From the W.I. to WiFi. Tech-thirsty baby boomers increasingly targeted by overseas accommodation providers

by Georgina Spain

It seems that a generation of tech-thirsty baby boomers is abandoning traditional retirement activities such attending the Women’s Institute (W.I.) in favour of the attractions of

Recently published research on the respected Buffer blog has revealed that the fastest growing demographic on Twitter throughout 2013 was the 55–64 year age bracket which has grown a whopping 79% since 2012. Meanwhile, the 45–54 year age range has proven the fastest growing users on both Facebook and Google+, jumping 46% on Facebook and 56% on Google+.

This impressive growth calls into question the prevailing assumption that social media is “just for teenagers” and highlights the importance to businesses of having a solid social media strategy in place in order to target these lucrative demographics.

Indeed, the boom of social media is set to be even more pervasive in 2014. Gil Summers, Co-founder of Sun Park Living, a Summers’ Villages, a private gated apartment resort dedicated exclusively to active over 50s on Lanzarote, has witnessed a huge increase of retirees using social media. The resort’s Twitter, Facebook and You Tube channels have been buzzing with activity since opening in September 2012.

“The majority of residents staying here at Sun Park Living are hugely active on social media, organising Skype sessions, updating their Facebook and Twitter pages with their daily activities here, uploading photographs on Pinterest and Instagram or videos to YouTube. This has been a huge and surprising boost to businesses for us, as our residents are sharing with others and showing them what they are missing by not being here. Often people come out after seeing how much a friend is enjoying their time at Sun Park Living through their social media feeds.

“The residents here find social media a useful means of keeping in contact with friends and relatives at home, making them feel connected with others, abolishing the feeling of isolation that old age can bring and keeping the mind active through the learning of new tips and tricks from the online world. Most Sun Rockers have chosen to leave a video testimonial on our site, which they share with all friends and family and potential new comers, as evidence of their successful stay, showing a whole array of different personalities and experiences all of which we currently share on the resorts social media sites and website”

Indeed the sense of both online and offline community spirit as seen at Sun Park Living is a huge draw for retirees looking for a lifestyle change. Of course the warm climate, flavourful local cuisine and fantastic culture of Lanzarote all serve to make the experience even more rewarding – not to mention the resort offering affordable rental apartments, for short or long term, for a fraction of the usual cost of retirement properties in the UK.

Self-catering apartment accommodation with all the benefits of community living with like-minded WiFi wizards at Sun Park Living costs €625 per four weeks for those enjoying 12 or more weeks a year (in three or more blocks of four weeks each, consecutive or not). For those wishing to sample the community, a four week Taster Stay is available for €225 per week or a one week Taster Visit for €350 per week.

For more information contact Gil and the team on 0161 408 3360, visit www.sunparkliving.com, like the dedicated Facebook page or follow on Twitter for the latest updates! You can also view all video testamonials here http://www.sunparkliving.com/video/

2014 sees booming Belgian taste for Spanish property

by Georgina Spain

After a nervous couple of years for the Spanish property market, foreigners are finally being lured back to Spain in their droves, according to the latest data. In spite of its ongoing economic uncertainties, Spain saw a significant increase in the number of foreigners buying during 2013 – a trend that has continued into the beginning of 2014 as well. The total number of property purchases by non-Spaniards rose by 9.8 per cent in 2013, accounting for 21.4 per cent of the whole market.

  • 9.8 % Increase in number of foreign buyers in Spain throughout 2013
  • 1 in 5 of Taylor Wimpey España buyers in Q1 2014 were Belgian
  • Ryanair opens new base in Brussels with direct flights to Alicante, Malaga and Palma

Belgian buyers in particular have swooped in on holiday homes across Spain. According to Taylor Wimpey España, from January to March this year Belgian buyers accounted for 20% of their total property sales across the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol and Mallorca, alongside the traditional markets of British buyers, domestic purchasers and Scandinavian buyers.

