Oktoberfest 2013: Why beer and sausages are helping to recession-proof the German property market

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom
The crowds are about to flock to current ‘tourism Mecca’ Munich once again for Okboberfest 2013 (September 21 – October 6).  The renowned beer festival is just one of a growing number of reasons why Germany (and particularly Munich) took the lead in this year’s UN World Tourism Organisation rankings, with record hotel booking of over 400 million overnight stays.
•Oktoberfest is held in Munich, Germany between September 21 – October 6 2013
•Over 6 million people visit Oktoberfest each year, consuming 7 million litres of beer
•155% increase in German hotel room investment in Q1 2013 (Savills) 
Known as the largest Volkesfest (People’s Fair) in the world, Oktoberfest originated with a party to celebrate the marriage of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildurghausen on October 17, 1810.  The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gate, now known as Theresienwiese (Theresa’s meadow), or Wies’n. The wedding celebrations ended with horse races and it was the decision to repeat the races the following year, which gave birth to the annual event which is now Oktoberfest.
Bratwurst booths arrived in 1881, followed by the first serving of beer in glass mugs in 1892. Today, in order to meet Oktoberfest’s strict standards, beer must conform to a minimum of 13% Stammwürze (approximately 6% alcohol by volume) and be brewed within Munich’s city limits. The date has also since been moved forward to September to catch the end of the summer weather.
Oktoberfest’s 200th anniversary in 2010 saw the special return of horseracing in historical costumes. A commemorative beer was brewed to serve exclusively in the festival beer tents and a museum tent gave visitors a feel of how the event felt a century ago. Traditional Oktoberfest visitors still wear Bavarian hats called Tirolerhüte, which contain a tuft of goat hair.
The 420,000 sqm Theresienwiese is 10 times the size of Wembley stadium and offers a selection of decorative tents selling beer, cocktails, savouries, cakes and various wares; along with fairground ride attractions and celebratory events including concerts and parades. Approximately 7 million litres of beer are consumed at Oktoberfest today.
The festival is now such a successful worldwide attraction that Lufthansa airline kicks off the party 30,000 feet in the air. From September 18, flight attendants wear traditional lederhosen and dirndl on select flights between Munich and New York, Chicago and Tokyo. ‘Oktoberfest crew’ is a popular tradition which has been running for a few years and business class passengers are also served Bavarian food and beer on the flights. And this year, even Bayern Munich football team are getting into the spirit by launching and wearing a lederhosen-inspired kit. Fodors.com also cited Munich’s Oktoberfest as one of the ‘14 Best Places to Go This Fall’.
Attracting some 6 million visitors from all over the world each year, Oktoberfest plays an important role in Germany’s tourism industry. Hotels in and around Munich are often fully booked months in advance and getting a seat in one of the tents can get very competitive. Germany’s hotel market in fact continues to go from strength to strength with Savills reporting a 155% increase in the nation’s hotel room investment in Q1 2013 compared to a year earlier and forecasts a turnover in commercial property to hit the €30billion (EURO) mark this year. Germany also currently ranks number two in the top recession-proof property markets, second only to Monaco.
Ray Withers, CEO of Property Frontiers, explains:
“German property is becoming increasingly attractive; having avoided the housing boom which occurred in many countries before the crash, the German market has remained on an even keel and values continue to rise at a gradual, yet steady pace.”
He continues: “Germany continues to win accolades for its economy and tourism trade. Now it is also offering excellent returns in the property market particularly so in commercial property such as hotel rooms, which take advantage of all these factors combined. It is easy to see why Ernst & Young, one of the ‘Big Four’ accounting firms, cite Germany as the most attractive destination for foreign investors in 2013.”
For more information about investing in a German hotel room such as those at the 4* AlpenClub just 30 miles from Munich, contact Property Frontiers today on +44 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com.

