Oil rich Venezuela diversifies economy

by Charlotte Ashton Venezuela

 

Lying off the northern shore and forming part of the Republic of Venezuela, Isla Margarita is emerging as a tourism and property investment hotspot in 2008 as the profile of this stunning Caribbean island gains in international strength. 
 
The natural appeal of the island is undeniable; it typifies the perfect Caribbean island fantasy in most people’s minds with its blend of palm fringed beaches which give way to the warm waters of the Caribbean whilst being backed by dramatic, lush mountain peaks; and on top of this the island is a duty free port.  However, the true fundamentals that support an investment commitment in this specific location may not be quite so obviously apparent as the natural charms of the island at first glance.
 
The economy of Isla Margarita is intrinsically linked to the overall economy in Venezuela, and the good news is that the nation as a whole is seeing its economy go from strength to strength on the back of the oil reserves that the country has in abundance.  Few people are aware that as one of the top 10 oil producing nations in the world, Venezuela’s fiscal strengths are increasing continually as oil prices rise – and at the same time, the intelligent government is working hard to lessen the nation’s overall reliance and dependence on just oil for the longer term.
 
In much the same way as Dubai has already done for example, Venezuela is optimising its oil revenues by putting oil generated income back into the development of other economic sectors for the long-term stability of the economy in the country.  One of the main areas witnessing significant and increasing investment is tourism, and as one of the nation’s most treasured and desirable destinations, Isla Margarita is receiving a great deal of this investment.  According to the Vice Minister of Tourism: “Our goal is to position Venezuela as a sustainable tourism product…Nueva Esparta State [of which Isla Margarita is the most significant island] is very important for our strategic plan given that it has a geographic location popular around the world, i.e., the Caribbean.”
 
According to the latest figures from the World Travel and Tourism Council, the investment the Venezuelan government is ploughing into the development of a sustainable tourism sector is paying off to the tune of an average annual increase in already strong tourism numbers of 11.7% this year, rising to 13% in 2009.  For an investor looking at a market where there is already an incredibly strong, oil rich and proven economy and yet where there are emerging economic sectors of equal potential, Isla Margarita is quite possibly unrivalled.
 
According to Mark Andrew, the Sales Director of international real estate agency Emerging Earth and an expert on the Isla Margarita real estate market: “Savvy property investors are enjoying the exciting opportunity that is emerging on Isla Margarita.  This is an affordable, accessible Caribbean destination that lies outside the hurricane zone and which is protected and enhanced economically speaking by an incredibly wealthy financial backer, namely one of the world’s top ten oil producing nations, Venezuela.  It’s a location that has already been made highly accessible and highly attractive in terms of the sophistication of infrastructure in place on the island, and now as big business comes in and develops resorts and promotes the appeal of the destination globally, the upside pressure on demand for real estate for sale is beginning to be felt acutely.  Isla Margarita is a hot property prospect and increasing numbers of international investors recognise this.”
 
One development of specific appeal and typifying the type of high-end real estate coming to the market in this Caribbean paradise is the Caracola Beach & Spa Resort which affords residents stunning views of beautiful Caribbean beaches.  The development boasts excellent facilities that include restaurants, bars, swimming pools, high-end retail boutiques and beautifully landscaped gardens.  All apartments are fully furnished and come with a guaranteed rental return of 7% pa net for 10 years.  This investment purchase is SIPP qualifying and offers tax efficient freehold ownership.  Prices start from €79,000/ £63,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. 
 
For more information, please contact Emerging Earth on 0845 604 1208, email team@EmergingEarth.com or visit www.emergingearth.com.
 

A Passion for Morocco

by Charlotte Ashton Morocco

 

Long before the King of Morocco ratified the Vision 2010 national development plan to help diversify the economy and bring foreign investment, Morocco was a popular destination for international film producers.  Films such as Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator’ and ‘The Kingdom of Heaven’ have recently been shot there and Morocco’s now so famous as a film set that it has a series of internationally acclaimed film festivals annually such as the Mediterranean Short Film Festival in Tangier and the Trans-Sahara Film Festival in Zagora, which both take place in June.
 
Naturally, now that the King of Morocco’s ambitious plans for economic diversification are coming to fruition as laid out and detailed in Vision 2010, the film industry is one to benefit even more from the new policies and legislation that have brought about greater business transparency in a successful bid to attract significant and sustainable levels of foreign direct investment. 
 
