Attachment Can’t Happen Unless Compassion Happens First
If you had a child who was four years old and suddenly they were kidnapped from your home and abused for the next three years– how would you treat them when they came back? The seven year old you would be dealing with would be completely different from the happy, healthy child of four that you remembered.Foster children are no different from this when they come into a new foster home. They have often been beaten and neglected, cold and hungry for days at a time, they are frightened and feel completely alone. Even if they have been in a safe foster home for several years and you are their adoptive placement, you are a total stranger. How comfortable would you be as an adult if someone decided for you who your new family should be and forced you to move in with them?It is no wonder children have sometimes violent reactions to these events. Wouldn’t you? Furthermore, if your biological child were taken from you and you got him back several years later you would undoubtedly be patient and compassionate with his recovery. Foster children and newly adopted children deserve the same treatment.Attachment specialists and even the foster care system often tell us that highly structured, rigid environments are what will help foster and adopted kids to heal. Using systems of charts for rewards and punishments are the answers offered to us when children have prolonged tantrums, refuse to help with household chores, or do not do well at school. As a result, these kids are often more stressed out by our systems of rewards and punishment than they would be if we just offered a little compassion.What if we allowed children to ease into school transitions by attending half days until they could handle more time at school? What if we understood that overly stressed little brains can’t handle two hours of homework every night? What if we recognized that frightened children sleeping on the floor of our bedrooms for a few months isn’t the end of the world? What if we treated them like they were hurt?…’Cause they are.Attachment happens when kids are comfortable. It happens when they feel loved and accepted–when their joy is more prevalent than their fear. We can only do that if we take the first step and love them–even when they are unlovable. For more information about being a successful foster/adopt parent, and about adoption attachment, go to adoptionattachment.org.
Getting Started in Property Investment and Development
Although this article is written primarily for the UK property field, it can apply equally well to the USA. The fundamentals of Property Speculation have much in common the world over.Many people think about becoming a full-time property developer or investor but simply don’t know anywhere to begin.The earliest step is to decide which method suits you and your circumstances. Do you want to be a developer or an investor?• A Developer looks for an appropriate property for development that is in need of work (to a lesser or greater degree). This can be bought at auction, through an estate agent in the regular way or quite often the owner is approached and a deal is struck. The work is carried out over a period of between 6-18 months and the property is put back on the market, optimistically to be sold at a decent profit. Being a developer offers the shortest route to making A profit through property as you have the best chance to increase the value.• An Investor will every so often buy a property with an occupant already in place. To be purely an investor in property (as contrasting to an investor/developer) would mean that the property is bought with no intention of carrying out any works, just getting in a resident as quickly as possible so that an investment return in the form of rent is provided. This position is unusual as most landlords appreciate that some work is likely to be needed before occupation. This approach is more passive than being a developer. Be aware though, it is unlikely that you will see much financial return in the form of profit for several years. Most landlords only make enough to cover the mortgage, management fees and tax. The benefit comes in the years ahead when the capital value of the property has increased considerably. Using this method is likely to take 10 years or more to see a significant increase in your investment.The next step is to truthfully look at your finances. Clearly purchasing property is never cheap, and it is probable that you will require a mortgage. At the time of writing, the almost all of mortgage providers ask that you supply a deposit of around 20%-25% of the purchase price (or the total development price if your plans are more ambitious). You will also need to cover fees at the point of acquisition (estate agent and solicitor with added VAT) and Stamp Duty. Once the property has been bought, if it is a development project there will be a time where the work is being carried out and you have to meet mortgage repayments. This should be factored in. If it is an investment property, then rent gaps must be allowed for (when no tenant is occupying it and subsequently no rent is being collected). Management costs must also be considered, such as grounds maintenance, decoration and the general running of the property.In common with a traditional mortgage, lenders will want to know what other borrowing you have, such as credit cards and loans. Mortgage providers are very keen to minimise risk and they will feel that if you are committed to other lenders, your ability to meet the mortgage repayments will be Reduced. Also remember that mortgage interest rates can fluctuate a great deal, this will have a substantial influence on the monthly repayments.Many property investors opt for an interest-only mortgage. This obviously means that the capital must be repaid at the end of the mortgage term and the only way to do this (realistically) is to sell the property. The difference between the selling price and the amount of the original mortgage is the profit. This is a bit of a gamble, as it’s impossible to accurately predict what the property will eventually sell for.The deposit necessary to proceed with the purchase should be carefully considered. This might sound strange, as it’s clear that the higher the proportion of deposit compared to the amount to be borrowed will result in more profit and lower risk. While this is largely true, it’s not quite that simple. There is an optimum level of equity (money that is not borrowed) that will produce in the best return and the most advantages:• The level of equity is high; if the venture is being run as a limited company, then tax will be payable on any profit gained. It’s also not good business sense to put so much equity into a single investment. For example if 100,000 of equity is available, it would be better to place 50,000 of equity into each of 2 properties rather than all of the equity into a single property.