In line with the booming Belgian taste for Spanish property, Ryanair has opened its second Belgian base at Brussels airport with four aircraft set to offer ten new routes, delivering up to 1.5 million passengers per year. The range of exciting routes will include destinations such as Alicante, Barcelona, Ibiza, Malaga, and Palma, making it easier for Belgian buyers to visit their boltholes in the Spanish sunshine.

Herman Dircx is just one of the many Belgians that have snapped up a Spanish place in the sun, commenting,

“I bought a wonderful apartment in the Costa del Sol through Taylor Wimpey España. I chose to buy a holiday home in Spain due to the excellent weather, great surroundings and brilliant golf courses to potentially retire to and use as a base to meet family and friends. This particular development (Avalon) caught my eye due to the modern design and competitive price for such a beautiful location, there’s no wonder so many mainland Europeans are buying in Spain!

“The whole process from start to completion was very easy. I was supported by both an excellent lawyer, and a helpful agent. The lawyer took all the administrative work out of my hands; it was very reassuring to know that everything was properly under control.”

Indeed, Taylor Wimpey España, the Spanish arm of prestigious UK homebuilder Taylor Wimpey, is proud to have been operating in Spain since 1958 with an ethos of providing high quality homes and delivery of first-rate customer service. This approach remains at the core of the company today.

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

“We are delighted that our customer, Herman Dircx , has yet again given us such a glowing recommendation. We work hard to ensure that the experience of buying in Spain with Taylor Wimpey España is clear and straightforward for buyers coming from all over the world, so it’s great to receive such positive affirmation that we are doing things right.”

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visitwww.taylorwimpeyspain.com.

The Grape Escape! Foreign investors flock to Italy in search of lifestyle properties

The Grape Escape! Foreign investors flock to Italy in search of lifestyle properties

by Georgina Italy

Italy is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for foreign real estate investors thanks to its relaxed lifestyle, climate, history and heritage, according to the latest study released by Savills.

  • Foreign investors head to Italy for lifestyle properties whilst domestic market remains subdued (Savills)
  • Russian, South African and French among nationalities flocking to buy in Italy (Savills)
  • Vineyards become investors’ new ‘must have’ 

Russians and South Africans are amongst Italy’s most prolific international buyers, as are a growing number of French nationals, some of whom are looking to escape the threat of rising taxes back home. Chinese buyers have also flocked to Italy looking for lifestyle properties, moving on from snapping up bottles of fine wines to buying whole vineyards.

Dawn Cavanagh Hobbs, founder of Le Marche based Appassionata, comments,

“Italian properties offer so much more than just bricks and mortar, they offer the chance to step into a dynamic, living painting, to truly experience the Italian way of life. With so many fascinating and beautiful places to visit in Le Marche, even a lifetime simply isn’t enough to see everything that this stunning region has to offer.”

“With international buyers in mind, here at Appassionata we have developed luxury lifestyle properties with all the extras – olive groves, vineyards, a lavender plantation and a truffle orchard from which owners share in the bounty that these produce.

“Keen to make owning a slice of the real Italy as accessible and hassle free as possible, we have adopted the fractional ownership model. Each owner gets to use their chosen home for five weeks of every year while we take care of all aspects of the upkeep, including maintenance of the five acre estate in which the houses sit.”

Indeed, the five bedroom, five bathroom Casa Leopardi has only one share left for sale at just £195,000. With its own private pool and gym, and surrounded by terraces for outdoor dining, the property offers a level of luxury that most holiday home owners can only dream of.

For those who can’t quite stretch to buying their own Italian villa and vineyard, and who don’t fancy becoming slaves to a holiday home that requires maintenance the moment they arrive, Casa Leopardi offers the perfect solution.

