Aruba Nov.24 Reef and Mangrove Clean up

Volunteers needed!!!!! Reef and Mangrove Clean up

 

On initiative of FlyFishing Aruba this Sunday November 2 4th,  there will be a Clean up of the reefs and Mangroves. Starting from 1pm at the AWS pier (next to Marandi Restaurant).

Aruba Wakeboard School, Tranquilo Charters  Aruba  and  Fly Fishing Aruba, decided to take action after seeing more and more plastic and other items ending up in the ocean, straight from the dump; dirtying the beach shore, ocean and island, killing the ocean life and environment.

“Enough is Enough”he thought, and Flyfishing guide Laurenz van Mook posted his idea on Facbook  and many great responses came in right away. People and businesses directly got to work with his idea and offered to volunteer people, boats, gloves, and garbage bags, dumpsters, printing posters, food and drinks for the volunteers and so on.

It will be a great accomplishment on Sunday November 24^th from 1pm till 6pm. Starting at the AWS pier (next to Marandi Restaurant), behind the airport.

Please come and help, and make sure you wear your water shoes and protect yourself from the sun.

For more information, please follow the Facebook page of FlyFishing Aruba.

Feng Shui choices when buying a condominium

When you are looking to buy a condominium, your Feng Shui criteria will certainly be different from the criteria of buying a house.

Good Feng Shui is good Feng Shui, and understanding what good energy is made of, will come in handy when you decide to go house hunting.

Add this Feng Shui list to your "must-have" list and you are ready to find that perfect condo.

 

1. Building location and energy.

The energy of the building influences the energy of the apartments in it. Since you have no control over the main entry of the building, be sure to choose wisely. A clean, well-lit main entry of an apartment building in a safe, friendly location is always a wise choice.

Feng shui-wise, you might be wondering which of the main doors can have your lucky feng shui directions: the main door of your apartment or the main door of the building? The answer is: the main door of your apartment.

Another popular feng shui question: how important are the numbers of the building or condo? Not that important, I assure you. The concept of numbers in feng shui is a highly charged one. Feng shui of number 4 seems to be the one taking most of the hits, all based in a misunderstanding of a cultural interpretation. Number 4 is considered bad in traditional Chinese feng shui because it sounds like "death" in Cantonese.

Furthermore, how would you deal, feng shui-wise, with house numbers that you consider to be bad feng shui?

Let's start with the big picture.

Once you connect deeper to the energy of your home, you begin to understand how the feng shui of your bedroom, for example, is connected to the state of your health; or how good feng shui at the main entrance strengthens the energy of the whole house

2. APARTMENT LEVEL AND LOCATION

If possible, choose a condo on a higher floor, rather than on a lower level. The feng shui and real estate reasons behind it are obvious: the higher you go, the less condo’s above you, which means lighter energy for your condo. There is also more natural light, as well as a better views.

 

Feng shui-wise, it is best to avoid a condo directly facing the elevator or the staircase doors.

3. FLOOR PLAN AND CHI FLOW

It is very important to check the flow of Chi, or energy before buying a condo/apartment. Later on it might be too expensive, or just plain impossible to make the desired changes for better feng shui.

Do you face a wall as soon as you enter your condo? Do you step into the kitchen right away?

Be sure the Chi either already flows smoothly in the condo, or you can adjust its flow with easy feng shui decor and furniture repositioning.

One of the basic ways to check the energy flow in your home is to imagine Chi, or energy, as water. If water where to flow into your home from the main door, where would it stagnate?

Would the water harmoniously and smoothly flow to all areas of your space, gently refreshing them, or would it rush right out the back door?

Choosing between a Condo and a House By Miriam Engeln,

Choosing between a Condo and a House By Miriam Engeln,

The best time to buy a property is now

 For many years now we are noticing the interest to sell is much bigger than the interest to buy, so we call this a buyer’s market.
Meaning that buyers can negotiate prices much more than some years ago. Remember that prices will rise in some time from now, so the time to buy affordable Real Estate is now. Waiting means fewer options.
There are many properties for sale, and fewer buyers. Interest rates are still lower than some years ago, so check out the local realtor websites so see if there is anything of your liking.

We have no MLS in Aruba yet, so please check the following websites for Aruba’s Real Estate listings:
www.arubahouses.com
www.coldwellbanker.com
www.remax.com
www.sothebysrealty.com and so on.

It is still cheaper to buy then to rent. Buying a home gives you a chance to start building equity, and you are investing in your future. Even if you end up selling your home in 5 or 10 years, you could profit from the sale and invest that money elsewhere. If you’ve been dealing with rising rent or the hassles of costly moves for the past few years, settling in to a home can stabilize your housing expenses – especially if you get a fixed-rate loan at a great rate.
You won’t have to worry about your monthly housing expenses changing significantly for a few years, and you will pay for something that has more value than a rental property. Consider the benefits of making this type of contribution to your future month after month.

