Celebrating the 4th of July and the American Values of Independence, Liberty and Freedom

by Georgina United States

 

The 4th of July in America is known as Independence Day; this is a federal holiday when Americans from all walks of life come together in national celebration to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 when the nation declared autonomy from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Today the 4th of July holiday is also as much about celebrating America’s history as it is about embracing the nation’s core values of liberty, freedom and independence.
Despite the obstacles that the American nation and people may face annually, the 4th of July is a significant date on every citizen’s calendar when thanks is given and celebrations are enjoyed; and even following the devastation of parts of the nation in 2005 when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita made landfall and wiped out communities on the Gulf Coast of the United States, July the 4th has remained a significant date for festivities and commemoration even in the affected communities.
Particularly when Hurricane Katrina made landfall and became one of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States, not only were the lives of so many Americans lost in cities and communities from Biloxi to New Orleans, but people’s independence was lost as their homes were destroyed, their livelihoods were taken away and they were forced to rely on the state and even strangers for everything from their shelter to their food.
It was the plight of those who lost everything in the Hurricane that led to the American government drawing up the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act, which is legislation specifically formulated to regenerate the devastated communities and give back independence and freedom of choice in life to those directly affected by the storms and the aftermath of the floods and high winds.
According to Danny Silver, Principal of Property Direct America: “the Act, which has become known as the GO Zone Act, is an enabling piece of legislation to kick start reinvestment into affected communities and to ensure developers and investors are given every fiscal and practical encouragement to rebuild homes, businesses, communities and lives. 
“The Act has indeed brought independence to the lives of so many of those affected already – for example, in and around the city of Biloxi the Act has brought massive investment into the casino industry. 22 casinos are under construction and this has resulted in significant job creation; Chevron, ANI Pharmaceuticals, NASA, The University of Southern Mississippi and the Naval Construction Battalion centre have also brought reinvestment and jobs back to the area. Now corporate investment from companies such as BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce Naval Marine inc. has been received too and is responsible for giving independence back to the lives of so many so that this Independence Day, the people in the GO Zone will have a great deal to celebrate.”
As part of the reconstruction initiatives for the devastated communities, new residential property development is ongoing apace to house those returning to the Gulf Coast and returning to their former lives. Developments such as Bayside Park in Biloxi, which is a development of energy efficient homes have been earmarked by the government for special investor incentives so that buyers will purchase the properties to let to the returning tenant demand. Within the GO Zone Act investors are given specific and very attractive taxation and pure fiscal benefits so that they will buy into developments such as Bayside Park and ensure that there is adequate, quality housing available to those who want to return to their former communities and re-establish their own independence.
The properties are available for sale from just £75,000 with a 90% LTV mortgage available, and investors get tax back and financial advantages immediately, they benefit from having waiting and targeted tenant demand and therefore strong potential rental yields, and what’s more, they can do their bit towards the efforts that the likes of Brad Pitt are pioneering in the region to give back independence to the lives of those affected and to ensure communities are regenerated and rebuilt. To learn more about these inimitable opportunities in the GO ZONE contact Property Direct America on 0207 043 0792 or visit www.propertydirectamerica.com.

Essential GO Zone Financial Facts and Figures

by Georgina United States

 

Why Investing in American Real Estate in the GO Zone Makes Fiscal Sense
 
According to leading real estate investors in America, now that the United States is entering the lowest point in its property market cycle and people are getting more and more serious about selling off their real estate stock no matter how low they have to go, there are more opportunities than ever for those who can buy in and who want to profit over the long-term. 
 
Furthermore, in a recent interview for Real Estate TV, multi-millionaire US real estate investment guru Robert Shemin pointed out that British and European buyers are in a particularly strong position to buy assets in the US for well below market value because of both the advantageous currency exchange position that they are in, and because vendors and developers in America are so keen to sell off stock.
 incentives,
Therefore, if you are contemplating an entry into the US property market, the time has clearly never been better.  In the majority of states you can buy in low thanks to the weakness of the dollar, and if you shop wisely you will find real estate for sale at below market value that will rent well over the long-term and deliver you solid returns.
 