One of the latest productions to benefit was the BBC’s ‘The Passion.’  Speaking in an interview with The Sun specifically about the filming experience, actor James Nesbitt who played Pontius Pilate remarked that: “from the bustle of Marrakech’s colourful souks to the vast beauty of the Atlas Mountains, it is surprisingly different from anywhere in Europe” – despite being only a short three hour hop away from the UK!
 
And the film industry is certainly not the only one to benefit from Vision 2010 and the strong economic emergence of Morocco; forming strategically central roles in the national development plan are the tourism and real estate industries which is why Morocco has suddenly become such a popular place for property investment. 
 
According to Steve Worboys, MD of Experience International: “developments such as Apple Gardens in Marrakech, which comprises of 51 high quality villas within a boutique-style development are being snatched up by investors well aware that demand will potentially push up values in the city where there have been predictions of 15% annual capital growth, but that as Vision 2010 comes to completion, Morocco will likely be internationally recognised as a superb place to live, work, invest and do business.”
 
For others, the appeal of Morocco is not just about its economic strength and fantastic investment landscape – it’s more about the beauty of the nation, the fabulous weather, the history, the magical cities and the people.  This is why Morocco is such a popular choice with film producers, holiday-makers and now second home buyers alike.  Proving popular with the latter group are resort style developments such as Mediterranea Saïdia with its golf clubs, private beach, diving and sailing centre and myriad of five star facilities, and Playa Vista where apartments are guaranteed an ocean view forever because of their breathtaking sea front setting.
 
For more information about any of the properties mentioned please contact Experience International on 0800 612 0901 or visit www.experience-international.com.

Russian tourist arrivals to Malaysia increase by over 50%

by Charlotte Ashton Malaysia

 

The latest figures to be released by the Immigration Department of Malaysia have shown a 51.5% growth in Russian tourist arrivals in April 2008 compared to April 2007.
 
The growth in Russian tourist arrivals has been steady since the beginning of 2008 with 7.8% growth recorded in Jan 08 (compared to Jan 07), 32.6% in Feb 08 (compared to Feb 07) and 50.8% in Mar 08 (compared to Mar 07).
 
In total over 1.7 million tourists visited the Southeast Asian country in April 2008 and a 0.8% increase for the period Jan – Apr 08 was recorded compared to the same period last year. Overall Singapore remained the biggest tourist generating market for Malaysia with 867,067 Singaporean nationals visiting the country in April 08; the UK came in at 9th place with 31,952 visitors, 24.5% growth compared to April 07.
 
These increases in arrivals certainly confirm Malaysia’s worldwide appeal as a top tourism destination. Steve Worboys, MD of Malaysian property agent Experience International, comments, “The increase in tourist arrivals both overall and in the Russian sector spells good news for the Malaysian economy.
 
We are seeing more and more people visiting this beautiful nation on holiday, falling in love with the people, the culture and the investment opportunities available and taking advantage of the Malaysia My Second Home Programme to purchase a second property. The coastal region of Sepang in particular is receiving great interest. Here buyers can purchase a 1 bedroom apartment from just £78,273 / €97,403 or a luxurious 2 bedroom water villa set on silts from £147,709 / €183,680.”
 
For more information please contact Experience International on 0800 612 0901 or visit www.experience-international.com.

Botswana: an African Jewel and an Investment Gem

by Charlotte Ashton Botswana

The economy of Botswana can be considered a diamond in the rough when examined against all other African economies – and what’s more, Botswana is a stand-alone investment success story of a nation in global terms.

 
Not only is the nation politically and economically stable, Botswana also enjoys the highest sovereign credit rating on the continent of Africa, it is a middle income nation with a strong GDP growth rate in the region of at least 4.7% annually, it has been one of the fastest growing nations in the world over the last 25 years, and as the least corrupt country in Africa it is rapidly increasing in interest among the foreign investor community.
 
Not satisfied with relying purely on the massive wealth that the country enjoys from its rich diamond industry, the income from which accounts for more than one third of GDP and circa 80% of export earnings, the government of Botswana has entered into a programme of fiscal diversification that is offering ongoing and significant opportunities for the development of multiple sectors of the economy – from tourism to real estate for example.  In addition to this programme of economic diversification, Botswana has implemented a seven-pronged socio-economic and political development plan called Vision 2016 to ensure that Botswana is a competitive, winning and prosperous nation where the future of all citizens is assured.
 
