraging about overseas mortgages comes from the fact that it uses another currency. This adds a relatively thick layer of risk into your investment. With this set-up, you earn in sterling pounds and pay in another currency. The sterling pound equivalent of your debt in another foreign currency will surely fluctuate with time as the exchange rates go up and down. If you are unlucky, and the rates move against you, the sterling equivalent may become so low that you actually end up with so much more debt than you originally had.

Another disadvantage to be pointed out with getting an overseas mortgage is the physical and communication barrier that exists. If you buy a property in Cyprus, for example, you would need to visit the country at least once to arrange your paperwork or to personally attend to matters regarding your mortgage. (You can ask a lawyer or solicitor, but nothing matches being fully aware.) Also, in countries where only few people can speak good English, communication will prove to be difficult.

There is definitely no room for miscommunication in mortgage application and processing, either oral or written. You will need to demand all transactions and documents be written in English. Which one is better? One can not say that getting a UK mortgage is better than getting an overseas mortgage. What is good for you may not be good for another. While UK based mortgages are generally easier to proceed to (considering how used you are with the system), the rates can be very slightly higher.

On the other hand, overseas mortgages may prove lower in terms of interest rates, but the additional procedures, permissions, and other complicated systems may take more effort, time and money on your part. The best thing to do is to consult an independent specialist who can offer you objective advice on your options considering your current circumstances. Remember that all decisions about investing abroad should be informed and wise, and more importantly, realistic.

Speaking at a conference on capital markets organised by the CII, the Sebi chief also said the rules on listing and trading of securitised debt market instruments will be finalised by December.

The regulator had put out a consultative paper on securitised debt in June this year. The draft regulations proposed a system of registration of special purpose distinct entities which were planning to offer securitised debt instruments to the public or seeking the listing of such instruments issued earlier. Damodaran further said that select companies could opt for fast track issuances.

According to the fast track share issuance programme allowed by Sebi in August this year, companies with a 3-year track record on NSE and BSE, and with free-float market capitalization of at least Rs 10,000 crore, can raise funds through rights and follow-on issues, without having to wait for the market regulator’s clearance.

Sebi, at its board meeting in June 2006, had approved guidelines making it mandatory for REMFs (real-estate mutual funds) to be listed on the stock exchanges. But the absence of valuation norms delayed the introduction of REMFs in the country.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) was looking into the valuation issue and once it clears the norms, Sebi will be ready with the rules, M Damodaran said.

“It is not going to be a REIT versus REMF issue. Consultations with people who have a better understanding of these products have commenced and we will shortly write the first set of proposals,” said Damodaran. REIT is a better product, but we will ensure that both products are introduced over time, he added.

The Sebi move comes amid plans by a clutch of companies to raise funds from the Indian market for listing REIT-like vehicles on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX).

The Bangalore-based developer Embassy group, Ascendas, provider of business space in Asia and the Delhi-based DLF and Unitech have announced plans to list their fund structures, mainly REITs, on the SGX, banking on its recent easing of norms.

REMFs will be close-ended funds and will invest directly in real estate properties in India, mortgage (housing lease) backed securities, equity shares/bonds/debentures of listed/unlisted companies which deal in properties and undertake property development, and in other securities.

Following the curbs on participatory notes (P-notes), Sebi has received a large number of applications from overseas investors seeking FII registrations, Damodaran said, without providing figures.

The regulator is planning to launch a nationwide campaign for investor education in 2008 and encourages the market participants to take their role as self-regulatory organisations (SRO) seriously.

Nimesh Kampani, Chairman, CII National Committee on Capital Markets and the head of JM Financial Group also stressed on the need to develop SROs for financial intermediaries.

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November 21, 2007

Fortis Invest eyes Japan pension funds

Filed under: India Real Estate News Updates, Real Estate Funds, New Development — Administrator @ 3:05 am

TOKYO, Nov 21 (Reuters) – Fortis Investments, the global assets management arm of the Fortis group, is eyeing Japan’s multi-billion dollar pension funds as key investors for its two new investment funds next year worth a combined $745 million, its real estate chief said on Wednesday.

Fortis Investments, which has about 130 billion euros ($190 billion) in assets under management, will launch two new “funds of funds” — funds that hold a portfolio of other investment funds — focused on European and Asian property.

“We were very Europe-specific when we started two years ago but have diversified outside of Europe since,” Bart Coenraads, chief investment officer and head of real estate for Fortis Investments, told Reuters at the sidelines of a conference in Tokyo.

The firm currently has two Europe-focused fund-of-funds vehicles and a third invested in Asian assets.

Coenraads said he was particularly keen to attract Japanese pension fund investors as their allocations for real estate were minuscule relative to other asset classes.

“A lot of Japanese pension funds already invested in Japanese real estate now see opportunities in Asia ex-Japan,” he said, adding that Fortis Investments had already obtained a $40 million commitment from a Japanese pension fund investor for an existing fund of funds focused on Asia ex-Japan property.