However, nowhere is quite as attractive for today’s real estate investor as America’s GO Zone.  The GO Zone is the Gulf Opportunity Zone that covers the Hurricane Katrina affected states such as Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, and where there are now exceptionally attractive government incentives for investors to purchase housing stock for rental to the awaiting displaced tenant demand.
 
According to Danny Silver, MD of Property Direct America and a sagacious commentator on the US housing market: “the US government passed legislation back in 2005 to make investing in the GO Zone as financially attractive as possible to rejuvenate affected communities, regenerate positive economic fundamentals and house those whose homes had been destroyed. 
 
“Thanks to the overwhelming success of the legislation, jobs are being created, house prices are rising, demand for accommodation is increasing, affordability is improving and the economic conditions in the affected states are improving in spite of the state of the overall American economy.
 
“And in addition to the government’s attractive fiscal and taxation incentives to buy in and effectively house American citizens in the GO Zone, local developers are also competing against each other to make their developments more attractive to more investors meaning that investors who buy in now can walk away with some really profitable property.”
 
One of the most attractive and therefore successful developments as far as investors are concerned is Bayside Park in Biloxi.
 
As an investor buying in to this GO Zone incentive qualifying project you will be able to bag yourself a highly attractive deal and begin profiting from your property investment immediately.  Here’s how: –
 
·         You are buying property on land already subsidised by the US government therefore you are immediately buying a bargain at below market value because the developer is passing on their savings to buyers
·         Property prices start from just £68,000 / $135,000
·         To secure a property you need only pay $5,500 which is refundable if you change your mind, or which is used towards your closing costs…any additional closing costs are guaranteed to be met by the constructor saving you a potential maximum of $6,750 depending on the type of property you prefer
·         If you move quickly you will be one of a limited number of international investors guaranteed a 90% mortgage by the developer’s private lender
·         The mortgage is guaranteed as it is based on the property and not the investor, however there are only so many properties at Bayside Park that the lender will mortgage with these most favourable terms, so you need to register your interest immediately
·         If you apply for the 90% mortgage option you need only find a 10% deposit!
·         Your deposit is held in trust by the developer’s lawyer until you have signed the title deeds, therefore every element of your investment is secured
·         By purchasing a property at Bayside Park and renting it to the awaiting tenant demand for at least three consecutive years, not only will you enjoy a strong rental income but the US government will give you a cheque for $36,500 per property you purchase.  I.e., they will refund you 20% of the property’s purchase price as a golden ‘thank you’ for helping in the GO Zone
·         Your mortgage interest, your property taxes, management fees and all expenses you incur directly relating to your property – from travel expenses to decorating costs – are totally tax deductible from all your rental income and profit
·         You have a 50% depreciation bonus which can be carried forward for up to 15 years to further offset any taxation liability ensuring that you profit to the max on your Bayside Park property purchase
·         Your property can be completed and bringing you a rental return on your investment in as little as 90 – 120 days
 
For more information about the fantastic financial incentives available, the 90% mortgage deals and the attractive properties for sale at Bayside Park, please contact Property Direct America on 0207 043 0792 or visit www.propertydirectamerica.com
 

Extended window of opportunity for investors in the Go Zone

by Georgina United States

 

Following the devastation of hundreds of communities along the Gulf Coast of America back in 2005 when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita made landfall, the American people and the US government came to the financial aid and practical support of those affected.
 
Charitable donations from national and international sources poured into states such as Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, with the likes of President Bush and former President Clinton uniting to highlight the plight of displaced and grieving citizens in towns such as New Orleans and Biloxi – where collectively, the number of lives lost, businesses destroyed and homes ruined ran to hundreds of thousands.
 
To further support affected communities fiscally speaking, the US government provided emergency financial aid of over 6 billion dollars, and a further 51.8 billion dollars of aid has since been given specifically towards the rejuvenation of the entire Gulf Coast region.  Louisiana is still in receipt of 3 billion dollars worth of aid that has yet to be allocated for example, and in addition to this direct financial support from the state, the US government passed extensive legislation to make ongoing private investment into the affected regions highly tax advantageous and attractive.  They did so in an effort to create a sustainable environment for considerable long-term investment. 
 
