Italy’s boasts 269 Blue Flag beaches but it’s not just the golden sand and turquoise waters that keep visitors coming back for more

Italy’s boasts 269 Blue Flag beaches but it’s not just the golden sand and turquoise waters that keep visitors coming back for more

by Georgina Italy

The number of Italian beaches to be awarded the prestigious Blue Flag accolade for clean water and pristine sands has increased again this year, according to the international Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).

Italy now boasts 269 Blue Flag beaches in a total of 140 municipalities nationwide, compared to the 248 beaches in 135 municipalities recorded last year.

Liguria in northwest Italy retained its title as the region with the cleanest beaches (20) closely followed by Tuscany and the central Marche region (17).

Indeed, Le Marche boasts 180km of Adriatic coastline, lined with a stretch of spectacular Blue Flag beaches however it’s not just beaches that attract the intrepid explorer to this hidden gem of Italy.

The region is also bordered in the west by the Apennine mountain range with ski resorts and hiking trails. Between the Apennines and the Adriatic coast is a glorious hilly landscape with traditional farmland, vineyards, olive groves and sunflowers. Every few kilometres you come across pretty hilltop villages, fields of gold, sparkling rivers and lakes, castles, fortresses and medieval walled towns.

Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, owner of family-run fractional property company Appassionata based in Le Marche, comments,

“Italy has so much to offer. My family and I have settled in Le Marche since 2007, nestled between the Sibillini Mountains and the Adriatic Sea, and have never looked back. The landscape of this region is so varied; we have the benefits of world class skiing one day to sun worshipping on gorgeous beaches the next. The beaches near us are incredible – within just 10 km we have Pedaso, Cupra Marittima and Grottamare, all of which are Blue Flag beaches, absolutely perfect for soaking up the Italian sunshine. Here at Appassionata we have built this traditional Italian lifestyle into the design of our properties, enabling our owners to get the most out of their holidays here.”

Dawn continues,

“With a location as truly beautiful as Le Marche, we wanted to ensure that the homes were on par with their environment with traditional architectural features and indulgent décor. We offer people from all over the world the chance to own a luxury property and share in the wonderful lifestyle ventures made possible by the breadth of the estate.”

A one tenth share of Casa Leopardi is currently available for just £195,000. For this, buyers can enjoy exclusive use of the property for five weeks per year, including the estate’s landscaped gardens, swimming pool, all weather tennis court and spectacular panoramic views. Within the house, spacious, light-filled rooms combine with outside terraces and unique touches to create an elegant, relaxed vibe.

The continual rise of Italy as a luxury holiday destination combined with the benefits of fractional ownership make Appassionata’s Casa Leopardi an exceptional lifestyle investment for buyers seeking to indulge their passion for Italy and possess their own slice of ‘La Dolce Vita’. For more information contact Appassionata today on 0039 073 465 8775 or visit www.appassionata.com .

Life’s a beach! Spanish beaches awarded record number of Blue Flags for 2014

Life’s a beach! Spanish beaches awarded record number of Blue Flags for 2014

by Georgina Spain

Adding even more excitement and anticipation to this summer holiday season, the prestigious Blue Flag organisation has awarded Spanish beaches a total of 681 Blue Flags. Spain has once again maintained its place as the leader in the Northern Hemisphere for Blue Flags, swiping 34 extra flags. These were made up of 23 beaches and 11 marinas which breaks all historical records.

The biggest Blue Flag increase was seen in the Balearic Islands, now totalling a whooping 85 delightfully clean and pristine beaches and marinas (an increase of 23 from 2013). Murcia came in second with 33, adding a further 7 to their total since last year.

This highly coveted international award, pays tribute to beaches which adhere to strict criteria. These include water quality, cleanliness, safety, accessibility and services and the awards are judged by a global panel under the prestigious Blue Flag Programme.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey España comments,

“We know that clean beaches are an important feature for most people looking for their dream property in the sun and those proudly flying the Blue Flag are particularly sought after. Beaches across Spain and its islands have been improving year on year and it´s very pleasing to see the number awarded the Blue Flag rising yet again in 2014 confirming to me that Spain is the best beach capital of the world.

