2012 Cadillac SRX Review

The 2012 Cadillac SRX, which is an innovative 3.6 liter V6 has replaced two previous choices of engine. A fuel saving eco mode is obtained by the six speed automatic transmission. As it relates to features, a heated steering wheel is present on every trim excluding the base SRX and Bluetooth is also a standard. The suspension was also retuned by Cadillac and more sound insulation was added to give a more quiet and comfortable ride.
Two years ago when it debuted, the Cadillac SRX was an underachiever of sorts. It was described as competent but not a first class type. Cadillac has thankfully made numerous changes this year to produce the 201 SRX which is a crossover SUV that is quite luxurious.
There’s more that makes the 2012 Cadillac SRX so attractive. In previous years, the Cadillac SRX came with an underwhelming base 3.0 liter V6 or an expensive but more satisfying 2.8 liter V6 turbocharged upgrade. A 306 horsepower 3.8 liter V6 has now replaced the both of them.
One disadvantage was that Cadillac was unable to address one previous issue with the SRX – weight. The SRX is a good candidate for The Biggest Loser and is approximately 200-300 pounds more than most of its competitors. Though it may not seem like much of a big deal, it negatively impacts on everything from acceleration right up to handling. Other disadvantages to the SRX still remain and include the headroom in the rear seat and low quality visibility on the outside.
The 2012 Cadillac SRX is a crossover SUV with compact luxury and is available in four different trim levels, which includes Luxury, Base, Premium and Performance.
Automatic headlights, roof rails, 18” alloy wheels, remote start engine, keyless engine, leatherette premium vinyl upholstery, dual-zone climate control, , a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, an eight-way driver seat, a reclining 60/40 split-folding rear seat, Bluetooth, OnStar, cruise control, an 8-speaker Bose audio system with a CD player, satellite radio, a USB audio interface, and an auxiliary audio input jack are all a part of the base model.
You will have parking sensors in the front and the rear, outside mirrors that are able to fold and that has auto dimming on the driver side, a panoramic sun roof, automatic sunroof, keyless ignition and a power lift-gate with maximum adjustable height. On the interior there’s leather upholstery, adjustable thigh support for the driver’s seat, heated steering wheel and front seats, an 8-way power passenger seat, pedals that are power adjustable, driver memory function, a rear view mirror that’s auto-dimming, the U-Rail cargo management system, a rear view camera and an interior accent lighting. A navigation system that is voice activated with traffic that is real time and 10-Speaker Bose surround-sound audio system with a digital media storage and USB interface.
A 20 inch alloy wheels, adaptive dampers, 20 inch alloy wheels, adaptive xenon, upgraded steering, foglamps, headlights, the Bose surround-sound audio system and the navigation system all adds to the Performance model.
Some extras are given with the first-rate SRX Premium which includes ventilated front seats, tri-zone climate control, rear seat audio controls and rear seat that is heated.
The base model also provides a DVD entertainment system in the rear seat which has dual seatback mounted screens.

2012 Audi A5 review

I do not know whether you remember or not but the news of the launch of 2012 Audi A5 car had made a greater amount of influence upon the buyers. This car is certainly a quality product from the manufacturers of these cars. This car got immense popularity everywhere and the availability of the 2012 Audi A5 review clearly proves the same point that these cars had made an immediate impression upon the mind of the users. The 2012 Audi A5 car is also known for the fact that it was made available to the users in two different versions. These two versions worked with diesel as well as with gasoline. These 2012 Audi A5 reviews reveal the fact that the car was truly a majestic car and it was appreciated by everyone.
The important features of this car included many important aspects in which the capacity and power of the engine was the most important one. The powerful engine of the car helped it to run smoothly with the speed of more than 155 miles per hour. You can easily imagine the probable speed of the car by the fact that the wheels of this car can move with a speed from 1500 round per minutes (rpm) to 4,200 rpm. It is certainly not safe as it can gather the amazing speed of 60 miles per hour in less than 8 seconds. It can produce a power of 333 HP which is a rare thing among the modern and contemporary vehicles. The interior decoration of the car is another very important reason of its popularity. The task of interior decoration was also largely appreciated with the help of the 2012 Audi A5 review available on the Internet.
It is worth mentioning that the car had very powerful headlight which was known as LED lighting which we can see today almost everywhere. The car also had an electromechanical steering system which can be very helpful for the easy and safe maneuvering of the car. The control of the car was another important feature and that is why they need to be more balanced in any case. The availability of the powerful music system and better lighting facilities made the users of make 2012 Audi A5 reviews.
The wheel base of the 2012 Audi A5 is better in this car with comparison to the other cars of the same series from Audi. The total alloy wheels are required to be brought. These total alloy wheels are durable and they last longer than the other wheels available these days.

Chambers Street Properties $700 Million Credit Facility Will Help with Industrial Acquisitions

Kansas City industrial park

Chambers Street Properties (formerly CB Richard Ellis Realty Trust), based in Princeton, New Jersey, has secured a $700 million revolving credit facility through a consortium of lenders led by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and RBC Capital Markets. This capital infusion will help the REIT go on a shopping expedition, mostly for industrial properties, although it also buys office buildings.

The new facility will make available a line of credit over the next four years with an option to extend it for an additional year. Chambers Street also has the option to request an increase in the facility of up to $700 million for a total of $1.4 billion.

"This new line of credit reinforces the strength of our investment strategy and provides us with an expanded capital platform to build upon our existing portfolio and support the next phase of the company's growth as an investor in high-quality, net-leased commercial real estate," said Jack A.Cuneo, president and CEO of Chambers Street Properties.

Chambers owns commercial properties across three continents in more than 40 markets: It has 124 properties around the globe. Of those, 112 properties are in the US, seven are in the United Kingdom and five are located in Germany. In addition, Chambers Street owns an interest, with institutional partners in Asia, in eight properties in China and Japan.

Last month, Chambers Street announced the purchase of a fully-occupied 1.1-million-square-foot- warehouse/distribution center in Kansas City, Kansas, as well as the purchase of a 1-million-square-foot state-of-the-art logistics facility near Koblenz, Germany. The latter is still under construction, but is 100% pre-leased, says Philip Kianka, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Chambers Street Properties. The facility in Koblenz is expected to open possibly by December 2012, although the opening date may be pushed back, he says.   

"We have focused on warehouses and logistics (properties) since the beginning," of the company, says Kianka. CB Richard Ellis Realty Trust started with a private placement in 2004 but there was an IPO in November 2006, he says. "We became Chambers Street Properties on July 1, 2012," says Kianka.

"Before the name change, we were part of CBRE Advisors and employees of CBRE Global Investors with an annual contract that came up every April," says Kianka. "But as we matured as a REIT, and after we raised equity through the public markets, we decided to take over the management team and become direct employees of the REIT," he says. 

Chambers Street's acquisitions are guided by a change in logistics patterns, says Kianka, "Everyone (who owns industrial properties today) is reviewing their needs and relocating near ports or intermodal facilities," he says. "We are also getting closer and closer to population centers," says Kianca.

In this new scenario, says Kianca, port cities like Jacksonville are favored along with markets like Kansas City, which has the advantage of intermodal facilities. Although Jacksonville is not as large as Kansas City, it does have direct access to the port, and ships can get into Jacksonville fairly easily, he says.

"Everyone who is buying logistics properties has a presence in the Southeast," says Kianca, and Chambers Street is no different. It has a significant presence in North and South Carolina markets that are close to Charleston and Savannah.

What Everyone Should Know Before Selling A Home

With the wide array of information available to home sellers out there today, there is no excuse for having a property just sit around on the market. Use the tips provided in this article to help move your home and you can become successful in real estate. Whether you're a one-time seller or are planning on frequently selling, these tips will help you.

When pricing your home, pick a price that is relevant for within 30 days of the house going on the market. Home prices fluctuate throughout the year, and pricing a home in the winter with a spring price will not be a move likely to sell your home quickly. If you must get the higher price, it's better to wait to put the home on the market than to over-price it now and have it sit.

