September 2010

Data.gov – A Cool Site With Lots Of Great Info

http://www.Data.gov I just found this site and wanted to share it.  It has a ton of info and reports.  If you have a project or just an “inquiring mind”, this is sure to be a hit.  Check it out and get the data you need.

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Five Top Reasons to Buy a Loft Vs a Traditional Condominium

By John Mazzara

Many urban dwellers are turning to lofts instead of condos. There are some differences between the two, however. Urban living and loft purchasers are on the rise, if only for the exquisite opportunity a loft may have compared to a condo. Owners of either a loft or a condo hold the title to their unit or space and co-own along with the rest of the loft or condo community, the lobbies, garages, security system, swimming pools and other amenities. Here are the five top reasons to buy a loft:

1. Style – Lofts for sale tend to have soaring ceilings and wide open spaces. Lofts also have lots of style and more modern finishes than a condo. Floors are often hardwood and the sense of your own original space is achieved through the purchase of a loft. You will find more stainless steel and sharp modern designs in a loft.

2. Location – Most lofts for sale are in urban areas where a developer may buy an old warehouse and turn it into loft units. These old warehouses are usually well within all the amenities any urban city or town would have to offer and are nearby or within walking distance. Many lofts for sale are also designed and built from the ground up through developers and large city and town’s revitalization programs.

3. Live and Work – While condos may only offer a home unit for residential use, lofts may permit a live and work space and some lofts for sale can be found in areas zoned specifically for this purpose. Many professionals who work at home find the large loft space ideal for the separation between living areas and work areas.

4. Appreciation – In some markets, realtors have found that lofts are appreciating at twice the rate of a traditional single-family home. This alone can add value to your loft space when you sell it.

5. Loft Conversions – Many loft builders who convert buildings into loft spaces, also invite commercial businesses such as drycleaners and small grocers to abide in the buildings. These types of loft conversions make it easier to never leave your loft building area when you seek consumer items-especially since they are close at hand.

Loft living is different than condo living. While both are usually run by an association where you must pay a monthly fee and abide by the association rules, lofts tend to be quieter due to their size and do not have as many common walls as condos do. For example, a loft may be an entire floor where condos may have two to four on one floor sharing a lot of common wall space.

Major developers are being encouraged and supported by large city and town governments to covert old spaces for loft living. Not only are developers reaping the benefits of building these loft units, the owners of the lofts are happy with the security, parking, live and work opportunities, and the proximity of all the conveniences you can expect with a loft.

If you live in an urban area and are interested in purchasing a loft, ask your Realtor for more details on lofts for sale, the amenities and how loft living works.

http://www.CondosMinneapolis.net explains condos and loft living in more detail. John Mazzara is involved with financial services in the Twin Cities, MN. Officing out of Edina, Minnesota-John is centrally located within the 7 county MN metropolitan area. John owns three separate businesses-a licensed real estate broker associate selling Minnesota real estate since 1986-affiliated with RE/MAX Associates Plus http://www.MinneapolisStPaulHomes.com , an independent CFP-certified financial planner since 1989 with an independent Minnesota financial planning firm-Financial Planning Associates and the owner of a Minnesota mortgage broker firm-Venture Development Inc-specializing in residential, commercial and investment mortgages for purchases of single family homes, investment properties and commercial property. Venture brokers FHA, VA, Conventional loans and lines of credit. If you are looking for someone to help you in the areas of real estate sales/purchase, mortgages, or and/or financial planning and insurance you should call John for a free 1 hour consultation to see if he can meet your needs. 952-929-2577. RE/MAX Associates Plus and Venture Development are located at 7300 France Ave S, Suite 410, Edina, MN 55435

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Mazzara
http://EzineArticles.com/?Five-Top-Reasons-to-Buy-a-Loft-Vs-a-Traditional-Condominium&id=2186913

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Loft Logic – Is a Loft The Right Choice for You?

By Jon West

If you’re embarking on the real estate hunt for a new home and you’re looking into the condo market, you may have encountered the term, “loft” alongside the term “condo”. Oftentimes these two terms seem interchangeable. They both refer to a single unit within a multi-unit residential building. The same rules and regulations that apply to condo strata’s and associations apply to the loft complexes as well. The key difference between a condo and a loft, is the layout. This being said, you should understand the concept behind the layout before deciding which is the better option for you.

The original type of loft unit is also known as the “hard loft”. Typically these spaces originated as an inexpensive alternative to the condo. They were old warehouses and factories converted into living spaces. Their popularity arose during the 60′s when artists in NYC’s SoHo district took to inhabiting and converting warehouse spaces. High ceilings, open spaces, exposed brick and an abundance of natural light made them the perfect creative spaces for starving artists looking for an affordable place to make their art.

These days, lofts are not necessarily the inexpensive alternative, although many architectural elements that inspired the artist’s of the 60′s create the framework for today’s loft concept. Many lofts, that are actual warehouse conversions tend to replicate or refurbish handsome warehouse features such as exposed wooden beams and brick. Other staple features that generally define a loft and separate it from a traditional condo design are high ceilings and open spaces ( many lofts do not have an enclosed bedroom).

Some lofts are constructed with a strict adherence to the original industrial look. Such lofts might include exposed plumbing, ducts and heavy timber beams, concrete flooring, masonry and/or corrugated steel walls. Many lofts built these days may not appear so raw in design. New construction constitutes much of the current loft market, and many building codes won’t always allow for such creative license in design. Nonetheless, these new lofts designs still reflect the spirit of openness and creativity that are integral to loft living.

There are some common terms associated with lofts that you should be aware of. The “hard loft”, is closest to the original loft concept with high ceilings, commercial windows, exposed columns or ductwork and no interior partitions except for the bathroom.The “raw loft” is an unfinished space, that doesn’t always include a bathroom or a sink. These are more typically sold as work/art spaces. The “soft loft”, has walls that are designed to not quite reach the height of the ceilings. Soft lofts, often have an enclosed bedroom as well as the standard enclosed bathroom. With a “moderate loft”, moderate refers to the mid priced kitchen and bathroom finishes. An “upscale loft” boasts high end kitchen and bathroom fixtures and finishes.

If you’re someone who works from home and requires an additional studio space, a loft may suit you well. Loft complexes generally have less units than many high-rise condo options. This can be a nice feature if you’re looking for a more intimate, lower density place to live. If you’re looking for the true original loft concept, you may want to find a hard loft unit. The most recent loft developments are able to offer more conventional condo-like feel, mixed in with the best elements in loft form and function. Whether or not your attracted to the key elements of openness and versatility in loft design will help you decide if a loft is the perfect choice for you, or not.

John West is a REALTOR® with expertise in the Las Vegas real estate market. For Henderson real estate listings or information on other incredible Las Vegas areas, John welcomes the opportunity to assist you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_West
http://EzineArticles.com/?Loft-Logic—Is-a-Loft-The-Right-Choice-for-You?&id=1010792

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