Oakvest get green fingered with £1 million regeneration of Grosvenor Gardens in Belgravia

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

With the Capital still gripped by sub-zero temperatures and Arctic blasts it can be easy to forget that spring is just around the corner and soon enough green fingered Londoners will be out in force, sowing veggie patches, sprucing up window boxes and even installing new water features that Charlie Dimmock would be proud of.

But it’s not only individuals taking an interest in London’s much loved green spaces. Established luxury property developer Oakvest will begin regeneration of the popular Grosvenor Gardens in the heart of Belgravia.
Located just minutes from rail and road hub, Victoria Station, Grosvenor Gardens is part of a Conservation Area and comprises two triangular gardens open daily to the public. Surrounded by four grand mid-Victorian terraces, flamboyantly detailed in the French Renaissance style, the gardens provide a welcome oasis of tranquillity with mature trees helping to soften views and provide green foil for the buildings.
Currently managed by Westminster Council, the gardens are enjoyed by many office workers, local residents and passing visitors alike yet are in need of attention. As part of their on-going commitment to this auspicious area of Belgravia where Oakvest have successfully completed a number of commercial redevelopments, the developer has allocated £1 million to the full regeneration of the gardens and adjoining Eaton Lane.
Oakvest and its team of expert landscape architects will strive to retain as much of the character of Grosvenor Gardens, keeping healthy trees and original ironwork yet add new features such as lighting in the foliage and native flowers. The statue of Marshal Ferdinand Foch, the military hero of WW1 and the only Frenchman commemorated with a statue in London and the Rifle Brigade Memorial will be restored to their former glory and a new fountain will be installed in the gardens.
The developer, who has also just acquired the famous Grosvenor Gardens House which flanks one side of the gardens and is the reputed birthplace of the Queen Mother, also intends to repair broken or uneven paving and assume full responsibility for the upkeep of the gardens from Westminster Council.
Mark Holyoake, Founder of Oakvest, comments,
“In densely populated cities such as London, home to over 8 million people, green spaces such as Grosvenor Gardens are highly prized. Providing an escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, gardens ensure that nature remains present in the urban environment and we believe, as responsible developers, than this balance is essential hence why we have committed to the £1 million regeneration of Grosvenor Gardens and Eaton Lane.”
With planning approval for the regeneration of Grosvenor Gardens and adjacent Grosvenor Gardens House pending, works are forecast to commence in spring 2013 with the gardens open for everyone to enjoy by spring 2015.  
For more information contact Oakvest on 44 207 811 3855 or visit www.oakvest.co.uk. 

Welcome to A Passion for Homes. The new homes, property and design website is launched in London

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

Eagerly awaited new ‘housey hub’ website A Passion for Homes was launched by business partners Jo Ridout and Andrea Morgan, on Thursday 14 February to an audience of TV celebrities, journalists, property experts and retailers, including TV presenter Laura Hamilton, Sian Astley from Channel 5’s Half Built House, interior design magazine Livingetc, Dwell, Nest and Alison at Home.