The legislation passed to specifically rejuvenate the hurricane affected communities was called ‘The Gulf Opportunity (GO) Zone Act of 2005’ and it was passed by Congress on the 16th of December 2005.
The GO Zone Act has proved so successful that in the face of economic uncertainty in the rest of America, employment, housing demand, affordability and even real estate prices in the hurricane affected states have surged ahead of all expectation.  For example, Mississippi recorded a real estate price appreciation rate of 1.8% in 2007 when the rest of America was really feeling the property price pinch, and in March 2008 when US employers cut 80,000 jobs, state Labour Secretary Tim Barfield advised that Louisiana had 100,000 jobs available and intimated that professional migration would be required to fill the vacancies.
 
Therefore, the GO Zone legislation has already resulted in the rebuilding of thousands of homes, the regeneration of hundreds of communities, the creation of substantial employment and the restoration of hope for hundreds of thousands of Americans; and because the legislation has been so important for bringing national and international investment in to states such as Mississippi and Louisiana, the U.S. Senate has just approved an amendment to a bill which will allow for an extension of the GO Zone Act of 2005. 
 
The act passed by the Senate and further approved by the House of Representatives is considered highly likely. Brand new qualifying projects to construct houses and restore life and hope in damaged communities in the GO Zone will allow individuals to invest until 31 December 2008 – with full benefits – and completion and “tenant” in” by 31 December 2010, thus giving investors, developers and business persons the remainder of 2008 to sign up to the GO Zone incentives, personally financially benefit and do more than their fair share to rebuild lives and dreams.
 
Speaking in direct response to the Senate’s decision to allow the GO Zone extension amendment to be added to the House Resolution 3221 bill, Danny Silver, who’s the managing director of Property Direct America and a leading US real estate authority stated that: “the proposition of an extension to the GO Zone Act is exciting and has far reaching and positive financial consequences for investors. 
“Those who have only recently become aware of the fact that they can buy property in America in the GO Zone at below market prices and benefit from a waiting tenant demand, thus enjoying real estate ownership benefits as well as a solid rental income, will now have longer to find a qualifying project that appeals to them. 
 
“They can take their time to find a housing project that, on top of the aforementioned benefits, will allow them to deduct 50% of the cost of the property´s construction from their tax liability in the first year, enjoy certain "cash back" incentives and the ability to purchase 2 properties effectively for the price of 1 and a half whilst paying lower than normal property taxes.”
 
One of the most attractive projects currently available and likely to directly benefit from any extension to the GO Zone Act is Bayside Park near Biloxi where members of the local Builders’ Association recently worked together to spring clean the entire neighbourhood ready for former and brand new tenants to move in to their GO Zone qualifying homes.
 
Bayside Park is a fabulous development of homes available for sale to international investors from just GBP 68,000 / EUR 85,000.  The properties have 90% mortgage option available on them and follow Brad Pitt’s now world famous ethical and ecological example of GO Zone construction by being built from a frame that consists of 75% recycled steel and by being constructed in such a way as to ensure as small a carbon footprint is created as possible from the construction and ongoing inhabitance of the home.
 
To learn more about Property Direct America, Bayside Park and GO Zone opportunities you can contact Property Direct America via their UK offices on 0207 043 0792 or visit their website www.propertydirectamerica.com.
 

Rebuilding Lives, Regenerating Communities, Reducing Environmental Impact:

by Georgina United States

Rebuilding in the GO Zone Following Brad Pitt’s Ethical Example

 
Following the devastating hurricanes in America in 2005, the entire Gulf Coast of the United States was forced to count not only the cost in financial terms of the high winds and high tidal swells caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, but more significantly, America as a whole was left counting the very real cost in human and humanitarian terms.
 
Lives were lost, businesses were wrecked, homes were destroyed, entire communities in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi were wiped out, and the lives of hundreds of thousands of American citizens were devastated overnight.
 