Japan’s pension funds have traditionally parked their money in low-risk corporate and government bonds but are raising their investments in riskier assets such as equities and property to boost returns for the country’s ageing population. Fortis Investments has about 2.5 billion euros in global real estate exposure — 25 percent of which is run through its fund-of-funds vehicles. The remaining 75 percent of its property-related holdings are in publicly traded securities.

“Many pension funds don’t have the internal capabilities to get the sort of exposure that they can get by buying into a fund of funds,” Coenraads said.Coenraads plans to raise about $300 million for the new Asian fund of funds, about half of which will be invested in Japanese funds. The remaining portfolio will be invested in China, Malaysia, Vietnam, India and Singapore assets.

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Omaxe may tap West Asia as Indian real estate market cools

Filed under: India Real Estate News Updates, Commercial, Residential, New Development — Administrator @ 1:26 am

Source: http://www.livemint.com/2007/11/21005026/Omaxe-may-tap-West-Asia-as-Ind.html

New Delhi: Real estate company Omaxe Ltd has decided to develop properties overseas in places such as Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the real estate market in India starts to cool and profits get squeezed.The developer plans to build commercial and residential properties in Dubai.

“Last year was very bad for developers,” Rohtas Goel, chairman and managing director, Omaxe, said. “Prices declined by 10% and even by 30% in some locations, which has forced developers to look at overseas markets for expansion,” he added.

The company has decided to enter the Dubai real estate market as the average yearly return on an investment in Dubai is slightly better than in India, Goel said. “It is also easier to do real estate business in Dubai compared to India,” he added.

Omaxe will float an offshore development company to enter the Dubai market. Goel declined to say how much money Omaxe had earmarked for overseas development.

The company will develop real estate through joint ventures with a local real estate developer. Omaxe has to find a local developer to market property in Dubai in keeping with regulations of the UAE government. “We can acquire the land on our own, but to market the property we need a local partner,” Goel said.

Omaxe is in talks with several developers from Dubai for a possible tie-up. But nothing has been finalized yet, Goel said. In the last seven to eight months, the real estate market in New Delhi and its suburbs has seen a decline in demand mostly because of the high interest rates on home loans, which are at a five-year high. The interest rates have increased to 12%, compared with 9% just a year ago. That, coupled with the rising value of land, is making homes more expensive and less affordable—keeping buyers at bay.

“A few developers might be looking at overseas markets because of the high cost of land in India,” said Ganesh Raj, head, real estate practice at audit and consulting firm Ernst & Young India. “As return is a function of price of land, given the present cost of land, developers probably feel that returns in the overseas markets will be better. However, very few developers have actually started real estate development in offshore markets,” Raj added.

Omaxe’s plans to go global comes in the wake of similar efforts by other developers. Parsvnath Developers Ltd has decided to venture into real estate development in the UK, Singapore, UAE, Muscat and Mauritius. DLF Ltd is looking at international acquisitions, and Ansal API Ltd has a partnership with Malaysia’s UEM Group to bid for government projects in Malaysia.Investors are not willing to buy residential properties any more as the interest rates have shot up and it is costlier to buy homes on borrowed money.

Investors are gradually exiting the real estate market, say developers. While investors constituted 70% of the buyers last year, it is now the reverse, Goel said. “Now the actual end-users constitute 70% of the buyers,” he added. Omaxe is present in 30 cities and nine states in India. The company operates across residential, commercial and retail verticals. Omaxe made an initial public offering of shares in July and raised around Rs600 crore.

Before you head to the store make sure that you know how much money you are going to be able to spend on these items. By knowing this you will be able to determine what brand, style, and type that you can purchase. Once you have figured this out you will want to make sure that you do not go over that line so you can afford to keep the office space.

One thing that you need to look at will be the material that you want to have used. This could mean that you are selecting wood items, or metal. Whichever one that you choose though you are going to want to make sure that it will match your office.

If you are able to you should look for items that are going to have a color that matches your office. By finding those you will be able to prevent any major clashes between your items which could end up being distracting for you, your clients and co-workers.

Chairs are a part of your furniture as well so you need to make sure that you pick ones that match your desks, bookshelves, and other items in your office. You might want to choose these first or last, but either one of those choices you will want to make sure that it matches the rest of your office items.

You will also want to see if you can get the items assembled for you or if you have to put it together yourself. If you get the items already put together the cost could be a little bit higher than if you put them together yourself. However, you need to remember that if you put it together on your own you can make a mistake.

Storing items on your furniture is something that should be taken into consideration as well. Since you will notice that if you are not going to be putting items on it you probably will only need one that is going to be functional for your needs. However, if you plan on using these as a storage space as well you might need to use a larger item.

Shopping for office furniture can be a challenge for many people. However, if you have some knowledge about what to expect you can find that you are going to be getting some great deals when you are shopping. Just remember that you need to make sure that the items that you purchase are going to serve the needs that you have inside of your office.

Need help picking the best office furnishings? Get the inside scoop on top notch Office Chairs in our exclusive Office Fitout overview.