The event was introduced by Kevin Green, the self-made millionaire and one of the stars of TV’s Secret Millionaire and Secret Interview programmes. Mr Green, the biggest private sector landlord in the UK, commented, ‘It strikes me that Jo and Andrea are hugely passionate about their new website venture. They have seen a gap in the market and the enthusiasm they have for the project shines through.’
A Passion for Homes is a new ‘housey hub’ that includes interior design, architecture and buildings, home product trends, news, celebrity interviews, fantasy homes, and estate agent and show home searches,  A Passion for Homes is the one-stop website for people across the world passionate about property. In addition, it allows visitors to the site to share their home designs and property stories in a dedicated sharing area.
This exciting new website has attracted the attention of some of the most significant companies within the property industry even before its launch, including Rightmove, A Place in the Sun, and New Homes for Sale, who are powering relevant sections of the site as partners.
Rightmove’s Social Media Manager, Sarah Brown, comments: “A Passion for Homes looks like an ideal place for the British home-moving public to supplement their property fix, and we look forward to continuing to working with them.”
“It’s good to see someone follow their passion and create an exciting new business venture from it”, comments Andy Bridge from A Place in the Sun, “A Passion for Homes have got insight, opinions and a great eye – this next step is well worth watching.”
Mark Russell, PR and Social Media Manager at dwell adds, “dwell are really excited about A Passion for Homes. It’s great to find a website that has such an interesting back-story, and that is for consumers by consumers. It is an excellent un-bias platform for people to get real hints and advice by real people. I love that the website gives people a space to expand their creative side and inspire others, as well as be a place to seek inspiration – which we at dwell are all about.”
A Passion for Homes are two property obsessed women who set out on separate career journeys but ended up combining their property passion to share with the world via the new website.
Jo Ridout and Andrea Morgan are based in South Wales, and see the recent launch of A Passion for Homes as just the start of the development of the business,
‘It is challenging developing a start-up business in a recession, but nothing has stopped our enthusiasm and the support we have had from individuals and companies has been incredible’, says Jo, ‘This is the first phase of the website, we plan to continue expanding it in response to visitor feedback. ’
‘The ethos of our business is building genuine relationships, sharing information and sharing our love for all things property, homes and design’, continues Andrea,
‘We are not property experts, we are property consumer experts. We offer visitors to our site a wide variety of stunning properties and interior design slideshows, advice and tips from experts, amazing human stories, product and interior trends, celebrity interviews (Kevin McCloud and Craig Phillips are on the site at the moment) and the opportunity to share their photos on the site too. We offer our business clients a bespoke pick and mix menu of services which includes opportunities to appear on the website.’
‘We are extremely grateful to many people for their assistance with the launch, including London based estate agents Chesterton Humberts, especially Lucy Tinkler, property PR expert Charlotte Ashton, and Sunflower Corporation. Davina Merola from Space-Alchemy Interior Design, turned the office space into a beautiful and contemporary space, with beautiful furniture, and pieces of modern art including giant apple sculptures, kindly supplied by Muralto, interior design and home product studio.
The Garden Gallery, which exhibits and sells contemporary sculpture, ceramics, glass and furniture for gardens and interiors, kindly organised stunning sculptures by Peter Newsome and Mark Beattie to be displayed in the property’s courtyard and inside the launch space.
The feedback from Twitter has been extremely positive,
‘As an agent who sees many properties, it takes a lot to impress, I must say, I´m impressed! Great site, plenty to browse and all very interesting, will keep returning.’ says Richard Morris, from Hartleys Estate Agents in the Midlands.
‘Just been to your site and impressed, nice looking site and good content.’ adds the BMV Facebook Group.
‘Congratulations on the launch of the website, really well presented and thought out’, continues Kemp & Co, based in West Dorset.
The launch of A Passion for Homes was on Thursday 14th February at a converted Victorian warehouse, now a private residence, in the Tower Bridge area of London.

Putting faces to names. Meet the PR Pros behind ABPM’s 1000 Property Press Releases

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

My, how times flies! It seems almost yesterday that Amanda Sharples (nee Billige) and I were sitting in a box room in Surrey, drawing up our business plan for property world domination, filing the Companies House registration documents and designing the AB Property Marketing logo.

That was in fact almost 8 years ago, back in 2005 when we were young 20 something’s, fresh faced and eager to prove ourselves. And now, as we reach yet another milestone, our 1000th property press release, I’d like to think that we have proved any doubters wrong, growing from a two (wo)man start-up to the industry’s leading PR agency with 12 retained clients, offices in Mayfair, Surrey and now Portugal and of course, a dedicated team of four PR professionals.

Having spent my entire career in the heady world of property PR (with not a sniff of the Ab Fab lifestyle I hasten to add!), I’ve come to know many of you very well indeed both as colleagues and friends but for those of you whom I’m still just a name in your “From” line then I’d like to change that in this 1000th press release. Let’s put some faces to names.

Charlotte

Charlotte Ashton, Managing Director, London
In short, Charlotte’s a property girl through and through. She comes from a property family with her Father a Chartered Surveyor and spent most childhood weekends driving around retail parks playing the classic “spot the selling agent signboard” game!
She studied Geography with Town Planning at Birmingham University and secured her very first job working for the largest Spanish property agent at the time in Surrey where she met ABPM’s co-founder, Amanda. Having come from a self-employed family, starting up on her own was pretty much inevitable and despite having endured many highs and lows including a near triple-dip recession, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Never far from her iPhone, ABPM is not Charlotte’s work but her passion although she does make time to fulfil her other love – travel. With an ever growing list of destinations to visit on her bucket list, she isn’t doing too badly with every continent ticked off – apart from Antarctica but that’s on the list too! – and trips to Kenya, Myanmar, Mallorca, Ibiza and Australia planned for 2013.
Charlotte also likes to keep fit and plays hockey regularly as well as undertaking half marathons, triathlons and 100km bike rides to raise money for the charity she set up in 2011, the Frontiers Foundation.
Her aim for 2013? To keep growing ABPM of course but also to finally buy her first home. Having been a tenant for 10 years now and the poster girl for Generation Rent (with guest appearances on the BBC, in the New York Times and most recently on LBC radio), it’s time for Charlotte to have her own bricks and mortar.

