7 Great Reasons for Australians to Buy US Property By Lisa Locke

Below are the top 7 reasons why investing in US property is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Australian Property Investors that they should take advantage of right now. It will not always be ideal to invest in US Property, there are a lot of factors to consider and for the reasons below the timing is right at the moment, which will only be the case for a relatively short time.

1) Our Strong Aussie Dollar
Recently the AUD has achieved its best exchange rate against the USD in history, at one point valued over US$1 and it's still holding strong with no expectation this will change any time soon, given the state of the Australian and American economies.

2) US Properties are on Sale 
The massive drop in house prices has occurred as a result of the following issues - the impact of the non-recourse loans on offer previously in the States, the 2008 banking crisis, increasing unemployment rates and the impacts of the GFC. The drop in prices is so high that Aussies can actually purchase already discounted houses in the US, in good areas, valued at 50-70% off their market value, which is less than the price of stamp duty on an average home in Australia!

3) Over 100 US banks have gone bankrupt since the GFC
Many US banks are now too scared to lend to local home buyers and they are burdened with debt, which has opened the doors for International Investors.

4) US Buyers aren't in the Market
Loans are too hard for most to get and others are concerned about rising unemployment and the overall state of their economy.

5) Poor Credit Ratings
FICO is the most common credit assessment model in the US. Due to the high number of people who have either lost employment, defaulted on bills or walked away from their mortgages, millions of people in the US now have a low FICO credit score.

6) Lenders want International Investors
Due to the weakness of the US economy, lenders are preferring international investors, which was not previously the case. According to the recently released "2011 Profile of International Home Buying Activity" from the National Association of Realtors, the value of international residential purchases in the US surged $16 billion from $66 billion to $82 billion in the year ending March 2011.

7) High Rental yields delivering Positive Cash flow
Even though property prices have dropped in the US, rents have largely remained the same, creating historically high gross rental yields, making it possible for Australians to affordably purchase high yield positive cash flow properties.

The Architect's Cape Cod Or One and One Half Story Design By Clay Bowling

Architecture's Advancements

Architecture has advanced over the years and the days of the drafting table are over and the computer with CAD software has taken it's place. The one and one half story house that is sometimes called the cape cod is essentially one story with a steeper roof which allows for expansion of the attic. Dormers are usually added to provide additional light and ventilation. This has two distinct advantages:economy in cost per unit of habitable living space, and built in expandability.

Floor Plans

Generally bedrooms and a bath are provided in the attic space. Since any space with less than five feet headroom is considered unusable the total square feet of space in the attic is about one half that of the first floor. Dormers, stairs, and a slightly steeper roof are the principal additional costs required to build the one and one half story. The one and one half story is quite versatile. It can begin as a two bedroom, one bath house with the upper area left unfinished. This minimum house will meet the needs of a newly married couple or a retired couple. As the family of the younger people expands, the expansion attic can be finished to provide more livable room.

Architectural Utilities

Heating costs are minimized due to the small outside wall area compared to the amount of interior space. Cooling may be accomplished through the use of interior space. Cooling may be accomplished through the use of louvered ventilators at each end of the structure and the generous use of insulation. Adequate ventilation and insulation is necessary since about one third of the ceiling area is directly under the roof. This area tends to be quite warm in the summer.

Care must be taken in designing the cape cod or one and one half story structure to best accommodate the number of persons it can ultimately house. The electrical and plumbing systems should be planned with expansion in mind. Failure to consider expansion at the outset will greatly reduce the efficiency of these vital systems. Other areas of the house, such as kitchen, dining, and living rooms should also be planned for the ultimate number of occupants. If you would like to learn more about architecture and architectural services the best resource's can be found online. Simply Google what you're trying to research and within seconds you'll be directed to your answer. Thanks!

Areas Covered By South West London Estate Agents By Martin Hofschroer

London is one of the biggest cities in the world but not all of its areas are frantic and fast-paced.

South west London is ideal for house hunters across every demographic who want all the benefits of luxurious living without the anxiety associated with residing in a capital city.

There are many beautiful South west London suburbs to choose from if you are looking to settle in the region with each one providing its own unique benefits to residents.

Popular areas include Richmond, Twickenham, Fulham and Chiswick and this article will explain a little about why living in these areas is so desirable whether it is through buying or letting a property.

Richmond is famous for its pleasant surroundings with numerous green parks and gardens on offer including The Royal Botanic Gardens and Richmond Park among many others.

Located around nine miles from the city centre on the southern side of the River Thames, Richmond is popular with commuters thanks to its wide range of attractive facilities and features.

Richmond enjoys a reputation for being one of the nicer places to live in the Greater London region so it is no surprise that estate agents in the region have plenty of people enquiring about properties in the area.

Another gloriously green suburb in the south west is Fulham which is sandwiched between Chelsea and Putney and is well known for its high-end shopping and boutiques.

With plenty of large Victorian houses on the market, Fulham is popular with families because of its safe environment, which is bolstered by great transport links to many of the capital's favourite attractions.

Other fine examples of Victorian architecture can be found in Twickenham which is across the Thames from Richmond and benefits from beautiful tree-lined streets and interesting, varied shops and cafes.

To the east of the central part of Twickenham is the is fashionable St. Margarets which has a reputation for playing host to the best restaurants in the south west of London.

Chiswick is also favoured for its restaurants and cafes on the main high road which creates a continental culture during the sunnier months when people flock to visit the various leisure destinations in the area.

The suburb also boasts some of the most vital historical gardens in Wales and England in locations such as Chiswick House which was designed by the Third Earl of Burlington.

The south west London property market is proving particularly resilient during the current troubled economic climate so it has been able to avoid problems experienced by other areas in the capital.

Featherstone Leigh have offices across the capital including south west London estate agents offices and Kingston estate agents offices. Click on the links to discover properties for rent and sale in your area.