The resultant situation led Americans from all walks of life to get behind massive public and private sector efforts to restore, regenerate and physically rebuild communities along the Gulf Coast in a region now dubbed the GO Zone, or Gulf Opportunity Zone. 
 
The efforts that have ensued in towns and cities such as New Orleans and Biloxi for example, have been dramatic, impressive and truly uplifting.  What’s more, the regeneration and restoration efforts are reaching the awareness of individuals around the world who have been invited and encouraged to get involved by the Government of the United States which offers significant financial and taxation incentives to all those willing to invest in housing related projects within the GO Zone.
 
One of the highest profile names to get involved with the efforts to reconstruct homes in the GO Zone is Hollywood actor, Brad Pitt.
 
From day one Brad Pitt saw a very real need to get practically involved with rebuilding in the GO Zone because of the size of the effort required; he also saw that someone needed to bring awareness to the communities, as well as those responsible for regenerating them, that new homes need to be constructed not only cost effectively and swiftly, but ecologically and environmentally consciously as well. 
 
Brad Pitt’s humanitarian and environmental efforts through his ‘Make it Right’ charitable foundation have certainly helped to maintain international concentrated awareness on the GO Zone, and they have gone a long way towards ensuring that the restoration, regeneration and reconstruction of devastated communities happens in as ‘green’ and sustainable a manner as possible.
 
One of the initial questions asked by critics of individuals such as Brad Pitt who immediately began plans to physically reconstruct housing in the hurricane affected zones was: ‘is it wise to rebuild housing in areas of the country likely to again be affected by high winds and high tides?’  In response, critics are not only invited to meet displaced residents of these communities who yearn desperately to be able to return home and rebuild their lives, they are asked to review the construction methods and materials being used by those regenerating the GO Zone.
 
The main focus in the GO Zone among the most conscientious developers is on developing homes for residents that will withstand adverse weather conditions, survive devastating hurricanes and safely house residents.  Great awareness and intelligence has gone in to the planning of new communities and as a result, the best constructors in the region are using the likes of Cold Form Steel to build the houses with for example.  Cold Form Steel delivers superior structural integrity as it has a wind rating of up to 210 miles per hour, meaning that the homes that are being built using this material can withstand the fiercest forces of nature.
 
In certain areas such as New Orleans where there is a higher than average risk of flooding as well as high winds, Brad Pitt has personally commissioned architectural firms to come up with solutions to this issue as well, such as designing houses that will literally float on moorings like a boat if flood waters compromise levees around the city for example. 
 
Another area of the GO Zone where great effort has gone into the ecologically intelligent design of hurricane robust homes is Biloxi. 
 
In one particular development near Biloxi called Bayside Park, the architects and constructors set themselves the challenge of creating affordable, quality housing with as small a carbon footprint impact as possible.  These houses also had to use the very latest, state of the art construction methods and materials to reduce the overall impact of the final property on the environment.
 
In a recent interview with Danny Silver, the managing director of Property Direct America which is the company behind the marketing and development of the properties at Bayside Park, Mr. Silver was keen to discuss the green aspects of the development.
 
“Our properties at Bayside Park are constructed from a frame that consists of 75% recycled steel, or Cold Form Steel.  This is a superior construction material that is not only the most recycled material on the planet, but one that withstands high wind speeds and the threat of water penetration – making it perfect for construction within the GO Zone of course. 
 
“In addition to this, the steel we use can withstand termites for example, and it helps to create an enhanced thermal and sound barrier protection for the property.  This is of clear benefit to the resident’s of the property. 
 
“To ensure our properties create as small a carbon footprint and environmental impact as possible, we have also included ‘green’ features in further elements of the design and construction of the properties at Bayside Park.  For example, we use low impact NASA technology air purification, we use water purification systems that cut not only a resident’s costs but also their consumption of pure water, and we also include the highest energy efficient rated laundry system in our homes which eliminates the need for hot water within cycles for example. 
 
“Ultimately we want to provide investors with an ecologically and financially viable product, and we want to provide their tenants with a superior, safe, practical and environmentally sound home.”
 