The Savills Prime Residential Retreats study released April 2014, states that whilst the domestic Italian market has been subdued due to the Eurozone crisis, there is still a strong demand from international buyers looking for la dolce vita.
For more information contact Appassionata on 0039 073 465 8775, or take a video tour

From snow to sunshine – Russians set their sights on Spanish second homes

by Georgina Russian Federation

It appears that Russians are heading south in search of warmer climes, with the Spanish market benefitting more than most. While Bulgaria remains Russians’ overseas destination of choice, recent data from leading Russian property portal Idinaidi has shown that Spain is accounting for an increasing number of searches for property abroad.

  • Number of Russians holidaying in Spain jumps by 31.6% in a year (Spanish government data)
  • Spain accounts for 24% of all overseas property searches (Idinaidi)
  • Russians visiting Magaluf and Palmanova increase from 2.5% to 8% (Euro Weekly News)  

Helped by the Iberian country’s ‘golden visa’ law, which grants a residency visa to any individual investing €500,000 or more in property located within Spanish territory, Spain is attracting a growing number of Russian second home buyers. Designed to attract affluent investors and revive the Spanish property market, the golden visa law has proven of keen interest to Russians. Though a residency visa is not the same as being granted permanent residency, it is certainly a significant step towards doing so.

The number of Russians holidaying in Spain has also been on the increase. The latest Spanish tourism figures released by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy showed that Russian tourists now account for 2.6% of the total number of visitors to Spain. While it may not sound like a large proportion of the overall market, holidaymakers from Russia have increased in number faster than those from any other country, leaping 31.6% from the previous year’s figure.

According to the data, Spain’s most appealing destinations were Catalonia, which attracted 25.7% of foreign visitors, followed by the Balearic Islands such as Majorca, which drew 18.3% of the total. Additionally, figures provided recently by the Euro Weekly News showed an increase from 2.5% to 8% in the number of Russians visiting the popular resort towns of Magaluf and Palmanova over the past five years, with over 300,000 Russian and Eastern European visitors in 2013 alone.

The number of Russians visiting Spain is expected to rise further in 2014, in light of positive predictions for the Spanish tourism sector as a whole. Santiago Martínez-Cava, director of airport operator AENA, has confirmed that he is expecting some 10 million passengers to travel through Alicante-Elche airport by the end of the year, as part of a welcome upturn for Spain’s visitor numbers. Routes to Spain also include direct flights from Moscow, Kazan and St Petersburg, into some of Spain’s best-located airports, such as Malaga, Barcelona, Madrid and Palma.

Many of those visiting will look to take advantage of the excellent value that Spanish real estate offers. Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, explains,

“There is so much to love about Spain and many visitors find that simply holidaying here is not enough. They want to own their own piece of Spain by purchasing a property that they can visit time and again. With so many excellent value and high quality options on the market currently, it really is a great time for buyers of property across the country, particularly in the south and the Spanish islands like Mallorca.”

The latest data from Idinaidi, Russia’s fastest-growing property portal, demonstrates the increased Russian awareness of Spanish real estate. Spain was the most searched-for foreign country on the site during March, accounting for 24% of all overseas searches. The majority of Spanish searches were split fairly evening between apartments (46%) and houses (43%).

The most popular property of all during the month was an apartment building in the charming Mijas area of the Costa del Sol. The Costa Blanca was another popular location, while Mallorca and Barcelona saw the biggest increases in searches, with both areas resulting in search rises of more than 200%. Idinaidi COOCarlo Walther comments,

“Spain is understandably popular as a holiday and second home destination for many Russian buyers. Winters here are long and hard. Having a Mediterranean bolthole and being able to exchange snow for sun can make all the difference. Spain’s golden visa scheme also offers its own attractions to the Russian market as more and more buyers look for good value properties in the sun that have potential as retirement destinations in the future.”

Property buyers flock to Spain as number of home sales rockets by 39.8%

by Georgina Spain

It seems the Spanish housing market has finally turned the corner. According to the latest figures based on actual transactions from the General Council of Notaries, home sales in February 2014 were up by 39.8% (to 26,602 transactions) when compared with February 2013.