“The cost to councils to ensure that their beaches gain the prestigious Blue Flag is considerable and we are keen to promote the message to our owners as this is something that Spain should feel very proud of.”

Indeed with such an acclaimed coastline it´s no wonder that in the first quarter of 2014, over 10 million tourists have visited Spanish shores, up 7.1% from the same period last year. It is well known that tourists are attracted to beautiful beaches and Mallorca definitely pulls in a big beach crowd. Boasting 41 Blue Flag beaches on its 555km coastline, building giant Taylor Wimpey de España enjoys building beautiful developments close to the shore as they can.

For those interested in owning a home just 50m from a Blue Flag award beach, then why not consider Taylor Wimpey Espana’s latest luxury offering?

The Cala Magrana III is a residential complex situated a stone’s throw away from the beach and the dazzling marina of Porto Cristo. The development consists of 2 bedroom apartments in a Mallorcan design surrounding a landscaped communal garden with a large swimming pool.

It is an ideal location for those wishing to really relax and enjoy their holiday, away from the more commercial tourist resorts but still only a few minutes away from outstanding blue flag beaches and high quality restaurants.

The area offers a wide range of amenities giving you the chance to sample the delights of the local cuisine or explore the famous caves of Drach. With a variety of local water sports and various golf courses to try, Cala Magrana is a perfect choice.

Prices start from €183,300 + VAT. Contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com for more information. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call 00 34 971 706 244.

Italian property is the flavour of the month ranking 3rd most popular in the world

Italian property is the flavour of the month ranking 3rd most popular in the world

by Georgina Italy

According to a recent report conducted by leading overseas property portal, TheMoveChannel.com, Italian property is now the third most popular in the world, receiving more enquiries than both Spain and Portugal.

Following a slight dip in popularity at the end of 2013, the Italian property market has enjoyed a promising start to the year. The report shows the number of enquiries received for Italian property rose 7% in the first quarter of 2014 compared to the previous three months and throughout April 2014 with Italy’s bargainous prices helping the nation become the third most popular destination among house hunters looking for ‘La Dolce Vita’.

  • Italian property ranked 3rd most popular (TheMoveChannel.com)
  • Food tourism a huge daw with 67.5% of visitors going to restaurants (National Union of Chambers of Commerce)
  • Appassionata’s Estate Giacomo Leopardi vineyard produces first vintage
  • Last chance to own a fraction at Casa Leopardi and enjoy your own gastronomic produce

Food tourism is a huge draw for visitors to the country and is the first and foremost in expenditure: 67.5% attend restaurants and pizzerias, spending on average €16 per person, and 68.3% are entertained in bars, cafes, and bakeries, consuming about €6 per day. Many buy their food and drinks in supermarkets and shops (60.4% at around €23), while 32% of visitors choose to bring home souvenirs of local food and wine, spending about €10 per head.

Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, founder of family-run Italian fractional ownership company Appassionata based in Le Marche comments,

“Indeed, Italy’s racy love affair with foreign property buyers continues despite the tumultuous economic times experienced over the last few years. Buyers are returning in their droves to live la dolce vita and find second homes offering something more than just bricks and mortar.

“In comparison to other traditional European second home destinations Italy offers superb added value. The cuisine and wine alone is a huge draw bringing food tourists and potential property purchasers to Italy to find their perfect pad in gastronomy heaven. Indeed here at Appassionata, we combine the cuisine that Le Marche region is famous for with a luxury holiday home setting which has proved extremely popular with buyers from as far afield as Canada, the USA and South Africa.”

Sympathetically restored from rustic farmhouses by interior designer Dawn and her family, one of the key attractions of Casa Giacomo and Casa Leopardi, located on the delightful 5 acre Estate Giacomo Leopardi, is the share of the produce which includes the a truffle orchard, lavender plantation, olive groves and a vineyard large enough to produce 5,000 bottles of wine per year.

Dawn continues,
“Last week we finished the first wine bottling for Estate Giacomo Leopardi, complete with our own Appassionata designed labels and seals. It was very exciting to see the first bottle coming off the machine, especially as our whole family had planted the baby vines just 4 years ago, 2,500 vines by hand!”

In addition to the Estate’s organic red and white wines, Appassionata has also introduced a new VIP service for fractional share owners, offering a top local chef to make and deliver delicious locally grown, organic dishes to the Appassionata properties.

