News

Currency Watch: Sterling weaker against most currencies compared to last year

Ivan Radford — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:32:00 GMT

Sterling is weaker against most currencies compared to 12 months ago.

A pound will today buy €1.15, $1.56(USD) and $11.74(HKD) compared to €1.20, $1.59(USD) and $12.30(HKD) a year ago, according to Currencies.co.uk. This can make it hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds more expensive for holiday makers, businesses or investors looking to buy property overseas.

Indeed, with the exception of the Icelandic Krona and the Yen, which has been deliberately devalued by the Japanese government, the pound is now weaker against all of these currencies than this time last year or in the summer of 2012.

Until recently, British buyers benefitted from the Eurozone crisis, which made property and vacations in Spain, France, Greece and Italy relatively cheaper. But buying £50,000 of Euros today will return €6350 less than it would have around the time of the Olympics.

People that want to take a late season skiing trip to countries such as Switzerland or Sweden won't fare much better, while a similar situation faces those visiting or investing in the USA, with the affordability now depending more heavily on low house prices.

Indeed, the American property market is showing signs of recovery but potential holiday homes in a number of areas are still relatively cheap compared to pre-Credit Crunch prices. However, a £50,000 initial investment will today only buy $78,250 compared to $81,100 last summer.

Stephen Hughes, director of Currencies.co.uk commented: "Economic uncertainty, the downgrading of our credit rating and the imminent threat of an unprecedented triple dip recession have all contributed to a steep decline in the value of Sterling against most other major currencies in recent months. This trend may continue into the second half of 2013 with very few signs of a sustained period of recovery coming out of the UK."

Buying property overseas?

For more information on fixed currency rates and other available services, visit out dedicated currency exchange channel: http://currency.themovechannel.com

Green offices on the up in France

Ivan Radford — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:10:00 GMT

The number of green offices is on the up in France, according to Savills.

The firm's latest reports predicts that completions of French office properties certified to HQE (Haute Qualité Environnementale) standard will increase by 61% in 2010 representing some 650,000 sq m, according to Savills. This is compared to a rise of 27% pa in 2008 and 44% pa in 2009.

The international real estate advisor reports that following the open multi-party debate that reunites representatives of national and local government and organisations in France known as Grenelle de l'environnement, which will enforce green standards, investors have shown increasing appetite for newly developed HQE and BBC (Bâtiment Basse Consommation) buildings. Savills finds that such is the demand, property companies solely dedicated to green investments are emerging including newly created PFO2. Meanwhile an increasing number of developers including Bouygues, Hines, Nexity and Cogedim are realising green buildings. The total stock of green buildings in France comprises 233 offices totalling 4.36 million sq m.

Savills reports the majority of green office buildings exceed 5,000 sq m and are located in the suburbs of Paris in Plaine Saint Denis, La Défense or in the Western Crescent showcasing headquarters of companies including Microsoft, Forclum and France Télécom.

Lydia Brissy, associate director of Savills European Research, says: "Corporate responsibility policies are encouraging many occupiers to choose environmental certified properties. Whilst there is no indication at present that rents for green buildings are higher than standard office properties, potential growth in capital values can be achieved through a decline in operating costs. In addition, due to a preference for green buildings we estimate that over 50% are leased before completion thus reducing the risk of vacancy."

ADEME (Ministry of Environement) states French offices represent 40% of the total final consumption of energy and 25% of all gas emission, averaging consumption of between 100 and 110 Kw/h for new premises compared to around 250 Kw/h for existing office buildings. In 2011 all new offices will have to meet low energy consumption standards (<50Kw/h per year per sqm), by 2012 all office projects submitted for planning will have to adhere to BBC (Bâtiment Basse Consommation) and as at 2020 all new buildings will be required to meet positive energy standards.

Magalie Mollet, associate of Savills Paris Research, says: "The trend for green properties is beyond offices. We are aware of 50 retail projects, which have applied for environmental certification in order to save energy levels by up to 50% but also benefit from potential increases in capital values. There is also a trend towards green leases whereby landlords and tenants make a joint commitment to improve environmental quality of a property, ultimately to achieve cost savings."

Great winter sports destinations for 2013

Ivan Radford — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:40:00 GMT

The bad news is that The Big Snow Festival in Sauze D'Oulx, Italy, has been cancelled. The good news is that there's a whole host of lively late-season events set to go off across some of the best destinations for ski holidays in Europe.

Snowbombing in Mayrhofen, Austria

For those seeking thrills and spills both on and off the piste, it doesn't get much better than the Snowbombing Festival in Mayrhofen. From serenely lit forest stages to mountain-top tents - not to mention a huge igloo - Snowbombing brings world class music acts to some of the most unique party venues ever known. This year features Kasabian, Example, Norman Jay MBE, Carl Cox, James Zabiela, Tiga and many, many more.

If the wild parties sound a little too intimidating, seasoned skiers and boarders could get their kicks on the vast number of white-knuckle black runs or just take it easy in the 4* spa hotel. Snowbombing Festival runs between the 1^st and 6^th of April.

Rock the Pistes, Portes du Soleil, France

There are plenty of amazing late-season deals to be found in French resorts. One huge plus for Avoriaz or Morzine is that visitors automatically have access to a huge range of open-air gigs between the 20^th and 24^th of March - just by purchasing a Portes du Soleil lift pass.

Those interested in listening to some excellent French and International artists while enjoying bright sunshine and panoramic views can pick up a studio that sleeps four in Avoriaz or Morzine for as little as £300 per person for the week.

Snowmobiling adventures in Borovets

Not everyone has cottoned on to Bulgaria ski holidays yet, which means intrepid travellers can reap the benefits of queueless lifts and a healthy mixture of gentle, snaking runs and more challenging pistes in deep powder. Spending money goes a lot further too so those with a taste for luxury are more likely to find affordable accommodation here than in some overpriced resorts. Try searching last minute deals with premium operators like Neilson for some stunning chalets that won't break the bank.

Adrenaline-junkies can try a 50-minute snowmobiling adventure for under £40 or couples could opt for a guided candlelit walk through the local forests, finished with a warming meal in a traditional lodge.

Sauze D'Oulx, Italy

So The Big Snow Festival may have been cancelled but Sauze D'Oulx is still a haven for party-mad snow lovers. There is massive range of après ski restaurants, bars and clubs with live music and top quality DJ sets a plenty. There tends to be ample sun shining on the 400km of pisted runs during March and April, with enough trails to suit a snow-ploughing novice or an off-piste expert alike.

Looking for a winter getaway?

Browse our listings of property in the French Alps:

http://france.themovechannel.com/property/french_alps/

5 unforgettable French real estate hotspots

admin — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:56:00 GMT

The problem with French real estate hotspots is that there are so many of them. The country is so big that dream property destinations are all over the place, in the North, South, East and West. And then, of course, there's the centre of Paris.

With such a vast array of property markets to choose from, it can be easy to lose track of where you want to buy, but some places really leave an impression. Indeed, TheMoveChannel.com profiles some of the country's most memorable locations.

Here are five unforgettable French real estate hotspots:

Nantes

Who can forget Nantes? The sixth largest city in France, its location on the Loire River gives Nantes a picturesque quality that is hard to beat. But it's not just pretty landscapes that set apart this popular property destination: its strong economy, innovative industry and environmental efforts have all garnered praise over the years, with Time magazine calling it the most liveable city in Europe.

For more information on property in Rouens, click here

Beziers

Located in the South of France's Heraul department, Beziers is famous for its annual bullfighting event that takes place in August. Combined with its beautiful backdrop of the River Orb and wealth of ancient history, Beziers' blend of culture, tradition and nature makes it one of France's most desirable places to own a second home.

For more information on property in Rouens, click here

Perpignan

Perpignan may not be in the French Riviera but its Mediterranean climate is strikingly similar to France's most desirable area. The city's warm summers and mild winters make it a promising starting point for holiday home hunting, while Salvador Dali once declared its railway station to be the centre of the universe after thinking up his best plans there. Whether you want a pleasant climate or an inspirational transport system, property in Perpignan is a demonstrably good idea.

For more information on property in Rouens, click here

Bergerac

No, not the TV detective. Bergerac is one of the most important towns in the Dordogne region, boasting beautiful medieval buildings, world-class wine and an idyllic riverside location. Old, respectable, alluring and well-known to tourists around the world, maybe it's not that dissimilar to the TV detective after all.

For more information on property in Rouens, click here

Rouen

The home of the Notre Dame cathedral, Rouen's gothic architecture makes it one of the most recognisable cities in the world. Despite its popularity with tourists, though, Notre Dame is predominantly a domestic property market filled with locals and commuters. Nonetheless, the rental prospects make it an attractive place to invest.

For more information on property in Rouens, click here.

Languedoc-Roussillon property bucks French downturn

Ivan Radford — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 10:31:00 GMT

According to the latest data from FNAIM (The National Federation of Property Industry Agents in France) house price growth across the Channel slowed to 0.8% in 2012 and is set to fall by 2% in 2013.

But it's not all doom and gloom with some pockets of France such as Languedoc-Roussillon in the south west experiencing positive price increases. Bucking the nationwide trend, Languedoc-Roussillon recorded an overall 0.5% property price increase with an encouraging 1.8% rise in the price of houses specifically in the region (Q4 2012 vs Q4 2011, FNAIM).

Commenting on this data, Danny Silver, Founder and Managing Partner of The Villages Group, active living resorts for over 50's, says:

"Price falls for 2013 have indeed been widely predicted by agencies such as Standard & Poor's and Orpi but it is naive to think that all regions of France will the affected to the same extent. Q4 2012 actually saw price growth in Ille-de-France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Champagne-Ardenne, Upper Normandy and Languedoc-Roussillon where our new Villages project is located and I see no reason why this growth will not continue in 2013."

Indeed the French themselves remain confident in their market with 77% of nationals surveyed in the latest European real estate assets investment trend indicator 2013 from Ernst & Young agreeing or moderately agreeing that investment activity by international real estate investors will increase in 2013 compared to 2012.

Danny Silver continues,

"France has, for many years, been and will remain one of the most stable property markets in the world. Compared to some markets such as neighbouring Spain, a slowdown in house price growth to 0.8% is nothing and as long as buyers choose the right property, in the right location, for the right reasons then they should not be concerned."

Still fond of France?

Browse our listings of property in Languedoc-Roussillon:

http://france.themovechannel.com/property/languedoc-roussillon/

Eurozone crisis slows rise in global hotel prices

Ivan Radford — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:15:00 GMT

LONDON, March 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Increased buoyancy leads to 3% annual rise but growth held back by slump in European prices, according to latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index

The average price of a hotel room around the world rose by 3% during 2012, compared with the previous year, according to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI). The rate of increase has moderated when judged against the 4% rise in 2011 as the Eurozone's problems pulled down the global average and slowed growth in the second half of the year.

Three regions drew away from the rest. The Caribbean saw a 6% rise, North America had one of its best results in recent years growing at 5% and the Pacific gained 4%, all outpacing the global figure. Asia added 2% and Latin America 1% while the Europe and Middle East region registered a slight fall.

Launched in 2004, the HPI looks at prices that people actually paid for their hotel rooms around the world. The 2012 Index stands at 107, ten points behind its 2007 peak of 117 and only just ahead of its 2005 level of 106.

David Roche, President Global Lodging Group for Expedia, Inc., said: "Europe's hoteliers aren't immune from the region's economic problems, and they weren't able to keep pace with a recovering global market in 2012. Although prices have risen globally, a hotel stay still offers consumers great value, with rates consistently below their peak levels of five years ago."

The Eurozone crisis not only impacted prices in its own territory but had a knock-on effect across the region as financial insecurity dampened travel plans.

In the Caribbean, the trend towards more all-inclusive holidays has pushed up the average price paid. The US saw an influx of international visitors in 2012 which meant hotels had less need for discounting. In the Pacific, the mining boom in Australia and strength of the Australian dollar continued to drive strong city hotel rates but made it difficult for some leisure destinations dependent on inbound demand. Latin America has witnessed a sustained period of growth in prices paid by customers over the past few years, driven primarily by the booming economies in the two key markets of Brazil and Mexico.

In Asia, a roster of events moved prices up and down across the region, including downward pressure on rates in India, due to a precipitous fall of the Rupee, travel demand shifts due to the politically sensitive situation around the islands in the East China Sea, and price bounce-backs from the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan and flooding in Thailand. The continued increase in the number of Chinese international travellers helped fill hotel rooms and the expansion of low cost carriers also boosted travel opportunities.

"International tourism is expected to climb again in 2013," said David Roche. "Much of the focus of the hospitality industry is now moving east, where the rate of increase is the highest and new infrastructure is helping to drive travel patterns. The Asia/Pacific region added twice as many new hotel rooms as Europe in 2012 and will account for 40% of the world's new builds in 2013. Rates here are rising but the region still offers great value for travellers with some of the lowest prices in the world."

For a full copy of the UK version of the HPI, visit http://gb.hotels.com/hotel-price-index/

Fitness guru Jane Fonda joins active retirement trend

Ivan Radford — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:11:00 GMT

The image of retirement has changed dramatically in recent years. With the state pension age creeping up and financial uncertainty on the increase, more and more individuals are facing the prospect of working well beyond their official age of retirement. But it's not just the age of retirees that has changed - these days, a growing number are demanding 'active retirement.'

Prudential's recent Class of 2013 research found that 21% of those surveyed said that they don't like the idea of being at home all the time in retirement, and it's no coincidence that Jane Fonda, herself now in her 70s, has just released a new yoga DVD aimed specifically at those over 50.

The Prudential report also found that 52% of respondents plan to stay physically fit in retirement, 29% plan to improve their mental fitness and 33% plan to spend more time socialising. Research conducted for HSBC's latest Future of Retirement - Why Family Matters report (2011) found the same thing, with around half of all global respondents viewing retirement as a time of happiness, satisfaction and freedom. This freedom is about wanting to keep active, socialise and make the most of their golden years.

Le Village-Canal du Midi in the beautiful Languedoc-Roussillon area of southern France epitomises the new style of active retirement that has become so increasingly in demand. It is run by The Villages Group, which specialises in providing active living communities for those aged 50+. The resort offers luxurious, one-level houses set in the idyllic French countryside.

The emphasis is on active living and the wide range of activities on offer includes tennis, archery, aerobics, equestrian events, sailing, boating and swimming in the village's outdoor and indoor pools. Owners enjoy special membership to the stunning nearby golf course and free bicycle hire. The development even boasts access to four ski resorts, all within a 55 mile radius.

Social engagements abound, with a focus on arts and crafts, music, dance, wine and theatre. Danny Silver, expert in French real estate and MD of The Villages Group, explains the community's ethos,

"The over 50's no longer just want to sit around drinking tea and eating biscuits. Our clients are demanding more from their retirement and are looking to keep fit both physically and mentally. They want to enjoy quality activities and entertainment in a beautiful, sun-drenched setting, so that is exactly what we are providing at Le Village-Canal du Midi.

"As our clients are also concerned about environmental factors, all of the houses have been designed to have low carbon footprints, with glazing positioned to maximise solar gain and high levels of insulation and energy retention. This has the added benefit to our owners of reducing their living costs compared with traditionally built houses."

Looking for an active later life?

Browse our listings of holiday homes in South France, a popular retirement hotspot:

http://france.themovechannel.com/property/provence-alpes-cote_d%27azur/

Prime ski properties most important for buyers

Ivan Radford — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 12:05:00 GMT

Ski properties in super-prime locations are the most popular among buyers, according to Athena Advisors.

The company's research shows that as the half way period for the ski season approaches, over 89% of the company's ski property enquiries this season have been for chalets and apartments within less than 100m walk from pistes, lifts and local amenities.

"Investors like super-prime locations as they provide the best returns, but we're now seeing more lifestyle purchasers, like families, request such properties it means their children don't have to travel far by foot," said Nicholas Leach at Athena Advisors.

"Properties in super-prime locations very rarely changed hands so buyers with budgets of €150,000 to €500,000 are normally priced out. However, occasionally buyers can get their hands on properties in great locations without the customary seven-figure price tag."

Indeed, today Athena launched Les Fermes de Chatel, a brand new collection of ski properties in Chatel, which occupy a perfect location at the top of the village, in front of the slopes and adjacent to the Super-Chatel ski lift.

"Les Fermes de Chatel definitely has a super-prime location, yet its price tag would suggest the opposite. it is highly rare for a new collection of ski properties to be in such a position, especially in a resort such as Chatel," added Leach.

"We expect these new properties to be in very high demand, not only because of their build quality and location in the village, but also because of Chatel and all the reasons which have made this resort so popular with international alpine enthusiasts - and especially with the announcement of the new lift linking Linga and Super Chatel."

Taking to the slopes this spring?

Browse our listings of properties in the French Alps:

http://france.themovechannel.com/property/french_alps/

Currency Watch: Sterling slips to new low

Ivan Radford — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:31:00 GMT

Sterling slipped to a new low this week against the dollar.

Exchange rates with the USD dropped to 1.5130 on Thursday, the lowest level since July 2010, as fears of a UK economic downturn continue.

The Bank of England's recent discussions to introduce more quantitative easing to help improve UK finances have not helped concerns.

"It was one-way traffic for the pound yesterday," explains currency broker UK Forex. "MPC Minutes were released by the Bank of England at 9:30 and showed that 3 members voted for an increase in QE, compared to just 1 member last month. Governor King was one of those in favour of more stimulus, to the tune of £2.3bln in fact.

"The minutes also showed that members discussed cutting interest rates and the conclusion was that more measures were required by the central bank to stimulate the UK economy. The pound fell sharply from 1.5440 to 1.5295 against the dollar as a result. Employment numbers released at the same time, although coming in around forecast, were shrugged off.

"It didn't get any better for cable come the end of the day when US FOMC Meeting Minutes were released and showed that the Fed were more hawkish than last time around. The statement suggested that Fed members saw more of a reduction in risk and were happy that the US economy was on a "moderate growth path". A number of participants also saw holding off from further QE and even ending QE as advisable. The dollar immediately firmed across the board including vs. the pound and GBP/USD eventually fell."

GBP has improved slightly against the euro, though, thanks to new French and German data released this week.

Looking to buy property abroad? Find out more information about the currency services available at our dedicated channel:

http://currency.themovechannel.com

Only 3% of UK retirees want to live with their kids

Ivan Radford — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 12:33:00 GMT

Research conducted for HSBC's latest Future of Retirement - Why Family Matters report (2011) has revealed that whilst the majority of Brits nearing retirement would like to live near their kids and grandchildren, only a very small minority would be happy to spend their twilight years actually living under the same roof as their offspring.

Whilst over half of women surveyed globally (56%) said that it was very important for them to be able to live near their family on reaching retirement, men were slightly less emphatic about the prospect with only 44% of them stating they would prefer to live near their children in their old age.

But it seems that close is close enough in the UK at least, as only 3% of the UK-based survey respondents said that they would like to actually live with their children or another family member, under the same roof, when they retire.

Danny Silver, international property expert and partner of The Villages Group, Canal du Midi, an active living resort for the over 50s nestled in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of South West France comments,

"Compared to other parts of the world such as Asia or southern Europe where multigenerational living is common, here in the UK we're not so keen to adopt 'Royale Family' style living in our golden years. Indeed whilst being close to family and friends is important to many over 50's, technological advances and indeed better transportation links enable more and more people to remain connected with their loved ones whilst being physically further away."

Interestingly the HSBC survey also revealed that around half of all global respondents viewed retirement as an age with largely positive associations - a time of happiness, satisfaction and freedom. However, retirement also carries with it negative connotations, with one-third expressing fears about potential financial hardship with this fear much more pronounced among those rapidly nearing retirement age. Such worries have been brought to a head by the impact of the global financial crisis which has forced many adults to work well into their retirement.

But what constitutes a happy retirement? 70% said not having to worry about money but with 64% admitting to being concerned that they would not be able to cope financially in retirement, is moving in with the kids the only option left?

Mr Silver says no:

"Whilst preparing financially for your retirement is of course prudent, over 50's shouldn't feel trapped, there are choices out there for every budget. It is well known that retiring overseas, across the Channel in France for example, is cheaper due to the lower cost of living. Here at Canal du Midi, you can buy a detached eco-friendly, energy saving 'maison' and live, with all expenses covered, for €35 per person per week. That's considerably less than the UK state pension allowance!"

Situated in south west France just a couple of hours by air from the UK, The Villages Group will provide a community of 107 villas on the banks of the Canal du Midi. This village site will afford full on-site amenities including tennis courts, indoor pool, gymnasium and quality entertainment and cultural programmes, perfect for living an active and fulfilling life within a community of like-minded individuals.

For those thinking about a place to live a great life at an affordable price, the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France will make for a wonderful place for your retirement years. Don't retire from something; have something to retire to.

Looking for a relaxing retirement?

Browse our listings of French property:

Http://france.themovechannel.com/property/all

Let it snow: Ski property market builds momentum

Ivan Radford — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:42:00 GMT

Photo credit: KitLKat

The ski property market in the Alps is building up momentum as the 2012/2013 season looks set to achieve record snow falls.

Visitor numbers and hotel bookings are both up, according to the latest report from Alpine Homes in association with Savills, with diligent investors returning steadily to the slopes.

"New Year brings fresh snow and fresh buyers," explains Jeremy Rollason, managing director of Alpine Homes, who notes that 2012 was a "good year" for the ski property market, with sales rising by 30 per cent over 2011, asking prices in 72 per cent of resorts in Austria, France and Switzerland stable or up, and occupancy rates much improved.

Now, the momentum is building.

"Activity has increased significantly," comments Rollason. "We have made four sales in both Austria and Switzerland so far in January. Resorts include Zell am See and Turracher Höhe in Austria and The Four Valleys in Switzerland. Prices range from €330,000 in Austria up to Chf 2 million in Switzerland. Buyers are however also active in the higher price bracket, typically Chf 5m- Chf15m, but there is a dearth of buyers above this point."

Property viewings are also up by one-third from the same time last year, with February half-term expected to be busy with "shoppers", boosted by the strong snow fall.

"Recent snow fall has certainly helped tourist numbers, which in turn helps the property market," adds Rollason.

"However, levels of activity and sale volumes do not necessarily equate to increased sales prices. Many vendors remain firmly implanted in a pre-crisis vacuum of market denial. Some still need to realise that alpine property prices took a dip in the period 2008-2010, stabilised in 2011, and only in certain cases, have they started rising again.

"For anyone looking to sell a second hand property, the clear message is that prices need to be at least 20% below the equivalent new build asking price in their resort. This is less applicable for more recently built property, however anything over 10-15 years old can become tired or outdated, especially if it has been rented out, and may need a degree of refurbishment. Buyers of second homes rarely want the hassle of having to oversee a renovation project in a foreign country."

In Switzerland, much has been made of the new legislation that came into effect on 1st January 2013, capping the number of second homes permitted at 20%.

"[It's] good news for existing second home owners (with values widely predicted to rise), but not such good news for the construction industry in Switzerland which accounts for more than 5% of GDP," says Rollason.

"Every cloud has a silver lining however, as almost simultaneously, certain cantons, including Valais and Vaud, are now permitting Swiss nationals to re-sell their properties to non-Swiss nationals after five years of ownership. So, even though buyers may not be able to buy a new home in Switzerland in the future, this will ensure second home liquidity, subject to the usual restrictions."

A weak pound may be good for the UK economic recovery, he continues, but is less welcome for those buying abroad. Nonetheless, he concludes: "On a positive note, finance, both within the Eurozone and Switzerland, remains accessible and affordable. Swiss borrowing rates remain the lowest in Europe."

Ready to hit the slopes?

Browse our listings of property in the French Alps:

http://france.themovechannel.com/property/french_alps/

Guide to buying luxury real estate in France: Var

admin — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:17:00 GMT

Luxury real estate portal FinestGlobal.com offer tips and advice on the world's top high-end real estate hotspots.

Concluding Finest Global's series profiling the French Riviera, the portal turns its attention to one last area in the Provence-Alpes-Cote_d'Azur: Var.

What does Var have to offer a wealthy property buyer? Intersected by the river Var (from which it takes its name) and home to the French Navy's main port of Toulon, the department is bordered by Alpes-Maritimes, Bouches-du-Rhone and the other department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. The most important border, though, is with the Mediterranean Sea. With resorts and culture aplenty along the coast, the question is: what doesn't the department have to offer?

Here is Finest Global's guide to buying luxury property in Var:

Climate

The department of Var has a Mediterranean climate that actually beats nearby Nice and neighbouring Alpes-Maritime for temperature. With more sunlight and heat and less rain, Var has a few days of strong wind ever year but makes up for it with almost 3,000 hours of sunlight: a guarantee that holiday home owners will always enjoy their vacations.

