Over the years, real estate has been pushed as a better investment to stock. With so many differences as wide as the fact that real estate is a solid, physical good while stock isn't, it's hard to see the similarities between both types of investments. An investment in real estate is similar to stocks, in the sense that, there are both negatives and positives, there is an amount of risk involved and there are no guarantees. However, comparing real estate and stocks over many decades, real estate has performed better in generating consistent wealth and long term appreciation for millions of people. But as mentioned earlier, there are no guarantees. Here are five important factors new investors should consider when buying a home abroad.

Factors To Consider When Buying A Home Abroad

1. Availability of good real estate agents. Hiring a good real estate agent is the single most important thing you'll do as a foreign property buyer. Hence you need to verify that these agents can deliver excellent service. This service will usually include post-purchase assistance. Your real estate agent should be able to help with service connections, home improvements and other requirements after the sale. A good real estate agent will also provide practical help and support. So ask questions and verify what your agent can help you with to ensure smooth purchase process.

2. Insurance. Few things done right will save you the hassles when buying property abroad. One of those things is getting coverage. This is particularly true of vacation home owners who might have to leave the property in someone else's care and investors dealing with tenants. Building insurance is a must for foreign property owners in some countries e.g. South Africa. But don't stop there! Get insurance for the contents of your home. While seeking insurance cover, check around. If you can find an insurance company with base in your home country, then go for it. If not, then settle for local insurers.

3. Property improvement. It's a given that you might not like some of the props and arrangement of your new overseas property. So, many new investors go along with renovation ideas and plans. However, home improvements can eat up your savings. Hence, before buying any overseas property, get a reputable appraiser. Don't expect to meet the property in tip-top shape. But if you'll be spending too much on repairs and renovations, then it's a bad deal.

4. Security. How secure is your new property? If there have been record of burglaries in the house, then having a big padlock might not cut it, you might need to move on. You need to determine how secure the area is. Your real estate agent might not disclose this information, so personal research is necessary.

5. Climate. You don't want to buy in an area prone to floods. Regions of extreme hotness or coldness are also out of the question. Look beyond how cheap the property is and get a house in an area you'd be able to 'survive' in.

These are just some basic factors you already know you should consider. But it's easy to take them for granted.

The most important aspect of agent-client relationship is communication. A house seller or buyer can find it stressful dealing with an agent or buyer who is not a good communicator. An agent that stays in constant contact with clients and answers their questions proves his or her proactivity.

Yes you need to let buyers and sellers know where they stand quickly so they can move on to another property or potential buyer. Real estate is time sensitive. Buyers and sellers need the right information and need it fast. Hence, one of the qualities of a good agent is the ability to give the right information to the right kind of buyer at the right time. What an experienced agent might deem insignificant information might be important information to clients who are new to the real estate game. Putting the right information in front of clients communicate that you're an agent who puts clients first.

It's the responsibility of a good agent to sort out what clients need to know and provide this information. Hence it's important that an agent has a well updated website complete with valuable information. You don't really need to pressure your clients with too much information. Just the right information will do. Here are five content types that real estate buyers and sellers find valuable.

REAL ESTATE CONTENT TYPES THAT WORK

When correctly done, real estate content marketing can be a game changer for your real estate business. You have the chance to attract thousands of new leads through well-researched, helpful content. This is why effective real estate bloggers put a lot of plan and effort into creating the right content for their real estate website. Here are some of the real estate content types you should be posting for your real estate business.

1. Market Reports. Writing a recap of real estate activity in your community for the month shows you as a knowledgeable real estate agent in the community. Buyers and sellers want to be informed about the real estate market in their area of residence. Even if they aren't going to take action immediately, when you post fact-based market reports, they know whom to approach for questions. Also, Google ranks market reports high. Since few realtors are posting them, your posts have less competition.

2. Local Community Information. A local community guide includes details about a neighborhood such as detailed information about the local real estate market, local economy, housing and population, local school information, parks and restaurants and attractions. This type of content is important because it increases your real estate website's SEO value and helps the area residents see that you have strong knowledge of the community.

3. Home buyer and seller tips. Both buyers and sellers have a lot of questions on their minds about real estate. Providing helpful information on your site can be timely and help you gain more leads. However, when covering the questions, your visitors would find it much more helpful if you cover the topic in 'extreme' detail and they'll love you for it.

Cold calling for sale by owners or door knocking is old school. A much better way of gaining trust and new leads is through helpful content.  When you consistently post content that real estate buyers and sellers love, you'll start reaping the benefits of real estate content marketing.

What goes on in your head when moving into a new home? Foremost, how do I turn this empty shell of a house into an inviting home that reflects my own personal style? You don't want a bland and boring house. Your new house offers a new start. You can eliminate the junk and put in new digs; you can buy that bed you've always dreamed about; or beef up the kitchen and dining area for maximum comfort and entertainment. The great thing about home decoration is that you have the chance to improve your home's appearance without spending much money. Let's look at some home design ideas for giving each room in your house a makeover.

When giving a home a facelift, sometimes simple solutions can have a big impact. Here are some inexpensive home design ideas to give rooms a new lease of life.

1. Don't rush. You need to take a little time before starting major decor projects in your new home. Take some time to let in the feel and observe what the home needs before buying major stuff. HGTV recommends staying in the house for two months before making significant purchases. You might be spending money on the wrong areas. For example, instead of spending $5,000 on revamping and putting new features in your bathrooms, you might find out that you could spend half the price to get your bathroom in great shape.

2. Add color to walls. For people who get out early, a light shade will do while a deep tone will make the house more homely for those who spend more time indoors. You can also make a statement with a feature wall. Adding a lick of paint to your walls is an inexpensive way to give your room an instant lift. Whether you decorate your entire room in an intense shade or opt for a stylish two-toned plan, fresh color on your walls guarantee oodles of glamor.

3. Pare down. Now it's time to reassess and evaluate what works and what doesn't. Don't pack everything from your old home over. You don't really need everything you've accumulated. They will only make rooms stuffy. Having a new house gives you chance to try out a fresh approach. This means you can pare down on tired pieces that will only clutter up your space. You can sell these items off on eBay or drop them off at a charity shop.

4. Use right lighting. Transform the mood of rooms at a cheap price with the right lighting. You can also invest in dimmers to switch from bright to low lighting. When decorating bathrooms, try out stylish lights. For bedrooms, buy a fresh shade for lamps. You can give your room a cohesive style with stylish lighting.

5. Update roller blinds. Whether you go for a subtle floral pattern or statement stripes, roller blinds for your windows are great low-cost, high impact options for designing rooms. They can transform your dull windows and complement other designs in your room.

Less is often more when decorating and less is also eco-friendly. No matter how small your space, you can always let your creativity shine through.