Tourist arrivals continue to fall on the popular holiday island of Lanzarote. Making unpleasant reading for the many overseas owners of Lanzarote holiday villas and apartments as they struggle with declining occupancy levels and falling rental returns.
At the time of writing the Australian dollar is worth around US$0.92 – up from US$0.67 in less than eight months. That is one huge appreciation and anyone who is exposed to the currency risk will certainly have noticed it. The rise of the Australian dollar is most spectacular against the US$ but its also up against almost every other currency from pounds to Euro to the New Zealand dollar. So what does the Australian dollars rise have to do with the Australian property investor? Plenty – even if you don’t think you are exposed to currency risk – you should understand what drives currencies and their close cousins: interest rates.
More on Australian Property Investment and the Australian Dollar
As the new government attempts to make sense of the mess left by the outgoing administration, a belligerent Georges Papandreou laid down his vision for the future. As Greeks listened, waiting for a sign of optimism and hope, the new Prime Minister shared his vision for tackling the real economic problems faced by this small country.
More on Government, Taxes and Illegal Homes – Concerns for Greek Luxury Property Investors
The American banking system is slowly destroying the real estate market. After 6 months of delays, two deals I was supposed to sign on last week have been delayed once again because of the bank’s inability to agree to sign on the dotted line. This is insane. After 6 months of haggling, and an agreement in principal but not in writing, the bankers cannot get their fat arses off their comfy chair to sign the papers.
More on Bank delays killing short sale real estate investments in the USA
West Australian Property Under supply Threatens Recovery.
Unlike almost anywhere else in the developed world Western Australia seems to have a claim that its housing stock is seriously holding back its recovery. Lets look at why property prices are set to skyrocket in WA in 2010.
More on West Australian Property Under Supply Threatens Recovery
As the world economy struggles along, and economists frantically attempt to uncover the notorious ‘Green Shoots of Recovery,’ the newly installed PASOK government has little time to waste. Prime Minister, George Papandreou, has named his cabinet and proposed a 100 day plan to boost the economy. Lowering some of the barriers to Greek Property investment is a keystone of this call to arms, a promise that may lure back some of the investors currently looking at Eastern Europe and Turkey.
More on PASOK, the Greek Economy and Greek Property Investment
Property investors and first-time home buyers often go head to head for the same property. The big bad property investors in Australia though have been at a disadvantage because of the Federal government’s first home buyers grant. The on-going scaling back of that grant gives both first home buyers and investors an opportunity – here’s how.
More on Australian Property Investment – What Does the First Home Owner Grant Mean to You?
As we are all too painfully aware, property prices across the world have taken a tumble, with the only variable being the degree. Some countries, such as Greece and Australia, have emerged from the crisis relatively unscathed, with property prices stagnating but not falling. Other nations, notably the US, the UK and Spain have suffered something of a meltdown in the property market.
More on Cyprus Investment Properties – Has the Market Bottomed Out?
The Abu Dhabi property market has witnessed a considerable improvement in buyer interest during the summer of 2009 compared to the beginning of the year. A healthy local stock market and the continued abundance of employment opportunities in the Emirates’ capital city are just two of the reasons for this resurgent confidence from long-term property investors in particular. An international real estate agency noted that high value transactions in the Al Reem Island and Al Raha Beach developments were a positive indication about recent investor trends, highlighting more reasonable asking prices as a lure for cash rich buyers.
You can’t open a newspaper or drive past a desirable coastal location without coming across the signs – you know the ones the happy smiling couple who look just past middle age who are enjoying a pool-side gin and tonic or maybe enjoying a friendly tennis match. They are invariably advertiseumetns for “over-45′s” or “adults” communities – what used to be known as retirement villages. The question is – are they are a good property investment?
More on Australian Property Investment Retirees Don’t Buy Retirement Villages