• The level of equity is low; this situation leaves you very exposed to risk in the form of interest rate fluctuations (and subsequent high repayments) and rent voids. It could be argued that this aspect contributed to the credit crisis because borrowers left themselves far too narrow a financial margin.The next step is to think about the market you wish to appeal to. On the property-related TV shows, the developers always seem to be obsessed with on the ‘young professionals’. This market in itself could be sub-divided into several smaller categories. However, do not forget the other markets such as students, retired people and ‘downsizers’. It is crucial to consider the market before purchasing the property; it is always easier to provide a product for an established demand, rather than developing the product (the property) and then wondering who is likely to use it. Always do your homework, for example if there is a strong student population but a shortage of accommodation……It’s fairly obvious which type of property you should provide.Get to know your target market Inside out, do they own cars or use bicycles or public transport? This will affect where it is best to buy the property and if you need to think about a garage. On the other hand, you might be able to convert an attached garage to increase the floor area of a large house; thereby providing another student flat. If your target market is downsizers, will they need a large garden? Or a lot of storage space?Information on an area’s demographics is obtainable from the Office for National Statistics (http://www.Statistics.Gov.Uk). Although it tends not to provide very detailed data, it is a good initial point. The other way to get to know what is in demand in your chosen area is to speak to letting and estate agents. They will have an excellent idea of what is always being enquired after but supply is scarce.One last thing for now, it is highly recommended that you look for a property close to where you already live. You have a much better feel for values and know whether a property is priced too high. It is also far easier if you have to attend site regularly to deal with builders, Architects or Project Managers.An excellent place to begin looking for a property for development is at a property auction. The Property Speculator has a full guide to buying a property at auction and a list of all the auctioneers in the UK.
Where is Florida Investment Property
Florida Investment Property – Why Investing is a Wise Decision
There are many reasons to purchase investment property in Florida, the foremost being value appreciation. Property values generally rise while debt decreases; making real estate purchases a good investment. Every year since 1968, the national median home price has risen. Usually, home values increase at around the rate of inflation, with a greater increase possible. In recent years, median prices have increased by as much as 9 percent, making purchasing investment property in Florida a wise long term investment. Building equity is an excellent reason to purchase investment property in Florida. Equity grows over time for owners while renters don’t see any return on their money. Purchasing property forces you to save, making you a wise investor without realizing it. Owning investment property in one Florida location may make it possible for you to expand, purchasing a second and third property as rental profits increase. Owning investment property in Florida gives you borrowing power, the ability to use your property equity to borrow funds for your own use, or for further investment. Owning investment property in Florida gives you a sense of stability, not only for the consistent rental income, but for the potential of it becoming a regular seasonal vacation home for your family. Imagine the pleasure and ease of knowing where you are going to vacation, there’s no need to decide on location and try to compete to make reservations, with prices changing every year. There is stability on owning an investment property in Florida that can also be used as a family vacation resort.Why the Interest in Florida Investment Property?Considering the myriad of investment property locations on the market, Florida investment property is one of the most desirable. Home to 11 of the country’s 100 fastest-growing counties, a Florida investment property has high potential as a profit-maker, unlike most other areas. Port St. Lucie, Miramar and Cape Coral are the fastest growing cities in Florida. It’s unlikely you will make a mistake investing in Florida real estate considering the vast number of tourists and new residents flocking to the land of sun and surf. The most difficult decision to make will be which location in Florida to purchase. Good investments abound in each area of the state, from Miami in the south to Clearwater on the gulf coast, going east to Daytona Beach and north to the panhandle. Selecting a location depends on your goals for purchasing Florida investment property. Carefully consider what you intend to do with your Florida investment property. Will your purchase be used mainly as a rental property for vacationers? Do you intend to have access to the property during certain seasons? Or is your goal rental of the property to local tenants? Some of these questions will help you in narrowing down your search. Once you have determined whether your Florida investment property will be used primarily for vacationers or for local renters, and whether you intend on using it as a vacation resort yourself, it is easier to choose the location.Florida Investment Property LocationsThere are so many location options of investment property in Florida, making it difficult to select just the right location. Let’s start from the top! Do you desire a beachfront location, or one close to