Fabulous Farnham: 5 reasons to make the move

Fabulous Farnham: 5 reasons to make the move

by Viv United Kingdom

There is something very appealing about living in a market town and Farnham is no exception.  Traditional yet bustling, this town nestled on the South West corner of Surrey is steeped in history, its narrow streets lined with some of the best Georgian architecture in the South East and there is even a castle dating back to the 12th Century

Already home to 38,000 people, Farnham is fast becoming a much sought after location in which to live with the population rising very gently. Farnham is quite simply fabulous and here are 5 reasons why you should make the move:

       Hotspot for culture vultures

You do not need to be a culture vulture to enjoy being in Farnham but if you have an interest in history, architecture and the arts then you will not be disappointed.  Historians claim that there is evidence that Stone Age Man lived here – but walking around the town you are more likely to be impressed by Anglo Saxon, Norman and Georgian periods – all very visible in the town.

The High Street is packed with antique shops and just outside Farnham sits the much loved Bourne Mill Antiques Centre which offers hours of amusement poking around its creaky ancient interior looking for treasures. 70 + dealers are spread over four floors in this unique building which has rightly been described as an Aladdin’s Cave.

 

And if it is music and theatre culture you are after then Farnham doesn’t disappoint. The Farnham Maltings is synonymous with theatre, craft, music, film and festivals!  After a massive restoration programme 20 years ago, the Maltings provides space for many different activities including artists’ studios, galleries, the Riverside Café and Cellar Bar, Dance Studio and Nursery.

       Market Town kudos

Market towns originated in the medieval period – it was a  settlement that had the right to host village and 

Farnham is located midway between Winchester and London and in 1138, Henry de Blois started building Farnham Castle to provide accommodation for the Bishop of Winchester in his frequent journeying between his cathedral and the capital. The castle´s garrison provided a market for farms and small industries in the town, accelerating its growth so the market town of Farnham was born.

Local estate agency, Strutt & Parker report that 24.7% of buyers relocating from London are heading to the South East of England, looking for a more rural life and only last year the Daily Mail stated that the “average home in a market town costs nearly £23,000 more than the average home in the rest of the county”.  Farnham is highly likely to be a hot spot to aim for.

       Superb schooling

 

From toddlers to degree students and beyond, education provision in Farnham is superb. The town offers a wide range of nurseries, primary and secondary schools, as well as an outstanding further education college and the University for the Creative Arts.

Junior schools include two state schools – William Cobbett and South Farnham or privately Edgeborough School which set in 50 acres of beautiful countryside.  And if you are lucky enough to sit in the catchment area for The Bourne you are likely to land your children a place at the top middle-school in the country.

For senior school many choose the local Weydon School in Farnham – also a specialist science college or Charterhouse and Frensham Heights are extremely popular private choices.

       Easily accessible

Known in some circles for being the start of the North Downs Way which follows the acorn signs from Farnham to the coast at Dover, passing Canterbury on the way, Farnham occupies a premium position.

Sitting just off the A31, sensible town planners designed this by-road to take the heavy traffic well away from the heart of the town maintaining peace and tranquillity whilst ensuring that there are quick access routes out.  Situated just 12 miles from Guildford, 30 miles to the South Coast and affording a direct train line that takes 53 minutes to London Waterloo, Farnham is a fabulous location for those looking for an affordable commuter town.

Farnham is blessed with two golf courses, a sports centre and is packed with great outdoor opportunities. Frensham Ponds are one of the few places in the England where swimming in a lake is actively encouraged and a hot summer’s day will attract a bevy of families and picnics to its shores.  Alice Holt forest is a fun packed day out for all ages – from cycle trails to a sky rainforest trail this is a must and for the more adventurous types the Go Ape heart stopping experience will have you racing down zip wires in the tree tops.

       Affordable

Perched on the Hampshire border, Farnham might be a market town but property pricing is competitive compared to other local towns such as Guildford and Godalming.

According to Zoopla, house prices in Farnham have risen by 4.68% in the last 12 months and by a whopping 15.77% compared to 4 years ago (2009).

On the Market:

 

Wykeham House is a stunning 5 bedroom detached home with generously proportioned accommodation set over three floors.  This imposing country house blends traditional handcrafted refinement with innovative 21st century technology.

www.millgatehomes.co.uk or call the agents Strutt and Parker at the show home on 01252 792265.

