TheMoveChannel.com’s September Top of the Props chart, which tracks the interest of visitors to the site and finds the most popular countries each month, found France had topped the props last month.

Primelocation’s findings tallied with those, with France, Spain, the USA, Italy and Portugal taking the top five places in their index, significantly outperforming the sixth to tenth placed countries.

Last month also saw search levels up 10 per cent compared to August, indicating that consumer confidence in overseas investment property has begun to return.

But, whilst confidence is coming back, investors are still wary of putting their money into less stable or well know locations, thus they are looking to well established countries with a history of stability.

The property portal’s international development manager, Ann Wright said, “Given the recent turbulence we have experienced, a certain amount of caution remains and interest is currently concentrated in the traditionally strong and established markets.”

In terms of sales, Ms Wright believes there could be a wait between investors’ intentions to buy and actual sales.

“Although property prices in the top three countries are attractive, having fallen substantially in the downturn, the pound is not particularly strong against the euro or the US dollar at the moment and buyers may hold off, watching the market for the most lucrative time to make the purchase.”

TheMoveChannel.com found that it wasn’t just residential investors targeting France – commercial investment property in the country was on the up too. The country is fast emerging as the second-most popular market after the UK following a static first quarter as a result of the ongoing hangover from and continual effects of the economic crisis. The French property investment market is now on the move again, with investment levels doubling in the second quarter of this year, the biggest increase for that period in Europe.

For more information on overseas investment properties and the property market in general, please visit http://investment.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information, please contact:

Dan Johnson
Managing Director
www.themovechannel.com
0207 952 7650

Currently much maligned, old favourite Spain made a welcome return to the top spot in TheMoveChannel.com's June Investment Property watch chart – which tracks the level of interest in certain properties and countries from visitors to the site – perhaps signaling that potential buyers know there are real bargains to be had in the country, so long as you know where to look…    Spain

Spain, Spain, you are back in the game. Once the centre of the European property and holiday home market, Spain has had a rough time of late.

Hoards of unfinished properties have been spreading like a rash over the country as construction companies struggle to stay afloat in the midst of the credit crunch.

Developers have also been left with hundreds of apartments that they can’t find buyers for and the emergence of other European markets has taken the shine off Spain.

Now, although Spain may be struggling to recapture those halcyon days of a few years ago, the sun is starting to come out for the country once again.

Experts are predicting that there will be more home sales in 2009 than there were in 2008 thanks to lower interest rates, house prices sitting at 2003 levels and investors returning in the hope of snagging a real bargain.

But, a recovery in the property sector is partly reliant on the cost of mortgage borrowing. Whilst Euribor – the base rate normally used to calculate mortgage rates in Spain – has indeed fallen to historic lows, the average interest rate charged on new mortgages is rising, making it more expensive for new borrowers to buy homes.

Dan Johnson, Director of TheMoveChannel.com, said, “There is a growing sense that Spain currently offers some fantastic buying opportunities for investors looking to plunder properties from the many banks eager to reduce their repossession stock.

“It will take considerable time for prices to recover to their former levels and in some areas there may not be much of a market for years to come.

“But some former hotspots will be quicker to recover and with banks prepared to write off losses, genuine value can currently be bought remarkably cheaply,” added Mr Johnson.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a surprise entry into the Investment Property Watch chart, but its new chapter of development and resurgence of tourism looks set to change all that.

Following the end of nearly three decades of conflict, the war-hit north of the country is now being rediscovered by foreign investors and developers after Tamil Tigers guerrillas were crushed recently by Government forces, paving the way for a phase of economic liberalisation.

The fighting has stalled Sri Lanka’s economic growth and both the Government and tourism authorities are looking at new ways to attract the visitors the country desperately needs in order to give its economy a boost.

The Foreign Ministry has also directed all Sri Lankan missions overseas to persuade the host countries to lift travel advisories on Sri Lanka as the country's situation has rapidly changed with the eradication of terrorism.

Sri Lanka is keen to convince visitors that the country is now safe to visit once more.

Tourism authorities have now announced plans to attract 1.5 million tourists per year by 2016. Things are already starting to look up – this year 500,000 tourists arrived, which was higher than it has been in years.

Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority Bernard Goonatilake has also announced an international campaign to attract tourists from the UK, France, Germany, Russia, the Middle East and India. It will launch next month.

As well as the north of the country, the east is also being targeted for expansion, with hotels planned for the coastline, which boasts some of the best beaches in the country.

Other movers and shakers

Brazil took third place in June’s chart, suggesting the excitement of the upcoming 2014 World Cup, which the country is hosting, has already kicked off new interest in its property sector. In fourth place was the USA, followed by Australia in fifth and Panama in sixth. Lucky number seven went to Egypt, with Spain, Greece and the UAE nabbing the last three places.

Table showing June’s top investment properties

*Results are based on number of sales enquiries generated per month.

For more information on investment property and the market in general, please visit http://investment.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information as well as images and interview possibilities, please contact:

Dan Johnson

Managing Director

www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650

The real estate market is subject to frequent fluctuations, more so when the economy is not doing too well as it is right now. In such a situation, if you’re looking to sell a piece of property that you own, you need to ensure that the price does not go either too low so that you hardly break even, or too high that it scares away potential buyers from the scene…

There are various factors that go into setting the price of property, some of them being:

Location: This is probably the largest factor that decides the price of property. The closer it is to prime locations, the more its value. So take into account the asking rate of similar property in the neighbourhood and then form an estimation of your selling price.

The condition of the property: For property to fetch a top-notch price, it must be maintained in a good condition. If your home or other asset does not have a run-down and neglected appearance, it’s going to be easier to find a buyer who will pay more for it, since it means that they will not have to spend money in renovating and improving it.

Market conditions: No matter how good a property is, and how prime a location it is situated in, if the market is down, you cannot hike your asking price beyond a certain amount. If you do so, you may not be able to find any takers for your property, since others in your position will be offering similar property at lower prices.

The necessity to sell: If you are desperate to make a quick sale, you may be willing to settle for much less than your asking rate. On the other hand, if you don’t mind waiting for the market to look up or for a buyer who is agreeable to your asking rate, then you may be able to hold out long enough without reducing the price. Setting a rate depends on how soon you need the proceeds of the sale and the purpose you need it for. An emergency may make you sell at any rate rather than hold on and struggle for much-needed money.

If you’re able to sell your home without an agent and a lawyer, you would save on commission. But you must remember that things could go wrong without a go-between, so exercise this option carefully.

For more information on UK and overseas property and the market in general, please visit http://www.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information as well as images and interview possibilities, please contact:

Dan Johnson

Managing Director

www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650

Shock newcomer Northern Cyprus nabbed the top spot on TheMoveChannel.com's May Investment Property watch chart, perhaps a reflection of the renewed efforts to allow direct flights between the country and UK airports. France and the USA followed in Cyprus' wake in the chart, which tracks the level of interest in certain properties and countries from visitors to the site…

Northern Cyprus

Moves to lift a ban on direct flights between UK airports and Northern Cyprus could have a huge impact on interest in investment in the country. Currently being challenged in the High Court, the ban has so far lasted 35 years, causing considerable inconvenience for travellers.

Leading the challenge is Cyprus Turkish Airlines, (CTA) which flies about 100,000 visitors from the UK to Northern Cyprus each year. Currently, CTA, together with all other airlines, must land in Turkey en route both to and from Northern Cyprus.

If the direct flights are approved, it will not only encourage international tourists and investors, but will also provide a boost for Turkish Cypriots and their companies who are currently restricted from travelling and conducting business with the EU and the rest of the world.

Traditionally, Cyprus has fallen under the radar of many international investors, due to the civil war and the subsequent division of the island.

Despite these issues now being 35 years old, a history of conflict is hardly going to entice investors, especially those thinking of injecting a large sun of money into an uncertain property market.

But now, a new dawn has broken, particularly in the northern part of the island. At the end of last year, a conference hosted by the Cyprus Turkish Investment Development Agency and the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce in the UK, was held to look at the business and financial potential of investing in Northern Cyprus.

It revealed that Northern Cyprus now offers some of the most competitive business and investment opportunities in Europe. Despite, or perhaps because of many years of trade restrictions, the country has been largely free from the mercurial currency movements and offers untapped opportunities for investment.

