It’s quite amazing to see movies that feature automated devices. They seem impossible to have in this real world. But it’s not all camera tricks. Because of today’s highly advanced technology, automated devices and gadgets are now possible. You can even have it in your own home.

Home automation is now widely available especially in wealthy countries. People who have it in their homes say that it’s part of the house, like outdoor and indoor decorations. These home automation gadgets may be very important to some people, but there are also those who regard it as a waste of money or just a silly device.

Different people have different needs and uses for home automation gadgets. If you have a habit of buying things that are not useful, then it would be better to invest on HA. Home automation is divided into categories, the first one is security and the other one is convenience.

Security

Regular alarm systems are not very popular these days. That is why with home automation, the alarm systems now have built-in HA features. With the old models of alarm systems, they only make a sound after a burglar broke into the house. This gives the burglar time to ransack your home and escape even before authorities get there.

If you’re using automated alarm systems, you don’t have to lurch half-naked at night looking for the burglar. You will simply push a button, probably located on your bed’s side, to turn the lights on. Or your alarm system automatically turns on the light when an intruder enters your premises.

With HA alarms, you’re adding anticipation of a possible break-in in your homes. With good lighting, crime can be prevented. Even police authorities agree to that fact. You don’t have to change your porch light or any other light in your home. You simply add the gadget, and there you have it, a home safe from burglars, vandals, and trespassers.

Most traditional alarms are primarily designed to protect your property, but not you. But if you utilize HA, you can have control over the whole situation. Personal safety is greatly achieved through home automation. Aside from protecting your property, you also help protect yourself and your family members from injuries like tripping over/falling down the stairs. One switch is enough, and you’re guaranteed with utmost security.

Convenience

Who wouldn’t want to experience convenience; with today’s technology, that is the greatest advantage that you’re sure to get. With home automation, everything is done with just one switch.

For many years, you have been used to walking to and fro inside your home turning on the light, checking locks on doors and windows, or turning the heat switch on after waking in the morning. With HA, you don’t have to argue who’s going to do it. In fact, every one in the house will be glad to press that switch. But having this much convenience is not a valid excuse for you to become a couch-potato.

Having HA around is quite neat and elegant. With a remote control or switch, you can turn on the television, the lights, the VCR, and many more.

If you want to get automated, you just have to set it up. Ask for professional help because there are hundreds of devices compatible with other pieces that can be put together. Getting your home automated can help you solve vast problems that have been there for years.

Home automation can improve a person’s life. Learn about HA products through application books and through the internet. Afterwards, you can buy these devices; you may want to stick with DIY gadgets so that you don’t have to pay for professional service fees.

You should first identify what particular area(s) in the house that you want HA placed, and call a reputable HA company and ask for help in selecting the appropriate devices.

The best person to know what HA can do for your family and home is you. If you think only electronic geniuses can use HA, you’re quite wrong. Seek the help of professionals and enjoy the benefits of home automation.

Investing on HA can be rewarding although the payback time is rather long. But you can’t put your family’s life at stake; so get your home automated.

It is said that no two countries in the world have the same legal systems, nor are the systems and policies that rule the acquisition of property the same. Unfortunately, people who are buying property abroad often assume otherwise, making them susceptible of getting into a mad run with the legal intricacies of a foreign property market.

But thanks to the European Union you can now take some comfort in the knowledge that the foreigner buying property abroad are now subjected to the same rules and regulations as the locals or any othe EU citizens for the matter.

But don’t be so relaxed because even though the EU have already systematized the property buying procedures there are still some amendments done locally so this mean no single EU country has the sa,e buying procedures. Individual countries have their own property laws.

One good example of this is Spain, in this country outstanding debts attached to a property becomes the responsibility of the buyer or the new owner. And if you purchase a farmhouse or a villa with agricultural land in Italy, your farming neighbors could have the right of pre-emption. This mean they could buy back the land for less than its usual purchase price.

“This is a complicated area of tax and law” warns international estate agent Knight Frank. So it would be much better to get someone who is really good at these things to be able to make your “buying property aboard” excursion a satisfying one.

