Holiday property investment

London house prices will end this year at the highest annual rate of growth since 2002, outperforming all UK regions, confirming the extent to which the capital’s housing market is outpricing first time buyers and creating a heaven for investors. The new house price index shows an annual London house price inflation at 12.7% after growing steadily throughout the year from 5% last January. According to industry experts low new housing supply is driving up prices in London and the south-east of England. The Bank of England’s two expected interest rate rises this year should help damp house price growth outside the capital, although London will be slow to adapt to any changes because of localised supply shortages that dominate the generally low housing turnover market. Estate agencies have predicted that London property prices would continue to increase next year, boosted by large bonuses in the City and growing demand from wealthy overseas buyers. Despite a brief slowdown in 2005, ann...

Modern day property investors are always on the look out for new exciting destinations and an unlikely player has just emerged, Uruguay . Uruguay has much to attract the holidaymaker and second home owner, not least the wide sandy beaches and picturesque colonial towns. Punta del Este, 130km to the east of Montevideo, ranks up there with South America’s premier holiday resorts attracting up to 700,000 visitors each year and has had numerous nicknames from ‘the Pearl of the Atlantic’ and ‘the Hamptons of Latin America’ to ‘the St Tropez of Uruguay’ and even ‘the Ibiza of Latin America’. Sitting on a peninsula that reaches out into the ocean, separating the surf of the Atlantic Ocean from the calm waters of Rio de la Plata, Punta del Este is an area of outstanding natural beauty that offers the nightlife and the tranquility that is required. In January and February Punta del Este’s 20 miles of sandy beach turn into a playground for beautiful people, wealthy South Americans and a sprinkli...

Wetag Consulting have been taking a fresh approach to Swiss property. The secret lies in the broad range of customized unique real estate solutions, including acquisition, obtainance of residential permit and assistance with tax-related legal issues. Pretty standard property services you might think but that is until you start viewing some of the properties. This is luxury real estate at its best, with projects made to measure. In addition to the company holders there are freelance architects, construction engineers and consultants to cater for every taste and need. Since end of 2005 Wetag Consulting Immobiliare is member of RELO, a 1963-founded broker network of independent real estate companies representing 650 companies with 4700 offices and 120’000 sales associates, in nearly 30 countries worldwide. Collectively these companies sold (2004) 1.4 million homes valued at 380 billion US$, more than any national brand or franchise. RELO stands for high quality while generating a high vol...

It can prove cheaper to buy a new property abroad than to spend out on annual holiday accommodation. By purchasing a property abroad and letting it out for just six months of the year, you can effectively holiday free and earn enough through rental fees to pay for the property outright after just five years depending on the house and location of course. While a couple may spend an average £1,000 in peak season on accommodation for a week’s summer holiday, they could opt instead to purchase a new holiday apartment in the same area, which they could frequent as often as they desired and secure a profitable income from holiday rentals. Over as little as five years, this could lead to enough in holiday rentals to effectively pay for the property, any overheads and other property related costs. The internet today has made it increasingly easy to research and purchase property abroad. Purchasing a new property abroad can be a great investment. It can offer you a guaranteed holiday destinatio...

If you have been watching the property market in Bali and Phuket for the past six years you would have noticed an economic and morphological synergy for these two leading foreign property investment destinations in Southeast Asia. The majority of people who buy simply fall in love with the tropical lifestyle, but the market has now grown to include people who are after a good property investment. The property market in Phuket and Bali has remained strong with prices rising. The increasing interest for investors is greatly attributed to what is being referred to as a ‘lifestyle investment’. The concept is simple. You purchase a property with the intention of getting back a return, through rental income, a capital gain by selling at a profit and the added bonus of yourself and friends and family being able to enjoy the property for holidays and long weekends.

This summer like all new seasons saw the introduction of more holiday lettings than ever. The location, quality and variety do not only make for the perfect holiday, but also offer great investment opportunities for those looking to invest in property abroad. The Lighthouse in Burnham-on-Sea is the first of its kind in the UK that is available to rent all year round. Built in 1830 the impressive lighthouse sleeps up to 6 and stands 110 feet (33 meters) tall with round shaped rooms covering 8 floors with panoramic views on a clear day of up to 22 miles. After a stay living and sleeping in a lighthouse, waking up in your bedroom at home will never be the same again. Or maybe you would choose a Watermill in Tuscany, especially one that has been restored to retain many of its original features. The sitting room has the original mill stones, with views of the mill workings from the glass panel on the floor, something you won’t find in your typical B&B. Set within a chestnut covered wood...

