Is the end nigh for traditional high street estate agents?

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

Attracting nearly 36,000 views in less than two weeks, the viral film, Under Offer, depicting daily life in a fictional high street estate agency, has certainly proved an internet hit but is it really a spoof mockumentary or is this type of ruthless, greedy, sales-at-all-costs mentality still alive and well in high street estate agencies across the UK?

Peter Joseph, Founder of Think Online Property, the award-winning online estate agent, comments,

“Despite Douglas & Gordon’s (the agent that created this film) good intentions, I have to say that this film was a pretty accurate portrayal of the lack of professionalism and low level of service that both my clients and I have encountered personally when using traditional high street estate agents.

“With such a sluggish UK property market, many existing home owners are asking “what’s the easiest way to sell my house?” With this in mind, agents should be upping their game, doing everything in their powers to make the process as simple as possible, whilst keeping a client centric approach at their heart. Today over 90% of buyers start their search online so it does make me wonder if the day is nigh for the traditional high street estate agency.”

Indeed this observation from Joseph seems to becoming reality with one of the country’s best known estate agents, Winkworth, recently reporting that growing numbers of high street operations are selling up due to a slow market with activity expected to remain stagnant into 2012.

Up there with traffic wardens, tele-sales reps and politicians, estate agents remain one of the most hated professions by the general public with lack of qualifications, aggressive sales patter, bending of the truth and high fees some of the most disagreeable qualities. The embellishment of a property’s details has often been a bone of contention for buyers so much so that the Office of Fair Trading has now warned estate agents against making misleading claims about the characteristics of a property.

Joseph from Think Online Property continues,

“Of course there are exceptions to the rule but in most cases, I think what people find most galling is the complete lack of customer service throughout the buying and selling process and then the substantial fee, on average £3,500 to sell a property, that clients are expected to pay – and for what?”

And it is these issues that Joseph of Think Online Property is addressing as an online estate agent. Looking to the future of the property sales process, Think Online Property in effect removes the middle-man, the high street estate agent, and markets individuals’ properties for sale directly, using the same online tools as traditional estate agents.

Vendors can select from three fantastic value Price Options starting from just £345 (without VAT!) depending on how much they wish to pay upfront. Vendors submit their property details to Think Online Property whose NAEA qualified team ensure the property is marketed on all major UK property portals including Rightmove, Primelocation, FindaProperty, Zoopla, Globrix, Nestoria and Fish4homes in addition to many more.

Utilizing the popular Gold package of £345 paid up front with 12 months of flexible marketing and no other selling costs payable upon completion, vendors can save up to £4,150 in fees on the sale of a typical £250,000 home. In addition each client is assigned a qualified Think Online Agent, a free “value my home” report, professional and unlimited photography, bespoke floorplans, arrangement of viewings, handling and negotiating of offers, full buyer check including verification of financial position and a weekly sales progression report once a sale has been agreed.

So if you are looking to sell your home and want an alternative to the traditional high street estate agent and wish to save thousands of pounds in fees then visit www.thinkonlineproperty.co.uk today or call 0844 381 4787 to speak to your dedicated Think Online Agent.

5 must-ask questions when buying BMV properties

by Charlotte Ashton Spain

What would you do if you saw a property priced below its going rate? The sensible decision would surely be to open your wallet and snap it up as quickly as possible. Indeed, buying below market value (BMV) property, essentially below the prevailing market value is quite simply the key to any good investment, allowing investors to enjoy instant equity in most cases.

With the global property market having slowed in recent years, buying BMV property can certainly have some fundamental benefits to the investor. For example, if prices within the market become stagnated or even experience a slight dip, buyers will still be able to make money on their investment aided by the safety harness of having built-in profit from the very beginning.

As well as this, purchasing BMV will also make your property easier to sell thanks to capital growth automatically being factored into the property purchase meaning that the investor doesn’t need to obtain the maximum price to make a sufficient gain. Strong rental yields can of course also be achieved as no matter what its sale price the right property in the right location will attain the same rental income as a comparable property which has been purchased at full price.

Many would argue that BMV is a win-win situation for both developers and investors but what questions should you ask when buying BMV?