If you have an old dated bathtub that has seen better days you should do the best you can to make it more appealing to buyers. If you have the money you can have the entire thing replaced, but if you don't you can have it re-glazed to give it a fresh look.

Make sure your agent is advertising your home on the MLS and top sites such as Trulia.com and Realtor.com. Also make sure that plenty (six or more) quality pictures are included with each ad. Research shows most home buyers start on the internet, and you want to make sure your property is one they will immediately take a look at.

Pique potential buyer's interests by sprucing up the front yard. Curb appeal plays a big role when a buyer is stopped in front of your house, trying to decide whether or not to take the time to check it out. Add some color with some flowers for spring and summer and maybe some pumpkins for the fall.

If your ceilings and walls are stained, with smoke or grease, you should repaint them before showing your house. Buyers can be turned off by these things. Repainting is not very expensive and it can normally pay for itself. If you have cracks in your ceiling or walls, try to have them filled in before you try to sell your home.

When you are having an open house you should allow the locals to see the house earlier than people from other areas. People who live near you are more likely to buy your home and it would make them feel nice to know that you are going the extra mile to accommodate them first.

Take the time to got through your closets and pack away any clothing that you have not used in quite a bit of time. This will help your closets look a lot more appealing to you buyer since they will not look crammed full of stuff. You want the buyer to feel that there is enough closet space available.

One tip to keep in mind when it comes to real estate is to not wait too long to put your house on the market. This is important because while many people wait until the warm season to buy and move, it doesn't mean that people aren't searching for houses in late winter and early spring. Get your house on the market, and get it out there early.

Before you put your home up for sale, you may want to consider having a garage or yard sale. Having too much junk in your home could put potential home buyers off. Plus, you want to have as little belongings as possible when it comes to having to pack for moving.

A great way to get your house sold more easily is to extend the selling market period. Make sure that your home is ready to go on the market in mid-February so you have nearly half a year to sell your home before the market begins to close up.

Do all that you reasonably can to prepare to sell the home. Talk to your lawyer if you plan to sell the house without going through a realtor. Cut the grass, clean up the outside of the house, and renew the paint where necessary. Get rid of any clutter laying around the house. Get the inside organized and spotlessly clean, and get rid of things you don't need. Put signs in the yard that let people know the home is for sale.

Do not allow yourself to become quickly discouraged if prospective buyers do not immediately seem willing to pay the listed price for your home. If you are using an agent, he or she can generally lead the way for you as you start to receive offers that are perhaps below the list price. Do not reject them outright; follow your agent's cues to get a clear idea of how reasonable your asking price is.

When showing your home to a potential buyer, try your best not to be home. Sticking around while your buyers are viewing the house makes them feel like intruders. It's also easy for you to slip up and give away information that might not be to your benefit (i.e.: how low you're willing to go on the price). Find some place to go for an hour and let your Realtor show the home.

More often than not, it is not enough to simply put a "For Sale" sign in your front yard and wait for prospective buyers to knock down your door. Consider the selling process in a more holistic way; you must include marketing and advertising elements to get the word out. Take out print and online listings, post flyers, and be prepared to sell, sell, sell.

Your Real Estate Agent Will Know How To Properly Stage Your Home

Each day, many people enter the real estate market as sellers. For some it's a once in a lifetime event, for others it's a test of their business and salesmanship skills as they endeavor to sell yet another home for profit. The advice provided in this article will help you to see that anyone can sell real estate, even if inexperienced.

When staging a home to show to a potential buyer, don't neglect the bathroom. A clean, white shower curtain will make a bathroom feel less grungy and more like the sanitary space it should be. Under no circumstances should you show a home with the old owner's shower curtain still in place.

When selling, keep your house staged in a ready state to attract buyers. People want to be able to imagine themselves in a home when they are considering buying. A warm home still filled with pictures, and furnishings will allow the prospective buyer a chance to see their items in place of yours. A cold, empty sterile property is not an inviting place to live.

When selling your home in the fall, make sure to keep up with the maintenance on your home that may send up red flags on a potential buyer. Keep the gutters clean of leaves so the buyer knows that you have taken the time over the years to do the required upkeep on a home.

Give your home some curb appeal. If you are selling a home, it is important that it looks good, not only on the inside, but on the outside as well. Make sure that it catches the eye when a prospective buyer drives past it. The house itself and the lawn should be pleasing to look at.

Advertise your home to sell it faster. There are many websites that will let you list your home for free. You should take great pictures that are well lighted and clear. You can also advertise your home for sale in the newspaper or by putting flyers up around town.

Get your home ready to move into. Make sure everything is up to code to make it easier on the buyer. You should be sure small things are fixed and appliances are in working condition. This way they won't have any maintenance to do upon moving in and can enjoy their new home.

A great way to make your home increase in value, is to remodel the bathroom in your home. If the bathroom in the home you are trying to sell does not have a certain appeal, many of your buyers will think that the home is trashy. Increase the value of your home today and remodel your bathrooms.

Prepare your home to sell. A home that is maintained and well taken care of will sell faster than a home that isn't. A well polished home is appealing to most people and will also sell for more. Start with small fixes, like painting, then look at other improvements you need to make.

You need to remove as much clutter from your house as possible when staging it for buyers. When you remove the things that you have collected over the years, you are removing your emotional attachment to the house. You are also creating space for your buyers so that they can visualize how their belongings can fit in.

To make sure that your lawn creates a good impression on the home buyers, take care of lawn problems before you work on the interior of your house. You will need to re-sod any unsightly brown patches. These patches will need time to settle and blend in with the existing lawn. You want make sure that your lawn is healthy and manicured before the home buyers see your house.

Installing hardwood floors can increase the value of your home noticeably. Potential buyers will appreciate new floors, especially if it's wood. Parquet flooring is a popular favorite. You can also install carpet. But, some people either do not like carpet, or will end up disliking the color or texture and removing it themselves.

When people are selling their home they don't always think of the little things. Potential buyers want to be able to picture their own things and family in the home. Or maybe they want to daydream about what they would do to the home. So try to help that vision out by putting some of your things in storage. Also painting your walls white will help them to imagine their own colors.

As you are preparing to sell your home, be aware of how your house smells. Obviously, you want to get rid of anything that would turn a buyer off. You also want to carefully consider what you want to add that will make your home smell nice. Focus on flowers because they provide a nice, natural smell that is not too overwhelming.

Appeal to tech-savvy and younger prospective home buyers by including video tours and panoramic views of your property. These need not be very lengthy or elaborate, but should load quickly and change seamlessly from one room to the next. Offering a full 360 degree view can help to highlight the most attractive areas of the house.

When selling your house, be sure everything is covered in your contract. During the closing, specify exactly what comes with the sale of the house. You might have planned on taking the washer and dryer, your buyer may be thinking you are leaving them. Also be sure to specify when events such as termite inspections should take place by. If you do not make your contract specific, it could delay the closing by days or weeks.

All buyers should choose a respected escrow company or real estate attorney to close their real estate deal. The escrow company, or attorney in this case is a trusted, independent third party, which will properly distribute the funds and the necessary documentation among the transacting parties. Without escrow the possibility of a fraudulent transaction is significantly greater.

In conclusion, many people become real estate sellers. Some acquire homes and sell them for profit. Regardless of previous experience on the market, if you remember the advice found in this article, then you can take your first steps to entering the real estate market as a successful real estate salesperson.