Booming Asia: New unmissable conference at OPPLive announced

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom
Here in the UK, we may be rejoicing in falling unemployment levels, reports of house prices rising at their fastest rate for seven years and the Chancellor proclaiming that the economy is “turning a corner” but whilst these are indeed positive signs of recovery, they are nowhere near the immense levels of growth seen in Asia in recent times.
Compared to China and the Philippines’ 7.5% GDP growth recorded in Q2 2013, the UK’s 0.7% increase hardly stacks up making investment in Asian markets even more appealing. Indeed according to the latest Global Property Guide survey, Asian housing markets are leading global real estate recovery with prices in Taiwan soaring 14.52% during the year to Q2 2013 and the luxury homes market in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, outperforming Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Mumbai according to the experts at Jones Lang LaSalle.
Xavier Wiggins, Organiser of OPPLive 2013, the international property industry’s biggest and best trade event, comments,
“Since the economic crash we have all seen international property companies based in the West looking East to secure buyers. The booming Asian economies, especially China and Singapore, have changed the whole pattern of international property in recent times so it is only natural that this market plays an integral role in OPPLive.
“We have therefore created a dedicated “Booming Asia” conference at the unmissable event held at Central Hall, London on 27th and 28th November 2013 bringing together expert speakers from a variety of Asian nations to offer their insight into this lucrative and fast changing market.”
Short in duration but high in content and value, there will be a wide assortment of seminars held during the Booming Asia OPPLive conference including:
–What next in Asia: Key concepts and challenges of this market.
–Marketing to China: Who, what, where and why are they buying? How to market successfully to this audience.
–Marketing to Singapore: The cultural and practical problems associated with selling and doing business in this territory.
–Marketing to Emerging Asia: How to find, work with and retain partners in emerging Asian markets.
–Smart Media Selection – Smart Media Buying: The choices of media available in the major markets and the top three marketing tips for each market.
In addition to these scintillating seminars, Booming Asia will conclude on Thursday 27th November with a Champagne Networking session enabling delegates to meet with speakers and exhibitors over a glass or three of bubbly!
With delegate passes selling fast visit http://www.opp-live.com/buy-delegatepasses/ for more information and to register your attendance.

Georgian homes rule the roost. Period.

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

Results of a BBC Magazine poll published earlier today reveal that Georgian era homes are the nation’s favourite style of property.

38% of those who voted in last week’s online poll stated that Georgian homes were the preferred architectural era with the more decorative homes built in the Victorian era following closely behind with over a quarter of votes (26%).

Richard Patterson, Director of leading online estate agency, My Online Estate Agent, which sells and lets homes across the UK from a variety of periods for a one-off flat fee, comments,

“I’m not too surprised by the results of this BBC poll; as we have seen from own enquiries Georgian properties are in high demand from Grade-II listed manor homes to the desirable town house.  Open fireplaces and solid wood floorings are popular with home buyers and so sought after is this era that we are also seeing a growing number of new properties developed in the manor of the Georgian style.”

Spanning over a century from 1714 to 1837, the Georgian period saw the reign of three Georges. Divided into three sub periods, the Palladian, early and late Georgian, the style became lighter in terms of colours and level of decoration as the years passed by, eventually becoming the regency style.

Many will have gained their understanding of Georgian society through the works of the eminent writers of the time including Jane Austen, Henry Fielding and Mary Shelley, with the iconic architecture of Robert Adam, John Nash and James Wyatt creating the perfect backdrop. Other famous artists of the era include the romantic poets – Samuel Taylor Coleridge, William Wordsworth, Lord Byron, John Keats and Robert Burns – as well as celebrated artists Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable.

Some of our best loved properties today such as The Circus in Bath and 10 Downing Street are of the Georgian style. Typical characteristics of the era include a simple 1 or 2 story box with strict symmetry, a centred panel door topped with rectangular windows, cornice embellishments and chimneys on both sides of the house. Internally colour schemes began bold with popular colours including sage greens, subtle blues, stone, off white and burgundy, lightening up as the regency era approached.

Following on from the Georgian era, with over a quarter of all votes, the Victorian architectural style also remains desirable. Taking its name from the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 – 1901), the Victorian era saw the return of the Gothic style and the construction of many large public buildings connected to the engineering marvels of that time. Developments in construction techniques and the introduction of steel enabled famous buildings such as St Pancras railway station, the Royal Albert Hall and the Forth Bridge to be erected.