  • Spanish home sales in February 2014 rose by 39.8% (General Council of Notaries)
  • Sales of private apartments in new homes up by 24.1% (General Council of Notaries)
  • Asking prices for Spanish property increase by 8.9% throughout Jan and steadily on the up (General Council of Notaries)

This increase in transactions is reflected in all segments of the residential property market, including the sale of private apartments, with sales of those in new homes soaring by 24.1%.

The report also showed that the value of property sold so far this year has steadied, after an increase in prices of 8.9% in January. While in February there was a slight increase in the average selling price (which was up 0.6%), the figures corroborate reports that asking prices have finally stabilised over the  last three months.

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

“We’ve seen that sales are steadily increasing and prices are stabilising … could this be the much-anticipated beginning of a new chapter for the property market in Spain?

“Another indicator of confidence in the market came from the construction industry, where new build completions have also stabilised. Considering this sector took the biggest blow as a result of the economic crisis, it is now visibly on the up. Here at Taylor Wimpey España alone we have acquired 12 new plots and developments.”

The latest analysis from Spanish property portal Kyero has pinpointed exactly what buyers are looking for. The data shows that Alicante and the Costa Blanca continue to be the most attractive areas for foreign buyers, accounting for 31% of all enquiries generated, followed by Malaga in second place, which attracted almost 14% of enquiries.

The most popular properties by far were apartments, which generated 41% of enquiries. These were followed by villas (28%) and country houses (15%). In terms of accommodation size, 3-bed properties attracted the most interest (34%), though they were followed closely by 2-bed properties (30%).

In terms of cost, the most attractive price band when it came to foreign buyers was €50K to €150K, with 47% of all enquiries falling into this bracket.

So for those looking for their perfect place in the Spanish sunshine, it seems there is no time like the present. Prices are continuing to rise and the strength of the pound against the Euro is once again in the favour of British buyers, leading many to take a closer look at what Taylor Wimpey España has to offer.

Brisas de Alenda Golf is a beautiful residential development on the Costa Blanca that typifies the type of high specification, well-built property that Brits are looking for. The private complex offers 3 bedroom properties with generous private gardens, communal swimming pool and club house, as well as a gym, bar and restaurant all available from just €145,000 + VAT.

Designed to optimize the light and the space and with the best finishes and facilities, the Brisas de Alenda townhouses enjoy a peaceful location adjacent to the Alenda Golf Course, while the wonderful white sands of the Costa Blanca are a mere 15 minute drive away.

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.

Join the stampede to Spain as tourists head to sunnier climes for an Easter property hunt

by Georgina Spain

As the traditional Easter Bank Holiday stampede gets underway once more, figures from Europa Press have revealed that more than 7.7 million passengers are expected to pass through the Spanish Aena airport network this Easter. More than 49,000 flights will operate in a single week to service the massive demand, representing an 11.4% increase compared to the same period last year.

As ever, the UK will be one of the major suppliers of passengers to Spanish airports over the period, with the sunshine and beaches of the Costa del Sol in particular working their magic in attracting impressive numbers of tourists. Between 11 and 21 April, Málaga airport will see a total of 3,490 flights handle some 587 636 passengers, single-handedly accounting for 66.2% of flights and 29.2% of passengers in the Andalucian region this Easter.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director for leading Spanish house builder Taylor Wimpey España comments,

“The overall increase in foreign demand nationwide is more pronounced throughout the Easter period as sunny destinations and open beach areas are in large demand. These are two of Spain’s best features and, according to Exceltur, tourism in the Costa del Sol has grown by 8.3% so far in 2014, over and above other destinations such as the Costa Blanca, Madrid and Barcelona.

“This recovery in international tourism has reflected extremely positively on the local property market in the Costa del Sol, with prices starting to bottom out as foreign investors look to Spain for a bolthole in the sun. The Easter holiday gives prospective buyers the perfect chance to spend time looking for their ideal Spanish second home with the family, as well as to soak up the sun and enjoy the myriad delights that Spain has to offer.

