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March 2019

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Reading Time: 2 minutes It is difficult to specify an exact amount given the number of variables involved in construction; and building a house from scratch requires not only patience but proper planning, resource and adequate financing. Q: How should I start? Budget Before all else, you must determine a budget to build your house. Whether you borrow from your bank or already have funds, you have to know what your budget allows in terms of design and location of your home. Having a rough idea in mind can help you choose a location, which is one of the biggest costs. Consultants can advise you on what you can expect to be able to build. Always keep a buffer of 10-15% of your budget as an extra fund, in case unseen events or expenses occur. Payment plan You can choose to pay cash or look for loan options from the bank. If you borrow…

Reading Time: < 1 minute Putting a property up for sale is not as simple as one may think. You need to make sure people know what you are selling and that your property looks its absolute best to make potential buyers fall in love with it and want to proceed with the purchase right away. The tips below will help your property not only look good but receive the best offers. Renovate and patch up A makeover can give your property a fresher look. Broken tiles and dirty walls will make it look not only derelict but can also discourage buyers. Nice-looking rooms or even an upgraded bathroom can win an indecisive buyer’s heart. Professional photos If you have a professional photographer take pictures, they are likely to know how to really bring the best out of your property. A picture taken with your phone just is not enough to appeal to buyers. Trusted…

Reading Time: 2 minutes Installing a swimming pool can completely transform a property. Whether you are looking to de-stress, exercise or enjoy it with the family, a swim can help you clear your head, feel rested and refreshed. Swimming pool costs are heavily dependent on many factors, including size, landscape, and tiling. It is best to call up a contractor and get a preliminary quote to help you determine how much it will cost for you to install the pool on your property. For an average pool, you need to have a budget of at least BDT 100,000 – 200,000. This would be an entry-level model, ideal for the front yard. The smaller size of the pool, however, would mean that maintenance would be easier and less expensive. For a more sophisticated model, experienced contractors in Bangladesh will ask for between BDT 800,000 and 20,00,000, depending on exact specifications like size, quality, and optional…

Reading Time: 2 minutes Anyone who has lived in this country and has a fairly good knowledge of what is going around is familiar with the ongoing spread of real estate power. Bangladesh being as populated a country as it is, availability of properties for people to live and work in is crucial. While not taking anything away from the importance of apartments or commercial properties, since the need and demand for them are equally high, there are still a large number of people who prefer to live in houses. The reason behind them is quite understandable. Buying a house, while quite an expensive decision, allows the homeowner to buy his/her own property and the freedom that comes with it. It makes your home officially and legally your personal property and you are free to live in it and remodel/redecorate it any way you want without having to consult with the landlord or fellow…

Reading Time: < 1 minute One of the many items on your to-do list when buying a property should be a thorough inspection of your potential new home. Bear in mind that after a thorough home inspection, you will be well armed to negotiate a fair price for the property. So don’t miss this step in the home buying process. Start with the building itself. And start from the bottom. Check the foundation of the building and check for cracks in the walls and ceilings of each room. You should then inspect the roof, windows and other fixtures for rust or damp areas. Then comes the plumbing and other appliances, which need to be in working order. Check for pests and rodents. These can be a huge inconvenience later on if overlooked. There are pest control companies who can take care of this for you. Other important health-related issues to look out for are the…

Reading Time: < 1 minute Think you’re bad at decorating? Take heart – there is no way you’re as bad as these guys. Let today’s post be a lesson in what not to do when redecorating your home. Lesson 1: Never take design inspiration from Barbie. Lesson 2: Or Star Wars. Lesson 3: Never let the kids share a room. Lesson 4: Never look to the 60s for your color scheme. Lesson 5: Never go DIY with electricity. Lesson 6: Never coordinate with the pets. Lesson 7: Never build a bathroom so small the door has to work around it. Lesson 8: Never use dirty socks as wall decorations. Lesson 9: Never go for form over function. Lesson 10: When all else fails, use post-it notes.

Reading Time: 2 minutes Did you know that about 80 percent of people living in Dhaka are renters? This is despite the cost of rent climbing dramatically every year – up to 15 percent annually, according to some estimates. In this environment, you might think buying property is the better option. But how do you decide whether buying or renting is right for you? Consider all the costs Some say rent money is wasted money. Renters pay a large bill every month and, unlike with investing in property, you never recuperate any of the costs. But owning property comes with several additional fees and taxes that you need to take into account when deciding whether to buy – think closing costs, repairs, regular maintenance, and interest on your mortgage. In Bangladesh, property transactional costs total about 10 percent. Future homeowners face stamp duty of 5 percent, registration fees of 2.5 percent and local government…

Reading Time: < 1 minute $US51 billion and counting. That’s the amount spent – so far – on staging the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. The team at Bproperty has done the math: for the cost of the most expensive Olympics ever, you could buy 58km2 of land in Saudi Arabia. Or for the price of the Olympic Village alone, you could build more than 300,000 average-size apartments in Pakistan. So what else could you get, property-wise, for the money spent on Sochi?

Reading Time: 2 minutes From Victorian castles in Downton Abbey to Beverly Hills mansions in The Godfather; Hollywood has a thing for enviable real estate. These classic homes have provided a backdrop to some of our favorite movies and TV shows. A few of them you can even buy or rent – but it will cost you. Downton Abbey What it will cost you: estimated value of £72 million The abbey is real – and even has its own website. Located within 1000 acres of gardens and parklands, Highclere Castle in the UK has been home to the Carnarvon family since 1679. As a friend of the family, Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes reportedly had the spectacular Victorian-era castle in mind when he created the hit series. Unfortunately for Downton fans, it is closed to visitors, except during ticketed opening times.   The Godfather What it will cost you: valued at $US115 million in…

Reading Time: 2 minutes Asia dominates the list of top 10 global cities with booming luxury residential property markets, a new report shows. The Wealth Report, from property consultants Knight Frank, reveals the Asia-Pacific region’s prime property markets are booming while a weaker Europe continues to lose speed. According to the report’s Prime International Residential Index, Indonesia outranks the rest of the world: with Jakarta and Bali featuring taking first and third place on the list of top luxury real estate hot spots. This list of the fastest growing luxury property markets proves emerging markets are the world’s investment hotspots. 1. Jakarta, Indonesia Rate of growth in the prime residential market: 37.7% With 38% growth in the past year, the Indonesian capital is the world’s fastest-growing luxury market for the second year running. The country also has one the fastest growing wealthy populations, with the total number of billionaires expected to increase nearly 150%…