Simon Baker the former CEO and Managing Director of the Australian online real estate company realestate.com.au Ltd (also know as the REA Group) explains his views concerning Rightmove and Propertyfinder.com two of the UKs most powerful property websites. The article entitled ‘Why Rightmove should acquire Propertyfinder’ was recently published at Property Portal Watch a specialist website aimed at...

12/11/08 London-Sterling slumped to a fresh all-time low against the Euro in early November, further to the Bank of England’s shock 1.5% interest rate cut and a raft of negative economic news in the UK.  For buyers of property in France, Spain or elsewhere in the Eurozone, that means spending more for the same amount of Euros than before.  Exchanging currency for a €200,000 property would have...

Tourism in Egypt has experienced another good year to date. The first half of 2008 saw a 25% increase in tourist arrivals, according to Egypt’s Minister of Tourism Zohair Garana. The number of arrivals has increased from 9.8 million to 12.3 million. A major reason is the increase in budget and charter flights from European countries, which has helped to keep costs down and make the country easier to get...

The FIFA 2010 World Cup is expected to inject as much as £1.5 billion into the South African economy, according to analysts. This will come as tourists and visitors from abroad fill the stadiums, restaurants and hotels of the country. It will also come about as a result of the investments in infrastructure that are taking place across the country to get ready for the finals.   The upgrading of...

The film studio behind James Bond is embroiled in a row over a £130,000 bill for empty property rates, the controversial ‘bombsite Britain’ tax making businesses pay full rates on empty space. The revelation comes on the day a No 10 petition is being launched to fight the tax which is hitting firms in all regions of the country.Columbia Pictures Corporation, the studio behind Quantum of Solace, has...

The pretty fishing village of El Rompido situated on the Western tip of Spain’s Costa de Luz has been thrust into the limelight by Spanish national tourist board that have chosen the area as part of a promotional campaign. Spain’s board is currently using the idyllic picture-postcard beach of El Rompido in Huelva in an international print advertising campaign. Andrew Benitz, Director of Titan...

Brazil has been one of the most attractive emerging property markets for the British overseas property buyer, however recent exchange rates have been eroding the savings being made on Brazilian real estate. The pound is weaker than ever against the euro (just 1.25€/£) making that holiday home in Euroland all the more expensive whilst even the dollar has rallied back up to 1.57$US/£ so we can no...

The Middle East country of Bahrain is growing by leaps and bounds these days. In addition to a number of new construction projects that have been announced and are under way, the Persian Gulf nation has also been the recipient of other news that will make life there more enjoyable.   New York City retail giant Saks Fifth Avenue just announced plans to open its first store in Bahrain. The 57,600 square...

India’s first monorail is being planned for Mumbai, and others could follow. The new transportation system will connect with the existing suburban rail system and a new metropolitan railway that is being designed. It will link the west and northeast of Mumbai and should help to ease congestion in several parts of the city.   The monorail will have 18 stations, a fleet of 15 trains with four cars each...

The demand for real estate in Dubai continues to outstrip supply and is likely to continue to do so for several years, according to news from the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Summit in Dubai. Mr. Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties and Co-Chairman of the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Summit addressed the final plenary session of the Summit.   Mr. Alabbar noted that the...