The DubaiInternationalFinanceCenter continues to maintain its status as the premier commercial property development in the emirate even as other areas suffer. The DIFC is home to many corporations and their regional offices as well as the Dubai Stock Exchange. Rents in this part of the city have been relatively stable and high, particularly when compared to some other once high-flying...

The National Association of Real Estate Agents reports that more homes were sold in April, 2009 than in the previous 18 months. The average agent sold ten properties in April, up from eight in March and well above the low of five, which came in August, 2008.   The increase in sales is a positive indicator that the bottom may have been reached in the real estate market, according to several analysts....

The World Tourism Organization (WTO) released its figures for the first quarter of 2009 and, not surprisingly, the numbers are down from last year. Tourism dropped 7.7 percent for the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same period in 2007. For all of 2009, the organization is predicting a drop of 2-3 percent worldwide.   Spain was one of the hardest hit countries in terms of tourism, as there was a...

The main Paris business district of La Defense is getting a makeover with new buildings, a more people-friendlier orientation and additional residential housing. The business district, which is the largest such designated area in Europe, was created in the late 1950s as a center for modern businesses and to keep the new skyscrapers from altering the traditional look of the city. It is located on the...

The Greek town of Lakkoi, located on the island of Leros in the Dodecanese, offers a unique display of early 20th century modern architecture. Most of the planned town was erected by the Italians, who occupied the island from 1912 – 1943. Several islands and towns in what are now Greek islands were made over by their Italian occupiers, and Lakkoi is fascinating look into that period.   The town of...

Work is beginning on the new GlennconnerBeach project that is being constructed on the Caribbean Island of St. Lucia. The new development is under the direction of Colin Tennant, Lord Glenconner. Once a regular fixture in British society, Lord Glenconner has had other successful development projects. Most notably, he turned the private Caribbean island of Mustique into a popular playground for the rich and...

Lending for UK mortgages declined by approximately £1 billion in April, 2009 when compared to the previous month, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. Total lending for April was estimated at £10.4 billion, which is nine percent less than March’s £11.4 billion.   While the council noted that the figures were affected due to the Easter holiday occurring in the middle of April this year, the...

The United States Federal Reserve expects the US economy to improve in coming months, according to new reports from the central bank. After the Fed’s last meeting at the end of April, policymakers declined to take any new steps to help the economy. The Fed launched a US$1.2 trillion effort in March to purchase government debt and mortgage securities in an effort to shore up the US economy.   Documents...

As Taiwan prepares to host the 2009 World Games in July, the Main Stadium in Kaohsiung has a unique feature that will provide for the area long after the games have finished. The roof has 14,155 square meters of solar panels that will provide enough electricity to keep the stadium lit and power the two jumbotron screens.   The 50,000 seat stadium was designed by well-known Japanese architect Toyo Ito and...

Châteaux de La Jarthe is set on 120 hectares, or 297 acres, in the Dordogne region of France, not far from Perigueux. The former refuge of the Order of the Knights Templar is on the market for some 5.5 million euros, according to the listing, and is an ideal place to host guests or create new homes and attractions.   The Châteaux de La Jarthe has extensive and varied grounds and offers an ideal...