Millgate breaks the mould with transformation of Marie Curie Research Institute into cutting edge contemporary home

by Viv United Kingdom

A large plot of land just outside Oxted in Surrey is being sensitively redeveloped by award-winning developer Millgate. The nineacre site has an interesting background starting life as The Passmore Edwards Convalescents Home, connected to the Charing Cross Hospital.  The house was built by Mr J Passmore Edwards and opened in 1896 by King Edward VII when he was the Prince of Wales.

  •  Ultra-modern Trevereux development located on former Marie Currie Research site
  • Positioned within Surrey’s High Weald – an area of outstanding beauty
  • Millgate’s Chief Architect explains his vision for this cutting edge contemporary home

The grade II listed property later became a Marie Currie Research Institute, pioneering revolutionary cancer treatments until its closure in 2010. The site was subsequently purchased by Millgate who have been granted planning permission to transform the property into a boutique residential development.

Respecting the character and history of the property, Millgate will be retaining the derelict building’s façade as well as extending to the rear in order to create six luxury apartments. A further three detached homes are being developed on this spacious site, creating fabulous new homes in the area.

In addition to the prestige of the site, Trevereux is also a milestone project for Millgate as this will be the first time in the developer’s 25 year history that they have deviated from their classic design style and chosen to include a contemporary modern home on the site.

Trevereux in Oxted, Surrey will become Millgate’s first ever mixed vernacular development due to be completed by Spring 2014. Greg Meier, Chief Architect at Millgate for over 13 years, is leading the team on this project and explains his vision for this cutting edge contemporary family home:

“As a company we were keen to experiment in this different line of architectural design. It gives an interesting concept of blending traditional house designs with contemporary design on one site.”

Indeed Millgate’s ethos is about creating homes that will evoke emotion, desire and connection – even before you have stepped over the threshold.  Millgate Chairman Graeme Simpson remarked:

“Over the years, I’ve surrounded myself with people who share my obsession, who constantly challenge the ordinary, who are driven by perfection. Our passion and expertise is what guarantees our homes and demonstrates the very best in British house building.

“This desire to continually push their own boundaries is why they have designed a modern home for a family who are looking for a dynamic style of house – not just the norm.”

Greg Meier goes onto explain:

“Making a simple design look interesting and impressive has been part of our challenge. We have incorporated a more contemporary feel into the internal and external specification and finishes.  My favourite feature is the clean, crisp lines of the building, created by the contrast in colour between the light render and darker grey windows and deep overhanging soffit and fascias.

“For a really big wow factor we have designed the entrance hall with a double height internal space which includes a two storey high glazed window. The open plan ground floor living area with large glazed external sliding doors opens up the superb far reaching views across towards the South Downs.”

The development sits just outside Oxted in an area known better as Limpsfield Chart which boasts a charming pub and an ancient church, yet this is a quiet peaceful area is less than a 5 minute drive to the high speed rail link at Oxted which races into London Bridge in at little as 29 minutes.  The site also butts up to the Greensand Way – a 108 mile path meandering through Surrey and Kent.

Trevereux is located within a designated area of ‘Outstanding Natural Beauty’ on the ridge of the Kent-Surrey border known as High Weald.  The beauty of this area contrasting with the bold lines and contemporary feel of this house new house will be unusual for the area and is certainly a house that will attract much attention.

Guide price for the contemporary house is £4,000,000.  For more information on the launch of this fabulous development contact Millgate on 01189 343 344 or visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk.

18th century Virginia Water landscape returns home to roost

by Viv United Kingdom

A fabulous landscape of Virginia Water by well-known painter George Arnald, ARA, (1763-1841) recently discovered in America has now been returned to its Surrey home.

 

Proudly being displayed by local resident and business owner, James Wyatt in the offices of estate agency Barton Wyatt, the painting has completed its Trans-Atlantic journey from Chester, New York to the heart of Virginia Water.

 

The 18th century landscape was discovered by Gregory Page-Turner, a fine art dealer specialising in early British portraits and topographical landscapes.  Mr Page-Turner unearthed the painting in a catalogue which referred to it as “An English river landscape“.

