International Property News

European economies are expected to show continued improvement in 2007, leading to outstanding opportunities within the commercial property sector, predicts fund manager and commercial property analyst Seven Dials.

A pioneering project, aimed at helping thousands of Namibians secure housing, has received a significant funding boost from Places for People –the UK’s largest housing and regeneration group.

For the seventh consecutive year, London’s West End has retained its position as the world’s most expensive office location. London (City) was ranked number four.

Following a successful year, holidaylettings.co.uk recently conducted a survey of its 6,000 holiday homeowners. The results show that over half (57%) of homeowners have owned their primary holiday property for less than two years.

There is a price and rental premium for properties located near airports served by low cost airlines according to the results of a landmark survey carried out by Savills Research with Holiday-Rentals.co.uk. This was one of the key findings of the survey which questioned over 12,000 owners of overseas property who use Holiday-Rentals.co.uk to advertise their properties.

With Bulgaria and Romania set to join the EU from January 1st 2007, there has been much speculation about increasing property prices in these regions.

As the New Year gets underway, nine in ten Brits (94%) will be turning their attentions to their summer holidays. Yet with 81% of Brits frustrated by the sheer planning, long breaks may not always provide the excitement and relaxation that we crave.

As London and the South-East’s property markets gear themselves for a city bonus driven boost, there is an emerging trend which highlights investors’ willingness to avoid London’s competitive markets and look to Central and Eastern Europe as alternative investment locations.

An estimated 2.3 million people chose to leave the country last Christmas and New Year to celebrate the festive season.

Properties located near airports served by low cost airlines are nearly 40% more valuable than others, according to the results of a landmark survey carried out by Savills Research and Holiday-Rentals.co.uk.

Every year thousands of Australians and New Zealanders make the well traveled journey to the UK in search of new experiences, broadening their horizons and making money.

With Xmas fast approaching, people's thoughts turn to home, and for expats, it's no different.

It has been announced that Kariobangi South Community project by London based Studio Bednarski has been declared the winner in the Design For An Emerging World - Future Communities Project category at Cityscape 2006 in Dubai.

FC Exchange predicts that in 2007, the best countries to invest in will be Bulgaria, Cyprus, Central Portugal, America and France, but buyers should probably avoid Spain.

Pinnacle Publishing Ltd is pleased to announce the launch of Golf Homes Worldwide, the first exhibition dedicated to golf property. The show will be held on 17th & 18th March 2007 at the East Sussex National Golf Resort & Spa, a luxury location for an exclusive show.

Jet-to-let purchases are the talk of the travel and property industries as more and more Brits buy up properties overseas. To assess the mood amongst those buying abroad holidaylettings.co.uk conducted a survey of its holiday homeowners, many of whom own one or more properties abroad.

HIFX, the currency specialist, today releases its seventh Global Property Hot Spots into trends for Brits buying property abroad and this month shows a strong surge in interest in the old time favourites France and Spain as they continue to beat off stiff competition from the bargain basement emerging markets such as the Eastern Bloc countries.

HiFX urges those with plans to move abroad not to forget that currency fluctuations can have huge impact on future wealth.

It’s that time of year again when many, especially in the finance sector, will receive a little something extra from their employers in the form of an annual bonus. Over the past few years these city bonuses have been used by individuals to move up the property ladder and purchase a luxury pad in London or a second home in the country however as the demand for higher end property rises, supply cannot keep up and people are starting to consider investing in property elsewhere, in particular overseas.

Eight out of ten people think that moving abroad was the best decision they ever made.

An estimated 2.3 million people chose to leave the country last Christmas and New Year to celebrate the festive season. Furthermore, according to MINTEL research commissioned by overseas property expert Parador Properties, over half a million Britons now live abroad permanently.

“Property tips can come in two ways, where/ what to buy and how to buy. Let’s look to score on both fronts in 2007”, comments Chris Howard, MD of 4:Property.

As more and more of us choose to spend our holidays abroad making full use of our second homes, then communicating with our friends and family back home is even more important. However calling the UK from a mobile phone or using a phone card in Spain for example can be very costly, often up to £1 per minute. Leading property agent, 1 Casa (1casa.com/1) is now supporting a new internet-based service called Jajah.

An investment is best described as “an asset or item that is purchased with the hope that it will generate income or appreciate in the future”. Note the use of the word ‘hope’. No investment is without its risks and property investment is no exception.

The extravagant exploits of Russian, Indian and Chinese oligarchs may be making a splash in the West, but a new report published today reasserts the pre-eminence of the developed markets as the primary breeding grounds for tomorrow’s wealthy.