Posts tagged: real estates

As you likely know, there are a lot of things that need to be taken care of in order to become a real estate agent in any state. There are a lot of requirements that you need to try and take care of and, on top of that, you need to be certain that you’re doing what you need to accomplish in order to stay ahead and find what you may need to get the best results for your efforts. If you want to start a career as a real estate agent, what are you supposed to do?

Many states have licensing requirements that you have to follow in order to be certain that you’re getting everything that you need to stay ahead of the process. You have to meet certain criteria and know that you’re not going to end up in a situation where it may be difficult to work at the same time. There are many places that you can go now in order to get your real estate license for whatever state(s) you are looking to work with, and you will discover that some of them are even online, which makes it that much more convenient in the long run.

A good real estate course is going to give you all of the tools that you need so that you can become a real estate agent without too much stress of hassle. The fact of the matter is, you want to get into a position where you are going to be able to get just what you need. If you’re currently working, you need the flexibility that online classes provide so that you can get ahead and start making the necessary steps toward whatever goals that you may be looking at in the future.

On top of course work, you also need to make sure that you are going to have connections with those that will be able to mentor you. Many schools will require that you take the time to do this as part of your coursework as well. You want to know what you may be getting yourself into during this process and you want to feel confident that, when you have completed your entire program, that you are going to be able to pass the test to get your license and that you will feel comfortable when you get out and start selling real estate on your own.

All in all, there are a lot of things that you can do in order to start working toward the goals that you have in mind for real estate. Consider looking at all of the different options that are out there and put together a game plan that is going to make the most sense for you and whatever needs that you may have in that regard. When all is said and done, you will discover that it can work out quite well if you’re willing to take the necessary steps to make it a reality.

Before I continue, let’s first make sure we’re on the same page about who were referring to when we use the expression ‘millennial traveller’.

Millennials, also more commonly referred to as Generation Y or Generation Next, are people who were born between the early 1980s and early 2000s. They make up about 20% of international travellers and it is estimated that by 2020, they will account for more than 320 million international trips.

Phew. Those are some staggering numbers right there! It’s no wonder that hotels are wooing them with everything they have. But for all the effort they’re making, do hotels really have what Millennials want? Do they even know what Millennials are looking for?

If you’re not quite sure, let me drop a few hints your way

Hint No.1: Technology is their life force

Technology is to Millennials what water is to fish – life itself. The perks that most of us consider good to have – Internet, Wi-fi, hi-speed mobile data – are essential to their way of living.

What this means for hotels

According to a report, almost 71% of Millennial travelers considered free Wi-fi an important factor when choosing a hotel. So hotels, pull up your socks and put the technology in place for them. Or they’re likely to walk up to your competitor and book a room with them.

Hint No.2: Millennials love their smartphones

‘Technology at your fingertips’ is an expression that’s taken very seriously by the Millennials. He is likely to go for hours without food and water, but not without checking his smartphone. He works, plays, chats, networks, writes emails, watches videos, and stays up to date on news using his phone. Other more complicated actions like booking tickets, making hotel arrangements, and paying bills can also be competently handled by his handset.

What this means for hotels

It’s absolutely imperative that hotels invest in superior mobile technology, starting with a website that adapts to different screen sizes and resolutions. With more than half of millennial travelers using mobile devices to discover and book hotels, the hospitality industry is paying a heavy price for not investing in a mobile responsive website. You might also want to consider getting an app for your hotel, to facilitate functions like mobile check in, check out, payments, and en-cashing loyalty points.

Hint No.3: Millennials are ‘social’ creatures

Generation Y is often criticized for shirking the forms of social interaction that their parents were fond of. They’re considered aloof, standoffish, and a little bit asocial. But the truth is that Millennials do tend to connect to each other, just not in ways that are familiar to us. The online world, especially social media, takes precedence in their social life. Facebook, Twitter, What’sApp, GChat, and Snapchat is where they hang out, check in, upload pictures, start conversations, and share details of their life.