On a smaller scale, due to new manufacturing processes and the beginning of the railways, building materials including mass produced bricks, were widely available enabling the rapid construction of homes for Britons. Terraced properties were commonplace with wealthier Victorians preferring the villa style home.

Richard Patterson comments,

“Victorian properties are particularly popular with house hunters due to their large rooms offering bright and airy living spaces. The period fireplaces are the centrepiece of most rooms and a major selling point as well as the bay windows and decorative detailing synonymous with this period. Due to their size and layout, Victorian properties are often sought after by first time buyers and young families, especially those living within towns and cities.”

On the market:

Georgian style: 7 bedroom detached house for sale in Duns, Berwickshire, Scotland £595,000

An Elegant ´B´ listed Classical Georgian south facing family country home with 1 acre garden and electric fencing, affording stunning views of the surrounding countryside to the Cheviots beyond. The vicarage was sympathetically restored to a high standard approximately 15 years ago, and boasts 7 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, open working fires, original sash windows and shutters as well as hardwood floors throughout. There is also an additional unrestored east wing and plot of land with lapsed OPP for the erection of a Detached House providing as yet undeveloped potential.

http://www.myonlineestateagent.com/for-sale/berwickshire/duns/the-glebe-1433/

Victorian style: 4 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Sheffield, England £454,950

An impressive 4 double bedroom, 2 bathroom, semi-detached Victorian stone fronted villa, with outbuildings. Despite benefiting from a complete rewire, plaster, new central heating system, new bathrooms and remodelled kitchen, the property still retains some potential to add value.

Situated in the very desirable Millhouses area, off the main road, seconds from Millhouses Park with play areas and walks, close to Ecclesall Woods, excellent catchment area for good Offsted rated schools (Silverdale/St Wilfreds etc). Fine dining and family friendly public houses within short walking distance. There is a golf course and sports clubs a short drive away.

http://www.myonlineestateagent.com/for-sale/south-yorkshire/sheffield/knaresborough-road-1630/

Getting the most out of OPPLive: Naomi’s 6 Top Tips for Exhibitors

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom
So, you’ve take the plunge and made the wise decision to exhibit at OPPLive, the international property industry’s biggest and best trade event. You’ve committed the time, funds and resource to this leading event which will be held at the prestigious Central Hall, Westminster, London on 27th and 28th November 2013 but how can you ensure success?
With over 12 years’ experience in planning and exhibiting at overseas property events, Naomi Zammit, Marketing and Operations Manager at OPPLive, shares her 6 top tips for exhibitors:
1.Start planning now: 12 weeks seems a long time until OPPLive 2013 but as we enter the busy autumn selling season, time will soon fly by. Draw up a comprehensive “To Do” list covering everything from stand design and production to presentations, AV equipment, furniture logistics and staffing rotas. Be thorough and assign realistic timescales working back from the opening on Wednesday 27th November.
2.Make sure you stand out: At its heart OPPLive is about doing business and with numerous world class exhibitors already confirmed and many more expected, it’s essential that you stand out from the crowd to get that ROI. Think about what delegates will want from your stand; clean and clear messaging is vital as is easy access to market information, product details and commission structures. Use graphics and AV presentations to engage delegates and have knowledgeable staff on hand to answer any questions.
3.Get your marketing collateral in order: The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) recently announced in their new report, Exhibitor Product Information Sharing Practices, that 85% of exhibitors gave out printed brochures and 58% of visitors welcomed information in this format. It may seem old fashioned but the appeal of a tangible, printed brochure is clear. Start preparing any materials now to ensure time for printing and delivery but remember that OPPLive is a trade event so all content must be relevant to agents and developers not consumers.
4.Tell the world that you’ll be at OPPLive: Whilst the team here at OPPLive will do our very best to promote your attendance, we encourage all exhibitors to tell their colleagues and contacts within the industry that they’ll be at the show. A simple email to your B2B database with details of OPPLive, when and where it is and your stand number can be effective so can promotion via social media – just follow us on Twitter or Like us on Facebook. Alternatively use the soon to be launched OPP Meeting Bureau to arrange one to one meetings in advance.
5.On the day: Before you even step foot into Central Hall, set your objectives for OPPLive. Be it speaking to 50 people, collecting 100 business cards or arranging 10 meaningful meetings, be clear on what will be of most use to you. Schedule in time to attend any seminars of interest and ensure that your stand is staffed at all times by a knowledgeable team who are all aware of the event objectives. Exhibitions can be long and tiring but stay proactive throughout, it’ll pay off. Oh and remember regular coffee runs and flat shoes are essential!
6.After the event: Far too many exhibitors think that once the doors close then it’s all over but in fact, this is when the hard work begins. It’s essential to follow up on all those leads generated from OPPLive, action any requests in good time and maintain momentum. CEIR research reveals that 70% of exhibitors sent follow up information via email after an event with 80% of those using this post-event tactic reporting that it was “Highly Effective” or “Effective”.
For more information or advice on exhibiting at OPPLive, contact Naomi and the team on +44 203 540 2231 or visit http://www.opp-live.com/why-who-should-exhibit/.

