11.01.2012 ARCHITECTURE EVOLUTION (part 1) |
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 Origins and vernacular architecture *****************
Building first evolved out of the dynamics between needs (shelter, security, worship, etc.) and means (available building materials and attendant skills). As human cultures developed and knowledge began to be formalized through oral traditions and practices, building became a craft, and \"architecture\" is the name given to the most highly formalized and respected versions of that craft.
It is widely assumed that architectural success was the product of a process of trial and error, with progressively less trial and more replication as the results of the process proved increasingly satisfactory. What is termed vernacular architecture continues to be produced in many parts of the world. Indeed, vernacular buildings make up most of the built world that people experience every day. Early human settlements were mostly rural. Due to a surplus in production the economy began to expand resulting in urbanization thus creating urban areas which grew and evolved very rapidly in some cases, such as that of Çatal Höyük in Anatolia and Mohenjo Daro of the Indus Valley Civilization in modern-day Pakistan.
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The Pyramids at Giza Ancient architecture
In many ancient civilizations, such as that of Egypt and Mesopotamia, architecture and urbanism reflected the constant engagement with the divine and the supernatural, and many ancient cultures resorted to monumentality in architecture to represent symbolically the political power of the ruler, the ruling elite, or the state itself.
The architecture and urbanism of the Classical civilizations such as the Greek and the Roman evolved from civic ideals rather than religious or empirical ones and new building types emerged. Architectural styles developed.
Texts on architecture have been written since ancient time. These texts provided both general advice and specific formal prescriptions or canons. Some examples of canons are found in the writings of the 1st-century BCE Roman military engineer Vitruvius, the Kao Gong Ji of ancient China[Notes 1] and Vaastu Shastra of ancient India and Manjusri Vasthu Vidya Sastra of Sri Lanka. Some of the most important early examples of canonic architecture are religious.
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Asian architecture
The architecture of different parts of Asia developed along different lines from that of Europe; Buddhist, Hindu and Sikh architecture each having different characteristics. Buddhist architecture, in particular, showed great regional diversity. In many Asian countries a pantheistic religion led to architectural forms that were designed specifically to enhance the natural landscape. |
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11.10.2011 Matthew Perry wants 100% profit from property |
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 The american actor Matthew Perry is selling his mansion in Malibu for about 13.5 million USD. He bought the property in 2005 for the sum of 6.5 million USD. The two-floor building has an area of 340 square meters. It consists of four bedrooms, five bathrooms, living room, gym, wine cellar, movie theater and several fireplaces.
In the garden, which has an area of nearly one hectare, are placed swimming pool, SPA and BBQ area.
At the middle of the summer, Hollywood star sold his apartment in Los Angeles. The offer price was 2.995 million USD, but the deal was signed in 2.850 million USD. The property has an area of 155 square meters and is located in the elite residential complex Sierra Tower. At the same time, Perry bought a house not far from the Sierra Tower for 8.65 million USD with an area of 370 square meters.
Source: http://fakti.bg/ |
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03.10.2011 Hotel room underground |
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 The Chic and the expensive hotels are no longer surprising. This is a challenge for hoteliers who try to offer customers something unusual. The newest hotel room is underground. This is created from Swedish owners of Hotel Sala Silvermine.
The apartment is located 155 meters underground. The rent for one night costs 400 EUR. Against this amount the client receives a luxury double bed, furniture, made of silver and many culinary delights.
Night under the ground has some disadvantages. Lovers of long phone calls will not be able to talk to their relatives and friends of the \"ground\" for the simple reason that at 155 meters depth you are out of reach. The only connection to the world is via an intercom that connects guests with the hotel administration. There are also necessary warm clothing because the temperature is quite low.
\"We have not heard of other similar hotels that can offer such a service. We think this is the most unusual place on the planet to live in. The interior is real and is part of nature, not artificial, as it is in many other hotels, \"said Sophie Anderson, director of\" Margeting \"in Sala Silvermine.
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12.09.2011 TOP 10 Mistakes when you sell property (part 2) |
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 Second part ...