What this means for hotels

Given that social media is one of the biggest influencing factors in the life of a Millennial, hotels must make a concerted effort to have a presence on various platforms. In fact, they must go beyond the token Facebook and Instagram page and build a community online. Reach out to your audience, engage them, solve their problems, and invite them to leave reviews. An active social media profile inspires confidence among Millennials and is likely to win you brownie points in the long run.

Hint No.4: Millennials place great faith in peer reviews

Generation Y is a suspicious lot and they can recognize a marketing gimmick from a mile away. For this reason, they rely heavily on ‘peer review’ to gather information about a place. Whether they’re buying a new gadget or trying out a restaurant in the neighborhood, you’ll see them pouring over reviews before deciding to do anything. They consider it a more authentic and ‘real’ source of information. And you can be 100 per cent sure that they’ll be reading up about your hotel before deciding to stay there.

What this means for hotels

Do not try to patronize or trick the Millennial traveller. All your online properties (website, blog, social media profiles) should display accurate information, accompanied by up-to-date pictures. If you’re offering a deal or discount, lay out the terms in black and white. Encourage your visitors to leave you a review on platforms like Trip-advisor or your Facebook page; incentivize the process, if you have to. Should you receive a negative review, take steps to address it and resolve the situation.

Millennials don’t expect you to be flawless. However, they do expect you to be transparent and sincere. Mistakes are an inevitable part of your industry and if you’ve taken every possible step to rectify the problem, you will be forgiven. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself at the receiving end of a nasty review posted for the entire world to see.

Hint No.5: Millennials are into Bleisure

Generation Y is relatively unencumbered by responsibilities at home and are more open to taking business trips. However, unlike the previous generation, almost 62% of millennial travelers will extend their business vacation to explore the place and gain cultural experiences.

What this means for hotels

Gone are the days when that solitary desk in the hotel room took care of any ‘business needs’ that travelers had. Millennials do not like working inside their rooms. This is the generation that steps out to a coffee shop to sit with their laptops and work for hours. The concept of the ‘third space’, independent of home and office, has been popularized by them. Design hotel lobbies to cater to this demand, so that when they step out in search for a place to work, they don’t have to go very far.

Hint No.6: Millennials look for authentic experiences

Despite what might look like their preoccupation with the cyber world, Millennials are always looking for unique and meaningful travel experiences. They want their stay personalized and won’t pass up an opportunity to learn something valuable. Not content with hitting the high spots of a tourist destination, they crave interaction with locals and enjoy immersing themselves in a variety of cultural experiences.

What this means for hotels

Reject the cookie cutter approach to the services you offer your guests. Offer them a genuine travel experience, one that is immersive, interactive and hands on. Don’t just take them on a regular sightseeing tour that showcases the city from behind the panes of a bus or car window. Take them to meet local artisans, show them the way to the hip and happening underground bar, and expose them to interesting customs and traditions. That’s the only way to add true value to their life and create an experience they will cherish for life.

There’s no denying that Millennials are driving the hospitality industry with full force. They already account for a third of the hotel guests in the world, and by 2020, the figure is expected to climb to 50 per cent.

To keep pace with growing demands, hotels must show a willingness to evolve and reinvent themselves. They have to put aside traditional methods of functioning, revisit their marketing strategy, and curate unique experiences for Generation Y.

Besides, it is in their best interest that hotels up their game. By updating their offers, hotels stay relevant within the industry and equipped to deal with the demands of changing times. Millennial travelers are the cash cow that every industry dreams of, and by catering to them, hotels are ensuring themselves a solid revenue stream for the next few decades, at least.

Real Estate in Lebanon has experienced some severe contrasting periods. In the early 90’s, the real estate sector pulled up the entire economy through intensive programs of reconstruction set by the government and other private institutions. New buildings were popping up across the whole country.

