easyMarkets releases brand new trading app

easyMarkets releases brand new trading app

by Charly United Kingdom World

Industry pioneer easyMarkets have launched their brand-new trading app, a unique, free to download mobile app, based on their award-winning web-platform.

“We have come full circle from launching the world’s first web-based trading platform in 2001 to entering today’s fast paced era with the launch of our trading app. This is as always, another investment in our traders’ best interest and it is specifically designed to make their trading experience easier and integrated in their every-day lives.”

Nikos Antoniades, CEO, easyMarkets

The app promises to be fast, simple and easy – a tagline which carries the promise easyMarkets made to traders and kept for nearly two decades. Even prior to an official launch, the app has been very well received by 6000 active users.

“The easyMarkets mobile application was developed natively for both Android and iOS to maximize its responsiveness and provide our users with the best possible look and feel.

“It supports a broad range of functionality beyond trading, pricing and market news. Funding, withdrawing and reporting, enable the user to enjoy the complete easyMarkets experience on their mobile device. The new easyMarkets app is able to fully replace the desktop experience for its users.”

Alexander St Louis, CIO, easyMarkets

What sets this app apart from other trading apps is its ability to visually and contextually organize features in the most straightforward way. Traders are equipped with several market analysis and risk management tools as they make buy and sell decisions. They can also use easyMarkets’ unique trading tool, dealCancellation*, which for a fee, allows them to undo any losing trade within 60 minutes.

In a time of unparalleled demand for access to information through push notifications, the easyMarkets app taps into that need by providing traders with the ability to enable price notifications and receive around-the-clock alerts about the moves, highs and lows of trading assets.

Among many great features, the app provides graphs, live market news, a financial calendar and easyMarkets’ Inside Viewer which shows the direction fellow easyMarkets’ traders are favoring on a chosen asset.

Several upgrades are in the works which will allow further personalization based on trader preference, and continuous enhancement of user experience.

The easyMarkets trading app is available for download on iOS and Android, in English and Chinese and will soon become available in other languages.

For further details, visit www.easymarkets.com, email pr@easymarkets.com or call +44 203 1500 748.

*Terms & Conditions Apply

Risk Warning: Forward Rate Agreements, Options and CFDs (OTC Trading) are leveraged products that carry a substantial risk of loss up to your invested capital and may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved and do not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Please refer to our full risk disclaimer. EF Worldwide Ltd

Homes in bloom – RHS Chelsea Flower Show’s influence on this summer’s essential interior design trends

Homes in bloom – RHS Chelsea Flower Show’s influence on this summer’s essential interior design trends

by Charly United Kingdom
  • The plant world is the true winner at Chelsea each year (Clifford Stanley Landscape Contractors)
  • Nature is the big interior design trend this summer (Alexander James Interior Design)
  • Greenery is 2017’s colour of the year (Pantone)

The most exciting event of the gardening calendar, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, is set to take place on 23-27 May 2017. This year’s show is seeking to be “the best gardening event in the world,” according to RHS Director of Shows Nick Mattingley.

It’s a lofty goal, but one that is also realistic. The Chelsea Flower Show inspires millions every year and influences everything from bouquet trends to interior design.

“The Chelsea Flower Show is where high street fashion meets ‘haute couture’ in the natural world. Conscientious traditional horticulturalists battle it out with contemporary modernists to see who will bag the glory. Regardless of who takes home Gold, Silver or Bronze, the plant world is always the true winner at Chelsea each year. The clipped box edged borders, evergreen backdrops and roses growing up through aromatic lavender give a delicious and sumptuous effect that can’t help but inspire.”

Clifford Stanley, RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal Winner, Clifford Stanley Landscape Contractors

The inspirational blooms and scents of the Chelsea Show won’t only appear in people’s homes via their TV screens this year. Interior designer Stacey Sibley has worked alongside Clifford on a number of key projects for Alexander James Interior Design. While Clifford takes care of exterior elements, Stacey has identified the influences of nature as the big interiors trend this summer.

Finishes, colours and textures all hark back to nature, along with dramatic floral prints and, of course, huge vases of stunning blooms.

