Albania’s southern coastline along the Adriatic Sea is a beautiful and charming area that is beginning to draw interest from holiday travelers as well as property investors who are looking for the next big market. The southern coastal activity and resorts are centered on the city of Saranda, while a little bit to the south is the historic town of Butrint and inland is Gjirokastra.   The most popular...

The Bank of Ireland cut its fixed mortgage rate for the second time this summer to 5.2%. According to news reports, the bank’s move was in reaction to pressure from rival bank AIB. A number of lenders have cut their rates in recent weeks as they do not anticipate a rise in rates from the European Central Bank.   In addition to the Bank of Ireland, IIB Homeloans and First Active also cut their rates in...

Along the southern coast of the Adriatic Sea lies the rugged, untapped country of Albania. This little nation has long been off the radar of international property investors, but with new investments in resorts, off plan property and infrastructure, that is quickly changing. The beautiful coastline has wonderful views of the sea with Greece to the south and Montenegro and the Dalmatian coast to the north....

A stretch of coastline along the north coast of Crete is a beautiful area for holiday travelers and international property investors. East of Rethymno there are several wonderful beaches and resorts that are not nearly as crowded as some of the other boomtowns along the north coast of Crete. The resort town of Stavromenos is a small, but popular place to find a home or settle on a quiet beach, while to the...

The UK property market continued its slump in August as the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said sales were at their lowest level since 1978. This comes as news that the output of the UK economy fell from June to August, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR). The output of the economy fell 0.2% during July in the think tank’s latest...

Madean Al Nour for Investments and Real Estate Development has signed a JD68.5 million (US$96.6 million) agreement with the Jordanian Housing and Urban Development Corporation to provide houses under the national construction initiative. Under the agreement, Madean Al Nour will construct 2148 housing units in the City of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Zarqa.   The new construction is part of the...

September - Both the European Central Bank and the Bank of England decided to keep their benchmark interest rates at the current amount. The two major European banks are waiting to see what will happen with inflation and the economy in the coming weeks and months before making any further moves.   The benchmark rate for the Bank of England is currently at 5%, while the ECB’s main rate is at 4.25%. Bank...

European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso indicated in recent comments that Serbia could become a candidate for membership in the European Union as early as next year. He also said the country could get trade concessions even sooner with the arrest of former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic.   Barroso set 2009 as a possible date for candidate status as he attempts to help reformers in...

A number of airlines have announced special deals and additional flights for Ramadan. Lufhthansa German Airlines is offering customers a chance to fly from Abu Dhabi or Dubai to 31 destinations in Europe for special pricing. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates is offering special fares during the month of Ramadan to selected destinations around the world from Kuwait via Abu...

Once the most desired holiday destination in France and much of Europe, Biarritz long ago surrendered that title to the resorts along the Mediterranean Coast. In recent years, though, this town just north of the Spanish border along the Bay of Biscay has been rediscovered by those looking for something different. The golden beaches have always been the main draw for visitors and holiday homeowners, but...