The cost of living in Northern Cyprus is substantially cheaper than those countries within the Eurozone and the chances of an agreement being reached between the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots looks ever more likely. Once this is reached, international interest in Northern Cyprus is expected to skyrocket.

The whole island already boasts a buoyant tourist sector, attracting more than 700,000 tourists a year with its ideal climate and golden beaches.

James Churchman of the Armarium Group, which is selling the new homes in Nicosia which attracted the most interest from visitors to the site last month, said, "There is a lot of talk about current market conditions and whether now is a good time to invest.

"This particular opportunity has been created by the Government itself and is the first time that private equity has been allowed to invest in Government backed projects.

"It has been packaged specifically for the pure investor amongst us and is ideal for clients that want to apply a greater degree of control over their capital with a fixed 36 month return," he added.

France

France has been in the top three most popular destinations for UK property buyers for years and two thirds of French property sold to foreigners is to British people.

Whilst property prices are relatively high, they are still around 30 per cent cheaper than in the UK, but the tax structure – which levies tax at far higher rates than in Britain – has traditionally put some people off.

But, President Sarkozy is now trying to change that – he has already introduced tax relief on mortgages, cut wealth and income taxes and has reduced the notoriously unpopular inheritance tax.

This may well have a dramatic impact on the French property market, both attracting more international investors and meaning French citizens have more money to play with.

If you are an expat living in France, why not book a place on the Expat Excellence Seminar, called ‘Working and Living in France.'

The event, due to be held in Paris on June 28^th 2009, is a one day seminar dedicated to improving the professional and cultural foothold of expatriates living in France.

It will teach you how to play the career game like a native and position yourself for success in the job market and allow you to gain valuable insight on the complex world of French corporations.

Check out the website for more information.

Other movers and shakers

The USA took third place in May's chart, followed by Madeira at number four. Brazil sneaked in to take fifth. Old favourite Italy took sixth place whilst the taste of sun and sea proved too much for some to resist – landing the Caribbean seventh place.

Turkey took ninth place whilst Australia finished off the chart in tenth place.

For more information on investment property and the market in general, please visit http://investment.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information as well as images and interview possibilities, please contact:

Dan Johnson

Managing Director

www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650

Fresh from huge success in America, the bargain hunter property bus has driven all the way from the states to pick up passengers on the Costa Del Sol in Spain – offering tours of distressed real estate for sale at rock bottom prices, so get your tickets now…

Ahhh, the world of bus tours – from oohing over celebrity houses in Hollywood to creeping across Austria with a group of pensioners, to living it up on an 18-30’s coach.

Now, there is a new trend in bus tours – the credit crunch bus. Already hugely popular with bargain hunters in Florida and Arizona, the bus, which tours distressed property for sale, has made it to Spain.

Organisers Circulo Financiero Internacional, a property investors club, is offering tours of luxury properties on new developments, some of which have had their prices slashed by as much as half.

The organizers said that all properties featured on the tour were ‘real bargains,’ with other developments all offering discounts of between 20 and 40 per cent.

The first tour of the Costas took place earlier this month with a bus-load of Spanish, German and Russian bargain hunters sniffing out the best deals on new developments in Marbella, Estepona and Benehavis.

They saw golf and beach real estate and penthouses, one of which had 50 per cent slashed off its £967,000 original guide price.

On a new development in Puerto Banus, 250 square metre penthouses were going for under £440,000 and 200 square metre apartments were on offer for £351,000.

On a golf development, 200 square metre semi-detached properties that had been repossessed by the bank were for sale at £262,000, a reduction of almost 50 per cent on their original asking price.

The tour is free for members of the CFI investors club and £17 for non members and the property prices can be negotiated still further with the Spanish banks, which is currently far easier than it has been in the past.

A CFI Spokesman said, “The market is stagnating and developers need to shift new homes that in some cases they have built and paid for or are being repossessed or belong to the banks.”

Following the initial success of the credit crunch bus in the Costas, CFI are now planning to introduce similar bargain hunting bus tours in other parts of Spain, possibly in Barcelona and Madrid.