Problems arise when you start looking for property in Spain. There are so many companies with different offerings that it becomes almost impossible to settle for the best deal. Another problem is that large organisations offer a plethora of properties but the service you get is often rushed and impersonal. Van den Hout Enterprises claim to differ by offering personal hands-on real estate services using a large international property network. Sounds ideal but is it possible? CEO Paul van den Hout has been involved in Spanish and international property multinationals for over 18 years. He therefore recognises that it is crucial for a all round consultant to offer a broad range of services. Using a unique concept of a 'virtual office' Van Der Hout Enterprises provides a platform of external specialists in all aspects of the property market, including real estate search, sales promotions, mortgages and insurances. If the large agencies have let you down or you just want a more pe...

If you want tax relief on a development investment you can now back a particular development. Publication of the Finance Act at the end of July confirmed that indirect residential property ownership is permitted within a SIPP . So investors looking for a hands-off approach to residential property investment can now find eligible investments for a self-invested personal pension ( SIPP ). Developing can be much more profitable than a straight investment in existing property. With most residential units sold off-plan, the risk to investors is reduced. Developer funding involves providing equity to a developer in addition to bank lending, to finance a scheme. A developer typically requires 10% to 30% of the total scheme cost in cash, with the rest provided by bank lending. It is common to find developers with more opportunities than cash, which presents an opportunity for investors to raise the capital required and receive a priority return. With the passing of the Finance Act a few days ...

If you are not just looking for a property but also a secure holiday relaxation experience then Bulgarias Finest might be your cup of tea. You can now escape and relax in a spacious, luxurious vacation place, part of a safe gated community in the foothills of the Rila Mountains, just a few miles away from Borovets - one of Bulgarias finest sky resorts. You can buy off plan today and see your investment blossoming in what is Bulgarias most exclusive golf resort. This prestige Country Golf Club and Spa offers unrivalled privacy, great mountain views and direct access to the resorts amenities, including several swimming pools, a hot mineral waters luxury spa centre, tennis and other sports, as well as a shuttle service to the nearby ski slopes and airport. The best villas are a range of stunning 4 and 5 bedroom properties being developed with care and the family in mind. Remember that Golf is only open to the property owners and their tenants ensuring maximum rental yield so if you a...

It was announced this week that Bulgaria's Linexa Property is planning a 20 million euro investment building a new residential complex to be constructed in Bulgaria's coastal town of Kavarna. Kavarna's mayor Tsonko Tsonev revealed the plans for the new complex which is going to be placed near a golf course. Construction work has began and the 420-apartment complex is expected to be completed within two years. The complex is the latest in a series of large-scale UK, Spanish and French property investment over the past years. Some of the projects include the construction of a golf course, hotels and holiday villages. The increased interest in Kavarna property resulted in a record income from land deal taxes. The Bulgarian real estate market has seen rapid growth and is expected to grow even further after the country's EU entry in 2007. Other posts about Bulgaria: Ski resorts in Bulgaria Bulgaria as Property Investment Hotspot

There are many interesting properties in Spain, which in late years has become the UK's favourite holiday destination as well as foreign property investment haven. Everyone wants a piece of this paradise, however few can really help you to fullfil your dreams. Sotogrande-Properties present a large selection of real estate for sale in Sotogrande, Marbella and other areas of the western Costa del Sol. The properties range from luxury villas to high standard apartments and secluded country fincas. Try Sotogrande Properties .

A revival for colonial style property in India is reported by the Peninsula, Qatar's English daily: " Himalayan hill stations built by British colonial officers to shelter them from the fierce Indian summer and remind them of home are to be restored to their former glory by a new generation of middle-class Indians eager to savour a similar lifestyle. Government officials in Himachal Pradesh, home to some of the most evocative Raj summer towns, including Simla, Dalhousie and McLeod Ganj, have lifted a ban on outsiders owning homes. Property developers and members of Delhi’s increasingly affluent middle classes are queuing up to restore the faded grandeur of Himachal Pradesh’s many Victorian summer houses, and to build new bungalows based on original designs. The rehabilitation of one of the most enduring symbols of colonial domination reflects the increasing confidence of India’s middle classes and a previously suppressed admiration for the style in which the British lived. Pr...

