2 Buy Sell Or Invest

By Art Gib

 Today, the makeup of Chicago real estate is that of a bustling metropolis of nearly three million people, home to the second busiest airport in the world, contains one of the world’s tallest office buildings, and boasts what is arguably the most successful professional basketball franchise in history.

But Chicago’s early history is that of a very different story.

Early History

Little is known about what went on in the real estate that makes up modern-day Chicago prior to the 17th century, except to say that is was covered with ice during the last ice age, so it is likely very few people, if any, lived there during that time.

From about 650 AD we know that Native Americans lived in a city known as Cahokia, which is actually located is southern Illinois, far from Chicago. That civilization seems to have disappeared without a trace during the 15th century however. The reasons are unknown.

The first record we have of people living in the land that makes up Chicago comes from the writings of French missionaries who visited the area during the 17th century. The people found there are known as the Mascouten. By the early 18th century, after being nearly wiped out by the French and other tribes competing for land, the Mascouten united with the Kickapoo and Fox tribes.

The last survivors of the Mascouten moved westward and are believed to have completely merged with the Kickapoo. The name “Mascouten” is actually what the Fox tribe called them. It is unknown what the Mascouten people called themselves.

Chicago Receives a Name

The name “Chicago” is sometimes believed to have been taken from Chief Chicagou of the Mitchigamea people who was known to have gone rabbit hunting with King Louis XV after visiting him in Paris. However, Chicago’s name actually comes from the Native American Miami-Illinois word “shikaakwa,” which the French transliterated into Chicago.

It is believe that a Catholic priest was the first to use the name on a map in the late 17th century.

The 19th Century

The Potawatomi people inhabited the Chicago area during most of the 18th century. The Patawatomi are also known for attacking a retreating column of 148 soldiers and civilians that were leaving the U.S. Army’s Fort Dearborn in 1812.

William Henry Harrison, then an Army general, used the incident as an excuse to attack Miami villages, although there is no historical evidence that shows the Miami had anything to do with the Fort Dearborn attack. In fact, some eyewitnesses of the Fort Dearborn incident claim that the Miami actually fought to help the Americans.

At any rate, the Potawatomi eventually ceded the land to the American government by 1816. The town of Chicago was organized in 1833 with a population of 350 and was later incorporated in 1837. By 1840 the population had grown to 4,000.

As an important transportation hub between the eastern and western United States, Chicago real estate experienced rapid growth that continues on today.

Remax Illinois (http://www.illinoisproperty.com/chicago-real-estate.aspx) specializes in offering Chicago real estate as well homes and other land throughout Illinois. The author, Art Gib, is a freelance writer.

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How To Buy A Phuket Property At Bank Or Land Auction
By Scott Riefler

 Most foreigners don’t know that many properties in Phuket can be bought either from a land auction or public real estate auctions. Many auctions are taking place on the island every day and if you’re in the right place at the right time, you can buy one of these properties at a nice discount. You also can enjoy the savings of buying a property at auction in Phuket if you remember my few tips of the trade.

Buying a property like a house, bungalow, condominium or even an apartment in Phuket can be quite easy if you know these few things first. You will need to have a company set up in the case of a land transaction of any kind. It’s forbidden for foreigners to own land in the kingdom of Thailand. Foreigners are allowed however to buy a condominium in our own name if the condo title is a freehold title. If it’s not, you may be able to lease it for thirty years with a possible extension of another thirty years.

One of the most important things when buying a property at auction is to be able to do research on the title. The only way to do this is have a Thai ask all the right questions at the land office. Questions like “does the property have a public road” or “is the title free and clear of liens” are examples of things you will want to know. This can be often difficult for a lawyer to answer given the short amount of time between when a property is listed and the time it goes to auction. You need to be able to move quickly and do the research before you go to auction. If you haven’t had time to prepare for the auction, best to let the Phuket property go to someone else because it’s not worth the risk.

Another way to pick up a property is from several banks that have repossessed the property but for some reason the property in Phuket hasn’t gone to auction as of yet. There are many banks that have properties available. You can find a lot of these on the internet but you better have someone who can read Thai because many of the websites are in Thai only and there isn’t an English version. These banks also sell these properties at special open houses like the big one in Bangkok called NPA.

Many newspapers’ in the south carry Phuket land or property auction notices. A good Thai friend can alert you to the Phuket properties that come available. On the day of the auction make sure you bring your buddy as the numbers in Thai can be confusing during auction day. You don’t want to overpay or get caught up in the hype of the auction. Make sure to set your limit you want to pay for the property and stick to it.

In closing, a smart shopper can receive a nice discount buying properties in Phuket at auction if they have researched the title and make sure there are no problems with the land or property. A competent lawyer can do the necessary background checking on the land to make sure the title is free and clear. By doing proper research on The Phuket land title and having all the information like zoning, electric, water and mineral rights one can find a Phuket property suitable to purchase at auction. One of the best things to remember when buying a property that is too good to be true is that it probably is too good to be true and you may have missed something important in your research.

Scott Riefler is an expert in

Phuket Real Estate. He has

written several informative articles. He

regularly contributes articles on

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