Nick Stuart, MD of leading Spanish estate agent Spanish Hot Properties, offers these 5 must-ask questions when buying BMV properties:

If you are a small investor who is looking for a bargain or a ‘life style’ purchase these are the questions you should consider:

1.  What was the original sales price and what is the discount?
2.  If I intend on using the property myself, does it fit my requirements and needs?
3.  Can I get a large mortgage?
4.  Do I need to invest in the property to bring it up to a usable state?
5.  Can I rent the property?

On the other hand, if you are a large professional property investor these are the questions you should consider:
1.  What is the market value?  (The Spanish valuation system can be unreliable
2.  What is the exit strategy?
3.  How quickly can I get my money back?
4.  What is the threat of the market in terms of the failed sovereign debts and macro economic factors?
5.  What is the degree of hands on work required for the investment?”

Now you have an idea of what questions you should ask, why not take a quick look at what BMV properties Spanish Hot Properties have on offer in Spain.

Samara – Set into the hills of Marbella, this is luxury living at its finest. All Samara properties are spacious, light and exquisitely finished, providing everything you need for a luxurious stay. Each property benefits from an open-plan living room which has been carefully designed to maximise the spectacular views whilst still delivering complete privacy.

The attention to detail is clearly evident in the finishing touches. Kitchen furniture is by leading Italian specialists Snaidero, electrical appliances Bosch, and each property has a pre-installed Bang & Olufsen audio system. Bathrooms come with under-floor heating and every room benefits from cold/warm air conditioning. Two bed apartments are available from €206,500, previously priced at €360,000 – a massive decrease of over 48%.

Banus Beach Gardens – An exclusive residential complex of 14 penthouses, 23 garden apartments and 23 first floor terrace apartments situated in over 8.000 square meters of private tropical gardens with lake style swimming pool or relax at your private spa, with its own gymnasium, Jacuzzi, Turkish bath, sauna and fantastic indoor heated swimming pool.

Two bed, two bathroom apartments have been dropped to just €470,000.  Previously priced at €950,000 – over 50% decrease.

Marina de la Alcaidesa – A stunning development close to excellent restaurants & bars, miles of beautiful, uncrowded beaches, championship 18 hole golf course, shopping and bustling nightlife and within easy reach of the airport.

Prices for a 2 bed apartment from €240,000 reduced from €720,000 – a staggering 69% discount!

For more information on these BMV properties please contact Spanish Hot Properties on 00 44 207 558 8355 or visit www.spanishhotproperties.com

 

Beylikduzu – recommended by Global Property Guide experts as a key place to buy in Istanbul

by Charlotte Ashton Turkey

A key city in one of the world’s fastest growing economies, Istanbul, Turkey’s economic powerhouse, has been enjoying soaring tourism along with vast internal migration and a youth orientated demography which has propelled the city forward and boosted its property market.

The Global Property Guide, an authoritative source of information on buying overseas property has produced an independent guide to buying property in Istanbul highlighting the city’s strong political situation, strategic location as a gateway between the East and West and historical and geographical beauty as factors that have attributed to Istanbul’s surge in visitors and indeed buy-to-let property investors.

Labelled Eurasia’s rising Tiger by The Wall Street Journal, Turkey’s economy grew 11% year on year in Q1 2011 seeing around $100 billion in foreign investment pour into the nation since Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan took the stand in 2003 while Turkey’s ‘city of desire’ Istanbul saw a 30.1% increase in tourist revenue in 2011 helping the nation become the 34th richest city by GDP in the world according to data from PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

As tourism continues to accelerate faster than other European countries, the Global Property Guide also highlights that Istanbul has now become the third most visited city in Europe after Paris and London with the rise in popularity landing the city in the spotlight of many property investors from around the world including the UK, USA and Russia, attracted to the projected demand of 2.9 million houses by 2015, low unemployment and undervaluation of the Turkish Lira making property in Istanbul relatively inexpensive compared to other European cities.

Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph identified Istanbul as one of the 20 best places to buy a second home abroad in July this year and with positive recommendations such as this, the rental market in the city continues to be successful. Yields between 4% and 8% can be achieved while the demand for accommodation continually increases seeing a 25% rise in the last 5 years according to CB Richard Ellis.

Indeed, the growing middle classes and a flourishing international community have made Istanbul a prime buy-to-let market with outlaying suburbs such as Beylikduzu growing in popularity according to The Global Property Guide.