This positive impact of the real estate sector on the Lebanese economy was challenged during the last few years. The vast majority of residential buildings that were constructed during the last ten years were aimed at high-end customer’s level coming mainly from the Gulf, while internal demand was oriented towards medium standing apartments and properties. Since the external demand, mainly coming from Arabs in the Gulf region was increasing in volume, this has led to a sharp increase in real estate prices. This is not anymore the case especially for the last couple of years. The external demand has stabilized adding to that the government endorsement of laws limiting the percentage of properties that can be sold to foreigners. The real estate market is not flooded by liquidity as it was the case few years ago, and prices are expected to stay stagnant at least for the coming two to three years. Many positive signs are emerging in this period.

The real estate sector is being managed now by more professional institutions. This represents a major switch for this industry where traditionally families run mainly this sector. The best illustration is that investors are now conducting market research and feasibility studies prior to actual constructions. This was not the case 10 years ago.

Another positive sign is the return of international investors to downtown Beirut. Virgin, Ericsson and almost all financial institutions in the country have their headquarters there. The major effort that has been made by the country to attract investors is now bearing fruit.

This success is not surprising; Lebanon has many benefits for large corporations. Its location makes it an ideal gateway to the Middle East and the quality of life can meet the expats’ expectations and facilitates their implementation.

Beyond that, the banking laws are favorable for foreign companies wishing to locate in the region. The future may be considered as promising. Several major projects are now under construction. In Beirut downtown, a chain reaction is expected and which can be explained as follows: the more the number of multinational companies move to downtown Beirut, the more the multinational companies will want to locate their offices there. This is not just applicable to the city center; this fact also affects the surrounding neighborhoods.

The real estate market in Lebanon has experienced as well a dramatic rise in terms of the investments that have been injected into it. These investments come from Arabs, expatriates, and foreign investors.

Across the whole Arab region, the real estate sector in Lebanon has received the majority of Arab and foreign investments with a big boost in demand on the it properties in Lebanon.

The real estate market in Lebanon was the primary recipient of all Arab investments and constituted 80 percent of such investments.

Beirut, once considered the “Pearl of the Orient” is now ranked the most expensive city in the Middle East and Africa, ahead of Dubai, Istanbul and Johannesburg.

Cosmopolitan on one hand and traditional one the other, this place certainly delivers what it promises. One of the hottest vacation destinations in the world, it isn’t hard to find cheap flights to Dubai. A vibrant metropolis with an imposing skyline and a fascinating charm, the city is undoubtedly one of the jewels of the Middle East. An established trading and commercial hub of the continent, an attractive leisure hotspot, and a place with well-preserved heritage, Dubai enjoys a rather varied reputation.

Taking a trip to Dubai can be easily compared with riding on a time machine. Replete with various historical landmarks, archeological sites and many places of cultural importance, exploring the city is like a journey through time. Dotted in and around Dubai you’ll find numerous examples of its glorious past, such as the Dubai Museum that houses hundreds of artifacts, Hatta Heritage Village, Burj Nahar, Philately House, House of the Camel, House of the Horse, Sheikh Saeed’s House, Al Fahidi Fort, Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, and Al Ahmadiya School & Heritage House. Dynamism is what you find in every nook and cranny of the Dubai, be it the chromatic life size dioramas vividly depict everyday life before the discovery of oil, art allergies and exhibition centers recreating scenes from the Creek, traditional Arab houses adorning the lanes and alleys of the city, mosques and old souks, date farms, and desert and marine life. Things like sunshine, shopping, seaside fun and adventure sports, you’ll find it in great abundance. Being on the crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa, Dubai is rather situated well to attract visitors from places far and wide. A spectacular city, Dubai is where the conventions of the past meet and amalgamate with the comforts and offerings of the west beautifully.