As part of the development of a diversified economy, the government is part owner of a new 83 million dollar diamond-processing plant that employs 3,000 local citizens.  The plant ensures that more of the diamond generated wealth of the nation remains in Botswana and it gives the government greater revenues to support emerging sectors of the economy – of which tourism is considered the sector with the greatest future potential.
 
The government of Botswana is particularly keen to support and encourage private investment in the tourism industry, and it has a specific tourism policy to stimulate investment and encourage the sustainable management and utilisation of the nation’s diverse wildlife and natural environmental attributes.  This is so that Botswana can be preserved for future generations, but enjoyed today by a global tourism base.
 
Because the government’s tourism investment plan places particular emphasis on eco-tourism and investments that support and enhance local communities, the award winning game and wilderness resort project Limpopo-Lipadi is one that is not only enjoying significant international interest, but one enjoying specific national support as well.  It is a project that’s considered to be an exceptional investment opportunity in financial terms, and also in terms of the fact that shareholders are investing in the nation and its people.
 
Alan Marneweck, Director and shareholder of Limpopo-Lipadi sums up the attraction of the reserve as well as an investment made in Botswana:  “Botswana is an incredibly prosperous nation with a wealth of stunning natural attributes.  It benefits from having a sagacious and forward thinking, enabling government that encourages intelligent and sustainable investment, and what’s more, Botswana is a nation with a flourishing tourism industry that represents pure investment opportunity.  These facts make it investment heaven for foreign investors seeking diversification and strong profitability of course.
 
“At Limpopo-Lipadi we were very well aware of the attraction of the nation from a financial point of view, but our overriding concern and driving determination was to create an ecologically harmonious project that enhances the natural environment, enables the local people, protects the flora and fauna and is ultimately a fabulous and incredible place to live, to work and for our investors to enjoy.”
 
The Limpopo-Lipadi project perfectly represents the type of intelligent, improving and enabling eco-responsible tourism investment project in Botswana.  At its core the project offers those with a keen interest in the nation, its wildlife and in augmenting the lives of the local people a chance to make a real difference.  There are different levels of investment involvement that you can commit to – from a purely financial point of view, entry level investment is EUR 135,000, but in terms of the difference that you can practically make and the benefits that you can personally witness and enjoy, they are limitless.
 
For more information please contact 00 27 82 333 1905 or visit www.limpopo-lipadi.com
 

Developers respond to currency fluctuations by offering fixed euro rates on overseas properties

by Charlotte Ashton Cape Verde

The desire to own a second property in the sun has not subsided but for those considering purchasing overseas, especially within the euro zone, concerns over currency fluctuations are making some think twice.

 
The pound’s weak performance against the euro over the last few months has forced property developers to review their offerings and many are now giving potential property buyers access to attractive finance deals.
 
On Sal Island in the Cape Verde archipelago for example the 5 star Dunas Beach Resort and Spa and Tortuga Beach Resorts have the euro rate fixed at 1.5 to the pound, resulting in fantastic discounts and also stability when it comes to the strength of the euro.
 
Adrian Lillywhite, MD of specialist agents Cape Verde Property Ltd, comments, “A large 2 bed, 2 bathroom apartment with air conditioning, free legal services and furniture pack in one of these 5 star gated communities can now be purchased from a fixed rate of £98,633, giving a saving of over 16%. This short term offer has been extremely popular and has made buying overseas affordable once more in today’s economic climate.”
 
For more information please contact Cape Verde Property Ltd on 01753 859233 or visit www.capeverdeproperty.co.uk.

Buying back home in Canada

by Charlotte Ashton Canada

 

One family’s decision to own a home back where they grew up; it is an investment into their lifestyle and family across the pond…
 
Eileen and Phil Church along with their four children have recently returned from their winter break in Canada. They have, however, come back with more than just goggle eyes and photos for the family album… The Church’s have purchased a five bedroom lodge just north of Montreal, at Fiddler Lake, St.Sauveur, a location steeped in history for Eileen, with her family tree showing over three generations in the region including her close relations today. Living and working in Canada has a great appeal so it is easy to see why statistics are showing that the country as a place to visit, relocate and invest are growing steadily.
 