 

Page-Turner was taken by the landscape and in particular the lake with the elegant party in the foreground. On receiving more detailed photographs he was able to discover the identity of the painter and the subject of the landscape from a plaque attached to the frame.  Mr Page-Turner was keen to secure the painting at auction with a view to returning it to its home town.

 

On arrival in the UK the authenticity of the painting, which features buildings not factual in Virginia Water, came under scrutiny but local historian and Guards Polo Club archivist, Graham Dennis said:

 

“I believe the painting is a Capriccio* landscape of Virginia Water with the additional buildings simply artistic licence.”

 

Now hanging in the offices of Barton Wyatt, any residents or interested collectors are invited to view it. It is hoped that the painting will find a buyer based in Virginia Water, keen to have the important topographical painting added to their collection.

 

The painting is expected to fetch in the region of £15,000 and for more information contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or email jw@bartonwyatt.co.uk.

 

* In painting, a capriccio in older English works often anglicized as “caprice”, means an architectural fantasy 

How to spot a landlord. Could you pick one out of a crowd?

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

If this was a wildlife documentary then you might expect to hear Sir David Attenborough explaining in his distinctive tone, that far from being threatened by extinction, population numbers of landlords are thriving in the UK.

According to new research by the Strategy Society Centre (SSC), the number of landlords, as a proportion of the UK population, has more than doubled over the past 20 years with HMRC figures showing some 1.9 million private landlords operate on our shores.

  • 1.9 million private landlords operate in the UK (HMRC)
  • They are wealthier, better educated and more likely to have grown-up in an owner-occupied home (SSC)
  • Landlords earn £1,000 per month more than tenants (SSC)

Indeed with the 2011 England & Wales census revealing that more of us than ever before are renting, in excess of 3.6 million people, and that the private rented sector is worth an estimated £893 billion, being a landlord is an attractive prospect for many but who are they? Could you spot a landlord out in the wild?

The SSC, using data on 40,000 people from the UK Wealth and Assets Survey, took on the challenge of tracking down the increasingly prolific UK landlord looking at demographic, socioeconomic, financial and letting characteristics.

In short, the survey revealed that landlords were wealthier with higher incomes, better educated and more likely to have grown-up in an owner-occupied home. A somewhat predictable result one may think but the survey also revealed some interesting trends.

Firstly, due to the rise of Generation Rent, landlords and tenants sit within a similar age bracket, 48 and 32 years old respectively. Renting is no longer only a young person’s game, more and more families are renting for life with many savvy landlords tapping into this lucrative market sector.

For those landlords who haven’t made it their full time career and remain in employment elsewhere, they typically earn about £1,000 per month more than tenants highlighting the financial disparity between the two groups. On one side of the coin, the mean financial wealth of private landlords is £75,103 according to the SSC report compared to the other with a mean of £9,506 for tenants. Landlords are so markedly more affluent in fact that two thirds said that they could permanently cope, without any difficulty, with a 25% income reduction.

Commenting on the findings, Richard Patterson, Director of leading online estate agency, MyOnlineEstateAgent.com and himself a hands-on landlord for 7 years, says,

“When I was younger, I never dreamt that I would be a landlord. It was always something that other, older people did but having worked hard early in my career I wanted to make my money work equally hard and felt that property was the best way to do that. I purchased my first property, a 2 bedroom apartment in Harrow back in 2008 and never looked back.

”What has surprised me though is how many of my friends, family and colleagues have done the same. Some have one or two buy to let properties, mainly to top up their monthly income and as a pension pot but others have gone on to become career landlords but if I look at them, their ages, level of income and owner-occupier background, I should have seen it coming.”

The rapid growth in the private rented sector is a trend also seen by MyOnlineEstateAgent.com with the number of new properties listed each month for rent on the site doubling from January to June this year.

So if you are a UK landlord looking to purchase your next buy to let property or indeed find a tenant or a tenant looking to find your perfect next home, then visit MyOnlineEstateAgent.com or call 0845 257 1101 for more information.

Rise of the Virgin Landlord: Pop your B2L cherry with these top 3 investment picks

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

With lower house prices, rising rents and improved access to mortgage finance it’s no wonder that more and more Britons are looking to join the buy-to-let club. Indeed with UK GDP growing by a mere 0.6% in the three months ending May 2013 and many workers worse off in real terms as salaries remain frozen yet the cost of living continues to rise, securing supplementary income in the form of rental income is increasingly appealing.

