Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Luxury Homes: Not Just Another House Around the Block

Some people find it difficult to buy a home, while other people find it difficult to decide what home to buy. If you are part of the latter group, then luxury homes might be just the thing you are looking for.

For starters, luxury real estate is geared towards the upper strata in socio-economic terms. This simply means luxurious homes and properties are designed for those who prefer quality, and these people are those that have the means to reach for that quality. It would not be uncommon to find luxury real estate in the seven or upper six digits, and you can bet that prime pieces of property will be great investments as well.

If you have an eye out for these luxury properties and real estate, then it would be best to keep these tips in mind:

List down what you want in your luxury home.
Whether you want a heated indoor pool or a major entertainment and multimedia center, make sure that you write down a list of what you want before you look for an agent. This will help you prioritize your wants and needs, making it easier for your agent to match them to an existing property.

Find an agent that specializes in luxury real estate.
These upper-end properties are not going to be listed in the papers or on other forms of common advertising. The circle of luxury real estate is quite small, and only a select few high-end agents take on these listings. These high-end agents are also going to be your tickets to inspect luxury properties, since not just anyone is allowed to enter these types of homes.

Leave room for additions and improvements.
Coldwell Banker Real Estate has released a survey indicating that 41 percent of luxury homeowners plan to add on their houses in the near future. It would then be a good idea for you to leave some space for additions and improvements just in case something in the future catches your fancy – like an indoor court or Jacuzzi, for example.

Be prepared to fork over cold, hard cash.
Financing or credit are words not associated with credit, so you will have to show your real estate agent a nice, plump bank account to dip his or her fingers in. You will then have to work on building your own fortune if you want to live in these types of luxury homes. This is the entire reason only those in the upper socio-economic strata of society look for luxury homes.

Oh, and one last thing – bigger need not always be better.
37 percent of luxury homeowners go for homes around 2,400 to 3,999 feet – typically small in size. What matters here is the style of the house and how luxurious the amenities are. You would be surprised how impressive a million-dollar compact home looks like, especially when you walk around the rooms and inspect the additions.

Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be able to find luxury real estate that will leave a big, wide smile on your face the first time you call it your own and step into it.