Simon’s Town @ Cape Town

The Recession "Technically Over" - Keep The Belt Tight

Before I read the newspaper head line, "The Recession "Technically Over" - Keep The Belt Tight" my friendly Cafe owner friend, cracked a quick joke as I walked out with my newspaper this morning.

He said in his broken Afrikaans, "die ressie is oor..maar ons het f*k*l oor."

Both statements are true. The recession may be technically over but most people have nothing or very little left. This was also the message from the newspaper article that I will summarise below:

• The recession is technically over but it does not translate into financial prosperity for the average Joe.
• New economical growth is slowly turning up.
• South Africa recorded, at the end of last year, its first recession in 17 years.
• The recession lasted three quarters.
• It changed during the fourth quarter to a growth of 0.9%
• We should be happy because if this growth continue we can expect an annual growth rate of 3.5%
• Job creation show that we are still in a recession. This should continue until the first quarter 2010. South Africa lost nearky a million jobs since 2008.
• The average Joe will continue to pay back debt for a long time
• Approximately a million people are still filing for bankruptcy per year.
• Interest rates will probably increase from mid 2010
• Only three to five years will we see the real turnaround.
• Don't expect a sharp increase in house prices.
• House prices will increase at a rate less than inflation  

The fact that the recession is over ... is a technical issue only.
But you tell the average Joe, that the fact that he has nothing left, is technical!

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Baboon Warning .... 2010 Soccer Fans Visiting South Africa

Your car or fruit. 

Yesterday the baboon Fred enjoyed someone's fruit at Cape Point Nature Reserve. Prospective 2010 Soccer visitors may be worried about crime, but they have a better luck being robbed by these real baboons. Photo: AP Story published in Die Burger.

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Where I will build my Simon's Town Home

This morning in Simon's Town, as usual, I went for a walk with Gino, my dog. Again a beautiful morning past.... Water's Edge, then to Boulders and back to Water's Edge.

If there's on place on the Simon's Town beach where I want have my own house then it's close to this lovely beach. [We have a beach plot for sale here]

   

Click here to download:

Where_I_will_build_my_Simons_T.zip (111 KB)

(download)

Click here to download:

Video0002.mp4 (1653 KB)

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This Morning In Simon's Town

It was again a perfect morning to wakeup. My little Italian Greyhound, Gino, woke me to this beautiful day. I m not sure who was more excited, to share the new day with me; the Sun or my very special dog.

We walked past the penguins on our way to Boulders beach. The sun was just in-time to greet us, as we turned around. Back to buy the newspaper. All along Water's Edge beach and the home we all want. Past Seafoth, Martello Tower, where Gino cannot stop. He had to chase the birds. And as he turned, he checked if I enjoyed his effort as much as he did.

Back to the village to buy the newspaper, cracking a friendly joke with the local café owner. I like him.

How can you not like anyone when you wakeup to such a Simon's Town.

 

Johan Horak
Local Real Estate With "Number ONE International" Exposure
Stop Selling Your Home When You Don't Know What To Ask....
Online Marketing Tips Newsletter Using Social Media Like Twitter.
Holiday Home Management Tips Newsletter

Tel: (+27) 086 026 3333
Cell: (+27) 082 870 2004
14 Harbour Heights
Simon's Town
South Africa
7995

 

Chat Google Talk: johanhorak Skype: lumeza

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Recommending Good Service: DSTV Installation

We had a problem with our DSTV dish. When the wind blows certain channels were breaking up. Frustrating. The wind can be though but a strong howling wind and poor TV reception are a cause for more family problems.

The one said, that he need come out and re-align the dish. It will cost R300 and may be more depending on the problem. I then phone another company called TotalVision and spoke to Devon. I said that I phoned to get advice.

I told Devon about the problem and he said, the problem is a loose dish or something that move in front of the the dish when the wind blows. Well, there's a nasty Port Jackson in front of the dish. And growing to max proportions on a vacant stand. 

Conveniently the garden service was around and within 10 minutes the tree was down and the TV reception restored.

I did not pay Devon one cent for the advice, but he will be my recommended DSTV dish installer. That's also why I am writing this story in the hope that you read it and use Devon when you have a problem with your DSTV.

Anyone who is willing to give... will receive.

Phone Devon at 083 5422 188 Total Vision for your DSTV, Aerial and realignment dish problems.

Johan Horak
Local Real Estate With "Number ONE International" Exposure
Stop Selling Your Home When You Don't Know What To Ask....
Online Marketing Tips Newsletter Using Social Media Like Twitter.
Holiday Home Management Tips Newsletter

Tel: (+27) 086 026 3333
Cell: (+27) 082 870 2004
14 Harbour Heights
Simon's Town
South Africa
7995

Chat Google Talk: johanhorak Skype: lumeza

--- @ WiseStamp Signature. Get it now

Sent from Ndabeni, NL, South Africa

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More Agree On Pricing Your Property Right - To Sell

I have always said that you should price your property to sell and not to negotiate. But some sellers are as stubborn as a Jack Russell.