So for those property hunters looking for a tasty offer why not check out 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom Casa Leopardi . With only one share remaining at £195,000 Casa Leopardi is a must see boasting its own private swimming pool and surrounded by terraces for outdoor dining, the property offers a level of luxury that most holiday home owners can only dream of.

For more information contact Appassionata on 0039 073 465 8775, visit www.appassionata.com like the dedicated Facebook page or follow @appassionata_it on Twitter.

Revel in retirement at Sun Park Living as over 55s cash in on improving UK economy

Revel in retirement at Sun Park Living as over 55s cash in on improving UK economy

by Georgina Spain

According to the Aviva Real Retirement report 2014 over-55s are most preoccupied with pursuing a lifestyle of personal interests and hobbies in their ‘golden years’. Top of the over-55s’ list of things to enjoy in retirement are:

  1. More time to do what I want (66%)
  2. Spending time on hobbies (45%)
  3. Travelling (41%)

Interest in pursuing individual interests accelerates with age too with the over-75s appearing most keen on having more time to do what they want (70%) and spending time on hobbies (53%).

The report further reveals Britain’s over-55s are cashing in on the improving UK economy, with rising incomes leading to more than £150 extra in their pockets each month compared to the same time last year. Findings show savings pots have increased too but the level of monthly expenditure has risen with the cost of living putting pressure on household budgets.

  • 41% of over-55s looking forward to travelling in retirement (Aviva Real Retirement Report 2014)
  • Over-55s cashing in on improving UK economy, leading to £150 extra savings per month (Aviva)
  • Sun Park Living resort offers a perfect alternative for active retirees such as Susan Levett looking for adventure

 

Gil Summers, Co-founder of Sun Park Living, a Summers´ Villages private gated apartment resort dedicated exclusively to active over 50s on Lanzarote, comments,

“It’s encouraging to see that the over 55s seek a life in retirement in which they can fulfil their interests. Todays over 55s are independent, resourceful people who even into their later years enjoy their hobbies, learn new skills and travel.

“Here at Sun Park Living we provide the perfect environment for retirees looking for such a lifestyle. Of course the warm climate and fantastic Spanish culture serve to make the experience even more rewarding – and all of this in light of the resort offering affordable rental apartments, for short or long term, for a fraction of the usual cost of retirement properties in the UK, easing the pressure of living costs.”

Susan Levett, 63, a retired Holistic Therapies teacher from Northamptonshire heard about Sun Park Living whilst staying in a villa on sunny Lanzarote. She says,

“I saw an advert in an island magazine, liked the concept and it looked like lovely affordable long stay accommodation. I booked for a month to begin with and after 3 days booked to stay for a further 6 months!

“I have fallen in love with Lanzarote’s climate and landscape, not forgetting the excellent walking trails I’ve discovered through the tours organised at Sun Park Living. The activities are all organised by residents for residents, which I enjoy as it creates a great sense of community.

“Whilst here I have made lots of new friends and found my free spirit, I would definitely recommend this resort to others looking to stay active, spend time learning something new and practicing hobbies in their later life in the sunshine.”

So what are you waiting for? If you are over 50 and looking to meet like-minded people such as Susan on sunnier shores then why not consider a stay at Sun Park Living?

Self-catering apartment accommodation with all the benefits of community living at Sun Park Living costs €625/4 weeks for those enjoying 12 or more weeks a year (in 3 or more blocks of 4weeks each, consecutive or not) or for those wishing to sample the community, a 4 Weeks Taster Stay is available for €225/week. One week Taster Visit is 350EUR/week.

For more information contact Gil and the team on 0161 408 3360 or visit www.sunparkliving.com.

It’s a hole in one for Spain: PGA Tour returns to Europe’s most popular golfing destination for the first time since 2009

It’s a hole in one for Spain: PGA Tour returns to Europe’s most popular golfing destination for the first time since 2009

by Georgina Spain

According to KPMG’s most recent survey from the Golf Advisory Practice, there are close to 400 new golf facilities in the EMA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) region which have opened after 2008 or started development since the economic downturn. Even though the pace of development has slowed, mainly as a result of the credit crunch, there is still activity in the market. There’s no doubt about it, golf remains of the most popular sports today and the love of the game doesn’t seem to be waning no matter how tight pockets may be squeezed.