Back to school in Gerrards Cross: New homes in town with outstanding GCSE and A level results

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

A number of private and grammar schools in the Gerrards Cross area have received an outstanding set of GCSE results this August:

  • The Times 2013 league tables placed Dr Challoner’s High School as the 25th best state school in the country at GCSE and 22nd at A Level.
  • A record number of places were gained by Chesham Grammar School pupils at Oxford and Cambridge this year
  • At Langley Grammar the whole year group (148 students) walked away with at least 10 GCSEs at C or above.
  • At Beaconsfield High School (grammar) more than 40% of all ‘A’ level students achieved grades of A* and A.
  • John Hampden Grammar School hailed its latest crop of year 11 pupils its “best ever” after 60% of boys scored A*/As, with 70% securing at least 5 A* grades.
  • St Mary´s School in Gerrards Cross, achieved a near 100% GCSE pass rate, with a staggering 41% of grades being A or A*
  •  At Thorpe House School pupils have celebrated the best ever GCSE results with 51% receiving A or A* grades and 93% at C or above.
  •  And down the road at The Royal Grammar school all of the 198 candidates gained 5 grades at A*-C.  98% gained 8 or more grades at A*-C including English and Mathematics and 72.62% of all grades were A* or A.

 With results like this it is not surprising that Gerrards Cross in Buckinghamshire remains a hot spot with parents keen to ensure that their children can benefit from such a remarkable education.

Housing in the area remains popular with local developers, Millgate, recently completing a small bespoke development of luxury family homes just a mile from the Gerrards Cross High Street.  The development which comprises 8 beautifully thought-out detached houses and 4 luxurious town houses have been the talk of the town.

Jonathan Cranley, Sales and Marketing Director for Millgate explains why,

“In today’s market our clients are more inclined to ask us about the education, both grammar and private, available in the area. Giving their children the very best chance in life has become of the utmost importance and it is with this in mind that we often base decisions on where we choose to build.

“The schools in the Gerrards Cross area certainly seemed to have had a storming success this year in the face of news about lower grades throughout the UK. More and more parents, especially those from central London, are basing their housing decisions upon schooling options and with Gerrards Cross presenting such great results, we are delighted to be able to offer luxury family homes nearby.”

Indeed according to a report by Prime Location prices near top schools are 37% higher than neighbouring areas in the South East of England and a report by Lloyds TSB revealed that house prices in the postcodes of the 30 state schools with the highest 2011 GCSE results in the country were £33,631 higher than average, or 12% higher than prices in neighbouring locations.

For more information on the stunning Millgate development at Alderbourne Place, Gerrards Cross where town houses are priced from £930,000 and detached 5 bedroom properties from £2,100,000, contact the sales team 0118 934 3344or visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk to take a video tour.