Catering every kind of palate and impressing even the most discerning tourists, Dubai is laden with landmarks and sites that are worth drooling over. Take a trip to Burj Arab, the iconic symbol of Dubai, enjoy ecotourism at The World, visit Dubai Marina, see the city in its high-tech avatar at the Dubai Internet City, witness total entertainment at the Dubailand, reserve an entire day to spend at the largest shopping mall of the world, the City of Arabia, experience what state-of-the-art means at the Dubai Sports City, ride the Dubai Metro, get an aerial view of the Dubai standing atop Burjkhalifa, or take a pick from visiting Palm Trilogy, Atlantis, and the Business Bay. The emirate boasts of a dazzling nightlife, an elaborate wining and dining scene and revelry beyond compare. Enjoy a candle-lit dinner at a fancy restaurant, dance the night away at the thumping nightclubs, enjoy lively conversations at one of the various elegant cafes, or a few rounds of drinks at any of the several glitzy pubs and bars. Loaded with luxurious accommodations and cheap hotels alike, Dubai welcomes one and all.

Dubai is a remarkable holiday destination and offers a variety of sightseeing opportunities. Dubai has Islamic traditions however Dubai also offer a way of life that is similar to other cosmopolitan cities around the world.

A great place to start of your Dubai sightseeing rounds is a visit to the famous Jumeirah Mosque. This Dubai Mosque is widely regarded as the premier example of modern Islamic architecture and the way it has integrated into society.

The Jumeirah Mosque is very recognizable due to its two remarkable minarets. The Jumeirah Mosque also has an exquisite dome which is extensively photographed by the many tourists that visit the famous Dubai Mosque each year.

The Sheikh Saeed’s House is another must on any Dubai sightseeing schedule. The Sheikh Saeed’s House is located near the shoreline of Dubai.

This Dubai landmark was constructed so that the Sheikh who rules this Emirate at the time would be able to have a better view of all shipping and trading that occurred in the area.

Sheikh Saeed’s House is a remarkable building which offers one of the finest examples of local Dubai architecture.

Bastakiya is one of the oldest quarters of Dubai. It is extremely interesting for tourists as Bastakiya offers tourists to experience and witness how Dubai was in past times. No modern shopping malls and large office buildings can be found in this region of Dubai which gives this section of Dubai a sense of authenticity.

The Al Fahidi Fort is located within the Bastakiya area of Dubai and this fort offers the largest selection of typical Dubai courtyard homes that have windtowers.

These special Dubai windtowers acted as a type of Air-Conditioning as the cold breeze went into the wind towers and the breeze was directed into the rooms of these Dubai houses.

The Dubai Museum is a great place to visit and should really be visited by every tourists visiting Dubai. The Dubai Museum is one of Dubai’s tallest buildings and is in fact located within the Al Fahidi Fort.

The Dubai Museum was originally built as a palace for the local rulers at the end of the 18th century. The beautifully designed building has since served many purposes as it has also serves as a jail and an army base.

Visitors can witness scenes from a variety of historic events as well as impressions of everyday life in Dubai which includes the Dubai Mosques, pearl diving and the variety of architectural styles which one can encounter in Dubai.

The tourism industry has become the second largest economically lucrative market for Bermuda. On top of this, the financial boom for Bermuda is sustaining due to the low direct taxation on the corporate or personal income.

Even though the financial aspects are pretty much positive for Bermuda, but accommodation has become an issue for the locals. For this reason, the Bermudian listings market is not so attractive for the international real estate. The Bermudian rentals are pretty attractive for the buyers as the figure rounds about to $2.6 million for an average property with a minimal tax of 22 percent. The total amount stands at $3 million which is cheaper in comparison to the international rentals. But this price is completely ruled out as the Bermudian real estate for sale is pretty much preserved for the housing and accommodation of Bermudian only. Due to this situation, the international listings and international exchange of Bermuda are owned by the Government in order to regulate and limit the foreign ownership of the land.

The real estate in Bermuda is suffering in terms of the foreign occupation because Bermuda measures 2 miles wide and 22 miles long. The land area for Bermuda is only about 21 square miles which makes only one-third of Washington DC size. The Bermudian land barely provides accommodation to its 66,000 citizens. So this leaves no room for the non-Bermudians. Although there are about 37% of the non-Bermudian who hold the property in Bermuda, this trend has been limited in order to create more opportunities for the local people.