6. Sell during the winter
It is better not to sell during the winter because of the weak demand and a substantial offering at the moment because of the crisis, the winter makes things more complicated.
7. You Do not post photos or posting poorly made ones.
More and more people are looking for properties online. Besides the offer-price the other thing that would attract attention and increase clients interest, are well-made photographs of the estate. Sometimes, however,it is much better to have no photos than to have bad or improper selection. We offer to consult with professional photographer who will do it for you. This is much better than do it yourselve. This is an investment worth making in order to sell your home faster.
8. Trying to hide serious problems
Be sure that the serious buyers will inspect your property from anywhere. Trying to camouflage something is equivalent to a lie, which would certainly repel any serious buyer discovered the defect. Much better is to share problems and shortcomings of their property. Honesty is estimated much higher than the buyers to believe that you are trying to fool them.
9. Do not prepare your apartment for sale
Before running potential buyers on view, you must have made some efforts to bring the property in an appropriate and good presentation. Nobody will buy anything that looks neglected and is in terible condition.
10. Signe contract with candidate who has not assured funding
Its great risk to lose other potential buyers in favor of someone who will not be able to find financing.
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07.09.2011 TOP 10 Mistakes when you sell property (part 1) |
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 Saleing a property, especially in this tough real estate market dominated by buyers, is not an easy task. And while there are people who are in a position to wait for selling at a better time and at better prices, others have to sell due to various reasons.
Here are some mistakes that those wishing to sell can be avoided, according to financial edition Investopdia.com.
1. Puting wrong price with the idea that you will reduce it.
This is perhaps one of the biggest mistakes that sellers do, especially if they want urgently to sell their property. The problem is that if the property is priced above the market level for the town or neighborhood, it will totally discourage buyers and nobody would even look at it. \"Stucked at the market\" property in addition with drop in price are not very attractive.
Motivated buyers should look for suitable market price, with minimal additional costs to cover the potential buyers discount. And so at present it is certain that there will be.
2. Emotionally involved.
You must be prepared that when you run your property for sale, there would come different kinds of people. They will criticize, They will open cupboards and wardrobes, they will make remarks. This should not drive you crazy. If the property is more than four walls for you, remember that the buyer is just seeing a object of a potential trade. Patience and good manners will help you sell your property faster.
3. Not using real estate agent!?
Sale of property is extremely hard and time consuming work. In order to have much greater access to potential buyers if you use the services of an agent, you might want to think about hireing one. He also would take care of potential viewings, he would be a guide to market prices, if you have unrealistically high expectations.
However, remember that the agent is interested in selling the property, because he will take a commission only on possible sale.
4. Adding the price of the improvements made by you
During the years, most likely you have made your best to suit the property with your requirements. This probably cost you a lot of money. But you should keep in mind that your apartment may not meet the requirements of potential buyers and he may think for investing in order to reorganize it completely, including to remove some of the improvements made by you. In this respect it would be wise to pass on the funds for improvements you have made over the years, or at least to amortize them.
5. Expect to get the price you want.
Even if your price is the lowest on the market, buyer will want a discount. Such a discount you may be requested even if you are levels under the lowest price because the buyer can not afford it or because it is the dominant party at the moment.
In this respect, it is almost certain that you will sell your home for probably less than you claimed it. Lack of propensity for discounts will make the property unsaleable.
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09.08.2011 The strangest hotels in the world |
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 We are all accustomed to hotels that look like medieval castles or shiny office buildings. But what about a hotel made from wine barrels? Or for one made of ice? Here are some of the strangest hotels in the world:
1. Ice Hotel, Canada
As the name suggests, the hotel is made of 1500 tons of snow and 500 tons of frozen water. The location ensures that you will not have air condition problems because the building is naturally \"cool\". Inside, the hotel has sculptures, furniture and even bars made of ice. There is an ice chapel, where every year hundreds of couples say their cherished \"Yes\".
2. Jumbo Stay, Sweden
Jumbo Stay Hotel in Stockholm offers guests to relax without fear of heights. The hotel is Boeing 747-212B by 1976 and has 27 rooms where you can sleep without the required permit to fly. The \"luxury\" room is actually the cockpit, which, you certainly will not tremble of the thought that there is not solid ground underfoot.
