A report published today by the Royal Institute of Charted Surveyors confirmed that the UK housing market had slowed considerably   According to the latest RICS UK Housing Market survey (14 December 2010) 44 per cent of chartered surveyors reported prices fell rather than rose in November, a slight improvement on October’s net balance of -49 per cent. Lack of demand from buyers...

A new system being launched in 2011 by the Turkish government will measure the energy efficiency of every property in Turkey with inefficient homes having to pay higher taxes. If you own or are thinking of buying a property in Turkey, the energy efficiency of the property may now be higher on your list of priorities. From January 2011, all buildings will receive a document called their...

The Spain Property Registry reported that the volume of Spanish property sold increased by 13 per cent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2010.  The Overseas Property Professional organisation reports that statistics show residential property transactions were up by 13 per cent with new builds increasing by 9 per cent and re-sales by 17 per cent. It could be the perfect time to buy considering the...

The property market in Cyprus has been under pressure in recent years.  However, the announcement this week that a major international property conference is to be held in the country has given the beleaguered Cypriot property market a much needed boost. The 62nd annual world congress of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) will be held in Paphos from May 16 to May 21, 2011. ‘A...

The Pound continued to make gains against the Euro reaching two week highs over the weekend fuelled by the fragile situation in Europe. However Sterling has been somewhat wrong-footed this morning as the Rightmove index has registered another month on month fall in house prices, this time by -3 percent. Whether or not this will be a temporary stumble remains to be seen with a wealth of data and information...

  Euro and Dollar uncertainty The recent uncertainty surrounding the impact of Irish debt on other European nations which had pulled the Euro down in the earlier part of last week, has been subsiding in response to announcements from the European Central Bank that various support measures will be extended. There is by no means any certainty that the re-strengthening Euro will last however, with a string...

Turkish property market good predictions 2011 The property market in Turkey is set to go to new highs in 2011 according to overseas property portal Homesgofast.com. The predication coincides with the fact that the OECD expects Turkey’s economy to grow 6.7 per cent per year on average between 2011 and 2017; the highest of all its member countries.  High economic growth and rising house...

A recent report from Moody’s Investor Service revealed that a record number of homes in Spain were repossessed during the first quarter of 2010.  The research found that 27,561 repossession procedures were recorded in the first quarter of this year, up 59 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2009. Spanish property prices lower than they have been for years, but with rising...

  US Dollar losing out to Euro The US Dollar has continued to lose out to the Euro and is experiencing volatile movement against the Pound so far losing out to Sterling this morning. Investors have continued for now to choose riskier currencies helped by stronger US housing data and short term ECB bond buying. Today’s non-farm payroll figures for November have the potential to bring...

Cyprus attracting property buyers Leading travel journalist has reported that, after years of problems plaguing the island’s property market, Cyprus ‘is on the way back’.  Writing for the Independent, Julian Knight recently round that the housing market in Cyprus is strong with many Brits still buying on the island. Brits attracted to buying in Cyprus Writing in...