Selling your home? 3 great tips for writing descriptions that sell;

ARUBA - So you’re trying to sell your home. You know the basic facts; number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and so on, but how do you know what other information is important to buyers? Just the facts and figures are not enough; you also need to tell people what is really important about your home and sell all the features that make it special. That’s where your home description comes in. In newspaper ads, you only get a few sentences, so you have to make every word count. Online you have a lot more flexibility and can go into much greater detail about your home. Here are 3 great tips:


Consider the following two Descriptions – Nice home, good condition. Large master bedroom. Many upgrades. Garage: 24’x30’. Quiet gated community. or Walk right into this beautiful Palm Beach home with an open floor plan! The home is in excellent condition, with fresh interior paint and new kitchenr. The spacious master bedroom has a walk-in closet and private bath. The over-sized garage has plenty of room for two cars, extra storage, and a workbench. Live in a quiet gated community, with just a short walk to the clubhouse and pool. Located close to the bus line, it’s only a 10 minute trip to the mall, several restaurants, and medical facilities. Don’t let this one get away! Call today – I would love to show you this home.



So what’s the difference between these two ads? Well, the second ad follows three simple rules…



1. Write an opening line to catch the buyer’s attention.



As buyers scroll through home listings, will they stop at yours? What you need is a strong opening line to draw the reader in. Not sure what to write? Think about your audience. If your home is in a family community, the school district might be important to mention. A senior might be more interested in activities in the area – golf, fishing, tennis, shopping, and things to do with the grandkids.



Here are some words and phrases to consider including in your opening line:



Waterfront – Priced to sell – Open Floor Plan – Affordable – Recently updated -Sea view – Priced below appraised value – Like new – Corner lot Must sell – Screened in porch – Professional Landscaping – Walk right in – Garage – Nature lover’s dream – Gated community – Look no further – Walk to the beach – Must See.



2. Mention the best features.



Why do you like your house? Is it the pool? Or the deck/patio where you enjoy grilling? To get started, make a list of all the great things about your house, including any improvements you’ve done since it was purchased. Then work those items into a paragraph about your home. Think about your community as well – buyers may not know there is a pool and a clubhouse with activities, or if pets are allowed. Here are some examples of features to mention:



Fruit Trees – Close to schools – Gourmet Kitchen – Private backyard – Near shopping – New roof – Fenced in yard – Quiet community – On Golf course – Spacious storage shed – Close to beaches – Cathedral Ceilings



3. Close with a call to action.



The last part of your Home Description should prompt the reader to do something. Let them know you are available to provide more information or photos. Encourage them to call you and set an appointment. Make sure to mention if you are flexible on price or willing to consider offers. Think about including the following phrases near the end of your ad:



Make an offer – Call today – For more information call… – Call with questions – Don’t let this one get away To view the home, call… Retire in style – Don’t miss your chance – Take a look – Motivated seller so call today!



Tip: Provide as much contact information as possible. Some buyers may prefer to email while others are more likely to make a phone call. Give them both options! Also remember to return emails/phone calls promptly. Don’t give the buyer time to find something else.

Timing is everything: buy NOW.

 

For starters, you can use the same techniques that have worked for many who live by the “rule”; Buy low and sell high.

The first step is to determine the type of real estate market that exists in your area.

Types of Real Estate Markets

Although there are many variations and twists, basically real estate markets fall into three categories:

• Buyer's markets
  Buyer's markets exist when there is more inventory, meaning houses for sale, than buyers. Because buyers have many homes to choose from, not every home for sale will sell. Most experts agree that if six months or more of inventory is on the market, it is a buyer's market.
• Seller's markets
• In seller's markets, there are more buyers than available inventory. Because there are fewer homes for buyers to choose among, almost every home will sell. Typically, there is much less than six months of inventory in a seller's market. In extreme seller's markets, there is less than two months of inventory in reserve.
• Neutral markets
  Neutral markets are balanced. Typically, interest rates are affordable and the number of buyers and sellers in the marketplace are equalized. The scales don't tip in either direction, meaning the market is normal without experiencing swings. Inventory is generally around four months.

In this current market, any young person that hasn't bought a house ought to buy one.

A buyers market doesn't come along that often, you can make money on whatever you buy today at the prices they are."

Interest rates are only going to go up over the long term, so borrowing will cost more if you wait.

How to set a Rental Price for a House?

The difference between success and failure in real estate rentals often is based on charging the right price for a property.
Charging too much might make the property unattractive to potential tenants and lead to nonpayment of rent. Charging too little, though, can eliminate the potential for profit and even put a property owner in a difficult financial position.

By following some basic steps, property owners can establish a good medium in pricing that keeps both the tenant and landlord satisfied.
1 Check comparable rental listings in your local newspaper and on brokers websites. See what other property owners are charging for homes/ apartments that match your properties in terms of size and amenities.
2 Obtain the addresses for similar rental properties, particularly those properties with the same approximate value as your properties. This information might be in an ad listing, or you might need to call the number on the ad. Use the information to identify how geographic area affects rent price.
3 Consider geographic factors such as proximity to shopping malls, golf courses, roads, malls and schools. Renters might pay a premium for properties when they are in attractive settings.
4 Network with others who own and rent property and discuss with them the rental market and how much properties are renting for given current economic conditions.
5 Set a base price for your rent based on the information gathered. Figure in slight increases if your property has features that are not common or in high demand. Features might include a swimming pool, a garage, lawn service, new appliances, furniture and common areas.
6 Lower your asking price if you receive few calls on advertised properties.