  • Virgin landlords looking to invest in 2013 at highest level in a year (Rightmove)
  • Paragon Mortgages’ intermediaries saw 22% of B2L business from virgin landlords in Q1 2013
  • Top 3 B2L investment picks from MyOnlineEstateAgent

Even despite average rental yields in the UK’s private rental sector falling by 0.1% last month according to Countrywide data, returns of up to 6.6%, as seen in Wales, are achievable driving more and more virgin landlords to enter the market.

According to the Rightmove Consumer Confidence Survey Q1 2013, the proportion of virgin landlords, looking to invest for the first time in 2013 was at its highest level for more than a year at 44%.

Improved access to B2L mortgage finance has also driven this sector forward with Paragon Mortgages revealing that intermediaries are seeing a steady increase in the number of first time landlords seeking finance. With echoes of the pre-recession boom period last seen in 2002, intermediaries saw 22% of business from virgin landlords in Q1 2013.

Indeed the latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders indicate that buy-to-let loans accounted for 13% of the total 11.26 million mortgages approved in Britain in 2012, up from 9.8% in 2011.

Richard Patterson, Director of leading online estate agency, MyOnlineEstateAgent, comments,

“I have seen, both on a personal level through friends and family and professionally at MyOnlineEstateAgent, a rise in the number of first time or virgin landlords. The rapid growth of the rental market and sustained yields which can be achieved, especially from 3 bedroom family properties which are in high demand, makes B2L a popular investment choice.“

But with thousands of properties on the market, how do you choose the right property to pop your B2L cherry? Utilising his expertise and experience as a hands on landlord for 7 years, Richard Patterson shares his top 3 investment picks available on the market today:

1.       3 bedroom semi-detached house in Greater Manchester – Offers over £125,000.

Ready to let with no chain or work required, this property is a safe bet due to its strong transport links near the junction for the M60 and M62. A good family home which will be in high demand with more and more people turning to renting as they struggle to buy. Expected rental return of over 6.5% based on achieving a rental figure of around £700 per month. http://www.myonlineestateagent.com/for-sale/manchester/whitefield/brightwater-close-329/

2.       1 bedroom flat in Blackpool – Offers in the region of £59,000.

This spacious purpose-built 1 bedroom apartment with sea views is perfect for young professionals as a starter home or a retirement property. Neutrally decorated and secure with intercom access, the convenient location of this apartment, close to the seafront, shopping and Blackpool attractions, makes this a strong B2L purchase. Even if purchased at asking price, with an estimated rental income of £400 per month, the yield is over 8%. http://www.myonlineestateagent.com/for-sale/lancashire/blackpool/greystoke-court-338/

3.       3 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in London – Offers in the region of £229,950.

For investors looking for a B2L property in the Capital this 3 bedroom property in Lewisham ticks all the boxes. Newly redecorated, this family home, even if secured at an asking price of £229,950, should produce a yield of over 7% with estimated rent close to £1,400 pcm. In addition, with Lewisham recording an 11.9% annual price increase according to Land Registry figures (Q4 2012 compared to Q4 2011), this property should also deliver future capital gain. http://www.myonlineestateagent.com/for-sale/london/lewisham/southend-lane-1267/

For more information on these or other properties for sale please visit www.myonlineestateagent.com or call 0845 257 1101.

A-grade seminar speakers confirmed at OPPLive’s Global Student Accommodation Forum

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

“A mainstream global asset class worth an estimated US$200 billion” is how Philip Hillman, Global Student Housing Co-ordinator at Jones Lang LaSalle and confirmed speaker at OPPLive´s Global Student Accommodation Forum describes today´s student housing market.

 