2013 Subaru WRX Review

The latest entry of the well-known series of Subaru Impreza will be out in 2013 which will be known as the 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX. This vehicle will be the most recent car that Subaru automobile organization will announce as a continuation of the already popular series of Subaru Impreza. Several individuals are already patiently waiting for the newest in the Subaru Impreza series to be available on the market. It has to be admitted that this version of the 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX is promised to be the ideal car, especially since it will be an improvement to the already popular Subaru Impreza cars which is driven worldwide.
Even though 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX will be released next sometime year, the eagerness is extremely high, not from Subaru Impreza enthusiasts only, but the whole population of lovers of Subaru Impreza worldwide. Certainly, the 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX will have to get ready to face several competitions from many different manufacturers of cars worldwide. But knowing the current Subaru Impreza cars, it is certain that the upgraded version will be quite successful. This article will discuss what the upcoming 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX is set to offer its fans and it is guaranteed that they will certainly not be disappointed.
Data – 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX
As seen last month via an image, the 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX will be black camouflaged. It is said to have been tested in Europe. In relation to the data concerning the 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX prototype in Europe, the car’s brand new design is not the same as the current or past Subaru Impreza; even though there is not much significance in the differences. There are a few elements that are used from the Hybrid Tourer that was displayed at the Toyko Auto Show in 2009 with its grille angular lines and fascia of various kinds. It will most definitely come with more confident looks than that of its forerunner.
The Specification and Features of the 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX
The 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX general rear window shape is similar to the Subaru Impreza WRX current hatchback, but now there are wider and shorter taillights. In addition, the date of release for 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX is not told to anyone as yet, therefore if you are enthusiastic about purchasing the 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX, you have to just be patient until some more information comes out.

Fantastic Home Selling Tips Any Home Owner Can Use!

When selling real estate there is always a lot going on. There are so many balls to keep in the air that it can be overwhelming, or at least it can seem overwhelming. Here are some great tips that you can use for your next sale to ease the process.

Maximizing the impact of a good first impression can translate into a sold sign! Most buyers have an image in mind of their dream home and you want that dream realized the minute they lay eyes on your property. Invest in a landscaper or enhance the outside of the home yourself; but make sure everything is mowed, trimmed and aesthetically pleasing at first sight.

Clean your home thoroughly before showing any potential buyers around. Unclean windows, kitchen counters covered in dirty dishes, soiled carpets, stained curtains, floors covered in filthy washing, piles of old newspapers, smelly toilets, spider's cobwebs in room corners and dusty furniture can make your home very unappealing and difficult to sell.

Clearing out closets and other storage areas will allow potential buyers to visualize their own items in that space! The more a prospect can see your home as their home by picturing themselves, their family members and their belongings inside it, the more interest they will have in buying it. Empty half of your closets, drawers and cupboards as if to welcome the new owner and you will have one much sooner!

When selling your house, you need to be very wary of the buyers that ask you to take back financing. There are so many banks and mortgage companies that can help them out, you should have nothing to do with the financing aspect. You are not a banker, and you shouldn't need to take on that responsibility.

Whether you intend to sell your home or simply refinance it, having its value assessed should be done very early in the process. An assessor's valuation of your home will dictate how it is treated by potential buyers, real estate agents and loan officers. If you make your own guess about the value of your home before a professional appraises it, you are counting your chickens long before they hatch.

If you are trying to sell your home, remove all personal items from display. This means to take down family photos, calendars, etc. A buyer needs to be able to envision their own belongings in the space. Having a photo of your baby on display makes it harder for them to do this.

You should put your house on the market at the end of winter. Many people make the mistake of putting their home on the market too late. A potential homebuyer will be interested in buying their home and moving into it before the next school year starts so their children will not have to transfer schools during the school year.

To make money flipping real estate you need to find solid houses that need cosmetic repairs. Without having to invest big money into major system repairs, you can get more bang for your buck by updating and freshening a home's cosmetic appearance and make it appeal to buyers who do not have the confidence to do those type of repairs.

Be sure before choosing a real estate agent or agency to check online for reviews. It is always wise to check the reviews for something before you spend money on it. Choosing a real estate agent is no different. You can find plenty of sites that review agents online. Read through these reviews before you make your final decision.

It is not a wise idea to invest too much into a property you are trying to sell, but you should invest a little to get the place spruced up. Polishing the woodwork and putting on a fresh coat of paint will show any potential buyers that you take pride in what you are trying to sell them.

Keep the exterior of your home up to date when trying to sell your home. If your home needs it, paint the exterior. Also, make sure your landscaping is attractive. The exterior of your home is what a potential buyer sees first and it is what gives them either a good or bad, first impression.

Before you decide to sell your house on your own without the assistance of a real estate agent or broker, thoroughly weigh the pros and cons of such an undertaking. You may find that the costs associated with selling through an agent are not terribly higher than the costs of taking on the project yourself.

Keeping your home tidy when it is on the market for sale is very important. Keep or learn the habit of picking up papers, trash, coffee cups or water bottles. Vacuuming and dusting should happen every day. Never leave the trash can in the kitchen or bathroom full. Take the trash out every morning and before every showing. No potential buyer wants to see your trash. Keep the laundry room tidy as well and if you have to, store dirty clothes in the washer and dryer.

When selling your home, you should try to brighten up your bedrooms. You should remove all items that are not necessary in the room. This will give the effect of having a lot of space in a room. You should try to place colorful sheets and blankets on the beds. Always use fresh curtains in rooms that you will be showing.

Provide a place on your website or in your office where previous and present clients can enter in their names, addresses, or only their e-mail address to be added to your agency's mailing list. You can create regular newsletters and announcements that match different mailing list interests; you may have a separate list for residential and commercial properties.

If you dread the sale of your home because of all the work and stress related to it, then hopefully this article has put your mind at ease a bit. The information here has shown you that if you have the right advice, you can sell your home or property without so much stress and hassle.

Discover The Secrets Of Successful Real Estate Sellers

You may be stressed with the complicated matters that come with selling your home. By being stressed, you may not be making the most wise decisions. In the following article, you will be given important details that will help ease your stress, and therefore, help you to make sensible decisions.

The Internet can be a godsend to the homeowner looking to sell a house. Online house listings put tons of information in front of the potential buyer, and they update much faster than other listings. Making use of real estate websites can save the buyer or seller plenty of footwork and let him or her devote more time to the other aspects of home buying.

When selling your home, always consider your personal safety and security. Never let a potential buyer into your home without a Realtor. They could be setting you up for a crime. Also never leave valuables out when showing your home. This can be an open invitation for a robbery.

If you are showing your home at night, turn on all of the lights. It appeals to buyers when your home seems welcoming. You should turn on all lights, indoor and outdoor. Turning on the lights can add color to your home. It can also give a warming effect. With all of the lights on, the buyers will be able to see all of your house easily.

Your home must be priced in line with the market and area or lower. You may think your house is worth that extra 100 grand, but buyers will be turned off. Going a little above market rate can work out but be careful. There are a lot of homes on the market and if your price too high, you won't have any hits from prospective buyers.

When you are selling a property and you want to get the most profit for your investment, concentrate on repairs. You should repair any permanent fixture on or in the property. The real estate market can be a highly competitive market and only those properties in the best shape will sell for the biggest profit.

You should find out if other homes in your area are selling before you decide to put your house on the market. Your real estate agent should be able to tell you if it is a good time to sell your home and how much you should ask for it. This is a great way to be sure that you are selling your home quickly.

Real estate agents across the country are reporting the rise in requests for homes with garden ponds. Consider adding this to the front lawn area, or tucked away in the back garden. They are a peaceful retreat as well as a draw for local wildlife. The avid outdoor person will love the idea of deer in their front or back yard.

If you have had your home on the market for a while and would like to get it sold, try offering a seller contribution to help the buyer pay the closing cost while keeping the asking price where you had it. It is appealing to a lot of buyers and it will likely keep your profits up on your home.

When you have someone coming to look at your home, you should try to avoid having a house full of people. When you have a lot of people in your home, the buyer may feel like they are an inconvenience to you. They may rush through your home and not see all of the appeal. It is best to keep your house guests at a minimum during these times.

It seems like a no brainer, but take the time to clean your house from top to bottom before starting to show it. Your house should be a show piece before buyers get there eyes on it. Bleach your grout, re-caulk your tubs and wax the floors. Simple steps like these will make your house much more appealing to a buyer.

Do some research about what the other homes in your neighborhood have sold for. You can learn a good bit about how much per square foot you should set the asking price for your home at. It is a great starting point when determining the asking price for the home.