‘Greenery’ is Pantone’s colour of the year for 2017, resulting in plenty of green in the interior world. Designers are also poised and ready to absorb the most beautiful elements of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show into their creative vision as the spring turns into summer, with interior design reflecting the best that the RHS show has to offer.

“Even a home in the busiest of cities can offer an oasis of peace with the right interior. The reflection of nature in art, colour schemes and decorative touches can instantly change the whole mood of a room. This summer, nature-inspired prints, such as the close-up Dahlia petals featured at the Trowbridge Gallery, are a wonderful way to bring the outdoors indoors for maximum effect. And when it comes to colours and textures, think stone, wood and greenery in abundance.”

Stacey Sibley, Creative Director, Alexander James Interior Design

Those lacking the green fingers to compete at Chelsea – or even to keep a guzmania alive – need not despair. Stacey recommends faux plants and silk flowers for capturing the essence of nature without the risk of browning leaves and wilted blooms. John Lewis has an extremely well-priced collection at present, including some delightful metallic pots, which Alexander James’ Stacey Sibley has flagged as another of this summer’s top trends.

 “The natural world brings with it a sense of calm and sanctuary, and the Chelsea Flower Show is a wonderful reminder of that. As our daily lives seem ever busier, bringing nature into the home is a wonderful way to fight the stress of modern life and appreciate the beauty of the world around us.”

Stacey Sibley, Creative Director, Alexander James Interior Design

For more information, visit Alexander James Interior Design at www.aji.co.uk, email info@aji.co.uk or call 020 7887 7604.

UK versus Europe – where to invest as Brexit unfolds

UK versus Europe – where to invest as Brexit unfolds

by Charly United Kingdom , , ,
  • Currency fluctuations put volatility at the heart of many sectors (easyMarkets)
  • UK property investment offers exciting opportunities in new sectors (Properties of the World)
  • Spanish property investment provides long term lifestyle benefits (Kyero.com)
  • UK’s fundamental shortage of housing unaffected by Brexit (Aspen Woolf)

The UK will be very publicly facing off against the EU over the coming two years. Whether you voted for or against the split, the political and financial implications of the UK’s decision to leave the EU are huge. Now, Prime Minister Theresa May has called a snap election called for 8 June, in order for the Conservatives to take advantage of their largest lead in the polls over Labour in nine years (according to YouGov). Sterling’s turbulent journey since the Leave vote doesn’t look set to enter calmer waters anytime soon.

“Sterling will be one of the most responsive barometers to the political machinations of the Brexit process. While many sectors will be affected by the UK leaving the EU, few react in real-time in quite the same way that currency markets do. The impact of changes in the pound’s value is felt in myriad ways, putting volatility at the heart of many sectors over the coming years.”

James Trescothick, Chief Global Strategist, easyMarkets

Property investment is certainly one sector that is sensitive to sterling’s shifting value. So should buyers be looking to pick up property in the UK right now, or investing their funds elsewhere? Sector experts’ opinions are divided.

“Those buying in pounds may find their second home overseas is suddenly worth a great deal more – or less – as the pound and the euro dance around each other. The same is true of the pound and the dollar, with the US experiencing its own unique style of political upheaval right now. UK buyers seeking stability from their investment might find it prudent to seek out domestic property investment opportunities over the next couple of years.”

Jean Liggett, CEO of visionary property investment consultancy Properties of the World

Liggett points out that domestic property investment still offers a wide range of opportunities. The UK’s hotel and care home sectors are offering some of the most exciting property investment possibilities at present.

While UK hotel investments often come with the benefit of two or more weeks’ use per year, many investors want a property that comes with the promise of sunshine, and continue to look overseas to make their money work for them.

“The fact that investors can pick up a property in Spain, use it themselves whenever they want, then leave it to their children as an inheritance or sell it a few years down the line, means that many British buyers are looking beyond short term currency fluctuations and pushing their pounds into properties in the Spanish sunshine. UK visitors to Kyero.com surged by over 30% in the year to March 2017, demonstrating that many are looking at investment in Spanish second homes over the longer term. The comparatively low cost of property in Spain also means that UK buyers can get more for their money when they invest abroad.”