Lifestyle

Primarily based around Toulon, the population spreads into La Seyne-sur-Mer and other coastal hotspots to soak up the sun in the famous resort of Saint-Tropez. Combined with medieval architecture, wines and the longest sand beach on the coast, Var's expanse of history, culture, hilltop villages and watersports ensures that residents will never run out of things to do.

Economy

Once reliant upon Toulon's port, Var's economy is now drive by tourism, with the population surging by several thousand during the summer months. This, combined with overseas spending on high-end real estate, ensures that owners of property in Var are surrounded by a wealth of investors and opportunities.

For more information on luxury property in France, click here.

French investment market hits €16.8 billion in 2012

Ivan Radford — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 12:20:00 GMT

French real estate investment transactions hit a total volume of €16.8 billion last year, according to Savills, marking an annual growth of 4.5 per cent and ranking above the 10-year average of €14.2 billion.

The "unexpected" rise has been attributed to a growing number of large deals, with portfolio sales up from 14 per cent to 36 per cent compared to last year. The firm's data records 46 deals over €100 million in 2012, against 40 in 2011.

Boris Cappelle, head of investment at Savills France, says: "2012 was a surprisingly good year for the French investment market, which was boosted by the rise in transactions over €100 million as well as a few deals above the €500 million mark. This is mostly a result of ongoing activity from Qatari buyers interested in French trophy assets and portfolios. These portfolios include prime assets in all sectors located both in Ile-de-France and across the country."

Savills notes that the French office market continues to dominate activity, accounting for 62% of the total investment volume in 2012 and expects prime office yields to remain at 4.25%. Retail, industrial and serviced properties accounted for 18%, 5% and 15% respectively according to the firm's research. Of those investments directed at serviced-properties (which include hotels, student housing, care homes, serviced-apartments and leisure), 12.5% were concentrated in the hotel sector on account of several key transactions. These include the purchase of a portfolio of four French trophy hotels by Katara Hospitality for €750 million, 52 avenue des Champs Elysées for €515 million by Qatar Investment Authority and a portfolio of 167 French B&B hotels for €508 million by Foncière des Murs.

Marie-Josée Lopes, head of research at Savills France, comments: "The French investment market ended 2012 looking healthy. With ongoing interest from international investors and a number of significant deals already in the pipeline we expect the investment volume to reach between €6 to 8 billion by the end of H1 2013."

Browse our listings of French investment property:

http://france.themovechannel.com/property/commercial

CEE office market growing more quickly than Western Europe

Ivan Radford — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:40:00 GMT

Despite a lack of available development financing Central & Eastern Europe's (CEE) office market is generally still growing much more quickly than the majority of its Western European counterparts, according to the latest research from global property advisor CBRE.

Most of the office development is visible in Russia and Poland, while markets in Central Europe (CE) generally have considerably less office space currently under construction. The increased availability of office space and slowing employment has caused occupiers to move from older to new office space. Offices developed in the early 2000s on the back of increased occupier requirements have faced increased competition in the last few years, with occupiers moving to new office space. With yields softening in the non-prime office market and rents being generally low, opportunities are increasing in the value-add segment of the market.

Jos Tromp, Head of CEE Research & Consultancy, CBRE, commented:

"Increased office development activity should have a positive impact on take-up in 2013; however, general vacancy levels are not expected to come down in most markets. This situation is unlikely to change before considerable economic growth returns, which should stimulate occupiers to consider increasing employment levels again. Owners of outdated office space need to become more aggressive in order to compete with more competitive offers available on the market. This means that rents need to be reconsidered and upgrades to existing space have to become a more common practice. Retaining occupancy levels is of the highest priority as net absorption remains low."

Despite the fact that some of the devaluations on non-prime offices are already reflected in current values, it is anticipated that values in this segment will come under further scrutiny during 2013. Anticipated portfolio sales are expected to reflect the urgent requirement for upgrades to older existing buildings, especially in non-prime locations.

Mike Atwell, Head of CEE Capital Markets, CBRE, commented:

"Structural vacancy is increasing in CEE's office market; a trend that was seen in Western Europe in the early 2000s when the Dot-Com bubble burst and too much office space was under construction. As most of the older stock was built around 10-15 years ago, the relatively low standards and considerably increased client requirements have caused these buildings to fall away from being of marketable quality."

Office take-up decreased by 12% in CEE year-on-year (y-o-y), with a few positive exceptions. Warsaw particularly saw a strong year with an increased take-up of 9% compared to 2011. Prague, Budapest and Bucharest faced weak take-up, generally 25% below 2011-levels, with additional renewal activity pushing up total leasing activity to twice that level in the case of Budapest for example. Moscow's take-up was roughly 15% down y-o-y, partially caused by the below average pipeline under construction.

Looking for office space to rent around the world?

Visit www.servicedofficesolutions.com

Guide to luxury property in South France: Bouches-du-Rhone

admin — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:10:00 GMT

Luxury real estate portal FinestGlobal.com offer tips and advice on the world's top high-end real estate hotspots.

Luxury property. French Riviera. The terms are almost synonymous thanks to the high demand for real estate in France. High-end villas, prestige homes; international buyers snap them all up without hesitation.

Want to join them but don't know enough about the area?

Finest Global continues its focus on the South of France with its guide to luxury property in Bouches-du-Rhone:

Climate

The region has a Mediterranean climate with all the benefits that entails: dry summers and dry winters too, with temperatures going from hot to mild without any major discomfort. Even the cold wind from the Rhone valley that blows in during the spring cannot disrupt its welcoming, comfortable atmosphere.

Lifestyle

Bouches-du- Rhone is the most populous department of the Provence-Alpes-Cote-d'Azur and with good reason: it is home to the city of Marseille and Aix-en-Provence. With their range of cultural activities and such a beautiful coastal environment, it is no surprise that the region's residents have included Vincent van Gogh, who painted the landscape a lot.

Economy

Home to the port of Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhone has historically relied upon trade as a main source of finance, but over the years, while fishing and trade remain important, the Old Port has evolved into a marina area, full of restaurants, bars and hotels - a reflection of the wealth that has been poured into the area, both by real estate investors and companies.

For more information on luxury homes in France, click here.

French agent expands into US property

Ivan Radford — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:48:00 GMT

Leggett Immobillier, one of the foremost estate agencies in France, has announced that they will be marketing properties and new developments in the USA.

Chief Executive, Trevor Leggett, comments: "Our business in France has grown enormously over the last few years and we thought that the timing was right to tackle the US market. American real estate has been in the doldrums since the late 1990's but international demand and low stock levels have meant that both prices and transaction levels are beginning to rise.

"Florida in particular is an investment hub for Latin American investors and I saw first hand on a recent trip to China that Asian investors also see prime property in the USA as a secure home in a transparent market that is easily available to them.

"We have particularly close links with buyers from the UK & France and we look forward to helping them come to the table. Standard & Poors, JP Morgan and Barclays Capital are just three of the big names that have forecast a significant upturn in prices of US real estate over the coming years."

"Leggetts take great pride in our customer service and family values and we believe that this is the ideal time to extend these into other markets," added Leggett.

As well as a range of individual houses & apartments Leggett USA will be marketing new developments and even individual building plots. As an example, in Ocala, Florida they are marketing a range of freehold building plots from around $40,000. The site is in the heart of Ocala (the horse capital of the USA) and all the infrastructure is already in place, with some investors already having built their homes. An interest free payment plan is being offered by the developers who will also design & build your property if required.

At the other end of the price spectrum they are also marketing some of the finest new developments in Southern Florida including property within the exclusive resorts of Coconut Grove, Palm Beach, Boca Raton and Bal Harbour.

Guide to buying luxury property in the French Riviera: Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

admin — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:51:00 GMT

Luxury real estate experts FinestGlobal.com offer tips and advice on the world's top high-end real estate hotspots.

When it comes to French property, Côte d'Azur is king. The area's famous beaches and celebrity residents makes it the most popular region in France for real estate - and luxury real estate is no exception.

Want to join the crowds and pick up a prestigious new home? Here is FinestGlobal's guide to buying luxury property in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat:

Climate

Tranquil beaches, green landscapes and warm winters... Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is one of the most sought-after destinations for wealthy holidaymakers and second home buyers. With temperatures that drop below 10°C for only a few weeks every year, its sheltered location on a peninsula from the southern coast of France makes Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat as close to perfection as it gets.

Lifestyle

Old lighthouses and churches give Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat a strong sense of history. Indeed, for as long as locals can remember, Cap-Ferrat has been the destination of choice thanks to its high quality of life and sumptuous cuisine. And, of course, there are the glorious beaches such as Passable and Paloma. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is known as one of the pearls of the French Riviera - and with good reason.

Economy

Tourists flock to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat every year to see the circuit of yachts and wealthy residents as well as to lap up the sunshine on the pristine coast. The hotel industry is a strong source of income for the area - not to mention, of course, the thriving luxury real estate sector.

For more information on Valbonne and other luxury property in Côte d'Azur, visit www.finestglobal.com

French commercial property deteriorating faster than Greece

Ivan Radford — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 13:00:00 GMT

The commercial property market in France is deteriorating faster than Greece, Italy and Spain, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

The latest RICS Global Commercial Property Survey shows that although investors risk appetite is improving in some European countries, the majority of commercial property markets across the region recorded falling occupier activity and negative expectations for rents and capital values during the last quarter of 2012 - and France is leading the decline.

In the rest of the world, sentiment in real estate markets generally remained reasonably positive. Nowhere is this more the case than in Asia, where the results for both occupier and investment markets paint a fairly robust picture. Both, for rent and capital values, the survey points to further healthy increases in Thailand, Hong Kong and China.

In the European occupier market, conditions were broadly unchanged compared to last quarter, with the majority of countries covered in the survey recording falling tenant demand and a negative outlook on rents. The best performing markets remain Germany and Russia.

Sentiment in the Russian real estate market remains firm with a material imbalance between the demand for, and supply of, prime space helping to underpin rental expectations. And Germany continues to buck the wider trend in Europe with both occupier and investment demand still on a rising path, although in both cases not by as much as a year ago.

According to the survey, a moderate Improvement in investor risk appetite in some European markets (such as Ireland, Germany, Russia, Scandinavia, Greece, Switzerland and Belgium), widely attributed to the European Central Bank's Outright Monetary Transaction (OMT) programme which effectively enables the ECB to act as lender of resort to euro zone governments, should lay the groundwork for an eventual recovery in the economy and commercial property sector over the medium term. But RICS warns that the coming year is likely to remain challenging.

Financial market conditions have improved markedly, including a significant compression in euro zone sovereign bond spreads. However, this has yet to feed through to the real economy, where private sector lending is still contracting at the headline level. This partly explains why capital value expectations remain negative in the majority of cases (the split between those countries expecting rising and falling rents was unchanged on the quarter).

Commenting on the Q4 survey results, Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist, said:

"Asia appears to remain a particularly attractive location for investors seeking out commercial real estate assets with sentiment still strongly positive. But just as interesting is the emerging trend in the UAE, where the mood is improving in a material way after the most calamitous of downturns, and the US, which now seems to be firmly in recovery mode.

Of course, the global economy continues to face significant risks but the numbers suggest that property continues to be viewed in a generally positive light away from Europe where the news flow for real estate still remains particularly challenging. Here, the expected flow of distressed properties is continuing to undermine any prospect for a more stable trend across much of the region and while this may be prompting a slight uptick in investment enquiries from opportunistic investors in some markets, it is contributing to the continued weakness in capital values away from the most sought after locations."

Still confident in commercial real estate?

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Guide to buying luxury property in Cote D'Azur: Valbonne

admin — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 14:20:00 GMT

Luxury real estate experts FinestGlobal.com offer tips and advice on the world's top high-end real estate hotspots.

Sun. Sea. Sumptuous surroundings. Smartly dressed people. Luxury property in the French Riviera remains the top choice for fans of high-end real estate and it's little wonder why: the stunning coastline alone is enough to inspire a purchase, no matter what the price tag.

The jewel in the Cote d'Azur crown? Valbonne.

Here's Finest Global's guide to buying luxury property in Valbonne:

Climate

Located halfway along the Brague River, Valbonne has a very similar climate to nearby Nice: warm summers, little rain and mild temperatures throughout the year. Sheltered from harsh winds, it's an ideal climate a luxury second home, made even more beautiful by the Brague River as well as the coast.

Lifestyle

From golf clubs to beaches, "The Good Valley" promises residents all the traditional activities associated with the French Riviera. The old village, dating back to the 16^th Century, has a historical charm that brings a sense of heritage and culture to the area. Combined with its climate and Valbonne easily lives up to its name.

Economy

Valbonne's village may be old, but nearby is one of the most modern things on the French Riviera: the Sophia Antipolis technology park. An important research area, supported by universities and institutes, the institute drives the area's economy, alongside the consistent income from investors and tourists.

For more information on Valbonne and other luxury property in France, visit www.finestglobal.com

Currency Watch: Sterling continues slow start to 2013

Ivan Radford — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:39:00 GMT

Sterling has continued its slow start to 2013 with sentiment on the British pound still low.

Standing against the US Dollar continued to benefit American buyers, with rates threatening to break 1.5900, with the GBP weakened thanks to fears surrounding the UK's recession-hit economy.

"UK manufacturing PMI is due this morning," reports currency broker UK Forex, "and if better than expected might provide the momentum for GBP/USD to make it through. If it does and taking a medium term view this might provide opportunities for investors to buy dollars as the outlook for the UK economy remains bleak, evidenced by the weak GDP data released last week."

"Across the pond yesterday US data came in generally weaker than forecast (this included unemployment claims and personal spending) and it dragged on the greenback," added the broker.

The Euro, meanwhile, is looking strong against the dollar as the ECB announced in January that banks would be repaying 30pc of the LTRO at the end of the month. Even disappointing German retail sale data has not hampered the strengthening of the currency, although the USD is expected to continue to improve.

For more information on currency exchange services with UK Forex, visit our currency channel:

http://currency.themovechannel.com

Where are you going on holiday in 2013? Thomas Cook tries to guess...

Ivan Radford — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:31:00 GMT

LONDON, January 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

• Thomas Cook predictions for holidays in 2013

• Canary Islands feature in top five lists for both summer and winter breaks

• 4.5 million people have visited their website since Christmas to catch a glimpse of advanced deals for 2013 holidays

As Thomas Cook's recent surveys discovered, many people decided to stay in the UK in 2012. For many this was the unfortunate result of the country's economic woes while for others it was simply in response to iconic events happening on home soil.

The dawn of a new year means change though. And although there are not too many exciting events on our shores in 2013, thankfully economic predictions are looking more positive. Rather than getting out the crystal ball, the leading travel agent polled more than 2,000 people to put together their predictions for holidays over the coming years.

The complete package

There are plenty of cheap package holidays waiting to be snapped up by lucky holidaymakers. Thomas Cook's surveys predicted that Paris will be the top city destination of the year and they've got plenty of offers to help make this the case. A romantic break in Paris, visiting the Louvre and the Eiffel tower, is perfect for couples both young and old.

Likewise, Thomas Cook predicts that Tunisia will be near the top for winter getaways. Searches are up by almost half (40%) for trips here and with everyone wanting to get away from the terrible British weather cheap holidays to Tunisia guarantee sun on a budget.

Year-round popularity

In addition to these top locations, Thomas Cook also predicts that some destinations will be so versatile that they'll entice both winter and summer travellers. Featuring in their top 5 lists for both summer and winter breaks, the Canary Islands are one spot which is sure to get its fair share of travellers this year.

According to Thomas Cook's research, searches for these islands are up 17% on last year. Whilst Tenerife is likely to remain the most popular of the three islands, Thomas Cook expects its sisters to lessen the gap as searches for Lanzarote holidays have grown by 13%.

The early bird catches the worm

Proving that you can never be too prepared, Thomas Cook has also made predictions for next year's Christmas breaks. For those who missed out on snow-covered scenes this year, winter wonderlands such as Lapland are sure to be popular as searches are already up 146%. For those after an active winter break, ski holidays to Austria and Bulgaria have also experienced increases of 54% and booking early could generate significant savings on trips to these winter wonderlands.

Guide to buying luxury property in Cote D'Azur: Nice

admin — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:15:00 GMT

Luxury real estate experts FinestGlobal.com offer tips and advice on the world's top high-end real estate hotspots.

When it comes to luxury, the French Riviera is the first port of call for many overseas buyers. And who can blame them? The port of Nice, for example, helped it to become the city it is today: a global destination for the world's wealthiest and finest.

Never been to the Cote d'Azur? Never fear.

Here is Finest Global's guide to buying luxury property in Nice:

Climate

Nice is almost the perfect word to describe Nice's climate. The Mediterranean environment provides mild temperatures all year round with warm, dry summer and only a small amount of rain. And snow? Forget about that. If snowfall does happen, it's treated as a rare, special event.

Lifestyle

The Bay of the Angels and Promenade of the English is a popular area for British holiday home buyers with its palatial hotels and idyllic coastline. Nice's lifestyle is easily summed up by its relaxing shores and stunning weather, but its ancient history promises archaeological sites of interest and a vast range of museums, complimented by modern cultural events such as the Nice Jazz Festival.

Economy

The port of Nice has grown from a fishing hub to a major connection point between France and Corsica, alongside a wealth of private yachts. Combined with the nearby technology park of Sophia Antipolis and conference centres, the city remains a hub of activity for both world-class institutes and top-flight businessmen.

For more information on luxury homes in Nice, click here.

Guide to buying luxury property in Cote D'Azur: Antibes

admin — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:36:00 GMT

Luxury real estate experts Finest Global offer tips and advice on the world's top high-end real estate hotspots.

The French Riviera, one of the world's first modern resort area and still one of the best. When it comes to prestigious holiday homes, Cote D'Azur is the place to be seen. Preferably in the nicest home on the market.

That's where Finest Global comes in. The luxury real estate portal gives the lowdown on the classiest places to buy a luxury home on the most exclusive coastline on the planet.

Ready to join the thousands of non-French residents? Here is a guide to buying luxury property in Antibes.

Climate

Sitting between Cannes and Nice, Antibes' Mediterranean climate has drawn wealthy buyers from around for the world for years. The town's reputation is almost as high as its summer temperatures of 30 degrees, while its 16 miles of coastline only pushes its appeal even higher.

Lifestyle

Home to the National Training Centre of basketball, Antibes is an important sporting destination, but the world-class cuisine and plentiful sunshine, combined with its range of museums, parks and theatre ensure that you don't have to run around to have a good time. Jazz lovers will particularly enjoy the Juan les Pins Jazz Festival, one of the most prestigious in the world.

Economy

Antibes' economy is supported by its thriving port, which provides moorings to everything from small fishing vessels, which supply the local restaurants, to the glamorous yachts of the wealthy residents, who inject their own capital into the area.

For more information on luxury homes in Antibes, click here.

Confidence in European real estate on the up

Ivan Radford — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:04:00 GMT

Confidence in European real estate is on the up this year, according to Ernst & Young.

The firm's Real Estate investments Indicator 2013, released this month, saw investors agree that transaction volumes would rise this year thanks to increased cross border transactions and ongoing inflationary pressures. However, there are mixed fortunes by country for M&A in the sector.

Hartmut Fründ, Global Transaction Real Estate Leader comments,

"Global capital markets are yet to regain pre-crisis levels of liquidity, but there are suggestions that the economic climate is looking more favorable for real estate investments. Both volumes and transaction size in 2013 are likely to exceed levels seen in 2012."

The report also highlights that while some new regulations are likely to make traditional sources of financing harder to access for real estate investors, alternative sources of debt funding could become more plentiful.

Almost three-quarters of investors surveyed say that the continued weakness in the Eurozone economy will strengthen European investors' activity in the real estate markets. This highlights the ongoing flight into real estate assets by investors around Europe. This is a reversal from a year ago, when the appetite for such transactions was limited as investors waited to see how the crisis would develop.

However, the picture varies across the continent. Certain non-Eurozone countries, such as the UK, are currently comparatively more attractive for real estate investments than certain Eurozone countries. Similarly the southern and some peripheral European real estate markets are viewed with relatively more caution than central or Northern European markets.

Respondents from 13 of the 15 countries also believe that inflationary pressures will propel investors toward real estate assets which are traditionally seen as a natural hedge against inflation in the medium term. More than 80% of investors in Germany, France and Switzerland agree that inflationary fears will underpin real estate investment in contrast to just 20% in Italy.

Investors remain concerned about the impact of a more stringent regulatory environment on the availability of debt financing, particularly Basel III. All those surveyed expect Basel III to make loans less appealing for banks and lead to further restraint in the mortgage business. Austria, Sweden and the UK were among the strongest proponents of this view, with 85%, 83% and 81% of respondents, respectively, saying that they were in agreement.

At the same time, other recent directives could create new funding resources. In the case of Solvency II regulation, a majority of respondents from most European countries see potential for insurance companies and pension funds to act as debt providers for real estate investments in the future, with only Italian respondents disagreeing.

Fründ comments, "Real estate financing has been changing and will continue to do so, affecting the financial power of potential buyers. Nevertheless, market participants expect new ways of financing to be found, since most investors anticipate a rise in transaction volumes despite new regulation."

According to the majority of respondents the price of both office and retail property across Europe is expected to rise or at least remain stable.

Office prices in peripheral locations such as the eastern part of Europe, particularly Russia and Turkey, are seen as having strong growth potential. This is also the case with retail properties.

Despite the optimism about the rising price of office properties, respondents felt it was less likely to be an investment focus in 2013 than in 2012. By contrast, investors in most countries are likely to keep at least some focus on retail properties.

Residential properties, however, will retain a strong to moderate focus in most of the countries surveyed, with the exception of Italy, Spain and Luxembourg, while in Germany and Switzerland they remain highly sought after.

Across Europe, nearly three-quarters of respondents expect transaction volumes in 2013 to exceed levels seen in 2012, with only respondents in Italy disagreeing that volumes are likely to increase.

The average size of deals is also expected to rise, according to the majority of respondents, with just Spain and Italy predicting little improvement in deal size.

Fründ concludes, "The upward trend appears to be driven at least in part by an expectation of increased cross-border investment activity, with a majority of respondents in 12 of the 15 countries surveyed predicting higher levels of interest from international real estate investors in 2013, compared with 2012."

Nevertheless limited availability for debt funding will remain an obstacle. "Furthermore the ongoing price mismatch between buyers and sellers could also act as a brake on deal flows."

Still pro-Europe?

Browse our listings of real estate in France for sale:

http://france.themovechannel.com/property/all

Jones Lang LaSalle finds global investment capital leans towards real estate

Ivan Radford — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 10:53:00 GMT

Report shows commercial real estate direct investment volume will more than double to US$1 trillion by 2030; Asia Pacific region leads investment growth since crisis.

DAVOS-KLOSTERS, Switzerland, Jan. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As business and political leaders discuss global challenges at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, a new report by Jones Lang LaSalle (NYSE: JLL) reveals that investors are already responding to shifting economic conditions by funnelling more capital into commercial real estate, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. In fact, the firm estimates that the direct commercial real estate transactional market will exceed US$1 trillion per annum by 2030, compared with 2012 volumes of nearly US$450 billion .

"Capital growth ambitions that dictated many investment decisions before the financial crisis have given way to a global hunt for secure income streams in a low-interest-rate environment," said Colin Dyer, President and CEO of Jones Lang LaSalle. "While real estate asset values have shown no immunity to the financial shocks of recent years, real estate nevertheless is emerging as a preferred option for many investors."

The report, "The Advancement of Real Estate as a Global Asset Class," finds that:

Asia Pacific has outpaced other regions in real estate activity since the global financial crisis, achieving commercial real estate investment volume in 2012 equal to 77 percent of the previous peak reached in 2007. The Americas have only reached 62 percent of that level, while Europe's investment volume is 46 percent of its peak amount.
The impact of the growing pool of capital seeking exposure to real estate can be substantial. A 1.2 percent reallocation to real estate by the 30 largest sovereign wealth funds would increase capital allocation by US$50 billion, equivalent to the entire Sydney CBD office market.

Investors are targeting a limited number of super-prime assets, chiefly office and retail buildings in major gateway cities, that have emerged as the most desired assets for some institutional investors intent on owning the most stable, best-located assets, fully leased to the most desirable tenants. Competitive bidding has driven prices on many of these properties up to and beyond pre-crisis levels.

Investment portfolios shift toward real estate

Across eleven major global markets, spreads between real bond rates and prime-grade office market yields are on average 195 basis points wider now than in the fourth quarter of 2007, JLL found. Those higher returns are convincing many investors to increase exposure to real estate.