To restrict the Bermudian market only for the local people, a law was introduced according to which if a person is not a Bermudian, then he or she is restricted. If still a person wants to be native of this country and buy a property, then he or she will have to marry the opposite sex and remain married for at least 10 years. In addition to this, Bermudian for sale restrictions have been issued which include the following points:

1) As per the Bermudian law, the local Bermudian could transfer or sell the property to other Bermudians only.

2) Non-Bermudians are allowed to sell their property to other non-Bermudians or Bermudians.

3) There is a limited value of $2 million fixed for non-Bermudians and they cannot buy any property under this value.

4) Raw land purchase is prohibited to non-Bermudians.

5) The restricted person mentioned in the above law includes corporations, trusts and partnerships.

6) If a non-Bermudian owns a property, he should not think of it as a path to citizenship.

Real estate in Bermuda is no wonder a treat for everyone, but the limitations and structure of this island sure makes a difference.

The UAE banking sector is still in recovery stage, post the 2008-09 real estate crisis in Dubai. However, the financial performance of the banks has stabilised especially over the past couple of years. The UAE banks, particularly Dubai based banks, are facing asset quality challenges, as reflected in their high proportion of non-performing loans and low level of provisions. On the other hand, Abu Dhabi based banks appear relatively less challenged from these issues due to their relatively lower exposure to real estate and higher exposure to oil based industries, which did well amid favourable oil price environment.

The key concerns related to the UAE banks include i) concentration in loans and deposits, ii) high proportion of related party exposures, iii) limited data transparency/availability, and iv) stiff industry competition. Moreover, the performance of the UAE banks has been constrained by the still recovering real estate and construction sectors. Although the banks maintain a strong presence in their local markets, the banking sector has limited diversification and displays concentration in terms of geographies, products, and customers.

That said, most of the UAE based banks benefit from strong ownership structure backed by local governments. In addition, most of these banks are in the process of restructuring their problem loans. The economy of Dubai has shown encouraging growth in the past two years. All key sectors of the economy including real estate, trade, tourism, and services have shown a considerable improvement. The improved performance of the core sectors would result in re-classification of some of non-performing loans as performing loans, which would reduce stress on the banking sector in the medium term.

Recent political unrest in some countries in the MENA region has benefited UAE, owing to its safe haven status in the region. Dubai has strengthened its position as a regional financial hub and has become a key channel for investment across the MENA region. This has directly helped local banks. The key characteristics of the UAE banking sector are as follows.

i) Strong links to local governments: The UAE banking sector has been strongly dominated by the governments of Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The ruling families are also actively involved through their investments in the country, typically through their holding companies. The government’s significant involvement in the UAE banking system proved beneficial during the global financial crisis. The authorities responded quickly when needed and supported local banks in 2008 and early 2009. The UAE Central Bank has provided liquidity support as well as deposits to banks in the past to alleviate funding pressure. Markets expect a continuous support to the UAE banks from local governments in future, if needed.

ii) Strong capitalization: The UAE banking sector exhibits a very strong level of capitalization. Its capital levels are supported by consistent profitability, strong earnings retention, and equity injections from the government in times of need. Total capital adequacy ratio of the sector has exceeded 20% over the past three years, the highest in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. However, the high capital levels are also justified by some banks’ high share of non-performing loans, which requires a higher level of capital than the average.

iii) Weak asset quality: The UAE banks are challenged by weak asset quality. Most of the banks based in Dubai have shown very high level of non-performing loans and insufficient provisions. Moody’s expects non-performing loans of the UAE banks to remain in 10%-12% range in 2013. The agency also stated that despite recovery in core industries, the non performing loans are unlikely to reduce rapidly in the medium term due to banks’ large exposure to troubled borrowers, especially in the real estate industry.