Richard Speigal, Head of Research at Spanish property portal Kyero.com

For those seeking a purely financial investment, with no lifestyle benefits attached, the stability offered by buying in pounds is certainly a strong draw at present. The UK’s buy-to-let sector continues to perform well and the nation’s city centres look set to remain short of homes for many years, irrespective of Brexit.

“The UK’s decision to part ways with the EU does nothing to change the fundamentals of this country’s housing shortage. That shortage, along with a shift from ownership to renting, is driving demand for city centre homes like never before – and Brexit has done nothing to change that. Each year the UK falls further behind its target number of homes and until that alters, the logic of domestic buy-to-let investment is clear.”

Oliver Ramsden, Director of  Aspen Woolf

Ultimately, then, the decision on where to invest as the Brexit process unfolds will depend on the kind of benefits that individual property investors are seeking to get out of their investments, as well as how short or long term their outlook may be.

 

On the market:

Gramont House – care home investment from £75,000, based on a sustainable and ethical business model. 8% NET returns for 25 years, with four exit strategies and two purchase options. (Available through Properties of the World.)

Alicante penthouse – three bedroom, two bathroom penthouse apartment with large pool and tennis court on site. 600m from the beach. €185,000. (Available through Kyero.com.)

Eldon Grove – a refurbished, Grade II listed building housing 45 one, two and three bedroom apartments. Designed by experienced and successful architects. Prices from £94,950 with 7% NET yield assured for two years. (Available through Aspen Woolf.)

 

For more information, please contact:

easyMarkets: +44 203 1500 748 or www.easymarkets.com

Properties of the World: +44 (0)20 7624 5555 or www.propertiesoftheworld.co.uk

Kyero: www.kyero.com

Aspen Woolf: +44 203 176 0060 or www.aspenwoolf.co.uk

 

Risk warning: Forward Rate Agreements, Options and CFDs (OTC Trading) are leveraged products that carry a substantial risk of loss up to your invested capital and may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure that you understand fully the risks involved and do not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Our group of companies through its subsidiaries is licensed by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (Easy Forex Trading Ltd- CySEC, License Number 079/07), which has been passported in the European Union through the MiFID Directive and in Australia by ASIC (Easy Markets Pty Ltd -AFS license No. 246566).

Top of the Props: Overseas interest strengthens in Cyprus

Top of the Props: Overseas interest strengthens in Cyprus

by Charly Cyprus United States World
  • Cyprus re-enters Top 10 destinations
  • Enquiries for Cypriot property up 50pc in Q1 2017
  • USA number one property market for overseas buyers

Overseas interest in Cyprus strengthened in March, reveals TheMoveChannel.com’s latest Top of the Props index. The country re-entered the top 10 most popular countries on the portal for the third time in six months, becoming the sixth most sought-after destination.

Foreign buyers returned to the island’s property market at the end of 2016, with enquiries rising 22 per cent in the second half of the year. After 2016’s strong finish, enquiries faltered at the start of 2017, but buyers are now showing signs of returning in greater numbers. In real terms, enquiries for Cypriot property rose by more than 50 per cent in Q1 2017 compared to Q4 2016. The country accounted for 3.03 per cent of enquiries, its highest share in two years.

Interest also increased in Croatia, which climbed the Top of the Props charts to become the seventh most popular country on TheMoveChannel.com. This is the country’s first time inside the Top 15 since October 2016.

Demand dipped for property in Spain, although the country held on to second place, behind returning number one destination the USA. US real estate accounted for 7.89 per cent of all enquiries, ahead of Spain’s 6.01 per cent. France and Italy also saw their share of enquiries decrease slightly, slipping to eighth and ninth place in the Top of the Props table respectively. Portugal held on to its fourth spot, with 3.96 per cent of enquiries.

The coveted third place was stolen by Indonesia, which accounted for 5.98 per cent of activity. Indonesian interest was driven primarily by a resort on Gili Air, as the development tapped into rising demand for real estate from international investors. The more traditional safe haven of Germany, meanwhile, maintained its position in 10th place.

“The USA and Spain have been battling to be top dog on TheMoveChannel.com for a long time,” commented TheMoveChannel.com Director Dan Johnson. “With prices climbing and sentiment in the USA’s economy staying positive, America remains an attractive market for international buyers. Spain’s appeal is still strong, although with the UK triggering Article 50 in March, British buyers may have postponed any enquiries last month to wait and see how negotiations with the EU begin. With the country making up the three most-searched locations on TheMoveChannel.com in Q1 2017, however, international interest from a diverse range of nationalities evidently remains high.