• Europe’s most popular golf destination is Spain (KPMG Golf Advisory survey 2014)
• PGA Open de España returns to Spain for the first time since 2009 (15th – 18th May 2014)
• Increase in demand for golf property across prime locations in Spain (Taylor Wimpey España)

Highlighting the importance of golf in Spain are high profile Tours such as the PGA European tour, Open de España, which returns to the Catalunya Resort this week (15th – 18th May 2014) for the first time since 2009, are once again frequenting Iberian shores bringing in the crowds and driving accommodation demands up.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director for leading Spanish home builder Taylor Wimpey Españacomments,

“The importance of golf tourism to Spain and the wider European economy is abundantly clear and despite being hit by the recession over the last few years, it’s certainly making a comeback hand in hand with the property market.

“Indeed, as stated by the National Golf Federation a whopping 56 million people worldwide play golf with Spain alone poised to attract a large percentage of these golf travellers in the years ahead. The demand for golf properties Europe´s most popular golf destination, Spain, has and will remain strong. Here at Taylor Wimpey España we continue to sell out golf developments on both mainland Spain and the islands very swiftly. Last year our Los Arqueros development in the Costa Del Sol sold out, 114 luxury apartments in just 11 weeks!”
But it’s not just the Costas which are benefiting from the boost of the recent PGA European Tour; demand for golf property in other prime Spanish locations is also increasing according to Taylor Wimpey de España. Enquiries for second homes in Mallorca have almost doubled in the first quarter of 2014 in comparison to the same period last year.

The Mallorcan market is particularly interesting. The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca offers a different experience to mainland Spain, it has unique culture and traditions and breath taking beaches. Sales on the island are booming thanks to foreign buyers and Taylor Wimpey España continues to strive to find the very best sites to develop residential communities in order to keep up with the high demand.

The brand new Camp de Mar Beach development offers a very rare opportunity to buy a well-priced new townhouse on the south west of Mallorca, located in Camp de Mar, within walking distance to the best golf courses on the island and a beautiful beach, about 25 minutes from Palma and 30 minutes to the airport.

The development consists of 2 and 3 bedroom townhouses in a gated community designed to a Mediterranean style with beautiful landscaped gardens and a large modern swimming pool. With the Andratx Golf Clubhouse being just 50 metres away for all owners to enjoy and a few minutes’ walk to the stunning beach of Camp de Mar, these properties are definitely not to be missed at just €377.000.

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visitwww.taylorwimpeyspain.com. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call 0034 971 70 69 72.

Property Inspector: What do the different house price reports mean?

by Georgina United Kingdom
TheMoveChannel.com´s Property Inspector: taking a closer look at global real estate each month.
House prices reveal a lot about a property market, from demand and confidence to investment potential. The problem is that there are so many house price reports around. In the UK alone, there are at least 10 indices that track prices, others that track perception of prices, let alone ones that track rents. With their figures not always agreeing, what are the differences between them all? Which is the most reliable?
  • Important to be aware of differences between indices
  • Average price for 2 bed home in England now £157,788, according to TheMoveChannel.com
  • London most expensive market in UK, with average 2 bed house price of £495,543
  • Live property price information available on TheMoveChannel.com’s new Map Search
TheMoveChannel.com´s Property Inspector talks to Ian Spencer, Marketing Manager of lead generation firm Lead Galaxy, to decipher the mystery of the multiple price indices.
Click here to read the full interview. An abridged transcript follows:
What house price indices are out there? And who produces them?
“There are at least 10, which range from mortgage lenders, such as Halifax, to more official measures from the Office for National Statistics and the Land Registry. Recently, a growing number of estate agents have started to produce them too.”
 
What do they show?
“That depends on each index, because they are all based on data available to the company that creates them. Each one tracks figures from different stages in the sales process.”
 
 
Two of the biggest headline grabbers are Halifax and Nationwide. How similar are they?
“Halifax and Nationwide are both lenders, so their indices show the average price agreed on a property purchased using a Halifax or Nationwide mortgage, as well as how that has changed in the last month and year. Both cover the whole of the UK and both are seasonally adjusted.”
 