Ray Withers, Director of Turkish property investment experts Property Frontiers comments,

“We at Property Frontiers have recognised the growing potential of Istanbul as a lucrative property investment hub. The western suburb of Beylikduzu is one of the fastest growing areas which present not only one of the best opportunities for investment but cheaper property price tags than the rest of Europe. Its location is perfect, located close to shopping centres and leisure facilities, the area affords three universities and plenty of green spaces as well as excellent transport options including trains and the Metro bus which runs through the suburb making it easily accessible from the city centre.

“Due to its popularity Beylikduzu is expanding rapidly with the population expected to increase fivefold to 1 million residents by 2016. At present there is an acute shortage of rental properties and it is exactly this lack of supply and growing demand which investors can capitalize on by investing in our new key ready development, Kensington Residence.”

Available £17,250 below comparable projects in the area, the spacious 1 and 2 bedroom luxurious modern apartments of Kensington Residence located in the heart of Beylikduzu will present tremendously good value for money with an investment of only £17,325 required for a 1 bedroom and £30,450 for a 2 bedroom apartment based on the investor utilising 70% LTV finance.

The finance is available for EU and North American citizens while investors can enjoy an immediate and guaranteed rental income at 7% for 2 years, the perfect opportunity to capitalise on the positive growth and ever growing popularity of the nation.

For more information about Kensington Residence please contact the experts Property Frontiers today on +44 (0) 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com and to obtain your free guide to buying in Istanbul from Global Property Guide please visit http://downloads.globalpropertyguide.com/Istanbul.aspx
 

Sales activity in Meribel strong as French ski resorts show signs of recovery according to experts

by Charlotte Ashton France

It seems European ski resorts are no longer snowed under by the global economic downturn and are starting to show signs of recovery according to the first ever Ski Resort Property Index for Q2 2011 from Knight Frank, with prices in many resorts having now stabilised or in some cases seen small increases particularly across the French Alps.

Over the past 5 years, French ski resorts have experienced a substantial amount of investment helping improve accessibility and infrastructure as well as the quality of the skiing experience however it is thought that other factors are at play in the stabilisation of prices and recovery of the market. For instance, it has been suggested that a large number of high altitude French ski resorts often prove more reliable in terms of snowfall, while an additional factor at work, apart from the obvious culinary delights, comes from the wide selection of seasonal sports and activities available beyond skiing.

Liam Bailey, Head of Residential Research at Knight Frank, comments,

“Demand for property is proving less seasonal in many of the world’s luxury ski resorts. Summer tourism, often involving hiking and climbing, particularly in The Alps, has helped to increase rental incomes for many second home owners. The Alps are now host to a number of summer festivals, concerts and sporting events attracting visitors all year round.”

Certainly, the year round appeal has been a big attraction for Eurozone buyers in 2010/11. While UK buyers account for 35-40% of prime property purchasers in the French Alps, Italian buyers have been fiercely competing for a slice of the property market having been unaffected  by currency variations at the time of the global economic recession.

Further research from the Ski Resort Property Index highlights that sales activity in French alpine resorts in 2010/11 has proved strong with areas such as Courchevel, Méribel, Megève and Val d´Isere performing well seeing the best properties draw interest from more than one buyer allowing sales to be made at or near the asking price.

Ranked one of the best ski resorts by the Daily Telegraph and now even easier to reach with Eurostar direct ski trains from St Pancras, London to Moutiers, only 25 minutes away from the resort commencing 17th December, Meribel, situated in the middle of Les Trois Vallées, is in high demand as investors rush to snap up luxury units in the only new build development this season, Les Balcons de la Chapelle.

Business Development Manager, Charlie Williams of Terresens, France’s leading eco-friendly property developer responsible for Les Balcons de la Chapelle in Meribel, comments,

“New ski property developments such as Les Balcons de la Chapelle have brought a fresh level of quality and luxury to French resorts. Meribel remains one of the most popular destinations with British ski enthusiasts,  ranked one of the 50 most expensive locations for residential property in the world by the Knight Frank Prime Residential Index (2010) with property prices reflecting the desirability of the area.

 
“While the market is still very price sensitive, viewings for property in prime French alpine resorts have increased and we at Terresens have seen considerable interest in our luxury new build development in the heart of Meribel, perfect for those who desire all year round indulgence.”