Increasingly Turkey is seen as an ideal holiday property investment opportunity. Affordable pricing combined with great new developments and many impressive holiday destinations have helped the market to grow and investment to flourish. So this is the right time for buying property in Turkey both for investment opportunities and as a holiday home. Nirvana International , an international residential development company specialising in Turkish property designs, constructs and promotes a range of luxury residential villas and apartments on first class developments. Current development is focusing on the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey . The Turkish coast is quite simply stunning with its impressive golf courses along the Belek region and skiing facilities in the Antalya Mountains. The company's developments are designed by English architects and built to a high quality standard. It helps to know that all the properties offered for sale are designed, developed and owned by the com...

A new property expo with a unique focus in Morocco property is going to take place at the Holiday Inn in London Heathrow. With the recent announcement from Ryan Air regarding the opening of 20 new routes into Morocco, there is only one way the property market in Morocco is going. Morocco is only 3 hours flying time from London with an excellent climate and unspoilt beaches together with spectacular landscapes, it is like Spain 40 years ago" Simon Mawer adds. The opportunites on offer at the moment are excellent, with properties from as little as £45,000 and millions of tourists set to arrive in the next 5 years, it could not be much better. The exhibtion is on throughout the weekend from Friday the 2nd June until Sunday the 4th June from 10am until 7pm.

Meshari Jasem Al Anjeri welcomed the public to the Worldwide Property Show in Kuwait that opened with visitors evincing significant interest in the investment options on offer by the more than 20 international real estate developers and exhibitors. DSL Exhibitions, the international property exhibitions company are hosting this 11 year old event which is taking place at the Marriott Courtyard, Kuwait City, on the 7th and 8th of May 2006. Over the past 10 years, global appreciation in property values has regularly outperformed all other kinds of investment, including, antiques, gold, stocks and bonds. Commenting on property as an attractive option for all levels of investments, Mike Bridge, Regional Sales Director of DSL Exhibitions said: “We all know that property, wherever you buy it, always appreciates in value, is a safe investment if you have done your homework and can provide lifelong income. With the Worldwide Property Show, investors living in the Middle East now have access to...

Yes I know, there are already so many Spanish property sites out there that make it so difficult to choose. Having said that there are also so many badly designed, non functional and poorly serviced ones. This makes spanishvillas.uk.com stand out from the crowd. The real estate services are not so different ( resale property is also offered) but the staff are very friendly and efficient and their property portfolio advanced to say the least. Take for example this three bedroom detached villa in Costa Blanca , 10 minutes walking distance from the beach. Located close to several golf courses and fully furnished including T.V and internet connection and close to all amenities. Looks like a bargain to me. spanishvillas.uk.com also do property rentals . So if you are still wondering which agent to go to for your Spanish property sales , look no further. spanishvillas.uk.com

If, like Julie Andrews, you prefer to combine mountains with melody and believe that a good day's hill-walking comes second only to a night at the opera, then consider a holiday home in Austria . In Salzburgerland, the mountainous district that surrounds Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, you can walk, fish, ski or go horseriding, and then return to the heart of the historic cobbled city before the curtain goes up on Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. "There are lots of pluses for a family," says Deborah Ansel, who with her husband, Rob, is about to buy here. The couple from Buntingford, Herts, together with their sons George, 13, and Joe, seven, are considering buying, for £215,000, a large one-bedroom apartment in Zum Baren, a new development an hour and a quarter from Salzburg. "It will sleep four and we will use the pool, the golf course and do lots of walking," says Deborah. "We're not buying it just for the skiing. And of course we can get to know Salzburg ...

The billboards that line the road from the airport to the center of this metropolis in China's southwest proclaim as soon as you arrive that the country's property boom has spread firmly to the interior. Touting housing developments like "Venice Impression" and "Dream Town," they are as ubiquitous as the cranes and frames of high-rises covering the hills on the outskirts of this gateway to the west, which not long ago were only dotted with villages. Once a scene reserved for eastern cities like Beijing and Shanghai , they testify to a transformation overtaking China 's second-tier cities, as investment in factories and infrastructure brings in jobs and raises incomes. "Chongqing's property market right now is a lot like Hangzhou's five or six years ago, only without the same kind of bubble Hangzhou went through," said Lian J H Ye from the Chongqing office of property consultants DTZ Debenham Tie Leung. Hangzhou, and its close neighb...