iv) Dependence on oil prices and global macro-economic conditions: The performance of the UAE economy, especially Abu Dhabi, largely depends on oil prices. Any sudden fall in oil prices could result in lower public spending by the Abu Dhabi government. This could impact the performance of Abu Dhabi based banks, which have largely been involved in financing government directed projects. Also, in the event of a sharp decline in oil prices, the resulting economic downturn may further impact lending activities of the banks. On the other hand, Dubai largely derives its growth from real estate, trade, tourism, and services industry. The performance of most of these sectors is linked to global economy. Any deterioration in global macroeconomic environment would directly impact Dubai’s economy and its banking sector.

v) Limited credit differentiation: It is hard to differentiate between UAE banks just by looking at their credit metrics. Most of these banks are closely linked to local governments. The differences in asset quality and franchise value are the only primary distinguishing factors for the banks in the country.

vi) High competition: The UAE is an overbanked region. There are 51 banks currently operating in the UAE. This has resulted in stiff industry competition and has pressurized net interest margins of the banks.

A guide for film enthusiasts wishing to film from the UAE’s skies.

Its Dubai 2016, and although we do not have flying cars and hover boards (at least, not real ones), we do have flight drones, and lots of them. While most people who own high-end models of drone aircraft do so for professional use, an increasing number of people have purchased the machines simply as toys. What many of them do not know (including a large number of film production companies in Dubai) is that drone usage with a camera within the UAE is illegal, without the correct permissions and permits.

Recently The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has asked light air sports enthusiasts, including drone enthusiasts, to fly their aircraft only in accredited clubs approved by the authority to address safety and security issues. Most notably, the GCAA also warned drone hobbyists against equipping their vehicles with laser devices, cameras and other projection devices. Doing so could result in your equipment being confiscated by the police with a hefty fine. So what are the basic rules?

Well all flying should take place within the visual line of sight of the user and not above 400 ft from ground level without the use of visual aids, such as binoculars and within the aircraft’s operational range.

Fly only during daytime and in good weather conditions and do not under any circumstances fly within five kilometers from any airports, helipads, landing areas or manned aircraft. Do not fly near any buildings, houses, private properties or persons and finally, unless you have approval do not fly for commercial purposes.

For filmmakers, film and media production companies in Dubai and other commercial users, drone pilots should get a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA). This letter can be obtained after registration, pre-assessment and prior approval from the Dubai Film and TV Commission (DFTC).

It is essential to note that throughout the UAE there are laws pertaining to drone flying and not just Dubai, so you need to check with the corresponding emirate before taking off. Each emirate may have slightly different rules and regulations. Because this is a relatively new area of interest, local rules and laws may for a while be in a state of flux and subject to change; therefore it is essential to check with the DFCT and the DCAA before you start filming with your drone.

A New Way to Own a Vacation Home – For the Select Few: Fractional ownership of vacation homes, also called private residence clubs, is a relatively new concept that allows you to enjoy four to 12 weeks of home ownership privileges per year at an upscale, luxury resort but at a fraction of the cost of whole ownership.

If you want to own an impressive second home complete with personalized services and located in an expensive resort area but can’t quite justify the expense because you’ll only be using it a few weeks or months of the year, this type of real estate arrangement may appeal to you.

Amenities Galore

Most private residence clubs offer extensive amenities. These may include an extravagant clubhouse and spa, plus five-star hotel services, the kind you couldn’t expect to have in a wholly-owned vacation home, high-end condo or timeshare.

Imagine this: You are going on vacation and you call ahead to the staff at your private residence club home. At your request, the staff shops for your groceries, dry-cleans your clothing, makes your restaurant reservations, heats your private splash pool, and places knick-knacks and favorite pictures of family members around your residence. You are met at the airport by a staff person who shuttles you to your home where a just-detailed Jaguar is sitting in your parking space for use at your disposal.

Get the picture? Private residence clubs are NOT your ordinary second home.

Outstanding Locations

Fractionals or residence clubs have sprung up in exclusive, world-class resort destinations worldwide. St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, Puerta Vallarta and Mexico are popular locations.