The limited number of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments and chalets of Les Balcons de la Chapelle occupy a prime location, just a short walk from the ski lifts, shops and restaurants and command incredible unobstructed views out over the mountains. Available fully furnished to your specification, these luxurious residences afford stunning views over the valley and la Chapelle Notre Dame costing from €560,000.

To find out more about Les Balcons de la Chapelle in Meribel, contact the developer Terresens on + 44 (0) 203 101 110 or visit www.terresensproperties.com.

 

3 million visitors flock to Albania between January and August this year according to figures

by Charlotte Ashton Albania

In the first eight months of this year, the Balkan nation of Albania received 3 million visitors according to figures released by the Albanian Minister of Tourism, Aldo Bumci recently.

Albania welcomed 300,000 more visitors than the same period last year, seeing a 16% increase in numbers as a result of improved infrastructure and quality of service according to the Minister of Tourism.

In recent years, Albania has experienced improved political stability and vast economic advances. There is considerable investment in infrastructure with the development of new roads, ports and airports which has led to increasing interest from foreigners by way of tourism and property investment.

Further figures indicate that 2.1 million out of the 3 million visitors were foreign citizens; while 870,000 were Albanians residing abroad.

Ravin Maharajah, Partner of award winning Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, the 5* luxury residential development located on Albania’s Adriatic coastline comments,

“Albania is no longer a country hiding in the shadows thanks to an ever improving infrastructure and real GDP growth. Construction projects such as the $400m Tirana-Elbasan highway and increased frequency of flights most recently between London and Tirana have made huge contributions to rising tourist numbers. As well as this, the country has been experiencing high levels of positive publicity with the likes of legendary business magnet Donald Trump speaking of the rapidly growing Albanian property market at the RealEX conference recently and the famous American Albanian celebrity Eliza Dushku filming a documentary that will promote tourism and culture within the Balkan nation.

Maharajah continues, 

“In addition, Albania has become a distinctive emerging market and has been attracting firm interest from foreign investors with foreign direct investment (FDI) in Albania exceeding the $1 billion mark last year according to the UNDP Resident Coordinator. At Lalzit Bay we have seen an incredible level of interest with at least 70% of units released having already been sold.”

The introduction of luxury property developments such as the 5* Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa can provide the perfect investment opportunity to meet the growing demand for property for as little as €29,000 for a gorgeous studio apartment. The resort, recently voted ‘project of the year’ at the 2011 RealEx conference in Tiriana recently for its high quality infrastructure and strong commitment to the environment will provide outstanding on-site facilities including a beach club, BBQ area, tennis courts and restaurants.

For more information please contact Lalzit Bay on 0845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.
 

Happy Birthday! UK Buy-to-Let turns 15 this month

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

The UK buy-to-let sector will be celebrating its fifteenth anniversary on the 24th September 2011 having been launched by the Association of Residential Letting Agents back in 1996 at the RAC Club, Pall Mall.

Praised by The Paragon Group of Companies for making a positive contribution to the UK housing market, buy-to-let was developed in response to the surge in demand for rented property following the recession of the early nineties. After its successful launch, buy-to-let quickly developed a strong and well-defined market for itself leading it to become a popular ‘investment product’ for first time property investors that still reigns true till this day.

Nigel Terrington, Chief Executive of Paragon Group explains,

"Buy-to-let has galvanised the rental market over the past 15 years, whilst providing an attractive asset class for property investors. Buy-to-let finance was the catalyst for the revitalisation of the modern private rented sector."

Indeed, the new and much needed capital helped regenerate a crumbling market by improving not only standards of accommodation but by creating a far wider choice for tenants. In fact, it has been suggested that the private rented sector (PRS) which had tumbled to 7% of all housing by the early nineties would have perished without the buy-to-let initiative.

Since the buy to let early days, 2.1 million B2L loans have been advanced while the value of buy-to-let balances has risen from £5.4 billion in 1999 to £154.5 billion in 2011. Additionally, at least 3.9 million properties (2010) are in the PRS providing homes for 1 in 6 households.

Meanwhile, the UK’s biggest house builder, Barratt has seen a 25% increase in sales to investors in H1 2011 compared to the same period in 2010 while a report by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and Paragon Mortgages highlighted increased activity in the buy to let remortgage sector between Q1 and Q2 2011.

In addition to the increased activity in the sector, rents rose by 1.2% in August this year, according to the latest Buy-to-let Index from LSL Property Services plc with average rents across England and Wales standing at approximately £713 per month, compared to only £705 in July providing opportunities for buy-to-let investors to line their pockets with increased rental incomes.