The phrase “seasonally adjusted” is used a lot. What does that mean?
“Exactly that. Figures are adjusted to account for seasonal trends and wider patterns and factors. A house price decrease in winter, for example, when the market slows down, might be less severe when adjusted for context or anticipation. The raw data, though, might show a rise, or even a more severe drop.”
Which UK house price index is the most reliable?
“Technically, it´s the Land Registry or the Office for National Statistics. The Land Registry is based on completed sales prices, which means that they are accurate – although they are also slightly behind and often revise their figures later.
“The ONS figures are based on data from sales provided by lenders. It´s only a sample of sales, but figures are, in their words, “one of the main house price indices used by central and local government to support decision making in the UK”.
 
Which house price index is the least reliable?
“It´s hard to rank them, but the ones that are the least reliable are technically the ones that relate to the perception of house prices – because they´re not measuring values. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, for example, publishes a survey of surveyor perceptions of house values, while Knight Frank´s House Price Sentiment Index shows how confident households are about their homes and the wider market. Zoopla also recently published data that shows homeowners expect prices to rise by 8.8 per cent in the next six months. That shows market confidence is improved, which is useful for gauging sentiment and future growth, but it does not tell you anything concrete.”
A large sample size is important to have an accurate house price index. Rightmove, for example, have a lot of listings…
“The more data, the more accurate the index. Rightmove claims to list properties sold by over 90 per cent of agents, which is relatively comprehensive.”
So is Rightmove´s House Price Index the most accurate, then?
Not quite, because it is based on asking prices for homes rather than completed sales prices: a house price can change dramatically before the sale is finalised.
 
A growing number of estate agents, such as Sequence and haart, are also publishing their own reports. Can anyone produce a house price index?
“If you´ve got enough data there´s probably no reason why you wouldn´t. From a marketing perspective, these reports will be picked up by major press or, if you´re a local estate agent, the local press, so you can certainly see why estate agents would do it. But obviously, the more reports that there are out there, the more it can end up confusing the market.”
These reports are useful for last month’s statistics. Is there any way to see live property price information?
“Yes. TheMoveChannel.com offers live property price information for markets around the world – not just the UK – through its new map search function. According to our data of properties currently for sale, the average price of a 2 bed home in England is £157,788. In London, that is much higher, with an average price of £495,543.
“These figures differ with, for example, Nationwide´s figures, which show the average house in England is worth £180,264, while the average London house is worth £362,699, but they confirm the imbalance between the capital and the rest of the country.
 
Which house price reports should you listen to?
“In a way, all of them. They are all useful for measuring different things. At the moment, they all have one thing in common: positive indicators for the UK housing market. The important thing is to understand the difference between them all, so that when you have two conflicting reports, you know why they disagree.”
Notes to Editors
Founded in 1999, TheMoveChannel.com is the leading independent website for international property, with more than 800,000 listings in over 100 countries around the world, marketed on behalf of agents, developers and private owners.
The website address ishttp://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.
Best European commercial real estate market since 2007 sees Taylor Wimpey España and FBD Property & Leisure join forces in Spain

Best European commercial real estate market since 2007 sees Taylor Wimpey España and FBD Property & Leisure join forces in Spain