“Here at Taylor Wimpey España, which has been active in the Costa del Sol for 50 years now, we have experienced the boom days as well as the bubble bursting, but we remain strong in our belief in the area as the perfect place to own a second home – so much so in fact that we have just invested €10 million into our latest fabulous development, Horizon Beach in Estepona.”

Taylor Wimpey España’s significant commitment to the Costa del Sol has been welcomed by officials in the area, with the Mayor of Marbella, Angeles Muñoz, attending the inauguration of Horizon Beach last week.

The superb new residential complex comprises a selection of two and three bedroom apartments, all with views of the Mediterranean Sea and Rock of Gibraltar.

With only 36 units, this boutique gated development is the ideal second home location, with spacious open-plan apartments, large terraces or private gardens, direct beach access, panoramic swimming pool and underground parking. From just €320,000, those looking to buy in the Costa del Sol can ensure that their holiday home dreams come true this Easter.

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.

Spain in top 10 most attractive global real estate markets for foreign investors

by Georgina Spain

Europe “seems to have regained the favour of investors,” demonstrated by the fact that 70% of investors chose Western Europe as “the world’s most attractive region for real estate investment,” according to the CB Richard Ellis European Real Estate Investor Intention 2014 study.

An “increase in investor appetite” was also observed in the report, which indicated that some 67% of those consulted expected that their activity in real estate would increase this year.

Furthermore, the study reveals Spain as the third most attractive country in Europe for investment in real estate, with only the UK and Germany coming in ahead.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Manager for leading Spanish house builder Taylor Wimpey Españacomments,

“This news comes as no surprise to those of us on the ground in the Spanish property market. We have seen a steady increase already this year of foreign buyers coming from Western Europe, looking for residential property across the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol and Mallorca.

“Spain has become an oasis for foreign investors, who between 2009 and 2013 bought property totalling just over €9.6 billion according to a study by Real Capital Analytics. This puts Spain in tenth position globally for attracting foreign investment.

“Interestingly, our own sales figures for this year, up until mid-March, reveal that the biggest interest from European buyers has come not just from traditional Brit buyers but from those in Spain itself, indicating that confidence is returning once again to the market not just on an international but also on a domestic level.”

Indeed, the Taylor Wimpey España figures show that British buyers, unsurprisingly, have taken a place in the top three positions in terms of those nationalities snapping up Spanish boltholes in the sun, along-side Spanish (20%) German (20%) and Scandinavian buyers (20%) followed by Belgians (12%).

For those Europeans wanting to join in the action and pick up their own slice of Spanish sunshine in the world’s tenth most attractive real estate market, the timing has rarely been better. As a holiday home destination Spain has it all: climate, golf courses, shops, hospitals, international schools, good infrastructure and international airports with connections to numerous cities across the globe.

Taylor Wimpey España’s glamorous homes on the Costa del Sol include a range of options designed to appeal to property buyers of all nationalities.

La Floresta Sur is a new residential development, currently under construction, located near the village of Elviria and its delightful beach, very close to both Marbella and Malaga. Set in beautiful surroundings, which have been declared a natural biosphere reserve by UNESCO, this development benefits from stunning views towards the oak and pine forest as well as towards the sea. These incredible properties are available now from just €178,000.

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.

Investment Watch: Student property investment goes global

by Georgina United Kingdom

Student property investment went global in February 2014, according to new research from TheMoveChannel.com. The property portal´s Investment Watch report reveals that student housing continues to dominate activity on the site, with buyers now turning to opportunities in the USA as well as UK.

Student property in Florida received the highest number of enquiries on TheMoveChannel.com in February 2014, the first time this has ever happened. The tenanted condos in Tallahassee are located five minutes away from two universities and start from $48,900, offering guaranteed rental returns of 8.5 per cent, enough to attract over twice as many enquiries as a student property listing in the UK.