When Toledo fire fighter Rudy Garcia went looking for land on which to build a home, he was eager to find a real estate tax haven. He didn't have to search far. Newly built homes in a wide swath covering a majority of land in Toledo are eligible for a program that forgives most property taxes for 15 years. Begun more than two decades ago in an attempt to spawn home construction in "discouraged" areas of Toledo, the program has grown to cover two-thirds of the city, municipal administrators said. In a little noted development last year, City Council added the popular neighborhoods of Point Place, the North Towne area, and Reynolds Corners. The program now stretches to the city of Oregon to the east, Springfield Township to the west, Bedford Township to the north, and Rossford and Northwood to the south. More here .

The emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe are current hot spots, attracting a lot of interest with low entry costs and the potential for high capital growth. However, the advantages and the security of more mature markets should not be overlooked. France is a great example. According to the annual French Property Market Report, published by the French property experts, VEF, France is still an exciting market with house prices set to rise by an average of 11 per cent this year. VEF's long term prediction for the market is healthy with prices set to perform over the 8-9 per cent p.a. rate over the next decade, which shows there is still plenty of room in the Gallic market for growth. This is reassuring news for investors looking for sustainability and no unwanted surprises to their portfolio. However, perhaps the best part for many is France itself. You can buy your dream apartment or villa as a buy to let and you can also use it for your own holidays. Tips from VEF...

While Spain is the number one location for overseas property purchases, a biannual survey for A Place in the Sun Live reveals that the US has overtaken France to move into second place. Australia takes fourth place ahead of Italy and New Zealand in the survey, which shows that the reasons for Brits making an overseas property purchase are varied. More than a quarter of Brits are so-called 'family sun seekers'. They would buy an overseas property because they are looking for a safe reliable haven for holidays with their children. Buying a place in the sun to enjoy a well-deserved retirement – 'reward reapers' – is the reason a fifth of people want to make an overseas property purchase. Lifestyle concious Brits who want to expand their social horizons with an overseas property drive 16 per cent of purchases, while eight per cent of would-be-buyers are 'life changers', leaving the UK for a new life abroad. Surprisingly, the number of people buying abroad for in...

If you could create the ideal holiday destination from scratch you’d probably want the perfect mixture of near-deserted white beaches, breathtaking scenery, year-round warm weather, sumptuous cuisine, a friendly native population and plenty to discover and explore. Fortunately this destination already exists in Southeast Asia in the shape of the Kingdom of Thailand ; officially translated as the ‘land of the free’ but known to travelers the world over as ‘the land of smiles’. Barama Bay Island is an 80 hectare parcel of paradise set in sheltered waters off the east coast of Phuket. White sand beaches are lapped by warm turquoise waters and an abundance of virgin tropical vegetation from coconut palms to mangroves covers the Island. Barama Bay has been conceived to be the most exclusive resort in the world. There are two options for gaining physical access to the Island, either a 15 minute drive from Phuket International Airport followed by a three minute water taxi journey to Barama ...

The eighth Muscat International Fair International Trade & Industrial Exhibition and first Gulf Property & Investment Exhibition will be inaugurated today at the Oman International Exhibition Centre at Seeb. The fair organised by OITE will conclude on March 23. The Gulf Property and Investment Exhibition is aimed at helping private and corporate investors talk face to face with the vendors and experts in Gulf property and other investment fields. This platform will showcase new projects, strategies, investment opportunities to diversify individual and corporate investment portfolio. The exhibition focuses on promoting, popularising and familiarising property investment and other liquid investment opportunities available in the Sultanate of Oman and abroad. Everything related to individual and corporate property; residential and commercial property developers and marketers; real estate agents, architects, designers, engineers, solicitors, and mortgage specialists, property in...