In the U.S., the first fractionals were in major ski areas out west, particularly Colorado where real estate was so costly that wholly-owned second homes were out of the question for most people. Eventually they spread to northeastern ski areas. Since then fractionals have begun appearing in golf-oriented communities like Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and popular beach states like Florida.

Some of the most popular fractionals can be found in Jupiter, FL; Aspen Highlands, Bachelor Gulch, and Aspen Snowmass, CO; Lake Tahoe, CA; and Whistler, British Columbia. Fractionals located in the U.S. usually offer good access to major airports that allows for easy transportation arrangements.

Management by Five-Star Companies

The key to the success of fractionals is their professional management. Most are operated by well-respected hospitality companies known worldwide for their world-class resorts. Among them are Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Starwood, Intrawest and Millennium, brands known for their five-star services and amenities.

Hassle-free Ownership

Part of the appeal of fractionals is that they are completely hassle free. In addition to having a staff for personalized service at your disposal, at a private residence club you never have to worry about repairs, maintenance or housekeeping. Everything is included in the price and annual fees and taken care of by the professional management company.

Appreciation Potential

To date there have been very few fractional resort developments. The demand is high. As a result, it is likely there will be substantial appreciation, rather than the depreciation that usually occurs with timeshares.

Real estate experts say that the outlook for investment appreciation appears excellent. You can expect at the very least an appreciation parity against other real estate in the resort area in which the fractional is located.

Prices

To buy a fractional, you pay a one-time purchase price and then a yearly upkeep fee that covers all of the expenses associated with property ownership and its use and services.

What do fractionals cost? Prices vary based on the size, amenities and location of the individual property. But most are in the $100,000-$500,000 range. Keep in mind that these are truly top-of-the-line homes that would cost you two to five times as much if purchased outright as wholly-owned vacation homes.

Comparison of Fractionals to Timeshares

How do fractionals compare with timeshares? They really don’t. Fractionals are far more exclusive and include many more luxury amenities and services than timeshares. They tend to be larger homes, usually three to five bedrooms. Timeshares usually allow you use for just one to two weeks per year. Fractionals offer from two to 13 weeks, and those don’t necessarily have to be consecutive weeks. Pick the weeks you want.

With regard to financing, obtaining a bank or mortgage company loan on a timeshare is difficult. Rates are high, regardless of how good your credit. That’s because it’s a well-known fact that most timeshares depreciate over time. Conversely, banks and mortgage firms consider fractionals to be appreciating assets and will often treat them like any other second-home purchase.

Why do fractionals tend to appreciate while timeshares usually depreciate? There are a couple of reasons. With fractionals, more of the buyer’s dollar goes to high quality finishes and “bricks and mortar” vs. sales commissions which can be as high as 40%-50% with timeshares.

Furthermore, timeshare values have historically been poor because of the large number of resales on the market, not to mention a continuous stream of new developments. The fact is the secondary market for timeshares has never really developed.

Conversely, there are a limited number of fractionals on the market. Most likely, that number will stay small because fractionals are built in only the very best, most highly desirable locations. Therefore, demand outpaces supply and results in property appreciation.

Comparison of Fractionals to Condo Hotels

Fractionals (private residence clubs) differ from condo hotels in that you have a set amount of time when you can use your vacation home. Condo hotels are in fact, condos located within hotels. You can use your unit whenever you want, and place it in the rental program when not using it. Fractionals do not offer rental program participation.

Fractionals tend to be larger than most condo hotel units. Most fractionals offer three to five bedrooms, while most condo hotel units are studios, one bedrooms or two bedrooms. Currently, most condo hotels are located in Miami and other surrounding cities in South Florida. Fractionals are most prevalent on the West Coast, particularly in ski areas. However, both types of real estate are rapidly gaining popularity and soon there will likely be more of a supply across the country to meet the growing demand.