"With sovereign bond market yields at multi-decade, and in some cases multi-century, lows, and with the outlook for capital growth subdued, yield becomes a core driver of investment returns," said Dyer. "The spread between real estate and sovereign debt yields remains high, offering generous compensation to investors for the additional risk associated with real estate."

To a lesser extent, increased allocations to real estate also reflect investor efforts to reduce risk by diversifying away from the traditional portfolio mainstays of bonds and equities, JLL's report concludes.

Asia Pacific real estate takes the lead

The Asia Pacific region is emerging as the long-term winner in the global contest for investment capital, boosted by the rise of domestic pension funds and private wealth. Since 2008, strong economic growth that contrasted with recessionary contraction in Europe and North America has fuelled real estate activity.

Operational challenges, low levels of liquidity and in some cases undeveloped capital markets currently constrain institutional investment in the region, which partly explains why most western institutions are underweighted in the Asia Pacific region relative to the size of its real estate markets. Over the long term, however, JLL expects relative portfolio weightings to move in favour of the region as high rates of saving, rapid urbanisation, the inexorable rise of the middle classes and evidence of improving transparency increase investor confidence and interest in the region.

More trends explored

JLL's report identifies several other trends emerging around the globe, including efforts to increase transparency, the rapidly expanding practice of sale-leasebacks in Asia, and the increasing pace of renovations or replacement of aging real estate to better meet the needs of modern commercial tenants.

European commercial property shows signs of resilience

Ivan Radford — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:52:00 GMT

The high end of the commercial property market in Europe is showing strong signs of resilience, according to CBRE.

The firm's latest report shows that while the recession continues to affect market activity, rents continued to rise in the retail sector in the final quarter of 2012.

Rents were effectively flat in the office and industrial sectors, while yields for retail and office property saw some downward movement. For the survey as a whole, though, more locations recorded rental increases than declines, and more saw a drop in yields than an increase. Improvements were most evident in locations with stronger economic fundamentals, or those that are proving most attractive to real estate investors. By contrast, many of the weaker signals were concentrated in southern Europe, smaller CEE markets and regional UK.

At aggregate level, yield movements in Q4 2012 were moderate - as has been the case for some time now - but the direction of movement was notable. The office yield for the EU-15 dropped by four basis points following four consecutive quarters of increase, while the retail yield fell by five basis points after a small rise in Q3. Yields for industrial property were effectively unchanged. Yield improvements were highly concentrated in markets that attracted increased investor interest in Q4, notably Germany, but also France and Ireland. Conversely, Spain, Portugal and several regional UK markets were the focus of yield increases over the quarter.

Economic uncertainty is restricting user demand and, as a result, office and industrial rents were virtually unchanged during the quarter. Where rents did rise in these sectors, it was mainly in Germany and the Nordics. The prime retail market is the main area of rental momentum and a 2.1% rise in Q4 took the year-on-year growth rate to 5.0%, its highest level since 2008. Increases in both London and Paris contributed strongly to this rise.

Richard Holberton, Director of EMEA Research at CBRE, said: "Occupier market activity and rental movements remain constrained by the expectation that 2013 will be a year of faltering economic recovery. The prime end of the retail market is showing stronger rental momentum as retailers remain very discerning over location selection for store network expansion. Investor interest is still predominantly focused on the prime end of the market and the evidence of the final quarter of the year is that this is driving pricing changes in some of the larger and more popular investment markets such as Germany and France."

Resisting the recession?

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French property prices and sales fall

Ivan Radford — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:26:00 GMT

Photo credit: Christine â„¢

2012 was not a very good year for France's real estate, according to new figures. Sales of French property fell by 25 per cent, the FNAIM revealed, while prices also dropped in most regions.

Overall, values edged up 0.8 per cent, but the incremental rise hides significant variations across regions, with Brit favourites Normandy and Brittany suffering the biggest falls: prices in the two areas fell by 5.7 per cent and 5.3 per cent respectively.

Paris retained its strong real estate market, helping the region of Ile de France to record a price increase of 1.5 per cent, the biggest in the country. Other popular provinces, such as the Cote-d'Azur, Provence and Champagne also saw prices rise by 0.7 per cent. But decreases in Poutou Charentes, Pays de la Loire, the Midi Pyrenees and others mean that more areas in the country saw prices dip.

The negative outlook is cemented by the large fall in sales, with weakening demand attributed to financial concerns in the current economic climate.

The figures are backed up by TheMoveChannel.com's Top of the Props report from this month, which found that demand for French property on the portal fell in December to 9.31% - the country's lowest share of enquiries since November 2011.

"The fact that sellers are not prepared to bring down their prices to a level that buyers are prepared to pay" has also exacerbated the situation, economics professor Michael Mouillard told Property Wire. Indeed, the gap between asking price and eventual selling price has widened from last year to 5.42 per cent.

"We are in deteriorating economic climate. Only the very low bank interest rates have prevented the market from collapsing," added Mouillard.

The latest figures from Nortaires de France paint an equally negative picture, with resale prices of French homes falling in the third quarter of 2012 by 1.5 per cent.

Sales of existing homes also fell by 12 per cent from the year before to 730,000, according to estimates from the CGEDD Conseil Général de l'environnement et du Développement Durable (The French General Council for the Environment & Sustainable Development).

In greater Paris, sales were down by 21 per cent, while other regions saw a drop of 20 per cent.

And that downward trend is set to continue in 2013, with Notaires de France expecting the economic climate, a rise in unemployment, hesitant investors and a drive from officials to promote the sale of older properties will see demand and prices drop. The FNAIM concurs, forecasting home values to dip by 2 per cent this year, while Standard & Poor predict a fall of 5 per cent.

"In such circumstances, we can be certain that the volume of sales will not reach 600,000 and that it may well not even get above 550,000," adds the Notaires' report. "It will be even lower if vendors fail to lower their pricing expectations or if they choose to postpone the sale of their properties."

But there is good news for ski property investors: the one place in France where the trend is being bucked? The Alps.

In Morzine, prices per square metre for resort property jumped by 12.8 per cent compared to last year, while Meribel's values jumped by 15.1 per cent to reach €7,329 per square metre.

Demand, too, is climbing, with one resort in The Three Valleys prompting an avalanche of attention on TheMoveChannel.com thanks to a limited supply and .

Niclas Dowlatshahi, Managing Director of Leapfrog Propertie, explained: "It is extremely difficult, almost impossible, to get new building permits in The Three Valleys, so prices remain stable and in fact keep on rising. Properties in these sought after locations have held up well throughout the financial crisis because there simply is not enough to keep up with demand."

What do you expect from the French property market this year?

Browse our listings of real estate for sale in France, including ski property in The Alps:

http://france.themovechannel.com/property/all

5 historical property destinations in France

admin — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:12:00 GMT

France. A country with a past that's as colourful as it gets. From the revolution and war to the belle époque, French history continues to fascinate visitors from around the world. But how can you guarantee a piece of that when visitors come to visit your new French home?

Here are five historical property destinations in France.

Nord-Pas-de-Calais

One of the most populous French regions, Nord-Pas-de-Calais is located in the very north of the country. Connected by TGV to Paris, London and Brussels, the area's Flemish architecture and traditional Belgian cuisine draw in tourists all year round and make for a unique backdrop to a picturesque second home. Hotspots include Lille and Boulogne-sur-Mer.

To browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, click here

Annecy

Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Annecy is an old town filled with castles, canals, cathedrals and baroque influence. The traditional attractions and village's relaxed atmosphere are ideal for holiday home hunters looking for a quiet slice of old-fashioned French life.

To browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Annecy, click here

Lot-et-Garonne

From the wooded slopes and green fields to the small forests and yellow sunflowers, Lot et Garonne reminds one of Dordogne. The southern areas of the region are the most peaceful, with tourists and cyclists equally common the further north you go.

To browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Lot-et-Garonne, click here

Lyon

As famous for its food as for its invention of cinema, Lyon has played a huge role in French history. The city's culture, combined with its lively nightlife and regular festivals, ensure that visitors regularly visit for both business and leisure - a lot of them choose to stay there on a permanent basis.

To browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Lyon, click here

Carcassonne

Located in the department of Aude, Carcassonne is a medieval town with well-preserved city walls, cobbled streets and towers. Its combination of Roman and medieval architecture make Carcassonne a popular city among history lovers, but an even more popular city for holiday home hunters on the lookout for a timeless investment.

To browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Carcassonne, click here

We want your properties - all of them!!

admin — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:26:00 GMT

Lead Galaxy's network of overseas property portals, including TheMoveChannel.com, attracts 600,00 unique international buyers every month.

This year, Lead Galaxy wants to help its website visitors to have the widest possible choice of listings around the world.

There are already no limits on the number of properties you can list with Lead Galaxy - but for 2013 they're offering discounts to encourage you to add more listings.

The more you list, the more you save!

Visitors to TheMoveChannel.com (and other portals) get more properties to look at; you get more leads AND you pay less per lead. Everybody wins.

As you can see - the more listings you add, the lower the cost per lead you pay:

Package Max Listings Minimum Cost Per Lead

Listing 1 Property £15 per Lead

Multi 5 Properties £14 per Lead

Selection 10 Properties £13 per Lead

Variety 25 Properties £12 per Lead

Collection 50 Properties £11 per Lead

Range 125 Properties £10 per Lead

Portfolio 250 Properties £9 per Lead

Catalogue 500 Properties £8 per Lead

Database 1000 Properties £7 per Lead

How do I add my properties?

You can list your properties manually, or automatically via XML feed.

How much does it cost?

Start listing your properties with as little as £50 and no obligation: that credit stays in your account until you decide to use it.

For regular spenders, Lead Galaxy can offer free featured positions on our portals, email campaigns and other loyalty rewards to help your money go even further.

UK overtakes Brazil in economic league table

Ivan Radford — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 11:02:00 GMT

The recession may still be hitting Britain, but the UK's economy climbed above Brazil in the World Economic League Table last year.

Brazil's booming economy saw it seize sixth spot from the UK in 2011, but the country's weak currency helped Britain climb back up the ladder, leaving the Latin American nation waiting until 2014 to replace the UK once again. Over the rest of the period to 2022, Brazil will move up another place in the League Table, overtaking Germany and France but being overtaken in turn by India.

Indeed, by 2017, India will overtake the UK as well to become the world's largest Commonwealth economy.

The world's top 3 economies, the US, China and Japan, are forecast to remain in the same relative positions for the next ten years. But by 2022 the Chinese economy, currently 53% of the size of the US economy, is predicted to be 83% of the size of the US economy and catching up fast.

Russia rose from 11th position in the league table in 2010 to 9th in 2011. In 2013, it starts overtaking large Western European economies and is predicted to reach the no 7 position by 2022.

Fast-growing Indonesia is one of this year's shooting stars. Currently (2012) the world's 16th largest economy, it is forecast to rise six places to enter the world's top ten in 2022. Other Asian economies also move up the ranking. Thailand goes up 6 places from No 30 in 2012 to No 24 in 2022; Taiwan from 27th to 20th and Korea from 15th to 12th.

European countries fall back. Germany falls from No 4 in 2012 to No 6 in 2022 and the UK from 6th to 8th. But the biggest fallers in Europe are France, which is forecast to fall from 5th to 9th, and Italy from 8th to 13th. By 2022, the Italian economy will be close to falling behind economically powerful emerging markets like Turkey and Mexico.

Comments Cebr Chief Executive Douglas McWilliams: "The Indians have lost to us at cricket this winter but they are on track to beat us at economics. By 2017 we predict that the Indian economy will be the largest economy in the Commonwealth, overtaking the UK economy.

"We are beating some other countries, though. We are poised to overtake France either in 2013 or 2014 as the economic effects of President Hollande's 75% tax policy and the difficulties of the euro drag France down.

"We have been neck and neck with Brazil for some time. Last year they overtook us; this year we have overtaken them again. From 2014 onwards, however, their more dynamic economy is likely to pull them decisively beyond us.

"Cebr's World Economic League Table (WELT) shows the dramatic changes now taking place in the world's economic geography with slow growing European economies falling back and Asian economies, even though their growth is slowing, catching up."

Where are you looking to invest?

Browse our listings of overseas property:

http://www.themovechannel.com/property/all

Watch - Entrepreneurs want EU to cut red tape now

admin — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:07:00 GMT

For years, the EU has talked about unleashing the growth potential of Europe's start-ups.

But entrepreneurs complain there is still too much red tape for that happen.

That is the view of 35-year-old Dirk Loeckx, who runs a company in Leuven, Belgium that specialises in analysing medical images.

"The thing that I would like to change most is to make the legislation more easy, the legislation has always a lot of exceptions," he told euronews.

French mortgage rates at "all time lows"

Ivan Radford — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:29:00 GMT

Photo credit: Giuseppe Nicoloro

Gérard Depardieu may be fleeing to Russia, but French property remains attractive to buyers with mortgage rates at all-time lows.

The French movie star ruffled feathers when rumours spread that he was looking to buy a house in Belgium to avoid the new tax rates introduced by President Francois Hollande.

Depardieu told the government they were "punishing success, creation and talent", reports the BBC, before announcing his plans in December. France's Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault labelled the decision as "shabby" and "unpatriotic".

The country was by parts amused and outraged when the actor responded by going even further afield to find a new life abroad: to Russia, where he was welcomed by President Vladimir Putin with welcome arms.

The actor wrote a letter to Putin, declaring his love for the country. In response, he received a passport, which he collected on Sunday.

"I love your country, Russia - its people, its history, its writers," he said. "I love your culture, your intelligence."

Russia has a 13 per cent income tax rate.

The media furore surrounding the public spat escalated even further today when it was revealed that Gérard Depardieu had also been offered post of culture minister in the Siberian region of Mordovia, famous for its prisons during the Stalin era.

Back home, France continues its wave of austerity measures to tackle the eurozone crisis. The 75 per cent levy on all earnings over €1 million was introduced by Hollande alongside other property taxes.

But while some feared that the taxes would cause extra costs for overseas buyers - claims that were swiftly dismissed by French property experts last year - France remains an attractive opportunity for investors, thanks to historic mortgage rates, which have kept demand for real estate strong.

Jon Busby, director of French Private Finance, told Property Wire: "This week alone we have sent quotes out over €15 million of new purchases in the Alps at all different price points with viewings all confirmed. Now certainly is a good time to be buying with French mortgage rates at their all time historic lows and with loan to values of 80% of the purchase price and effective interest rates from 2.4% over 25 years."

Indeed, demand for French property climbed in November 2012 on TheMoveChannel.com, overtaking Portugal's popularity to account for 10.47 per cent of enquiries on the site - the third highest that month behind Spain and America.

And according to Busby, the low interest rates are expected to remain at the start of the year, with banks interested in lending to non-residents.

Indeed, in 2012, French mortgage rates have decreased by an average of between 0.5 per cent and 0.85 per cent.

"This is a historic decline that nobody expected in early 2012," added Busby. "One explanation can be found in dramatic decline in the TEC 10 index, the rate at which the French government can borrow for 10 years, which now stands at 1.99% in December.

"The other factor is that banks faced with declining demand are offering favourable discounts to attract customers. This December, borrowing €200,000 over 20 years costs on average €80 less per month than in January. This leads to an overall savings of nearly €20,000 over the loan duration."

"In this context, overseas buyers can easily apply for a French mortgage and take advantage to invest in a second home or a buy to let property in France," he concluded.

Moving to France?

Browse our listings of French property:

http://france.themovechannel.com/property/all

The ski season is upon us - so beware of driving law changes

admin — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:47:00 GMT

LONDON, January 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

With the ski season getting in full swing, leading car hire comparator Comparecarhire.co.uk is warning those travelling to popular ski resorts to be aware of unfamiliar winter driving rules

With the festive period now just a distant memory, the widely anticipated snow and ski season has arrived throughout Europe. With snowfall at its highest many adventurous holidaymakers will travel across Europe to make the most of it, and what better way to explore these winter wonderland regions than using a hire car.

The hike in demand for vehicle hire in ski resorts during the peak season highlights the increase in its popularity as a ski holiday 'must have'. However, with the heavy snowfall and wintery conditions come changes to particular driving laws that those in ski resorts must adhere to. In most of Europe, away from the southern countries, many drivers use winter tyres between November and April, but rules differ dependent on the country you will be visiting.

Andy Hemmington of comparecarhire.co.uk , says: "Skiing trips increase in popularity year on year resulting in a rise in holidaymakers driving abroad in very bad weather conditions. We want people to ensure they know the laws of the particular country they are visiting to avoid any costly fines or penalties but most importantly, to stay safe on the roads. Travellers should expect the unexpected in regions where you can experience extremely bad weather such as heavy snowfall. It may make for a good skiing holiday but it also makes for treacherous driving conditions."

Focusing on the most popular ski countries, here are a few points to remember to help get you on your way safely:

Austria - It is compulsory to carry snow chains in Austria. If they are not fitted in the necessary circumstances then police can stop you from continuing on your journey. On the other hand, remember to remove them as soon as the weather improves so you don't damage the road surface. Winter or all season tyres are also required by law between November 1^st and April 15^th with a minimum tread depth of 3mm when driving in bad weather
France - Snow chains are again compulsory to carry in mountainous regions, particularly the Alps. Winter tyres are recommended but not compulsory. Winter tyres can be recognised by the snowflake on the sidewall, or one of the following combination of letters: M+S, M/S, M&S
Switzerland - Snow chains must be carried everywhere during winter and there are many road signs indicating roadside bays where you should stop and fit snow chains. Winter tyres are again only recommended however; if you don't have them and your driving hinders other road users you can be fined
Italy - Similar to France, snow chains have to be carried in vehicles travelling in mountainous areas where bad weather is likely between 15^th October and 14^th April, and winter tyres are only a recommendation. However, what is important to remember in Italy is that local Provinces are free to introduce their own rules, and they can make them compulsory

If using your own vehicle to travel, since it is impossible to determine the exact severity of weather conditions in other countries when you leave the UK, you must ensure you are carrying necessary items such as snow chains in case of sudden weather changes.

When using hire cars in these areas remember there will be an increase in demand for snow chains and winter tyres so pre-book everything where possible to ensure availability. They will also often be payable locally as opposed to being included in the car hire price so take this into account when budgeting for car hire. Research how to fit snow chains and other equipment before you go or ask to be shown, and check the boot of the vehicle for such items before you drive off. Hire a suitable car such as large car or a 4x4 vehicle, snow chains should always be fitted to the driving wheels and to front wheels of 4x4's, additionally if snow chains are fitted you shouldn't drive at more than 30mph.

Comparecarhire.co.uk is one of the leading car hire comparison websites in the UK, comparing car hire prices for over 40 suppliers in 15,000 locations worldwide including Spain, Portugal and Greece.

Zimbabwe farmers forced from home find new life as French estate agents

Ivan Radford — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 10:12:00 GMT

Guy and Vicky Watson-Smith once owned a farm in Zimbabwe.

In 2001, one of President Robert Mugabe's closest allies violently and illegally seized the couple's property, leaving them and their two small children no choice but to flee to South Africa. They had just 2 hours to pack up their belongings under threat of death and that any removal trucks would be burned.

After four generations in the country as miners and, since 1950, farmers, the family grabbed their personal photographs and papers before tragically leaving behind their home.

Guy launched legal action in the Supreme Court to challenge the seizure of his estate and assets, estimated to be worth £2 million, by the former leader of Mr Mugabe's Zanla guerrilla forces. His attempts were unsuccessful. Instead, he was ordered to inform his farm workers that they would now be working for a new manager.

The family have never been able to return to their farm and as well as being forced from their home, they lost their livelihood; their farm vehicles and tractors, irrigation and equipment, cattle, game and crops.

With an ability to speak some French and a desire to make a fresh start in a beautiful country, Guy and Vicky moved to France where they began to rebuild their lives. With a passion for real estate, Guy and Vicky began to build their estate agency business and to harness interest and support from acquaintances and international buyers. Vicky also juggled a property management role and helped foreigners who wanted someone to look after their properties and Lao, their son set up a rental company.

The couple's efforts evolved into a family-run business that is becoming part of the Fine & Country network today. They will head up its first office in France, Fine & Country Cannes, which officially opens in January 2013.

Guy, who is now a French-speaking property professional and advisor to international clients, says, "Following this heart breaking turn in our lives, Vicky and I have put everything into our property business in France. I am proud to now head an experienced and honest family team which has beautiful properties for sale."

5 houses to help you survive the end of the world

Ivan Radford — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:42:00 GMT

As the world spends the last few weeks of 2012 debating whether the Mayans were right and that the world will actually end on Friday 21^st December, few people are doing what needs to be done: finding a place to hole up and stay safe.

With this in mind, TheMoveChannel.com scours the global property market to find real estate that might resist the apocalypse.

Here are five houses to help you survive the end of the world:

Secret submarine base, Norway

Photo credit: Geekologie

The Olavsvern Naval Submarine caught the world's eye when it went on sale in June this year. The NATO-funded hideout boasts a 27,000 square foot Alpine resort and several garages, but the property's main survival tool is the giant underground hangar hidden deep inside a bomb-proof mountain. Just the place to store your submarine - and if you're serious about preparing for the apocalypse, you'll definitely need one of those.

Nuclear missile silo, USA

Photo credit: Realtor.com

Trust America to have its own missile silo up for sale. The nuclear base, unused for decades, has been converted into a luxury home for those ready to bunker down and get through the planet's darkest days. The 1,800 square-foot property appears to be a traditional mountain lodge, but underneath the floorboards lies a launch pad for an intercontinental ballistic missile built in the 1950s. Which means that if the aliens are coming: you're ready.

Doomsday bunker, Nebraska

Photo: Terravivos.com (via CNN)

In the wake of Japan's tragic earthquakes, sales of these doomsday bunkers in Nebraska shot up by 1,000%, according to CNN. Reservations for a room in a 200-person property require a minimum deposit of $5,000 with Vivos, but demand for the company's shelter soared. "People are afraid of the earth-changing events and ripple effects of the earthquake, which led to tsunamis, the nuclear meltdown, and which will lead to radiation and health concerns," commented the company's CEO Robert Vicino. "Where it ends, I don't know. Does it lead to economic collapse? A true economic collapse would lead to anarchy, which could lead to 90% of the population being killed off."

Cheerful dinner conversation not included.

Posh doomsday bunkers, Switzerland

Photo: Flavorwire

There are doomsday bunkers and doomsday bunkers. These are the latter. Located in the Swiss hills, these shelters, designed by Bjarne Mastenbroek and Christian Muller, have industrial-themed decor and windows, but the real sign of security comes from the front door, which is hidden deep inside the mountains, through an underground tunnel, the entrance to which is a fake shed. Make sure you leave the pub with enough time to find the front door before the apocalypse begins.

Adult movie bunker, LA

Photo credit: CBSLocal.com

What will the human race do during the cold, lonely months after the end of the world? One LA movie studio has the answer: a post-apocalyptic underground bunker, which will allow "1,200 to 1,500 people" to enter and provide them with bars, a performing stage and a "sophisticated content production studio", just to make sure that the world's supply of adult films outlives the rest of us. The studio's website will also continue to run, promises the company, even if it is only on the bunker's internal local network.

"Our goal is nothing less than to survive the apocalypse to come in comfort and luxury," Pink Visual spokesman Quentin Boyer told CBS Los Angeles, "whether that catastrophe takes the form of fireballs flung earthward by an all-seeing deity, extended torrential rainfall, Biblical rapture, an earthquake-driven mega-tsunami, radioactive flesh-eating zombies, or some combination of the above."

You can't say they're not prepared.

Don't believe the world is going to end?

Browse our listings of overseas property:

http://www.themovechannel.com/property/all

Expats in Asia and Latin America set for biggest wage rise in 2013

Ivan Radford — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:12:00 GMT

Click here to view the full infographic

Australian workers can expect only modest pay rises next year while high growth markets in nearby Asia will see wages increase by up to three times that of their Western neighbours, according to the latest pay forecast data by global management consultancy, Hay Group.

With varied Australian business performance across sectors especially the decrease of the resources sector, pay forecast rates are becoming more differentiated for individual sectors and specific roles.

In Australia, pay overall will rise by an average of just four per cent in 2013, whereas in growth markets including Vietnam (12.8%), Indonesia (10.6%), India (10.5%), the Philippines (8%) and Malaysia (6.2 %) wages are expected to increase rapidly. While in China, workers can expect wage hikes of 9.5 % as the intensifying ‘war for talent' continues despite slowing economic growth (up 1.1% on last year).

Interestingly, pay rises in the second generation of high growth Asian economies are outstripping those of their colleagues in the region's more developed countries. For example, in Japan, wages will increase by just 2% next year.