Morgan Stanley plans to invest three billion US dollars in the real estate sector in China this year, the Shanghai Securities News reported. Citing an unidentified company official, the report said that the financial services firm expects China's real estate sector to continue to see strong growth due to the country's booming economy. Morgan Stanley has invested a total of 1.5 bln usd in property projects in China over the past five years, according to the newspaper. Morgan Stanley said last week that it had completed fundraising for its Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund (MSREF) V International with 4.2 bln usd of equity commitments from investors.

The property market online seems so saturated these days. There are millions of websites offering more or less the same amount of information with specialists or niche operators winning the battle at the moment. It is not often though that you come across a website that stands out from the crowd. I am talking about whathouse.co.uk , published by Blendon Communications , a specialist media company dedicated to providing advice on real estate. Blendon is not new to the world of property with a history of print publications, trade shows and awards so their online offering is well thought out, usable and usefull when buying new homes . But what makes What House.co.uk so appealing? A simple search for a house in London leads to a page that features: property for sale , house prices , transport , schools , council tax information, supermarkets nearby, restaurants , pubs and gyms . This has to be the most comprehensive and complete information for anyone deciding to settle in a residentia...

In the first months of 2006, the monthly average was counted at NIS 115 million. Foreign investments in Israeli real estate are on the rise, according to data published Tuesday by the Ministry of Construction and Housing. In 2005 there was a 53 percent increase in foreign investment over 2004, and in January 2006, a 12 percent increase was measured over the monthly average in 2005. Israeli investments abroad have been on the decline since 2003, data shows. The drop is apparently due to finance reforms which raised taxes on foreign assets. Since 2001, the ministry registers consistent growth in foreign investments in Israeli real estate. In 2001, the average monthly foreign investment stood at NIS 14 million, in 2002 it rose to NIS 16 million, in 2003 NIS 39 million, in 2004 NIS 67 million, and in 2005 it totaled NIS 102 million. According to Ministry of Construction and Housing Director-General Shmuel Abuav, the consistent fall in interest rates and the improved security situation in ...

South Koreans will be able to buy housing units overseas beginning Thursday without being restricted by the value, as long as the purchases are for residential purposes, the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE) said on Wednesday. They now can purchase luxurious homes and even castles for residential purposes, hold it for a lifetime, and even let their children inherit the property. They had previously been obliged to sell their overseas real estate within three years after returning to Korea . These are part of ministry's foreign exchange liberalization steps aimed at easing the glut of dollars in the local foreign exchange market. The government wants to increase flows of dollars out of the country to help slow the pace of the won's gains against the dollar. The government raised the offshore real estate purchase cap to $1 million on Jan. 9 from $500,000 of last July. The ceiling is totally scrapped now. Still, an individual buying a home worth more than $300,000 is ob...

Increasingly buyers are looking for sports and entertainment facilities that compliment their holiday property choice. When you are traveling and renting facilities nearby are not so important, but when you are buying they might become a property's unique selling point. It is no surprise then that both the travel and property industry are diversifying to explore this precious niche. Quick to jump on this bandwagon are Villa Quest S.L. and doing it quite successfully. They are offering a range of properties including villas, apartments and townhouses near Spain's most reputable golf courses. Beginners, enthusiasts and even pro's can rest assured that a golf course is always nearby and the properties are good quality and priced reasonably. Some of the golf course areas include Lorca, Alamo, Murcia , Corvera, Desert Springs, Polaris, Roda, Tercia , Vale del Este and of course Almeria. More from Villa Quest.

Property investment in Cyprus is becoming increasingly appealing to investors worldwide, with economic conditions now improving at an impressive rate and the prospective adoption of the Euro drawing record interest from foreign investors. Jeroen Kremers, an executive director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), recently predicted that Cyprus would be using the European single currency by April 2008 and he stressed that it would be a crucial move for the health of the country's economy. Property prices within the country are currently rising at a staggering rate of up 20 per cent annually. As such, investors are finding they can make bigger gains on their property in Cyprus than in France or Spain , while growth rates in Bulgaria can still be unpredictable. Cyprus has long been a favourite among UK tourists and investors and it also has an enviable reputation for attracting "repeat visitors". A growing number of UK residents are looking to the island for a holida...