by Georgina Spain
Leading Spanish house builder Taylor Wimpey España has announced a joint venture with FBD Property & Leisure Limited, just as two separate reports confirm the revival of the Spanish property and European commercial real estate markets. Taylor Wimpey España and FBD Property & Leisure will join forces to develop a key apartment site at the luxury La Cala Resort in Mijas, located between Marbella and Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol.
  • Construction activity in Spain shot up by 23.9% in February 2014 (Eurostat)
  • Investment in European commercial real estate climbed to €166 billion in 2013 (CBRE) 
  • 13 developments across Spain currently under construction by Taylor Wimpey España 
The revival of the construction industry in Spain was revealed by two sets of data release recently, which heralded significant growth in the sector’s activity. EU statistics office, Eurostat, confirmed that according to the organisation’s production data in Spain, construction activity shot up by 23.9% in February this year, compared to the same period of 2013.
The increase positions Spain as the third most active nation in Europe for construction and Taylor Wimpey España is proud to be at the forefront of the country’s development. The established developer has over 50 years’ experience of building in the Spanish market and currently has 4 projects under construction on the Costa Blanca, 5 on the Costa del Sol and 4 on the Balearic island of Mallorca.
Javier Ballester , CEO of Taylor Wimpey España, comments,
“Our joint venture with FBD Property & Leisure at La Cala Resort is the latest stage of our growth strategy in the Spanish market. La Cala, with its first class golf and leisure facilities, offers a very attractive destination for second home buyers. We are very confident in the Spanish market going forward and are moving ahead with the development of a number of our Spanish sites.”
Commercial real estate is also looking strong across Europe. A survey based on the European Real Estate Investor Intentions study by CBRE, has shown that during 2013 the volume of investment in the commercial real estate market in Europe climbed to €166 billion euros: the highest amount since 2007. The figures show that investor interest has increased dramatically, rising 30% when compared with 2012.
For those ready to take advantage of the revival of the Spanish market, the joint venture between Taylor Wimpey España and FBD Property & Leisure will see holiday homes at La Cala Resort available in the form of luxury apartments, townhouses and villas, as well as villa plots.
La Cala Resort is the biggest golf resort in Spain and offers three golf courses, as well as an executive par 3 course. It is surrounded by stunning mountains with great views of the Mediterranean Sea. The site includes a 107 bedroom, 4 star superior hotel and top class leisure facilities, including a UEFA-approved soccer facility. Although located in a tranquil and relaxing environment, it is only 20 minutes away from Marbella and 30 minutes from Malaga International Airport, in the heart of Spain’s popular Costa del Sol region.
For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visitwww.taylorwimpeyspain.com. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call 0034 971 70 69 72.

From flyers to buyers – increasing numbers of Russians look to pick up a second home along with a holiday tan

by Georgina Russian Federation

There’s no question about it – Russians love to travel. Since international travel restrictions were lifted some 20 years ago, Russians have roamed the world on their holidays, in search of sunshine, cultural and historical attractions or simply a spot of retail therapy. Yet certain countries seem to appeal more consistently to this lucrative outbound tourist market more than others.

  • Turkey tops list of most searched-for overseas destinations in 2013 (Yandex)
  • Russians spent 46% more than the average tourist while in Italy in 2013 (UNIONCAMERE-ISNART)
  • Russian searches for property in Thailand increase 74% in a single month (Idinaidi)

According to data from Russia’s leading search engine, Yandex, the most searched for overseas destinations in 2013 were Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Thailand, Spain and Italy. Clearly warm weather is the common theme, with many Russian visitors looking to thaw the chill of their home country’s long winter from their bones by soaking up some sun at the seaside.

Each of the top countries has its own distinct charms in addition to the promise of sunshine. Thailand and Egypt provide easy entry and hassle-free visa permits, as well as fabulous opportunities for historical sightseeing, while Turkey’s beaches and all-inclusive package holidays mean that it is viewed by Russians in much the same way that southern Spain is thought of by Brits.

Italy, of course, is popular due to its reputation as one of the world’s best places to indulge in luxury shopping. In fact, recent data from the UNIONCAMERE-ISNART Observatory on Tourism showed that Russian tourists were the highest-spending visitors to Italy in 2013, spending 46% more than the average tourist.

It’s not just designer clothes and souvenirs that Russians are picking up while on holiday these days either. According to data from the fastest-growing Russian property portal,Idinaidi, which now carries over 650,000 listings and works with 7,500 agents, Russians are increasingly looking to purchase second homes overseas in their favourite holiday destinations. COO Carlo Walther comments,

“Many Russians, having enjoyed their holidays in the sunshine, look to build a more permanent association with their preferred country by buying a holiday home there. Greece’s low prices and Spain’s golden visa programme are key attractions as far as many buyers are concerned.”

Thailand’s popularity with Russian second home buyers has increased dramatically in recent months, with searches for property there on Idinaidi up 74% in the last month alone. Phuket is the location of choice for those looking to turn their holiday into something more permanent, with the most viewed property currently being an apartment at Patong Beach for €55,000. The average budget for those buying in Thailand currently sits at €108,000, with only 5% of searches fitting the stereotype of Russians always looking to spend €1 million or more.