Bolton´s The Cube development has been a subject of consistent interest from buyers, appearing in two of the past three months´ top 10 most popular listings. The units, priced at £39,950 and advertising NET yields of 10 per cent, offer a combination of low cost and high returns that is typical of the student housing sector.

The second most popular investment in February featured buy-to-let apartments in Manchester. The luxury three-bedroom flats in the city´s Trafford Mill development cost £115,000 for cash buyers, with 8 per cent NET annual rental returns assured for one year. Confidence in the UK´s recovering real estate also saw buyers turn to Wales, where a £25,000 hotel room assured 10 per cent returns for 10 years.

Investors were willing to look outside of the UK for income, though, with a hotel room in Picardie receiving the third highest number of enquiries. This is the second time in five months that the discounted French resort has appeared in TheMoveChannel.com´s top 10 listings, a sign that investors are heading back to France thanks to attractive prices as well as accessible financing.

The Bahamas remains popular among buyers too, with January´s number one listing – a building plot on Long Island – sliding to sixth place in February. Demand for alternative investments is also strong, driven by two oil investments in the bottom half of the Investment Watch top 10. Both are priced below £7,000, an indicator of continued buyer interest in low cost opportunities.

The student housing sector remains the most popular overall, providing the affordability of alternative products but with the reliability of real estate investment. A Bradford project (seventh place) offers 10 per cent returns for £55,000 and another UK student development (ninth place) promises 10 cent returns for £44,950, taking the total number of student property listings in the top 10 to four.

Florida´s student condos generated the biggest response, though. With the US property market recovering over the past 12 months, the demand for investing in student property at a much cheaper cost proves that the sector´s strength is not just limited to the UK.

Director Dan Johnson comments: “Student property continues to be the most widely sought-after asset on TheMoveChannel.com. Investors are increasingly concentrated on affordable opportunities, such as alternative products, that can deliver strong returns. The student property sector combines that affordability with reliability unmatched by other assets – it is no surprise that, according to CBRE, investment in UK student housing totalled more than £2 billion in 2013 for the second year in a row!

“While the UK property market is booming, though, demand for accommodation at universities is universal. In America, where house prices are more affordable and the economic recovery is boosting confidence, the sector is even more attractive. This is the first time a student property in Florida has been listed on TheMoveChannel.com. The overwhelming response shows that investors are not afraid to go back to school, no matter where that school might be.”

Click here to see the 10 most popular property listings in February 2014.

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

At a Glance: Indian investors have their eye on Hyderabad

by Georgina United Kingdom

Investors in Indian property have their eye on Hyderabad, reveals research by TheMoveChannel.com. The capital of Andhra Pradesh will become the capital of India´s new state, Telangana, this summer, and 10 per cent of buyers are already searching for opportunities.

  • Mumbai attracts almost 1/4 of searches for Indian property
  • Hyderabad accounts for 1 in 10 searches by location
  • Maharashtra generates most property enquiries
  • Tamil Nadu second most popular state

The At a Glance infographic, which is based on activity on the property portal in the last 12 months, reveals that Mumbai is the driving force of India´s real estate, attracting almost one quarter (22.6 per cent) of searches for property by location. Pune was the second most sought-after place, targeted by 12 per cent of searches, ahead of Hyderabad, which was the subject of 10.4 per cent of searches.

The three are far ahead of the country´s other major cities, with Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi receiving just 4 per cent, 3.1 per cent and 2.8 per cent of enquiries respectively. Together, Pune, Mumbai and Hyderabad account for 45 per cent of location-based search activity.

Mumbai is the most popular property destination when it comes to enquiries too. The state of Maharashtra, which is also home to Pune, accounted for 35 per cent of enquiries in the year to February 2014. Tamil Nadu is the second most popular state of India for property buyers, generating 14.57 per cent of enquiries, ahead of Kerala and Assam, which received 8.78 per cent and 8.13 per cent respectively.

Andhra Pradesh, of which Hyderabad is the capital, accounted for 6.26 per cent of activity, making it the fifth most popular state for property.