If you are selling your home, make a plan before listing it. Find a listing price but also find a price that you are willing to let your home go for. Set some dates to hold open houses, prior to listing so that you can be sure to be ready for the day when it comes.

When considering curb appeal, remember that the condition of your siding can count a lot. Replace any worn or damaged boards and maybe consider a coat of paint. This gives buyers the right first impression - that the house has been cared for. The time you spend doing this can equal a faster sale and additional dollars at closing.

When you put your house on the real estate market, resist the temptation to inflate your asking price. Always put a fair and reasonable price on your home. Setting an unreasonable price - even if you intend to let it fall in negotiations - establishes an unfriendly and antagonistic attitude that will make any sale an ordeal.

Take a good look at all the furniture pieces that you have out in your room. Even though you may thing that you need all of them, try to get rid of some of them. You want to be able to create a bit of empty space in the room so that the room appears bigger.

As stated in the beginning of this article, there are many complicated matters that arise when dealing with selling your home. By letting these matters disrupt your thoughts, you may not be making the wisest of decisions. Use this information to help you make vital home selling decisions that will benefit you in the long run.

High-flying diamond traders in India, struggling with a slowed industry, have been looking to real estate to recoup losses since 2010.

High-flying diamond traders in India, struggling with a slowed industry, have been looking to real estate to recoup losses since 2010.

Instead of using bank loans to shore up their diamond trade, entrepreneurs have been using the money to purchase speculative real estate properties. But now that real estate is also facing hard times, the traders are in a catch-22 with their lenders.

It isn't often that real estate investments in India are blamed for hurting any other industry. Analysts note that although the diamond industry probably could have used the real estate investment money to improve its bottom line, Diamond World reports India is still ahead of the 2011 general industry performance.

The crisis that has plagued India's diamond industry can be attributed to large and medium-sized firms diverting a total of $5.5 billion worth of loans obtained from Indian banks to the real estate market, reports The Times of India.

"These companies have engaged in speculative buying of rough diamonds and real estate since 2010, but with the real estate market struggling and the drop in prices of rough diamonds, the major industry players are taking significant losses," according to the Israel Diamond Industry Portal based in Ramat Gan, Israel.

The Israel Diamond Industry Portal further cites The Times of India as noting that since the entrepreneurs "were able to obtain financing through cheap loans from banks that extended much credit, the small businesses are the ones who suffer most, since the (diamond) industry is in the midst of a downturn."

"A huge amount of cheap bank finance availed by a few black sheep in the industry is diverted to real estate and speculative deals in rough diamonds since 2010," Sanjay Kothari, the vice chairman of the Gems and Jewelry Export Promotion Council, told The Times of India. "The money is being pumped out from the diamond pipeline and this is creating a lot of problems for the rest of the players."

On a related factor, Diamond World reports Indian polished diamond exports fell 44% in May to only $1.245 billion. In terms of volume, the exports dropped by 50% to 2.574 million carats 

India's exports of rough diamonds also took a hit in May, dropping in cash value year-to-year by 25% to stand at $116.9 million.

The country's import of polished diamonds was slashed by 88% year-to-year, amounting to no more than $194.3 million. Meanwhile, India's import of rough diamonds also fell, dropping 20% from May 2011 to May 2012, equaling $1.135 billion.

As a result, India's net polished exports for May rose by 59% to $1.051 billion, while its net polished imports fell by 20% to $1.018 billion, leaving the country with a net diamond account of $32 million. Diamond World notes this figure was an improvement over May 2011, when a deficit of $603 million was recorded.

Tahoe is the highest U.S. lake of its size and the largest alpine lake in North America.

Martis Camp, Truckee, California

At 193 square miles and 6,229 feet of elevation, Lake Tahoe is the highest U.S. lake of its size and the largest alpine lake in North America. Naturally, with 72 miles of shoreline and 182 nearby ski trails, Lake Tahoe has long been a leisure traveler's dream destination.

Now, the area is humming with real estate activity for those seeking a more permanent four-season lifestyle. And the epicenter for this piece of luxurious lakefront living is the California side of heavenly Lake Tahoe.

To be precise, one of the hottest high-end real estate pockets is an exclusive private country club community called Martis Camp. Located between Truckee and North Lake Tahoe in the Martis Valley, this 2,177-acre gated golf course development recorded nearly $30 million in real estate transactions through the first six months of the year.

And this strong start to 2012 is on top of $90.2 million in real estate sales from the previous year - making Martis Camp one of the fastest-selling master-planned developments in America. According to a Martis Camp official, the surge in real estate sales has largely been spurred by the tech boom in Silicon Valley.

For instance, many of Martis Camp's property owners and club members are executives at Apple, Facebook, Yahoo, Google and other leading tech companies. Besides its sheer High Sierra beauty, what makes Martis Camp so attractive are its many year-round amenities and attractions.

From its world-class championship golf course designed by highly acclaimed architect Tom Fazio to ski access in the winter months via the club's private "express lift" to neighboring Northstar California, Martis Camp is a true four-season second-home community. The family friendly club also caters to multi-generation what with the Family Barn complex that features swimming, a bowling alley, movie theater, outdoor performance amphitheater, sporting fields and more.

One of the more exciting developments at Martis Camp is the new Lookout Lodge - a 7,500-square-foot slope side mountain clubhouse with direct chairlift access to the adjacent ski resort Northstar-at-Tahoe, California.

Meanwhile, Martis Camp recently released 58 of their Cabin Homesites this summer to meet the continued demand of potential homeowners. These coveted homesites start in the $500,000s and are located just steps from the Family Barn, Camp Lodge and golf course.

"We have been very pleased with the strong sales activity and overall response to Martis Camp," Martis Camp general manager Mark Johnson said. "It's been our vision from day one to create an incredible retreat for family and friends, and the continued growth and interest of the community is turning that initial vision into a reality."

In many ways, Martis Camp and the surrounding Lake Tahoe region is benefitting from the perfect storm, fueled by the surge in Silicon Valley money and a wave of capital flowing into the destination led by major resort owners/developers such as KSL Partners and Vail Resorts.

Vail Resorts Northstar-at-Tahoe, California

Perhaps Vail Resorts, a publicly traded company (NYSE:MTN), got the capital flow jumpstarted when it acquired the popular Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort nearly two years ago as part of a $63 million deal. Vail Resorts, which is in the midst of more than $30 million in capital improvements at Northstar, now operates two mountain resorts in the Lake Tahoe region, including Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe.

Of course, Vail Resorts' acquisition of the Northstar property was on the heels of a banner 2009-2010 ski season when Northstar-at-Tahoe welcomed more than 700,000 skier visits and the Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe officially opened its doors.

Situated at mid-mountain and featuring ski-in, ski-out access, the Ritz-Carlton entered the market as a year-round resort with 170 guest rooms, 23 private Ritz-Carlton Residences and 25 Ritz-Carlton Club fractional units.

More recently, another major player to put their stamp on the region was KSL Capital Partners, which recently purchased nearby Squaw Valley and committed to $30-$50 million in capital improvements over the next three years.

Are we responsible for our parents' reverse mortgage?

My parents, now deceased, had a reverse mortgage on their Florida home. The total paid out exceeds the current value by at least $40,000. What are my brothers' and my financial obligations regarding the house? We do not want it and are in the process of allowing the bank to take it through foreclosure. — William M.
The bank's claim against your parents' estate is limited to the house, because reverse mortgages are considered non-recourse loans, says Keith Amburgey of Rutherford Asset Planning in Tampa, Fla. The bank should have no claim against you or your brothers unless you were originally part-owners of the home or co-signers on the loan. If not, you can allow the bank to foreclose upon the house.
"However, if you are part-owner of the home or the loan, be proactive in contacting the lender," says Connie Brezik, a financial adviser with Asset Strategies in Scottsdale, Ariz. Banks are inundated with foreclosed homes in the aftermath of the housing crisis, and they are unlikely to want to take on another property. You may be able to work out a deal where you end up paying little or nothing on the remainder of the mortgage, says Brezik. In the end, you may find that holding on to the home is an unexpectedly good investment.