Investor’s keen to find out more about the substantial financial and highly attractive taxation benefits associated with buying property in the GO Zone for rental to residents of communities such as Biloxi, and who also wish to follow Brad Pitt’s example and invest in ethically aware, environmentally conscious and ecologically sound homes, are invited to contact Property Direct America for more information.
 
For more information please contact Property Direct America on 0207 043 0792 or visit www.propertydirectamerica.com
 

Strong Defence Presence Increases Investor Interest in GO Zone

by Georgina United States

When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of America back in August 2005 and wrought untold damage to the lives of thousands of citizens in Harrison, Jackson and Hancock counties, fortunately there had been sufficient warning for military bases and defence installations in the area to evacuate all but essential personnel.

 
This certainly prevented further significant loss of life, but it did not completely help the thousands of families evacuated who returned a short while later to discover that their homes had been lost and their communities devastated.
 
The effects of Hurricane Katrina are still being felt to this day all along the Gulf Coast; and in Biloxi in Harrison County where a number of strategic defence and aerospace installations are situated, the need for housing for the high numbers of local citizens and military personnel is having a very real effect on the state of the local housing market. 
NASA’s Stennis Space Center and Keesler Air Force Base employ 19,500 and 11,200 people respectively, with nearly 7,600 military positions also open which brings at least this many families to the immediate region – and high proportions of these people are still waiting for housing in Biloxi.  With the news that Keesler Air Force Base is one of the shortlisted finalists to become America’s headquarters in the fight against cyber-terrorism, this could create 10,000 new jobs in Biloxi and bring even more people to the area creating even further upside pressure on the property market.
Depending on which way you look at it, the intense demand for housing in Biloxi is either an investor’s dream come true, or a rental tenant’s bad dream…
 
On the one hand you have the likes of CNN promoting the fact that Biloxi is now one of a limited number of locations in America where the housing boom continues; their findings are backed up by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight which has shown that house prices in and around Biloxi continue to climb fuelled by such intense demand.  But on the other hand you have to understand about the plight of those left homeless and still living in Federal Government assisted housing and mobile homes.
 
In terms of just the housing loss caused by Hurricane Katrina, the loss was almost incomprehensible; in a state where nearly 30% of all residents are rental tenants, 72,116 rental units were damaged or destroyed as well as 65,000 owner occupied homes.  To this day, whilst business has recovered more strongly than ever in Biloxi and an estimated 90% of the pre-Katrina population has returned home to the area, there is a housing shortage to the tune of at least 55,000 properties that will need to be built in the next few years to meet this demand. 
 
The government of America immediately realised that it would need to put incentives and attractive benefits in place to draw in the high levels of constructor commitment required all along the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina.  In addition, it realised that it had an obligation to ensure that citizens who rent property such as military families and those who work on defence installations in areas such as Harrison County were also looked after.  As a result, the government created the GO Zone Act – or Gulf Opportunity Zone Act to give tax breaks and financial incentives to encourage property construction and also to encourage property investors to buy up housing to rent to the waiting tenant demand.
 
In the Biloxi area, GO Zone qualifying developments such as Bayside Park are proving particularly popular with property investors.  Speaking about the development, Danny Silver, Managing Director of Property Direct America explained: “the development sees the construction of single unit family homes which are constructed in an environmentally conscientious yet affordable way. 
 
“The homes are for sale at well below current market prices because they are constructed on government subsidised land, and because of the tax breaks and fiscal benefits offered to all investors and the attractive mortgages available, these properties are being snapped up. 
 
“They are just the type of family home in intense demand among the stable base of tenants that springs from the number of military and defence installations in the area, meaning that an investor can not only buy an attractive property with strong potential to enjoy capital appreciation, but within days of the off plan homes being completed investors can make a real difference, house families and be enjoying stable rental income.”
 
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of the GO Zone Act and investing in properties in Biloxi as well as the fantastic mortgage deals available on Bayside Park properties, please contact Property Direct America on 0207 043 0792 or visit www.propertydirectamerica.com