Affiliate marketing is a business model which rewards ‘affiliates’ for the promotion of other people’s products on the internet. By sending website traffic to various products and services, affiliate marketers can earn a living from the sale of goods and services on the internet.

But not everyone is cut out for this kind of work. It involves working by yourself for quite a bit of time. There’s various technical skills you’ll need to learn such as website building, running adverts and connecting various software together to make your online business work.

Even though there’s been huge leaps in technology lately, meaning there’s less technical hassle involved, some people just won’t have the patience for this. Even if you find a community of help and support, there’s still a lot to learn and it isn’t for everyone.

Expect to work between 6 months and a year before you see any results at all, too. This is pretty tough, especially if you don’t fully believe in what you’re doing. There’s a fair amount of trial and error with affiliate marketing. Most people will give up too early and never see the fruits of their efforts.

For those who stick, there are great rewards to be earned. But they are earned. Not in the conventional way of earning money by trading your time for it, but in overcoming barriers to success. You need to have a fair amount of tenacity and patience. It’s not like a job where you get paid every month initially. So, if you’re used to trading time for money and getting paid every month, don’t give up the day job just yet!

Affiliate marketing is a business and not an employment. You need to drop any entitlement attitude which may be buried in your mind. You can’t expect any reward unless you actually have had it! If something isn’t working, you need to take stock and change your habits. It took me years before I saw any tangible results from affiliate marketing. I just refused to quit!

There are of course faster ways to benefit from affiliate marketing. Getting the right training and education from the start can make the most difference. If you’re going the wrong way, no amount of hard work will matter. I spent quite a bit of time here, being a busy fool; not knowing that what I was doing wouldn’t yield any results at all. I did many online training courses before I found the right one.

There’s a lot of mental challenges too, when it comes to making an internet business work. Some people are in a better place to face these than others. If you’ve already run a business, for example, you’ll have a better understanding of an online business. For years I thought I could just concentrate on the activities which I enjoyed. I later realised that this was what held me back. You need to learn and grow with your business; otherwise the glass ceiling of your business will always be you.

Who do you hang around with? There’s a saying that your income can be determined by the average of your 10 closest friends. Again, this can have massive implications on whether your internet business is successful or not. Who do you listen to and ask advice from? Is it business leaders who are making 6 figures? Or, more likely it is someone doing a regular job who is massively sceptical of anything different.

How do you perceive yourself? Self image has a lot to do with success too, whatever area of life you want to be successful in.

Affiliate marketing is a great business model. But not everyone will see this. If your circle of influence is sceptical of it, chances are this will rub off. It’s very difficult building a business if part of your mind doesn’t believe in it, or in yourself.

Then there’s the obvious monetary barriers to entry. When I started looking at affiliate marketing I was in a lot of financial trouble. I had a very deeply ingrained poverty consciousness, and real financial hardship. So a lot of affiliate business courses and software were out of reach for me. I started with the cheaper ones and as a result made slow progress. I wasn’t able to use paid marketing strategies, so I had to use content marketing. This takes a long time and results are never guaranteed.

If you’re trying to build a business and simultaneously fighting with a massive poverty consciousness and are terrified about spending even a tiny portion of what you have, I wouldn’t recommend affiliate marketing.

There’s a saying in the trading world “Scared money is lost money”. The same can be said of affiliate marketing. If you’re using money for your business which you’re terrified of losing, you’re much more likely to lose it.

On the other hand, if you can afford to spend some money each month on your business, and grow it slowly, your chances of success are far greater. Starting with an income already is really a necessity with an online business. It’s hard building stability in a business on shifting sand.

When I started affiliate marketing, I didn’t have regular work. As a result, I concentrated on the activities which were free to do. This is a very slow tactic. Although I eventually made progress, it was much slower than the affiliates who use paid marketing and start in employment. It’s not impossible, but very slow.

Saying that, I also think that if you’ve got time, and little money, then affiliate marketing is a good thing to focus on. You just need to find strategies which match your own specific situation and circumstance.