COLDWELL BANKER JAMAICA REALTY

The 2010 staging of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival has been a seven-day long celebration of The Art of Music produced by the Turn Key Productions event from January 24-30.  The final nights will be held at Greenfield Stadium in Trelawny, east of the former grounds at Montego Bay.

“All of the focus has been on transforming the in-field of the stadium to create the intimacy and mystique that is undoubtedly Jamaica Jazz & Blues,” said Walter Elmore, executive producer of the festival and founder of Turnkey Productions. “It will not be a stadium-style performance but definitely an upfront and personal experience as our loyal fans remain our primary focus and we are dedicated to ensuring we continue to providing the unparalleled experience that has made us the number one musical event across the Caribbean.”

On Friday, January 29th, fans will enjoy Erykah Badu, Billy Ocean, Machel Montano, Robin Banks and the Queens Project - featuring Tamia, Kelly Price and Deborah Cox.

The festival wraps up on Saturday January 30 with the Empress of Soul, Gladys Knight, along with Third World, Hall & Oates, Jon Secada and Marion Hall.

Jamaica Jazz, since its introduction in 1996, has attracted thousands of patrons from the USA, Europe, the Caribbean and Jamaica.

When experts ask buyers what project most affects the selling price of homes - not counting the first impression made by the outside of the house - they reply,” It all starts in the kitchen!”

Kitchens and master bathrooms are the big selling points in any house. That is what will move the home (a sale depends on other factors too). But how profitable is it to update your kitchen in this market?  Or purchase a home knowing you will have to remodel the kitchen and baths?

A kitchen remodel can be costly and at least a major inconvenience for a home owner, but it can also be very rewarding - with an excellent return on investment. If your home is competing against homes with beautifully updated kitchens, those properties will certainly sell first, all other factors being equal.

Typically, kitchen remodeling will give you one of the highest home remodeling returns, at about 80-100% return on dollars spent.  Maybe a major remodel may be more than you want to tackle.  If so, consider minor remodels, which can be just as effective in highlighting the home - and the small enhancements can use some of the good features in your kitchen.  Here are a few ideas for minor changes:

* Tile the backsplash behind work areas and stove
* Add color - if your counters are one color, accent with tile, stainless steel appliances, and fashionable countertops
* Do something interesting with the hardware

These and many other remodeling jobs will add value to your home, whether a new purchase or to help sell your house.  Decide on a budget and shop materials and designs.  Also, be honest with yourself if you have the patience and carpentry abilities to do the work yourself. If not, check with our Coldwell Banker office for referrals to local builders who do home remodeling.

Keep in mind that some investments are worth the money, and a local Coldwell Banker agent can give you an idea of whether the remodel will keep your home competitive with market values.

As reported by the Prime Minister’s Office, over 30 dignitaries, officials and delegates from 14 regional countries are currently in Jamaica participating in the inaugural Forum of Ministers with responsibility for Social and Sustainable Development in the Caribbean.

The forum, being held under the theme: ‘Social Development Strategies for the Caribbean Youth in the context of the economic crisis’, provides Caribbean states with an opportunity to focus on policy responses to the financial and economic crisis, as it impacts the region. Particular focus will be placed on the region’s youth, deemed among the stakeholders worst affected.

The countries participating in the forum include: Jamaica, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is being hosted by the Jamaican Government, in collaboration with UNESCO.

Microfinance provides economic stimulus for would-be entrepreneurs at the bottom level of the economic pyramid.  To this end, Government funding to microfinance institutions, through the Development Bank of Jamaica, can provide a significant boost to the productive sector.

As stated by SFCN.com, “More than 80 percent of the island’s employment opportunities, according to the Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP), are created by small and micro entrepreneurs, although many continue to operate outside the formal business net. Informal micro enterprises contribute as much as 40 percent of the gross domestic product.