Property owners often complain that agents undervalue their property for a quick sale, but overpricing a property can be a bigger mistake. If you want to attract a fair offer for your property, price it right, especially during tough times.

"Too often people want to pay their kids' college tuition and retire on the proceeds of their property," says RealNet Silver Estates owner Yolanda Pelser. She is joking, but only just. She stresses that people tend to overprice property when they first offer it to the market and exacerbate the problem by signing lengthy sole mandates with agents. 

"By signing a year mandate with an agent, you are not raising the price of your property, you are driving the market down." She explains that "during a sole mandate owners are excluding other offers on their properties, so there will be few if any bids from different potential buyers." This raises the chances of a property becoming stigmatized and a "non-seller".

Yolanda believes sole mandates should be no more than three months. She offers a controversial alternative: "By pricing a property at the bottom range of your expectations you are more likely to sell quickly and for a higher-than-expected price [price to negotiate]."  I pointed out that this is exactly what creates the perception that agents pressure clients to lower prices so they can make a quick buck. Read the rest of the story on how to correctly price your home to sell.

The owner asks two different real estate agencies to propose an asking price. Because all agents know that the one that suggest the highest asking price win the Jack Russell war. Therefore some will be in the good books with the seller as his ego is polished. As time runs out this agent puts pressure on the seller to reduce the price. And it's to late. The Jack Russell is the only one that wins this real estate war.

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This Is A Good Time....... Simon's Town

This is a good time in Simon's Town because.....

Some people like whales, while others "complain about what whales do - close to our beaches - in front of our children".

It's a great time because real estate agents can also afford to eat out - R29 for a three course meal at The Southern Right! Yes. And we enjoyed it.

More good news is that a few chiefs have been fired or fired themselves.

If you consider selling your Simon's Town house then it's getting better even though it feels like a large boat making a U-turn.

Well, it should be good news if your real estate agent does not create expectations - it will take time and you need a strategy.

The good news is that there are buyers who want to buy as long as you price-to-sell and not price-to-negotiate.

(Yes. I know some buyers will make ridiculous offers, but you don't have to accept).

In other words if you don't tease serious buyers your home should sell in reasonable time (up to 4 months) .

Let me repeat:

The good news is that

• there are buyers (not many),
• they have money,
• they are clever and
• are not making emotional decisions.

The real good news is that most real estate agents in Simon's Town want to sell your home.

The good news is that you can blame the real estate agents if your house did not sell.

Yes. You can also blame the real estate market.

Well there's some more good news - if you think it could be worse - the house prices are not less than 2 years ago and it will - may be - increase by 1 or 2% during the later part of 2010.

Everyone, will tell you that the market is turning. (No one will, however, tell you that it's turning as slowly as a 1000 ton boat turns in a narrow river).

And the real good news?

The winter-summer will eventually become proper summer and the whales will continue to have fun

May you also have lots of fun

Johan Horak

http://simonstownrealty.info

021 786 4028

Stop Selling If You don't Know What To Ask

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Simon's Town News

Hawk NWS, Naval dockyard wins Armscor CE prize DefenceWeb - Johannesburg,South Africa ... awarded Thursday night, while the Armscor Simon's Town Dockyard won the non-technical prize for securing a contract to maintain the British Antarctic ...

Return from Cape Point, Nov 14 By Misterknowitall As the Dane grew, he started accompanying the soldiers when they went from Simon's Town to Cape Town, for wine and women. The dog will wait at the train station for the soldiers to come back after their merrymaking, when the last ...

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Don't Miss The *Sensational* R29 Three Course Special At The Southern Right Hotel

Janine (Boulder's Restaurant and Lodge manager and now with extra duties at the Southern Right) emailed us this 3 Course Sensational Summer Roast Special for only R29. And the Horak family could not resist. But R29 seems a bit on the ridicules side of reality. Knowing Janine we knew this was going to be a real treat.

Monday was as good a time as any. At 12:30 we were ready for lunch, as long as it's a sizeable portion. But what can you expect for R29. A three course for R29.... impossible. We all ordered the three sensational course special.

Soup of the day arrived and Nandi said, "I will pay R29 for this soup anytime". It was a rich leek soups. Soft and tasty... this was going to be sensational.

Then a lovely plate with two roast meats, tender and sweet carrots and potato wedges. As we finished our roasts Elmarie said, "We will not be hungry tonight."

That was not the end. The last course was creamy ice cream and chocolate sauce.

I bet anyone, that you cannot get better value for money anywhere.

Well done to Janine and The Southern Right Team.

By the way: With a bottle of wine and the three course special for three people came to only R152.

Johan Horak
Local Real Estate With "Number ONE International" Exposure
Stop Selling Your Home When You Don't Know What To Ask....
Online Marketing Tips Newsletter Using Social Media Like Twitter.
Holiday Home Management Tips Newsletter

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