The Best Real Estate Market

Holiday Packages - Cairo & Kenya

2008-12-18T10:14:00.000-08:00

Map of Sri Lanka

2008-12-18T09:58:00.000-08:00

The island of Sri Lanka lies in the Indian Ocean, to the southwest of
the Bay of Bengal and to the southeast of the Arabian Sea. It is
separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the
Palk Strait. According to Hindu mythology, a land bridge to the Indian
mainland, known as Rama's Bridge, was constructed during the time of
Rama by the vanara architect Nala. Often referred to as Adam's Bridge,
it now amounts to only a chain of limestone shoals remaining above sea
level. According to temple records, this natural causeway was formerly
complete, but was breached by a violent storm (probably a cyclone) in
1480. The width of the Palk Strait is small enough for the coast of Sri
Lanka to be visible from the furthest point near the Indian town of
Rameswaram. The pear-shaped island consists mostly of flat-to-rolling
coastal plains, with mountains rising only in the south-central part.
Amongst these are Sri Pada and the highest point Pidurutalagala (also
known as Mt Pedro), at 2,524 meters (8,281 ft). The Mahaweli ganga
(Mahaweli river) and other major rivers provide fresh water.

Check out the Map of Sri Lanka @ http://www.srilankanmap.com/

DreamHomeslk

2008-12-18T00:28:00.000-08:00

“DreamHomeslk” is one of the best real estate portals in Sri Lanka. It has plenty of advertisements, so people can find what they want to fulfil their requirements. They have

Apartments
Houses
Lands
Apartments for rent
Houses for rent

Categories and all adds has been categorised according to the content of the add. It is very much worth to have a look at them because you don’t know what you gonna miss.

Visit www.dreamhomeslk.com

Dalip House - Galle

2008-12-17T08:54:00.000-08:00

A newly built villa with a Balinese influence, the Dalip House has a wide beach frontage. The waves are challenging and to be shown respect. Fishermen perch on their stilts just to the right of the private beach gate. Dalip House has polished stone flooring, which encourages cool bare foot living. Timber ceilings and shutters channel the view out over the garden towards the Indian Ocean.

Accommodation
Dalip House has three double rooms each in separate pavilions and is located at the front of the villa allowing you to gaze out to sea whilst still in bed. There is a children’s pavilion with a twin room, single room and small sitting area. All doubles have an ensuite shower. The children wing shares a bathroom with shower.

Facilities
A separate pavilion centrally located with huge lie around seating, gives fabulous views across the garden out to sea. Dining is in the open sided pavilion located by the pool. A fully modern kitchen is the domain of Nuwan the Chef. Recently returned from the UK where he was seconded to specialist caterers, will prepare feasts upon request.

Excursions
Only 11km from Galle, you are close enough to enjoy the sites, shopping and social scene that abounds in the area yet far enough away to escape and be by yourselves when you want. There are several temples in the area that are well worth a relaxed visit. For the more sporting, scuba diving can be easily arranged - either for a PADI course or for the qualified there are several good wreck and reef dives nearby. The game reserve of Yala is, with an early start, a 3-4 hour drive away but closer is the historic site of Galle Fort, a World Heritage Site.

Located in: Galle

For more info & pics

Chaaya Village - Habarana

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Like a well-disguised tree with thirsty widespread roots reaching far and wide to drink from the closest brook, Chaaya Village Habarana lies sprawled across 27 acres of luxuriant land bordering a stunning lake. Habarana is situated 176 km from Colombo in the heart of Sri Lankas cultural triangle and is part of the Anuradhapura District.

The hotels cozy cottages, inspired by the typical thatched roof huts found locally, lie in clusters with low roofs and brownish yellow exteriors. The paint used is specially mixed with mud, in true native fashion, to ensure the facade is in harmony with nature.

Accomodation

* Superior Rooms

94 air-conditioned lovely cottages spread out in clusters blend in side by side in an extensive garden area. Each room is tastefully furnished and complete with all four star luxury amenities to pamper guests.

* Deluxe Rooms

12 air-conditioned cottage style rooms, linked by a footpath that keeps the lake in sight, promise an amazing lake view. The rooms are elegantly furnished and complete with all four star luxury facilities.