Not alone in his positive view of this asset class, the latest Savills analysis reports that the student housing market in the UK has been a resilient and stable investment during the downturn with Marcus Roberts, another confirmed speaker at the exclusive OPPLive event, Director of Student Investment at the international real estate advisor stating that he is “confident that student housing will continue to prove a counter-cyclical investment”.
But with seemingly hundreds of student housing projects on the market today all over the world, how can developers present the right product and how can agents select the best for their clients?
“This is where the OPPLive Global Student Accommodation Forum comes into its own” says event organiser, Xavier Wiggins.
“High in content and value, The Student Accommodation Forum brings you real experts and real insight into this booming sector with three industry leading speakers, the release of the first OPP Student Accommodation Report and specialist networking sessions.”
Along with Hillman and Roberts, James Pullan, head of student property at Knight Frank, is confirmed as speaker, presenting the “Where are the current and future global student property hotspots?” session amongst others.
Wiggins continues,
“As an international property industry, we must remember that opportunities in the student housing market are not solely limited to the UK. Indeed the Savills Spotlight on European Student Housing 2013 report released only last week, highlighted the supply-demand imbalance present in many European cities and that is why we welcome debate from developers, agents and experts from all four corners of the world.”
Held on 27th and 28th November 2013 at the auspicious Central Hall in Westminster, London, attending the OPPLive Global Student Accommodation Forum is essential for anyone looking to sell or those already selling student accommodation.
Attend the Business Breakfast, meet with industry leaders under one roof for debate, join the Attracting international investment to UK student accommodation Round Table – The state of the UK student accommodation sector, take part in agent to developer networking, arrange one to one meetings, attend the press conference and get your copy of the first OPP Student Accommodation report, find out about agent trips to student projects and round the day off with the popular UK and Global Student Accommodation Hot Spots Cocktail reception.
Delegates can now purchases passes for OPPLive online through the new registration system available here http://www.opp-live.com/buy-delegatepasses/ with a special Early Bird Rate of £195 for one ticket or two tickets for £295 available until Friday 6th September 2013.
With Delegate Passes selling fast visit http://www.opp-live.com/buy-delegatepasses/ today to ensure you don´t miss out on the industry event of the year!

Not only a tasty treat for pandas, bamboo provides the answer to rising global energy demands

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

Concerns over energy provision and security remain high on the political agenda. With fuel prices set to rise due to instability in Egypt, environmentalists campaigning against shale gas fracking in the UK and activists even scaling London’s Shard in protest against oil and gas drilling in the Artic, never before has the drive for reliable and sustainable energy sources been so great.

•Global demand for biomass will double within 2 years alone (RISI & North American Bioenergy Studies)
•Biomass accounts for more than 75% of final energy consumption in sub-Saharan Africa
•Bamboo is the best source of biomass delivering a wide range of economic, social, environmental and financial returns
•Exclusive biomass investment seminar: Thursday 18th July 13.00 & 18.30, London 

One new renewable energy source which is meeting this demand is biomass, a biological material derived from plants primary which can either be used directly via combustion to produce heat or indirectly after converting to biofuel.
Indeed as population growth and economic development increase energy needs, the global demand for biomass, particularly for energy generation, is quite simply soaring.
In 2012 alone 4.36 million metric tons of biomass was shipped from the US to the EU according to the U.S. Industrial [biomass] Pellet Association and recent RISI and North American Bioenergy studies anticipate that global demand for biomass will double within 2 years alone, within 5 years reaching 37 million dry tonnes per year in Europe and 20 million dry tonnes in the USA. By 2020, the demand for biomass in Europe should reach 243 million dry tonnes with more than 77% of the overall demand coming from the energy sector.
Within the UK the positive role biomass can play has been recognised with Chancellor George Osborne committing £75 million to the conversion of the Drax coal-fired power station to biomass in his 2013 Budget.
Outside of the major Western markets, demand for biomass is also growing and changing in the nature of its supply. In sub-Saharan Africa, biomass accounts for more than 75% of final energy consumption with wood biomass the most common source of domestic fuel, but today it is increasingly being supplied from more sustainable sources such as green charcoal rather than through cutting of natural forests.
In South Africa alone, which is highly coal dependant, there is a rapid movement towards the use of biomass for heat and power. According to the Pew Clean Energy Report the country’s clean energy investment grew a mind-boggling 20,500% from 2011 with $5.5 billion invested in 2012, up from under $30 million the year before.
Ray Withers, Chief Executive of multi award-winning investment agency, Property Frontiers, comments,
“Biomass is attractive in a green energy mix because unlike intermittent renewable energy sources like wind or solar it provides stable baseload power. Global biomass power production is set to rise 9% per year but we must move away from our already challenged forests to finding other sustainable and efficient sources of biomass.”
High performing and fast growing sources of biomass have the edge in this rapidly evolving market place and as bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth with some species obtaining growth surges of 100cm per day, bamboo is now in favour not only with hungry pandas but biomass producers.
Thriving in some of the poorest, most degraded soils on earth with growth patterns which ensure sustainability and its ability to sequester four times more carbon that other timber, bamboo is fast becoming the biomass source of choice with commercial demand for the harvest from plantations such as the Kowie Farm on the Eastern Cape of South Africa at an all-time high.
The Kowie Bamboo Farm at Port Alfred covers some 482 hectares, divided into lots available for qualifying high net worth and sophisticated investors to purchase as a 15 year commercial land lease through Property Frontiers.
Each full hectare plot, priced at £25,700 consists of 400 individual Bambusa balcooa plants, or clumps which have already been planted, and if managed correctly is projected to return, through the pre-agreed sale of raw biomass, £110,705 gross over the 15 year lease period.
So with bamboo offering not only a wide range of economic, social, environmental and financial returns, contact Property Frontiers today on +44 1865 202 700, visit www.propertyfrontiers.com to find out more or join the free exclusive biomass investment seminar on Thursday 18th July, 1300 & 18.30 at the Hilton Park Lane, London, click here for tickets: http://propertyfrontiersbiomass2.eventbrite.co.uk/