“’Expanding the entrepreneurial base within the formal economy to include more of our informal businesses will lead to stronger economic and social development,’ says Frank Whylie, General Manager of JN Small Business Loans Limited (JNSBL), the island’s leading microfinance institution. He says his company has substantially increased financing to the micro and small business sector in the last year, assisting many clients to make the transition into the formal sector…

“In addition to the 2,398, new micro businesses that JN Small Business Loans helped to establish in 2009 through its BizStart loan products, the company offered training to all of its clients through its own employees.

“Originally, the company partnered with the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) to provide business development training to its clients to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the global recession. However, through a “training the trainers” process, JNSBL training officers are now equipped to deliver the training programme. ”

Read more on the efforts of JNSBL at SFLCN.com.  If you are interested in learning more about microfinance theory, read Stuart L. Hart’s book, Capitalism at the Crossroads.

Can a Realtor really help you sell your house more quickly?  Is it worth paying the commission to have a Realtor sell your home?  If you decide to use a Realtor how do you decide on the best one for you?  Find out in this special report.

Selling your home can be one of the most profitable sales you ever make in your life.  But one of the most important decisions can be deciding whether to sell the house yourself or use a realtor to help market the property for you.

Let’s take a look the main benefit of selling your house yourself:  you don’t have to pay a realtor’s commission, which is usually between 6-8% of the sale price.  This can be a huge chunk of money.  On a $200,000 sale that comes out to $12,000 in a sale with a 6% commission rate.
 
The commission is usually split between two realtors and their brokers.  Sellers’ agents list the property and get half the commission. The buyer’s agent also gets half of the commission.  The seller of the property is actually paying both of these commissions out of the proceeds of the sale.

Keep in mind that most home buyers today use a buyer’s agent, so you will end up paying 3-4% of the sale price to the buyer’s realtor, even if you sell the house yourself without an agent.

In addition to commission considerations, decide how much free time you have to show and market the property, and answer phone calls.  Also, are you knowledgeable about selling houses and writing contracts and negotiating?  You may enjoy the home selling process and want to take care of the sale yourself, but if you don’t have the time, energy, and expertise you should consider listing the house with a realtor.

Now, let’s discuss the main benefit from listing your house with a realtor:  your property goes straight into the multiple listing service (MLS).  The MLS is the resource that every Realtor in the nation uses first to find properties for sale. 

Once a property is listed in the MLS, every buyer’s agent  has access to the information.  Most buyers agents check the MLS at least daily, to keep current on properties that may fit their client’s needs.

Other benefits of using a realtor include better negotiating skills, knowledge of the local real estate laws, and experience both in writing contracts  and following an escrow through to closing.   Most realtors also are marketing experts, and can make suggestions to increase the desirability of your house or some ways to increase the value.

If you decide to use a realtor, there are some important questions to ask when interviewing agents for the job.  Remember that although they are the professional, you are still the one hiring them and paying their “salary.”  Make sure you get all your questions answered to your satisfaction before signing the listing contract.

Ask how many houses they have sold in the past 12 months.  Find out how long they have been an agent.  Find out what they generally charge for commission.  Ask for a copy of their marketing plan.   What web sites do they have?  How do they attract buyers?  More than 75% of all buyers use the internet for their home search. 

Weigh the pros and cons.  It’s one of the most important decisions you will make in your investment portfolio during your lifetime.  Be honest with yourself about how much time you can spend and the level of your expertise.  If you decide to list with a realtor, find one you trust who will work hard for you, be ethical, and honest with all parties in the sale.

Give one of our Coldwell Banker agents a call today.

Negril land for sale, Jamaica, Coldwell Banker

1/2 acre of prime land right on the famous 7 mile beach in Negril of Westmoreland. This vacant lot can accommodate either a private villa or commercial property. A rare opportunity to own a piece of this fantastic beach!

US$1,250,000.00

Visit our Coldwell Banker Listing page for more photos.

We recently read a blog by Brian Jambor of U.S. Cybertek, Inc. which discussed how Realtors respond to internet queries. Although InsideSales.com said in a recent study a Realtor has 5 minutes to effectively call and find out how to serve an internet visitor when that query is received, the average number of hours it takes a Realtor to respond is 54 - 54 hours compared to 5 minutes!