Steve Paola, Senior Consultant at Hay Group, said Australian organisations are facing an increased threat from maturing markets in nearby Asia, due to slowing growth rates.

"With strong economic growth in Asia translating into need for talent and rocketing wage hikes, local organisations may struggle to keep their most talented employees in the country as they are increasingly being enticed to work for companies located in buoyant Asian markets.

"As a result, Australian businesses need to ensure they have reward strategies in place that deliver strong incentives for their current and future employees enabling them to retain high performing staff despite modest pay increase forecasts.

"Ensuring local talent is retained through providing growth and development opportunities and an engaging work environment are important non-financial retention strategies."

According to Hay Group's research, salaries in developed Western economies will experience the smallest increases in 2013, as GDP growth remains broadly flat.

Across North America, pay will rise by 2.9% - the lowest of any global region - and in Europe, crisis-weary companies in Greece and Ireland will not raise pay next year, against a subdued regional average of 3.3%. Increases in Germany, the UK (both 3%) and France (2.6%) will also be subdued and across the region the pay rises on offer are lower than in 2012 when the average pay rise was 5.5%.

"It's no secret that employees in developed markets face a tough year ahead with small wage increases however despite the weak outlook there is an upside for Australian workers as it is predicted they will receive higher pay rises than most of their Western counterparts," said Paola.

Latin America will experience the highest overall rise in salaries next year (9% on average), with Venezuelan workers set to see wages jump by a colossal 29% - driven largely by high inflation.

Looking for a profitable life abroad?

Browse our listings of property for sale overseas:

http://www.themovechannel.com/property/all

Investment Watch: Ski resort sparks avalanche of enquiries

Ivan Radford — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:08:00 GMT

Photo credit: KitLKat

Oh, the weather outside is frightful but property investors were happy to let it snow in November, according to TheMoveChannel.com's Investment Watch report, as a ski resort sparked an avalanche of enquiries.

A fire sale of recently completed apartments in The Three Valleys received the highest enquiries on the site last month, with buyers drawn by the discounted prices and promise of up to 10 per cent NET returns.

Indeed, demand for the French Alps listing was so strong that it even received more enquiries than the Las Lomas resort in Spain. The La Manga apartments, which include free access to the resort's world-class sports facilities, were the most popular listing on TheMoveChannel.com for three months in a row. But that changed when the ski property launched at the end of November, attracting more enquiries in just a few days than the Murcia listing received all month.

Away from the slopes, investors continued to focus on sectors with guaranteed returns. Florida condos, student housing in Glasgow, a hotel suite in Cape Verde and a coconut plantation in Brazil all proved popular, highlighting the investment trend throughout 2012 towards both commercial properties and alternative products. Buyers also showed a continued willingness to turn to European destinations outside of the eurozone, such as Croatia, in search of seaside resorts with rental potential.

But the French Alps raced ahead of the rest as demand for ski property in a familiar destination snowballed in a matter of hours.

Niclas Dowlatshahi, Managing Director of Leapfrog Properties, explains the resort's appeal: "Demand is strong partly because the prices have been so heavily discounted - to be able to have an apartment in The Three Valleys ski domain for £50k is unheard of! These large discounts mean that rental yields are higher than 2 to 4 per cent, which is the normal yield of a leaseback."

Indeed, not being a leaseback investment is what really makes the difference, he suggests.

"Most people who wish to buy in the Alps wish to buy outright, but 95 per cent of new build developments are sold leaseback, which means this development really stands out. It is somewhere they can use themselves as well as generate a good return from, while crucially being in charge of their own property and choosing when they want to rent it out rather than being told when they are allowed to use it."

The top 10 investment properties for November 2012 are as follows:

Rank	Property	Country	Partner
1	2 Bed Ski Apartments, The Three Valleys	France	Leapfrog Properties
2	Las Lomas Village, La Manga	Spain	UK Murcia Investment
3	Hotel Suite Investment, Boa Vista	Cape Verde	Assetz for Investors
4	3 Bed Town House, Albufeira	Portugal	Grosvenor Realty Investments Global Ltd
5	Discounted 2 Bed Apartment, Finestrat	Spain	CAM Bank, Connells
6	Florida Condos - Guaranteed Rental	USA	Property Store US
7	1 Bed Condo, Orlando	USA	USA-Bound
8	Coconut Plantation Investment	Brazil	Liquid
9	Student Housing Investment, Glasgow	Scotland	Property Frontiers
10	New Five Star Resort, Dubrovnik	Croatia	Dubrovnik Sun Gardens

Notes to Editors

Founded in 1999, TheMoveChannel.com is the leading independent website for international property, with than 400,000 listings in over 100 countries around the world, marketed on behalf agents, developers and private owners.

The website address is http://www.TheMoveChannel.com and the office address is 24 Jack's Place, Corbet Place, Spitalfields, London, E1 6NN.

Five of France's most mouth-watering property destinations

admin — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:16:00 GMT

When people are considering moving to France, they usually have several reasons: the weather, the lifestyle, the landscape, the wine. But one thing France has always done well is food.

For house hunters with a sweet tooth or an eye for a scrummy bargain, here are five tasty property destinations in France.

Narbonne

Located in the South of France, Narbonne is a city close to the Mediterranean coast. Its scorching hot summers and mild winters attract expats and tourists alike, thanks to the nearby Narbonne Plage beach resort, while the fresh Mediterranean cuisine only makes the thought of buying property there even more mouth-watering.

Click here for more information on property in Narbonne

Aude

Located in the region of Langedoc-Roussillon, Aude is a beautiful area with a diverse landscape that ranges from mountains and lakes to Mediterranean coastline. The ground in the area is soft and fertile, making it perfect for investors in search of vineyards for sale. Speciality cuisine, such as oysters, cassoulet and olive oil, make investing in Aude's real estate market even tastier.

Click here for more information on property in Aude

Haute-Savoie

Bordering Switzerland and Italy, Haute-Savoie is famous for its winter sports. Home to Chamonix, where the first ever Winter Olympic Games were held, Haute-Savoie's ski resorts are legendary, bringing in an avalanche of tourists, sports fans and investors alike.

Click here for more information on property in Haute-Savoie

Dijon

Capital of the Côte-d'Or department, Dijon is renowned around the world for its gastronomy, particularly its Dijon mustard. Its location within the Burgundy ensures that it is also a hub for wine growing, while a thriving cultural scene ensures that appetite for holiday homes in the town.

Click here for more information on property in Dijon

Vendée

The department of Vendée is named after the river that runs through it, but the main draw for overseas buyers is the coastline. Stretching for over 100 miles, several of the area's beaches have earned blue flags for their spotless appearance. Combined with Vendée's unique menu of brioche and duck, the result is a property market that caters to all tastes.

Click here for more information on property in Vendée

JLL: "More reasons to be optimistic" about European property in 2013

Ivan Radford — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:22:00 GMT

Real estate investors will continue to encounter low interest rates, muted inflation and sluggish growth in most of the world's major real estate markets for at least the next couple of years according to the 2013 LaSalle annual Investment Strategy report.

A multi-speed economy has seen low interest rates, low inflation and low growth in the developed world (Eurozone, UK, US and Japan) as opposed to higher inflation, high growth/urbanisation and rising interest rates in the developing world (Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific (ex-Japan)). However LaSalle believes there are more reasons to be optimistic in 2013 with steady improvement in the world's three largest economies (US, China, and Germany). Highly accommodative monetary policies are bringing relief to capital-intensive industries like real estate. At the same time, the low cost of debt, along with changes in the regulatory treatment of different kinds of debt, introduce new uncertainties into the real estate investment equation.

LaSalle believes the uncertainties will include: distortions between unsecured and secured lending, uneven access to low-cost real estate credit between countries and within countries, exit uncertainty when unprecedented levels of support for credit markets are eventually withdrawn by central banks and timing/sequencing uncertainty, when monetary tightening occurs before a full recovery in the "real economy" has completely taken hold or is delayed.

Commenting on the report, Jacques Gordon, Global Strategist at LaSalle said: "These uncertainties should result in the vast majority of capital markets remaining extremely risk-averse. This situation is exacerbated by the deep pools of capital that are entering the "drawdown" phase of their lifecycle. During this phase, investors will typically migrate from a long-term growth strategy to a more conservative income-generating one. Even if some investors are in the drawdown phase, where income distributions matter more, extreme risk aversion is no longer warranted. In fact, this approach could create its own set of portfolio risks.

"Investors should look beyond the most risk-averse positions that have built up in their portfolios since the global financial crisis. Ironically, these "ultra-core" positions may carry some of the biggest risks to portfolio performance in the years ahead, as the delayed economic recovery eventually takes hold. We continue to believe that the investment principles, which maintain portfolio diversification as well as ensure that risks are rewarded by appropriately higher returns, are the best way for investors to proceed in this challenging environment."

In Europe, LaSalle thinks that debt restructuring still needs a lot of hard work. This deleveraging process, while painful in the short run, is absolutely critical for healthy economic growth in the years ahead. The region continues to be beset by the largely unresolved sovereign debt crisis and the real estate occupier markets remain vulnerable but with certain markets weathering the uncertainty better than others. Equity investors are as reluctant as ever to venture far from core assets, while debt investors remain constrained.

Robin Goodchild commented: "Confidence with regard to 2013 is low but comfortably above the depths of 2009. Despite economic growth expectations for 2013 being downgraded, they are uniformly better than for 2012. This conforms with the long-held view that Europe's occupier markets will improve, but at a slow and steady rate over the medium term. In the near term, only the best vacant space will achieve lettings at target rents. With the exception of the strongest markets, rental growth will be weak and below inflation. Further rental falls are likely in Spain and Italy in 2013."

Outside of Germany, France and the UK, LaSalle believes lot sizes over €80 million are often un-financeable by traditional means. Even development schemes with substantial prelets in undersupplied markets are being thwarted by the banks. Indeed the possibility of upward pressure on interest rates will impact real estate yields, further dampening the market. If inflation returns as a result of improving economic fundamentals, yields may remain unaffected.

Jacques Gordon: "We expect fierce bidding to persist for scarce prime assets in London, Paris, and the leading German cities; as a result, their expected returns will be squeezed. Most of today's capital is likely to remain reluctant to move up the risk curve, despite the higher pro forma returns on offer, due to uncertain leasing prospects and fragile income profiles."

LaSalle cites mezzanine debt, prime assets, near-CBD submarkets and retail as the best opportunities in Europe.

LaSalle also believes there are niche opportunities in European offices, hotels and data centres. The conversion of office space to an undersupplied residential use is attractive in certain markets. Parts of the U.K., Germany, and the Netherlands residential markets are particularly undersupplied, while the wider sector also offers opportunities in student housing and the healthcare sector

Investors with higher risk appetites or a predilection for a niche strategy may opt for prime hotels in tourist locations, even in struggling countries such as Spain and Italy

Jacques Gordon concludes: "The breadth of the sovereign debt crisis in Europe means that many countries have downside risks to their outlook. Within core Europe, France seems vulnerable due to the paralysis of the private sector after President Hollande took office. Extreme caution around Spain and Italy remains, despite progress in their bond markets and the promise of structural reform. Their real estate markets will present specific opportunities at an attractive price, although in general they may not represent fair value to the investor until late 2013 or beyond.

Still enthusiastic about European real estate?

Browse our listings of property in France:

http://france.themovechannel.com/property/all

Europe property downturn “continues to surprise” as US continues to recovery

Ivan Radford — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 11:17:00 GMT

The world's housing markets posted mixed signals during the full year to Q3 2012, according to the latest survey by Global Property Guide, and Europe is at the eye of the storm.

Indeed, while the US property market continues to recovery, the scale of the European downturn, the sheer size of the downward pressure, "continues to surprise", admits the report.

Of the 44 countries for which quarterly house price figures are available, house prices fell in 23 countries, and rose in 21 countries during the year ending in the third quarter of 2012, again in inflation-adjusted terms.

America is the brightest sport on the real estate map. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) seasonally-adjusted purchase-only house price index rose by 2.31% year-on-year in Q3 2012, the highest growth seen since Q2 2006. The nationwide seasonally-adjusted S&P/Case-Shiller home price index also rose by 1.92% during the year to Q3 2012, in sharp contrast with its 7% year-on-year decline seen in Q3 2011.

Dubai, UAE, has also rebounded strongly. The price index for all residential properties surged by 14.43% during the year to end-Q3 2012, as compared to a meagre year-on-year increase of 0.96% seen in the same period last year.

Pacific housing markets are now recovering too. New Zealand's median house price rose by 5.19% during the year to end-Q3 2012, in sharp contrast with the 4.39% year-on-year decline in Q3 2011. Likewise, Australia's housing market is also improving, with house prices in its eight major cities falling by just 1.57% year-on-year in Q3 2012, the lowest decline since Q4 2010.

Meanwhile, there is some positive news for individual European housing markets. House price falls in Ireland may be decelerating. Ireland's residential property price index fell by 13.17% year-on-year in Q3 2012, the lowest decline since Q1 2011. In addition, house prices have risen significantly in Austria, Turkey, Latvia, Germany, Iceland and Finland.

But many European housing markets remain extremely depressed, and continue their rapid spiral downwards. House price falls are accelerating in Greece, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Croatia and Lithuania. Of the 23 European countries included in the survey, 14 countries recorded house price falls while only 9 countries have seen house price increases. The nine weakest housing markets in the global survey are all in Europe.

Other bad news can be found in Asia, where the housing market surge has weakened. Seven of the 10 Asian housing markets included in the Global Property Guide survey performed more poorly this year than the previous year. Nonetheless, Asia's biggest housing market, China, is recovering, judging by the latest quarter's figures.

Where are you planning to invest in 2013?

Browse our listings of overseas real estate:

http://www.themovechannel.com/property/all

Brazil property prices soar as Eurozone markets slump

Ivan Radford — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 12:29:00 GMT

Brazil property prices soared this year, according to Knight Frank's Global House Price Index, as eurozone markets slumped.

Brazil's real estate values jumped by 15.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2012, the highest annual increase in the world. Meanwhile, with the Eurozone now in its second recession in three years, buyers' confidence is at an all-time low, according to Knight Frank: all the bottom 12 rankings are occupied by European countries this quarter.

The Eurozone's 17 member states have on average seen prices fall by 1.8% in the 12 months to September. Other world regions such as South America and Asia Pacific have seen growth of 9.8% and 4.2% respectively.

Greece has now pushed Ireland off the bottom slot - where it has resided for five consecutive quarters - by recording an average price fall of 11.7% in the last year. Ireland, by comparison, has seen its rate of decline improve, up from -14.3% a year ago to -9.6%.

Overall, mainstream global property prices stand just 5.2% above the lows experienced in the wake of the financial crisis in Q2 2009.

Alongside Brazil, five other markets recorded double-digit annual price growth in the year to September; Hong Kong, Turkey, Russia, Colombia and Austria.

Despite positive data from the US - prices are 3.6% higher than in the third quarter of 2011, vacancy rates are at their lowest level since 2005 and housing starts are up 49% year-on-year - the US fiscal cliff casts significant doubt on this recovery.

Asia's policymakers are offering little hope of an Asian-driven recovery. China's new leadership looks set to continue with stringent property cooling measures and new lending restrictions in Hong Kong are likely to limit the availability of credit.

Knight Frank's Prime Global Cities Index, which tracks the value of luxury property in 26 cities across the world, shows that prime property values have climbed by 18.7% over the same period.

Kate Everett-Allen, International Residential Researcher at Knight Frank, said: "Confidence, affordability and debt are constraining Europe. Strict lending and the looming fiscal cliff may dent the early signs of growth in the US while regulatory measures in Asia are keeping housing markets in check. The current period of stagnation looks set to continue well into 2013."

Planning to invest in overseas real estate?

Browse our listings of Brazilian property:

http://brazil.themovechannel.com/property/all

French chateau demolished by accident

Ivan Radford — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:10:00 GMT

Photo credit: Sud Ouest

The Chateau de Bellevue used to span 140,000 square feet. It used to boast marble staircases, grand fireplaces and granite balconies. It used to be just East of Bordeaux. It used to be owned by a Russian millionaire.

Until it was knocked down by mistake.

A team of builders were hired by businessman Dmitry Stroskin to remove a small building on the expansive estate before renovating the baroque mansion. The main property is "one of four or five flagship pieces of architecture" in the town, according to the local newspaper Sud Ouest. A building permit for renovation was issued in June 2011, Mayor Claude Carty added.

But once on site to carry out the work, the workers mistook the tiny outhouse for the 18^th Century chateau and bulldozed that instead.

"The Chateau de Bellevue was Yvrac's pride and joy," the manor's former owner Juliette Marmie told local newspaper Sud Ouest. "The whole village is in shock. How can this construction firm make such a mistake?"

The builders were from Poland, The Daily Mail reports, and carried out the demolition while Stroskin was away. He works in Warsaw and returned to find that the entire property had been raised to the ground.

Stroskin told the local paper: "I didn't know the chateau had been destroyed, I'm in shock. Even if it was in a very bad state, I had wanted to renovate it."

He has now announced plans to build an exact replica of the chateau in its place. €1.5 million have already been signed with a local masonry and the work is expected to last two years.

The outhouse is still standing.

Commercial property investment in Europe up by 14pc

Ivan Radford — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:09:00 GMT

Commercial property investment Europe rose by 14 per cent in the third quarter of this year compared to the second quarter, CBRE has revealed.

The firm's latest report shows that commercial real estate investment totally €28.3 billion in the three months to September, almost exactly on a par with turnover in Q3 2011. Investment turnover has shown a strong seasonal effect over the last three years, with the final quarter significantly higher than the rest of the year; CBRE expects this to be repeated in 2013.

Investors continue to follow risk averse strategies favouring stronger economies, non-euro markets and prime property, adds CBRE. Analysis of yields shows that pricing has proven robust at the prime end of the market despite the current economic backdrop. This highlights the fierce competition among investors for core assets.

However, the substantial price differential between prime and non-prime property is creating opportunities elsewhere in the region for value-add investors.

The strongest growth in investment turnover was seen in the United Kingdom (UK), which accounted for approximately 42% of investment in Europe during Q3 2012, outshining its recent quarterly average of 35%. France and Germany also posted robust investment totals with investors attracted to the historically stable performance of the investment and occupational markets of key cities. The southern European economies fared less well and in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), only in the relatively robust economy of Russia has the investment market remained strong.

Market activity in the retail sector continued to fall in Q3 2012, both in absolute terms and as a proportion of the market as a whole. However, prime retail assets, which have been aggressively sought following the economic downturn because of their perceived defensive qualities, have become increasingly scarce and this has reduced investment activity in the retail sector from the elevated levels seen in 2010 and the first half of 2011.

Jonathan Hull, Head of EMEA Capital Markets, CBRE, commented:

"Capital is mainly concentrated on property that is most bond-like in its characteristics - markets that are liquid and property that has the longest guaranteed income. As a result, the spread between prime and secondary is at an all-time high.

"This highly polarised market creates opportunities in the value-added segment of the market. The price differential between prime and anything that is not prime is substantial and therefore the reward for successfully repositioning an asset by active asset management - be that capital expenditure or re-negotiation of leases - can be similarly substantial."

There are currently a number of reasons preventing investors from making a wholesale return to secondary property. Firstly, investor interest is likely to return to secondary property in stages, starting with those located in countries with the strongest economies such as the UK, Germany and the Nordics. There has already been some evidence of this in these markets. For the majority of Europe, however, the latest GDP forecasts indicate negligible growth in 2013 and a slow recovery thereafter. A general pick-up in letting markets is therefore probably some years away.

Graham Barnes, Senior Director - Corporate Finance, CBRE, commented:

"We have seen the re-emergence of interest in more secondary assets in core markets effectively matching the evolution in measures of risk pricing in financial markets. But risk can also be accessed in the most prime assets in more secondary markets. Currently, interest is limited to the more opportunistic of players in the expectation of extreme pricing."

Prices of rural property in France fall

Ivan Radford — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 11:55:00 GMT

Prices of rural property in France have fallen significantly in the last four years, according to new figures.

Notaires' new data shows that prices across the country dropped by only per cent between June 2008 and June 2012, but that the national average conceals far bigger price drops in countryside areas. Indeed, in Creuse, Limousin, prices have fallen by 15.7 per cent over the four years, followed by a 12.5 per cent drop in Loir-et-Cher and a 11.5 per cent fall in Moselle.

Haut-Garonne, Gironde, Indre, Savoie and Haut-Savoie all saw positive growth over the same period, but transactions have nonetheless slipped across the country with transactions dropping by around 20 per cent in volume.

The national association of French estate agents (FNAIM) confirms that French property prices are on the way down. According to their report, house prices have fallen by 1.3 per cent in the last 12 months, while rural real estate has seen values drop by as much as 8 per cent.

Indeed, prices have decreased in Brittany (7.9 per cent), Lower Normandy (6.9 per cent), Lorraine (6.7 per cent) and Upper Normandy (4.9 per cent). In Languedoc-Roussillon, too, values fell by almost 3 per cent across the last year.

The lowering prices and sales have been attributed by agents to fiscal changes that have been introduced by the French government in recent years, reports Property Wire, including the withdrawal of government sponsored interest free loans on existing older property for first time buyers.

Looking for a holiday home bargain?

Browse our listings of French property:

http://france.themovechannel.com/property/all

Demand for French ski property climbing back up

Ivan Radford — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:27:00 GMT

Photo credit: KitLKat

Demand for ski property in the French Alps is climbing back up, according to new figures.

Brits account for over one-third of prime real estate purchasers in the French Alps, reveals Knight Frank's inaugural Ski Resort Property Index, but are finding they have to compete with more buyers from the eurozone as the ski resort market starts to recover from recession.

Indeed, European investors remained prominent throughout the 2010/2011 ski season because they were unaffected by the currency fluctuations. The result is a steadily increasing level of interest that has helped the market to stabilise and, in some cases, bounce back strongly.

Prices in the resort Megève, for example, recovered and jumped by 4.3 per cent in the year to June 2011, says Knight Frank.

"Whilst prices have not increased across the board (and markets are still very price sensitive) levels of activity (especially viewings) have increased in the prime alpine resorts," commented Liam Bailey, Head of Residential Research.

As the new ski season arrives, buyers remain cautious, but a limited supply of property is fuelling interest, says Niclas Dowlatshahi, Managing Director of Leapfrog Properties.

Speaking exclusively to TheMoveChannel.com, Niclas explains: "It is extremely difficult, almost impossible, to get new building permits in The Three Valleys, so prices remain stable and in fact keep on rising. Properties in these sought after locations have held up well throughout the financial because there simply is not enough to keep up with demand."

Indeed, a fire sale of discounted units at a resort in The Three Valleys was launched on TheMoveChannel.com last week, prompting an unexpected avalanche of enquiries.

Promising 7 to 10 per cent net returns for investors, it benefitted from being non-leaseback, Niclas suggests.

"Any new property being built is generally sold under the leaseback scheme, which despite all the problems with most of the management companies in France and the poor rental returns offered on the new developments being built, are still being bought up because buyers have no other choice if they want something new with the newest facilities.

"New properties without a leaseback scheme attached to them are extremely rare and so if available people should buy these if they ever become available as they will achieve the best capital growth and ultimately be easier to sell."

While many investors may be reluctant to part with cash during the current financial climate, the ski sector has nothing to fear from France's new austerity measures, argues Niclas.

"The French property taxes have put some people off but this is because of headlines that try to sensationalise everything rather than explain the hard facts. The fact is that although rates have increased most people won't be paying any tax anyway. If we take income tax on rental income, for example, it has increased to 34.5% in total but because you can offset 3% of the property price in amortisation each year (for furnished rentals under the BIC tax regime) plus all your mortgage interest and running costs and repairs, accountancy fees, property taxes, etc, most people won't end up paying any income tax anyway."

Overall, the Alps property market recovery still has some way to go, Niclas concludes, although the growing demand is helping it to thaw until mid-level buyers return:

"Like the rest of the market, it seems that the very cheap, discounted stuff is selling as is the luxury property but the middle-end market at non-discounted prices is quite quiet still. I would say the same is expected for the next few years."

Demand for property in the Alps is also starting to expand beyond the traditional seasonal months, adds Bailey. "Summer tourism, often involving hiking and climbing, has helped to increase rental incomes for many second home owners. The Alps are now host to a number of summer festivals, concerts and sporting events attracting visitors all year round."

Ready to go skiing?

Browse our listings of apartments, chalets and other property in the French Alps:

http://france.themovechannel.com/frenchalps/

5 popular property destinations in South France

Ivan Radford — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:00:00 GMT

When it comes to French property, the South of France is where it's at. The stunning shores of the Provence Alpes Cotes d'Azur have drawn in tourists and house hunters from around the world for years.