the coast, or would you rather select property in a town setting. Tourist area or settled community, inland or beachside? Asking these questions helps you narrow down your search. Each area where an investment property in Florida is located has its own flavor, its own attractions. Let’s start with the Miami area. Miami is located in the southeastern corner of Florida and Miami Beach is a seven mile long island known as America’s Riviera. Home appreciation rate in the Miami area is about 11% with the median home price around $240,000. There are diverse offerings of single family homes, ocean front property and ocean view condominiums. Of course condo and home prices are offered in a vast range, with upscale areas bringing in up to $5 million. Condos and town homes may be cheaper, depending on location, but with price escalation and population density, even there it may be hard to find a bargain. Miami offers beautiful beaches with perennial sunshine but traffic congestion and the increasing population boom may be a deterrent to some. Just forty miles north of Miami, lies Boca Raton with five miles of coastline and gorgeous beaches. Appreciation rate here is around 11%. Clearwater, on the west coast of Florida borders Clearwater Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico. Indian Shores is a small historic community offering condos, gulf front property and Intracoastal Waterway homes and town homes. The appreciation rate for investment property in Florida, Clearwater is about 9%.Investment Property in Florida – Daytona Beach, Jacksonville and Destin
Moving north in our search for investment property in Florida, let’s take a look at the Daytona Beach area. Daytona is known as a spring break and family playground on Florida’s east coast about 50 miles northeast of Orlando. Homes prices are surprisingly reasonable here in comparison with other popular Florida beach locations. Appreciation is about 10% with homes starting as low as $80,000. A large variety of housing choices exist, everything from inland or waterfront property, to townhouses and single family homes, ocean front or inland. Older homes abound but there are also several new upscale building projects. Let’s take a look further north at Jacksonville. Jacksonville is known as Florida’s River City due to the ever-present St. John’s River which flows through the city, ponds and lakes. A modestly priced investment property in Florida can be found here with a range from $60,000 to several million. Appreciation is around 9% with continual growing home construction. Unique to Jacksonville is its diverse neighborhoods and building styles. Destin is located in the Emerald Coast of Florida, sitting on the Gulf of Mexico. It is just south of Alabama and was recently voted as having the best beaches in the US. Destin boasts great seafood, and excellent golfing and fishing. Home appreciation here is around 12% with the median home price about $165,000. Condos and townhouses here begin at $100,000 and can go upwards in the millions for waterfront property.Investment Property in Florida – Attractive Tourist AreasLet’s play a little word association. I’ll say Florida and chances are the majority of people will say Walt Disney World, or something relating to the Orlando area. Orlando has a thriving tourist economy that attracts close to thirty five million visitors each year. Real estate is booming here with the median price taking a dramatic jump from $166,000 to $200,000, an appreciation of 27%, making investing near Orlando a great venture. Conway Belle Isle, east Orange County, Maitland/Winter Park and northwest Orange County have seen the most dramatic property value increases. There is a strong job market here without forecasts of a downturn, keeping prices strong. There are a large variety of properties to choose from, including starter homes, modest cottages, older homes and impressive new developments. Orlando is called the City Beautiful and owes part of that title to its cleanliness, newness and innovation and variety of lakes and nearby attractions. Whether you are considering investment property in Florida as a rental for locals, as a tourist rental or to rent and use yourself, Orlando is an excellent choice in location. Consider the varied options of attractions in the Orlando area. Walt Disney World would be foremost as a draw card, followed by Sea World, and Universal Studios. But along with these well-known attractions, a plethora of other hot spots exist. Wet-N-Wild draws a huge number of the sizzling summer crowd, a great place to cool down on a scorching Florida summer day. Kennedy Space Center makes a great day trip as well as Cocoa Beach, home of Ron Jon’s Surf Shop and Daytona Beach, a world famous family and spring break destination.Investment Property in Florida – Locations near Disney WorldHaving established that owning investment property near Orlando would be a wise investment decision, the search now begins for a specific location. Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios are located on the south side of Orlando. Condos, town homes and single family homes are commonly purchased for investment purchase in this area. Closest to the Disney area is the community of Kissimmee, Florida. Kissimmee was a sleepy cow town just a decade ago. It is now booming with tourist activity. A quaint downtown area still exists with a few cattle ranches on the outskirts but generally the flavor of Kissimmee now reflects its large tourist population. Close to Disney, within 30 to 45 minutes, lies the lesser-known town of Davenport, Florida. Surrounded by orange groves, it gives you the feel of old rural Florida, but is close enough to the major attractions to make this an attractive investment option. Looking to get into a ground floor investment opportunity? Bimimi Bay Resort, a brand new town home resort development is now offering purchase opportunities. The many amenities in the planning stages include a resort pool, 2 movie theatres, a major restaurant chain, club house, lazy river, food court and many others. For the price of principal, interest, taxes and insurance, the owner has the many advantages of using the property for a minimum rate while vacationing and letting Bimimi Bay take care of all the headaches of rental during the year, still receiving a reliable monthly income. It’s a no lose deal for investors.