We at Coldwell Banker have a better system. It’s called Lead Control. This is our promise to you, from Coldwell Banker Island Affiliates’ (CBIA) Lead Control:

“With CB LeadControl you will be able to instantly respond to the visitor from your iPhone or Blackberry, or pass him or her along to another agent at our firm.”

This is a system we at CBIA have created just for our clients, interested web visitors, referral customers - anyone who finds us online. Our agents can log on through any computer, update the status and activities of any customer, set up future contact times, and see instantly who to contact on any given day - or be reminded, if they have missed that call to action.

Jambor writes, “That being said, what kind of a system would you need in order to immediately contact Internet visitors? It would have to have the following features:

*Be Internet Based of Course
*Send information to your Cell Phone
*Send a copy of the information to your Email
*Add the visitor to a mailing list so he/she will receive valuable information about your market areas
*Schedule a follow up plan that alerts you via cell phone/email when you need to follow up again.”

At Coldwell Banker Jamaica, we are committed to this new system and to contact you, our internet visitor or prospective client, within this timeframe. We know you want and expect a fast response to your inquiry. But we ask that you include a phone number if you do want a 5-minute call back. Real estate is not a 9 to 5 job, and we pledge a combination of calling, following up, and providing content of value.

We want your feedback if you don’t feel your needs have been addressed properly and quickly. We value your business and your referrals. Give us a try!

From South Florida Caribbean News, here is a list of main events on Jamaica during the rest of January:

“For the Caribbean and International Jewish community or those interested in exploring the island’s heritage tourism, Jamaica will be the host destination of the inaugural Jewish Diaspora Conference (Jan. 12-14) be held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, in Kingston. The event will feature renowned experts from the United States, Jamaica, France and Israel, who will be addressing a wide range of topics from cultural history including architecture, music, and religion to exploring Caribbean Jewish identity and heritage. Tours of prominent sites in Kingston that are of significant and historic value to the Kingston Jewish Community will also be organized for participants. For more information please visit: http://www.ucija.org/main.html

“Reggae lovers congregate at Rebel Salute (Jan. 16, 2010), now in its 17th year, to experience some of the top-tier reggae performers, both locally and internationally. Some of the past memorable acts included Luciano, Queen Ifrica, Tarrus Riley and Tony Rebel. At the festival, to be held at the Port Kaiser’s Sports Club in St. Elizabeth, visitors can also sample Jamaica’s Ital cuisine (food prepared without salt) that is synonymous with Rastafarian lifestyle. For more information visit: www.flamesproduction.com

“Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival (Jan. 24-30, 2010) brings scores of eager tourists to the shores of Jamaica each year. Locals and visitors alike feast on tantalizing Jamaican and international cuisine while grooving to the enchanting sounds of jazz and blues from top musical acts on the national and international scene. Among the confirmed acts this year: Gladys Knight, Joss Stone, Jennifer Hudson, Tamia, Deborah Cox, Third World, Monty Alexander, Billy Ocean, Joe Roy Jackson, Kelly Price, Hall and Oats, Jon Secada, Roy Ayers, Marion Hall and the Max Klezmer Band. For more information visit: www.jamaicajazzandblues.com”

Enjoy!

Prime Minister Bruce Golding says that Jamaica’s economy is expected to return to a path of modest growth by the middle of the year.

In his New Year’s Message, the Prime Minister highlighted tourism and agriculture as two sectors that grew during the past year, and restated the Government’s resolve to make enterprises in these and other sectors succeed.

“The private sector must be encouraged and facilitated to lead the way in expanding economic activity. This is as it should be, but is now more crucial than ever. That is why reducing the rate of interest - not simply taxing it - is our strategic direction. Increasing further the flow of credit to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises is our strategic direction, because they are the surest way to fast-start the economy and create jobs” Mr. Golding said.

“It is our own resolve to contain expenditure, eliminate waste and corruption, increase our earnings and our revenues that will secure the brighter future we all want for Jamaica,” he continued.

(resource: CaribbeanNetNews)