For more information on distressed properties and the property market in general, please visit http://investment.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information, please contact:

Dan Johnson

Managing Director

www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650

Flying in the face of the global economic downturn is developer Noor International Holding, which is planning the construction of a huge artificial island shaped like a cedar tree off the coast of Lebanon, which is already being likened to projects in Dubai…

Lebanon, a tiny country more known for war than tourism, looks set to follow in the footsteps of Arab boomtown Dubai with the planned ‘Cedar Island’ mega project.

The cedar-tree shaped offshore development will be the biggest Lebanon has ever seen – spanning more than 7.5 square kilometres and boasting luxury villas, apartments, boutique shops, restaurants, schools, hospitals, parks and beaches.

Despite Mr Saleh, Chairman of Noor International Holding, arguing that the project will ‘nurture national pride,’ many industry experts see Cedar Island as an ill-thought out error of judgment totally at odds with the current economic climate.

To back up their point, they are comparing Cedar Island to similar mega developments in Dubai – the glitzy emirate which was once the poster child of property booms and is now suffering in the downturn.

Aside from the criticism surrounding the sheer scale and cost of the project; its planned location – in the coastal Damour area of Lebanon – has also met with fierce opposition.

Environmentalists have highlighted the negative impact dredging will have on marine life in the project’s construction site.

Cedar Island is slated to take four years to construct and will house over 40,000 residents. Construction will cost a whopping £5.4 billion, but the Beirut-based Noor International Holding is certain that the project will attract funding in spite of the global downturn.

“I am not worried about the global crisis, because my main target is Lebanese expatriates who have nostalgia for their country and would like to invest in it,” said Mohammad Saleh, Chairman of the board of directors at Noor International Holding.

“Unlike foreign investors, these people are used to Lebanon’s system and its ups and downs.

“It is the kind of self-financed gamble that the nation needs to lure back wealthy Lebanese who moved abroad as they grew weary of the ongoing conflict of recent years,” added Mr Saleh.

The developer also said that its coastal location and proximity to Hariri International Airport will also play a vital role in attracting tourists looking for an exotic lifestyle.

For more information on investment property and the property market in general, please visit http://investment.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information, please contact:

Dan Johnson

Managing Director

www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650

Vietnam will have around 1,000 urban areas with a combined population of 52 million by 2025, according to the plan just approved by the Government.

The plan, which outlines a large scale construction programme for urban development up to 2050, is likely to result in massive investment in property sectors.

The Ministry of Construction has said that the towns are to obtain adequate, modern infrastructure and a healthy living environment. The plan will help to reduce the urban-rural gap in living standards, protect the environment and use natural resources to ensure sustainable urban development.

Major centres like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Vinh, Hue, Da Nang, Quy Nhon and Can Tho will have satellite cities to compensate for accelerated population growth as well as to limit the increase in manufacturing plants in inner-city areas.

The plan also requires each city to have a particular design and architecture depending on its economy, culture, history and technological development.

As preserving the country’s heritage sites is also high on the list of priorities, the architecture of historic cities like Hue, Hoi An, Dalat and Sapa will be protected and added to.

Architect Nguyen Dinh Toan, from the Ministry of Construction’s Architecture, Urban and Rural Planning Institute said, “It is vital to include the preservation of unique architectural and cultural areas like the old quarter in Hanoi.

“The plan will create an architectural combination that is in harmony with the old quarter to enhance the city’s image. Those structures emphasize connection, inheritance and making the most of what is available.

“There is the need for a code to maintain traditional characters in new urban architecture and design,” added Mr Dinh Toan.

A master plan for developing the Ho Chi Minh City zone will help the city and seven other southern provinces address economic and urban development issues.

The zone will include Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai, Long An and Tien Giang.

But urban planning experts have voiced concern about the planned development of the zone. It is slated to have a population of up to 22 million by 2010, and this rapid growth goes hand in hand with issues including lack of infrastructure, disconnection between ports, increased pollution and gridlock traffic.

As the zone consists of some provinces that border neighboring Cambodia and Thailand, trade links will be able to be developed via the Trans-Asia route.

For more information on investment properties and the market in general, please visit http://investment.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information, please contact:

Dan Johnson

Managing Director

www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650