The infographic also charts search activity on Google relating to Indian property. Buyers tended to search in general for “property in India” and “India property”, while “houses for sale” were the most popular property type, ahead of land, hotels, apartments and villas. Searches in general for Indian property declined over the last 12 months, although interest rallied in the final quarter of 2013.

TheMoveChannel.com Editor Ivan Radford comments:

“It may come as no surprise that Mumbai is the most dominant property market in the country, but TheMoveChannel.com´s infographic capture´s India´s real estate at a fascinating time: just on the verge of creating a new state, Telangana. The new state will be made up of 10 districts from Andhra Pradesh, which will transform the country´s property market, as well as investment from both home and overseas.

“The approval of the new state has resolved some political uncertainty in the country, which is expected to boost confidence among investors. Indeed, buyer activity in Andhra Pradesh is already on the up: enquiries for property in the state have increased significantly in the last six months on TheMoveChannel.com.

“The capital Hyderabad has been highlighted by many as an investment hotspot thanks to the city´s affordable real estate and impending role as capital of two states: both Telangana and Seema Andhra (what will be left of Andhra Pradesh following the split). Once the new state has been formed, it will be interesting to see what happens to the country´s property market. As interest in the area heats up, though, it is clear that Hyderabad is already catching the eye of buyers.”

Click here to view the full infographic.

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

Holiday homes with swimming pools make a splash as 23% of Brits are scared to swim in the sea

Holiday homes with swimming pools make a splash as 23% of Brits are scared to swim in the sea

by Georgina Spain

As Britons prepare for their sunshine holidays over the Easter break, with millions more busy planning their summer getaway, a survey conducted by leading online travel agent On the Beach has revealed that whilst 67% of holidaymakers consider themselves confident swimmers, almost a third (31%) won´t swim in the sea!

  • 23% of British holidaymakers are scared to swim in the sea (On the Beach)
  • 45% of those avoiding the sea prefer the swimming pool instead (On the Beach) 
  • 70% of Costa Blanca second home seekers desire a swimming pool (Kyero)

Indeed, the survey also revealed that almost half (45%) of those that stay well clear of the deep blue say they prefer to swim in their hotel pool, whilst almost a quarter (23%) say they are scared of swimming in the sea.

Of course, this spells great news for owners of properties in frontline locations with swimming pools in top European getaway destinations such as Spain.

Recent findings from leading online Spanish property portal Kyero.com has suggested, unsurprisingly, that a swimming pool is a huge priority for those looking for a property in Spain, with a whopping 70% looking for homes with pools in the Costa Blanca alone!

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Manager for leading Spanish house builder Taylor Wimpey España, comments,

“It comes as no surprise that swimming pools are popular with second home buyers. A swimming pool is sand-free, contains no dangerous currents, you can go back to your property within seconds and with Taylor Wimpey España properties the pool can only be used by residents, so is far more private and exclusive than the beach.

“Demand for second homes with both communal pools and direct beach access remains especially high which is why we are very excited to be able to offer a range of high quality beach homes on some of the most spectacular shorelines in the country including the Costa Blanca.”

Indeed for homebuyers looking for a place in the sun, most will find that their money stretches further today in Spain due to the strengthening of the Pound against the Euro. Incredible property bargains are to be had such as 3 bedroom townhouses in established areas of the Costa Blanca available from just €145,000 – many thousands below the asking price for similar property in the UK.

Those who are thinking about making a Spanish property purchase this year, would do well to take a look at what Taylor Wimpey España has to offer.

Brisas de Alenda Golf is a beautiful residential development offering three-bedroom townhouses with generous private gardens, communal swimming pool, clubhouse, gym, bar and restaurant, all available from just €145,000 + VAT.

Designed to optimize the light and the space with the best finishes and facilities, the Brisas de Alenda townhouses enjoy a peaceful location adjacent to the Alenda Golf Course, while the wonderful beaches of the Costa Blanca are a mere 15 minute drive away.

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.