* Kingfisher Lodge

Set in a secluded location a few feet away from the lake, this exclusive suite is built several feet above ground level offering an amazing up close and personal view of the glistening waters. It is designed at a height to accommodate the water from the lake that reaches the steps of the private veranda when the lake swells up in the rainy season. A favorite choice of honeymooners, the Kingfisher Lodge offers ultimate comfort in simple understated style. From gray cement floors and cement brick walls to wide wooden windows and natural-wood furniture, everything is carefully designed to blend in with the environs. Private meals in the romantic outdoors can also be arranged with the hotel chef attending to all the details personally.

* Eagle Lodge

Set in the middle of the garden offering a view of the lake, this one-of-a-kind suite is built with a large sitting area that is perfect to entertain friends or even for private meetings when attending to business while on holiday. The Eagle Lodge has all the comforts that make holidaying here a splendid experience. Upon request, the hotel organizes private outdoor barbeques in the garden and special indoor cocktails for small groups.

Location

Habarana, the verdant plane where a decisive battle was never finished, got its name in the most extraordinary way. Its a story about a kingdom, two princes and a suicide. This tale told and retold from generation to generation has a clever twist.

As the legend goes Kasyapa, the fugitive prince having slain his father King Dhatusena, fled the Capital city Anuradhapura and went on to make one of the loveliest royal cities that ever graced the earth atop the Sigiriya Rock. King Kasyapa ruled for 18 years from his glorious fortress in the late 5th century.

Located in: Habarana

Moonhills Resorts and Hotels

2008-12-16T09:50:00.000-08:00

MOONHILL is situated in private gardens, with access to two secluded bays of gleaming white sand near the small fishing village of Tangalle.

Accommodation:
MOONHILL has currently three double bed rooms. All bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms with h/w showers, washbasin, and w/c.

Rooms have large double beds, fans and cool polished cement flooring.
The master bedroom with it’s four poster bed has the added luxury of it’s own secluded outdoor bathroom with antique roll top bath and a private sun terrace.

Facilities:
All Rooms are centred around the inner Courtyard.
The living and dining room with contemporary mahogany furniture open up to the large grass terrace overlooking the surrounding landscape and the beach. There are comfortable easy chairs for you to relax in.

The Kitchen is fully equipped with kettle, toaster, blender and gas/electric hobs, electric oven.

By Arrangement: Ayurvedic Treatments and Massage / Laundry Service / Airport Transfer / Excursions

MOONHILL
Goyambokka
Tangalle
Sri Lanka

Factors to Consider Before Buying Land

2008-11-26T10:38:00.001-08:00

* Zoning Requirements

Check with local authorities (city, county and state) to determine
zoning ordinances and whether you can build the type of home you want
before committing to buying the land. A community within 20 minutes of
Sacramento city limits, for example, does not permit construction of any
structure on parcels smaller than 20 acres. Ask about future zoning,
whether there are plans to put in shopping centers or airports, or to
change nearby land uses that could also devalue your land.

* Smells and Sounds

Realize that you might be trading exhaust fumes from city buses
for the lovely odors produced by pig farms. Some farm animals such as
geese and donkeys produce squawks and brays that travel for miles.
Horses along country roads drop steaming piles of waste. It's not like
anybody carries along a plastic bag and picks up after their horses.

* Natural Hazards

Obtain a natural hazard disclosure and look for soil problems.
Some parts of El Dorado County near the Sierra, for example, have
naturally occurring asbestos in the rocks and soil. A disclosure will
tell you if the land is a protected habitat, which would prohibit
building. Is the area a known fire hazard? Is the fire department
supported solely by volunteers? Many owners in the country maintain
private ponds for fire emergencies.

* Elevation

If the land is located near hills, how likely is the land to move?
Some slab foundations can crack if the land is unstable. Find out if
your parcel lies within the path of a potential landslide. For
construction near bodies of water, you might want to consider building a
raised foundation and make sure to buy flood insurance. If the land was
once a swamp, ask neighbors about the condition of their foundations.