Ray Withers, Director of UK buy-to-let property investment experts, Property Frontiers, comments,

“Nowadays more and more people are choosing to live in rented accommodation which in turn has been pushing up rental demand. This has of course pushed up confidence among buy-to-let investors and with rental prices rising, around 78% of investors are now looking to buy additional investment properties next year to take advantage of rising rental values.”

With their finger on the buy-to-let pulse, Property Frontiers has launched the perfect buy-to-let investment opportunity located just north of Liverpool city centre offering a 10% net rental assured for 3 years equivalent to a rental income of £6,900 per apartment.

Candia Tower Apartments is a prestigious development comprised of 128 quality 3 bedroom apartments priced at £69,000.  Set within a private gated community, this buy-to-let development includes an on-site gymnasium, management office, on-site security, CCTV and dedicated parking space with each unit, all purpose-built and decorated to a high-quality standard.

For more information on this not to be missed but to let opportunity please contact Property Frontiers on +44 (0) 1865 202700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com.
 

Most sought-after regions for French property revealed

by Charlotte Ashton France

The latest data from leading independent international property portal, TheMoveChannel.com, reveals that in terms of volume of enquiries to date in 2011, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur is the most sought after region by potential property buyers followed closely by Rhone-Alpes.

Analyzing over 7,000 enquiries for French property made to the site to date this year, 9% of total enquiries and 3% more than 2010, the five most popular regions were Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur in the south east (25%), Rhone-Alpes (21%), Languedoc-Roussillon  in the south (14%), Aquitaine in the south west (8.5%) and Midi-Pyrenees (7%).

And it would appear that their popularity as second home or relocation destinations is reflected in the average asking prices which ranged from £279,541 in the Midi-Pyrenees to an eye-watering £1,109,000 in Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur.

French property expert and Business Development Manager for Terresens, France’s leading eco-friendly property developer, Charlie Williams, comments,

“It is no surprise that Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur that has topped the rankings in terms of enquiries from potential property buyers. This region, a personal favourite of mine, has something for everyone from world class ski resorts in the Alps to sun-drenched chic coastal resorts such as Cannes as well as the charming countryside of Provence.

“The majority of our clients request properties in this region with leaseback properties in prime locations in particular demand due to the flexibility they offer in terms of rental income as well as personal usage.”

And it is buying in a prime location as Williams indicates, that is key to a successful French property purchase. According to recent data from the FNAIM (French national real estate federation) property prices in popular locations have risen for the fifth consecutive quarter, up an average 3.3% over the previous quarter.

One of the key appeals of Terresens’ developments is that the eco-friendly developer only selects premium locations yet prices the residences in line with the market. Les Balcons de la Chapelle for example, the only new build development in the very popular ski destination of Meribel, is located in the very heart of the resort only minutes from lifts, shops, bars and restaurants. The classic freehold boutique luxury development comprises 6 apartments and 2 chalets, all delivered fully furnished yet prices per square meter remain lower than comparable projects in the area.

Further south, also in the most sought after region of France, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, on the glistening Mediterranean coast lies Cannes. Here Terresens is offering all the glitz and glamour of this chic resort without the price tag with Residence le Six, a stylish development of studio and 1 bedroom apartments available on the leaseback program from €137,659 with notary fees paid (saving you 2.5%) for a limited time. 

If you would like more information about the most popular region in France for property then contact the experts, Terresens on +44 (0) 2030 101 110 or visit www.terresensleaseback.com.
 

Spanish Hot Properties Buyers’ Guide to the Costa del Sol

by Charlotte Ashton Spain

Quite simply Spain has something for everyone and is the chosen second property or holiday home location for most of Northern Europe including UK citizens as well as buyers from Scandinavia, Finland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Russia who are attracted to the Iberian nation for its year-round sunshine, easy to reach location, stunning scenery, brilliant golf courses, excellent transport and relaxed lifestyle.

The Costa del Sol is the destination of choice by some distance for international property buyers and with the population expected to grow by as much as 50%, rental incomes and good capital growth in the long term is predicted to flourish – great news for potential buyers!