“Foreign demand for Cypriot real estate is showing signs of strengthening again in 2017. Interest climbed in the final months of 2016, possibly fuelled by buyers racing to beat the deadline for a Capital Gains Tax incentive at the end of the year. Interest softened at the start of 2017, but enquiries have grown once more in March, without the impetus of the tax deadline. With prices bottoming out and climbing across almost all regions, according to multiple indices, conditions in the island’s market are certainly improving, which is beginning to bring back investors. The island’s Golden Visa scheme is also helping to drive recovering demand, with buyers on TheMoveChannel.com particularly interested in citizenship investment opportunities.”

Click here to see the full top 40 property destinations for March 2017.

 

— ENDS –

Notes to Editors

About Lead Galaxy and TheMoveChannel.com

Founded in 1999, www.TheMoveChannel.com is the leading independent website for international property, with more than 1.4 million listings in over 100 countries around the world, marketed on behalf of agents, developers and private owners.

TheMoveChannel.com is one of more than a dozen international property sites operated under the Lead Galaxy brand. Lead Galaxy provides online marketing solutions to thousands of property companies worldwide, focusing on portal listings, email marketing, qualified leads, paid search and social media advertising.

The business is headquartered at 24 Jack’s Place, Corbet Place, Shoreditch, London, E1 6NN.

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Please contact Ivan Radford on ivan.radford@themovechannel.com or +44 (0)207 952 7221

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Construction Update: Beaumont Square set to welcome Plymouth students this September

Construction Update: Beaumont Square set to welcome Plymouth students this September

by Charly United Kingdom
  • Brand new Beaumont Square residence set for completion in August 2017
  • Colossal £266 million investment programme set to transform Plymouth, will no doubt enhance its attraction to students (Aspen Woolf)
  • Investors benefit from an assured 3-year NET return of 8% as early as September, with students to move in for the upcoming academic year (Aspen Woolf)

With the current academic year nearing its exam led conclusion, students will be looking to their accommodation options for September. And with demand vastly outweighing supply, new and existing students will be keen to secure a spot for themselves.

As key university cities continue to attract thousands of students every year, it’s no surprise that many B2L investors are turning to Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA). According to figures from HESA, the coastal set Plymouth University was home to 23,155 students in the 15/16 academic year alone. Highlighting an incredibly buoyant market for those investing in PBSA in the city.

To answer this ongoing demand, Oliver Ramsden Director of Aspen Woolf, leaders in providing wealth building opportunities for investors of all levels through property, is delighted to confirm that their brand new Beaumont Square accommodation will be ready for students to move in this September. He comments,

“Plymouth will be the location for a vast array of investment projects over the forthcoming months and years. The colossal £266 million investment programme set to transform the city centre, will no doubt enhance Plymouth’s attraction as a place for students to complete their studies.

“The greater number of students choosing Plymouth will in turn increase the number of student beds required, with PBSA emerging as the savvy investment option. With work on the internal walls of block B due to be complete by the end of next week, we are confident that our Beaumont Square residence is on track for completion as soon as August. Meaning students will be able to choose the luxury accommodation from September 2017.”

Located in an idyllic location, Beaumont Square is less than a mile away from Plymouth University, the bustling city centre and the beautiful harbour of this coastal city with prices starting from just £78,500 for the exclusive studio apartments.

Oliver continues,

“Those investing in Beaumont Square can benefit from an assured 3-year NET return of 8% as early as September, with completion of the development allowing students to move in for the upcoming academic year.”

Every apartment will be offered fully furnished to prospective student tenants and the building will benefit from high end hotel apartment style finishes. Residents will also be able to enjoy an array of additional facilities including a laundry room, staffed reception area and the security of 24-hour CCTV.

For more information, visit www.aspenwoolf.co.uk or contact Aspen Woolf on +44(0) 203 176 0060.

Q&A: Am I eligible to recover my lost off-plan funds in Spain?

