Designed to create the most desirable condominiums in the centre of KL. The plot for this development is very close to the Petronas Towers and as such is very centrally located. Designed by Foster and Partners you can bet that this building, once finished, will be a landmark to complement the Twin Towers. The Troika Development will have the following facilities to name a few:
Gym/Aerobics
Swimming Pool
BBQ area
Function Room/Games Hall
Sauna
The prices will be high for Malaysian Standards, but you would be buying into a designer property.

For more info: Tel: +60 326 978787
Development Website: http://www.troika.com.my/
Developers Website: http://www.brdb.com.my/

Since the end of October I have wanted to write about the developments (to follow) and experience I had in Malaysia. Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia and consists of two parts: Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia (the Indonesian part of Borneo) separated by the South China Sea. Malaysia is a former British Colony and the country was formed in 1963. In 1965 the island of Singapore formed it’s own nation.

KL is undergoing a massive property development program extending into the Embassy district close to the centre. Old houses and land is being bought up and new buildings are popping up everywhere. Ever since the Petronas towers were completed KL has been firmly stamped on the map.

KL has much to offer including heritage buildings, monuments to its butterfly and orchid gardens. Suria KLCC nestled in between the two Petronas towers is a shopping haven with many floors of shops from Gucci to small supermarkets its all there! For the more adventurous shopper Chinatown, Little India, Central Market, local bazaars and the many other shopping malls offer an array for products and smells. As a foreign property owner in KL there are so many restaurants and bars that you will never get bored of the surroundings.

I feel is traffic is a downside to KL, as it is grid locked downtown most of the day and when it rains Taxi’s do not want to drive you, so you can get stuck. It rained most afternoons I was there and I understand that this is common.

So to sum up KL is an eclectic mix of people and cultures, vibrant and on the up.

I also visited Koto Kinabalu in the province of Sabah on Borneo. This was a totally different experience to the city, but naturally beautiful and a potential property hotspot because of its proximity to a number of islands ideal for Snorkelling, Water sports and Jungle Trekking. Check out Vista at Sutera HarbourFYI: Real Property Gains Taxes for foreigners are 30% within 5 years after date of acquisition 5% 6 or more years of owning the asset.
Data taken from Property Lookout
If you are interested in retiring to Malaysia they also have aMy Second Home Program

I recently posted about my thoughts of 2005 in which I discussed, the “A Place in the Sun” programme this time last year. Well after watching the 2006 programme this evening, I wanted to post a summary.

The programme was based on predictions of where the best place to invest your money in property will be in Europe over the next 10 years. Amanda Lamb stated during the programme that the UK and Denmark would have been in the list. The UK had been ruled out of this list, as there were better places to invest in Europe? Also Denmark was ruled out as it is very difficult to invest there as a foreigner. After discussing this over dinner with some Danish friends of mine, I am inclined to agree.

Please remember this is only a guide and was predicted through the help of number crunchers. World events can affect every market over a 10-year period and with potential earthquakes, more bird flu outbreaks and globalisation, caution should be taken in every property investment. Always consult a lawyer when purchasing a property abroad.

So as Amanda did tonight, I am going to count down front 20 summarising her predictions.

Number 20 – Cyprus

With great weather and beaches, this former British colony is a home from home, as they drive on left and speak English in most places. The market has been strong in last few years.
Cyprus joined the EU in 2004
Average Price: £100000

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £288000 in 10 years time.

This is based on an increase in prices, plus rental income.

Number 19 – Spain

Most visited country by the British and most popular to buy property abroad, it is the sunny option to living in the UK. Valencia is a potential hotspot and is being smartened up for Americas cup in 2007.

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £289000 in 10 years time.

Number 18 – Italy

Land of the Dolce Vita where £118000 will buy you a 2-bed farmhouse. Sicily is a new hotspot, where you can buy a 4-bed villa for £192000

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £290000 in 10 years time.

Number 17 – France

Property is still cheap in many parts of the country. Limousin can offer you a renovation project for £50000

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £301000 in 10 years time.

Number 16 – Netherlands

Holland has a lot to offer with the most liberal people in Europe and shrewd investors. Prices have risen steeply over the years with an average price of £150000, but there is still money to be made. They have the lowest interest rates in Europe and as it is the most densely populated country in Europe, property is going to increase in price.

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £308000 in 10 years time.

Number 15 – Austria

A mountainous country based in central Europe with an average price of £130000

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £311000 in 10 years time.

This is based on an increase in prices, plus rental income.

Number 14 – Ireland

The Emerald Isle offering an investment closer to home. The Irish have the highest home ownership in world, but it only reaches position 14 as surging demand has put prices up with an average house price of £165000

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £322000 in 10 years time.

Number 13 – Czech Republic

Formerly know as Bohemia, many go in search of profit and Prague has established itself as a tourist destination with an average price of £45000
Joined EU in 2004 opened up to foreign buyers.

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £360000 in 10 years time.

Number 12 – Germany

Germany is Europe’s dark horse, just out of recession with the housing market in doldrums; property prices are now on the up. With a new German chancellor who is predicted to encourage citizens to buy rather than rent, the potential for massive house price increases is possible. Also the World Cup this year will add to countries exposure.

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £361000 in 10 years time.

Number 11 – Luxembourg

Luxembourg is the 6th smallest country in the world but the richest. As a tax haven and banking centre it has the highest average price of property at £190000

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £363000 in 10 years time.

Number 10 – Hungary

Budapest is a city hotspot. Hungary’s average house price comes in low at £37000
International companies are opening local offices and this is a good sign for the future as demand for property increases.

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £369000 in 10 years time.

