Overseas property owners living in Spain will take some comfort in the fact that official figures reveal that Spanish property prices are slowing in decline. The decline in values of Spanish property fell at a slower pace in the first quarter, dropping 4.5%.   The reality of the housing market in Spain is that the troubled market is still some way from turning positive.   Property owners in Spain have...

French property tax law has changed and may boost French property sales that include real estate that is need of renovation.   Non-professional private individuals who are not registered for TVA will no longer be subject to TVA @ 19.6% (French equivalent of VAT in UK taxed @ 17.5%) when they sell a property which they have extensively renovated themselves (i.e. more than 70% of the construction is new),...

Samos tourism is set to increase as the Greek islands as P&0 cruises and Cundar include the island in its destinations with a new Fly Cruise offering. To top this a brand new movie set is proposed on the islands firmly putting Samos of the tourist map.   The fly-cruise will be offered on the 710 passenger Adonia, due to join P&O cruises in May 2011. In September Adonia will reposition from...

Leading accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers have predicted that Istanbul will be one of the top cities for investment performance in a joint report with Urban Land Institute or ULI.   Turkey’s biggest city now ranks at the top in real estate development expectations, the city ranked fifth in new real estate purchases and stood at number seven in Europe for existing investment performance.   The...

The Pound has seen something of a surge this week on the back of some positive economic data, with manufacturing output, producer inflation, house prices and car sales all up. At the same time, worries over the economic situation in Greece have contributed to a weaker Euro, giving the best sterling-euro exchange rate since February.   Yesterday the Bank of England did not pull any surprises in keeping the...

Conservatives Abroad in Spain are targeting British home owners in Spain in a bid to secure vital votes for the upcoming general election. The Conservatives are encouraging overseas residents to vote as they feel that overseas property owners are more inclined to vote Conservative.    The power of the estimated 5 million British citizens living abroad could make all the difference in such a close run...

The recent overseas property exhibition in London “A Place in the Sun Live” hosted an award ceremony which included The Best Small Agent 2010.   The audience at London’s Excel Centre on 26 March saw Brazilian real estate  specialist www.uv10.com was presented with a ‘Best Small Agent 2010’ accolade by property industry watchdog the Association of International Property Professionals...

In a recent article in the Daily Mail Barcelona real estate market was highlighted as one of the more sophisticated places to buy Spanish properties at prices that appeared to have now bottomed out. The Spanish city was victim of hyped prices mainly pushed up by overseas buyers with seemingly bottomless pockets. The Spanish property crash which has seen many overseas buyers leave the market has seen up to...

The Sun newspaper reports that singer Amy Winehouse dream home purchase has been delayed by rising costs owing to extensive renovations that will be required before she could move in.   The multi millionaire who has sold millions of albums worldwide, has reportedly put in a £2.5 million offer and is waiting to exchange, but housing costs keep rising. A source told The Sun: "Her house needs top to...

02/04/10- One of Britain’s leading providers of financial help for homeowners says Alistair Darling’s decision to scrap Stamp Duty on house purchases up to £250,000 for first-time buyers, is good news for young people trying to get on the property ladder.“The Chancellor’s announcement fits in with Look4AProperty Money’s efforts to put liquidity back into the market,” says Aaron Turner, the...