Well, all you have to do is head to the small town of Salemi, Sicily.
The town’s inventive mayor is offering houses for less than $2. One small catch - you have to renovate it within two years. Most of the homes are derelict after an earthquake in 1968.
Check out the article.
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Richmond Hall in Waikanae, New Zealand, is on the market and drawing a lot of attention from local and international punters. It was used as a location for Peter Jackson’s film The Frighteners. If you are interested, the five-bedroom 493sq m home was built in 1982 and features a marble-floored foyer, rimu staircase (where the infamous ghost scene took place), multiple formal and informal living areas, a gym, library, cellar and a five-car garage.
]]>See Who The Worst (and Best) Neighbours Are:
]]> 9 April 2008| Rank | Type of Neighbour | % of respondents |
| 1 | Squatters | 88.5% |
| 2 | Students | 45.5% |
| 3 | Share-house | 36.5% |
| 4 | Families with teenage children | 36.5% |
| 5 | Families with young children | 20% |
| Rank | Type of Neighbour | % of respondents |
| 1 | Childless couples | 57.5% |
| 2 | Retirees | 53.5% |
| 3 | Singles | 37.5% |
| 4 | Pet owners | 28% |
“Students are notorious for having a good time and living in messy conditions, but our results show that a greater concern among householders regarding the detrimental effects different types of neighbours can have on the price of their property,” Di Gregorio said.
“Our neighbours have a significant influence on our quality of life, especially in suburban areas and increasingly, house hunters are prepared to pay a premium for a quiet, trouble-free life.”
* Mortgage Choice/REIA Real Estate Market Facts, 11 March 2008
Built in 1912, this recently renovated LITTLE HOUSE is a perfect example of how to make the most of small spaces. What is believed to be Toronto's smallest house, this one bedroom, one bathroom home occupies what used to be a driveway and measures 2.2 metres wide, by 34 metres long with under 28 sq metres of living space. There's a retractable fold out bed and even a patio and you'll be ownig a piece of Toronto history. This cutie could be yours for only $180,000!
Have a look here for more information. http://www.thelittlehouse.ca/page1.aspx
]]>You'll need to consider waterproofing, lighting and insulation. Steel garages can be incredibly hot in summer and very cold in winter so you'll need to think about how to make it comfortable. If it's to become a self-contained unit, then plumbing and partitions will most certainly come into play. The HIA recommend a registered builder or home renovator to assist with these plans, as they can be major tasks that require planning permissions, inspections and certificates on completion.
So go ahead, get creative. I encourage less use of cars, and therefore better use of garages. Would love to see any before and after shots anyone has of their new improved garage space!
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As reported on the zillow blog:
Drop-Dead Deal in Pittsburgh
By: Sarah Mann, PR Specialist | November 5, 2007 |
We discussed a few times on this blog some of the creative ways people go about trying to sell their home. One recent we hadn’t heard before, however, was about a couple living just outside of Pittsburgh who are offering a money-back guarantee on their home. Bob and Ricki Husick have been trying to sell their house unsuccessfully for some time, with no luck. With no heirs to their estate, they are offering whoever purchases their home not only the sale price of $399,900 but an additional $100,000 when they both are deceased.
The kicker? They are only 55 now, so this payout could take a while. When I first heard about this, my first question was, won’t this perhaps put their lives in danger? Can’t someone put out a contract for their lives just a few days after the sale goes through? Bobby clears that up in this great clip on CNN– apparently they have to die of natural causes for the deal to go through.
I wish them luck– and a long and healthy life!
Kyle looked at somewhat more dubious websites, the least offensive of which were ryanseacrest.com and australianidol.com.au ('offensive' is used here as a relative term!)
Anyone know anyone else 'famous' who regularly looks at realestate.com.au?
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Vic Lorusso, one of Sydney's most recognised TV and Radio personalities, not only guides Sydney-siders out of the rush hour gridlock but has now entered the real estate game. He's enthusiastic, has the gift of the gab and a great personality for auctions. AND he's driven to become Sydney’s number one auctioneer. Look out old-timers! Vic is used to large crowds, being MC and Auctioneer for many charity functions, and has already proven a hit at property auctions, drawing big crowds on auction days.
You can see Vic in action on 27th October at 11am, auctioning a property in Leichardt, on the market through Real Ezi.
If you think you have a good blue view, check this one out (the house pictured is the one for sale!):
Located in Fairhaven on the Great Ocean Rd in Victoria, this amazing property is quite a landmark. For anyone who has driven this road, the house most likely would have been a source of amazement and envy for its incredible position and style.
So, if you have more than $1.2mill rattling around in your spare change drawer, why not take a further look at this opportunity here.
The first example, "Agent Provocateur", was nominated for a Cannes Advertising Award in 2005. The second installment, "Boardings", is currently running in regional areas in the eastern states, with plans for a national TV campaign later this year.
Take a look here!
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Anthony Callea, the pocket rocket Australian Idol, loves property investing and uses realestate.com.au to help him out apparently!Whilst he says it was 'extremely daunting', he's pleased he took the plunge and bought an investment property in Melbourne. I'm sure it's paying handsomely now and that his tenants love the idea of living in an Idol's property!
Read the full story here: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22131414-5012918,00.html
]]>The national obsession with property has reached new heights in Australia and realestate.com.au is in the thick of it. There are those who are actively looking to purchase or rent property now, and those who are looking for some time down the track. And then there are those who are simply fanatical about real estate for real estate's sake and just can't keep away from the site! According to the breakfast crew it's become 'the new porn'.
So throw away Playboy, and even Gourmet Traveller, and bring on realestate.com.au!!
Are you one of these new-age voyeurs?? 
Danny Gorog, writer for the Herald Sun, wrote an article on 11th July about the latest in Web 2.0 sites. He talks to the use of AJAX technology providing better user interactivity, speed and usability and the resultant feeling of using these applications locally on your computer rather than on the web. The need for broadband to run these sites successfully is also not overstated here.
He rates his top Web 2.0 sites and www.property.com.au gets a great mention (strangely, only in the print version of the article!) Well done to the team at REA who put this together, ably lead by David Kavanagh.
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One lucky winner was Christopher Dewhirst who had this to say:
Just a quick note to thank you once again for your Whirlpool competition and the brilliant prizes we won! It has made life alot easier and also made the kitchen (and laundry) a real eyepiece! Thankyou very very much and I wish realestate.com.au the best of success for the future. Trust me a lot more people know about you now!
And thank you Christopher for the best wishes and the word-of -mouth advertising!
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In a gorgeous part of Victoria, on the way to the snowfields from Melbourne, lies Eagle Mountain Retreat. Overlooking the Cathedral Range, this property has not sacrificed beauty for energy-efficiency. Instead, it has embraced its surrounds and almost become part of the environment.
Look through double-glazed windows to the incredible view across this 392Ac private space. There's hydronic heating throughout, a 240 volt solar and wind system, and water storage filled by a permanent natural spring. (There's a helipad and sauna too, in case you wanted to get there quickly and relax!)
Check it out here on www.realestate.com.au (property ID: 103650512)
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