Don’t miss out on the industry event of the year! Registration now open for OPPLive 2013

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

The must-attend international property industry event of the year, OPPLive is focused around three clear objectives: learning, networking and making money.

 

Famous for its programme of extremely useful and enjoyable seminars, panel discussions, debates and other events, property professionals will leave OPPLive 2013 inspired and full of the latest information and ideas about the international property industry.
Held on Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th November at the prestigious Central Hall in Westminster, London, OPPLive, now in its 8th year, is quite simply unmissable for developers seeking agents, master agents seeking sub-agents as well as those wanting to sell residential real estate and related opportunities looking for the right product to sell. It will also appeal to professionals offering complementary services such as marketing companies, lawyers, product packagers, tech companies etc.
Xavier Wiggins, CEO of OPP and Organizer of OPPLive, comments,
“This year’s event will be bigger and better than anything seen before. We have listened to the industry about what they want from their trade event and created an all new, fresh format which will enable delegates to learn, network and ultimately make money.
“Being an international property event, we have ensured that our seminar programme, forums and speakers are from all corners of the world, bringing global experience and expertise to a local level here in London for all to learn and benefit from.”
Delegates can now purchases passes for OPPLive online through the new registration system available here http://www.opp-live.com/buy-delegatepasses/ with a special Early Bird Rate of £195 for one ticket or two tickets for £295 available until Friday 6th September 2013.
With Delegate Passes selling fast visit http://www.opp-live.com/buy-delegatepasses/ today to ensure you don’t miss out on the industry event of the year!

 

Lady of Kent Emily McGowan takes 12,500 ft leap of faith in memory of Grandmother Irene

by Viv United Kingdom

Brave Emily McGowan took a leap of faith on Sunday 7th July by sky diving over her home country of Kent in order to raise money and awareness for Sue Ryder Care.

 

Emily, a highly respected member of the house building team at Millgate who donated generously towards her heroic jump, sadly lost her beloved Grandmother, Irene Russell, to cancer. The kindness and care that Irene was given in her last few weeks by Sue Ryder Care inspired Emily to give something back.  She said:

 

“It was the support of Sue Ryder Care that ensured my Grandmother’s last days were happy and comfortable and I wanted to show them my appreciation for their dedicated work so on Sunday 7th July I faced my fears and took part in a charity tandem skydive at Headcorn Skydive Centre in Maidstone.
“I was really lucky that the weather was warm and the sky so incredibly clear that the views from 12,500 feet up were absolutely spectacular. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I loved every moment of it.  I wasn’t even nervous when I was sat perched on the edge of the plane, ready to freefall! I was in the air for about 20 minutes after freefalling for what felt like eternity but was actually only 45 seconds however I was happy when the ground came closer and I landed on my feet albeit with a little wobble!”
Emily has so far raised £655 with a generous donation made from Millgate.
If you would like to support Emily and Sue Ryder Care a donation can be made at www.bmycharity.com/EmilyMcGowanSkyDive
For more details call Emily McGowan at Millgate on 01189 343 344.