Viv Onslow, PR Executive, Surrey
Viv has 25 years commercial business experience in a fast paced sales environment under her belt.  Working in a family business for 12 years as Corporate Sales Manager for a prestige motor franchise she then went on to complete 7 years in recruitment.  Used to working under pressure with targets and frequently changing objectives – property PR is a perfect fit for Viv.
Mother of 15 year old, very beautiful twins, William and Rosie she has her hands full at home, and as step mother to a few more catering for large numbers is not a challenge! A very keen traveller since her early years Viv has crossed many continents and is now enjoying teaching her offspring the joys of travelling to far flung places around the world.
For kicks you will find her tripping over tree roots in the Surrey Hills – never tiring of finding new footpaths and country pubs either cross country running or hiking. A keen skier, Viv and the twins have been known to visit family in the Alps several times a year but with the twins out-skiing her on every run this too has become more challenging. Her busy active life also includes being Social Secretary for the local rugby club but there is always time for enjoying family and friends and a glass of wine or three.

Georgina Green, PR Assistant, London
 Georgie graduated from Northumbria University in 2011, with a BA Hons in Journalism. She has spent the last few years cultivating her passion for communications beginning with an internship at a national tabloid paper as a trainee journalist.
After leaving the world of internships she found herself in television production for a major ITV series and with a keen eye for watching sport (not so much playing) was lucky enough to work in the press office for the London Olympics 2012, a highlight of her career after helping to manage the whereabouts of several strapping young athletes!
As the Olympics came to an end Georgie went to the islands paradise of the Maldives to combine a love of travel and journalism, commenting on island politics, lifestyle and resorts and staying at several of the most romantic hotels in the world – by herself.
Since returning to her hometown of London after living in the middle of the Indian Ocean she has joined ABPM after igniting an interest in overseas property, travel and resorts whilst living abroad.
Georgie has recently discovered Yoga and when not in ‘Zen’ mode can be found more often than not enjoying London’s West End…
Louise Taylor, PR Assistant, Portugal  
Louise is the newest addition to the ABPM team. She works from sunny Portugal, where she has lived for just over three years since emigrating from London at the end of 2009.
Louise is a freelance consultant with a passion for writing. In addition to her PR work, she supports a number of charities with their writing and reporting requirements, is a prolific blogger and has just published her first book – a candid tale of her experiences of moving abroad. Louise is a committed linguist who loves the written word; she holds qualifications in four languages, a diploma in proofreading and copy editing and hopes to soon add a further qualification in the Portuguese language to her accomplishments.
Travel is Louise’s other passion. After Portugal, the US is the place that has most captured her heart. 2013 has already seen her visit New York and Florida and she plans to see more of Europe during the coming months including a trip to Norway to see the Northern Lights – something she has wanted to do for some time, but hasn’t quite got round to yet.
Working for ABPM is the ideal role for Louise, as it allows her to combine her enjoyment of writing with her appetite for travel. Like Charlotte, she is never far from her iPhone, charging through life with a ‘work hard, play hard’ approach and making the most of every experience.
The ABPM ladies are thoroughly committed to our clients so if you ever need some market comment, property information of images, case studies or interviews then please don’t hesitate to contact us, 24-7, rain or shine on 0845 054 7524 or charlotte@abpropertymarketing.co.uk.

Dress to impress! Why do Show Homes remain the developers’ secret sales tool?

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

For many homeowners the Ideal Home Show, which returns once again to the iconic Earls Court London this March, is the highlight of their year.