Listing in Cotia Sao Paulo Brazil

Category: Residential
Transaction Type: For Sale
Property ID: PRVTE0711

Cotia Sao Paulo Brazil
Price: $257,321 (USD)

bedrooms | bath

Summary: Excelente lote de 686 m2 em declive com fundos para área de preservação do condomínio
Acesso pela Raposo Tavares, saída km 28.

Infra-estrutura totalmente pronta:
Portaria c/controle de acesso e vigilância 24 horas,
Guias, sarjetas e ruas pavimentadas

Sistema de distribuição de água potável e rede de esgoto, via Sabesp
Rede elétrica e iluminação pública
50.000m2 de área verde preservada.

Piscina
Quadra Poliesportiva
Fitness Center
Playground
Salão de Festas
Quiosque com churrasqueira
Salão de Jogos
Pagamento
15% de sinal saldo em até 60 vezes
Mais informações pelo tel. 011 4777-0707

Former American Stock Exchange Headquarters, Neighboring Site Purchased for $150 Million

Former American Stock Exchange Building

The former American Stock Exchange headquarters in Lower Manhattan at 86 Trinity Place was sold last week to New York-based Fisher Brothers, a family-run real estate investment company.

The purchase price for the 91-year-old, 181,725-square-foot vacant building  and a neighboring 154,275-square-foot office building at 22 Thames Street (the latter which is slated to be demolished), was approximately $150 million, according to Real Capital Analytics. A new building will be built at 22 Thames Street, while the 86 Trinity Place building will be redeveloped.

According to RCA's website, Michael Steinhardt and Allan Fried, the sellers, purchased 86 Trinity Place for $17 million and the 22 Thames Street building for $48 million in February 2011.

"What is interesting about the properties is that the sellers bought them for half price less than two years ago," says Dan Fasulo, managing director at Real Capital Analytics. The former American Stock Exchange building, a landmark building, is located near the World Trade Center property, he says.

Although the Fisher Brothers declined to talk to the press on Tuesday, according to an article in The Real Deal, Steinhardt and Fried said, in published reports in June, that they intended to build a 174-unit hotel with 100,000-square feet of retail at the 15-story stock exchange building. Furthermore, in July, they said that they wanted to build a 300,000-square foot residential building at 22 Thames Street.

The Fisher Brothers firm has been a developer and building owner in New York since the 1950s. The company owns such Class A office buildings as the Park Avenue Plaza, 1345 Avenue of the Americas and 299 Park Avenue. It is also a residential developer, having built 50 Sutton Place South and Imperial House at 150 East 69th Street a number of years ago. More recently, it built an Upper East Side condominium called Chartwell House.

Thomas Properties Group, CalSTRS Invest $859 Million in Austin Texas Office Portfolio

Frost Bank Tower

Los Angeles-based Thomas Properties Group, Inc. and the California State Teachers' Retirement System together purchased an eight-building, three-million-square-foot portfolio of office properties in downtown and suburban Austin, Texas. The purchase price was $859 million, which is subject to prorations and adjustments. The deal closed yesterday. 

The portfolio was purchased from TPG-Austin Portfolio Syndication Partners, a venture among Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., an off-shore sovereign wealth fund and TPG/CalSTRS LLC.

Thomas Properties Group and CalSTRS have formed a new ownership entity, called TPG/CalSTRS Austin, LLC, for the Austin portfolio. The Thomas Properties unit is the managing member with a 50% interest and CalSTRS owns the other 50%. As part of the purchase price, TPG/CalSTRS Austin assumed the existing first mortgage loans totaling $626 million.

An affiliate of Madison International Realty--an equity provider to real estate investors and companies worldwide-- has agreed to buy a one third interest in the Thomas Properties Group's subsidiary that owns the interest in TPG/CalSTRS Austin.  Thomas Properties Group is the managing member of the subsidiary and will act on its behalf as the manager of TPG/CalSTRS, Austin. "Madison International is already one of Thomas Properties shareholders, after investing $50 million in our company last May," says John Sischo, co-chief operating officer for Thomas Properties Group in Los Angeles.

"Thomas Properties had had a 6.25% interest in the Austin portfolio, even before this latest acquisition," says Sischo. Although Thomas Properties is also a developer, it didn't develop any of the portfolio properties, he says. Lehman Brothers had been a 50% partner in the portfolio, but Thomas Properties bought out Lehman, says Sischo.

Thomas Properties has been engaging in a deleveraging strategy, says Sischo. In a statement from last December by Jim Thomas, chairman and CEO of Thomas Properties, he said, "Our strategic plan, announced earlier this year, includes pruning selected properties and reinvesting proceeds from those sales in properties with repositioning opportunities and/or greater internal growth." The fourth quarter 2011 sales of Centerpointe I & II, an office complex with adjacent land in Houston, and a parcel of land in El Segundo, California, have generated a combined $25.5 million in net proceeds to the company and demonstrate continued momentum in the execution of our plan."

2012 Land Rover LR2 Review

Asthe entry-level vehicle for Land Rover, the LR2 has always failed to win us over, in spite of the success of this model in Europe.  It is the right size and it features a platform that is quite similar to the Volvo XC60; however, it is a little smaller and has been proven extremely popular with us.  Though for one reason or another, its all-terrain, all-weather capability that is of a Land Rover caliber does not do the crossover any favors at all in its role as a daily mode of transportation.

Trim Levels, Body Styles and Alternatives
The 2012 LR2 is a luxury crossover SUV that is compact, seats five passengers and is obtainable in a single trim level.
Included in its standard features are power-folding and heated mirrors, 18-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, foglights, a trip computer, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control, leather upholstery, rear parking sensors, power front seats, keyless entry or ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview mirror with an auto-dimming feature and a sound system with nine speakers, an supporting audio jack and a CD player.
When you select the HSE package, you will get adaptive xenon headlights, Bluetooth, satellite radio, driver seat memory functions and a universal garage door opener.  Included in the HSE LUX package are all of the HSE equipment as well as a surround sound audio system with 13 speakers, 6-CD changer, premium leather upholstery and additional power seat alterations.
The Climate Comfort package is optional and adds a windshield that is heated, as well as heated front seats and washer jets.  A navigation system and 19-inch wheels are provided as stand-alone options.
Performance and Powertrains
The 2012 LR2 is powered by a 234 pound-feet of torque as well as 3.2 liter inline-6 which generate 230 horsepower.  A 6-speed automatic that has manual shift control is the only accessible transmission.  During testing, the LR2 carried out a 0 to 60 miles per hour time of 9.3 seconds; this is quite slower than that of its competitors.  Its fuel economy is underwhelming as well; it has an EPA-estimated 15 miles per gallon in the city, 22 miles per gallon on highway and 17 miles per gallon combined.
Safety
The standard safety features of the 2012 LR2 include stability and traction control, antilock brakes that have brake assist, hill-descent control, roll stability control, side airbags for the front seats and full-length side curtain thorax.

Gulf Coast Residential Property Damage Exposure from Hurricane Isaac Projected to be $27 Billion

According to new data released today by CoreLogic, there is potentially over $27 billion in exposure to residential property damage from storm surge flooding as Tropical Storm Isaac makes its way across the Atlantic Ocean along a projected path toward the Gulf Coast.

"Based on current forecasts, Tropical Storm Isaac is predicted to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane and become the first hurricane to impact the United States this year," said Dr. Howard Botts, vice president and director of database development for CoreLogic Spatial Solutions.

Dr. Howard Botts

"Though the forecasted path is constantly changing, at this point, Isaac seems to be poised to strike the Gulf Coast early Wednesday. Major metro areas that could potentially feel the impact of hurricane-driven storm surge include New Orleans, La.; Baton Rouge, La.; Biloxi, Miss.; Mobile, Ala.; Pensacola, Fla. and Tallahassee, Fla., depending on where the storm makes landfall."

