Overseas Property
Go Burgundy to stay in the black
In the famous-name wine villages that line Burgundy’s Côte d’Or, the property market is as sturdy as the vines that grip the soil. Homes rarely appear for sale but, when they do, change hands in an instant.
Natal secures World Cup stage
Natal in Brazil’s north east has just been given the honour from football’s ruling body FIFA to become a host city for the 2014 World Cup. Already a favourite with property investors, this coastal paradise will now be showcased on TV sets across the globe.
Brazilian property investors reassured by Lula’s resolute optimism
Brazil’s President Lula da Silva has never been one to mince his words. Asked what he thought of the economic crisis last autumn he said “What crisis? Go and ask Bush about that".
Brits' last chance to claim tax relief on European second home
Hundreds of thousands of Britons who let out their European holiday homes have just weeks left in which to claim a retrospective tax break that could be worth thousands.
Best buys abroad for holiday homes
A comparison of eight prominent countries where the British traditionally buy holiday homes reveals that four have seen property price falls of as much as 30% in the last twelve months, and all have seen mortgage costs reduced by up to 56%, despite the dramatic fall in exchange rates over the same period.
Vintage Jerez offers opportunity for would-be hoteliers
Plenty of us harbour a secret ambition to do a César Ritz and try our hand at hostelry. Jerez real estate agents, Mercers, have two city centre residences on their books which will allow you to do just that.
Is this Europe’s finest home?
The number of global billionaires has been rising sharply over recent years and this is creating an unlikely problem for the real estate industry – houses simply aren’t good or expensive enough.
Last beachside development for Brazil’s Pipa Village
Thanks to a compelling combination of soaring popularity and stringent planning regulations, development land in the centre of Pipa village is rare to the point of near extinction.
Out of Africa in your own back garden
There’s more probability of being attacked by a tiger in Africa than winning a property competition, according to a British entrepreneur. Nigel Broderick toyed with the idea of giving people the opportunity to win his entire game reserve in South Africa – complete with wild animals.
Pace of decline in capital values accelerates
The pace of decline in capital values accelerated in the first quarter with countries in both Western Europe and Emerging Europe hit by price falls, says latest RICS's Global Property Survey.
Are they really cheap properties in Spain?
‘Repossession in Spain’, ‘Spanish Repo’, ‘Distressed Properties in Spain’ ... These terms are now commonplace on websites and with estate agents dealing with the Spanish property market. For most buyers, these terms all mean one thing – cheap property in Spain.
Obelisk shows its hand
Obelisk Investment Property’s Market Analyst, James Gonzalez, is sticking his neck out and predicting that those who invest in the Spanish property market now, particularly the Costa del Sol, could be reaping rich rewards by 2010.
British expats feel better prepared to beat the global recession
While all economies are experiencing recessionary pressures in 2009, more than eight in ten (87%) British expats believe they are better prepared to weather the storm abroad, according to the latest global study of British expatriate opinions and attitudes.
UK tax-payers driven to sunny Gibraltar
As soon as the Budget announced a shock 50% rate of income tax for high earners, the phones rang off the hook in the Sales Department of Gibraltar’s Ocean Village. British entrepreneurs are eyeing up a tactical emigration and the message from the Rock is very clear – taxes are not going up, they’re going down.
Nose out a wine property in sophisticated Burgundy
It’s difficult to buy a home in the very sophisticated wine villages of Burgundy. This French region’s fertile land is worth much more to the locals cloaked in neat rows of vineyards than it is developed into modern housing so there is a real shortage of supply.