Number 9 – Finland

Finland is the 2nd most northerly country in Europe and as such is the coldest and darkest.

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £373000 in 10 years time.

Number 8 – Slovenia

Slovenia has a buzzing capital city and has risen since it joined the EU. Average prices stand at £45000 and represents better investment potential than the Swiss Alps.

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £378000 in 10 years time.

Number 7 – Slovakia

Meteoric rising property market, this former communist country is developing fast. With low flat rates and taxes, there is incredible money making potential.
Hotspot tip: Tatra mountains £35000 apartments near ski slopes.

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £426000 in 10 years time.

Number 6 – Belgium

The home of Europe with the capital city Bruges, at present you can buy a city centre apartment for £50000 and rent it out for approx 500 pounds per month.

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £440000 in 10 years time.

Number 5 – Sweden

Mountains, forests and lakes are its appeal and it is the least populated country in Europe. Average property price is £52000, but it is famously expensive with beer at £4 a pint.

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £452000 in 10 years time.

Number 4 – Baltic States

Comprised of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. These countries have low interest rates and the local populations income is rising. Talinn the capital of Estonia has studio apartments from £31000 studio with rental potential of £220 pcm.
Joined EU in 2004

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £456000 in 10 years time.

Number 3 – Portugal

Housing market is still booming in this established market. Future predictions are that the property market still has room to grow and is not overvalued.
Hotspot tip – Silver coast – No frills airlines fly into Porto in central Portugal. The average price in Portugal is still only £50000

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £460000 in 10 years time.

Number 2 – Poland

Poland is undergoing a massive transformation with international companies settling and the property market picking up. Average price is £35000.
Hotspot tip – Krakov - £80000 will buy you an interior designed apartment in prime location in city with potential rental income of 370pcm

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £493000 in 10 years time.

Number 1 – Romania

Not due to join until 2007, Romania has a very low acerage price of £17000. This country is definitely for the more adventurous investor as the infrastructure is basic with only one short motorway. This market is in its infancy!
At £2500 for a fixer upper and £20000 for a 2-bed cottage it could be well worth the risk.

Predicted Price Growth:

Spend £100000 today
It could be worth £514000 in 10 years time.

I decided to do my first review on eco friendly properties. In a world dominated with developers who have to squeeze margins and therefore use low grade quality materials, I thought why not look at other alternatives.

I read a post on worldchanging which discussed a new home featured in Sunset. A section taken from this article states “Clarum Homes, our builder, constructs zero-energy homes, which incorporate roof-mounted photovoltaic panels designed to produce enough electricity to meet the needs of each home. The homes will also be able to feed excess electricity back to the utility power grid.”

I think that although these concepts are still not mainstream, we should push developers in all countries to add more eco features to their developments. Spain is a prime example of where Solar panels could be used, cost as always is a factor, so should the government help subsidise this kind of move to greener living?

Oaksey Park situated in the Cotswolds, UK has been designed with the environment in mind. These are small steps but good to see that some people are trying to make a difference.

For those who can read Spanish out there, I met Casa Sana at a show in Madrid:

2006 has begun and life in the Internet marketing world is already buzzing with the noise of what Google will be up to this year. For those whose businesses are solely Internet based, Google is the largest volume provider for market exposure. As such many people rely on good organic rankings and/or PPC campaigns to promote their products/ services. It can be dangerous to play this game as you can lose your rankings quickly and end up with a lovely looking site that no one can find!

For those in the real estate industry, who are starting on the long road to Internet Marketing success, here are a few points to bear in mind.

What is SEO and can it help my Property business?

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the process of getting good rankings in the search engines (top three engines are Google Yahoo and MSN). You should be aiming for good listings in all three. If you run a property business, Internet marketing should be a good part of your marketing mix. Many potential clients now surf the web to look at property before entering the marketplace. If you create a website that is interesting and has appropriate properties for clients you will find that lead generation is relatively simple. A good place to start would be Real Estate Webmasters, as they have many resources and forums, which discuss property topics in detail.

What are Organic Listings/Rankings?

An “organic” search engine listing is a free listing of a site, usually found by a search engine’s spider and then ranked by relevancy according to the search engine’s algorithm. In the good old days it was relatively easy to get a good ranking and it cost very little. However in today’s marketplace be aware that you need significant investment to start the road to good rankings. You are also up against the darker “Blackhat” side of the business, which are always trying to beat the system and a lot of the time they do! Google closes a loophole, but they will find another one!
Be careful in enlisting the help/services of SEO consultants as many will try and guarantee you top 10 rankings etc…If this is the case my advice would be to stay clear. If you do go down this route expect it to take time, go for niche areas to your real estate market and write informative content. Nothing is guaranteed!!

+ves
Once you get there, the rewards are huge as you effectively have the most visited storefront for your keywords. Pick the right ones and your business will explode.
Expansion into other sidelines businesses should also be straightforward once you are riding high.

-ves
Nothing lasts forever and you have to be constantly up to date. It’s a bit of a guessing game and the quality of information can sometimes be poor.
The higher the popularity of your chosen keyword the more expensive it will become and competition increases.

What is PPC?

Pay-per-click (PPC) is a quick way to test your market and can bring your products/services to market instantly. It is a great way to get exposure to your potential clients and with the release of Google Analytics can be combined to really drive excellent ROI.

It can be costly and if you outsource to a company expect them to take at least 10%!

+ves
You set the budget, find your keywords and analyse the results. Ask yourself are you getting a good return on investment? What other marketing medium allows you to do that?
Instant market visibility

-ves
Time consuming
Need good industry knowledge, if you contract out can be costly.
Doesn’t help towards organic listings!

If you have any questions regarding this topic send me an email.