Overseas Property Blog

With the UK’s property market still looking a little gloomy, it seems there may be a glimmer of hope peeking through in the For Sale By Owner (FSBO) property market. NetMovers, the UK’s leading commission free property portal who let people sell property online, have announced a larger growth this year than in any of their eight years of trading, in the ‘for sale by owner’ market. Continue reading ‘Housing Market Boom In For Sale By Owner Property’

Finca Bellavista is a sustainable treehouse community set within the spectacular backdrop of the south Pacific coastal mountains of Costa Rica. Perched overlooking the Golfo Dulce and nurtured by two whitewater rivers, the location of this unique neighborhood is unmatched in its magnificence and pulses with life. While it feels a world away, this 350-acre preserve boasts easy access to some of the country’s most stunning natural assets, like National Parks, isolated beaches and epic mountainscapes. Those with a taste for adventure will feel right at home amongst the multitude of outdoor activities available nearby and on-site, including hiking, biking, birdwatching, diving, surfing, kayaking, deep-sea fishing, sailing and more.
Continue reading ‘Finca Bellavista Treehouse Community Costa Rica : Phase 2 nearly sold out’

International Golf & Resort Management (IGRM) has appointed Michael Nagy as Managing Director of the company’s newly-formed Brazilian subsidiary. South African born Nagy, who boasts an impressive career in both the hotel and golf industries, is perfectly placed to guide the company’s expansion in Brazil during one of the most exciting times in its sporting history. Continue reading ‘International Golf & Resort Management Announce Expansion into Brazil’

Although the most intense phase of the economic crisis is now over, and with the property market in the UAE having recovered much of its confidence in the last year, the latest research demonstrates that there has been a decline in both sales and rental values in most sub-sectors of the property market. This is largely due to an increase in new supply entering the local property market for the UAE, most of which is coming from Dubai.

Dubai properties for sale and rent have fallen more in value in comparison to other areas of the UAE, and as a result, there has been an increase in demand from residents living in Sharjah to take advantage of falling values in Dubai’s commercial and residential property.

Nevertheless, commercial property in Dubai, particularly unused office space, has seen rising interest over the last six months, with tenants taking advantage of the falling rents as well as reflecting an increasing confidence in the broader macroeconomic position of the region.

In Abu Dhabi, there has been a similar decline in the overall value of properties, but at a much slower rate than the fall in Dubai. Abu Dhabi remains one of the more inflexible property sub-markets, with fewer properties available for occupancy. The low supply has meant higher rents for residential and commercial property, though still lower than they were a year ago, partially due to slightly decreased demand because of the financial crisis.

Nevertheless, a significant amount of new developments in Abu Dhabi are expected to re-start in 2010, having been put off in 2008 and 2009 because of the crisis of confidence in the property market. Once property developer and investor confidence is restored, the signs are that the overall UAE property market will return to the pre-crisis status quo.

Do you plan on buying a home outside the USA as a second home, holiday home, or for a change of lifestyle? Pie Town Productions, the American producers of the hit show HOUSE HUNTERS INTERNATIONAL aired by HGTV, is looking for… Continue reading ‘Looking For Home Buyers For Hit TV Show’

With globalization Dubai has truly become an international city. Walking on the streets of Dubai is just like walking down 5^th Avenue in New York or Knightsbridge in London. Dubai is a mix of people from all different communities and this is what makes it one of the most vibrant cities in the globalised world. Dubai is a mix of people and cultures from all corners of the globe and that is what truly defines the residential parts of the place.

In this economic downturn, something which has been able to maintain its stability is the real estate of the Middle East and, more precisely, Dubai. The property development sector did suffer for a while when the economy bottomed out, however the strength of real estate in Dubai is going to stay this time. Over time Dubai has become the epicenter for real estate.

Until recent years there were restrictions on the sale of Dubai properties to foreigners. However, with the lifting of this restriction a few years ago, the Dubai property market has been extremely dynamic.  There has been a lot of buying and selling of houses for sale in Dubai and growth had been exceptional in the years immediately following the lifting of the restriction. The Dubai government is actively driving diversification of its core industries and shifting its economic base to these fields such as finance, commerce and tourism.

There has been lots of speculation about property prices in Dubai, however major economic indicators have suggested that the growth rate of property should maintain steady growth. Another benefit from buying property in Dubai is 100% freehold ownership. Rental yields from Dubai residential property is presently between 8 and 10%, better than many developed cities around the world.

Dubai remains a strong real estate market. There is something to choose from for every investor, whether as a owner-occupier or owner-investor. Types of properties available range from residential apartments and signature villas, to office and commercial space, and it is a major attractor for international investors. Dubai real estate boasts amazing projects such as The Palm and The World - the world’s largest artificial island clusters, developed with villas, apartment towers and holiday resorts.

Award winning developers the Leria Group launch the fourth generation of their iconic Alcazaba brand at Alcazaba Hills Resort in Estepona. The mixed leisure and residential resort promises to be be one of the most exciting new developments on the Costa del Sol. Continue reading ‘The Secret’s Out’

By the end of Q2 2009, falling s Dubai and Abu Dhabi property values have slowed down significantly and prices were on the rise again in many areas. Consolidation beams on the horizon as value investors that had been dormant in wait of market changes since Q3 2008 are resuming activities in the market. The trend is picking up since a large number of development projects in both UAE cities are either completed or near completion and this adds further incentive to these investors since it removes substantial risks from their executive process. Continue reading ‘Property Transactions down by 20% in Q2 2009′