Property Inspector: How not to sell your home

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom
Selling your home can be a tricky business – sometimes a little too tricky. As the autumn house hunting season approaches, TheMoveChannel.com’s August podcast interrogates estate agents from around the world to find out the things that go wrong when putting your property on the market.
From awkward encounters to adult toys left on the table, TheMoveChannel.com’s Property Inspector uncovers the real estate horror stories no one dares to mention in public.
(Some names have been removed or details changed to protect people’s identities.)
This story came from an estate agent at Think Slovenia:
“I had an interesting experience once viewing an old house right up in the mountains of Slovenia – really remote, about 25 minutes to the valley floor up winding mountain roads. We arrived at the seller’s house. An old farmer who lives locally was going to take us to the house to unlock it. I called his name as I could hear someone outside and he came round the corner from the barn with both hands in the air covered in blood up to his elbows.
“He was in the process of slaughtering a pig.
“Suffice it to say, the rather timid English buyers didn´t buy the property.”
Animals in the barn can be a problem but apparently, so can people in the bedroom. One UK agent related this:
“I once showed a house and went into a bedroom which was pitch black… then I realised that the granny was sleeping inside! The rest of the family didn´t mention it when I started to take the clients round the house!”
Sometimes, you don’t have to go into the bedroom for things to get embarrassing:
“I took a house on the market where the daughter was a newly successful glamour model so they had pictures of her (she was probably about 17) proudly plastered all over the house, living room and kitchen with her… assets out.  Very odd. What do you say to that?”
Spain has its fair share of slip-ups too:
“Many agents over here share properties and often an agent has never been to the house or met the owners. We know of one agent who had travelled a couple of hours to meet his sharing agent at a dilapidated house but the sharing agent didn´t show up.  The other agent then proceeded to break into the house. The clients were baffled by the agent’s actions and wanted to wait for the other one to show up.  The “break in” agent said that if they wanted to wait, they were welcome to – and drove off!”
Once you have a buyer interested, you should always make sure he is above board:
“I have met with a Russian businessman who wanted to buy a house near us but he was not keen to get involved with lawyers. We arranged to meet and he literally sat there with a suitcase full of cash that he wanted to hand over for the house. I explained that he would need to go through some legal process to buy the house but he flatly refused.  I still wonder whether he had €700,000 in that case or whether it was just some elaborate ploy…”
And no matter what happens, always be polite:
“A chap I used to work with went on a valuation and was chatting to the lady owner and he asked her when she was due.  Needless to say, the lady wasn´t pregnant – simply a bit on the plump side – and rather surprisingly she decided not to instruct the agent to sell her house.”
With so many horror stories piling up, the Property Inspector tracked down David Rick from Creative Property Marketing, which sells properties in Spain, to find out how to sell a house without any funny business getting in the way.
Three simple steps to sell your house smoothly
The three P´s – presentation, price and paperwork.
1.Presentation 
This is absolutely vital – not just the presentation of the house when you have viewings but almost more important is the need to present your property in photos online as this is where it will be seen first. The decision to move on or stop and click for more details is almost always based on a decent photo.

2.Price 
It stands to reason that price is a key. If your house costs too much money you will not get any enquiries. If you are getting enquiries but not selling, then it will almost always be something to do with the home.  If your asking price is a little higher than it should be, the chances are you will struggle to get interest.

3.Paperwork 
This is particular to Spain (especially Andalucía) but if you haven´t got your paperwork 100% sorted anyway, it will inevitably lead to a cancelled sale. There is nothing worse than getting a buyer and then seeing them wander off into the sunset because your paperwork isn´t up to scratch!
Click here to listen to the full investigation.
Notes to Editors

Founded in 1999, TheMoveChannel.com is the leading independent website for international property, with than 400,000 listings in over 100 countries around the world, marketed on behalf of agents, developers and private owners.

The website address is http://www.themovechannel.com and the office address is 24 Jack´s Place, Corbet Place, Spitalfields, London, E1 6NN.
Contact Dan Johnson on 0207 952 7650 for further information.