The most famous of all, though, is the French Riviera. With hotspots such as Nice promising lively nightlife, beautiful beaches and, for the discerning investor, luxury homes, Southern France offers everything second home buyers need - even the odd mountain or two for those who like skiing.

But which places are the ones to check out? Here are five of the most popular property destinations in South France, ranked by enquiries on TheMoveChannel.com:

Avignon

Dry summers and cool winters abound in Avignon. The Mediterranean town, located on the banks of the Rhone river, offers a welcome climate for a holiday home purchase, while the medieval architecture, complete with preserved ramparts, promises a unique landscape that draws in tourists all year round.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Avignon here

Antibes

Ever since the 19^th Century, Antibes has been a holiday destination of choice, with people such as Picasso enjoying the gorgeous coastline of the French Riviera. Over the years, Antibes' popularity has grown, although the beaches are mostly full of domestic tourists - a vote of French confidence in a hotspot that rivals Cannes and Nice but retains its traditional prestige.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Antibes by clicking here

Gironde

Located in the Aquitaine region, Gironde's reputation stems from the Cote d'Argent beach, a hotspot that brings surfers from around the world to the department's shores, and the winemaking are of Bordeaux. Whether you want a second home by the beach or a vineyard property investment, Gironde is the place to go.

For more information on property in Gironde, browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings

Alpes-Maritimes

Located at the South East tip of the country, Alpes-Maritimes is that rarest of things: a place where you can go skiing in the morning and lounge on the beach in the afternoon. The varied landscape combined with the area's mild climate and towns such as Nice give the department a year-round tourist appeal that doesn't wane, making property investment here both attractive and highly rewarding.

For more information on property in Alpes-Maritimes, click here to browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings

Pyrenees-Orientales

Right at the base of France, the Pyrenees-Orientales forms a border with Spain, a geographical position that gives real estate investors a unique choice between ski resorts and coastal apartments. Pyrenees-Orientales is also home to a strong wine-growing industry, diversifying the region's property market even further.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Pyrenees-Orientales here

1 in 7 Brits want to move abroad for lower living costs

Ivan Radford — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 10:43:00 GMT

One in seven British citizens living overseas said they would stay abroad for "the favourable cost of living" according to a new report conducted by the Home Office with the majority of British migrants "making a lifestyle choice" rather than moving primarily for work.

Amid this steady flow of Brits buying abroad, France tops the list of destinations for home buyers looking to snap up a foreign property.

Indeed the latest HiFX Property Hotspots report revealed that 23% of potential property buyers are looking to own a home across the Channel with Mark Bodega, director at HiFX, commenting,

"France remains a safe bet for Brits. It goes without saying that the sun and lifestyle are a big pull but buyers can now get better value for their money and take advantage of the weakening Euro."

Danny Silver, an international real estate expert and director of The Villages Group explains further,

"French buyers are now taking advantage of the current Eurozone crisis with the largest percentage per capita of holiday home owners in the world. A recent report has shown that 84% of French citizens spend their holidays within the country - there must be a good reason for that!"

France has also won numerous accolades as a retirement destination, consistently featuring in top ten lists from publications across the world. In 2009, it was one of Forbes' top ten retirement havens. This view is also shared across Europe; in May 2011, British newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, voted France into its own top ten lists of overseas retirement destinations.

Silver added: "Southern regions of France have long been considered a great retirement destination for foreigners. Its mild climate and picturesque, idyllic villages along with cheaper living costs are often cited as common reasons UK citizens choose to reside there."

Investments Explained: Residential property

admin — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 13:15:00 GMT

Investments Explained: TheMoveChannel.com breaks down investment opportunities into bite-sized chunks every week.

In an ever-fluctuating global economic, it is important to invest in reliable assets, from financial products or stocks to commercial property and even alternative investments. But sometimes, after all that investing, you just need somewhere to put your head down and rest. The answer? Residential property.

Like all property investment opportunities, residential real estate comes in several shapes and sizes. What's what and how do you pick between them?

Here is TheMoveChannel.com's guide to residential property:

Apartment

Also known as a flat in the UK, Hong Kong and other countries, an apartment is a residential unit that occupies a self-contained space within a larger building. Apartments can contain several bedrooms, or consist of one single room which combines the kitchen, living room and dining room. These are known as studio apartments. Apartments can also span more than one floor within a building. These are called maisonettes.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of apartments for sale by clicking this way

House

A house is a residential building designed to house human residents that spans multiple stories. Designs vary significantly between homes, but unlike studio apartments, rooms are always separated into distinct spaces. A house can be rented or purchased by an investor, while in many countries owning a home is a sign of personal wealth; in the US, for example, buying a house is a key part of the American Dream.

For more information on TheMoveChannel.com's range of houses for sale, click here

Mobile homes

Mobile homes are portable properties that allow owners a greater degree of geographical flexibility. The property may be fixed, as in a park home, and occupy a plot within a wider community, or attached to an engine to form a motor home or caravan. As well as providing a more flexible lifestyle, mobile homes are also often cheaper and made out of a prefabricated materials.

Click here to browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of mobile homes

New home

A new home is exactly what it says on the tin. Without factors such as previous owners, possible historical damage or other legal complications, new build properties can be simpler to purchase and cheaper to run thanks to energy efficient appliances and eco-friendly designs. As a result, they are often popular among first time buyers.

Interested in a new home? Click here to browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings

Prestige property

For those house hunters after something classier than your average home, a prestige property is the answer. From former castles and royal palaces to expansive country estates, a prestige home is a luxury property that guarantees both comfort and privacy. And in the case of a private island, a unique view as well.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of prestige property by heading this way

Unique property

Ever wanted to live in a windmill? Fancy putting your feet up in a farmhouse? How about owning your very own tower? From the peculiar and rare to the downright weird, unique properties are a wonderful way for house hunters to express their personality or pick up a special piece of history. Whatever your preference, you are guaranteed to own something that is one of a kind.

For more information on TheMoveChannel.com's range of unique property for sale, click here

Watercraft

A watercraft home gives you a taste of life on the open sea, whether it is a houseboat to dock in a local canal or a more extravagant vessel to use as a holiday home. Depending on how you use them, watercraft can incur additional charges, such as docking fees, but who doesn't like the idea of floating away overnight?

Click here to browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of watercraft homes

5 property destinations in France you didn’t think of

admin — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:38:00 GMT

Nice. Burgundy. Bordeaux. Paris. These are some of the places you associate with French property, but the country is so big that it houses whole range of real estate markets, from beachfront villas on the Riviera to ski chalets in the French Alps.

With such variety available to investors and holiday home buyers, it's almost impossible to cover all of France's potential in one bite-sized. But you can highlight the hotspots that people often overlook.

Here are five property destinations in France you didn't think of:

Pau

A commune right on the edge of the Pyrenees, Pau is famous for its beautiful landscape and royal history. Overseas interest in the area was first sparked when it became home to the first ever 18-hole golf course in Europe. It has continued ever since.

Click here to find out more about property in Pau

Charente-Maritime

Names after the Charente River, Charente-Maritime is the coastal part of the Poitou Charente region. Tourists flock to the area every summer to enjoy its sun and seafood. The mild climate, which boasts a minimal amount of rain every year, often convinces them to live their permanently.

For more on real estate in Charente-Maritime, click here

Pays de la Loire

Literally translated as "Lands of the Loire River", Pays de la Loire was an artificial created department in recent years to highlight the major city of Nantes. But with the department' range of art, casinos, beaches, golf courses and quiet countryside, there is nothing fake about its appeal to both tourists and property buyers.

Click here to find out more about property in Pays de la Loire

Chamonix-Mont-Blanc

Located in the region of Rhône-Alpes, Chamonix is famous for its ski resorts among the glorious mountain peaks of Aiguille du Midi and Auiguilles Rouges. Its frosty appeal dates all the way back to 1924, when Chamonix hosted the very first Winter Olympics. Overseas interest has been snowballing ever since.

For more information and listings of property in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, head this way.

Pyrénées-Atlantiques

Nestled between the mountains and the coast in the Southwest of Franche, the Pyrénées-Atlantiques is a unique place in the world: one of the rare places where you can ski in the morning and lounge by the beach in the afternoon. The result is a property market that can cater to both summer and winter seasons, making it a year-round hotspot for tourists and investors alike.

Click here to find out more about property in Pyrénées-Atlantiques

How to create a good property listing

admin — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:49:00 GMT

More advice on selling property online from SellMyProperty.org, the leading international For Sale By Owner advertising service.

This week, Sell My Property turns its attention to the most essential step in selling your house: creating a listing. Once you've signed up with Sell My Property and you log in for the first time, you are automatically taken through to the "Create a Listing" page.

What goes into a good property listing? Which details should you leave out?

Here are seven simple steps to creating a good property listing:

1. Give it a name

We don't mean "Brian" or "Audrey". This is the part that will grab people's attention or turn them away, so include all the important stuff here. How many bedrooms? Is it near the beach? Can investors expect a high rental yield? Combine them into a snappy name, e.g. "2 bed flat on Murcia coast. Refurbished. 7% return", and you're good to go.

2. Add a reference

Don't worry: this one is just for you, so you don't have to come with anything catchy. Designed for sellers with more than one property to advertise, this field helps you tell the difference between your multiple listings when looking at the "Manage My Listings" page.

You cannot use any special symbols here, but any combination of alpha-numerical characters is fine. Perhaps "Brian" or "Audrey".

3. Mark it with an "X"

No one wants to buy a house if they don't know where it is, which is why Sell My Property always includes a map as part of the listing (see a listing on TheMoveChannel.com for an example). Using our location finder is an easy way to pinpoint your property's exact position, or if you prefer, you can use another maps service, for example Google Maps, and copy the coordinates into your listing.

4. Write a brief description

Consider this an expanded version of your property's name, including all the vital statistics and unique selling points in a few sentences. Keep it simple and to-the-point to capture buyers' attentions as quickly as possible.

5. Insert images

Pictures are worth a thousand words, so make sure you make the most of them. With our basic listing package, you can upload up to 10 large images of your property.

Read our detailed tips on how to take a good property listing photo, then pick one of them to be the main listing picture - an exterior shot usually works best. The other photos are then displayed in the order you upload them, so take care to add the best exterior images first before moving on to interior images of rooms and, eventually, any shots of the surrounding area or a floor plan.

6. Add a full description

This is where you can really sell your property, so make sure you read our guide on how to write a listing description first. Once you've got something written, go to the "Further Information" tab to add it to your listing.

7. Tag it with keywords

Keywords are what will help people find your property. Swimming pool, two bedrooms, Murcia, rental income; those are the kind of words you want to be including. But we've saved you the time and hassle or writing them out manually. Simply click on the "Autocomplete" button and we'll generate the keywords using your description - another reason to take extra care when writing it.

And it's as easy as that. Once you've finished all seven steps, hit the "Save" button and congratulations! Your property listing is live - and you are officially selling your home.

Ship or Sell When Moving Abroad?

admin — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:25:00 GMT

One of the most important questions and considerations when you're moving abroad is whether to take your belongings with you. Families can easily have a whole house full of furniture before the move, and it's often difficult to work out whether it's cheaper to sell everything, and buy new items when you get there, or ship everything over.

One of the main points is that, on average, it costs around £3500 to move a house's contents to Australia. The price can vary quite a lot, so this is only a rough guide, but it does give a basis to work on. You can usually work out approximately how much you might make by selling all of your belongings buy looking at online auction sites. Again, using the internet you can find out how much it will cost to buy all of the things you need when you get to the destination. Compare this information to an accurate shipping quote, and you shouldn't have too much trouble deciding which the cheaper option is. Usually, selling the contents of your house, and buying all new stuff saves money, but the choice isn't that straightforward.

The issue is that it's far more work to try to sell and buy everything than it is to use an international removals company. It's very time consuming to list everything you've got online or in a newspaper, and you don't know that you'll be able to sell everything, especially if your house is large. The other problem is arriving in your new home. There are many essentials and items of furniture that you'll have to buy almost immediately, which adds to the stress of moving.

The only real way to decide which option is best is to get a quote for your removal, and then accurately work out prices against the hassle involved. Of course, you may also have large items of sentimental value, which cannot be sold. In these cases, you'll have to use a removals company. Shipit.co.uk specialise in international removals, and have expert packers to make sure that delicate goods are safe and secure.

Removals are usually the easiest option, and offer a much smoother transition from one country to another. Unless you have a small home, and can do without some furniture and appliances temporarily, it's usually best to have your belongings shipped.

One-quarter of British buyers head to France

Ivan Radford — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:08:00 GMT

France is the most popular property destination in the world for British buyers, according to new research, with almost one-quarter hopping across the Channel.

23 per cent of potential buyers turn to France for property, the HiFX Property Hotspots Report reveals, as France's recent property tax hikes and the ongoing Eurozone crisis do little to deter investors with many still keen to pick up a holiday home bargain abroad.

"France remains a safe bet for Brits," comments Mark Bodega, Director at HiFX. "It goes without saying that the sun and lifestyle are a big pull but buyers can now get better value for their money and take advantage of the weakening euro."

Spain is a close second favourite for buyers, with 19 per cent hoping to purchase a property there. But the allure of Spanish real estate falls down the rankings for experienced property owners, with just 9 per cent saying they would buy there if they were considering purchasing a second property.

Mark Bodega added: "Spain is still popular with Brits who are hoping to take advantage of lower property prices. The average property price in the country is down almost 13 per cent in the last year alone. In years gone by bargain-hunters would focus inland, particularly looking for rundown properties that needed some work. As inland prices have fallen the most since the property crash this is till true, however prices have fallen on the coast dramatically as well giving bargain hunters plenty of choice."

The HiFX Property Hotspots report further revealed that 35 per cent of UK adults surveyed said they are looking to buy a property abroad within the next 1 - 2 years, whilst 30 per cent are even looking to purchase abroad within the next six months. Savvy Brits will largely be funding their property purchase through savings, with 43 per cent stating this was how they planned to buy abroad, whilst almost a quarter 24 per cent said they plan to sell their UK home to buy abroad.

Alternative Investments Explained: Precious Metals

admin — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:01:00 GMT

Alternative Investments Explained: from bamboo to precious metals, AlternativeMarketplace.co.uk breaks down the alternative products vying for your cash and assesses which assets are worth taking the risk.

This week, precious metals go under the microscope.

What makes a metal precious? Several things. Firstly, the chemistry: precious metals are less reactive than most elements. Secondly, their appearance: due to their chemical make-up, precious metals tend to glisten more in the light, making them more attractive to both consumers and investors. Thirdly, their proliferation; while the metals all occur naturally, they are rarer than standard metals, which makes them more precious. All of these combine to create the fourth, and most important factor, their financial value.

Go back hundreds of years and precious metals, such as gold, silver and platinum had such high values that they were used as currency, traded in place of coins. Over the years, these naturally occurring metals have become even more valuable - or at least, the perception of their value has increased - to the point where they are never used as currency. Instead, they are hoarded as commodities for industrial or investment purposes.

Gold and silver's colourful properties make them ideal for art and jewellery, sculpted into fashion accessories and luxury items. They are also used as bullion for currency, although the metal's core value makes the coins far more valuable than their denominational worth.

Aluminium used to share the same precious status as gold and silver - not because it was a rarely occurring substance, but because it was difficult to obtain from the Earth and extract from ores. When that issue was solved, aluminium became increasingly common, prompting its value to plummet to that of a normal metal. It is now used to make drink cans and other everyday items.

But gold and silver are precious because of their rarity, which has kept their worth high. Indeed, as a commodity investment, that's what makes precious metals so worthwhile; the long-term perception of their value enables them to resist wider economic trends. Markets may fluctuate, currencies may weaken, but the value of precious metals remains the same.

Celebrity Real Estate: Gerard Depardieu buys Belgium sanctuary from French tax

Ivan Radford — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 12:16:00 GMT

Photo credit: Vincent Roche

Gerard Depardieu has reportedly bought himself a new house in Nechin.

The property, located in a village just across the border between Belgium and France, may not be the same as a grand Paris mansion, but comes with its own charms, as the actor appears to be fleeing France's new taxes.

And he is in good company. The village home sees Depardieu shack up next to several wealthy house hunters, including Christian Dior and Bernard Arnault, who have turned Nechin into "a colony for French exiles", according to The Telegraph.

The move follows the introduction of a 75 per cent levy on all earnings over €1 million by President Francois Hollande.

Belgian newspaper Le Soir said: "The issue has not yet received an official response but one thing is certain: on Monday, the actor and businessman made a detour through the border town of Estaimpuis to a notary to sign the purchase of a property in Nechin."

The actor was spotted by members of the press in La Ferme du Chateau, a gourmet restaurant in the tiny Belgium town, where French citizens account for 27 per cent of the population.

While no officials, including Nechin's mayor, have confirmed the transaction, the media say Depardieu's new home is a mansion spanning 2,200 square feet with a wine cellar and large landscaped garden.

Click here for celebrity property news:

http://www.themovechannel.com/news/celebrities_and_gossip/

Tips for buying luxury property in Mougins

admin — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 13:31:00 GMT

Luxury property experts Unique Living offer tips and advice on the world's top high-end real estate hotspots.

While jet-setting around the French Riviera for a high-end holiday home, investors would do well to stop off at Mougins. Just a short car ride away from Cannes, the town is one of the most popular areas near the coast - and with good reason.

Here is everything you need to know about luxury property in Mougins:

Vital Statistics

Price range

€900k - 1.2m

Style of Property

Villas

Who's buying?

British

Scandinavian

Background Information

Climate

Located 15 minutes by car from Cannes, Mougins shares the same temperate climate but in far prettier surroundings. Cyprus and olive trees surround the village, while the hilltops stretch up to 260 metres, offering a spectacular 360-degree panorama of the Côte d'Azur.

Lifestyle

If Cannes is the playground of the stars, Mougins is the cool park next door. Golf courses, galleries and museums add to the laidback lifestyle of the French Riviera's quiet countryside retreat; the kind of environment that drew minds such as Pablo Picasso and Winston Churchill to live there.

Economy

Mougins is famous for its chefs, a reputation that has attracted celebrities to host dinners there for years. Traditionally, its rural surroundings has seen it rely on flowers and perfumeries for income, but as with the rest of the Riviera, tourism now provides an equally powerful financial scent. •

Agents say...

"There aren't really such a thing as apartments in Mougins. You can get villas or village houses from €900k and up - there are some stunning things out there. Because it's set back a bit from the coast it's slightly cooler, which is why Brits like it. It's a retreat from the city life. You get views of the coast, even though you're in the hills."

To see listings of available property in Mougins, click here.

Moving house can be good for your health, says research

admin — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:43:00 GMT

It's famous for being one of the most stressful things you can do in life, but moving house can actually be good for your health, according to new research.

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index asked 1,000 American residents about their sick days, health problems and other symptoms an found that being unhappy with where you live can be bad for your health. For those satisfied with their home's location, the average physical rating was 78, significantly higher than the 69.1 recorded for those unhappy with where they live.

"Those who are satisfied... are less likely to report having experienced physical pain, having health problems, being obese, having headaches, or having ever been diagnosed with asthma or high cholesterol," explains Gallup. "They are also more likely to report feeling well-rested and having enough energy."

"Additionally, adults who say their city is getting better as a place to live are less likely to report having ever been diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol than those who say their city is getting worse as a place to live. However, residents who are satisfied with their city are no less likely to report these three health issues than those who are dissatisfied."

Income, education and ethnicity are already associated with a person's wellbeing, but Gallup argues that this new research suggests that homeowners' perceptions of their communities is equally important when considering their health.

The question is: when are you planning to move?

Unhappy with where you live?

Find a new life abroad. Browse our listings sunny houses, beachfront apartments and other overseas property:

http://www.themovechannel.com/property/all

Watch - France faces reality check with tax reforms

admin — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:26:00 GMT

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has presented his latest economic proposals for restoring economic growth in what he called an "unprecedented" package of measures.

It is a tougher-than-expected response to business leader's calls for action to reverse decades of industrial decline, and falling global market share.

The measures include a payroll tax holiday worth some 20 billion euros for employers.

"These 20 billion euros will come from 10 billion euros of extra cuts in public spending, and 10 more from restructuring VAT, and environmental taxes," claimed Ayrault.

The tax credits kick in next year, with the consumer tax rises only coming in 2014 as the Socialists try to ease the pain of reforms.

The tax breaks are the equivalent of lopping 6% off employer's labour costs, and represent a bigger- than-expected concession after a government advisor and former boss of EADS called for a 30 billion tax giveaway. In his report Louis Gallois called for "shock therapy" for France. This is not that, but compared to recent policy, it is a significant jolt.

Tips for buying luxury property in Vence

admin — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:26:00 GMT

Luxury property experts Unique Living offer tips and advice on the world's top high-end real estate hotspots.

When it comes to high-end real estate in France, the French Riviera is the place to go. And for those sifting through the Riviera's finest towns, Vence is hard to beat. What makes the commune so special?

This is all you need to know about buying luxury property in Vence:

Vital Statistics

Average Prices in the Area

€2.5m - 10m

Most Common Property Type

Villas

Who's Buying?

Russians

Middle East

Background Info

Climate

Thanks to its location near the South coast of France, Vence benefits from a temperate climate, with hot sun-soaked summers and cool springs. Expect highs of 26 in August - unacclimatised residents should take care to wear sunscreen - and bearable winters that stay away from becoming too chilly.

Lifestyle

Vence is famous for its spring water, which can be drunk from fountains throughout the town, but there is plenty more for locals to drink up: contemporary art museums, a beautiful chapel and cathedral, and other stunning medieval architecture. It's the kind of life that D.H. Lawrence approved of.

Economy

Like many places along the French Riviera, Vence depends upon a lively tourist industry for its income, particularly in the summer, with visitors attracted by its culture, history and art. But at heart Vence is a market town - a vibrant centre of fragrances, vegetables and, of course, that famous mineral water.

Insider's Guide...

"Vence is much nearer the airport, but the properties are more reasonably priced. They can go up, but villas start at around €800k. Vence covers a huge region, but Saint Paul du Vence is the crème of the area. Lots of British buyers come here, but others are taking hold, particularly the Swiss..."

Guide to Buying Luxury Property in Cannes

admin — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:53:00 GMT

Two-bedroom apartments by the sea in Spain are all very well and good, but sometimes, you want something more than a holiday resort. Something with a bit more class and comfort. After all, if you are planning to live somewhere for several months a year, why settle for a Ford when you can have a Rolls Royce?

Luxury property experts Unique Living offer tips and advice on the world's top high-end real estate hotspots.

Here is a guide to buying luxury property in Cannes:

General Knowledge

Climate

It's not just the annual film festival that brings the brightest and best to Cannes: things are glistening all through the summer, when residents can expect 12 hours of sunshine per day. A pleasant Mediterranean breeze keeps the hot days cool, while spring and autumn are also temperate. Indeed, the town only drops below 10°C for a few months in the winter.

Lifestyle

Famous the world over as a playground for the rich and famous, Cannes offers discerning locals everything from private beaches and exclusive boutiques to gourmet restaurants and distinguished art galleries. Tourists come and go, but for those who stay, Cannes can offer much more: the most prestigious place to live on the French Riviera.

Economy

Cannes has long benefited from the tourist income surrounding its film festival and TV festival, not to mention the iconic coastline of La Croisette, with its world-class restaurants and boutiques, but Cannes' technological industries are equally crucial to the area's economy: the Cannes Mandelieu Space Center has its headquarters on the shore.

Insider's guide...

"We have a lot of people waiting to buy in Cannes - but they're very specific about what they want. It's a very prestigious place: the beaches along the front of the Croisette are private. When you go on them, if you take a bottle of water that you bought in the street, they'll confiscate it!"

Browse Unique Living's listings of luxury property:

http://www.uniqueliving.com/

For more on French property, visit TheMoveChannel.com.

5 more popular property destinations in France

admin — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:41:00 GMT

There's a reason why French property is so in-demand from international investors: there are so many types of real estate and in so many locations. The variety is so impressive that once TheMoveChannel.com started listing top property destinations in France, it was impossible to stop.

