September 29, 2007
Bulgarian ski resorts are proving popular
One of the strengths of Bulgaria is it offers a bit of everything. The Bulgarian ski resorts are being promoted as having year-round tourism appeal. You could buy off-plan in a Bulgarian ski resort for just one sixth of the amount of say a one-bedroom ski resort in France or Switzerland worth £150,000.
Michael Cain and his wife bought an apartment at The Bell Tower 2 in Bansko not only for enjoyment but also for investment. “Bansko is set for major investment due to its candidacy for the 2014 Winter Olympics, yet it is still a relatively unknown resort. I believe that Bansko has to be the best value compared to any other European ski resort,” said Michael. But with the coming EU membership, buyers might consider purchasing even before the potential staging of the Olympics, and not just for Bansko.
Bansko was a late developer in the 1990s, unlike Pamporovo or Borovets which were purpose-built as ski resorts in the 1960s and 1970s. It was just a small town set at the foot of Vihrin mountain, the highest peak in the Pirin range. But the original town can still be distinguished today, with its winding cobbled streets, traditional stone-and-wood architecture and numerous mehanas (traditional restaurants). read more
Posted on: Bulgaria
Morocco: The New Spain
A few years ago, British buyers who would have been searching to invest in Spain are turning to the Moroccan property market, said information providers Spanish Living.
Ailse Farlene, marketing director of Spanish Living also said, “Within the Spanish Living group, we’ve started to look at property around the world – and we’ve noticed an awful lot of British buyers are interested in very cheap property in Morocco. Morocco is how the south of Spain was ten years ago. So you can get apartments from around 15,000 to 20,000 euros.”
In a recent Knight Frank forecast, Morroco was named as the fourth most profitable investment for 2007, next to the top three: Lithuania, Latvia and Slovenia. House prices are expected to rise by 15 per cent this year, as compared with 20 per cent in Lithuania and 7.5 per cent in other so-called ‘hot spots’ such as Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Montenegro.
Posted on: Spain
September 28, 2007
French Property Going Green
The French government is attempting to improve the country’s green awareness with the introduction of a new mandatory ‘energy label’ system for all housing units sold or rented. It will rate the energy efficiency of the property and could change construction standards across the country. This was already applied to French motor vehicles and will eventually reach to all household goods. Also, the French government has invested much more in renewable energy than the UK – 6.3 percent compared to 1.4 percent as informed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Posted on: France
Operation Eyesore improves tourist beaches
Millions of holiday makers and new home buyers are now waiting for new developments and new improvements in their places and destinations as the Spanish government officials are spending EUR 20M at the seaside this year, buying up at least as many properties and various plots to improve their sceneries.
The program, called Operation Eyesore, has so far purchased and demolished 63 structures along the country’s 10,000 kilometer coastline as part of the return to its seashore operation state. This is according to the Environment Ministry.
Included in the demolition were bars, homes, jetties, walls and even a factory, which have all been destroyed because according to the Law of Coasts, these structures are illegal and abandoned, and they need to be demolished. The law also states that any abandoned or illegal structure near the seashore must be abolished.
Posted on: Spain
September 27, 2007
French property prices on the increase
Based on a quarterly report released by the Federation Nationale de l’Immobilier (FNAIM), prices of French property rose to 8.3 per cent between March 2005 and March 2006. But twelve months prior to this, the French property prices increased by 13.6 per cent. Furthermore, despite sales growth of 4 per cent between March 2005 and March 2006, the last three months of this period showed a significant decrease in sales.
One area that showed a marked decline was apartment sales in and around Paris. Although the average apartment price increased by 7.9 per cent to 5,651 euros per square metre, the capital’s rate of price growth still fell behind the rates that other key cities in France are enjoying. In Pau, apartment prices rose to 17.7 pe cent to 1,956 euros per square metre between March 2005 and March 2006.
Posted on: France
Exploring Central Florida
Florida would likely have been a very different place today had it not been for the decision of Walt and Roy Disney to purchase a land at southwest Orlando for their new themepark – Disney World. Florida, particularly the central region of the state, was brought to life because of Disney World. This gave way to the development of many similar attractions around the central region of the state. Florida’s centre actually has the most number of amusement parks anywhere in the world, including eleven major theme parks such as Sea World, Universal Studios and, of course, Disney World. But central Florida is not only known for theme parks. The region has over 100 natural lakes. There are more than twenty golf courses in the city alone, and many others in the nearby metropolitan area. Thus, visitors as well as residents can take some much needed peaceful time away from the hustle and bustle of Disney World et al. It is not surprising then that Florida’s central region has become such a hit to overseas buyers especially the Brits who prefer it than other areas of Florida.
Posted on: Florida
September 26, 2007
Algarve Investment Property at Pine Cliffs Resort in Portugal
One of the most famous successful resorts of its kind is the Pine Cliffs Resort at the Algarve in Portugal. The resort has all the amenities visitors or foreigners are searching for such as a private beach access and a location on a cliff top which has a stunning view below. The resort is a 5 star complex with 168 acres of land.
And with this view, you can now get your hands and stay for more than a night at this stunning beach resort where you can have a guaranteed rental income, but still you can use this for a couple of weeks for the rest of the year. The situation here is this: another “have cake, eat cake” solutions to each other.
Posted on: Portugal
The Market: Golf and Greenery
Golf is still the best headway for a good property investment, and the reason for a continued growth in the property market, anywhere in the world as proven by Portugal, which is now the third favorite second home destination of Brits seeking rest and relaxation, after Spain and France.
The game of golf also had its similar effect on much of the properties in the southern region of the Algarve, as it has had in Spain’s Costa del Sol. The wonderful and much sought-after triumvirate of Quinta de Lobo, Vale do Lobo, and Vila Sol golf resorts have actually placed the Algarve on the map of the international golfers and this effect have also given rise to a number of villas worth more than 1 million euros – this includes one of the villas by celebrity DJ Chris Evans who have a 2 million euro property there – and a very growing number of rental apartments in the central Algarve now start the cost at around 70,000 euros, but the prices can be much higher. On the other hand, the eastern part of the region, the up and coming Tavira, studios are now being sold for around 50,000 euros. Places such as Vilamoura and Albufeira are very much wonderful established resorts with beautiful sceneries and an assortment of property options.
Posted on: Spain
September 25, 2007
Property in Florida looking to a bright future?
Tourism is still the number one industry in the Sunshine State in spite of the fact that the past year has seen the market for Florida property take a bit of a sluggish turn. Visitors are still flooding in to Florida; therefore buying property can still be considered a sensible investment, although not necessarily in the short-term.
“There is currently a lot of speculation about the longevity of the housing market as a good investment,” shares Kim Williams from Florida Special Dreams property management. “There are so many homes being built here but I think there is still a good opportunity for investment if you are in it for the long haul.”
Posted on: Florida
September 22, 2007
Why Invest In Property In Portugal
Holiday resorts are the most popular destination here in this country, what with long and white sandy beaches, miles of coastline and a favourable climate. This is proving to be the main tourist attraction in this part of the region, especially for UK citizens, with stronger ties very much visible throughout the south part of Portugal. This is actually the main reason why you should invest a property in Portugal.
Posted on: Portugal
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