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US Government set to announce plans to revive real estate market

The US government is considering announcing a set of new proposals in order to try to revive the country’s ailing property market and to reduce the amount of repossessions.  Reuters reports that the Obama administration is looking at plans to help borrowers in financial trouble to refinance their mortgage debt. Borrowers to be allowed to refinance on low rate mortgage deals The news service...

FEIFA announces new overseas property services for members

Photo credit: Noyava FEIFA (the Federation of European IFAs) has announced a new partnership that will provide unique legal services for its members. The Federation, which represents more than 300 advisers operating in 25 European countries, has taken the initiative in offering members access to the global services of the Judicare Group, which specialises in advising and assisting individuals on financial...

Portuguese construction sector calls for Government help

Cancelled public infrastructure projects and a decline in sales of property in Portugal are causing significant problems to the construction sector in the country, with leading firms calling on the government for help. Unemployment in the construction industry is rising amid further concerns about the state of Portugal’s property market. Government cuts and fall in sales of property in...

Why supply of property in New Zealand needs to improve

To make property in New Zealand more affordable, government should focus on improving the supply of housing in the country.  That’s the recent conclusion of a Reserve Bank of New Zealand study into the country’s housing market. The New Zealand Herald reports that ‘the pace that new housing can be built is a ‘critical factor’ for house...

Surprise for Malta property market

The likelihood of picking up a bargain property in Malta increased this week with a new report showing that prices of homes on the island fell in the first quarter of 2011. The Central Bank of Malta has found that its index of advertised residential property prices fell to the end of March 2011 for the second consecutive quarter, meaning property in the country is cheaper for overseas investors. Villas,...

The legal side of buying property in Cyprus

Photo credit: tmb2610 Cyprus has traditionally attracted tourism from the U.K. The main reasons being obviously the sun, the sea and the familiarity felt by people from the U.K: as Cyprus was a British colony until 1960, English is spoken widely and even cars are driven on the right (i.e. the left) side of the road. Once the holiday is over, people often think of converting Cyprus into a permanent holiday...

Scottish property most affordable in the UK

Scottish property is the most affordable in the UK, according to the Bank of Scotland. The figures, released at the weekend, show that compared to the rest of the UK, Scottish property is more affordable thanks to low house prices and even lower mortgage rates. A “substantial improvement” The Bank of Scotland found that despite the common misconception that moving to Scotland is...

Luxury hotel development helps houses for sale in Barbados

Harlequin Hotels & Resorts has bought a new island hotel for immediate development, which is expected to help houses for sale in Barbados. The Allamanda Beach Hotel on the south coast of Barbados will be given an $11m renovation to create the first of Harlequin’s Luxury Boutique Hotel range. The hotel, which the company believe will bring a new “ultra-chic” to...

Outlook is bleak for sterling exchange rates

For those of you looking to transfer money abroad in the coming weeks and months, recent strength in the Pound has improved exchange rates, but what is likely to happen next?   Fundamentally, sterling is still weak and vulnerable to a fall. Recent troubles in the USA and Eurozone in particular have contributed to weaker foreign currencies and better exchange rates for sending money overseas. However,...