The data shows nearly 210,000 total residential properties valued at more than $27.7 billion in seven major metro areas along the Gulf Coast could be at risk for storm-surge related flooding, assuming the storm hits as a Category 1 hurricane. The number of residential properties in each metro area and their respective potential exposure to damage are as follows:



Hurricane-driven storm-surge flooding can cause significant property damage when high winds, forward movement of the storm and low pressure causes water to amass in front of the storm, pushing a powerful rush over land when the hurricane moves on shore. 
The CoreLogic analysis measures damage from storm surge and does not include potential damage from wind and rain associated with hurricanes. 

Christophe Harbour Introduces New Fractional Product

Christophe Harbour, St. Kitts

By most measures, the overall U.S. real estate market is clearly rebounding from its recessionary lows of 2007-08. One aspect of the market still trying to regain its firm footing, however, is the upscale fractional real estate market.

Earlier this year, fractional resort consultant Richard Ragatz of Ragatz Associates reported said North American fractional real estate developments increased sales 4 percent in 2011 to $552 million from $530 million the previous year.  The positive news was part of Ragatz's annual state of the industry report shared at the firm's annual Ragatz Fractional & Resort Real Estate Conference held in Arizona.

At the  time, Ragatz said: "While this (2011 sales) increase is nominal, we also learned that a significant number of developers said that sales were better during the second half of 2011 than in the first half, giving the impression that the bleeding has finally stopped and that we may be turning the corner."

Ragatz is expected to have an industry update next week when he speaks at Interval International's annual Vacation Ownership Investment Conference in Orlando. In the meantime, one organization that remains bullish on the concept of luxury fractional real estate is Kiawah Development Partners.

That partly explains why Kiawah Partners' newest multi-billion master-planned resort-style community in St. Kitts, Christophe Harbour, just announced a fractional real estate component called Windswept Residence Club. The new club homes, located in Bassetterre, St. Kitts, is a collection of nine newly developed turnkey villas, three of which are now available for fractional ownership purchase.

Perhaps the most notable feature of these latest additions to Christophe Harbour's real estate offering on the southeastern peninsula of St. Kitts is the eligibility for citizenship which is included with the purchase of a Windswept Residence Club membership.

Located within the exclusive enclave of Sandy Bank Bay, each private Windswept residence has been designed for maximum enjoyment of harbor and ocean views. In addition to St. Kitts citizenship, purchasing a fractional interest of these villas offers spacious indoor and outdoor living areas, as well as concierge, maintenance and housekeeping services and property management provided by Christophe Harbour.

Hong Kong Apartment Prices Going Through the Roof

A 6,755-square-foot apartment at Hong Kong's luxurious 12-unit Opus has been sold for HK$430 million (U.S. $55 million). That is $8,130 per square foot. The price makes the apartment Asia's most expensive flat on a per square foot basis, and the second-most costly in the world after London's One Hyde Park, according to Eva Lee, head of Hong Kong and China property research at UBS.

The average price of a standard-sized 600 square-foot apartment is about HK$4.5 million ($580,135 U.S.)  In 2 1/2 years, property prices have increased 85 per cent.

Hong Kongers' median monthly incomes increased 15 per cent to HK$20,200 last year, from HK$17,500 in 2009.

Li Xueying Asia News Network (MCT) reports Government data show the price index began climbing from the first quarter of 2009. It barreled past the previous 1997 peak, and every quarter since last year has registered new highs.

MCT notes one way of measuring affordability is the price-to-income ratio. Hong Kong weighs in at 18.6. This means a household has to save 18.6 years of its annual income without consumption to buy a standard flat.

By contrast, a four-room Build-to-Order HDB flat in Bukit Panjang takes the average Singapore household three years to pay off, while a resale five-room flat in Ang Mo Kio takes 7.3 years.

MCT states analysts estimate Hong Kong apartment prices have to fall by 19 per cent to 30 per cent before the "sandwich class" earning between HK$20,000 and HK$30,000 can enter the market.

Among the 10 points in Chief Executive Leung Chun Ying's recent proposal are that the government will speed up the approval process of presale consent for private flats; sell public flats meant for rental; and re- zone government institution or community (GIC) sites for homes.

MCT states Hong Kong analysts estimate about 150,000 housing units, private and public, will enter the market in the next five years.

Based on population trends, Lee says Hong Kong needs 25,000 flats a year. With the under-supply of 5,000 flats a year from 2003 to 2009, she estimates 185,000 units will be needed by 2017.

But a closer look at the measures shows it is unlikely that all the promised 150,000 units will materialize, and even if they do, it will take awhile, MCT states.

U.S. Hotel Industry to See Modest Gains in 2013, Says Revised STR Forecast

According to the latest U.S. hotel forecast by STR during the 2012 Hotel Data Conference last week, the U.S. hotel industry is expected to see modest gains for year-end 2012 and in 2013,

For 2012, the industry is expected to record a 2.1-percent increase in occupancy to 61.2 percent, an average-daily-rate gain of 4.4 percent to US$106.15 and a revenue-per-available-room increase of 6.5 percent to US$65.01.

Supply and demand are expected to end the year with increases of 0.5 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively.

"Record levels of demand for hotel rooms persist," said Amanda Hite, president of STR. "However, it is clear to us that roomnight demand will stabilize with modest growth likely for the remainder of 2012 and into 2013. The developing story line is that industry-wide RevPARs will be driven by rate growth over the next two to three years. We anticipate room rates to reach 2008 levels, not factoring for inflation."

In 2013, STR predicts occupancy to be virtually flat with a 0.3-percent increase to 61.4 percent, ADR to rise 4.6 percent to US$111.01 and RevPAR to grow 4.9 percent to US$68.17.

Supply and demand are forecast to end 2013 with increases of 0.9 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively.

2013 Porsche Boxster Convertible

2013 Porsche Boxster Convertible 

Porsche's fully redesigned 2013 Boxster S is a little like agave nectar.

Agave nectar, to some ever-optimistic and relentlessly healthy people, is a substitute for sugar. A substitute. A gap filler. An imitation. But a viable alternative? Maybe. Maybe not.

The problem for Porsche and its Boxster is similar.

Genuine Article?
Placing the Boxster's engine between its wheels makes a statement. To those who consider such things carefully, it's the proper placement for leveraging physics for maximum performance. The Boxster's power output and position in the Porsche lineup, however, say something altogether different. More like, entry-level.

That the entry-level Porsche offers the most physically effective packaging seems at first like a mildly disguised blessing for enthusiasts. Problem is, Boxsters with even a few options are still far from cheap. Case in point: our test car and its $84,120 price tag. Nothing entry-level about that.

In fact, that sum will get you a freshly redesigned 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera. And even a stripper Carrera comes with 35 more horses and the status of being Porsche's premier sports car.

In fairness, this six-speed, 315-horsepower Boxster S is wildly over-optioned. Base price for the 2013 Porsche Boxster S is $61,850 including destination. Ours adds the $5,265 Premium package with adaptive sport seats, the $3,860 Infotainment package with Bose surround sound, plus 13 other wallet-hammering add-ons. Conspicuously absent, however, are the two most potent performance-enhancing options: the $7,400 Porsche Carbon Ceramic Brake package and the $3,200 dual-clutch PDK transmission.

Let that sink in. Meanwhile, let's talk about how it drives, shall we?

Drive It Hard
Release the Boxster's clutch for the first time and you'll immediately notice that its tall gearing demands deliberate inputs. Stop on a hill and — even with the hill-hold feature — you'll need a pedal full of revs to pull away confidently. This isn't a problem so much as it is a characteristic that defines the way this car — and all Porsches, for that matter — rewards a confident driver.

And reward it does. Once under way, there are few driving experiences as fully engrossing as the Boxster's. Even the new 911 struggles to provide this level of confidence, and we're not the first to observe that a Boxster or Cayman with equal power might prove to be a better overall package.