Where is Florida Investment Property
Florida Investment Property – Why Investing is a Wise Decision
There are many reasons to purchase investment property in Florida, the foremost being value appreciation. Property values generally rise while debt decreases; making real estate purchases a good investment. Every year since 1968, the national median home price has risen. Usually, home values increase at around the rate of inflation, with a greater increase possible. In recent years, median prices have increased by as much as 9 percent, making purchasing investment property in Florida a wise long term investment. Building equity is an excellent reason to purchase investment property in Florida. Equity grows over time for owners while renters don’t see any return on their money. Purchasing property forces you to save, making you a wise investor without realizing it. Owning investment property in one Florida location may make it possible for you to expand, purchasing a second and third property as rental profits increase. Owning investment property in Florida gives you borrowing power, the ability to use your property equity to borrow funds for your own use, or for further investment. Owning investment property in Florida gives you a sense of stability, not only for the consistent rental income, but for the potential of it becoming a regular seasonal vacation home for your family. Imagine the pleasure and ease of knowing where you are going to vacation, there’s no need to decide on location and try to compete to make reservations, with prices changing every year. There is stability on owning an investment property in Florida that can also be used as a family vacation resort.Why the Interest in Florida Investment Property?Considering the myriad of investment property locations on the market, Florida investment property is one of the most desirable. Home to 11 of the country’s 100 fastest-growing counties, a Florida investment property has high potential as a profit-maker, unlike most other areas. Port St. Lucie, Miramar and Cape Coral are the fastest growing cities in Florida. It’s unlikely you will make a mistake investing in Florida real estate considering the vast number of tourists and new residents flocking to the land of sun and surf. The most difficult decision to make will be which location in Florida to purchase. Good investments abound in each area of the state, from Miami in the south to Clearwater on the gulf coast, going east to Daytona Beach and north to the panhandle. Selecting a location depends on your goals for purchasing Florida investment property. Carefully consider what you intend to do with your Florida investment property. Will your purchase be used mainly as a rental property for vacationers? Do you intend to have access to the property during certain seasons? Or is your goal rental of the property to local tenants? Some of these questions will help you in narrowing down your search. Once you have determined whether your Florida investment property will be used primarily for vacationers or for local renters, and whether you intend on using it as a vacation resort yourself, it is easier to choose the location.Florida Investment Property LocationsThere are so many location options of investment property in Florida, making it difficult to select just the right location. Let’s start from the top! Do you desire a beachfront location, or one close to the coast, or would you rather select property in a town setting. Tourist area or settled community, inland or beachside? Asking these questions helps you narrow down your search. Each area where an investment property in Florida is located has its own flavor, its own attractions. Let’s start with the Miami area. Miami is located in the southeastern corner of Florida and Miami Beach is a seven mile long island known as America’s Riviera. Home appreciation rate in the Miami area is about 11% with the median home price around $240,000. There are diverse offerings of single family homes, ocean front property and ocean view condominiums. Of course condo and home prices are offered in a vast range, with upscale areas bringing in up to $5 million. Condos and town homes may be cheaper, depending on location, but with price escalation and population density, even there it may be hard to find a bargain. Miami offers beautiful beaches with perennial sunshine but traffic congestion and the increasing population boom may be a deterrent to some. Just forty miles north of Miami, lies Boca Raton with five miles of coastline and gorgeous beaches. Appreciation rate here is around 11%. Clearwater, on the west coast of Florida borders Clearwater Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico. Indian Shores is a small historic community offering condos, gulf front property and Intracoastal Waterway homes and town homes. The appreciation rate for investment property in Florida, Clearwater is about 9%.Investment Property in Florida – Daytona Beach, Jacksonville and Destin