* Easements

If access to your land is provided by driving across an adjoining
parcel, you should obtain an easement and make sure it is recorded. Find
out who maintains the roads and what your prorata share might cost for
upkeep. What rights do neighbors have to cross your land? Are the
boundaries clearly marked? Obtain title insurance, which will disclose
easements and restrictive covenants or conditions. You might want to
order a survey of the land.

* Utilities

Water is important. Not all water is potable. Sometimes water
rights don't "run with the land," which would mean you could not dig a
well. Find out the depth of your water table and determine the
difficulty of digging. Is the ground mostly rock? It can be costly to
bring electricity, telephone or cable services to the property if they
are not already established nearby. Will you need to install a propane
tank? Consider a generator for back-up during power outages. If you
cannot hook up to a sewer, what will it cost to install a septic system?

* Appraisal

It's common to pay cash for land. If you're not planning to
finance the land purchase through a conventional lender, which will
require a lender appraisal, then obtain your own appraisal to determine
an appropriate price before making an offer. Comparable sales are
sometimes difficult to find when buying land.

The Five Key Things When Selling A Home

2008-11-24T01:37:00.000-08:00

There are more than 5 key things that influence the sale of your home and the order is not as important as considering all of them when you are selling and pricing a home.

You have all heard the most important factor in selling a home is location, location, location, but there are four others to consider.

Price
Home Condition
Market Conditions
The Realtor

1. LOCATION

The location of a home cannot be changed. The better the location such as a quiet cul-de-sac, backing on to a greenbelt, or a view are more generally considered more desirable. Alternatively, a busy street, nearby power lines, proximity to a commercial or retail business or even too close to a school are often considered less desirable. It is important that you recognize the location and price and market your home accordingly.

2. PRICE

Pricing your home correctly is critical to the sale. The homeowner wants to sell their house for as much money as possible, but if your asking price is too high your house will only help sell other houses in your area. There are at least three negative outcomes you can expect from overpricing a property:

a. The time your home sits on the market will increase, making buyers think you are more likely to accept a lower offer than the home’s fair market value.
b. You will be missing out on buyers who should be looking at your house, but because it is out their price range they will miss it. This often happens when you price outside of a range such as choosing $ 765,000 instead of $ 749,000.
c. You receive low offers or no offers at all. A higher asking price does not always equal a higher sales price.
The more you overprice a property, the more likely you are to eventually sell it at a price lower than it is
worth.

So how should you price a home? Price your house to attract appropriate buyers for your neighborhood and location. The more buyers that come to see your home, the more they will compete for your house, which will drive your sales price up. Competition will result in receiving offers over and above your asking price. Don’t let Realtor buy your listing by agreeing to sell it for more than it’s worth as it will only be a matter of time before they are back suggesting a price reduction.

3. CONDITION
Buyers will pay more for a home that is clean, has great curb appeal and is in good condition. Few people can see past the purple paint and worn carpet and even fewer can get past the clutter. Most people find it hard to visualize what your home will look like as theirs so if you are not taking the necessary steps to stage your home to appeal to the widest number of buyers you will simply have to have more buyers come through until one can see them selves living in your home.

4. The MARKET
The real estate market is always in one of three types of markets.
A. Seller’s market where there is low inventory and more buyers which, in turn, drives selling prices up.
B. Normal stable market where there is an equal number of buyers in proportion to the number of homes for
sale. The result is home prices remain stable.
C. Buyer’s market where there are more homes for sale than buyers who want to buy. This causes home prices
to decline.
Knowing the market conditions will help you price your home effectively and know what to expect.

5. The Realtor You Choose

Depending on where you live there are more Realtors than there are lawyers so sifting through them to find the right one can take time. I think it is fair to say any Realtor you contact will eagerly tell you they are the right Realtor to list your house for sale . But there is more to marketing a home than simply putting it on the MLS and if don’t interview a number of Realtors before choosing one you are definitely limiting the exposure of your home. Here are a few things to consider

Their experience at marketing houses in your price range and in your area.
Their presence on the internet through a web site and/or blog.
Their demonstrated knowledge of home prices in your area.
Their marketing plan for your home.
Their track record.
References.