Drive the Boxster deep into a corner, release its brake at the last second and it ruthlessly follows steering inputs. Part of this is Porsche Torque Vectoring (PTV) selectively activating the brake on the inside rear to make the car's rotation precisely follow steering inputs. It's a little piece of magic that Porsche has tuned brilliantly to work with the mechanical limited-slip differential included in the PTV package.

But the simple confidence of mass centralization also does a large part of the work. Midengine cars, we're convinced, are a love-it-or-hate-it affair. You can either tolerate their immediate responses or you can't. You either like the microscopic adjustments they're capable of or you don't. Your hands are either fast enough or they're not.

If your hands happen to be fast enough, your confidence high enough and your foot heavy enough, the Boxster will eat up a technical road quicker than any car sold today. The steering response is mind-warpingly rapid, even though the electric assist robs some of the feel. Power, while not fear-producing, is substantial enough to land a novice in trouble. And even the standard steel brakes don't fade.

This, in other words, is very much a tool for serious drivers.

Striking the Right Balance
Here are two things you also might want to know about the new 2013 Porsche Boxster S. First, its lateral acceleration, at a nice even 1.0g, is better than the lightweight, wholly uncompromised, utterly focused, bikini-top-wearing

Second, its 72.8-mph slalom speed happens to be better than the last all-new  we tested. Clearly, this car is far from entry-level.

It also stops in 103 feet from 60 mph — within 1 foot of both the above-mentioned cars. That's not only a short stop, but the standard steel brakes hold up well even after repeated runs. Hard to imagine that the optional carbon brakes would be much better.

Potent Performer
It might be down 35 hp to the base 911 Carrera, but the Boxster is also marginally lighter than the 911. At 3,066 pounds, this test car was also 34 pounds lighter than the last  we tested — a sure sign of progress in the right direction.

Another positive sign is this car's 4.9-second 0-60-mph time (4.7 seconds  as on a drag strip). The quarter-mile passes in 13.0 seconds at 108.7 mph — 0.4 second quicker than the last Boxster S we tested and only 0.3 second slower than the all-new seven-speed 2012 911 Carrera S, which has 400 hp.

In other words, there's not only dynamic progress in the Boxster line, there's also 911-threatening performance. But the beauty, in fact the true worth of this new Boxster, is its ability to be both potent performer and a legitimate daily driver.

Daily Ally
A large part of the new Boxster's appeal is its folding top which, using a console-mounted button, disappears behind the cockpit in less than 10 seconds even when the car is going as fast as 31 mph. It takes even less time to go back up which, by comparison, makes the old Boxster Spyder's do-it-yourself top look utterly laughable.

Porsche's Active Suspension Management (PASM) also goes a long way in yielding a more comfortable and more capable roadster. Freeway cruising and around-town driving are the realm of the default setting, while punching the dampers up to the Sport setting produces a car with truly world-class handling.

Also, there's more storage room in the Boxster than you'd expect. No, you won't stuff a golf bag in its trunk, but you also won't have any trouble loading it for a weekend trip and bringing home some additional goods. There's enough room in the front cargo area for a portly garden gnome and a bag of groceries, while the rear will easily accommodate one carry-on-size hard bag or multiple soft bags.

Also, the new start/stop feature works seamlessly, but in our hands it didn't produce impressive fuel economy. Over 791 miles of mixed driving we saw only 18.5 mpg.

Open-Top Claustrophobia
Calling the Boxster a roadster is true in the sense that its top can be lowered, but there's a distinct sense of enclosure when driving. Those with short torsos will find the top of the door sill above their shoulder level. This high waistline combined with a tall rear deck and roll bars surround both driver and passenger, unlike many drop tops.

BMW's Z4 allows a purer convertible experience, but isn't in the same league when it comes to rewarding the driver. The Boxster's rear-quarter visibility is poor with the top down and miserable with it up. The upshot of this design is that it's easy to enjoy open-top motoring when it's cold or, surprisingly, when it's miserably hot. We drove the Boxster with its top down, windows up and air-conditioning on in 100-degree heat. We were reasonably comfortable and positively dorky.

Fully appreciating the Boxster can't be done without a careful look around its cockpit. Porsche, to put it simply, does interiors right. All switchgear operates with the same degree of precision that's present in this car's steering and brake pedals. The center console and center stack follow the design of the 911, which follows the layout created for the . There are a large number of buttons, but they're grouped logically and most controls are intuitive.

The tachometer is centrally mounted in the instrument panel and flanked by the speedometer on the left and a configurable driver information center on the right, which can display the navigation map as well as vital fluid temperatures, a g-meter or shift indicator. The seats, while reasonably supportive, are very firm. We found ourselves squirming after only an hour behind the wheel, but given the variegated firmness and size of human backsides, we suspect your experience will vary.

The Final Tally
Porsche will have you believe that $84,120 is a perfectly acceptable price for a Boxster S, that its customers are willing and able to shovel out that much cash for this car. And perhaps they are, but that's a lot of money for an "entry-level" anything — even a Porsche.

What's more, you can option a Boxster up to $100,000 should you go absolutely insane with the option selection, but Porsche's à la carte approach does give buyers the rare opportunity to get only the features they want without adding those they don't.

Despite its cost and its nuances, we'll be the first to acknowledge that the new 2013 Porsche Boxster is a stunning automobile — both for the back-road banker and the average accountant. Its dynamic abilities are as remarkable as they should be, given its packaging. And despite being the starter Porsche, it's got enough grunt to satisfy all but the most demanding power brokers.

2013 Bentley Continental GT Coupe

2013 Bentley Continental GT Coupe

It was bound to happen sooner or later. I've been wasting plankton and wearing top hats for about 30 spins around the sun now, but it wasn't until piloting the 2013 Bentley Continental GT V8 down Santa Monica Boulevard that I was finally called a fat cat.

The epithet, hurled from behind the cowering mustache of a fixie-riding hipster weaving through the stopped traffic with a carelessness we'd avoid on a vehicle without brakes, stung.

This is, after all, the V8 version of the Continental GT, a car that gives up 2 liters, four cylinders and 67 horsepower to the W12 that's long been the darling of the 1 percent. The V8 Continental is lighter, cheaper and returns 40 percent better fuel economy.

Fat cat? In the meager, 18-mpg combined, $176,725 V8? The injustice couldn't stand. When the light went green, the pedal went down; hipster-cyclist was in for the lecturing of his life.

Addition by Subtraction
It's here, at wide-open throttle, that the 2013 Bentley Continental GT V8 and its 500-horsepower, twin-turbo, 4.0-liter separates itself from the 6.0-liter W12 living under the hood of every other Continental on the road today. Crack the throttle open and the GT V8 responds with a low, burbling growl and a tremendous leap forward. That said, nobody will confuse this Audi-derived (it makes 512 hp in the  V8 for any of the free-revving, racecar-derived engines used in so many of the Continental's competitors.

Thankfully, what the V8 lacks in character, the eight-speed ZF-built automatic makes up for in performance. In Sport mode, a quick kick of the accelerator sends the transmission into full-on attack mode, downshifting up to five gears with a wicked quickness. From there, upshifts are dual-clutch fast, but with that pleasant kick and shove that accompanies a torque-converted shift. Track testing only confirmed what our butts have been telling us for days: despite a 67-hp deficit, the 500-hp V8 is faster than the W12.

Getting the 5,107-pound coupe out of the hole couldn't be easier. With the transmission in Sport mode, you simply power brake it to get the engine spinning and then let it fly. Sixty mph comes up in 4.2 seconds (4.0 seconds with 1 foot of rollout  en route to a quarter-mile time of 12.4 seconds at 113.2 mph.

The last Continental we tested, a 2012 W12 weighing only 59 pounds more, took 4.7 seconds to hit 60 (4.4 with rollout) and lugged itself across the quarter-mile line in 12.9 seconds at 109.8 mph.