Growing food for those in need while growing your income – how agricultural investment in Senegal is leaving a long-term legacy

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom
The world’s population is growing by almost 80 million people each year, which equates to approximately 150 more mouths to feed every minute,Mulberry Outlet UK according to the US Census Bureau. In West Africa, the population has doubled every 20 years since 1960.
  • World population growing by 150 people per minute (US Census Bureau)
  • Senegal imports 60% of all food stuffs
  • Over 1 million Senegalese food insecure (UN World Food Programme)
The result of these huge increases is a growing level of food insecurity in a number of African countries. In Senegal, for example, where agricultural production has lagged behind the growing population due to an increasingly urban lifestyle, over 1 million people are currently classed as food insecure according to the United Nations’ World Food Programme.
The situation has led to some exciting new investment opportunities for those looking to grow their good karma as well as their profits.
Ray Withers, Chief Executive of leading investment company Property Frontiers, explains,
“The demand for food in Senegal has risen dramatically in the past few decades, but agricultural production has not kept up. Senegal has seen movement towards a far more urban demographic in recent years, meaning a rising level of food needs to be imported each year in order to meet demand. In fact Senegal currently imports 60% of food stuffs, a staggering amount.
“For the Senegalese, this means rising prices, with many families able to afford less food now than they could last year. The result is growing food insecurity within the country, which is why we at Property Frontiers are so pleased to present our latest alternative investment opportunity.”
Mr Withers is referring to his company’s latest alternative investment opportunity, which he sees as one of the most exciting to have been made available for quite some time. The structured agricultural investment consists of a rotational farming system of three fast-growing and highly sought after crops – maize, onion and sweet potato. The crops are insured and re-insured by Swiss Re.
As well as providing much-needed food for the Senegalese, the investment will also create long-term jobs for the local community, with those involved learning life-long skills in farming, as well as the latest methods and techniques for increasing efficiency and boosting production levels.
As a socially responsible project with such a positive legacy, Property Frontiers’ Senegalese structured agricultural investment is causing quite a stir. With a low entry point (just £20,000 for membership of a UK company) and expected returns of 239% over 5 years, it’s clear to see why investors are lining up to be involved.
World food prices have remained at almost record levels since the dramatic increases of 2007/08, according to the World Bank’s Food Price Index, making the high level of food imports in Senegal an expensive and unsustainable practice. While government initiatives are attempting to address the problem, the solution is not yet in place, meaning structured agricultural investments are even more important in feeding and securing the future of families across Senegal.
For more information on how to be involved in this exciting new opportunity, call Property Frontiers on +44 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com.

A word from our sponsors: Shameem Golamy, Head of Overseas at Rightmove Plc

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

With event sponsorship a proven brand building and lead generation exercise and OPPLive being the world’s biggest expo for international property professionals, it is no wonder that organizer Xavier Wiggins was overwhelmed with offers for this year’s show.