The government may remove all restrictions on overseas property purchases by next year after moving up its schedule to liberalize foreign currency transactions, officials at the Finance Ministry said yesterday. At the moment, Koreans are banned from purchasing commercial-use property outside the country. Those purchasing property for residential purposes are subject to a ceiling. But after raising the limit last month, the government is poised to lift all restrictions by the end of this year. If the ministry gives the green light on eliminating the restrictions on commercial real estate purchases as well, there would no longer be any restraints on Koreans seeking to buy property abroad. "We can't confirm it yet, but we already said earlier that the restrictions on offshore investment would be eased by 2007 or sometime soon after that," said Hwang Gun-il of the ministry's international finance department. Easing the rules on offshore property investment is th...

Visitors to Ryanair's website can now click on a link that displays thousands of properties in Spain and Portugal. The no-frills airline has inked a deal with property firm Majestic Worldwide that will see it place links to its partner's website on Ryanair.com. Ryanair already has its fingers in several pies outside the air travel industry, recently launching its own range of travel insurance products. But the budget airline apparently felt the time was right to build closer ties to the property sector as second homes in Iberia become increasingly popular among Brits. Under the terms of the partnership, the first 50 Ryanair customers to invest in Majestic's La Condesa de Mijas Golf property in the Costa Del Sol won't have to foot the bill for the first 18 months of mortgage repayments. This should see those quick off the mark save around €20,000 (£13,700) on their properties. Majestic offers a wide variety of properties ranging from studio apartments to luxury villas. A...

There has been a 40 per cent increase in enquiries for investment property abroad in Bulgarian ski resorts since September 2005, as overseas property investors seek to capitalise while prices remain low. Exclusive resorts such as Aspen Golf in Bansko offer affordable Ski property and strong long-term investment potential, according to investment property experts. An off-plan studio or one-bedroom apartment start from €50,000 ( £35,000 ). Over 30 per cent more UK holidaymakers visited Bulgaria in 2005, leading to an influx of travel companies with a majority of them offering guaranteed rental schemes. With a number of no thrills airlines looking to open up more direct routes to Bulgaria, this can only add to the long term growth of property investment. Rental yields through guaranteed schemes are about nine per cent, while property investors letting independently are achieving yields of about 12 per cent. However there are risks involved with buying Bulgarian property. Although Bulgaria...

Moving furniture and shipping your valuables to a property overseas can be not only a time-consuming but also painful procedure. Make sure that you trust the job to a specialist because moving should not add to the burden of buying and all the paperwork that is involved. Of course there are many companies out there that offer removal and shipping services in the EU and internationally but RemovalGroup caught my eye. They offer the services of a dedicated removal co-ordinator who is on hand at any time of the move process. No need for endless hours on the phone trying to find out where your things are plus a long list of useful associated services from cleaning to handyman jobs and most importantly the peace of mind that your things are going to get to their destination in one piece. Removalgroup.com

Property Climbers is a real estate series about ordinary Kiwis trying to climb a rung on the property ladder, hoping to make some money. The producers have tracked the ups and downs of different individuals over six months, as they practise their secrets of property investment. What do they reckon they know that ordinary people don't about which house or block of land to buy? How do they spot the investment goldmines from the dogs? Every step of the way millionaire investor and property consultant, Olly Newland is there with advice and tips for viewers. "Over the years I've done up heaps and heaps of properties", says Olly. "I've done them quickly and cheaply, and I can tell you this, it's the quickest way to make a lot of money in a hurry." Who are the property climbers in this series? There are a few high rolling millionaires taking huge risks wit...

With visitor numbers static in recent years and facing new competiton from former Eastern Bloc countries offering cheap holidays, the recent announcement by the Maltese government that negotiations were at an advanced stage with two low cost airlines has sparked hopes that the island will see a rise in visitor numbers, much to the relief of some in the tourist industry worried about the future of Malta as a holiday destination. Even before the new carriers to the island land the existing airlines have been offering return flights at prices seemingly much lower than in the past to try and hold on to their share of the market. Traditionally the UK has been Malta’s biggest market for incoming tourists, often making up over half of the island’s visitors in any given year, but some on the island see even this market as under threat. And property buyers from the UK have accounted for seventy per cent of Malta property sales to overseas buyers in recent years, settling in Valletta, Sliema, ...