Eileen explains how she was bought up in Canada and how her family all ended up back on UK soil where they originally started; “When I was born my grandfather encouraged my father to take the family to the UK”, says Eileen. “At the time things in the Canadian teaching system were not as good as they are now, so when I was nine years old my father made the decision to relocate us all to Sheffield, England.” 
 
It was a giant leap for the family but despite the move Eileen still vividly recalls her early years growing up in Canada; “My memories of Canada centre on all the outdoor activities we were involved in. I had my first pair of skis when I was three years old.  In winter I remember skating on the outdoor ice rink at the City Hall in Toronto and in the Spring and Summer playing in the pool with my cousins and having fantastic family BBQ’s. One of my favourite memories is of waterskiing and fishing up at our cottage. It really was an amazing place to spend the beginning of my life.”
 
With a growing family of their own, aged from 6 to 19 years, Phil and Eileen have seized the opportunity to not only visit Canada to maintain their strong family ties with cousins still based out there but to also own their own property.  “Phil spends much of his working week in London away from home so having a house in Canada is proving to be a great bolt-hole for him and the rest of us to get away from the UK way of life and have some quality family time” says Eileen who is very much a homemaker.
 
Eileen and Phil have always been taught the importance of family and that is why as a couple they new it was important to maintain their relationships with their extended family across the pond and in turn discover more about their family routes.
 
Canada is one of the most diverse nations on the planet with well over 20% of the population in Ontario alone being foreign born. The UK takes the place as the largest visiting market with 2% increase in UK visitors in 2007. The ongoing efforts of CTC (Canadian Tourism Commission) are also adding to Canada’s worldwide appeal
 
It is not just young families that are looking to Canada though. In a recent survey Canada came first in the ex-pats Natwest Quality of Life Index with a score of 63%, with this high ranking due to its housing, the natural environment and the availability of consumer goods it is not surprising that a standard is being set for all generations to enjoy.
 
The Church’s hope to visit Canada at least 3 times per year and with the completion of there custom made property due this Summer, their home-from-home dream will become a reality.  “Buying this property has meant that we can marry both our UK and Canadian lives. With family in both we have a great opportunity and privilege to be able to show our children a different culture”, says Eileen. “We did think of relocating but due to the kids school commitments and Phil’s work we thought that this purchase would work the best for the family as a whole.”
 
Eileen and Phil have spent £375,000 on their property and are having an outdoor sauna and Jacuzzi built as well. “These features are pretty standard with this style of lodge and we are looking into the possibility of having a pool built as well. The kids really love it there and play with my cousins children. They get very spoilt and love getting involved with outdoor living much like what I experienced as a child.”
 
In a recent interview the Honourable Charles Lapointe, president of the CTC, who finished his 5 year term in office on the 1st December 2007, said “The government has injected funds into the general image of Canada over my term and this is now continuing with the promotion of Quebec’s 400th anniversary and the 2010 winter Olympics which will be taking part in Vancouver.”  Lapointe goes onto say: “The CTC and Canada’s tourism industry joined forces bringing the whole country together and ‘Canada. Keep Exploring’ is a slogan that permeates the CTC’s whole strategic approach to supporting the industry, and increasingly all the other parties getting involved as well” and ‘keep exploring’ is certainly what the Church family will continue to do too as the family grows and inspired by the country as a whole.
 
The Church’s bought their property through Undiscovered Properties and have been very pleased with every element of the process. Phil and Eileen go on to say “We did a lot of research when looking for the best deal and to be honest we couldn’t find one better. It was almost too good to be true and it really is rare to find a business that works with so much integrity.”
 
“The management services at the resort will be organizing rental management as well and will be looking after the maintenance of our property when we are not there. We have been given reassurances that when it comes to rental they have strict guidelines for the people they let use our property and we very much trust them with this side of things.”
 
The director of Undiscovered Properties, John Prior goes onto say, “Fiddler Lake is virtually sold out now but the same developer has started on Eagles Ridge Golf & Country Club, close to Mont Tremblant, Eastern Canada’s ski capital. This time a slightly more ambitious scheme is being started, with 400 properties in nearly 2000 acres of pristine rolling woodlands surrounding 5 freshwater lakes.”
 