This property lover’s mecca attracted a record breaking 260,000 visitors over the 17 days in 2012 with even more expected this March 15th – April 1st, all clamouring to purchase the products and discover the top tips to ensure that their home not only keeps up with, but exceeds the Jones’.
“But what if you don’t want to spend 5 hours (the average time spent at the Ideal Home Show in 2012) traipsing around such a show in pursuit of perfection?” says Jonathan Cranley, Sales & Marketing Manager of award-winning house builder, Millgate. “Why not just buy the ideal Show Home instead?”
Jonathan and his expert team at Millgate have spent over 25 years perfecting the ideal Show Home, working with established interior designers such as Alexander James Interiors to create not only properties dressed to impress but also those that function as warm, family homes.
And their approach is clearly working with 80% of Millgate’s Show Homes selling to buyers lock, stock and barrel.
As Jonathan explains,
“Show Homes are considered by some house builders as necessary evils; they are an afterthought and often minimal attention is allocated to them. Here at Millgate, as with many things, we view Show Homes differently. They are our secret sales tool, an essential part of presenting the perfect family home to a buyer. A great deal of time, energy and funds are allocated to each and every Show Home and no new development is released to market without one.”
Indeed Stacey Sibley, Creative Designer for Alexander James Interiors, comments,
“In 2012, 85% of the homes we dressed were sold in full; the just clients fall in love with our schemes and want the whole look especially overseas buyers seeking turnkey properties.
“When we first look at a scheme we very much keep in mind who the developer believes their purchasers are and the area the development is located in. From the moment the purchaser walks through the door we want them imagine themselves living in the house, feeling comfortable and at home.”
A point in case was the Show Home at the new Four Winds development in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire – St John’s House. This 5 bedroom classic country home with stunning panoramic views across the Thames Valley came onto the market in mid-2012 with a fully dressedShow Home in place designed by Alexander James Interiors.
With high specification appliances, warm oak flooring, comfortable soft furnishings and stylish wall coverings, St John’s House didn’t stay on the market for long. Local business lady, Kate Bostock, formerly on the Board at M&S and now at online fashion retailer ASOS, snapped up the property commenting that the “overall décor was virtually as I would have chosen”.
Kate purchased the house swiftly after viewing it and following this success, Millgate has now dressed and opened a new Show Home on the site at Hambledon House, available at £2.8 million.
Not only did St John’s House at Bourne End sell very quickly in a difficult prime country market, the property was also the first to achieve a buyer with the Show Home presence attributed heavily to this. A similar pattern has emerged in another Millgate development in the heart of Surrey. Burford House in Kingswood was a luxurious 6 bedroom detached country mansion set within private landscaped gardens, one of two Millgate homes on this prime site. The Show Home, again fully dressed by Alexander James Interiors, opened in mid 2012 and after receiving a great deal of attention from both local and international buyers, sold to a Russian family relocating from London.
Stacey Mitchell, Sales Manager of Burford House, comments,
“Although both properties in this superb Kingswood development are built to the very same exacting standards by Millgate, I am convinced that having the Show Home in place at Burford House made all the difference to our buyer. This location in the heart of Surrey is quintessentially English, a real draw for overseas clients and the interior design reflected all that was great about British vision, design and craftsmanship.”
Indeed so successful was the sale of Burford House, sister property St Audries, priced at £2.95 million has now been fully dressed as a Millgate Show Home and is available to view 7 days a week by appointment.
For more information about the important as Show Homes to house builders today please contact Jonathan and the team at Millgate on 0118 934 3344 or visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk.

Sex up your print ads with a touch of Augmented Reality (no glasses required)

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

10 years ago the way to sell your property, be it a house in Milton Keynes or a villa in Spain, was by placing an advert in the newspaper.

Ad sales teams would rub their hands with glee as property companies spent millions on huge colour display ads running every day of the week in the national press. AB Property Marketing’s MD, Charlotte Ashton, knows first-hand as this is where she started her career, but things have changed.  
Exacerbated by the recession, companies have for a while now struggled to justify the ROI of their printed marketing especially in the fickle world of property. Should you really be spending all that money on print advertising when online marketing offers so much?
Well, something could change all of that and this something is called Augmented Reality (AR).
AR is the ability to make part of the real world, “Augmented” or put in simpler terms, imagine having the ability to have a property video shown directly from your print adverts or a 3D model of your development pop out of the floor.
This might sound like Tomorrow’s World but it is in fact already here today and all your clients need is a tablet or smartphone and suddenly printed media takes on a whole new dimension.
A colleague of AB Property Marketing who has years of experience in the property industry and now is Founder of The Digital Marketing Bureau, James Dearsley is helping clients fathom out how to get involved in AR.
A pioneer of AR within the property world, James can:
  • Embed Videos into printed media (adverts, billboards, business cards etc)
  • Embed Calls to Action into printed media (including Call, SMS and e-mail options)
  • Build 3D models of developments with interactive walk throughs; putting the client in control of selecting the colour of the walls and which sofa to purchase.
The glory of this technology is that it can be applied to a range of sectors and printed materials and is exceedingly cost effective.
Charlotte Ashton comments,
“The property world is notoriously slow at cottoning on to the latest technological advances. It took years to move away from print to online marketing, from signboards to QR codes but the world is changing and fast! Property buyers are tech savvy consumers and with AR poised to become an everyday feature of our lives, it is essential that property companies embrace this incredible technology and use it to their own advantage.”
For more information about AR and how you can sex up your printed ads in 2013, contact Charlotte at AB Property Marketing on 00 44 845 054 7524 or email charlotte@abpropertymarketing.co.uk.  