Anyone looking to overload this year's ISA investment with property funds should think again, investment analysts have warned. With yields falling and equity markets remaining buoyant, investors are being advised to keep only trace elements of property in their ISA portfolio. The recommendation comes despite the fact that property funds qualify for ISA investment for the very first time this tax year. Meera Patel, senior investment analyst at IFA Hargreaves Lansdown, said investors were attracted by the lack of correlation between property and equity markets but insisted falling returns simply could not justify any great confidence in this asset class. For the last few years, we have been extremely cautious of commercial property,'' she told Reuters. ''Properties should usually be bought for their yields and these have fallen over the years. The capital growth from these is also usually very small so there is not much of a selling point there.'' Patel argued...

The Auckland property market may be showing real signs of slowing, according to new figures released today by Barfoot and Thompson. Barfoot said its January sales were the lowest for the month in the last five years. The company has the the largest market share in Auckland and its sales figures are generally taken as a good indicator of trends. The company recorded 797 sales in January, the slowest start to the year since January 2001. This followed a slow December where 671 sales were recorded, well below the company average of about 1,000 a month. Prices followed the trend, with a 13 per cent decline in average sale price from $492,882 in December to $428,385 in January and a 9 per cent decline year on year. Part of the drop may have been due to non-market factors. Full article .

Ireland has changed from a country which sends its job seekers abroad to one which sends its capital abroad – often in search of overseas property investments. Irish investors in overseas properties range from those investing in large scale commercial developments, to those buying a second dwelling. The key issue in overseas property investment is not taxation so much as location and price. But a good location and a good price can be ruined by a bad tax surprise. An investment in foreign property can be made in a variety of manners, ranging from acquiring shares in a company, to purchasing the property directly in the individual’s own name. There are other vehicles which may be used, including unitised funds, trusts, partnerships, co-ownership agreements with other investors, as well as a choice between entities created in Ireland, or those created abroad. The choice of method of investment and type of vehicle has tax implications but may be driven by non-tax considerations. In some f...

Despite ongoing political instability, New Zealand tourists are thronging to Fiji in every growing numbers with visitor numbers expected to have topped 100,000 last year. New Zealanders are not just going there to lie on the beach either - they're investing in holiday property. Fijian Tourism Minister Pita Naa-Du-Vah, visiting New Zealand, says the number of Kiwis visiting his country has more than doubled from 49,000 in 2000 to about 108,000 last year. The minister says there are a few reasons for the continuing rise in New Zealanders going to Fiji. He says the old relationship between the two countries has always been there from colonial times and is still very strong today. He says with new opportunities for more investment in Fiji tourism, an "incredible number" of New Zealanders are investing in the sector, including in construction work. The minister says New Zealand companies suc...

A series of promotions and advertisements are offering the dream of a holiday home in France at a fraction of the usual cost. But beware, because as with most things that sound too good to be true, there are drawbacks. Clever juggling with the figures using a leasing scheme set up by the French government and a low interest-rate mortgage in euros makes it sound as if you could have a holiday home without hassle or the cost. The scheme suggests that you put down a deposit of 20%-30% of the price of a property yet to be built and promise to lease it back to a management company which guarantees the rental return. Under the leaseback scheme, launched 20 years ago to boost tourism and investment, you escape the 19.6% VAT levied on new properties. You might be promised 4% to 6% of the purchase price each year in rent (this is known as the yield) while paying from 3% for your French lender's mortgage. So what are the drawbacks? Firstly, if you want to use your holiday home for a couple ...

British investors have lagged behind other Europeans, such as the Germans and the Italians, in recognising the potential of Croatia , once part of Yugoslavia. Some areas such as Dubrovnik and Hvar Island have already experienced strong capital growth and this is expected to spread along the largely unexploited Dalmatian coastline, stretching from Slovenia in the north down to Montenegro, which includes more than a thousand islands. Croatia property prices are rising fast, having more than doubled in the past three years. But, they are lower than the South of France and if you buy now in the right location, any profit you make will be tax-free after three years. When competitive mortgage deals become available after EU admission in 2008/9, property values are likely to rocket. After decades in the doldrums, the property market in Zagreb, the beautiful and often forgotten Croatian capital, is moving up after the arrival of Oracle, Siemens, Te-Com and Coca-Cola. Demand exceeds supply f...