And so, like a good French wine, TheMoveChannel.com continues to down hotspots. Here are seven lip-smacking property destinations in France:

Burgundy

Famous for its wine and food, Burgundy's landscape is full of rolling hills, stunning lakes and picturesque forests - a natural setting that, combined with its famous culture, cuisine and strong tourism industry, make Burgundy property just as tasty as its wine.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Burgundy

Rhone Alpes

Located in the West of France, Rhône-Alpes takes its name from the Rhone river that runs through the middle of the Alps that border on the east of the region. Together, these geographical features drive the area's economy, with ski resort accommodation in the Alps some of the most popular property investments in the country.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Rhone Alpes

Basse-Normandy

Basse-Normandy, or Lower Normandy, is connected directly to the UK thanks to Cherbourg's ferry port. As a result, the area's beaches are popular with British tourists in the summer, while the region's agricultural land attracts second home hunters and farmland investors from around the world.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Basse-Normany

Île-de-France

Île-de-France is the wealthiest region in France - and, indeed, all of Europe. Home to the Paris, the central area is a buzzing hotspot for high-end real estate investors and a hub for overseas immigrants looking to start a new life in the busy heart of Europe's most popular property destination.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Ile de France

Évian-les-Bains

Évian-les-Bains may be most well known giving its name to Evian mineral water, but the region is also one of the world's most elite holiday resorts. Located in the popular Rhone-Alpes region, the spa's position on the shore of Lake Geneva has attracted visitors from all tiers of high society, including King George V of England, King Farouk of Egypy and Marcel Proust. Many property investors are smart enough to join them.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Evian Les Bains

Alternative Investments Explained: Carbon Credits

admin — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 13:29:00 GMT

Alternative Investments Explained: from bamboo to precious metals, we break down the alternative products vying for your cash and assess which assets are worth taking the plunge for.

This week, carbon credits get the cross-examination treatment:

Carbon credits were first introduced as an environmental measure, designed to help companies, individuals and countries to mitigate their increasing emissions of greenhouse gases.

They are defined as: "A certificate showing that a government or company has paid to have a certain amount of carbon dioxide removed from the environment."

As greenhouse gases grow in the atmosphere, global warming is exacerbated, placing the Earth at greater natural risk. But by buying carbon credits, this rise can be offset.

One carbon credit tends to be equal to one tonne of carbon dioxide, with credits then going towards funding carbon reduction schemes around the world, helping to encourage alternative systems that emit fewer gases.

Over time, this has turned from an international scheme into a commodity market. Carbon offsetters can now buy carbon credits from traders and companies that have aggregated credits together. As a a result, investors can now buy and sell credits with firms and individuals, generating returns through the trading process.

As greenhouse gases become more vital for the Earth's future and more companies decide to offset their emissions, the carbon trading market continues to grow exponentially, potentially without limit.

The long-term potential for returns as well as the moral payoff that goes with an ethical investment opportunity make many investors choose to invest in carbon credits, giving them a chance to secure the future of their funds as well as the planet.

European retail property investment passes €7.1bn

Ivan Radford — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:09:00 GMT

European retail property investment passed €7 billion in the third quarter of 2012, according to CBRE. Investment in the sector hit €7.1 billion in the three months to September, a 12 per cent increase upon the second quarter and the highest quarterly total so far this year.

Despite the surge, the figure remains 18 per cent below investment during the same period last year, with activity mainly held back by a lack of product on the market.

The United Kingdom (UK) and the Benelux region were the two areas that saw strong increases in activity this quarter. The UK result was boosted by 17 transactions of more than €50 million, the largest being TIAA-CREF's €354 million purchase of Festival Place shopping centre in Basingstoke. In the Benelux region, investment volumes recovered following weak activity in previous quarters, mainly due to the completion of a few large transactions in Belgium and the Netherlands.

In today's risk-averse market, investors have shied away from economically underperforming Southern Europe. This shows through clearly in the latest results as the already weak investment activity levels declined further. With only around €200 million in retail investment in Q3 2012 for Italy, Spain and Portugal combined, this is 75% below the last three-year quarterly average of €734 million.

Recent years have seen a remarkable level of retail investment in markets such as Germany and Poland, but 2012 looks set to fall short of performance in 2011 and 2010. After record retail investment levels and with little new development completions, lack of product is proving to be the main stumbling block to further uplift in retail investment activity in these two markets. In Germany, for example, the €1.6 billion of retail investment reported in Q3 2012 was 25% below the last three-year quarterly average, even with the extra boost from the Hamburg Trust's 78% share acquisition of Shopping Center Milaneo in Stuttgart for circa €400 million.

Iryna Pylypchuk, Associate Director, EMEA Research, CBRE, commented:

"Many core assets that have traded in the market in recent years now sit in the hands of long-term holders. This, combined with limited development completions, means that near-term opportunities to access the European retail investment market are increasingly limited. For investors looking to commit new capital this means one of two things: partnering with a local specialist who is better placed to source product, and/or exploring markets that fall outside the tightly defined core assets and market."

John Welham, Head of European Retail Investment, CBRE, added:

"There is strong demand for prime and core retail property in all the stronger European economies and in particular Germany, the Nordics, France and Poland. That demand is coming from within Europe but also increasingly from outside Europe, in particular from the USA and Canada. The weaker European countries are seeing dramatically lower levels of trading. This is partly due to less capital looking at these markets overall, but also to the fact that vendors are generally still not prepared to accept the re-pricing levels demanded by the potential investors that are actively pursuing opportunities."

British expats fill up South West France

Ivan Radford — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:15:00 GMT

British expats are filling up South West France, according to new research from INSEE (National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies).

The study shows that for the first time expat Britons now make up the highest number of "foreigners" in SW France. There are now 16,000 Britons in Aquitaine - a number that could be doubled if you add in the neighbouring departments of Gers, Charente and Charente Maritime. Also of interest is the fact that these are not necessarily the wealthy retirees that one associates with the heart of the Dordogne. The report shows that many of the new wave are younger families who are looking to work in France and forge strong roots in the community.

Trevor Leggett, Chief Executive of Leggett Immobilier, sees this as a welcome and healthy trend: "I'm not surprised by the findings - our agents in SW France have seen sales rise by around a third over the last couple of years and many of these have been to young families who are moving to France to escape the rat race and to see their children grow up in a safe, sunny and peaceful environment. We currently have around 1,800 houses for sale in Aquitaine and 2,000 in neighbouring Poitou Charentes - many of these will be particularly attractive to UK buyers as they have plenty of land and are close to pretty villages and excellent schooling. I see that there are now 3,536 British expats in the Charente Maritime alone - this is certainly an up & coming region for international buyers with upmarket areas like La Rochelle and the Ile de Ré offering easy access, great shopping, sandy beaches and a temperate climate. Indeed we are eager to recruit new agents for this department to satisfy the demand that we are seeing from buyers from the UK and beyond.

"Schooling and integration into the community are a big positive to come out of the findings, The Sud Ouest ran a case study of an expat who runs a Franco British club, teaches English in the local schools and is also involved in local life with the Lions Club. Here at Leggetts we have our own real life examples of agents who are involved in local politics and helping out in local schools. This integration has been warmly welcomed and locals are impressed that the young, British, entrepreneurs are not being put off by the current media coverage of taxation and austerity".

Celebrity Real Estate: F. Scott Fitzgerald’s house for sale

Ivan Radford — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:22:00 GMT

"In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since..." begins The Great Gatsby. It may well have been to buy a villa in Cap d'Antibes, judging by the latest author's abode to hit the market: a lavish French villa that was once the home of F. Scott Fitzgerald.

What the listing does not make clear is that Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda actually owned several properties in the French Riviera, explains Curbed. One property, the Villa St. Louis, has been converted into a hotel, while another, Villa Paquita, was sold to the Hemingways. This villa is the third, a French holiday home where the couple spent the summer of 1925 while living in Paris.

The Great Gatsby was famously written in the French Riviera, which gives this already sumptuous property even more of a boost. Not that it needs it: the villa boasts a swimming pool, a sauna, seven bedrooms and bathrooms, direct beach access and, according to Sotheby's, "a bar with discotheque" - a feature that Gatsby would certainly have approved of.

"There are numerous outbuildings," adds the listing, including one that has been turned "into a bedroom with a sailing theme, with a bathroom and play room with projection facilities" as well as portholes in the walls.

The price for Fitzgerald's summer property? "On request". Gatsby would approve of that part as well.

Financial stability is priority for expats

Ivan Radford — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:08:00 GMT

Financial stability when expats consider buying property abroad, according to new research.

A study by TD Global Investor Confidence found that 61 per cent of expats surveyed said having money gave them the most confidence about moving overseas, ranking financial stability about both health (57 per cent) and having friends (48 per cent).

35 per cent of expats also said that their job was an important factor, adds Expat Forum.

"Moving abroad, whether it is for a short period of time or to start a new life, can be an adventure although it is not something to be taken lightly," commented Annemarie Jung, chief executive officer of TD Company's Internaxx Bank.

"So it is understandable that expats would want to ensure they are financially secure and healthy if they are to make such a life changing decision. But even though their current financial status is clearly important they also have an eye on the future. While some expats say they don't worry about having enough money, the majority are keen to see that their financial future is secure, placing most importance on ensuring they have saved enough for their retirement."

Nine French property destinations you should never forget

admin — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 11:22:00 GMT

When it comes to picking a place to buy French property, everyone knows Paris and the Riviera. Aquitaine is old news, Brittany is full of buyers. But what about the places that investors overlook?

Here are nine property destinations in France you should never forget.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux is famous the world over for its wine, but its property is equally tasty. Quiet, classy with notes of picturesque beauty, a home in The City promises breathtaking sunsets by the river and charming old-fashioned streets. A firm favourite with British real estate buyers, and no wonder: it always goes down smooth.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's property in Bordeaux

Marseille

Located right on France's South shoreline, Marseille is the largest city on the Mediterranean coast and the second largest in the country. From its old fishing port to the colourful markets, Marseille's blend of beachfront entertainment and culture is the epitome of what makes property in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur so popular with overseas investors.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's property in Marseille

Montpellier

Languedoc-Roussillon is one of France's most popular property regions, led by its thriving capital, Montpellier. Known for its Spanish population, the city, located on France's Mediterranean coast, has a lively nightlife and strong tourist industry, making it ideal for buy-to-let investments.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's property in Montpellier

Poitou-Charentes

Poitou-Charentes has always been a popular region for French property buyers. The islands of Oleron and Ile de Re attract attention thanks to their sandy coasts, while La Rochelle and Rochefort boast equally beautiful beaches. Further inland, the Futuroscope theme park brings in millions of visitors each year, promising strong rental potential for both domestic and overseas investors.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's property in Poitou-Charentes

Toulouse

The fourth largest city in France, Toulouse is known for its role in the spaceflight industry, but residents are not just aviation employees: the city also has a substantial student population, making it ideal for overseas investors looking for rental income.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's property in Toulouse

Biarritz

Located on the Bay of Biscay, Biarritz is nestled in Basque Country right next to the Spanish border. The stunning beachfront and luxurious property market are typical of Aquitaine's most popular destinations. Over time, the town has developed a reputation for surfing, bringing in thousands of visitors every year for major watersport competitions.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's property in Biarritz

Lille

Located in the North of France, Lille may not be a coastal tourist hotspot, but the city is one of France's biggest business hubs. Hundreds of companies have headquarters in the area, forming one of the most competitive commercial property markets in Europe, ideal for investors in search of strong yields as well as those looking for second homes.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's property in Lille

Normandy

With its blend of coastal lifestyle and cultural history, Normandy is the kind of area that attracted residents such as Claude Monet to its vibrant property market. Home to sites such as Mont Saint-Michel and the Bayeux Tapestry, the region attracts millions of visitors every year, promising high occupancy rates for rental property and a high popularity with British buyers in particular.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's property in Normandy

Nice

Nice may rank just behind Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse in popularity, but it's the second most visited place in France thanks to its picturesque landscape and Mediterranean climate. Millions of tourists travel to the area every year, filling up its hotels and rental accommodation while flocking to the beautiful beaches along the legendary Promenade des Anglais.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's property in Nice

French locals learn to love British food

Ivan Radford — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 14:00:00 GMT

Photo Credit: Ulterior Epicure

The Brits have been invading the French property market for years, but it's not just the English pound that is infiltrating the country's lifestyle: now the English diet is too.

Sales of stilton and cheddar are on the up, reports the BBC, while Scotch whisky now accounts for half a billion pounds in exports. Indeed, last year, British food exports to Franc hit £2.2 billion, double that of 2000, while "Marks and Spencer's Champs Elysee store sells more chicken tikka masala than any branch in the UK and the fifth highest amount of BLT sandwiches .

Food critic and Marseilles resident Jonathan Meades has attributed the rise of roast beef to a new generation of French consumers. "This generation travels," says Meades. "They realise that something has changed pretty fundamentally in London. They're not as gastronomically xenophobic as they used to be."

Chef Rowley Leigh adds: "[The French] go mad over grouse as there's nothing like it there".

Is the rising presence of British produce on French supermarket shelves a sign of a new dieting trend? Or simply a reminder of the 150,000 British residents that live in French property, not to mention the 200,000 second home owners?

It's certainly food for thought.

France and Spain still top for Expat property

Ivan Radford — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:11:00 GMT

France and Spain remain the favourite destinations for expats and second homers looking to buy a place to buy an overseas property the sun, claims one company.

More than half of all international mortgage inquiries handled by brokers Conti were for property in the two countries.

Nearly a third (31%) opted for France, while Spain notched 22% of inquiries this year.

Last year, the two countries took 29% of all international mortgage inquiries.

Turkey retained third place with a 13% share of offshore home loan calls. Portugal and Ireland are rising in popularity in fourth and fifth places, while the USA and Bulgaria are dropping out of favour with property investors. Clare Nessling, Operations Director, of Conti said:

"In the current economic climate, British buyers are sticking to the more traditional overseas locations, especially those with history of providing good rental returns. The smart investor is no longer simply looking to where the best bargains for a swift return can be found, but to where security lies for a longer term investment.

"Last year, the concentration of some investors on emerging markets was starting to erode the lead of the traditional ones. This year, the tables have turned. Buyers are sticking to locations they know and trust, but it's not that alone; affordable prices, low interest rates, easy access and good rental yields have all contributed to the enduring attraction of these destinations."

French property investment on the rebound

Ivan Radford — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 02:00:00 GMT

The property investment market in France rebounded in Q2 2012 recording investments totalling approximately €3.8bn versus €1.8bn in Q1, according to research from Paris-based manager La Francaise Asset Management.

However, the firm said the market is moving at two different speeds, and activity has mainly focused on large transactions by international investors. For the first time since 2007, foreigners accounted for more than 50% of investment flows.

Domestic investors (insurance companies, pension funds and SCPIs) preferred medium-size assets in Ile-de-France and elsewhere. After a long period of inactivity, these players are expected to boost activity in H2.

The France property market is being constrained by a lack of quality stock, which has kept prime yield rates under 5%. However, yield rates are rising alongside rental and technical risk: some transactions were conducted in Ile-de-France at 6.5-7%, the firm said.

In Q2 2012, the residential market entered a downward phase, which has resulted in falling volumes rather than falling prices. After peaking in January due to a reduction in the deduction on capital gains, sales dropped sharply (-20% year-on-year). A contraction in the number of home loans granted (-30% year-on-year in August 2012) was also a key factor.

Overall, France's slowing economy plus the less attractive tax and regulatory environment have slowed real estate projects. Property values dipped again in Q2, continuing the trend from the end of 2011, according to official statistics.

However La Francaise Asset Management believes unfulfilled demand for housing, which remains high and shows no sign of abating, will support prices from this level.

The overall performance of the IPD France index in 2011 was 8.4%, while over the same period the CAC 40 was around -13%, and that of French sovereign debt below 5%. In 2012 and 2013, real estate will continue to offer stable rental yields while property values hold firm.

Look for real estate in France here -->>

Panic in Paris? Wealthy French flee Francois’ tax

Ivan Radford — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:31:00 GMT

Photo credit: Hans905

How many properties in Paris worth more than €1 million have been put up for sale since May? 400, according to one agent. Or, to put it another way, more than double the same period in 2011.

Why? Ask Francois Hollande. The Socialist President, elected earlier this year, has long been planning to raise taxes and levies for property owners, both foreign and domestic. Under the country's new austerity measures, those earning over €1 million will soon have to forfeit 75 per cent of their income, while others fear more charges on moving money overseas.

And now, as the deadline approaches, the French elite have had enough. They are upping baguettes and leaving, fleeing Francois' tax for friendly real estate markets, such as London, New York and Geneva.

High-end Paris agent Daniel Feau told the AFP: "It's nearly a general panic. Some 400 to 500 residences worth more than €1million have come onto the Paris market." And the profile of those who are leaving has changed, from the "idle rich" to "managers of major international corporations and entrepreneurs who are scared of a marginal tax rate of 62.21 percent on sales of stock".

But what is bad news for France's super-rich is good news for overseas investors. With so many properties hitting the market, the average price of Paris apartments has slipped by 5 per cent in recent months, low enough to keep generating interest from abroad.

"A large number of wealthy French families are leaving the country as a direct result of the proposals of the new government. These properties are then bought up by foreign investors looking for a stable real estate market like France to invest in," Alexander Kraft, head of Sotheby's French, told The Daily Mail: "It shows the high-end property market is holding up very well, even in these difficult times."

When the tax proposals were first announced, David Cameron responded by promising to "roll out the red carpet" for high-end French investors looking to come to London. But if this exodus is real and continues for the next year, France's wealthy may unintentionally be doing the same thing.

Expat buyers give French property "buouyant" year

Ivan Radford — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:56:00 GMT

The French property market has been a good investment for many foreign-buyers over the last year with prices of flats and houses rising by between 4% and 8% respectively in the sought after areas of Nice and the Cote d'Azur, whilst prices in the Paris region have risen by between 3.8% and 6.2% for houses and flats respectively, according to data release by government controlled Notaires de France which equates broadly to the conveyancing solicitors data unit.

At the same time, the numbers of UK buyers in the Paris region has remained stable at around 2% of all transactions, according to data from BNP Paribas, whilst for France overall, the percentage of UK buyers dropped slightly from 11% to 9%.

Commenting on the figures, Tim Harvey, managing director of Offshoreonline.org, specialist French mortgagee brokers said, "In Paris, as in London, we can see the importance of the international buyer who has certainly contributed to the overall buoyancy of the market. Likewise, in Nice and the surrounding areas, Asian and Eastern European buyers will have provided underlying strength to the market."

Elsewhere in France, the story is more mixed, with prices stable or rising, but by more modest amounts, these areas not benefiting so directly from the overseas buyer.

One contributing factor to the health of the French mortgage market is certainly the willingness of the banks to lend. Whilst for the UK buyer the story has been one of disappearing banks, in France lenders have stood firm and continued to offer attractively prices mortgage funding. Tim Harvey explains, "We can source variable rate euro mortgages for expatriates from 2.3% with 10 year fixed rate euro mortgages available from 3% and interest only mortgages from 3.25% from a number of banks, so there is no shortage of choice of lender or product. Whilst each lender will have their own underwriting requirements, the overall picture is a healthy one with plenty of choice."

Exchange rates will have played their part in affecting buyer sentiment too - for the UK buyer the position is now healthier than it was some months ago with the pound trading at around €1.25 from €1.14 a year ago, so giving buyers an effective price discount. For dollar linked currencies, exchange rates have also moved broadly in their favour over the past 12 months making property cheaper for the dollar based buyer, but the euro is now strengthening again to remove some but not all of that advantage.

1 in 3 over-65s in the UK feel lonely

Ivan Radford — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 11:34:00 GMT

Loneliness is an issue that plagues many British pensioners with a recent study by Age UK and online young people's charity YouthNet discovering that more than 1 in 3 people aged 65 and over in the UK feel lonely. However, in spite of this somewhat depressing news, hope is not lost with the perfect solution existing just a short hop across the channel.

Danny Silver, MD of ‘active living' development for over 50s, The Villages Group, France comments,

"Indeed, it would appear that being a retiree in Britain doesn't necessarily offer all the positive idealisations associated with "third age" particularly when millions are living in isolation. As well as this, continued pressure on energy and food bills mean that many older people are being forced to take a step closer towards the poverty line. Given these reasons its hardly surprising many over 60s are lured into downsizing, often swapping the family home for smaller accommodation in a retirement development which offers a social community and promises to manage all the chores.

"By stark contrast, France is one nation that delivers the exact opposite when it comes to caring for their elderly and that's why we chose this nation as the location for our new active living resorts for over 50's. These resorts will be focused around developing strong communities of like-minded individuals where they will never feel alone."

And it's not just loneliness that's affecting British pensioners. According to one of the world's largest independent financial advisory groups, deVere Group, those nearing retirement feel "betrayed" by the government's economic policies, with an increasing number considering moving their retirement funds out of the UK.

Nigel Green, chief executive of the deVere Group explained,

"Since the notorious 'Granny Tax' budget six months ago, an increasing number of our clients have told us that they feel betrayed by the government's monetary and fiscal policies. The scrapping of age-related benefits, tax changes, quantitative easing and low interest rates have meant that pensioners and those retiring imminently have paid a disproportionately high price as a solution to the current economic crisis. Indeed, latest research demonstrates that the British pensioners will be a further £11.5 billion worse off by such policies by 2014."

With this in mind, relocating to an ‘active living' development in France could offer the perfect alternative to relieving loneliness and money woes thanks to less expensive housing, a relaxed pace of life and cheaper living costs.

Danny Silver remarks,

"As people get older loneliness can start to creep its way in but rather than choosing an expensive care home in the UK why not chose a sunshine resort that encourages physical and social activity? Right now, retirement developments in the UK have been grabbing a lot of attention - TV show Dispatches recently did an undercover feature on UK retirement homes which identified the pitfalls of buying a retirement property in the UK.

"I believe that our active living villages in France for over 50's offer a far better option and a cheaper one too. In the UK maintenance such as gardening, swimming pools and window cleaning can cost around £600 per month where as ours which also includes French land taxes as well as full entertainment programme equates to approximately £100!"

For those considering a better quality of life, The Villages Group's first ‘active living' resort village for over 50s is available at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canal du Midi, one of Europe's longest and widest canal systems.

The development provides a village community of 107 villas and affords full on-site amenities including tennis courts, indoor pool, gymnasium and quality entertainment and cultural programmes, perfect for living an active and fulfilling life with friends.

10 more popular property destinations in France

admin — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 13:39:00 GMT

After last week's look at commonly chosen property hotspots in France, TheMoveChannel.com delved deeper into its bag of listings to work out where else in the country was catching investors' eyes.

The result is wide-spanning list of locations that spans from the capital of France itself to the stunning South coast.

Here are 10 more popular French property destinations in France:

French Riviera

When it comes to buying property abroad, particularly in France, buyers think of one word: Riviera. Indeed, France's South coast (the "Cote d'Azur" or "Azure Coast") was one of the first modern resort areas, established in the 1700s. Today, it remains one of the most desirable, home to celebrities as famous as Elton John and hotspots as glamorous as Nice, Monaco, Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Mougins.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of French Riviera property.

Paris

What can be said about Paris that has not already been said? The French capital is as high profile as it gets for overseas investors, standing alongside New York, London and Hong Kong as one of the world's most important prime and luxury property markets. High-end real estate is popular in the city centre, while prices get cheaper as buyers move towards the outer arrondissements.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Paris.

Languedoc

Languedoc-Roussillon is one of the most-visited regions of France thanks to its sunny coasts, green countrysides and warm climate. It is equally popular among house hunters, with almost one in five French real estate enquiries going towards property in the region.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Languedoc

Provence-alpes-cote D'azur

The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (or PACA) region is nestled between the Mediterranean coast and the Alps - a loation that makes it idyllic for investors and holiday home hunters. Home to the French Riviera, the breathtaking area is without a doubt the most popular French property destination on TheMoveChannel.com accounting for almost one in five enquiries.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Provence

Aquitaine

One of the largest regions of France, Aquitaine's astonishing landscapes range from the hills of the Dordogne to the beaches of St Jean de Luz and ski slopes of Biarritz. Whatever seasonal real estate takes your interest, Aquitaine has it on offer, along with all the lifestyle elements that make French property so appealing to buyers around te world.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Aquitaine

Brittany

Sometimes called "Little Britain", Brittany has a temperate climate similar to Cornwall. House hunters can expect rainfall but as a result can enjoy lush, green scenery all year round. Sunny days are equally common, while the plethora of beach resorts, which fill up with British tourists on a regular basis, are a reliable opportunity for buy-to-let investors.