Another complication is not only countries but different regions too have their own specific property regulations. For instance, the National Spanish Law on development was revamped and passed by the Valencian Legislature in 1994 which gave local developers in certain specific circumstances the right to demand payments for infrastructure improvements or to obtain repossession orders.

Outside of the EU – from Eastern Europe to Down Under and the United States to South Africa – the legal aspects of buying property are equally variable.

In Croatia for instance, for the time being and pending the anticipated entry into the EU as early as 2006, permission to buy a property must be granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before a purchase contract can be finalized. This can take anywhere from three to 12 months which is a very long time already.

In Turkey, foreigners are not allowed to buy property in villages, rural areas or in the vicinity of military land.

In New Zealand there are limits on where and how much land non-citizens can purchase, while in Australia, outsiders are restricted to buying new-build properties.

The United States presents its own set of purchase proclivities, for instance, although Britons can feely buy a US holiday home, there are restrictions on how long they can remain in the country each year, for example, 90 days unless an application is made for a B2 visa.

And in Florida you will confront restrictions in certain areas that limit the number of days per year that you can rent out your property.

While South Africa does not restrict foreign property ownership, ‘non-residents’ whose nominal place of residence, domicile or registration is outside the common monetary area of South Africa have to declare any money they bring to the country to the South African Reserve Bank.

The exigencies of buying property around the globe are hugely variable. But wherever the location, you should take great care over fundamental legalities – ranging from local taxes, registration fees, and stamp duty to zoning laws, death duties and tax treaties.

Take double taxation treaties. These international agreements limit the tax liability for a citizen of one country who is resident in another – and thus prevents the same income being taxed in two states. Out of more than 1,300 tax treaties worldwide, the UK has the largest network, covering over 100 countries.

Furthermore, do not ignore local property terms. Escrow, ‘tapu’, ‘il rogito’, or settlement may be unfamiliar, but if you are buying property in the US, Turkey, Italy or Australia respectively, these terms are integral to procedure.

And do not assume that a particular housing term in one country will have the same meaning in another ‘Project homes’ in Australia refer to ‘off-the-peg’ architectural designs while in the US a project home refers to government funded, and sometimes called ghetto housing.

In the past decades, it was believed that a mortgage loan is a mortgage loan no matter whichever is chosen. But this theory is not workable anymore because of the many mortgage loan products available in the market. So, before choosing a mortgage loan, it is very important to decide which one is right for you. Finding the right mortgage loan means balancing your mortgage options with your housing requirements and financial picture, now and in the future. Also the right mortgage is not just having the lowest interest rate but much more than that. And this “much more” will be determined by your personal situation. Your personal situation and your limits to pay for monthly mortgage payments can be evaluated by answering the following questions:

· What is your current financial situation (including income, savings, cash reserves and debt-to-cash ratio)?
· How you expect your finances to changeover in the coming years?
· Have you plan to return the mortgage loan before retirement?
· How long you intend to keep your house?
· How comfortable you are with your changing mortgage payment amount?

The answers to these questions will give you the idea of your financial position. Now the next step is to decide two key options:

· mortgage length,
· type of interest rate (fixed interest rate or adjustable interest rate).

The length of mortgage loan can be minimum 15 years; can be 20, or at maximum 30 years. While selecting a fixed or adjustable interest rate you should be aware of the facts that the adjustable interest rate mortgage is more risky because the interest rate will change, while a fixed-rate loan offers more stability because of the locked-in rate. You will be able to pay off a shorter-term loan more quickly, but your monthly payments will be substantially higher. Long-term fixed-rate loans are popular because they offer certainty, and many people find that they are easier to fit into their budget. Although, in long run they will cost you more, but you will have more available capital when you need it, and you will be less likely to default on the loan should an emergency arise.

In the light of above mentioned aspects, it is clear that the key to select the right mortgage loan for your needs should fit comfortably into your entire financial picture, that is having payments within your budget and comfortable level of risk connected to it.