Keen to partner with the best in the business, Rightmove Overseas, the UK’s leading overseas property portal displaying over 100,000 properties in over 65 countries, was successfully selected as a sponsor of OPPLive 2013.
In this exclusive interview we hear from Shameem Golamy, Head of Overseas at Rightmove Plc and well-known character in the international property arena on what sponsorship of OPPLive means to him:
Rightmove Overseas is a lead sponsor of OPPLive, when and how did you first hear about the event?
When I joined Rightmove back in the autumn of 2007, the OPPLive took place on my second day in the job. I remember thinking it was a great place to do business and I’ve been a great supporter of OPP and OPPLive ever since.
You’ve sponsored a number of other industry events in the past, what made you choose to support OPPLive in particular?
When I heard OPPLive was coming back as a stand-alone exhibition I was very excited. The Gala Dinner in 2012 was a massive success and the OPP team has proved themselves time after time as being the leaders in putting on a great trade event.
Why do you feel that it’s important for Rightmove Overseas to be a sponsor?
The overseas property market is growing and evolving at a phenomenal rate with lots of new agents and developers coming to market. Whilst Rightmove.co.uk is the 7th most visited website in the UK and a household name here, Rightmove Overseas is practically unknown in most other parts of the world. With that in mind we have to work just as hard as any other company trying to establish themselves with the trade as a market leader in the industry and due to its global delegate attendance, it’s essential that we are at OPPLive.
What do you hope to gain from sponsorship / exhibiting at the show?
It’s often hard for agents and developers to take the time out and really think about the high level marketing activity such as branding and lead generation. Being highly visible at OPPLive with a working area is going to be useful for us to sit with our existing advertisers and offer them a full account review.
Enquiry levels to agents have nearly doubled year-on-year so we’ll be talking to our advertisers to ensure that they are getting their fair share of leads. We’ll also enjoy the opportunity to meet with people in the industry we don’t directly work with today to share with them market insight from our perspective and hopefully form some new business relationships.
Do you think that sponsorships still have a place in property marketing today?
Absolutely, I have no doubt in my mind we are strongest when we work together.  There are so many companies out there to talk to it is important to use as many opportunities to build your network as possible. Sponsorships of events such as OPPLive are a great way to put the team in front of people face to face which is the fastest way to build trust and strong relationships.
Aside from being a sponsor, how else will Rightmove Overseas be involved in OPPLive?
We are going to lend our support in any way we can. We are on the judging panel for the OPP Awards of Excellence – it’s always exciting to see overseas property professionals putting their best foot forward – and I’ll be presenting a “how to go mobile” seminar which hopefully will provide an insight into the importance of mobile communications now and in the future.
The most important thing we’ll be doing is having our “working area” at the exhibition. We will have a number of PC stations set up and we want to go into depth with our customers or anyone who is interested to share insights into the marketplace, our website and demonstrate just how easy it is to access a huge pool of buyers through a portal like Rightmove Overseas.
Why do you think international property professionals should attend OPPLive?
The industry is going through massive change and it is a case of evolve or die. OPPLive through its seminar program has picked up on the hot topics right now and will be useful to anyone trying to grow or establish their overseas property business.
Do you have any top tips for your fellow exhibitors?
Sure, we are seasoned professionals at the exhibition game now! Experience has taught us to come armed with energy drinks and painkillers as well as an extra box of business cards. The ladies in the office have told me that they always stash an emergency pair of flat shoes, high heels always seem like a good idea on day 1 (apparently)!
Delegate passes are now available to purchases online 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.
—————————ENDS—————————-
About Rightmove Overseas 
 
Rightmove Overseas is the UK’s leading overseas property portal, displaying over 100,000 properties in over 65 countries. We are the place for people looking to invest abroad or make the move overseas. Our advertisers are overseas property estate agents, developers and private owners who are keen to showcase their property listings to potential buyers from all over the globe. We are delighted to be sponsoring OPPLive and are looking forward to meeting many of our customers and friends within the overseas property industry at the show.

Germany Leads Eurozone Out of Recession with €30 billion Commercial Property Market

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

Property Frontiers are feeling pretty happy about the news that Germany and France are leading the Eurozone out of recession. Particularly Germany, which has seen its economy grow at its fastest pace for more than a year.