Mary, Mary quite contrary, my how your “Five Fields” have grown!

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

At the grand old age of 12, Mary Davies was one of the most eligible marriage prospects in London town, drawing much attention from any well-to-do noblemen. She had inherited ‘The Five Fields’, a sizeable tract of land in Central London totalling 500 acres which was part of the Manor of Ebury.

This swamp land, north of the Thames had been sold in 1623 by King James I for a princely sum of £1,151 and 15 shillings. It was then sold on several more times until it came into the hands of local man Alexander Davies, a scrivener by profession, who decided to embark upon a programme of speculative building on his new property, reserving a large plot at one end as the site for a family mansion. Sadly in 1665 Alexander Davies was struck down by the greate sicknesse and died just aged 29.

At the time of his death, the mansion was only half built and his 6 month old infant daughter, Mary Davies became its heiress. Mary´s dowry not only included “The Five Fields” which we know as Pimlico and Belgravia today, but she also owned large swathes of Mayfair and Knightsbridge.

Understandably, she was much pursued and in 1677, Mary was married to 21 year-old baronet, Sir Thomas Grosvenor. Until this marriage the Grosvenor’s were land owners in Northern Cheshire but this seemingly normal marital partnership of north and south was the start of the establishment of the Grosvenor Estate, one of the largest land owners in the UK today.

Prior to any development this area had a reputation for being one of the worst in London. It was inhabited with highwaymen, murderers and thieves – very different to the exclusive area we know today! In fact, along the Kings Road (which at that time was solely for the use of the King) was Bloody Bridge, nicknamed due to the number of murders and attacks that took place.

During the late 17th or early 18th century the area stopped being referred to as “The Five Fields” and came to be known as Mayfair, Belgravia and Pimlico. The area was marshy and water-logged, so little construction was undertaken until the early 19th century when Thomas Cubitt drained the land allowing him to create solid foundations for new homes for the Duke of Westminster.

This landholding remained largely untouched by the Grosvenor family until the 1720s when a decision was taken to develop the northern part – now known as Mayfair – around a new Grosvenor Square. A few generations later, in the 1820s, the focus shifted to what is now Belgravia and work began to develop Eaton Square, Chester Square and many other salubrious London addresses.

This historic part of central London is well known for its grand stucco houses and tree-lined streets and often known as ‘Cubbittopolis’ for its association with the historic builder, Thomas Cubitt. Belgravia soon became the most fashionable address in London after Cubitt built his wonderful stucco terraces and squares, changing the fortune of the area dramatically in as little as 10 years.

One landowner relatively new to the area is Oakvest. Attracted by the redevelopment of Victoria Circle and keen to make their own mark on London’s streets, Oakvest Founder Mark Holyoke, comments on one special project they are undertaking:

“Investing in Grosvenor Gardens House is a privilege for Oakvest. We are genuinely excited to be bringing a formerly incredible building back to life for others to enjoy. So many properties in London have been left to fall by the wayside and breathing life back into an historical beauty will be a terrific challenge for us and our partners, Medici.

“Grosvenor Gardens House was designed by Thomas Cundy III, the eminent surveyor for the Grosvenor Estate. Set out in the 1860s this area comprises tall, grand 19th century terraces, flamboyantly detailed in Renaissance style. Between the terraces are two triangular gardens containing mature trees which help to soften views and provide an attractive setting and green foil to the buildings.”

Currently comprising 70,000 sq ft of serviced office and commercial space, Grosvenor Garden House will be transformed into approximately 40 freehold luxury apartments ranging from one to four bedrooms.

In addition to the high specification apartments, the prestigious development will offer a wellness centre and spa, concierge, business meeting areas, a cinema room and underground parking. The scheme will also provide for a large retail and restaurant space at ground level overlooking Grosvenor Garden which will be carefully redeveloped for the local community to enjoy.

For more information on the project at Grosvenor Gardens House please contact Oakvest on +44 207 811 3855 or visit www.oakvest.co.uk.