With May – a popular month for short beach breaks due to Russia’s Labor Day and Victory Day national holidays at the start of the month – fast approaching, smart property sellers in those destinations most favoured by Russians will no doubt be considering how best they can tap in to this highly profitable market, turning ever increasing numbers from Russians from flyers into buyers.

For more information visit Idinaidi at www.idinaidi.ru.

Tourists splash the cash in Italy furthering boosting the nation’s property market

Tourists splash the cash in Italy furthering boosting the nation’s property market

by Georgina Italy

Recently released figures for 2013 have shown that tourism to Italy generated a massive €73 billion during the year. This figure includes some 831 million tourist arrivals, made up of both Italian tourists (60.9%) and foreign visitors (39.1%).

According to a report by the Observatory on Tourism, UNIONCAMERE-ISNART, the average expenditure by tourists also saw positive movement during 2013. For domestic tourists, average spending rose from €67 per day in 2012 to €72 per day in 2013. Foreign tourists were also happier to part with their cash, spending an average of €78 per day in 2013, compared to €69 per day the previous year.

  • Italian tourism generated €73 billion in 2013 alone (UNIONCAMERE-ISNART)
  • Both domestic and international tourists spent more in 2013 (UNIONCAMERE-ISNART)
  • Global tourist flows create Italian property industry stronghold (Appassionata)  

In terms of nationality, the biggest spenders were Russian tourists at €149.48 per capita, followed by Japanese (€122), Spanish (€111.17), British (€105.14), German (€104.42) and American (€102.34).

Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, founder of Italian fractional ownership company Appassionata, comments,

“Foreign tourism continues to be an important source of revenue for Italy. In times of economic uncertainty and increased competition, tourist flows from all over the world have helped to bolster the economy and strengthen our property industry.

“The increasingly positive economic news coming out of Italy is encouraging foreign investors to look very closely at the country’s housing market. With the increase of tourism helping to free Italy from recession, many overseas visitors are looking to make their stay more permanent and snap up holiday home bargains before prices begin to rise again.”

Indeed, Italy is attracting visitors from far and wide, especially from Asia, with a fast track being opened for visas for Chinese tourists making it easier to visit this ever popular country. There were 57,000 visa applications to the Consulate-General of Italy in Guangzhou last year, a surge of 20 percent from the previous year, with tourism visa applications making up three-quarters of last year´s total.

The combination of lowered market prices and an increase of foreign tourist spending mean that now really could be the perfect time for buyers to invest in their dream Italian second home, so what are you waiting for?

There are currently many properties at great prices throughout Italy, such as Appassionata’s latest project in Le Marche’s medieval town of Petritoli – Casa Tre Archi. A three bedroom townhouse packed with original features, including castle-like turrets and a gorgeous roof terrace with views across the rolling hills all the way down to the Adriatic coast, the property provides stunning holiday accommodation at a fraction of the usual cost – just £65,000 for a share that entitles owners to five weeks’ usage per year. Within walking distance of fantastic traditional restaurants, bars, shops, and even its own theatre, this location has it all.

For more information contact Appassionata on 0039 073 465 8775, visit www.appassionata.com, like the dedicated Facebook page or follow @appassionata_iton Twitter.

Property Inspector: Are there too many UK property portals?

by Georgina United Kingdom

TheMoveChannel.com´s Property Inspector. Taking a closer look at global real estate each month.

  •  Growing number of UK portals reflects UK housing market recovery
  • UK listings up 50% y-o-y on TheMoveChannel.com
  • “Hard to shake” the dominance of Rightmove and Zoopla
  • New portals “have to do something different”
  • Enquiries on TheMoveChannel.com up 23% y-o-y

The UK housing market is on the up. It´s no secret. Sales, lending and prices are all rising. The biggest sign that UK real estate is recovering, though, is the industry´s response: new property portals and estate agents are popping up all over the internet, from the announcement of easyProperty to even Poundland´s founder starting EstatesDirect.com.

At the top are Rightmove and Zoopla, enjoying rising traffic levels. As new agent-backed portals launch to combat the dominance of the big sites, TheMoveChannel.com´s podcast discusses the state of the UK property portal industry.

Are there too many portals? Will it ever be possible to end the dominance of the big websites?

