Overseas Property
New rules on obtaining foreign ID numbers divide real estate industry
From 3 January 2012 the Spanish authorities have changed the rules on how foreign property buyers obtain their fiscal identification number or NIE.
Lonely Planet reviewers place Brazil’s Ponta Negra in number one spot
Users of independent travel guide website Lonely Planet have voted a visit to Ponta Negra number one out of a huge 654 “things to do in the northeast” of Brazil.
Buyers can still buy VAT free in Spain
It was confirmed on the 31st of December 2011 under the Royal Decree - Law 20/2011 that the reduced VAT rate of 4% introduced in 2011 will remain applicable for all new build properties only in Spain throughout 2012.
Most expats trust banks abroad, except in Spain
Expats continue to have a high level of trust in banks abroad - despite the ongoing financial crisis.
What buyers want from Spanish property in 2012
Having waved goodbye to what was a relatively tough year for the global property market, Kyero.com's latest analysis of the forever popular Spanish property market highlights some interesting findings, identifying that foreign buyers will continue to look for bargain properties focusing in Spain's best known areas.
Spanish banks prepared to lend over 100% on their own quality stock
Spanish home loans have fallen for the 14th consecutive quarter. Data from the National Statistics Institute out in December 2011 showed that October lending was 43.6% down on the previous year and the lowest monthly figure since 2003 – beating even 2008, the year the ‘bubble burst’.
“No going back” for Murcia’s Paramount-branded theme park
At a press conference on 23 December the Mayor of Alhama de Murcia, the setting for Murcia’s Paramount-branded Theme Park and Lifestyle Centre, said “there is no going back for the Paramount Park” and “there are investors”. Local estate agent Mercers believes these reassuring words will silence the Paramount “doubters”.
Mallorca - Something to look forward to in 2012?
After what has been a good year for tourism in Mallorca, 2012 looks set to be an even better one according to research from the World Travel Market.
Brits look to Caribbean for pension property
International Property Success have reported a surge in interest for SIPP approved property in the Caribbean from disgruntled Brits unhappy with their pensions.
Brazil estate agent uv10 ends 2011 on a high
Another year and another set of silverware for uv10. Having taken Silver for Best Estate Agency 2011 in the OPP (Overseas Property Professional) Awards for Excellence in October, this month the Brazil estate agent scooped a top five star award for Best Estate Agency Website in the Americas Property Awards, in association with Bloomberg Television and Google.
Property in French Alps - Savoie
Generous one bedroom apartment of 32m2 right on the piste and next to the ski lift of St Martin de Belleville.
New Ryanair base for Palma de Mallorca in 2012
With passenger stats for 2011 (22,063,288) already outstripping those of 2010 (21,117,270), Palma de Mallorca has received more good news courtesy of Ryanair. The no-frills carrier is to set up a new base at the Balearic Airport in March 2012 and will operate a total of 47 routes – 17 of them new.
Canada listed top of property safe havens abroad
As UK investors turn away from traditional overseas property investment destinations such as Spain, France and the rest of the troubled Eurozone, a new list of favoured places to invest is emerging with Canada leading the way.
Fifth of Spain’s low-cost airline passengers fly into Palma
Spain’s Institute of Tourism Studies (IET) has recently revealed that almost one fifth of the 32.2 million passengers who chose to fly to Spain with low-cost airlines between January and October this year landed in Mallorca’s capital - Palma.
Record-breaking Arctic explorer becomes temporary “Snowbird” in Gibraltar
Gibraltar may be teetering on the brink of winter but one man who won’t be reaching for his fleece in Ocean Village this week is long-time Arctic explorer Gilles Elkaim who just sailed in on his expedition boat, Arktika. Base camp for Gilles is some 300km north of the Arctic Circle in Finland where he will shortly be returning to run his popular human-canine adventure camp in sub zero temperatures.