Bricks and Mortar: As Seen On Screen

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

With awards season now in full swing, it seems only right to celebrate the starring role that bricks and mortar have played on screen over the years. From Hollywood blockbusters to British classics, both properties and their locations are often at the heart of a motion picture.

Charlotte Ashton, MD of property PR agency, AB Property Marketing, takes a wander down the red carpet to discover a few of her client’s properties which have been seen on screen.

Coinciding with 50 years of James Bond and the Oscar nominated latest 007 blockbuster, why not star in your very own adventure in the jewel of the Balkan, Albania? For Your Eyes Only, take in the Albanian landscape of almost heart-wrenching beauty with rugged mountains (snow-capped for much of the year) towering above unspoilt white sand beaches and green mysterious valleys.

Ravin Maharajah, Partner in Lalzit Bay & Spa Resort, the 5* resort on the stunning Adriatic coastline of Albania, comments:

“Albania has featured in and been the setting for many films from James Bond to The Expendables 2 and The Forgiveness of Blood. The country, its landscape and its people, are very open and welcome any opportunity to showcase this stunning Balkan nation.”

For those looking to buy in this hidden European gem then the apartments of the Lalzit Bay Resort are just moments away from the beach and situated in beautiful private gardens. The villas starting from €35,000 are designed to be the ultimate beach properties in Albania – spacious, stylish, with private swimming pools and just perfect for sipping that martini, shaken not stirred of course.

If you’re looking for something closer to home, a property more regal than Roger Moore or Iron Lady than Pussy Galore, why not take a look at stunning Virginia Water in Surrey, England? This exclusive village got the Hollywood treatment last year when one home on the Wentworth Estate was transformed for Meryl Streep´s biopic about former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.

Barton Wyatt, Surrey estate agents no stranger to Hollywood A-listers and celebrities alike, are proud to present one home with the real X Factor – Heather Ridge on the Wentworth Estate. Perched just to the side of the infamous west course at Wentworth, here you will get the most amazing view of the annual PGA European Golf Tournament with a lawn that leads straight to the fairway.

This magnificent family home is well suited for entertaining on a grand scale with gardens and grounds extending to just over an acre. Comprising master suite with balcony, 5 further bedroom suites over 2 floors, galleried reception hall, two cloakrooms, wine store, drawing room, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/family/breakfast room, study/library, study, utility room, garaging for 3 cars with a well appointed staff flat over, south facing landscaped gardens overlooking the 17th fairway and green of the championship west course.

Finally, for those tired of the limelight and wanting to retire with like-minded individuals as seen in this year’s English blockbuster Quartet starring Maggie Smith, then why not look across the channel to the glamorous Villages?

The concept for The Villages Group in France has taken four years of research and development to create the first active living resorts in the country dedicated to the over 50’s. Designed for living, the Villages situated in three stunning French communities in Bordeaux / Perigord, Canal du Midi and Provence offer one-level eco-friendly homes set within outstanding natural environments withfull on-site amenities including tennis courts, indoor pool, gymnasium and a quality entertainment programmes.

So what are you waiting for? Celebrate awards season with style and follow the red brick road to a home as seen on screen!

For more information please contact:
Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa, Albania, call 0845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com

The Villages Group, Canal du Midi, Languedoc, South West France,
call + 33 1 4007 8625,
email villages@pdfparis.com or visit www.thevillagesgroup.com

Barton Wyatt, Surrey, call 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk

5 romantic places for Cupid’s arrow to strike this Valentine’s Day

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

With Valentine’s Day approaching, romance is unquestionably in the air. While masses of tourists rush to warmer climes for a short break with their loved ones, savvy property buyers are looking for something a little longer lasting.

According to overseas property marketing expert, Charlotte Ashton, MD of AB Property Marketing, “Investors are increasingly looking for something more for their money – places that will capture their hearts as well as their wallets!”

Ever the romantic, Charlotte divulges her top 5 places for Cupid’s arrow to strike this Valentine’s Day:

While France is a clear first choice, savvy investors are looking beyond the obvious charms of Paris for something more exclusive and idyllic and Le Village – Canal du Midi offers just that. The picturesque region of Languedoc is the location of this active living resort for the over 50s, the first of its kind in France from The Villages Group. The area is brimming with romance. Whether floating along the scenic Canal du Midi, enjoying an intimate dinner for two in an unforgettable bistro in an ancient stone walled city or taking a bike ride and stopping alongside a mineral spring for a picnic while you admire the thatched roofed cottages dotted around the patchwork landscape, the region has it all. With The Village Group’s maisons available from just €215,000, investors can indulge in the amour of France in this delightful bucolic setting.