T his year’s property hotspots in Mallorca will be business premises and middle-priced holiday homes. The shortage of business premises in Palma and other large cities means the price of these properties is set to rocket. Meanwhile in the domestic market, the luxurious end of the market will stay stable whilst the mid-range, more-affordable property market will be buoyant. There is no sign of the foreign investors drying up as industry insiders claim that currently 700,000 Europeans are thinking about buying a second home somewhere in the south Mediterranean region. Mallorca is set to stay as one of the most sought-after destinations for holiday homes due to its safety, culture and cheap airline connections. However, a different type of investor is heading this way. Instead of large holiday homes on a golf course, purchasers are seeking smaller boltholes near airports for that long weekend away from base. The mid-range property priced around 400,000 euros is set to become the most soug...

It is not every ski resort that has a large, colourful Picasso sculpture of a woman's head in the middle of its village, with other modernist pieces by the likes of Bury, Vasarely and Dubuffet scattered around. Nor can other resorts claim to be the architectural vision of one of the Bauhaus movement's most famous sons, Marcel Breuer, designer of the Unesco building in Paris and the Wassily chair. But Flaine considers itself to be a bit different. This perspective is likely to be put to the test in the next few years as the Grand Massif resort sets out on an expansion programme to get back on the map after years in the doldrums. Leading this initiative is Canadian developer Intrawest, which has announced that Flaine will be the site of its second project in Europe, following the success of its village of Arc 1950 at Les Arcs, which is virtually sold out and nearing completion. Intrawest has shaken up the standard of holiday property development in the French Alps. Its cosy fo...

The holiday home property wave has broken but, for the time being at least, living on millionaires' row means there won't be a wipeout. While other beach house sales flounder, luxury home markets in locations such as the Gold Coast, Portsea and Margaret River have powered into 2006. In those markets, multi-million-dollar houses and apartments are selling strongly while other agents complain of their worst lead up to Christmas in a decade. On the Gold Coast, PRDnationwide agent Doug Green sold three luxury homes for more than $13 million in less than three weeks in the lead up to Christmas. More here .

Second home-seekers who desire an overseas property in France can effectively get a holiday home for free following the introduction of a new type of mortgage. The emergence of interest-only leaseback mortgages is expected to help the French property market compete with Bulgaria and Turkey where overseas property investors have been turning of late. It means the borrower of an interest-only leaseback mortgage can purchase a leaseback property in France, cover the cost of their mortgage and still use the property for a few weeks a year themselves as a holiday home, according to property investment firm Assetz. The French leaseback scheme was introduced by the French government 20 years ago to increase tourism in areas such as the Cote D'Azur, the Alps and Paris by increasing the amount of quality holiday accommodation. Under the scheme, investors purchase a freehold property and lease it back to a pre-selected property management company earning guaranteed rental income for at leas...

A one bedroom apartment at Noosa’s premium Netanya beachfront resort has been sold to a Melbourne business man for $2.3 million, the highest price ever paid for a one bedroom apartment in Noosa. The same property sold in 1996 for $520,000. A Roma businessman and property owner bought a similar, 75 square metre beachfront apartment on the top floor of the Hastings Street resort last year for $1.79 million, setting the value of the property at more than $23,866 per square metre. The new price represents a per square metre value of $31,500. Real estate agent Klaus Tschech from Noosa Richardson and Wrench, said Noosa beachfront property has grown on average by 20% year on year for the past 15 years. "Noosa only has 650 metres of beachfront property so real estate in this premium location will always be a good performer," he said. Netanya Noosa's tariff for a one bedroom penthouse terrace apartment for the 2006 high season is $4,3...

People wanting to make maximum returns on a property investment abroad should head to Romania, it has been claimed. House prices in the country are expected to soar four-fold over the next 10 years as Romania's economy benefits from its entry into the European Union in 2007, according to Channel 4 programme A Place In The Sun. It has put Romania at the top of its list of the 20 best places in Europe to make money on property in the coming decade. It said house prices in the country currently average just £17,000, but predicts £100,000 invested now could be worth £514,000 in 10 years time due to the impact EU membership is expected to have on the property market. Anybody who bought property before the country joined the EU was likely to be in a very strong position as hoards of investors were expected from 2007, it added. Poland, not the most obvious destination to buy a second property abroad, was named second on the list. But the programme expects £100,000 invested there...