Moving north in our search for investment property in Florida, let’s take a look at the Daytona Beach area. Daytona is known as a spring break and family playground on Florida’s east coast about 50 miles northeast of Orlando. Homes prices are surprisingly reasonable here in comparison with other popular Florida beach locations. Appreciation is about 10% with homes starting as low as $80,000. A large variety of housing choices exist, everything from inland or waterfront property, to townhouses and single family homes, ocean front or inland. Older homes abound but there are also several new upscale building projects. Let’s take a look further north at Jacksonville. Jacksonville is known as Florida’s River City due to the ever-present St. John’s River which flows through the city, ponds and lakes. A modestly priced investment property in Florida can be found here with a range from $60,000 to several million. Appreciation is around 9% with continual growing home construction. Unique to Jacksonville is its diverse neighborhoods and building styles. Destin is located in the Emerald Coast of Florida, sitting on the Gulf of Mexico. It is just south of Alabama and was recently voted as having the best beaches in the US. Destin boasts great seafood, and excellent golfing and fishing. Home appreciation here is around 12% with the median home price about $165,000. Condos and townhouses here begin at $100,000 and can go upwards in the millions for waterfront property.Investment Property in Florida – Attractive Tourist AreasLet’s play a little word association. I’ll say Florida and chances are the majority of people will say Walt Disney World, or something relating to the Orlando area. Orlando has a thriving tourist economy that attracts close to thirty five million visitors each year. Real estate is booming here with the median price taking a dramatic jump from $166,000 to $200,000, an appreciation of 27%, making investing near Orlando a great venture. Conway Belle Isle, east Orange County, Maitland/Winter Park and northwest Orange County have seen the most dramatic property value increases. There is a strong job market here without forecasts of a downturn, keeping prices strong. There are a large variety of properties to choose from, including starter homes, modest cottages, older homes and impressive new developments. Orlando is called the City Beautiful and owes part of that title to its cleanliness, newness and innovation and variety of lakes and nearby attractions. Whether you are considering investment property in Florida as a rental for locals, as a tourist rental or to rent and use yourself, Orlando is an excellent choice in location. Consider the varied options of attractions in the Orlando area. Walt Disney World would be foremost as a draw card, followed by Sea World, and Universal Studios. But along with these well-known attractions, a plethora of other hot spots exist. Wet-N-Wild draws a huge number of the sizzling summer crowd, a great place to cool down on a scorching Florida summer day. Kennedy Space Center makes a great day trip as well as Cocoa Beach, home of Ron Jon’s Surf Shop and Daytona Beach, a world famous family and spring break destination.Investment Property in Florida – Locations near Disney WorldHaving established that owning investment property near Orlando would be a wise investment decision, the search now begins for a specific location. Disney World, Sea World and Universal Studios are located on the south side of Orlando. Condos, town homes and single family homes are commonly purchased for investment purchase in this area. Closest to the Disney area is the community of Kissimmee, Florida. Kissimmee was a sleepy cow town just a decade ago. It is now booming with tourist activity. A quaint downtown area still exists with a few cattle ranches on the outskirts but generally the flavor of Kissimmee now reflects its large tourist population. Close to Disney, within 30 to 45 minutes, lies the lesser-known town of Davenport, Florida. Surrounded by orange groves, it gives you the feel of old rural Florida, but is close enough to the major attractions to make this an attractive investment option. Looking to get into a ground floor investment opportunity? Bimimi Bay Resort, a brand new town home resort development is now offering purchase opportunities. The many amenities in the planning stages include a resort pool, 2 movie theatres, a major restaurant chain, club house, lazy river, food court and many others. For the price of principal, interest, taxes and insurance, the owner has the many advantages of using the property for a minimum rate while vacationing and letting Bimimi Bay take care of all the headaches of rental during the year, still receiving a reliable monthly income. It’s a no lose deal for investors.