The facilities in this project are also very impressive, with a Graham Cooke designed golf course and clubhouse, sailing club, equestrian centre, tennis courts and swimming pool, making this Canada’s premier destination for all the family. Properties each have either their own 1.5 acre direct lake frontage or large 3 acre woodland plots, with a choice of the same log style lodges as at Fiddler Lake or frame-build houses. Prices start from £249,000 for property and plot.
 
For your chance to walk in the steps of families like the Church’s and own you very own Canadian property contact Undiscovered Properties direct on 0870 7347968 or visit www.undiscoveredproperties.com

Yachting Haven in Cape Verde Heaven

by Charlotte Ashton Cape Verde

 

Recently dubbed ‘Europe’s Caribbean’ by The Telegraph and already famous for being an exotic winter sun retreat and a tropical paradise within easy reach of the UK and mainland Europe, the Cape Verde archipelago is now rapidly emerging as an exciting and affordable destination on the yachting fraternity’s map. 
 
Given Cape Verde’s strategic position and nautical history it should be relatively unsurprising that modern-day sailors are extolling the virtues of enjoying the waters around the islands.  However, just as the islands have been hiding their beauty and environmental diversity under a bushel until recently, so the appeal of sailing the Atlantic Ocean around the archipelago has been something of a lesser known secret until now.
 
Due to Cape Verde’s location off the coast of Africa and en route to Europe, the islands were once an incredibly important trans-Atlantic shipment point.  Additionally it is believed that the unique wind patterns in the region caused sailing ships passing between Europe, the Americas or the East to almost always sail close to the archipelago, and therefore the islands became important ports for ship repairs and provisions requirements.
 
Nowadays the main port at Mindelo on Sao Vincente is more famous as a stop off point for luxury cruise liners.  And whilst the tradition of rum consumption in Mindelo may not have changed since the days when the port was home to ancient sailing ships, everything else about the nautical face of Cape Verde certainly has!
 
Boasting a year round sailing season, ideal wind conditions, warm waters and some challenging sailing conditions between the islands, Cape Verde is becoming increasingly popular with both seasoned sailors seeking fresh horizons as well as those wanting to learn the basics or hone their sailing skills. 
 
And with distances of up to 140 nautical miles between some of the island locations within the archipelago, there is plenty of scope and many advantages to sailing in this part of the Atlantic.  What’s more, Cape Verde is now home to more than one sailing school and multiple marinas are under construction within luxury residential resorts in which keen and amateur yachtsmen and women can moor and take in the delights of the islands.
 
Unlike the Mediterranean which has become famously overcrowded recently, resulting in oversubscription in the most popular marinas such as those along the Costa del Sol where local authorities have intimated that there is a requirement for a 300% increase in the numbers of moorings available just to satisfy existing demand, as yet the waters around Cape Verde remain open, enjoyable and accessible.  Additionally, those who move quickly to secure their berths at the islands’ high-end and exclusive marinas will do well over the long term in investment terms according to Adrian Lillywhite, who’s the managing director at Cape Verde Property Ltd.
 
Mr. Lillywhite recently reported that: “there are many investment approaches that are proving successful in Cape Verde at the moment.  For those simply interested in buying properties to let, rental yields of up to 8% are being achieved easily because there is increasing demand for holiday accommodation, and this demand exists year round.  For others seeking investment diversification, a new opportunity is presenting itself across the main islands of Cape Verde, and this opportunity comes in the form of marina berths. 
 
“We have assisted a number of experienced and savvy investors recently who have recognised the fact that increasingly, Cape Verde is attracting the yachting fraternity.  These investors have been buying up berths in the likes of the brand new, state of the art dedicated marina in Mindelo where a five year lease costs in the region of €18,225 for example, or they have been buying properties and berths within some of the higher end residential resorts under construction where marinas are included within the impressive list of onsite amenities and facilities. 
 
“These buyers consist of seasoned investors, who know that waterside living is one of the fastest-growing trends in the real estate world especially when a marina berth is included, and keen sailors seeking a luxury property and a well serviced berth.  Each purchaser knows full well that they will be able to let and eventually resell their properties to an increasing, affluent and captive market seeking out the fabulous sailing around Cape Verde and requiring a place to moor their craft and lay their hat.”
In terms of some of the high-end residential resorts under construction around Cape Verde which feature marinas, they include: –
 
Cotton Bay Golf and Marina Resort which is on the west coast of the island of Sal and which incorporates two 18 hole golf courses as well as an impressive 354 berth marina.
 