Mystery Math
Open the hood of a 2013 Bentley Continental GT and the first thing anyone with a passing knowledge of vehicle dynamics will notice is that the engine is nearly entirely ahead of the front axle line. And the first thing anyone with a passing knowledge of vehicle dynamics will feel about that is disappointment. With fewer cylinders and less weight up front, however, this new V8 GT teased us with potential never to be fully realized.

Like the W12, the nose-heavy V8 Continental bends to the whim of momentum and defaults to understeer. Drive it too hard and you'll soon find yourself piloting the world's most well-appointed lawn dart. Making matters worse, our car was fitted with the Mulliner Driving Specification Package. This $12,230 option adds goofy 21-by-9.5-inch rims with 275/35ZR21 Pirelli P Zero tires that fill out the wheel wells, but offer all of the compliance of steel-soled shoes. The package also includes alloy sport pedals and an insanely heavy, jeweled fuel filler cap.

All of the excitement of the acceleration testing was scrubbed off in the slalom and skid pad where we managed a best speed of 66.4 mph — 1.1 mph slower than the heavier, less-well-balanced W12 — and circled the pad at 0.84g. It redeemed itself slightly in the braking tests where it turned in a short, precise stop of just 111 feet, although with its optional carbon-ceramic rotors and 8-piston front calipers we expected slightly better numbers there, too.

Thanks to full-time all-wheel drive, automatic transmissions, sticky tires and preposterous weights, Continentals have always been easy to drive up to their limits. The V8 is no different in that regard, but with lower limits and higher expectations, we left the handling portion of our testing wanting more.

Priorities Intact
Try as we might, the 2013 Bentley Continental GT can't be explained or rationalized on paper or with any battery of testing. Trying to do such things would force us to rationalize how a less powerful, lighter car could be faster in a straight line, but handle worse. Or to acknowledge that the shifter gate is just a duded-up version of the one found in the  and that the infotainment system would be laughed out of any Audi dealer. And then we'd have to justify that after a few hundred miles of truly mixed driving, both casual and spirited, we averaged only 14.4 mpg.

Things only get worse if you try to rationalize the window sticker: $13,600 for carbon-ceramic brakes; $3,810 for adaptive cruise control, $3,675 for an extended center console that further delineates the rear seats, eliminating one of the few visual differences on the interior between the 8 and the 12; $1,865 for the contrasting stitching; $640 for a space saver spare; $470 for a heated steering wheel plus $180 for more contrast stitching on said wheel. Oh, and don't forget that $12,230 Muliner Driving Specification package we mentioned earlier.

Do the math that no Continental GT buyer will have to do to make this decision and you're looking at a base model car loaded up to $214,025.

Fat Cats Rejoice 
None of that matters when you're sitting in the amazingly well-appointed, hand-stitched interior with leather seats so supple you'd swear the cow was still wearing it. The engine is devilishly smooth and the Continental deceptively fast and even with the performance-robbing 21-inch wheels, the GT V8 rides like a hovercraft over the most abused pavement.

Even the ultra-light steering seems designed from the get-go to coddle the driver and to isolate rather than inform. At a 70-mph sustained cruise, the Continental registered just 61.6 decibels inside the cabin; at 120 mph our meter shot up to all of 62.5 dBs. We've measured cars that were louder at idle.

The 2013 Bentley Continental GT V8 may be the cheapest car in the Bentley lineup, but nobody will notice. Not your accountant. Not the guy at the gas station and certainly not bike-riding hipsters.

New Plans Announced for Puerto Rico's New Hyatt Place

Hyatt Place Manati

Hyatt recently announced plans to have Hyatt Place Manatí open in early 2014, representing the company's second Hyatt-branded select service hotel in Puerto Rico. The new hotel, currently under construction, will join Hyatt Place Bayamón Hotel & El Tropical Casino when it opens.

Hyatt Place Manatí will have 104 guest rooms in a five-story building, with an adjoining 11,500 square foot casino, and a free-standing casual dining restaurant.

According to Hyatt Hotels Corporation, a Hyatt affiliate entered into the latest Hyatt Place hotel agreement with Island Hospitality Partners, LLC, a joint venture of PRISA Group and McConnell Valdes Consulting.  Island Hospitality is also the owner of Hyatt Place Bayamón Hotel & El Tropical Casino, which is currently under construction and is expected to open in 2014.

"We are glad to work with Island Hospitality on a second Hyatt Place hotel project in Puerto Rico," said Pat McCudden, senior vice president, real estate and development Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. "We believe that the Hyatt Place brand and the location of the hotel in Manatí will have strong appeal to business and leisure travelers visiting the region."

The municipality of Manatí, located less than 40 miles west of San Juan, is headquarters to a host of multinational corporations and pharmaceutical companies, as well as the Manatí Medical Center and Doctors' Center Manatí, two of Puerto Rico's most prestigious hospitals.

"We believe in the Hyatt Place brand and think the hotels will have strong appeal in both Bayamon and Manatí," said Federico Stubbe, Jr., president of PRISA Group. "Hyatt Place Manatí & Casino and Hyatt Place Bayamón & El Tropical Casino will bring Hyatt's world-class hospitality to Puerto Rico."

Currently, there are more than 165 Hyatt Place hotels in operation in the United States, with more than 35 Hyatt Place hotels under development throughout the U.S., Europe, the Caribbean, China, Latin America, Southwest Asia, and the Middle East. The first two Hyatt Place hotels outside the United States are expected to open later this fall: Hyatt Place San Jose Pinares in San Jose, Costa Rica and Hyatt Place Hampi in Hampi, India.

Island Hospitality Partners is a joint venture of PRISA Group and McConnell Valdes Consulting.  PRISA and McVC have combined their expertise and resources in the planning, development, construction and operation of hospitality, residential and mixed used projects to form Island Hospitality Partners, LLC, creating a strong team capable of executing all necessary tasks for the successful development projects from conception to operation.

PRISA Group is a family-owned developer and builder of green residential communities and resort hospitality projects in Puerto Rico and Florida with over 6,000 units in planning and construction, representing a value of over $3 billion.  The firm has delivered over 3,000 units in the last 20 years and is currently developing projects in Dorado, Vega Alta, Gurabo, San Lorenzo, and Humacao, Puerto Rico, as well as in Tampa, Fla.

Reliance Industries Developing 4 Million Feet of Retail Projects in India

Already the largest private sector conglomerate in India, Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL) is developing four million square feet of retail space in North India, plans a 720,000-square-foot, $55 million commercial complex at Alaknanda, is building a mall in South Delhi and has 20 other sites lined up for additional shopping centers in Delhi.

RIL is the flagship company of the Reliance Group, India's largest private sector enterprise with businesses in the energy and materials value chain. Reliance Group's annual revenues are over $66 billion, according to the company. Reliance Industries Ltd. is a Fortune Global 500 company.

Although RIL's core business is petrochemical, refining and oil and gas, the company says it wants to become one of the largest real estate organizations in India as well. Its subsidiary companies cater to textile, retail business, special economic zone (SEZ Development) and telecom/broadband segments.

According to The Ground Report of India, RIL plans to make its real estate business complimentary to its retail segment that will enable it to gain ground in both arenas.

"The company's foray into the real estate will further enable it to tap a new market and enable it to support its retail business," states The Ground Report.

According to a company official, RIL will use the land Mukesh Ambani won in a Delhi Development Authority bid for around Rs.400 crore in 2007 to construct its five-story Alaknanda complex. This project is tentatively scheduled for completion by 2014.

 It will use two-fifths of the retailing space to house brands owned by Reliance Retail (a subsidiary arm of RIL). The complex will have ground level space and three basement levels, along with parking space for more than 1000 cars and 700 two-wheelers.

While it is waiting for a go-ahead from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, RIL says it already has the green light from the Union environment and forest ministry for this project.

According to The Ground Report of India, RIL was on a buying spree several years ago when it procured shopping complexes and mall sites in and around 150 cities in India.

 Its real estate projects include Reliance Corporate Park in Navi Mumbai that serves also as a convention center and a world-class hospital in Mumbai.