The property investment experts have had their eyes on the German market for a few months now due to its stable economy, strong growth and low unemployment rate. It ranked as the most popular country in the world in a BBC World Service poll; and as the most attractive destination for foreign investors in a 2013 Ernst & Young report. While Savills reports a 155% increase in German hotel investment alone.
Popping the corks for Germany’s impressive comeback
Figures released last week reveal that the German economy has expanded a further 0.7% in Q2 2013. France followed with 0.5%, beating economists’ expectations.
Carl Brzeski at multinational finance giant ING, comments: “Popping the corks. The German economy has staged an impressive comeback. The whole Eurozone is expected to emerge from an 18-month double dip recession.”
One reason for this is said to be a catch-up effort in construction, which contributed 0.3% to the growth. Another is export trade, which has always been one of Germany’s strong points.
Commercial property to hit €30 billion
It’s easy to see what makes German investment so attractive right now. Savills forecasts total turnover in the German commercial property market to hit the €30 billion mark in 2013, up from €25.3 billion the year before.
Savills says there is ongoing demand from risk-averse investors who are looking to buy assets which retain their value in economically challenging times. Around €12.5 billion was invested into commercial property during the first half of this year, making a 36% year-on-year rise.
Private investors and listed property companies each accounted for €1.3 billion and developers are also an active party, selling property worth over €2.3 billion. This is triple the total of the first six months of 2012, highlighting such strong demand.
An exceptional economic position
Marcus Lemli, head of both Savills Germany and European investment, explains: “Germany’s exceptional economic position is increasingly reflected on the local investment market and real estate as an asset class is becoming increasingly attractive.”
Matthias Pink, associate director of research at Savills Germany, adds: “Currently the German property market, with its manageable risk, is extremely liquid and never before has such a large amount of equity been available for investments into core product.”
Germany market the strongest performer on the continent
The recent RICS Global Commercial Property Survey also shows Germany and Belgium as the only European markets to record a positive increase in both occupier and investment commercial property during Q2 2013. As Europe’s largest economy, Germany continues to shine in terms of growth and sentiment within real estate, with the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Investment Sentiment Index (ISI) also showing a growth from 18 to 22.
Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist for RICS, says: “The results of the survey show that the weak economic picture across much of Europe is continuing to be reflected in the lack of demand to occupy property space … [but] the German market continues to be the strongest performer on the continent.”
Join the party in Europe’s most enticing and reliable sector today
Ray Withers, Chief Executive at Property Frontiers comments,
“We have been backing Germany as an investment location for some time now and our top tip is currently hotel room investment. We particularly like the 4* Alpen Club in Bavaria, the most popular tourism destination in Germany. Rooms start from £47,198 and it comes with a 10 year fixed return leaseback and assured net yield averaging at 10.33%”
For more information contact Property Frontiers today on +44 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com.

Byte the bullet and get up to speed with how technology can benefit your property business at OPPLive 2013

by Charlotte Ashton Uncategorized

As frustrating as it can be when your PC freezes or you lose that Word document, there’s no getting away from it – we’re in the 21st century, the digital age, where 2.4 billion people worldwide use the internet, 1.15 billion log on to Facebook each month and Apple can sell 31 million iPhones in a quarter (Q3 2013 forecast).

 

The benefits of embracing the latest technology, be it fresh lead generation channels, managing your databases on the move or taking your marketing to the next level with Augmented Realty, are undeniable but with the pace of change so great, it can be hard to keep up. This is where the Byte Size mini conference at OPPLive 2013 comes into its own.

Byte Size brings genuine experts and real insight to this vital subject and is a must-attend for those who want to get to grips with the way in which technology should be shaping – and improving – their businesses.

Xavier Wiggins, OPPLive organiser, comments,

“With technology being such a hot topic within the industry, we have gone the extra mile to secure some world class speakers including US internet entrepreneur Brad Inman, founder of Inman News and Shameem Golamy, Head of Rightmove Overseas which attracts over 151,000 unique visitors per week, to share their expertise on how property companies can best operate in this digital age.”

An integral part of the overseas property’s leading industry event, OPPLive, the Byte Size mini conference will be held on Thursday 28th November 2013 commencing with The 8 bit breakfast – an introduction to the key concepts of using technology in business (plus a full English breakfast!).

The conference will then comprise a series of engaging seminars featuring a range of guest speakers from a number of disciplines and global markets addressing issues including email marketing, use of mobile technology, ten ways to double your productivity, managing and using data, next generation CRMs as well as the Penguins, Pandas and veritable zoo which is SEO today.

Byte Size delegates will also be able to join the expert speakers for dinner at iFood! Held at Café des Amis in Covent Garden, just minutes from the prestigious Central Hall venue in Westminster, property professionals will have the opportunity to discuss what they really want from technology and how to get it.

With limited places available for each seminar session, visit http://www.opp-live.com/byte-size regularly for more information and bookings.

Delegate passes are now available to purchases online 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.