Q&A: Am I eligible to recover my lost off-plan funds in Spain?

by Charly Spain

Thousands of Brits are believed to have lost deposits put down on holiday homes in Spain over the last decade.

Dreams of owning a second property in the sunshine to enjoy holidays with family or retire to have turned sour, leaving many out of pocket by tens of thousands of pounds.

But hope is not lost, CostaLuz Lawyers, together with “the Erin Brockovich” of Spanish property, Keith Rule, are righting these wrongs having been the first to identify Spanish Law LEY 57/1968 and use it to successfully win over £10 million (€12 million) in lost deposits for their clients.

CostaLuz Lawyers has won almost 850 claims in total from Spanish property developers & banks, helping more than 1,500 clients from across the UK and Ireland as well as Spanish and European nationals.

Last week Maria Luisa de Castro, Founder & Director of CostaLuz Lawyers, secured £1 million from Caixabank for nine British families whose homes in Malaga were never delivered. Working alongside DeCastro’s legal team, CostaLuz Lawyers also has around 100 cases still pending outcomes in the Appeal Courts and more than 500 cases still in progress in the First Instance Courts.

If you paid a deposit on an off-plan property in Spain but did not receive a refund, read the below Q&A with Maria Luisa de Castro to see if you can claim:


Q: Am I eligible to recover my lost off-plan funds in Spain?

A: You are if:

  • You have a cancelled purchase contract, either by Court decision or by the Bankruptcy administrators of the developer
  • Your development was never started or finished on time according to the purchase contract and you have a Bank Guarantee

or:
You do not have an individual bank Guarantee, but you do have a General Guarantee contract signed between developer and the bank

or:
You completed on a property with no First Occupation License—in this case mortgage repayments are also recoverable

or:
You have none of the above but you have copies of all off-plan payments made to the developer’s bank account.  Even if you paid your off-plan deposit to a third party i.e. conveyancing Lawyer or Agent, it may be possible to obtain the evidence required on your behalf to enable the Lawsuit to be filed against the developer’s bank.


Q: What am I entitled to claim back?

A: You can claim all amounts paid off plan, plus legal interests normally from the payment dates.  Legal costs may also be recoverable in some cases.


Q: Are banks actually paying this money back?

A: Yes, they are. Banks are solvent entities that must comply with the law.  All banks with a firm court decision against them are refunding the claimants. Even if the developer’s bank no longer exists, action is still possible against the bank that has taken it over.  For example in the Finca Parcs case the developer’s bank was Banco CAM which was taken over by Banco Sabadell so the action is now against Banco Sabadell.


Q: How safe is this action?

A: Supreme Court has already interpreted the full text of law 57/68 in favour of buyers/consumers, so the success rate is very high.


Q: Are banks settling out of court?

A: In a small number of cases Banks do offer settlement out of court, however this is normally only for the principal amount with no interest or costs.


Q: Does this apply if I bought more than one house?

A: It does, as long as you didn’t do so as part of your professional trade. It also applies if the contract mentioned these guarantees explicitly to secure the success of the business.


Q: Does it apply for commercial premises?

A: It does, if the guarantee was offered in the contract


For more information, please contact CostaLuz Lawyers’ UK office on +44 1908 635 111 and speak with Keith Rule. To speak with Maria in the Spanish office, please call +34 956 092 687 or you can visit www.costaluzlawyers.es.

Derelict to desirable: Regeneration breathes new life into Manchester’s Wilburn Basin

Derelict to desirable: Regeneration breathes new life into Manchester’s Wilburn Basin

by Charly United Kingdom
  • Wilburn Basin offers investors an average price per sq ft 30% lower than similar developments (Surrenden Invest)
  • When complete Wilburn Basin will comprise four distinct blocks varying in height from 8 to 21 storeys (Surrenden Invest)
  • Phase one already complete and rented out and the second due this summer (Surrenden Invest)

It was only a short time ago that Manchester’s Wilburn Street Basin was nothing more than a neglected patch of wasteland. However, the area has recently experienced a radical transformation and is now home to a contemporary residential hub.