Hidden Holiday Home Hotspots! Perfect for your summer getaway

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom
Any travel junkie will tell you that there is nothing quite like the buzz of being first to discover a brilliant part of the world. That could be an entire country, a hard-to-reach region or a best-kept-secret city neighbourhood. Sometimes it´s just a matter of timing it right, when there´s enough going on to make a place exciting but before it hits the mainstream and the developers move in.
Indeed the rise of online holiday bookings has allowed people to discover more unusual and untouched locations than ever before with latest research from British Airways revealing that 76% per cent of European travellers currently organise and pay for their international trips via digital means.
However despite globalisation making the world feel a smaller and smaller place, there are still some amazing destinations in which to vacation that have not yet developed into tourist meccas and some closer to home than you might imagine!
If you´re looking for a peaceful beachfront holiday home away from the usual Spanish bound crowds then Taylor Wimpey Espana´s brand new development in Port Vell, Mallorca may be the answer.
Costa Beach is a new residential development with direct beach access and amazing sea views. This front line residential complex affords a unique location surrounded by stunning natural beauty with numerous coves, white sandy beaches and the crystal clear Mediterranean Sea. It consists of 2 and 3 bedroom properties from €220.000 with very spacious terraces, communal gardens and a swimming pool.
The beautiful parkland encompassing the resort is as breath-taking as the sea. Vivid green pine-clad hills tumble into the blue and there are many sites to see in the area too!  The famous Caves of Drach are close by, as is pretty Porto Cristo. Venture inland further and you´ll turn your back on touristy ´Majorca´ and discover the real Mallorca. Whatever you get up to, you won´t regret spending your holidays in Port Vell.
For the adventurer amongst us willing to explore pastures new, away from the UK´s usual holiday destinations such as France and Spain, why not invest in a holiday home on the sublime Adriatic coast of Albania, in Lalzit Bay, unspoilt by stampedes of tourists and boasting 5* properties from as little €30,000.
There are plenty of things to do and see from pristine beaches and majestic mountains to vibrant cities and untouched rural villages. A variety of leisure activities such as fishing, hiking and cycling are available in the nearby town of Durrës, as well as white water rafting, skiing and off-road adventures. Albania is also home to interesting archaeological and historical sites, such as the ancient city of Klos and the castles of Rozafa, Lezha, and Gjirokastra.
Hop to the other side of the Adriatic Sea and another hidden holiday home hotspot is just waiting to be discovered. Those looking for a share of la dolce vita without the price tag, look no further than Appassionata´s Estate Giacomo Leopardi, located just 10 minutes away from the medieval hilltop village of Montefiore dell´Aso in Le Marche, one of Italy´s best kept secrets.
Arriving at the estate you drive through beautiful wrought iron gates along the cypress tree lined driveway that leads to Casa Leopardi, a luxurious and exclusive private property available for fractional ownership, at just £185,000 for a one tenth fractional share. On the left is the Estate´s newly planted vineyard and to the right is one of the beautiful olive groves. To the south and west you can see the Sibillini Mountains, but looking straight down the valley to the east, your view is filled with the Adriatic Sea. 

The property is surrounded on all sides by the breath-taking Le Marche countryside with not a high-rise or souvenir shop in sight!
For those looking not just for a summer bolthole off the beaten track, but a year round home from which to see a return from, Property Frontiers have the perfect place. Comprising of two large hotel suite types, from 47m2 to 69m2, the Cinnamon Suites perfectly compliment Bacolet Bay Beach Resort & Spa, a 44 acre, 5* beach resort located on a secluded 300 metre long white sandy beach on the southern shores of the tropical island paradise of Grenada.
Cinnamon Suites boast direct Caribbean Sea views and a world-class designed interior. Available at 25% below independent valuations, from $287,250 with a 3 year rental guarantee from 7.2% pa and 4 weeks personal usage, these luxurious hotel suites offer a solid yield through rental as well as your own property in paradise to enjoy.
So what are you waiting for? Take a dive into the unknown today and take a look at what these countries have to offer!
Port Vell , Mallorca – Contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com for more information.
If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call +34 971 70 69 72.
Lazit Bay, Albania– For more information please contact Lalzit Bay on 0845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com .
Montefiore dell´Aso, Italy –  For more information contact Appassionata on 0039 073 465 8775, visit www.appassionata.com or take a video tour of Casa Leopardi.
Bacolet Bay , Grenada – contact Property Frontiers today on +44 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com.