3. Jailhotel, Switzerland
Jailhotel is located in the heart of the historic city of Lucerne. It attracts with its special atmosphere. The building was built in 1862 and until 1998 was used as a prison. If early cold rough walls and screens were dark and cold, now guests can sleep in comfort. The most luxurious room is the former director\'s cabinet Zandana. For those who want to feel like real prisoners, the hotel offers double, triple or even quadruple rooms with cameras style Alcatraz.
4. Everland
Hotel Everland is a single room (not counting bathroom), huge beds and sofas. The unique thing is that that is traveling hotel, been at the most amazing places. He has been on the roof of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Leipzig, Germany, and the roof of the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, whith a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower. Given its uniqueness, price is hardly surprising that 333 euros per night and 444 euros for a whole weekend.
5. Capsule Hotel, Japan
The hotel doesn\'t offers its guests rooms, but capsules. Each of them with length of 2 meters and width of a standard bed. Despite its small size the capsules are equipped with TV and control panel, with which guests can control lighting, use an alarm clock and listen to radio. Accommodation costs is between 30 and 40 dollars.
6. De Vrouwe van Stavoren Hotel, Netherlands
De Vrouwe van Stavoren Hotel is suitable for wine lovers. The rooms in this hotel are located in giant casks over 14,500 liters and in the past they have kept the legendary French Beaujolais. Rooms are equipped with all common facilities for two, and also has a bathroom. Tariffs per night range between 18 and 119 euros depending on the season.
7. Controversy Tram Hotel, Netherlands
This is actually a city tram, which is converted into 5 rooms with different design. The price is quite reasonable - tram night cost $ 80.
8. Sala Silvergruva, Sweden
Separate hotel room at 155 feet underground in the historic Sala Silvermine - silver mine in which there were obtained over 3 tonnes of the precious metal annually.
If you wake up at middle of the night and you have to go to the bathroom, it is better to first turn on the lights, otherwise there is a huge danger of getting lost among the many galleries or into an underwater lake.
9. Das Park Hotel, Austria
Rooms located in the huge concrete sewer pipes - certainly it sounds strange but it is a creative way to provide cheap accommodation worldwide. These concrete pipes are with its weigh of 9.5 tons and are equipped with comfortable double beds, minibar and room service, working until 1 o\'clock in the morning.
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31.05.2010 Eight reasons why real estate prices are not going to fall (much) |
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 In the \"distant\" 2008 Profit.bg published the material \"Eight reasons for the depreciation of properties in Bulgaria. Two years later and after a significant decrease of 30% now we are trying to give reasons (for the potential buyers seeking them), why real estate prices are not going to fall (or at least not much).
1. Clear signs of a thaw in bank lending.
Exactly the frozen bank lending is the real reason for this free fall of prices (which of course have reached some unreasonably high levels).
Banks have gathered a substantial in size and expensive resource and are trying to make it work hard to justify its price. Of course, we are not going to be witnesses of the \"unconditional\" and somewhat \"insane\" lending, which also helps the inflation of property prices.
Credits will also stabilize the business, including the construction sector, stop the growth of unemployment and increaså consumption.
2. Reduction of interest rates
Reduction of interest rates on mortgage loans is a natural process of bank \"thawing\". It should be mentioned that now interest rates on mortgage loans are at levels of 2006, or before the boom in the sector. Reduction of interest rates may be another incentive for potential buyers to purchase property.
3. Many new projects have been frozen, most of the \"weak hands\" have gone
The increased supply and its significant preponderance over demand during the past two years were also among the factors that exerted pressure on property prices to do down. The crisis, however, is about to turn the trend somewhat.
Many projects that had to enter the market next two years were frozen. As a result supply is reduced as well as the number of the starting new projects and this makes equal supply and demand.
We must take into account also the fact that many speculative players who were selling an year or two ago at any price have left the market.