In neighbouring Spain, Taylor Wimpey España offers a range of properties that will set investors’ hearts on fire. Las Brisas de Alenda in Alicante is a private complex of glamorous three bedroom townhouses set over two floors, with spacious terraces and generous private gardens that are perfect for candle-lit outdoor dining. The Spanish sunshine is ideal for a quiet stroll along the wonderful nearby Costa Blanca beaches or for endless lazy days spent relaxing by Las Brisas de Alenda’s swimming pool.

Another key romantic location for Taylor Wimpey España is Maryvilla, Calpe’s most inviting and peaceful area. Here the Montesol residential complex offers a selection of two bedroom/three bathroom houses with gardens, roof sun terraces and hydro massage baths for ultimate romantic relaxation. The Montesol properties are available from €258,000, while the Brisas de Alenda townhouses start at just €155,000.

For investors looking for romance a little further afield, Lalzit Bay Resort and Spa – the jewel of the Balkan – on Albania’s stunning Adriatic coast is ideal. This magnificent five star resort village offers apartments from as little as €38,000 for a studio, as well as deluxe apartments, all sited against the secluded white sands and crystal clear waters of Lalzit Bay. With spacious designs, beautiful marble interiors and swimming pools/Jacuzzis, the villas offer the height of luxury and romance in a beautiful sheltered setting hidden away from the crowds.

Of course no round up of romantic locations would be completed without a mention of Italy. Long-hailed as one of the world’s most dreamy holiday destinations, Italy offers history, culture, fabulous scenery and fine food and wine. The country’s Le Marche region has all of this and more, with unspoilt hills rolling gently from the Adriatic Sea to the snow-capped peaks of the Sibillini Mountains. Family-run Appassionata has made Le Marche the base for its fractional ownership investment portfolio, centred on the delightful five acre Estate Giacomo Leopardi. Investments in the larger of the two houses on the estate – Casa Leopardi – are currently available for the special price of £175,000 for a one tenth fractional share.

As well as exclusive use of the house, landscaped gardens, swimming pool and all-weather tennis court for five weeks per year, owners receive a share of the produce from the estate’s vineyards, olive groves, truffle orchard and lavender plantation. With stunning panoramic views, this secluded location offers the ultimate romantic getaway for smart investors and also makes the perfect surprise Valentine’s Day gift as three male owners have found.

As if Charlotte’s selection does not offer investors enough romance, she is also eagerly anticipating the launch of A Passion for Homes (www.apassionforhomes.com), the new interactive website for people passionate about property, homes and design. Set to launch on 14th February 2013, the site will offer insights into the latest luxurious properties that are sparking investors’ interest.

————————————ends——————————

Editor’s Notes:
For more information on The Villages Group please visit www.thevillagesgroup.com or call + 33 1 4007 8625.

Taylor Wimpey España can be contacted on 08000 121 020 or 00 34 971 706 244, or by visiting www.taylorwimpeyspain.com.

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

Appassionata can be contacted via 0039 073 465 8775 or by visiting www.appassionata.com.

Colliers names United States most attractive region to invest in for 2013

by Charlotte Ashton United States

The future is looking bright for the United States with President Obama back at the helm, positive GDP forecasts of 2%  growth in 2013, rising to 2.8% in 2014 (OECD Economic Outlook 2012) and the residential real estate market finally emerging from its recession hangover with the construction sector creating 30,000 new jobs in December 2012.

Global investor confidence is in fact so high at present that the experts at Colliers International in their Global Investor Sentiment Survey 2013 name the US as the most attractive region in which to invest immediately.

Continuing to beat off increasingly stiff competition from Canada, Western Europe, SE Asia and the BRIC nations, the world’s largest economy remains top choice for savvy investors, especially those keen to capitalise on its ever more appealing housing market.

Ray Withers, Chief Executive Officer of the multi award-winning international property investment agency, Property Frontiers, comments,

“We have for some time now been tracking the US residential market, from its peak in 2006 to its recession low and gradual recovery. We, along with many experts, firmly believe that the bottom of the market has been reached and that now is the time to invest.

“Indeed we are already seeing prices creep up with the Knight Frank Global House Price Index Q3 2012 revealing that prices are 3.6% higher than the same period in 2011 and vacancy rates are at their lowest since 2005. One sector of the market, previously owned homes, are in particularly high demand and are proving to be a stable investment with sales reaching a two year high in October last year according to the Trulia Housing Barometer.”