The development consists of a range of real estate from modest apartments which start from €126,000, to fabulous frontline villas which overlook the marina and the beach and are priced in the region of €1.65 million.
 
Pedra de Lume Golf and Marina Resort where construction was officially started when the president of Cape Verde laid the first stone in 2007.  This development is also a major regeneration project to revive a beautiful fishing village and transform it into a five star community consisting of a total of 2,100 property units.
 
There will be seafront villas with infinity pools, four bedroom golf villas, townhouses and one, two and three bed apartments and the resort will include communal pools, a marina, an 18 hole golf course, a luxury spa, numerous bars, restaurants, shops, local markets and five star hotels and commercial areas.  Prices for properties start from €110,000 for a 1 bed apartment and go to €500,000 for a frontline villa. 
 
And for the yachtsperson in search of the ultimate property for sale in Cape Verde how about Tolus Villa in Mindelo on San Vincente? 
 
This unique property is located in an exceptionally elevated and superior position and boasts panoramic views over Mindelo harbour and out to the sea across the new marina.  Tolus Villa has 4 bedrooms, 4 large balconies, a fabulous sun terrace along with an enormous kitchen and living room.  There’s a large art studio on the ground floor along with a playroom, there are two bathrooms and two further WCs as well as a garage, and the total size of this unique property is approximately 450 m/sq.  This property is priced in the region of €385,000.
 
For more information about any of these properties or details of the frontline apartments overlooking Mindelo marina due to be released shortly, please contact Cape Verde Property Ltd on 01753 859233 or visit www.capeverdeproperty.co.uk
 

Designing your own villa in Spain

by Charlotte Ashton Spain

 

It has long been the dream of many an aspiring overseas buyer, not only to own and possibly live in a house overseas, but to also be able to design your perfect home as well. This is what Spanish property specialist Casas de Lorca is offering to clients. At a time when the market is flooded with compact apartments and houses indistinguishable from the next, Casas de Lorca is giving buyers the opportunity to own and design their own unique villa in the heart of traditional Spain without the hassle of renovating a tired finca.
 
Mike Hamilton, MD of Casas de Lorca, gives us his top tips to designing your own villa in Spain:
 
There are 3 fundamental considerations, firstly the word that rolls off the tongue of every property buyer ‘location’ as well as ‘design / layout’ and ‘materials’.
 
Location – “Choosing the right plot for your home can vastly affect the feel of the property and also the finished value. A finished villa on a plot with magnificent views can be worth over 50 percent more than a finished villa without views or with poor Access. The wow factor is important and you should design your villa around the natural attributes of the plot you have chosen.”
 
“Privacy is worth a great deal and with 5 acres of land Casas de Lorca specialise in just this. Add this to fantastic views and you have a good start for designing your house. Walls of glass and full length windows in the right places can help take advantage of the views from the inside out.”
 
Design / Layout – “Personal taste forms part of this process, but there are a few fundamentals that affect the desirability of the property. Firstly orientate the house towards the best views. In the UK people usually wish to orientate the house towards the South, but this is not necessary in Spain. It is better to look out of walls of patio doors towards the views and to have the sunrise flooding into the house rather than facing south when the sun is too high to come into the house.”
 
“The layout of the house is extremely important. A good house is split logically between the day time and night time areas, not all mixed up as one. Bedrooms coming off the living room or the kitchen are obvious no no´s. Generally you place bedrooms to one side and day time areas to the other; this is a good starting point. Often bedrooms can be on a separate floor which also splits the night time area from the day.”
 
“When looking at possible house plans imagine yourself walking around the house and try and imagine how it is going to flow. The design and exterior also need to match with the internal layout, which is often the hardest part to achieve. The only way to get this right is to try and imagine the exterior as you are designing the interior. The expert design team at Casas de Lorca can assist with this. Will the house have a courtyard? Why not give the courtyard glass walls? Is there a visual impact as soon as you walk through the front door? How are the roof lines going to work? The use of ornate pillars, arches, rows of patio doors, towers and raised terraces can change a decent house into a wow house, but everything has to remain in the right proportions.”
 