That is, we can say that the market has cleared to a great extent the \"weak hands\" or those who simply wanted to gain profits from the speculative increase of property prices rapidly and in shortened terms.
4. Cooling in property sector.
The crisis has \"cleared\" also entrepreneurs offering low quality at competitive prices. Most of them left the market after sustained losses.
There are many projects on the market that offer quality at “reasonable price”. Taking into account the strong contraction of the margin of builders as well, then in this direction, there are no many reserves for a significant drop in property prices, which could be a reality only with a serious compromise on quality demanded by buyers.
5. Gradual return of speculative capital.
World economy shows its first signs of recovery. Investors\' attention of course quite logical focus on developing markets.
And even in Europe (where now things seem worse than these of the rest of the world, particularly Asia), we are referred to these markets.
In Bulgaria house prices have reduced by 19 percent on an annual basis, according to GPG statistics. In comparison, the decrease in Ireland is 16% and in Thailand (-20%).
At the same time there are signs that the other markets which year after year were registering drop in prices have reached the bottom, the report said. Among them are Spain (with a 6% decline on an annual basis), Iceland (-14%), Lithuania (-22%) and Latvia (-32% ).
For example, in Latvia house prices have risen by 10.7 percent for the last quarter compared with the previous. It should be taken into account that our economy is significantly more stable than those of the other developing countries on the \"old continent\".
6. Inflation.
The danger of inflation (which is real in case that the recovery of the world and home economics actually occur) may have a beneficial impact on the decision to purchase property among potential buyers.
High inflation leads to reduction of the real incomes of the population. And the purchase of a house, especially for living is one of the best means of protection against inflation. So you insure your future income with which you can buy less and less.
7. The recommendations of specialists.
More and more professionals in the property sphere as well as in the bank sector state that now is the right time to purchase a primary residence. The strong decrease in property prices and the possibility at this stage the buyer to be on the stronger position and to set his conditions to the vendors are among the main reasons for this.
The majority of market participants in the property sector think that currently you can buy quality properties at prices never seen in the recent history.
Of course many of them warn that it is possible the prices to register a further decrease, but it is not clear whether in such cases the choice would be so rich. It should also be taken into account that the best properties offered at extremely favorable terms for example from distressed owners have been sold within a few weeks.
8. Clear signs of stabilizing of property prices.
The process of falling of property prices has been delayed quarter by quarter. The signs of resurgence of the sector become more clearer. Brokers report increased interest and number of viewings.
Of course, we must take notice of that summer is the busiest season for real estate market, so it is entirely possible we to witness not only to halt of the decline of property prices, but even to a slight increase. Source: Profit.bg |
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03.05.2010 Real estates transactions with luxury and cheap properties move the market |
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| The buyers are coming back, interest is arising among them, the number of the real estate transactions is increasing but all of these apply only to properies offered at attractive prices. The real estate market is characterized that way at the moment, according to the Bulgarian real estate company Bulgarian Properties. Deals are made only with luxury or with very cheap properties as the general requirement of the buyers is the price to be proftable. This tendency continues from 2009.
The first three months of 2010 were comparatively successful for the real estates market in Bulgaria as the average activity on the market is with about 40% higher than it was during the first three months of 2009 – the hardest period for the real estates market in the country, is reported by their analyse for the period.
In March the real estate market becomes more active and the number of transactions achieves a record from the beginning of the crisis and increase of 50% applied to the average levels for the last 10 months.
Vacational apartments
The destiny of the vacational apartments that have been already built but not sold so far will be determined in 2010-2011. Probably they will be sold at prices under their value and their owners will sustain heavy losses. This is shown as well by the tendency we notice from the beginning of the year of the considerable decline in prices made by builders and sellers of sea and ski vacational homes.
Rural homes
The rural homes have been maybe hit hard by the crisis with decline of 53% in their prices for a year. The average price of the sold rural homes throuhgout 2009 is 14 300 EUR. Thus, the prices of the rural homes and the homes in small villages have not already stabilized.
