United States Property News

Economic recovery starts to improve exchange rates for the Pound

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

By this time next week (28th) there is a possibility that the UK is technically out of the worst recession in over 50 years. We should know this once the initial Gross Domestic Product figures for the final 3 months of 2009 are released. I say technically because it takes 2 successive quarters of negative growth to enter a recession but it only takes 1 quarter of positive growth to come out. We would still be at risk of a “double dip rece...

Florida Home Sales Rise

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Florida’s existing home and condominium sales rose at the end of 2009, according to the Florida Realtors. November, 2009 sales of existing homes rose 61 percent over the same month in 2008, and condo sales increased by 111 percent, according to the realtor group. Also, for the second month in a row all of Florida’s metro areas (MSAs) reported increases in home and condo sales for the month. For the month of November, 2...

Orlando Florida Lowest House Prices in Years

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

12/12/2009- Property prices in Orlando are at their lowest levels since 2001 with the average house price at $123000 (approx £75,650) according to reports from Florida based Orlando Sentinel. The news comes as the Orlando Regional Realtor Association report that home sales have doubled from a year ago International investors and those seeking to buy a second home in the sunshine state seem set to get more for their money compared to t...

It�s Official � Florida Property Prices on the Rise

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

2/12/2009- Data through September 2009, released today by Standard & Poor’s for its S&P/Case-Shiller1 Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, show that the U.S. National Home Price Index improved in the third quarter of 2009, posting its second consecutive quarterly increase and further improvement in its annual rate of return. “We have seen broad improvement in home prices for most of the past s...

Orlando Mortgage Investigation Nets Real Estate Agents

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Realtors in Florida Orlando have been subject to an unprecedented mortgage sting conducted by the US Attorneys Office. The mortgage sting operation has resulted in 100 people facing charges involving mortgage fraud. The allegations involve more than 700 properties and more than $400 million in loans procured by fraud. The investigation was a result of suspected large scale mortgage fraud in Florida; prosecutors have spent the last nine m...

Overseas Buyers Boost Florida Property Market

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

International property buyers are thought to be responsible for recent surge home sales in Florida. One developer has allocated funding of $100 million dollars for mortgages aimed at foreign buyers whilst a UK based overseas investment company Colordarcy www.colordarcy.com/ report 40% increase in its Florida business In order to help his clients close on units at in Sunny Isles Beach, developer Joe Milton has put up $100 million of ...

Million Dollar Florida Real Estate Up For Grabs

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

2nd Nov 09- Selling a Luxury home worth millions in a battered Florida housing market may prove difficult for one multi millionaire seeking a quick sale in Delray Beach Miami Florida. Mr Helmut Kiener a luxury Florida home owner recently arrested in Germany on suspicion of fraud is seeking a cool $23 million for his house. The ambitious price tag according to one realtor is a step too far from reality “They are not goi...

US Embassy Being Sold Despite UK Government Interference

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The US government has secured a deal to sell its London Embassy despite the UK government’s intervention who placed the building under Grade II listing status. The listing means that property developers will now be heavily restricted in what they can do with the building. Reports suggest that The US government has decided to sell probably their landmark Embassy building at 24 Grosvenor Square Mayfair London. The new owners ...

American Homes Popular At UK Exhibition

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The second A Place in the Sun Live event of the year took place at Birmingham’s NEC this weekend and once again delivered a strong consumer audience. The three day event, from 2nd-4th October, saw one of the show’s highest ever ratio of visitors to exhibitors and confirmed the cautious optimism being felt across the industry.Alisdair Macdonald of exhibitor Polar GM said: “This has been the most productive exhibition we have atte...

Florida Property Market Starting To Rise Downturn Could Be Over

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

House prices in Florida have seen their first monthly rise since July 2006, up 0.5% between April and May, according to Standard & Poor’s Home Price Index. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) said house sales had seen a “sustainable” gain of 3.8% over the second quarter of the year. Florida home sales rose in July to their highest level for 2 years. Agreed sales have now risen for 6 consecutive months. Loxle...

Foreign Buyers Less in the US

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The number of international real estate buyers in the United States’ residential real estate market has taken a hit due to the international economic crisis. The latest survey from the US National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows that the interest in US real estate from abroad has decreased over the past year. The survey involves the time period from May, 2008 to May, 2009 and was given to US Realtors. For Realtors who answered ...

USA Housing Market No.1 For Overseas Property Portals

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Overseas property portals Homesgofast.com and Property-Abroad state that USA was the No.1 place for buyers making enquiries for real estate during August 2009. Homesgofast.com carries over 150,000 international listings offered by developers, real estate agents and private sellers from over 70 countries. The portal saw USA regions of Florida and Western New York attract the lion share of its USA property enq...

US Pending Property Sales Hot

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The number of pending home sales in the United States has risen for six straight months, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). That hasn’t happened since the NAR began tracking pending sales in 2001. The Pending Home Sales Index increased 3.2 percent in July, to 97.6 from 94.6 in June. It was 12 percent higher for July, 2009 than the previous year, when it stood at 87.1. The highest level for the index was in Ju...