Surrenden Invest, a property consultancy at the forefront of this movement, believe Manchester’s thriving property market has led to areas outside the city centre undergoing significant redevelopment. Managing Director Jonathan Stephens explains,

 

“Areas of the city historically seen as outside the core are now providing investors with all the amenities and quality of prime central but at a much lower price point. The Wilburn Basin is the perfect example.

“Falling on the Salford side of the Irwell means that investors are looking at an average price per square foot that is 30% lower than similar developments within a couple of minutes’ walk.”


Wilburn Basin is a brand-new residence situated on the historic River Irwell Basin. It offers an attractive waterside setting to residents in the city centre, within a short walking distance of the central business district and its excellent array of shops and leisure facilities.

When complete Wilburn Basin will be comprised of four distinct blocks varying in height from 8 to 21 storeys which offer fantastic views across the city, setting a new benchmark for combining city centre living with high quality facilities and private amenity space.

Jonathan continues,

 

“Wilburn Basin is a project investors can go into with complete confidence with the first phase already complete and rented out, and the second phase completing this summer, whilst also benefitting from the experience and build quality of Manchester’s largest developer.

“This is an area earmarked for substantial capital growth and given the location, will be perfectly suited to take advantage of both Media City and the city centre.”


From just £165,000, all apartments are built to a high specification with Porcelanosa kitchens and Villeroy and Boch sanitaryware. Additional facilities include a private gym, cinema room, a ‘boutique’ hotel style reception with 24 hour concierge and a residents’ lounge. As well as architecturally landscaped gardens and courtyard.

For more information, visit www.surrendeninvest.com or contact Surrenden Invest on 0203 3726 499.

Sell your home faster this spring with these expert interior design tips!

Sell your home faster this spring with these expert interior design tips!

by Charly United Kingdom
  • Pay particular attention to neutralising colour schemes and brightening spaces
  • Remove all clutter – including pieces of furniture
  • Use soft furnishings and scents to stage your home like a show home

Spring is well known to be the best time of year to sell your home. In fact, research by US firm Zillow found that homes listed for sale between 1-15 May sell an average of 18.5 days faster than those listed outside of that time period, as well as achieving a 1% higher sale price.

For those planning to take advantage of the spring sales season, the experts at Alexander James Interior Design have shared their top 10 tips for selling your home faster through creative interior design.

 

“First impressions count when it comes to selling your home. Everything has to look, feel and even smell perfect in order to impress prospective buyers. It’s essential to give your home the best chance possible of attracting new owners and interior design can play a key part in that.”

Stacey Sibley, Creative Director, Alexander James Interior Design

 

Alexander James’ top 10 tips for selling your home this spring

1. Be your own critic

Start by casting a critical eye over your home yourself, picturing it through the eyes of a potential buyer. Try and think about the tastes and requirements of the type of person who might buy your home, whether it be a family of six or a couple without children. If it is a family home, you may gear your changes towards a family-friendly layout.

2. Repaint

A fresh coat of a neutral paint colour can work wonders. Use it where needed to cover up more controversial colours, which could put off potential buyers by restricting their vision for the property.

3. Flooring

If carpets look tired, tatty and threadbare, it’s a good idea to replace them, if your budget permits. At the very least, professional carpet cleaning can make a huge difference when it comes to brightening up a room.

4. Declutter

Make the most of every inch of drawer, cupboard and wardrobe space that you have by removing unnecessary clutter. This will open up the space and leave room for the imagination. If you have somewhere to store it, you can even remove two or three pieces of furniture from each room, to really show your home’s features and create a spacious feel. In the kitchen, clear away toasters and kettles to give a clean finish to the room.

5. De-personalise

You’ve likely spent years personalizing your home to perfection. Now it’s time to undo your hard work! Eliminate personal effects so that your home becomes a place where potential buyers are able to envision themselves living. In particular, replace photographs with more generic artwork.

6. Accessorise

Gently accessorise to make your property feel like a home. Use a soothing colour palette to allow one room to flow into the next, creating a cohesive feel. Adding fresh flowers injects colour and warmth to a room, while green plants can add a contemporary touch, creating a feature within a living space. High end magazines can be displayed on a coffee table for a homely effect.

7. Soft furnishings

Soft furnishings are important and the use of luxury brands can really make a difference. While the brands themselves are unlikely to be noticed by the potential buyer, the overall impact will be to add a quality effect. Any garish colours or worn cushions should be replaced, creating a home that the prospective new owners can feel a sense of pride in.