At the moment there are no buyers for houses in villages around Sofia but only for land parcels. Expert.bg |
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03.03.2010 Bulgarian property market expects resurgence in 2010 |
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 Real estate agency firm Elta Consult claims that the global economic downturn will have a positive effect on the Bulgarian market in 2010, a company media statement said on March 3 2010.
The firm predicts that prospective buyers of a flat or a second home in Bulgaria will benefit from the crunch, and collapse in prices, and will be able to secure a good deal. Accordingly, this will make the market considerably more flexible that it was in 2009. \"A certain resurgence in the market was observed in the last quarter of 2009 when more deals were processed. The stimulus has come from real estate losing an average of 15 per cent of its value.\"
A similar prognosis emanated from Tihomir Tsakov, manager of Bulgarian real estate agency Aristo, who said that housing property prices in Bulgaria will hit rock bottom by the middle of 2010. They will then stabilise before picking up, rising by at least 10 per cent by the end of the year.
This forecast clashed with projections made by other major real estate agencies such as Colliers, Address and Foros, which expect the fall to continue throughout the first half of the year, tumbling by 10 per cent before settling. Aristo estimated that the Bulgarian housing market has reverted to 2004 levels in terms of deal numbers bearing in mind that only about 200 000 transactions took place in 2009. Regarding new construction projects, Elta Consult say that the market is still severely affected. Construction entrepreneurs are currently limiting themselves to offloading units that have already been finished. Until those houses and flats are sold, it is unlikely that new construction will be contemplated. Additionally, \"they are willing to offer hefty discounts\", the report says.
Analysis from Elta Consult regarding reluctance to begin new construction is also backed by Eurostat data which reveals that permits for real estate construction in Bulgaria fell by 45 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2009, totalling 69.9 per cent fewer apartments compared to the third quarter. Concurrently, permits for construction of administrative buildings were down by 37 per cent. In the last quarter of 2009, a total of 1343 residential buildings were approved for construction, totalling 3900 flats, according to data from the National Statistical Institute.
The port city of Bourgas topped the chart with 155 new buildings approved, followed by Sofia with 150 and Plovdiv with 143. The most apartments, however, would be built in Sofia - 773, followed by 604 in Varna.
03 Mar 2010
Bulgaria property wise |
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Why to invest in Bulgaria? |
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| As with most markets it is the ever increasing demand for Property in Bulgaria that is driving the price increases on property and with no sign of this demand diminishing we can expect this to continue into the future. Indeed its widely published that 25% of British People aim to retire abroad and Bulgaria is one of the most popular destination due to its fantastic all year climate, relatively cheap cost of living and close geographical location to the UK, budget airlines now offer cheap flights from a huge number of UK airports and generally you can travel to Bulgaria in around 2.5 hours. |
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Bulgaria rural properties |
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| Bulgaria offers all the necessary conditions for an untraditional rural vacation - old Bulgarian capitals, monasteries and museum towns, Thracian treasures and icon-painting, dozens of picturesque large and small settlements, fine old homes with rural environment and traditional lifestyle, adjoining yards with domestic animals and gardens, ecologically clean regions and pastoral landscape, well-organized welcome and services for guests with typical Bulgarian hospitality, traditional cuisine, and above all - a unique blend of natural scenery with history, folklore, national arts and crafts, colorful festivals and customs. |
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Rules for incoming non residents |
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 Bulgaria to change rules for incoming non-residents. Incoming non-EU citizens will be required to state the purpose of their visit and to name a local address where they will be staying under the new changes to the Foreigners in Bulgaria Act oked on Wed, July 20, by the standing parliamentary committee on legal affairs. The changes, yet to be approved conclusively by the MPs, supplant the current requirement that foreigners notify to the Bulgarian authorities their address of residence within 5 days of entering the country. |
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Real estates prices are calming down |
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| The real estate market prices are cooling down. This was expected. The reasons are many, but the main one is that already a parity in supply and demand the market. During the last two years we saw a lot of new constructions of good quality coming into market. Real estate market is like all other markets - it is cyclic. The credit exponation of banks and the reviving local business its recent rapid development.
PUBLICATION BY IMOTI BULGARIA MAGAZINE 07/2005 |
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