There are many ways in which to utilize a bathroom accessory. For some, luxurious hand towels that coordinate with the overall colors of the bathroom can pull the room together. For others, the use of complementary artwork can give a bathroom a sense of cohesiveness. But no matter what your taste – or budget – a carefully selected bathroom accessory can have a significant effect in a room that’s often on the small side.

Often, when you’re dealing with a smaller space, big change can be a relative term. In a bathroom, the addition of a beautifully constructed soap dish that adds color and whimsy can affect enormous change in the room. So when it comes to choosing a bathroom accessory, look for items that will carry the largest visual impact.

A bathroom accessory can fit into a number of different categories. There are those accessories that are chosen to fit into an overall theme; many homeowners will often use a theme in a child’s bathroom – such as princesses, fish, sports, and fairies. There are, of course, also themes that lend themselves to an adult bathroom – such as garden, floral, and country. In these cases, you will often find retailers that offer a line of themed accessories – including shower curtain, rug, towels, soap holder, toothbrush holder, cups, tissue holders, and much more.

There are more overall looks for a bathroom than any one person could possibly dream. If there’s a particular premise that sparks your interest, chances are that you will find a bathroom accessory to complement it. In some cases, people choose to use a bathroom accessory to denote a particular holiday. Christmas towels may hang on the towel rod during the holiday season; decorative pastel soaps may sit in the soap dish during Easter; red towels, red rug, and festive hearts may decorate a bathroom for Valentine’s Day; the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

Others may use a bathroom accessory of one kind or another to create a “feel” within a space. For many tub enthusiasts, the bathroom is a place of refuge and calm; a place where they can soak their day away and relax in a soothing environment. In this case, many choose to create a spa-like environment in their bathroom – using such accessories as candles, soft fluffy towels, and beautifully scented soaps, bath oils, and lotions – for pampering at a moment’s notice.

Ultimately, your bathroom is only what you make of it. It can be a utilitarian space that meets your basic needs. Or – with the addition of thought, attention to detail, and a well chosen bathroom accessory – it can be a private space reflective of your personal style.

Mortgage types being offered in Turkey can be classified as follows:

1. Fixed Rate Mortgages:

This is the most common mortgage type offered and given by all of the banks. The loan duration and the monthly payments are fixed and thus do not change through out the life of the mortgage. The borrower can payoff the entire loan with a prepayment option, however there is an early closing fee, which could be up to 2% of the loan amount.

2. Variable Rate Mortgages:

This type of mortgage is based on a variable rate specified by the bank and the federal bank and changes with the rate changes in the markets. Borrowers should pay attention to setting a ceiling rate when negotiating with the bank so that when the rates change their payments do not go above a certain rate. The early closing fee that exists in fixed rate mortgage does not exist in this type of mortgage.

3. All Inclusive Mortgage:

If the borrower wants to include all the fees associated with the purchase of his home and the mortgage in the mortgage, this type of mortgage would be the most ideal one. These fees are are realtor commision, life and porperty insurance premiums, disaster insurance, moving fees, closing fees, expertise fees, etc. The amoun of these fees depend on the property and the lender. However, all of these fees could be included in the mortgage and be bundled as the mortgage package.

4. Discounted Commision based Mortgage:

If the borrower is interested in low monthly payments, he/she then can choose to pay a commision up front which consists of a percentage of the interest that needs to be paid. After subtracting this amount from the loan, the monthly payments would be lower. These types of mortgages have higher closing fees than other types, however. The early closing fee aplies to this mortgage as well.

5. Mortgage with payments specified at different months:

If the borrower is interested in making payments on only certain months, then this type of mortgage would be the most ideal one.

6. Zero Down Mortgage:

For those who has another property, this property can be used as a collateral to finance the purchase of the next property. If the other property has a higher value, then the collateral could cover the entire mortgage of the new house, thus making it a zero down mortgage payment. One thing that the borrowers should pay attention to is that most banks give mortgages up to 80% of the value of the property.

7. Foreign Currency Indexed Mortgage:

In addition to mortgages given in YTL (New Turkish Lira) currency, banks started to give out mortgage loans in other currencies as well. Some of these currencies are USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, and JPY. These types of foreign currency indexed mortgages can be obtained both as fixed rate and variable rate mortgages.

8. Refinance Mortgage:

The refinance option is now available as well. In case borrowers are interested in refinancing their mortgages with lower interest rates, they can change the mortgage either through the bank that they obtained the mortgage of through any other lender. The only caviat in applying for refinance in Turkey is that if your mortgage was applied prior to March 6th 2007, there will not be an early closing fee. However, if it started after that date, then there will be an early closing or early prepayment fee applied which could be up to 2% of the loan amount. The borrower also needs to pay for all associated fees related to the new mortgage.

9. Home Equity or Personal Loan Mortgage:

If the borrower is in need of additional finances, he/she can choose to get a loan by using his/her property as a collateral. This loan could be applied to home improvement as well as any other personal need. They are usually given at a higher interest rate than other types of loans but less than regular personal loans.