8. Light it up

Homes should have bright lighting to awaken the buyer’s senses. Good lighting can make your home feel more spacious and enhance its features. It may be worth investing in some brighter light bulbs (but not so bright that rooms appear clinical!) for maximum impact.

9. Add fresh scents

Use beautiful scented candles and diffusers throughout the home, but most importantly in the living area, master bedroom and master bathroom. Studies have found that complex scents can distract a buyers thought process, so we recommend simple, fresh scents such as orange, lemon, pine, basil, cedar, vanilla and cinnamon.

10. Stage your home

Cast your eye over your home once more and stage it like a show home for every single viewing. There shouldn’t be a dirty teacup or overflowing basket of washing in sight! Staging your house like a show home will allow potential buyers to feel that it is a property they would be proud to own.

For more information, visit Alexander James Interior Design at www.aji.co.uk, email info@aji.co.uk or call 020 7887 7604.

Spanish property interest hits three-year high

Spanish property interest hits three-year high

by Charly Portugal Spain
  • Spain takes top three most-searched locations
  • Malaga, Almeira and Tenerife most popular places in Spain
  • Portugal occupies eight out of top 50 property hotspots

Interest in Spanish property surged to a three-year high at the start of 2017, reveals TheMoveChannel.com’s latest Hotspots Index. The report, which charts the most searched-for locations on the international property portal, saw Malaga soar to first place in Q1 2017 – the first time Spain has ever ranked in the number one spot.

Malaga accounted for 4.01 per cent of all searches on the international portal in the first three months of 2017, climbing 18 positions from Q4 2016 to knock Italy’s Florence off its perch. This is the first time in 18 months that Italy has not topped TheMoveChannel.com’s Hotspots Index.

Almeria was the second most sought-after location on the site, with 3.56 per cent of searches, followed by Tenerife (3.40 per cent) and, down three places, Florence (2.63 per cent). Benidorm completed the top five with 2.53 per cent of searches. Indeed, Spain was home to eight out of the 10 most popular locations in Q1 2017, the highest percentage of the Top 10 ever held by a single country since Hotspots Index records began in Q4 2014. Spain was also responsible for 13 out of the Top 15.

Portugal was home to 8 of the Top 50, ahead of Italy (5) and France (3). Portugal’s most popular hotspots were Albufeira (14th), Cascais (18th) and Alvor (19th). Interest in Italy was fuelled by Florence (4th), Rome (8th) and Verona (27th). France’s most sought-after hotspot was Paris (15th), highlighting the capital’s importance as a magnet for romantic lifestyle buyers and a safe haven for wealthy investors.

Thailand’s Pattaya climbed two places in the chart, attracting the 16th biggest share of searches. Greece’s Athens was the 45th most popular hotspot, while the USA accounted for one hotspot: Detroit, ranked in 33rd.

Spain, though, dominated buyers’ wishlists at the start of the year. The country was home to 31 of TheMoveChannel.com’s Top 50 hotspots, more than double its share of the index in Q4 2016 and an all-time high for any country.

The figures follow Spain’s similar rise in TheMoveChannel.com’s latest Top of the Props report, which saw the country account for 14.02 per cent of all enquiries on the site in February 2016 – its largest share of activity since 2013. Indeed, new data from Spain’s Land Registry shows that sales of property increased 19 per cent in January year-on-year to reach the highest number of transactions since January four years ago.

“Spain is undoubtedly the flavour of the month,” says Dan Johnson, Director of TheMoveChannel.com. “Searches and enquiries are both at highs not seen for several years, showing that foreign buyers are actively seeking opportunities in Spain and are following through on those searches. Agents have reported a slowdown in enquiries from British buyers since the Brexit vote, but expat favourite Benidorm’s position in Q1’s Top 5 hotspots shows that there is still interest from the UK, despite the pound’s weakness against the euro.

“Foreign buyers are still drawn primarily to tourist hospots, such as the Costa Blanca and Malaga, where they are helping to drive property prices up. With Spain’s economy growing, though, business hubs such as Barcelona are also fuelling overseas demand. Spain’s housing market is still not recovering at the same rate across the whole country, but with property values starting to rebound, the promise of capital growth and the country’s timeless lifestyle appeal mean that Spanish real estate has rarely appeared so attractive.”