The experts at Global Property Guide also report on the US housing market recovery revealing in its Q3 2012 survey that the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) seasonally-adjusted purchase-only house price index rose by 2.31% year-on-year in Q3 2012, the highest growth seen since Q2 2006.

Realtors on the ground are also seeing increased levels of buyer activity with the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Pending Homes Sales Index (which provides an early indicator of market activity) reporting an increase of 5.2% in October 2012, its highest level in 5 years.

However in addition to American nationals purchasing homes once again, the NAR also revealed the significant level of investor interest with 20% of all home sales in October last year made by this group. And it is investors such as the clients of Property Frontiers who are realising the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities in the US market.

Ray Withers goes on to explain,
“There is indeed great potential in the US housing market but with seemingly endless low grade stock in poor locations often presenting itself as a ‘bargain’, investors can all too easily get it wrong. From experience we have learnt that the most successful approach is to work with reputable partners on the ground who will know the exact fabric of the local economy, the current demand for housing and the right homes to buy in the right neighbourhoods.

“In fact we have gone one stage further and taken all the stress out of buying in the US with our pioneering exclusive new investment opportunity which is 100% hands-free. Our partners on the ground across the US buy, renovate and sell property on your behalf enabling investors to enjoy fixed returns of up to 80% over 5 years, as well as a defined exit strategy and be reassured by the security offered by the FSA regulated UK Trustee.”

With investment available from as little as US$15,000, contact Property Frontiers today on 01865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com for more information.

You can also listen to their exclusive US housing market podcast here: http://www.propertyfrontiers.com/International-Real-Estate/Country/United-States/Florida/Middleton-May.aspx

Not your typical garage conversion as Oakvest transforms derelict urban space into modern London mews homes

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

It takes vision to transform an unused and unloved space into an ultra-modern ‘piece of art’ with an innovative use of light and space. But this is precisely what luxury property developers Oakvest are undertaking with their latest acquisition – a derelict former garage in Westbourne Grove, West London.

Oakvest are indeed one London developer going places; they have a rare vision for modern yet incredibly tasteful property design and a team of talent that has the knowhow and gumption to take on such a challenge as Westbourne Grove Mews.

The compact site, located in the heart of uber trendy Westbourne Grove is currently home to a disused garage but soon this will all change as Oakvest construct two 4,500 sq ft homes each covering four dramatic floors, comprising four double bedrooms suites, a living room and open plan kitchen and diner, not to mention a dedicated cinema room, gym and swimming pool.

Oakvest are working together with partners Medici, both experts in creating design sophistication, using the latest techniques they are known for constructing simple beauty combined with the best innovative designs.

Both properties have been designed to incorporate the latest gadgetry expected of a modern home. The houses are to be fully automated which means they can be controlled by the touch of a button from anywhere in the world. This cutting edge technology includes the ability to control the air conditioning, under-floor heating, power consumption, windows, blinds, lighting, security and audio visual.

Commenting on the development of this site, Oakvest Founder Mark Holyoke, said:

“Fully aware that the Westbourne Grove area was very much up and coming, we have been looking for some time for a hidden gem or prime site suitable for redevelopment. The area has gone through a massive regeneration over the past few years and it is superb that we at Oakvest can apply our luxury development expertise to such a project.”

As a location, homes in Westbourne Grove could not be in higher demand. Property prices in this area have risen by over 12% in the last 12 months and a staggering 28% since 2008 according to Zoopla. Designer shopping, gourmet dining and fast links to central London and Heathrow are all contributors in this rise.

Indeed wining and dining in Westbourne Grove could not be more on trend at the moment with internationally renowned Bill Grainger’s – Grainger and Co restaurant being located at the end of the mews and Jamie Oliver’s huge new flagship cookery school and kitchen shop, Recipease around the corner in Notting Hill. Other award winning chefs drawn to the area are Tom Conran and Ottolenghi who have opened restaurants here, all keen to have a slice of the action from the wealthy local residents that are moving in.

Not only a hip London hang out, Westbourne Grove is very much a family destination with schooling options some of the finest in the Capital. Wetherby Preparatory School was chosen by Princess Diana for Princes William and Harry and also favoured locally are Chepstow House and St Mary of the Angels.

For more information on Westbourne Grove Mews please contact Oakvest on +44 (0)207 811 3855 or visit www.oakvest.co.uk