So for those thinking about buying property on the Costa del Sol for its 320+ days of sunshine a year, excellent schools, sublime restaurants and wonderfully diverse landscape, why not take a look at leading estate agency Spanish Hot Properties’ top tips for buying Spanish property in the forever popular ‘Coast of the Sun’.

Before you begin…..

1. Think about your budget

This is the most important question you should ask yourself before you begin your property search. Work out your budget and then deduct 10% buying costs from that budget to help you figure out what you can afford.

2. Why am I buying?

To determine what type of property you need you must first decide what you want. If you are looking for a holiday home you will probably want the property to be in close proximity to amenities such as the beach, restaurant and shops. If you are looking for an investment you ideally want a property that can be let all year round thus giving you a good return on your investment. If you’re buying for retirement it will be important to make sure your property is within reach of high quality healthcare facilities. Finally, if you’re buying with the intention of living in Spain full-time you need to think about what type of lifestyle you want on a daily basis.

Next Steps….

1. Area Focus – Chose your location

Peace and Quiet – Estepona to the west of Marbella and Benahavis, known as the “table room” of southern Spain because of its high concentration of top quality restaurants are major attractions for property buyers who want a slightly more relaxed way of life.

Stunning Views – Mijas Pueblo is a typical old style white Spanish village with stunning views of the Costa del Sol, Gibraltar and Africa while La Cala de Mijas is in close proximity to the beach but maintains a village feel making it a highly desirable location.

High end – The Golden Mile is the chosen home for many overseas property buyers. Puerto Banús affords the very best designer brand shops, stunning boats and of course, upmarket bars and restaurants popular with the rich and famous if glitz and glamour is your thing.

2. Reserving your dream home

You will usually need to place a reservation deposit of around 6000 Euros made by credit card or bank transfer. Make sure the sum is readily available as a delay could mean your dream becoming another person’s reality. Payment of this sum fixes the price, confirms your intention to buy and means that the property is taken off the market and reserved for you and will stop you getting gazumped.

3. Consider finance options

Take into consideration your personal circumstances. If you require a mortgage and prefer to use a Spanish lender you will usually be able to borrow up to 70% of the value of your property repayable over 10 – 30 years depending on your age. Generally your repayments must not exceed 35% of your net monthly income or joint monthly income if two people are applying. Costs involved can amount to 3 – 4% of the amount you are borrowing.

4. Instruct a Lawyer

Select someone with local knowledge who speaks your language. Your lawyer will carry out numerous checks to safeguard your investment so when you receive ownership of your property you will not inherit any outstanding debts.

What’s on offer?

Now you have an idea of what you should do, why not take a quick look at what Spanish Hot Properties has on offer on the beautiful Costa del Sol.

Los Monteros – Located in the prime suburb of Los Monteros, within walking distance of some wonderful beaches and restaurants, Spanish Hot Properties have a sublime villa on offer with facilities including a gymnasium with attached steam room, home cinema, intelligent networks that control climatic conditions and security, climatic controlled bodega, laundry, garage space for four cars and independent staff quarters. With 6 beds and 6 bathrooms this fabulous villa is priced at €8,000,000.

Villa Natasha – This property has excellent views over the well-manicured Las Brisas golf course and is in close proximity to Puerto Banus, Marbella. Built on three floors, this ample and generous property also lends itself to an excellent rental potential. The elevated plot has a wooden decked pool, home cinema and master suite which has been placed in a tower affording privacy and seclusion. A five bedroom and five bathroom villa for €3,450,000.

La Cala Golf Resort – One of Southern Europe´s finest golf and leisure destinations, just 30 minutes from Malaga International Airport and just a 10 minute drive from the nearby coastal attractions, La Cala Golf Resort features three 18 hole golf courses, a 5 star hotel, a stunning new health and beauty spa with indoor pool, tennis courts, gymnasium, clubhouse, bars and restaurants.  All properties have either a golf mountain or sea view and have been built to the highest standards. Luxury 2 bed Townhouses from €255.000.

What if I still can’t decide and need more help?

That’s one of the easier questions to answer, just contact Spanish Hot Properties and their dedicated team will only be too pleased to discuss your own situation in detail and give you the correct advice to put you on track for your Spanish property search. They will also be able to help you with any specific questions with regards to living in Spain and any other general questions that you may have.