Click here to see the full Top 50 Hotspots on TheMoveChannel.com.

— ENDS –

Notes to Editors

About Lead Galaxy and TheMoveChannel.com

Founded in 1999, www.TheMoveChannel.com is the leading independent website for international property, with more than 1.4 million listings in over 100 countries around the world, marketed on behalf of agents, developers and private owners.

TheMoveChannel.com is one of more than a dozen international property sites operated under the Lead Galaxy brand. Lead Galaxy provides online marketing solutions to thousands of property companies worldwide, focusing on portal listings, email marketing, qualified leads, paid search and social media advertising.

The business is headquartered at 24 Jack’s Place, Corbet Place, Shoreditch, London, E1 6NN.

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Please contact Ivan Radford on ivan.radford@themovechannel.com or +44 (0)207 952 7221

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The ‘Erin Brockovich’ of Spanish property still fighting a decade later

The ‘Erin Brockovich’ of Spanish property still fighting a decade later

by Charly Spain United Kingdom
  • Keith Rule uncovered Spanish Law LEY 57/1968 that allows banks to be held accountable for off-plan property deposits
  • In 2012 Finca Parcs Action Group and CostaLuz Lawyers win case against the bank resulting in a pay-out of almost €1.5 million
  • “With Brexit creating uncertainty, now is the time for investors to begin reclaiming what is rightfully theirs” (Keith Rule, CostaLuz Lawyers)

Back in 2006, Keith Rule, an ordinary man from Milton Keynes, decided to take the plunge and buy his dream holiday home in Spain. Like many other Brits at the time, Keith paid a deposit for the off-plan property to a Spanish developer. A substantial sum of €54,000.

However, his dream was short lived as he did not receive a bank guarantee. And when the developer fell behind on the build schedule and ultimately abandoned the project in 2009, Keith’s investment was at serious risk.

Taking matters into his own hands, Keith’s research led him to Spanish Law LEY 57/1968 in which he found what would become a key phrase in his fight for justice. Just three little words, ‘bajo su responsibilidad’, which means ‘under its responsibility’.

Keith believed that according to this law, the developer’s bank which received the off-plan deposits was responsible for issuing or verifying the existence of the guarantee.

In 2008, needing legal assistance in his quest to hold the bank accountable, Keith was turned away by several Spanish lawyers before contacting Maria de Castro of CostaLuz Lawyers.

Keith gathered a group of 46 other buyers who had invested in the same development, in the Spanish province of Albacete, to act against the developer’s bank.  They were known as the Finca Parcs Action Group and in 2012, together with Maria, they won their case against the bank which resulted in a pay-out of almost €1.5 million plus interest & costs.

After this unprecedented success and landmark case, Maria asked Keith to join the CostaLuz Lawyers team in order to help others. Keith now works exclusively with CostaLuz Lawyers, operating the UK office and assisting thousands of other British, Irish and European nationals to recover off-plan deposits.

Dubbed “the Erin Brockovich” of Spanish off-plan property due to his pioneering work, Keith continues to help other buyers who undertake similar legal procedures.

 

“There are still a significant number of people that are yet to have their deposits returned to them. The Spanish legal system has definitely transformed over the last decade, in relation to allowing owners a high level of success with deposit reclaims, as more and more cases are being won and trust is beginning to grow. However, with the Brexit process creating a sense of uncertainty, now is the time for investors to ask for help and begin reclaiming what is rightfully theirs.”

Keith Rule, CostaLuz Lawyers

 

CostaLuz Lawyers has successfully won almost 850 claims in total from Spanish property developers & banks, helping more than 1,500 clients from across the UK and Ireland as well as Spanish and European nationals.

In addition, they have around 100 cases still pending outcomes in the Appeal Courts and more than 500 cases still in progress in the First Instance Courts.

For more information, please contact CostaLuz Lawyers’ UK office on +44 1908 635 111 and speak with Keith. To speak with Maria in the Spanish office, please call +34 956 092 687 or you can visit www.costaluzlawyers.es.