Browse TheMovechannel.com's listings of property in Brittany

Dordogne

Named after the river running through the middle, the Dordogne is a sprawling expanse of rolling hills and ancient castles. Holiday homes can be found in any one of the area's traditional villages, promise buyers - or letters - a quiet retreat in a relaxing, beautiful natural environment. Cyclists welcome.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Dordogne

Herault

Like the Dordogne, Herault takes its name from its central river but unlike the Dordogne, Herault also boasts a sizeable coastline. Its Mediterranean beaches are a huge attraction for tourists and property buyers, along with the region's stunning caves, which line the valley further inland.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Herault

Limousin

One of France's inland regions, Limousin is a more traditional destination than the French Riviera. Beachfront property is out of the question for investors, but second home hunters can find a peaceful getaway among the farms and, occasionally, vineyards.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Limousin

Midi-Pyrenees

Midi-Pyrenees is a rural region in the South of the country, offering the traditional peace and quiet of a French holiday home. Toulouse is the main urban hub, but away from the city residents are surrounded by gentle hills, beautiful valleys and plentiful vineyards and farm land opportunities.

Browse TheMoveChannel.com's listings of property in Midi-Pyrenees

Watch - France in grip of housing problems?

admin — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:20:00 GMT

The housing situation in France is worsening from almost everyone's perspective, according to new reports.

Prospective owners are selecting from a market whose prices since the year 2000 have risen a staggering 121 percent, with huge demand brushing aside estimates that homes are overvalued by 47 percent.

Renoir’s Paris house for sale

Ivan Radford — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:55:00 GMT

Photo credit: Immo Best International

Renoir's old Paris house is up for sale.

The property, which once was home to the iconic Impressionist, was listed on the market earlier this month. The 3,000 square-foot Chateau des Brouillards boasts four bedrooms and four bathrooms, more than enough space to store a canvas or two.

But parts of the property, which is located in the heart of Paris' arty Montmartre, would be unrecognisable to Pierre-Auguste Renoir today: the master's house has been extensively renovated by its current owners, a $3 million job that installed a swimming pool in the basement - not something Renoir is known for doing in his spare time.

The property's iron banister and other historic features, though, were restored, while the old garden and exterior remain intact. Even floral wallpaper adorns the walls, according to AOL Real Estate. But the most impressive part of this property is the unchanging sight out the window, which no doubt inspired the painter in his heyday: an unobstructed view of the Sacré Coeur.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir on the steps of the Chateau des Broillards

The artist lived in the home in the 1880s. Indeed, it is also the childhood home of his son, the equally famous filmmaker Jean Renoir.

The property was built in 1772 and was last on the market in 2008, listed for $5.5 million.

The new asking price for the painter's (and director's) paradise? $9.9 million.

UK and Europe property "not so different after all"

Ivan Radford — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:06:00 GMT

UK and European housing markets are "not so different after all," according to new research by Savills.

While the UK's property market has long been presented as different to the rest of Europe, unique in its structure and process, it appears that the country's property market has become more like its continental cousins in recent years: the recent experience of boom-bust has differed between countries, but owner-occupation rates and average house prices have converged.

"We are now remarkably similar to other countries in Europe in terms of typical house prices and rates of owner occupation (which are now actually below the EU average)," explains Yolande Barnes, Director of Residential Research at Savills.

"As international markets adjust to the new realities of finance and affordability, it would seem that sub-regional geographies vary far more within nations than between nations. This means that average prices are becoming increasingly meaningless and conceal a huge range of different experiences."

Indeed, London and Paris are behaving more like each other than like other regions in the same country; prime international markets across the globe have more in common than those cities have with their provinces.

The findings have a serious impact on industry reports and figures going forward, as well as those looking to invest.

"We have never had to look more closely at local demographics, economics and the migration of equity in order to assess future demand and viability," adds Barnes. "All this local diversity means there never was a worse time to be looking at ‘one size fits all' policies to stimulate housing construction, private renting or regeneration. [In the UK] the issues for Newcastle are very different to Newbury's and different again to Newham where even East London is proving a very different market to West London."

As a result, Government review bodies such as Montague are going to have to be "well versed in the complexities of the market to make their informed recommendations", concludes the report.

French property – the most popular in the world?

Ivan Radford — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:18:00 GMT

Photo credit: Sharon.Schneider

French property is the most popular in the world, according to mortgage firm Conti.

The company's hotspots report, released every year, reveals that France is the most in-demand destination for those looking to finance their overseas property investment, accounting for almost half of the enquiries received in 2012.

Nearly 45 per cent of the year's enquiries related to French property, followed by houses in Spain,w which accounted for one-third. Portugal (10%), Turkey (6%), Italy (3%), USA (1%), Australia (0.5%), Canada, (0.5%), New Zealand (0.5%), and Ireland (0.5%) completed the top 10.

"The availability of mortgages in France is one of the main reasons the destination is so popular," explains Conti. With interest-only mortgages making it easy to borrow up to 70 per cent of a property's value - up to 85 per cent with a repayment mortgage - it is easy to fund a property transaction. Favourable rates - from around 2.79 per cent - help too.

Operations Director Clare Nessling comments: "Buyers have increasingly been sticking to locations they know and trust, which is why France and Spain are out on their own at the moment and Portugal is starting to rise in popularity again too. The euro zone crisis continues, but the growing strength of the pound against the euro is boosting the budgets of people in the UK who are looking to buy property in these locations.

"This together with some bargain property prices and low interest rates, are making it even more affordable. It also helps that these countries offer easy access from the UK, and rental opportunities are good too." she added

Currency Watch: GBP/USD rates rise overnight

Ivan Radford — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 11:51:00 GMT

Photo credit: Images Money

The exchange rate between the pound and dollar has risen overnight, according to Forex.

The currency broker reports that GBP/USD eventually traded to a high of 1.6273 yesterday before dropping off slightly this morning. The UK CPI data is released today, which may affect exchange rates. "Expectations are for inflation to ease to 2.5% although there are some reports circulating this morning that there may be upside risks to this number following the Olympics and the rise in transportation costs," comments Forex. "If the CPI number surprises this morning it could bring in to play a break of the April high of 1.6304."

The exchange rate between the Euro and US Dollar, meanwhile, has consolidated around the 1.3100 figure after pushing through the 1.3160 level yesterday. Spanish yields have ticked slightly higher in the last day or so which is weighing on the single currency this morning as well, adds the broker. German ZEW will be the next focus for traders in EUR/USD and it's particularly important for risk sentiment in the market given the dreadful state of the US Empire State Manufacturing Index released yesterday.

"AUD/USD has been sold off overnight after the release of the RBA Monetary Policy Meeting Minutes. The central bank indicated that they stood ready to cut interest rates amid the deterioration in the global economic outlook, falling commodity prices and an overvalued Aussie dollar," concludes Forex.

The AUD/USD has fallen from 1.0530 to a low of 1.0427 this morning. As a result, GBP/AUD is up and currently trades at 1.5570.

For more on currency exchange services available through selected partners, visit TheMoveChannel.com's dedicated currency channel:

http://currency.themovechannel.com

Most popular property destinations in France

Ivan Radford — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:31:00 GMT

Photo credit: Sharon.Schneider

Looking to buy property in France? Here are some of the most popular destinations on the site in the South of the country:

Cannes

It's not just the annual film festival that brings the brightest and best to Cannes: things are glistening all through the summer, when residents can expect 12 hours of sunshine per day along the French Riviera. A pleasant Mediterranean breeze keeps the hot days cool, while spring and autumn are also temperate. Indeed, the town only drops below 10°C for a few months in the winter.

Famous the world over as a playground for the rich and famous, property in Cannes offers discerning locals everything from private beaches and exclusive boutiques to gourmet restaurants and distinguished art galleries. Tourists come and go, but for those who stay, Cannes can offer much more: the most prestigious place to live on the French Riviera.

Vence

Mougins

Fantastic France: Rise of the Silver Surfers

Ivan Radford — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 11:39:00 GMT

Photo credit: Quinn.Anya

Silver Surfers are increasingly common in the international property market.

Around 70% of prospective overseas buyers are aged 50 or over according to the recent Overseas Buying Trends survey conducted by The Overseas Guide Company (OGC).

Over half (59%) of respondents stated that emigration for retirement would be the purpose for their overseas property purchase with 40.7% explaining that their property budget (including buying costs) would sit between £100k-199k.

When it comes to financial support, 73% of respondents claimed they will rely on pensions and/or investments to support themselves. Richard Way, Editor of The Overseas Guide Company comments: "The evidence paints a clear picture of today's typical overseas buyer - a financially self-sufficient retired or semi-retired person looking for a discounted home abroad where they can enjoy a better way of life than in the UK."

Who can benefit from the rise of the Silver Surfers? Fantastic France.

Indeed, France remains one of the most popular destinations in the world for property buyers. For those in their third age contemplating a move overseas, the Languedoc-Roussillon region in France will make for a wonderful place to relocate. Chosen for its three C's - climate, coast and countryside as well as being one of the best places in the world to go canal boating, Languedoc is one of the most visited parts of south west France with 18.72% of all French enquiries accounting for the Languedoc region in September 2012 according to figures from overseas property portal, TheMoveChannel.com.

Alexis Goldberg, a writer for The Overseas Guide Company based in the Languedoc had this to say about the region: "We live on the border of the Aude and Herault departments and we're about 20 minutes south of Minerve. We chose this area as we love the Mediterranean climate and colours. The people are extremely friendly and you are close to Spain and the coast as well as the mountains and there are some wonderful towns and villages.

"There is not a huge amount of industry down in the Languedoc and many folk make a living by running vineyards or small agricultural farms as well as relying to some extent on the tourist industry. One of the things we love about living here is that people are not concerned with status - there's a much simpler attitude to what makes life worth living here."

As a result of Languedoc's popularity, The Villages Group has decided to develop their first active living resort 'village' for those over 50 to enjoy at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canal du Midi, one of Europe's longest and widest canal systems, situated in the Languedoc region.

Danny Silver, MD of the new "active" living resorts for over 50's, The Villages Group explains:

"The Overseas Guide Company has perfectly highlighted that people over 50 represent a significant market in the overseas property industry today. Interestingly, they discovered that 42.2% of respondents in the survey would like to buy property near a local village close to a resort. All our resorts will be built close to local towns to ensure residents can submerge themselves in the local community as and when they please and with a price tag of around €165,000 our villages match their budgets too."

The Villages Group first "active living" village community will comprise of 107 villas on the banks of the Canal du Midi. This village site will afford full on-site amenities including tennis courts, indoor pool, gymnasium and quality entertainment programmes, perfect for living an active and fulfilling life within a community of like-minded individuals.

Spanish property officially the third cheapest in Europe

Ivan Radford — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:11:00 GMT

Spain has the 51^st lowest house prices in Europe, according to Knight Frank.

The firm's global house price index, which tracks changing property values across the world, saw Brazil perform the strongest, with prices surging by 18.4 per cent in the last 12 months. Austria, Turkey and Russia also made the top five, with price rises of 11 per cent, 10.5 per cent and 9.9 per cent respectively.

But recession-hit Spain fared far worse. The price of homes in Spain fell by 8.3 per cent compared to 2011, a bigger drop than Italy, Portugal and Cyprus. The only three countries to see house prices ranked lower? Greece, Hungary and Ireland.

Irish property posted the biggest plummet in prices, with values crashing by 14.4 per cent since last year. But, as Spanish Property Insight reminds investors, Spanish data is suspected of overvaluing its property, meaning that property in Spain could actually be even more affordable.

The rankings follow figures from Global Property Guide, which also confirm that Europe's property markets are "sinking deeper".

The site's latest survey of global property prices in the second quarter of 2012 paints a worsening picture for many markets, as values continue to drop. Ireland, Spain, Greece, Portugal and the Netherlands all saw "alarming price falls" compared to the second quarter of 2011, reports Global Property Guide, with each market's values down by over 10 per cent after inflation. Poland and Cyprus may soon slip into the abyss too, warns the survey.

In the worst-affected European countries, house price declines were significantly greater this year, than during the same period last year. House prices fell in 15 of the 22 European countries for which house price data is available.

20 housing markets performed more poorly year-on-year in Q2 2012 than in the same period last year, while 19 countries performed better, again in inflation-adjusted terms.

Of the 39 countries for which quarterly house price figures are available, house prices fell in 25 countries, rose in only 13, while one country (the US) posted mixed signals during the year ending in the second quarter of 2012

Ireland was again the world's weakest housing market. Its residential property index plunged 16.85% year-on-year in Q2 2012, and fell by 2.91% in the latest quarter. Transaction volumes were low, and mortgage lending weak.

The next eight weakest housing markets in the world were all in Europe, including Spain (-13.18%)

With the release of both reports, the fall in the Spanish property market is in no doubt. The question is: will the bargain prices be enough to bring more overseas buyers back to its sun-soaked coastal property?

Paris luxury property prices fall as Hong Kong keeps climbing

Ivan Radford — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:42:00 GMT

The property industry was surprised this week as Savills revealed that Paris luxury property prices fell by 3.4 per cent in the first half of 2012.

The firm's Autumn World Cities Review, published yesterday, saw Hong Kong remain the most expensive in the world, with prices growing by 7.4 per cent, closely followed by Moscow and Sydney, where values jumped by 5.5pc and 3.7pc respectively.

Hong Kong continues to "deft gravity", leaving prices a staggering 82 per cent ahead of London, adds Savills, with the "Old World" markets, such as the UK capital and New York, benefitting from safe haven status. But Hong Kong is now even further ahead than France's figurehead property market, as experts blame Francois Hollande's proposed taxes for the unexpected price drops.

"Paris is the biggest loser of 2012," says Savills," and faces a period of uncertainty. The eurozone crisis continues to discourage investment in euro-denominated assets, and the market has been dealt a double blow by President Hollande's proposed increases to taxes on high end property and investor gains. Further price falls now seem unavoidable in the French capital, and London is the potential beneficiary as international money seeks an alternative haven within the geography of Europe, but outside the eurozone."

"Emerging markets, and Chinese buyers in particular, still have the potential to move other world city markets," says Yolande Barnes, director of Savills Global Research. "Last year we said that the unleashing of high net worth Chinese investor monies could boost London's prime markets by 15% and the same must be true of other top cities, but this will require the relaxation of currency export controls and overseas ownership restrictions.

"By contrast, China's lead world city, Shanghai, will need to see its market adjust to a more sustainable domestic consumption model in the future before significant price growth can resume."

Barnes concludes: "We identified New York as a buy opportunity in 2011, because it looked good value and offered ‘old world' stability. Recent steady price growth, low mortgage rates, a shortage of supply in the upper tiers of the market, and solid and growing overseas demand, suggest that it is now be poised for a strong recovery."

Europe property markets "sinking deeper"

Ivan Radford — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:27:00 GMT

Photo credit: IDF-Fotos

Europe's property markets are "sinking deeper", according to Global Property Guide.

The site's latest survey of global property prices in the second quarter of 2012 paints a worsening picture for many markets, as values continue to drop. Ireland, Spain, Greece, Portugal and the Netherlands all saw "alarming price falls" compared to the second quarter of 2011, reports GPG, with each market's values down by over 10 per cent after inflation. Poland and Cyprus may soon slip into the abyss too, warns the survey.

20 housing markets performed more poorly year-on-year in Q2 2012 than in the same period last year, while 19 countries performed better, again in inflation-adjusted terms.

The next eight weakest housing markets in the world were all in Europe, including Spain (-13.18%) during the year to Q2 2012), Netherlands (-10.12%), Greece (-11.92%), Portugal (-10.95%), Warsaw, Poland (-8.19%), and Cyprus (-7.68%), the Slovak Republic (-5.61%) and Sweden (-4.18%). All except the Slovak Republic saw bigger house price falls this year, than the previous year.

Other European countries and capital cities which saw moderate year-on-year house price falls to Q2 2012 included Bulgaria (-3.87%), the UK (-3.42%), Vilnius, Lithuania (-3.07%), Romania (-2.71%), Finland (-2.22%), and Russia (-2.08%).

European countries and capital cities which enjoyed house price rises included Norway, whose house prices rose 6.26% year-on-year, Germany (up 5.24% - a significant improvement from the decline during the same period last year of 0.65%), Switzerland (4.86%), Estonia (2.83%), Turkey (2.57%), Riga, Latvia (2.5%), and Iceland (1.72%).

Ratified: What does France’s property tax mean for you?

Ivan Radford — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 12:45:00 GMT

Photo credit: IDF-Fotos

This month, the French National Assembly ratified President Hollande's financial proposals, bringing into effect a raft of new property taxes from January 2013.

For non-resident property owners letting out their homes, the levy on rental income has increased from 15.5 per cent to 35.5 per cent. Tax on property gains has also increased from 19 per cent to 34.5 per cent.

French notaires will take taxes directly from the house sale, although British owners of property in France can offset charges thanks to the double tax treaty between the two countries, while deductions can be made on gains tax for each year of ownership after the initial five years.

The rental income tax sparked much controversy when it was first announced. The tax would have been illegal under European rules, which forbid EU members to levy each other "social security charges". The wording has since been changed, labelling the income fee a "gains tax". As a result, it was approved earlier this month along with several other new financial measures.

But what do these changes mean for French property investors? Some have forecast a downturn in the French housing market, with house sales already falling. Will the tax deter new buyers?

Robert Stones, Managing Director of global property agent Target Markets, is optimistic. Speaking exclusively to TheMoveChannel.com, he explains why it should still be business as usual:

"Most of the investors we have spoken to are not deterred by the new measures for non-domestic investors. France is widely viewed as secure bet for medium to long-term property investment with a general upward curve and the world's most reliable holiday rental pool. To cap it all, when you invest in France, you also have an investment which is very accessible from the UK - who doesn't like to spend as much of their own time as possible there? For most investors, then, it's business as usual."

But is business as usual a good thing? According the Notaires de France, sales of new French homes fell by 19 per cent in the first quarter of 2012, with average property prices dipping by 1.6 per cent. But that seemed to pick up in the second quarter of the year, with research company DTZ finding that real estate investment volumes, including commercial property, surged by 114 per cent.

Target Markets has seen a similarly strong level of demand: "We are finding that interest in the French Property Market remains very strong. We think that this is mainly because France has proven itself to be the most robust property market in Western Europe, or indeed the world, over the last 4 years," explains Stones.

"As other property markets have faltered or seen rapid decline, French property has seen a steady increase averaging 6% per annum over all departments. It's surprising to see this happen when you consider what is happening in Spain and other major markets, but it is a testament to the French property system and the bank's sensible lending policies when other countries were only concentrating on the good times, the French system means that they are much more sheltered in these harder economic times."

This safe haven status has attracted investors to both France and the UK in recent months. But strong buy-to-let markets is something else the countries have in common, Stones adds.

"One of the key attractions for property investors in France are the rental returns which can be made. Indeed, this is why the French government introduced there leaseback scheme which offers investors the opportunity to own a freehold property in France which they can then lease to a management company. Because of the acute shortage of properties to let to holiday makers in French hot-spots, these schemes offer the investor real benefits, such as great finance options, VAT refunds on their property and guaranteed rental returns which are pegged to inflation to further protect their investment. It offers property investors low-risk and hassle free investments in key locations in France."

Indeed, he explains, Target Markets has just launched a French development with 6 per cent rental yields. Are they not concerned that the new taxes upon rental income will dent the investment appeal?

"People always fear change and property investors are no different," reassures Robert. "The point here is that the changes taking place for non- domestic property investors are actually only bringing them into line to pay the same rates as residents and therefore this is seen as fair and not an extra tax on non-French residents who are hoping to spend at least some of the year enjoying the good life in France while also taking advantage of the strong and stable returns the French property market has historically delivered."

Indeed, he continues, the new French property taxes will make very little difference to most investors: "For investors taking a mortgage on their property in France the changes will mean less than one may expect and the fact that the UK has a double tax treaty with France means that the changes may make very little difference to many purchasers and investors. You may also benefit from structuring your purchase through the use of an SCI. It is therefore essential to take professional advice when purchasing a new investment or holiday home in France."

Not afraid of the big bad tax?

Browse our listings of holiday homes, rental properties and other French real estate:

http://france.themovechannel.com/property/all

Property in Spain now officially more popular than France

Ivan Radford — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 10:26:00 GMT

The long-standing battle between France and Spain to be the most popular place for foreign buyers to snap up property took a decisive twist this week, as Spain took the top spot in another chart.

Spain has long been number in TheMoveChannel.com's Top of the Props report, dominating enquiries each month except for one brief spell last year, when low prices in the US saw investors hop across the Atlantic. But now, it has ousted France in the Overseas Guides Company's rankings as well, with low prices again helping to boost its appeal to overseas buyers.

One in five enquiries for the second quarter of 2012 were directed at Spain, OGC revealed, a 37 per cent increase from the first three months of the year.

France fell into second place, above the USA, Portugal and Italy.

(via The Olive Press)

Global property market edges towards recovery

Ivan Radford — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 13:04:00 GMT

Photo credit: Images_of_Money

The global property market is edging towards recovery, according to Jones Lang LaSalle.

JLL's latest report showed that after a dip in activity in the first quarter of 2012, investment volumes climbed back up to $108 billion in the second quarter - placing capital markets back on track to achieve a volume of approximately $400 billion by the end of the year.

Global economic outlook weakened as euro strains re-emerged, while low growth in developed economies remains a drag on a strong real estate recovery. Corporate occupiers adopted a wait and see approach to expansion, with sale and leaseback activity increasing as corporate looked to release capital.

Leasing activity improved from the first quarter dip, but remains lower than 2011 due to weak jobs growth. As a result, gross leasing volumes across 2012 are expected to be 10 per cent below 2011.

Global office vacancy rates are now 13.3 per cent, the lowest since 2009, while vacancy continues to edge downwards.

The weight of capital continues to compress prime yields in some markets, while as the yield gap widens, more investors are expected to look at secondary markets. Nonetheless, debt will be a constraint, especially in Europe.

In retail sectors, JLL highlights a low development pipeline in both Europe and the US, but retail sales underpin activity in Asia as industrial recovery builds in the US market. Hotels saw a shortfall in investment during the first half of the year, but a strong deals pipeline is predicted to make up for the investment levels in the coming months.

Both sentiment and levels of activity across the world's major real estate markets have seesawed during the first half of the year. Following a slow start to 2012, the second quarter saw a modest rebound in investment and leasing turnover. But, economic uncertainty continues to affect investor sentiment. Deals are taking longer to close and the market remains polarised as investors steer clear of risky assets, focusing instead on prime product in core markets like London, Paris and New York. Yet, in spite of economic uncertainties, real estate as an asset class continues to attract a substantial weight of capital and remains firmly on track for this year's global investment volumes to match the robust levels of 2011.

In the corporate occupier markets, leasing volumes are also up on the subdued levels of the first quarter, but activity is still running 10%-15% lower than in 2011. Expansion demand is relatively weak as corporate occupiers look for further cost savings and smart growth ‘in situ'. Where there is new demand it is typically focused on higher-potential ‘emerging' markets like Mexico City and Jakarta, which are showing healthy levels of corporate activity, or on speciality markets such as the tech-rich areas of San Francisco Bay and the energy and commodities-driven cities like Houston and Perth.

America conquers Europe’s commercial real estate

Ivan Radford — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:08:00 GMT

Photo credit: Jon and Mel Kots

America has conquered Europe's commercial real estate markets, according to new reports.

US investors stepped up their activity in the European sector, Real Capital Analytics revealed, overtaking domestic investors who were "struggling or scared". Property in the UK, Germany and France were the most popular targets for investors, while demand for Moscow, Warsaw and Rome dropped, leaving them outside Real Capital Analytics' top 50.

At the same time, buyers from Japan, Korea and The Netherlands reciprocated the US demand, turning to America as a safe investment haven.

Overall investment in worldwide commercial property increased to $157 billion in the second quarter of 2012, but the total invested in the first half of the year was 23 per cent below the same period in 2011, as global markets slowed down.

Global commercial sales declined by 23 per cent to $306.3 billion - "roughly $100 billion lower than either the first or second halves of 2011", according to Reuters.

Apartments were the only sector to show a string increase, with sales jumping by 22 per cent compared to the first six months of last year. Indeed, apartments in Dallas and Phoenix were both ranked in Real Capital Analytics' top 50 target markets, alongside Denver and Seattle office markets.

Student housing investment doubles to £800m

Ivan Radford — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 14:39:00 GMT

Photo credit: Tulane Public Relations

£800 million was invested in student housing in the first half of 2012, more than double the first half of last year.

Investors pumped £375 million into the thriving sector in the first six months of 2011, according to CBRE, capitalising on high student demand. Many feared that would drop this year thanks to rising UK tuition fees, but exactly the opposite has happened: applications from overseas students have increased, leaving housing supply across the country struggling to keep up.

The same thing is happening is across the continent.