“Architecture has been studied and implemented for thousands of years and looking at classic buildings can often give you ideas to make your house look impressive from the outside as well as having a logical layout on the inside. We have designed houses with glass courtyards, giving the feel of having a garden inside the house, but also as a means to bring in the light and enjoy the views from inside.  We have even designed a house with 15 arches made from Tuscan Stone surrounding a pool which is built into the house! “
 
Materials and decoration – “Having got the location and design right, then the next challenge is the materials. At Casas de Lorca we have built an exhibition centre to help manage this process. There are literally hundreds of different types of tiles and there is a choice for every part of the villa. What type of stone window surrounds, what type of wood for the doors and built-in wardrobes right down to the type of door handle… Even the kitchen is tailor made and there are over 80 materials to choose from.”
 
“Everything from the style of banister to the type of balustrade or style of fireplace is available to choose from to design the interior of the property.”
 
“Too much choice can often make design difficult so one of our design consultants is always at hand to offer advice. In general, simple high quality materials and consistency throughout the house make for a good interior. We advise matching built-in wardrobes with doors and using the same floor tiling throughout the house to maintain a consistency throughout the property. Marble floors create a grand impression, but poor quality marble contains many imperfections so we only source consistent materials. The exhibition centre has proved invaluable as there are so many items to choose from that it would take days if not weeks to drive around all the suppliers. There are choice items which clients would not normally even be aware of so it is very useful to have everything under one roof.”
 
When designing your own property any one of the above three done well will impress your friends. For example if you have a plot with amazing views, this on its own creates a house with an advantage. If you have a classic designed and well proportioned villa, it will still impress if it is not in the most scenic location. You can design an amazing interior with top quality materials even if the house does not look the part from the outside. At Casas de Lorca we specialise in sourcing the best locations, helping in the best villa designs and also the best materials and decoration. We work to achieve all three of the fundamentals so that the villa has amazing views, outstanding design and the finest interior. With all three you will have a property which is a cut above the rest.
For more information contact Mike Hamilton at Casas de Lorca on 0844 734 8057 or visit www.casasdelorca.net
 

Back to business as the temporary freeze on foreign buyers is lifted

by Charlotte Ashton Turkey

 

The Turkish government has announced the end of a temporary suspension on the issuing of title deeds to foreign buyers. Brought into force on 15th April by order of the country’s Constitutional Court while parts of the legislation relating to foreign buyers were re-drafted, a parliamentary commission has passed the changes and the freeze will end in the next 2-3 weeks.
 
“The changes will have no effect on most foreign buyers and relate to the amount of land foreigners are entitled to buy,” explains Dominic Whiting, editor of the Buying in Turkey guide, www.buyingin.co.uk.
 
“Previously, non-nationals could buy up to 0.5% of the land in a province; this is now limited to 10% of any town, city or resort, which is still a huge area.”
 
Turkey is growing in popularity with British property buyers due to its excellent value for money, great scenery and beaches and the low cost of living – approximately 1/3 of the UK’s. Apartments are still available on the coast from as little as £35,000, with villas from £75,000.
 
There are over 73,000 foreign-owned properties in the country, mainly in Istanbul and the coastal resorts, and £1.5 billion was invested in the Turkish real estate market by foreigners in 2005.
 
Access from the UK is improving with new routes and the arrival of low-cost carrier, Easyjet, who operate several weekly flights from Gatwick to Istanbul and Dalaman. Government-led investment is also transforming the coastal tourist areas with new airports, roads, marinas and golf courses in resorts such as Dalaman, Bodrum, Altinkum and Alanya.
 
 
What foreigners can buy
 
  • Property and land within an officially zoned planning area which includes all the country’s towns, cities and resort areas
 
What foreigners can’t buy
 
  • Property and land in rural areas (un-zoned)
 
  • More than 10% of a planning area
 
 
Buying in Turkey property advisers are on hand to offer help and advice to potential buyers (Tel: 0845 351 3551 / www.buyingin.co.uk). They can discuss property requirements; advise on the best places to buy and give plenty of information about the properties available and finance options including UK and Turkish mortgages.
 