We interview Ian Spencer, Marketing Manager of real estate lead generation specialists Lead Galaxy.

Click here to listen to the full investigation. An abridged transcript follows:

House prices are up. But is the biggest sign of the UK housing recovery the number of new portals and estate agents?
Yes. I think it´s important to remember these portals don´t appear overnight. Months of planning and swarovski sets discount development have gone into them – people noticed the recovery last year and started work, knowing that a year later they´d be even stronger. Certainly, the UK economy is going to be reflected by what happens in terms of online property portals.

Confidence among homeowners looking to sell is improving too. There is certainly a market for places to advertise…

A lot of sellers have held off. If you go back two years, you wouldn´t really have been thinking about selling your house. TheMoveChannel.com on its own has seen a 50% increase in UK property listings in the last year. It follows the trend of the economy and what´s happening out there – that´s only going to be reflected by the number of sites coming online helping people to sell.

Is it possible to have too many property portals?
You can have too many anything! That´s where the internet has shone through – if you had too many people doing the cheap Oakley sunglasses, Oakley goggles,Oakley ski goggles same thing on the high street, they would go out of business. Online, it´s unlimited.

With so many portals focussing on the UK, SEO competition for the first page of Google is bound to be high, isn´t it?
It´s going to be interesting to see how that pans out. You have to look at the top three at the moment – Zoopla, Rightmove and Prime Location – which dominate a phenomenal amount of the traffic and listings within Google. But if you´ve got the money, you can compete. That´s for sure.

Zoopla and Rightmove have both seen traffic climb in 2013. How dominant are they?
You have to bear in mind that even though they´re online, they have a massive offline campaign too. You see them on TV, in the majority of the estate agents they work with. Without the high street, there wouldn´t be that many listings on Rightmove.

Several agent-backed portals, such as Property Mutual and Agents´ Mutual, are launching with the aim of tackling what they perceive to be unfair market dominance. How easy is it to do that?

In terms of organic traffic, it´s going to be hard to shake what´s there at the moment. The ones that are launching in the coming months, we don´t know what they´re doing. Is there going to be a wealth of content? Are they going to do something new? New portals have to do something different, going back to our previous podcast about SEO. TheMoveChannel.com, for example, ranks well, but we´re 15 years old and we have a lot of different kinds of listings compared to other portals.

Agents´ Mutual has a rule that clients can only advertise on one other portal, which some have speculated will only increase the dominance of market-leading sites…

With about 1,000 listings that´s quite controllable but when they get to five or six million, how would you stop someone going elsewhere?
Look at it like this: if you had a magazine charging you a lot of money to get in front of a lot of people and another magazine charging you less to get in front of fewer people, which do you choose? Maybe some people feel aggrieved, but you pay to get results.

Will we ever see the death of high street estate agents?
Without the high street, there´s no Rightmove and there´s no Zoopla, if we´re being honest. The majority of the listings on those portals are from estate agents with a presence on the high street. There are some reports that say online estate agents will provide 60 per cent of those listings in a couple of years, but these are theories and guesses. I never see the end of the high street because there are always people who want to go in and talk to someone in person, especially for selling.

With so many portals and agents, is it better to focus on a niche sector or location?
There are two aspects. If you go for something niche, you´re going to have fewer people looking, so you might not get the figures you´re looking for but it might be easier to get in front of them.

The other option, like TheMoveChannel.com, is to be more comprehensive. Does that work?
Comprehensive, but well thought out and planned! Now, compared to this time last year, our enquiries are up 23 per cent, so having a wide range has worked. It goes back to the planning phase, changing to what your user wants. If you do that, you can go for a lot of things under one umbrella, but you´ve got to give people an easy way to find them, otherwise they´ll go somewhere else.

Does the future look bright for the property portal industry? Will there be more portals to come?Yes. And as competition comes along, new ideas come along and the audience grows. So if you´re looking to sell a house it´s going to get a bigger audience, and if you´re looking for a house, it´s going to be easier to find one.

Notes to Editors
Founded in 1999, TheMoveChannel.com is the leading independent website for international property, with more than 800,000 listings in over 100 countries around the world, marketed on behalf of agents, developers and private owners.

The website address ishttp://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.