Europe's economy may be struggling, but going back to school is bucking the recession for everyone. As Marcus Roberts at Savills notes, "student housing markets are traditionally counter-cyclical, with student numbers growing in times of economic downturn and weakening labour markets, and this is exactly what is happening in France both in terms of domestic and international students".

Indeed, French student housing has seen demand increase over recent years. With the number of students living with family or parents dropping by 10 per cent in the last decade, more are turning to their own places to rent, pushing up occupancy rates, rents and investment returns. Yields now range, depending on location, from 5.5 per cent to 7 per cent, according to Savills.

But even that pales in comparison to Spain.

The lack of Spanish development amid rising tenant numbers has led to strong imbalance between supply and demand in the student accommodation sector. Spanish universities have seen registrations rise by an annual average of 6.6% since 2008, marking the highest average annual rise in Europe. Occupancy rates were at 100 per cent between October 2011 and June 2012. Meanwhile, stock is set to increase by only 1.3 per cent in the current academic year, just as student registrations are expected to soar by another 10 per cent.

The result is a boom in the middle of Spain's bust, with yields estimated between 6.75 and 7 per cent.

But investors in the UK are still leading the student surge. With reported occupancy rates of 99 per cent or more and a lack of supply in the private rented sector, rents for purpose built accommodation are expected to grow annually in most university cities at least in line with inflation.

Jo Winchester, Head of Student Housing Advisory, CBRE, said: "The current lending market is dominated by large-scale loans against well-managed portfolios, but debt remains restricted for new entrants, single property deals and projects outside of London. Whilst they tend to prefer large transactions, insurance companies are able to fund direct let properties and still meet low risk criteria as their exposure is only based on a conservative percentage of valuation.

"There is no shortage of investor demand, but the market is hampered by a shortage of new high quality development opportunities. Proposed changes to the REIT regime, together with the significant increase in the number of new operators in the last four years could widen opportunities for indirect investors by creating a greater choice of investment funds, as well as creating an alternative exit position for established operators."

Looking to buck the recession? Go back to school

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Property sales increase in France by 114pc

Ivan Radford — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 10:57:00 GMT

Property activity in France has risen slightly in the second quarter of 2012 according to the latest European Investment Market Update from globally integrated real estate research company DTZ.

The research highlighted that three quarters of real estate investment transactions took place across Europe's three largest markets - the UK, France and Germany - with volumes reaching €18.7bn. The biggest post in property volumes occurred in France with sales up 114% (including commercial property), rising to €4.2bn indicating that given sustained uncertainty surrounding the Eurozone crisis, investors are continuing to focus on the safety of large, well established property markets.

Danny Silver, expert in French real estate, Paris resident and MD of The Villages Group, comments,

"It is clear that France's perception of stability and being a 'safe haven' for property buyers still prevails. Over the years French property has enjoyed practically constant success, and with the Euro plummeting to new lows against the pound and the lowest debt in Europe, it's no wonder that real estate investors still view that nation as a wise property move.

"Indeed, with a strong reputation and the opportunity to get more for your money, it seems many are making their dream of escaping to France a reality. For those entering their third age especially, France is often the ideal destination which is why we have developed our active living Villages for the over 50's here, providing services and amenities that encourage an active, happy and healthy lifestyle focussed around a strong community of like-minded individuals."

Of course no matter how great the appeals of France may be, in the current economic climate, the decision whether to move often comes down to cost. Carrying out extensive client research, The Villages Group surveyed 3,000 people over the age of 50 and discovered that 91% of those questioned wanted to know how much it costs to live at a Village, focussing particularly on maintenance costs which quite often can "start low and after a few years, blow through the roof" according to Silver.

As well as this, 76% of respondents wanted to know how much it would cost to own a home in one of the Villages. Silver comments: "The question of money is usually the first thing that people want to know, particularly amongst those in or reaching retirement. This isn't surprising - who wants to have a relaxed lifestyle with a mortgage hanging over their head or having to pay increasing rentals? We believe the solution to this is a Syndicate - the modern way to save on ownership costs and keep maintenance down. Our legal team of Notaires and Lawyers have found this to be the best solution in France, one that works in compliance with the very strict French legal system - undisputedly the safest country in the world to own property."

French property sales and prices fall

Ivan Radford — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 12:53:00 GMT

French property sales and prices both fell this year, according to new figures.

House prices dropped by 1.6 per cent in the first three months of the year, according to Notaires de France, while sales of new build homes sales slumped by 19 per cent.

As a result, the amount of time it takes to sell French property increased: from seven months to nine and a half months for apartments; and from 10 to 11 months for houses.

Despite this, average prices are still 3.9 per cent higher than the first quarter of 2011. Amiens and Limoges led the annual increases, with values jumping by 10.3 per cent, but other cities, such as Nimes, saw prices plummet by 13.3 per cent.

The growing negative trend appears set to continue, according to FNAIM, as unemployment and a negative economic outlook affect both prices and confidence. Indeed, Property Community reports that the organisation expects prices to ultimately fall over the rest of the year, with values dropping by a maximum of 3.5 per cent in 2012.

"The market is blocked. Sellers don't want to lower their prices sufficiently for buyers and sales are not taking place. In the second quarter sales fell by 15%," commented FNAIM president Jean-Francois Buet.

Farmland values shoot up across the globe

Ivan Radford — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:21:00 GMT

The value of farmland is growing around the world, according to Savills.

The firm's latest Global Farmland Index shows that between 2002 and 2010, values in emerging markets, such as Brazil, Argentina, Poland, Romania and Hungary, shot up. In Romania, values increased by 1817 per cent (US$ per hectare) over the eight years, while Central European countries benefited by entry into the EU, which reduced restrictions on farm payments and capital improvement grants.

Overall growth has been more muted in mature markets, such as Germany, US, France, Denmark, Ireland and Canada, adds Savills. The UK, on the other hand, bucked the trend and saw values grow by 17 per cent between 2007 and 2010; an eight-year growth of over 200 per cent.

Australia and New Zealand topped the UK's performance, with growth of 300 and 262 per cent respectively, but location remains critical due to regional variations in climate.

Ken Jones Director of International Farmland Markets said: "Capital growth is rarely the only determining factor for farmland investment and while significant growth rates have been recorded in many of the emerging markets these need to be set in the context of the opportunities to maximise income return. In more developed economic areas yields range annually between 1.5 to 4% but in emerging investment areas 5 to 8% is more typical."

Source: Property Talk Live

Hotels: no longer an alternative investment, says research

Ivan Radford — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 11:23:00 GMT

Hotels are no longer an alternative investment, according to a new report from IPD.

The firm's latest Pan-European Hotel Performance found that the European hotel sector returned 6 per cent to investors in 2011, which ranks it among the mainstream asset classes.

Property covered by IPD's survey reached a total capital value of €10.2 billion in December 2011. Although that return was slightly below the 6.6 per cent generated by commercial property across the continent, hotels still posted a positive capital growth of 0.3 per cent "in an otherwise uncertain market", EGI reports.

Marc Socker of Invesco Real Estate commented: "The hotel sector has proven to deliver strong long-term returns with lower volatility when compared against other commercial real estate, which is extremely attractive to investors in the current market environment."

The UK's hotel market performed the strongest last year, delivering a 10.4 per cent return. France and Germany returned 9.3 per cent and 4.9 per cent respectively.

Greg Mansell, senior research manager, IPD, said: "Hotel performance across Europe is driven by a number of factors, thus, despite the lower GDP growth of the UK in comparison to some of its neighbours, other factors specific to the UK market, notably competition among investors for fixed leases and the strength of London, boosted returns."

Gael Le Lay, head of hotel investment at AXA Real Estate, said: "The French market is well balanced between fixed leases, variable leases with minimum guarantees and full variable leases, while the German market is mainly fixed rent."

It’s expensive being an expat: living costs up as property values plummet

Ivan Radford — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 12:11:00 GMT

It is expensive being an expat, according to a new report, as living costs soar and property values plummet.

Research by Post Office International Payments found that living costs for expats have risen by 11 per cent since 2011, almost four times the UK inflation rate. That climb is even steeper in the Eurozone, where costs have increased by 15 per cent.

At the same time, 72 per cent expats said that their property values had dropped - and, to make matters worse, they are spending an unnecessary £217 million on bank transaction charges when transferring funds abroad.

Only 3.5% of over 900 people surveyed had seen no increase in costs over the past year but almost half (48.4%) said they had paid out more than 10% extra on household expenditure, motoring and meals out. Nearly two-in-five (18%) said they felt that these prices had risen by over 20%.

With confidence at a low ebb, more than two-thirds (67.5%) said that the price rises had already impacted on their lifestyle and would mean making significant cutbacks this year.

The surge in prices was even more marked in the most popular European countries for expats, according to the Post Office report. Spain, Cyprus and Portugal were particularly hard hit with food and fuel prices named as the key issue.

Two-in-five expats in Spain said the cost of eating out had risen over 15%, while 71% reported an increase of over 10% year-on-year for fuel. All of the Cyprus-based respondents said that prices had increased with 30% saying prices had risen by over 20% and a quarter reporting a rise in the cost of food of more than 20%.

Similarly, 70% of homeowners in Spain said that their property had fallen in value since 2011. More than two-thirds of those living in Cyprus reported a drop in the value of their home. In Portugal more than three-in-five homeowners said their home had lost value in the past year.

UK expats owning homes in France fared better. Only 16.4% of respondents believed that the value of their property had dropped over the past year, with over half (52%) saying their home was worth the same as 12 months ago.

The Post Office Expat Payments Index also found that over half (51%) of expats transferring funds from the UK did so via their bank. Despite many expats saying they needed to make cut backs, they potentially waste an average of £1583 each a year by paying bank charges on these transactions rather than using a fee-free International Payments specialist like the Post Office. This figure rises to as much as £300 for those banks making higher charges.

The £158 wasted would be enough to pay for 130 litres (28.6 gallons) of petrol or a pair of return flights between the UK and the Costa. Alternatively £300 would buy 12 meals out for two with wine in the Algarve.

Michael Gibbon, Head of Post Office International Payments, said: "With rising prices and falling property values overseas, it is no wonder that confidence is low amongst the expat community. However, many expats are sending hard-earned cash down the plughole simply by paying charges to transfer funds via their bank. Depending on which bank they use and how much they transfer, they could lose hundreds of pounds every year that could help offset the higher prices for food, motoring and household necessities.

"With sterling experiencing a four year high against the euro, people who send funds in larger amounts once or twice a year might want to transfer smaller amounts more frequently to take advantage of the improved euro exchange rate. If they do that through a bank they will pay hefty bank charges but with Post Office International Payments it will not cost them anything."

Pensioners struggling with rising debts

Ivan Radford — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 10:58:00 GMT

In spite of the typical monthly income of British over-55s having risen by 4% since the start of the year, increasing from £1,303 (Q1 2012) to £1,361 (Q2 2012) it seems that some age groups are still experiencing financial difficulty with many 55-64 and over 75 year olds enduring a decline in savings according to Aviva's Real Retirement Report July 2012.

Since February 2010, over 75 year olds have seen their savings pots reduce from £22,500 (Q2 2010) to just £12,998 (Q2 2012) while the worst hit group - British 55-64 have seen their savings decline from £11,176 (Q2 2010) to just £9,373 (Q2 2012) as they struggle to keep up with day to day living costs.

Further data from Aviva has shown that the typical amount put away each month by all over-55s has fallen over the last quarter from £39.97 (Q1 2012) to just £31.05 (Q2 2012) with the majority spending their income on housing (22%) and debt repayments (15%) while a mere 14% is spent on food.

Danny Silver, expert in French real estate and MD of The Villages Group, comments: "It is clear that certain groups are finding it difficult to cope financially with debts 31% higher than this time last year, however as incomes increase there is hope that many will be able to boost their savings. Indeed, 61% of British 55-64-year-olds are still working but if there's any hope for a relaxing retirement they will really need to really knuckle down and save for their future."

As more and more people looking to move abroad for their golden years, seeking lower living costs and a better quality of life, France remains one of the most popular destinations affording a wonderfully warm climate, relaxed lifestyle, stunning natural beauty and easy access to the UK.

Silver adds: "Another point to remember is that there are 1.45 million UK retirees currently claiming housing support, which costs the state £5.3bn each year. The Strategic Society Centre (SSC) has predicted a 138% increase in the number of pensioners claiming housing benefit by 2060 meaning that the UK is going to be left with a very large bill. With this in mind and with UK over 55's struggling to cope financially it is no surprise that innovative "active living" Villages already popular in Australia, Scandinavia, the US and New Zealand are providing a viable alternative to this dilemma."

Will French tax hikes help Spanish property?

Ivan Radford — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:52:00 GMT

French tax hikes "will help Spanish property", according to some experts.

The two countries have long battled for domination of the overseas property market, one offering economic stability to Brits, the other boasting affordable beachfront holiday homes. But new tax proposals from France may tilt the balance in Spain's favour.

President Francoise Hollande's recently announced increase in property taxes for foreign buyers will have to pay "significantly more tax", argues Property in Spain, citing reports from Lloyds Bank that 5 per cent more wealthy Britons are now planning to relocate to Spain, France and other destinations "in search of a better, more affordable lifestyle".

But French agents say that the tax has been misconstrued by the media and, presuming they actually are implemented, will only affect a small percentage of overseas investors. Will the negative coverage of France's tax be enough to deter investors looking to Spain for a place in the sun?

Perhaps not. France's property market is already seeing a boost in appeal from the country's historic low mortgage rates. Fixed rate deals have hit all-time lows, making loans to invest in French property far more affordable.

As a result, French Private Finance has already seen a "sharp rise in the number of enquiries in recent weeks". And, the mortgage firm tells Property Wire, the rest of the year "promises to be even better" as fixed rates are forecast to keep on dropping.

" Borrowing conditions are as good as they've ever been," comments director John Busby, "and with property prices soft and a pound 10% stronger than in 2010, UK buyers have a great opportunity to pick up a property at rock-bottom prices and fix monthly payments for 20 plus years at fantastic rates."

The battle continues.

Sterling soars to four-year high against euro

Ivan Radford — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:28:00 GMT

Sterling has soared to a four-year high against the euro.

The euro is now at its lowest point since November 2008, reports the Guardian, pushing up the exchange rate in favour of Brits. Last year, £1 could fetch sterling spenders €1.10. Now, that has risen to €1.27 as the eurozone crisis continues.

As a result, Britons looking to go on holiday in Europe or buy property overseas are being advised to change currencies now.

"The optimism we saw after the last summit has faded once again," commented Darragh Maher, foreign exchange stategist at HSBC. "We're back in a familiar environment. The pound has strengthened not because people are particularly loving sterling but because people are particularly hating the euro. For the currency markets, it's still this idea of being an ugly contest. Sterling has its flaws and vulnerabilities but at the end of the day it's not the euro. For now that's sufficient reason for it to outperform."

For UK buyers look at Spanish property, sterling's strength could significantly offset other costs incurred by the government's recent decision to raise VAT from 18pc to 21pc.

Global commercial property investment up by 10 per cent

Ivan Radford — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 11:18:00 GMT

Investment activity in commercial property looked positive across the globe in the second quarter of 2012, according to Jones Lang LaSalle.

Comparing data from over 60 countries, JLL's report shows that volumes rose by 10 per cent upon the first quarter, with investors continuing to move away from equities and towards other assets.

Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and the Americas all recorded an increase in activity in the second quarter of the year. However, on a year on year basis the picture is more mixed with only Asia Pacific showing growth in investment volumes, up by 21 per cent compared to the same period in 2011.

In contrast to the fragile market of the first half of 2010, investor sentiment is much more optimistic and this is reflected in volumes being over 50 per cent higher in H1 2012. However, the positive attitude of the first half of 2011, when government stimulus was in full swing globally, has not been sustained in the face of continuing debt and economic growth concerns and volumes are down 9 per cent on H1 2011.

Clearly we remain in a challenging environment. However, the demand for good quality, well located direct commercial property remains high globally as evidenced by the rising transactional volumes this quarter," commented Arthur de Haast, Head of the International Capital Group at Jones Lang LaSalle. "In the light of ever diminishing yields from other asset classes the potential income returns offered by core, prime commercial property are attractive to many investors. Even in Europe, the eye of the economic storm at present, we continue to see strong demand for the best properties as witnessed in the recent purchase by the Malaysian pension fund PNB of two London properties from the KanAm portfolio above the reported book value of €590m."

One consistent feature of the investment market over recent times has been the influence of cash rich buyers in core, prime locations. With further news this quarter of banks exiting the commercial lending business, and new entrants only able to provide a fraction of the level required, private equity, institutional and high net worth purchasers continue to dominate purchasing activity at the expense of distressed vendors and developers in particular.

David Green-Morgan, Global Capital Markets Research Director at Jones Lang LaSalle commented: "While volumes have improved in the second quarter and the pace of activity is broadly in-line with that of 2011, the investment market globally continues to evolve with new equity rich entrants attracted by the immediate income return as well as the longer term capital growth. We expect the investment market to continue to be dominated by those groups with access to equity and only a minimal or no need for debt financing, as evidenced in Paris by the Qataris buying retail and office assets or new market entrants such as Norges continuing to increase their direct real estate exposure across international markets."

Concluding, Mr de Haast added: "For the last two years core, prime locations have been performing well and this has attracted the vast majority of investment capital. This weight of capital has compressed yields in prime markets globally whereas secondary markets continue to see yields move out, and the gap between the two has grown ever wider. While the economic outlook remains precarious the pricing in many secondary markets will eventually approach a level which will trigger more activity."

Experts hit back at "misunderstood" French property tax

Ivan Radford — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:52:00 GMT

For the majority of current and aspiring foreign home owners in France, the proposed taxation changes will not have much of an effect, reports Athena Advisors.

The social charge contributions now imposed on the rental income generated by properties which are owned by non-residents only applies to unfurnished rental properties, which fall into the Revenu Foncier system. Historically the Revenu Foncier taxation system is more relevant to French nationals, not overseas investors.

Camille Letuve, Partner at Athena Advisors comments:

"Yet again, it is frustrating to see the facts so poorly misconstrued. The new proposed tax on French rental property is only applicable to non-furnished rental properties and very few British and international investors own one of these."

Today, non-resident owners of French property can still opt for the more tax-effective furnished letting tax system called BIC (Benefice Industriel et Commerciaux). This tax system allows you to amortise your property and offset the charges related to a property's rental income.

"The BIC system can considerably reduce an investor's liability and in some cases nullify it completely," added Letuve. "So despite what has been reported over the last 24 hours, from an investor's point of view very little has changed. French property still represents a secure and financially viable investment."

Implications for leaseback properties...

"As for leaseback properties, they have been around for over 40 years and have been structured in a way that makes this type of new proposed tax increase inconsequential," added Letuve. "In some ways, it actually makes investing in a leaseback property more attractive, especially if you utilise the current mortgage rates - our investors are currently buying ski apartments with a 3.85% fixed rate mortgage for 20 years. How's that for fiscal value?"

Implications for Capital Gains Tax...

The French government has also announced that that capital gains tax on foreign-owned second homes is also set to increase from 19% to 34.5%. Yet for the majority of UK and international buyers, this news does also not need to come as a shock,

"The capital gains tax has increased, but this tax reduces over time, just as it always has," said Letuve. "More importantly, very few people invest in French property to then sell it on a few years later. Instead they have at least a 10 year game plan and if they keep their property long enough there will be no capital gains tax at all."

France’s tax hike: bad for Brits or great for Britain?

Ivan Radford — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 15:01:00 GMT

Photo credit: idf-fotos

An estimated 200,000 Brits own second homes in France. But all of them may soon face higher costs as France plans to raise taxes on foreign-owned property.

The increase, announced yesterday by President Francois Hollande, is designed to tackle the wealthy and reduce the country's budget deficit. The new rules will see capital gains tax on property sales climb from 19 per cent to 34.5 per cent. Tax on rental income will also jump from 20 per cent to 35.5 per cent, a hike that could affect buy-to-let investors across the country.

Indeed, the new tax rate for rental income is retrospective from the beginning of 2012 and is predicted to affect "about 60,000 rental properties", according to the French finance ministry, owned by investors making an average profit of £12,000. The capital gains increases will come into effect at the end of the month, leaving homeowners little time to sell their houses before the change.

The French Treasury is hoping to raise a total of €7.2 billion (or £5.8 billion) through the taxes, part of a wider range of schemes to help meet the country's deficit target of 4.5 per cent.

The higher rates will undoubtedly impact the higher end of the property market the most, but some have pointed out that they may weaken demand for French property, pushing investment in the country's housing market lower.

"The plummeting pound meant that the English had almost disappeared from the Dordogne house market," Jean-Claude Cassac, the secretary general of the French estate agency federation, told The Telegraph. "With this, it's as if they want to totally kill off the foreign home owner market in France."

Speaking in Mexico last month, David Cameron took a more optimistic stance to the tax hike: "I think it's wrong to have a completely uncompetitive top rate of tax," the Prime Minister said. "If the French go ahead with a 75 per cent top rate of tax we will roll out the red carpet and welcome more French businesses to Britain."

Indeed, recent figures from Cluttons show that overseas investment continues to rise in the UK capital, with one-fifth of London property sales now accounted for by foreign buyers.

With many international investors already turning to London's real estate as a financial safe haven, is France's tax hike bad for Brits or great for Britain? Or has it simply been misunderstood altogether?

"Please note that this is only a proposal," cautions Jean Liggett, Director of international investment agency Properties of the World.

Indeed, the plans may still be open to challenges of discrimination from the British government.

"Last year they tried to put a similar proposal through and it was declined," Liggett adds. "Saying that, France is part of the double tax treaty so taxes can be paid in the UK and Fractional ownership doesn't have any capital gains tax as its bought through a company, so it's just a membership you are selling on."

Other French agents are also confident the proposed changes will not have much of an affect.

Speaking to TheMoveChannel.com, Camille Letuve, Partnet at French real estate specialist Athena Advisors, comments: "It is frustrating to see the facts so poorly misconstrued. The new proposed tax on French rental property is only applicable to non-furnished rental properties and very few British and international investors own one of these."

Today, she explains, non-resident owners of French property can still opt for the more tax-effective furnished letting tax system called BIC (Benefice Industriel et Commerciaux). This tax system allows you to amortise your property and offset the charges related to a property’s rental income.

"The BIC system can considerably reduce an investor’s liability and in some cases nullify it completely. So despite what has been reported over the last 24 hours, from an investor’s point of view very little has changed. French property still represents a secure and financially viable investment."

"The capital gains tax has increased, but this tax reduces over time, just as it always has," adds Letuve. "More importantly, very few people invest in French property to then sell it on a few years later. Instead they have at least a 10 year game plan and if they keep their property long enough there will be no capital gains tax at all."

She concludes: "The natural response to an announcement like this is to think the worst, but if you know and understand the system, and how this relates to UK and international buyers, then there is no need to panic."

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One-fifth of London buyers now from overseas

Ivan Radford — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 12:14:00 GMT

Overseas investors are still eyeing up London property as a safe haven in Europe's tumultuous economy, despite the capital's housing supply nearing historic lows.

Buyers from Greece, Spain and Italy had a growing presence in the market in the second quarter of 2012, according to Cluttons' latest Residential Property Forecasts, with one-fifth of all buyers in Central London from abroad. This figure rises to between 35 - 40% for properties valued over £5 million. However, the vast majority of these buyers have a connection with the UK and are making purchases from an informed position.

The pace of growth in the London market has slipped over recent months, with activity in the housing market taking a backseat to the Jubilee and the approaching Olympics. The current low volume of homes for sale is likely to persist over the summer which, combined with ongoing uncertainty, means house prices are set to grow by 2 - 3% in 2012. While subdued in historical terms, this is a positive outcome for the market in the current climate. Cluttons anticipates UK house prices will fall by close to 3% this year, followed by a marginal further fall of up to 1% in 2013.

Sue Foxley, head of research at Cluttons, said: "The Central London market remains buoyant, but even London activity is slowing relative to its performance in 2011. The outcome of the current Eurozone crisis is not yet known, which is denting confidence and encouraging London property owners to retain Central London residential assets in the face of instability in the residential markets. At the same time, strong demand from international buyers seeking a safe haven is creating even more competition for homes and sustaining prices. Whatever the outcome of the Eurozone crisis, buyers and investors are demonstrating faith that London is well positioned to see a faster return to growth than most of its European counterparts."

The Central London rental market continues to slow following the unsustainably high growth witnessed last year, but despite the current readjustment Cluttons remains positive about the medium term prospects for the sector. Demand is strong and the ongoing difficulties faced by prospective first time buyers in saving for a deposit and securing a mortgage will support rental values. Cluttons expects rental growth in the prime market will increase by an annualised average of 3% over the next five years to 2016.