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Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km (35 mi) north of Dublin. Drogheda (including suburbs and environs) is the largest town in Ireland.
The River Boyne divided the town between County Meath and County Louth until the enactment of the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 which saw a large area of Drogheda south of the Boyne become part of an extended County Louth. With the passing of the County of Louth and Borough of Drogheda (Boundaries) Provisional Order, 1976, County Louth again grew larger at the expense of County Meath. The boundary was further altered in 1994 by the Local Government (Boundaries) (Town Elections) Regulations 1994. The 2007-2013 Meath County Development Plan recognises the Meath environs of Drogheda as a primary growth centre on a par with Navan.
In recent years Drogheda’s economy has diversified from its traditional industries, with an increasing number of people employed in the retail, services and technology sectors. The town also has a community of independent artists and musicians who have been looking to the local economy rather than Dublin for employment.
With the expansion of the Irish economy in the 1990s, during the "Celtic Tiger" years, Drogheda became one of the main secondary locations for people who work in Dublin to buy a house, as property prices in the capital became prohibitive for many first-time home buyers. This was aided by the expansion of transport infrastructure in the direction of Drogheda i.e. the Swords and Balbriggan bypasses, the Boyne River Bridge and the increased number of commuter trains serving the town. Partly as a result, the downtown area of Drogheda has redeveloped, and two large shopping centres have opened, while several national and international retailers have opened stores. In 2007 the partial pedestrianisation of the town’s main street, West Street, was completed.
On the south quay in the space of the former Lakeland Daries premises (an old industrial area), the Scotch Hall Shopping Centre and the D hotel was completed in November 2005. A new pedestrian bridge extends from the north quay, at Mayoralty Street, into the complex. Phase two of the development, which will shortly commence construction, will extend further down along the river front, on the site of the former Irish Oil Cake works. It will have an extension to the Shopping Centre and Hotel, new apartments, cinema, and a riverside plaza.
Highlights of the updated First Time Home Buyer Federal Tax Credit included in the recently signed American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009. See Claim8000.com for more details and FAQ’s about the tax credit. Video Rating: 4 / 5
Tips for First-Time Home Buyers
Some new programs are making things easier for first-time home buyers. Here’s a guide. Read more on Smart Money
MAAR’s July Data Show Severe Decline
The latest numbers from the Memphis Area Association of Realtors paint a bleak picture of the housing market. July saw just 995 home sales, down 28.7 … Read more on The Memphis Daily News
Vineyard and lifestyle blocks ripe for the picking
The on-going rationalisation and consolidation of New Zealand wineries and grape producers has seen prominent Marlborough vineyard Gravitas being placed on the market under a receivership sale. Read more on Scoop.co.nz
Straw bale house conctruction is shown in this movie trailer for the “Building With Awareness” DVD video. Straw bale walls, thermal mass walls, earth plaster techniques, and passive solar design are all explained in this how-to DVD on building with natural materials. Video Rating: 4 / 5
Question by Brand X: What arguments work best when challenging your house appraisal?
Should you show ONLY the lowest comps in your neighborhood or should you show a more honest average of all properties in your neighborhood? Am I entitled to pay as little as the least taxed person in my neighborhood or do I have to pay the ‘average’ amount (per sq foot)?
Also, do I have the burden to prove the appraised value of my house should be lower than they said or does the appraisal board have the burden to prove the value of my house increased as much as it did?
Best answer:
Answer by j You should be able to request an appraiser walkthrough of your house. I know someone who was unhappy about the increase in the appraised value of his house, so he requested a walkthrough and the value was changed to somethng that he believed was reasonable.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Question by __HELLO__: Buying house with 100% down. Do I need an attorney? Where can I find checklist?
How do I make sure title is clear? How much does it cost? Anything else I have to keep in mind? I have no knowledge about buying a house.
Best answer:
Answer by john_stolworthy I bought my home with cash. I would highly recommend hiring a lawyer. He or she can handle all the little details that most normal people don’t think about. Make sure you go to town hall and make sure the taxes are up to date, also. You can also get a realtor, preferably a ‘buyers agent’, to sort through the paperwork. A lawyer works ‘by the hour’. A realtor on a percentage of the sale price (or most do.)
There’s billions of dollars in free grant money available, and first time home buyer grants can provide you with a way to finance your new home purchase. Once obtained, you will never have to pay this money back.
Millions of dollars in free grant money is sent out every single day to Americans around the country. Grants for first time home buyers is just one of the many programs that the government supports in order to stimulate the economy and keep home sales moving. As a result, homes maintain their appropriate value and home builders keep their employees working.
This money can be used to help you reduce your mortgage by hundreds of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan. There are first time home buyer grants to help people with their closing costs, grants to provide down payment money, and even grantst that will reduce your mortgage rate several percentage points.
As long as you are at least 18 years old and an American citizen, you can request some of this free grant money. In order to see how much you may qualify to receive, you simply need to ask for it.
One you have access to the right resources that allow you to find and apply for these programs, you’ll be able to quickly apply for your grant funds. The process varies from offer to offer, but you could have your grant check in as little as 7 days.
Austin is a serial entrepreneur and personal finance expert author. One of the passions he enjoys is showing people how to obtain free grant money for personal use, their small business, or to help pay off debt. The availability of women business grants and debt grants alone has allowed him to help thousands of American people fulfill their dreams.
Home Prices Probably Cooled, U.S. Consumer Sentiment Languished
The rebound in U.S. home prices probably slowed, while consumer confidence languished near a five-month low, indicating threats to the economic recovery are mounting, economists said before reports today. Read more on BusinessWeek
S. Korea to Ease Lending Rules to Spur Housing Market
South Korea will ease mortgage lending rules and extend tax breaks to encourage buyers back to the property market after home sales slumped to the lowest level in almost a year and a half. Shares of builders and banks surged. Read more on BusinessWeek
South Korea to Extend Tax Breaks for Home Buyers to Spur Market
South Korea will extend the waiver period for taxes on home trading to encourage buyers back to the property market after home sales slumped to the lowest level in almost a year and a half. Read more on BusinessWeek
Turn your home into an eco-chamber
Home values are soft, but a green house cuts utility bills and can boost resale value. Find out how. Read more on Bankrate.com via Yahoo! Finance
White House considering new tax credit for first-time home buyers
President Obama’s administration may resurrect the tax credit for first-time home buyers. The ,000 incentive… Read more on Hawaii News Now
Two New Federal Programs for Struggling Home Owners
The F.H.A. will begin a refinancing effort to help borrowers who are struggling and will start an emergency homeowners’ loan program for unemployed borrowers. Read more on New York Times
Question by Miss. Figuring It Out: How do I go about getting a REHAB Loan as a first time buyer?
I am a first time buyer, and I am finding it hard to find a good home in my price range. I am thinking of maybe buying a rehab house, but I don’t know if it is possible to get a rehab loan as a first time buyer.
I have perfect credit, and I am prequailified for a reg first time buyer loan, but I want to rehab.
Please helpppp!
Thank you!
Best answer:
Answer by Landlord It is doubtful, as they are harder to qualify for. You also need a much larger down payment, in the neighborhood of 30%.