For more information contact Spanish Hot Properties on 0034 952 799 191 or visit www.spanishhotproperties.com

ABPM now representing award-winning online estate agency – Think Online Property

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom ,

Leading property PR agency, AB Property Marketing Ltd (ABPM) is proud to announce representation of Think Online Property, the award-winning online estate agent offering  vendors an easy, stress free alternative method of selling their home from as little as £345, VAT FREE!

Headed up by Peter Joseph, Owner of established award-winning Essex based high street estate agent, Think Property, Think Online Property is looking to the future of the property sales process, in effect removing the middle-man, the high street estate agent, and marketing individuals’ properties directly, using the same online tools as traditional estate agents.

As Peter Joseph explains,

“With the average estate agent’s fee for selling a property in the UK at £3,500, we think it’s time for a change, and with over 90% of buyers now starting their property search online, that is exactly what we are doing. Think Online Property offers the ultimate combination for a private house sale – an outstanding traditional estate agency with the latest full marketing on all the major property portals and online media sites, complete transparency and a service we feel is second to none for a fraction of the normal industry fees.”

Vendors can select from three fantastic value Price Options starting from just £345 depending on how much they wish to pay upfront. Vendors submit their property details to Think Online Property whose NAEA qualified team ensure the property is marketed on all major UK property portals including Rightmove, Primelocation, FindaProperty, Zoopla, Globrix, Nestoria and Fish4homes in addition to many more.

Utilizing the popular Gold package of £345 paid up front with 12 months of flexible marketing and no other selling costs payable upon completion, vendors can save up to £4,150 in fees on the sale of a typical £250,000 home. In addition each client is assigned a qualified Think Online Agent, a free “value my home” report, professional and unlimited photography, bespoke floorplans, arrangement of viewings, handling and negotiating of offers, full buyer check including verification of financial position and a weekly sales progression report once a sale has been agreed.

Charlotte Ashton, Director of ABPM, comments,

“We are delighted to be working with Think Online Property, offering a refreshing and innovative alternative method of selling your house. Traditional estate agent fees of 1.5% can add a considerable amount to vendor’s budgets and in these times of current economic hardship a more affordable option I’m sure will be welcomed by many.”

Peter Joseph is available for interview on the role of online estate agents in today’s market place as well as commentary on specific markets and sales trends. In addition testimonials of the Think Online Property service and case studies are available upon request.

For more information please visit www.thinkonlineproperty.co.uk, call 0844 381 4787 or read the Think Blog.
 

The Winner takes it all: Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa named ‘Project of the Year 2011’ at the RealEX International Real Estate and Construction Conference in Tirana

by Charlotte Ashton Albania

At this year’s stylish awards ceremony for the RealEX International Real Estate and Construction Conference in Tirana, Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa was aptly named “Project of the Year 2011” much to the delight of the Albanian 5* resort.

On receiving the award, Ravin Maharajah, Partner at Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa commented,

“We are thrilled to be honoured in this way. We’ve spent a long time developing the final master plan with our global design studio resort planners Woods Bagot and we are delighted with the results.”

Maharajah continues: “We are keen to attract both local and international buyers, and to this extent, sustainability and environmental awareness are key factors in delivering what our customers want to buy. It’s also crucial that we help lead the way in developing a sustainable Albanian tourist economy which is now starting to grow quickly.”

The judges analysed the entries across a set of criteria including project design, sustainability, location and on-site services.

With this in mind, it is hardly surprising that the Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa project took centre stage with its high quality infrastructure and strong commitment to the environment using natural, recyclable materials in its construction as well as using timbers and local stone across the resort to ensure the design perspective is consistent with a beach resort. On a social level, Lalzit Bay also uses locally sourced materials that contribute to the local economies.

The awards were part of Albania’s 2nd RealEX conference held in the Palace of Congress in Tirana, Albania attended by Prime Minister Sali Berisha as well as construction and real estate professionals from across the globe. Impressively, the highlight of the evening saw American business magnet Donald Trump appear on a live video feed conducting a Q&A session on the real estate industry.

During the course of the 3-day conference, Lalzit Bay Resort unveiled their new 1:1000 scale model of the entire resort master-plan and will be presenting their grand design ideas in numerous countries in the coming months.

Indeed, while construction is in the final planning and scheduling stages, sales have been developing very quickly seeing rapidly growing interest in both Lalzit Bay and Albania with around 60% of pre-sale apartments released to the market having already been purchased.

For more information on the Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa project please call 0845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.