 

Following in the Footsteps of the Molson Family, Another Prosperous Project is Brewing in Canada

by Charlotte Ashton Canada

Canada’s oldest and arguably most well known and successful brewery was founded by a British emigrant and entrepreneur called John Molson back in 1786; Molson moved to Canada from Lincolnshire at the tender age of 18, fell in love with the Canadian province of Quebec, established Molson’s Brewery on the banks of St. Lawrence River in Montreal, made a family home on Mont-Tremblant and became one of the most highly respected citizens of Canada thanks to his philanthropic benevolence.

 
Not satisfied with simply starting and running one of the most successful breweries in North America, John Molson and subsequent generations of his family have been responsible for bringing the first railway into Canada, for introducing steam power into industry in Montreal, for building theatres, sports stadia and for being influential politicians across the nation.  And to this day, John Molson’s family are still proud to be at the helm of Molson’s Brewery, and John Molson himself was honoured recently for his contribution to Canadian life when his image was selected to be used on a postage stamp by the Canadian government.
 
The Molson family home on Mont-Tremblant, which is one of the tallest peaks in the Laurentian mountains in Quebec and which literally translates to mean ‘trembling mountain’, consists of a 265 acre prime and fabulous mountainside property.  Since the Molson family made it their home, the beauty and majesty of Mont-Tremblant with its forests, lakes and Alpine feel has been ‘discovered’; a pedestrian village and year round resort of the same name has been established at the base of the mountain, and now the name Mont-Tremblant is synonymous with one of the leading year round vacation and lifestyle resorts in the whole of North America – in fact, Mont-Tremblant has even been named the number 1 ski resort in Eastern North America by Ski Magazine eight consecutive times.
 
The Mont-Tremblant pedestrian village at the base of the mountain is unique among ski and summertime resorts in Canada because you don’t need any transportation for the duration of your stay, because the pedestrian-only streets are home to some of the most exquisite shopping, varied and high-end night life, fabulous après ski and excellent restaurants and bars in the vicinity, and because the whole village resembles a French Alpine community.
 
The village is at the heart of a greater community, a community where you can ski and snowboard in the winter, where you can hike, swim, fish, golf and enjoy the great outdoors in the spring and summer, and where in the autumn-time the entire wooded mountainside is transformed into a burning intensity of vibrant colour as the leaves turn golden and red and slowly fade and fall giving way to the winter snow once again.
 
Established well before the fame and fortunes of the resort and pedestrian village at Mont-Tremblant, the Molson family home naturally sits in prime position on the mountainside, and the acreage it covers was long coveted by the growing numbers of affluent residents and second homeowners in the region.  Many offers have been made for the purchase of the estate over the years, but it was only recently that the Molsons decided to sell.  Today, as a result of the sale, an incredibly well appointed and stunningly luxurious property development called La Grand Forêt is under construction on the former Molson estate.
The La Grand Forêt project will witness the creation of just 72 estate-sized homes set within 265 acres of virgin hardwood forest.  Each impressive and imposing property will sit on at least 3 private acres of land, be afforded spectacular and uninterrupted views because of their elevation, and benefit from world-class amenities and facilities within a gated community style, private residential community.
 
Within La Grand Forêt grounds there will be the Grande Clubhouse and swimming pool, a well equipped gymnasium, 20-acre park and trail system, basketball and tennis courts, children’s play area, volleyball area and putting green.  And within reach of the exclusive community, residents will have access to acres of untouched maple, cherry and pine forest, springs and lakes and streams, rock-climbing and water sports adventures, skiing, hiking and horseback riding.  There are also 7 championship golf courses locally as well as over 40 restaurants and shops in Mont-Tremblant village – all this less than an hour and a half from Montreal and its international airport.
 
Each of the individual properties at La Grand Forêt will be constructed with expert Quebec craftsmanship and using the finest natural materials such as local stone, wood and granite.  Every deluxe home will feature a fireplace, a two-storey great room with a vaulted ceiling and state-of-the-art appliances, and if you want to purchase one of the most sought after properties in one of the most coveted positions in one of the most popular and affluent areas of North America, you can choose to invest in a 3, 4 or 5 bedroom property at La Grand Forêt, with log homes starting from £403,000/€527,000 and timber homes starting from £442,000/€578,000.
 
For more information contact Undiscovered Properties on 0870 7347968, email contact@undiscoveredproperties.com or visit www.undiscoveredproperties.com.