Thousands Download Florida Property Guide

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Colordarcy Investment has recently published the Florida Property Guide to help potential investors in the Florida property market and it has already helped thousands of people. The Guide available online to download is a free resource for investors looking into property in Florida. Nicholas Marr, CEO of international property portal Homesgofast.com, says that the Florida Property Guide is already proving useful: &ld...

US New Home Sales Surge in July

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

New home sales in the United States rose by 9.6 percent in July, the fourth straight month of gains. The US Commerce Department released its latest report and indicated that sales rose to an annually adjusted rate of 433,000 from an upwardly revised June figure of 395,000. That is the strongest pace since September of 2008 and came in above many analyst’s predictions. For the month of July, there were a total of 39,000 new homes so...

Tampa Area Home Prices More Affordable

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Home prices in Florida are more affordable than they have been in decades, according to the Florida Association of Realtors (FAR), making this an ideal time to buy. In the Tampa Bay metro area, home prices are now more affordable than they have been in the last 20 years, says Moody’s Economy.com. The median home prices in the Tampa - St. Petersburg – Clearwater metro area came in at $139,400 for the month of June, which is a 22 percen...

Florida Property Named Top Destination For Holidays & Property

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Overseas property investors and those seeking a holiday home abroad should have Florida high on the agenda according to the international real estate website Homesgofast.com and the Forbes Traveler magazine. Forbes Traveler named Orlando Florida as North America’s top holiday on spot in its newest ranking of destinations in the US, Canada, Mexico and the Car...

Florida Property Attracting British Bargain Hunters

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

British bargain hunters are searching for properties in Florida before the market results in an inevitable lack of bargains according to a leading mortgage company at The British Home Group Lee Weaver of Florida based Mortgage Company The British Homes Group. "Some prices will change here and there, but movement is expected to be minimal. What will start to disappear very quickly is the choice of properties," Joan...

Property news gives UK exchange rates a boost

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Exchange rates for sending money abroad are up across the board this week - mostly due to Nationwide's house price survey showing a surprise 1.3% rise in house prices for July.The UK's biggest building society believes that we may even see house prices finish the year higher than they started - which would have been unthinkable just a few months ago.This, as well as a rise in mortgage approvals announced earlier in the week by the Bank of England...

Trump Parc, Stamford, Connecticut

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

On the corner of Broad Street and Washington Boulevard in downtown Stamford, Connecticut is the Trump Parc high-rise residential tower. This is the tallest building in the city and it is nearing completion with plans to open this fall. While the recession has caused sales to be slower than anticipated, the Trump Parc offers a lot for those who want a place to live or stay in downtown. Stamford is a financial-services center and has many...

Construction on New Home in US Rises

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The number of new homes under construction in the United States rose in June to the highest level in seven months, according to the US Commerce Department. Builders are looking to take advantage of parts of the stimulus package that provide tax breaks for first-time home buyers and the houses must be completed by November. The latest report from the Commerce Department indicates that construction of new homes and apartments across the co...

Derek Jeter�s Florida Mansion

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

New York Yankees star Derek Jeter is in the process of building a very large house along the Tampa Bay waterfront just outside of Tampa, Florida. The size of the yet-to-be-completed house is drawing the attention of both neighbors and the New York City press, with a recent article about it in the New York Post. The house is planned to be 31,000 square feet and will sit on 1.26 acres of land. Jeter purchased three lots in the Davis Islan...

Trump Tower Penthouse

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

A 5,500 square foot penthouse at the top of the Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York City is set to sell for a reported US$18 million. The unit was owned by Italian film mogul Vittorio Cecchi Gori, but was foreclosed on and is being dealt with through US Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan. There is one interested buyer, but if more emerge then it will probably be sold through an auction at the court. The apartment is essentially a ...

Florida Home Sales Increase

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Home sales in South Florida are on the rise as prices continue to plumb the depths. The low prices and great deals are bringing many potential investors and buyers into the market, and sales are seeing a spark. Broward County, just north of Miami, saw its median price for existing homes in May fall to $190,000, which is down 36 percent from a year ago. In May of 2008 the median price was $296,000. Sales for the month were up 47 percent from a yea...

World Bank Issues Forecast

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The World Bank issued its latest forecast for the global economy and predicted that the worldwide recession will be deeper than many expected. The bank said that unemployment and poverty will continue to rise in developing nations and predicted a 2.9 percent contraction in the global economy for all of 2009. That is a greater drop than the bank’s prior estimate of a 1.7 percent decline. For next year, the bank predicts that growth ...

Top US Housing Markets

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

While home prices in the United States have fallen dramatically in many places, the long term outlook for some areas is still excellent. US News and World Report has listed its top 10 housing markets for the next 10 years, keeping in mind that many US markets will appreciate considerably in the coming decade. Seattle, Washington is a very good destination, with the several of its suburbs also making the list. This city and its neighbor o...

Top US Places to Live

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

From Albuquerque, New Mexico to Upper St. Claire, Pennsylvania, US News and World Report has listed its top ten places to live in the United States for 2009. The list doesn’t provide a ranking of first through tenth, but lists these destinations in alphabetical order. If there is one thing in common for these cities and towns, it’s that they almost all have a major university located in town or nearby and great access to outdoor activ...

Foreign Property Buyers Target South Florida

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

A new report highlights the effects that international real estate buyers have had on the South Florida property market in recent years. Buyers from abroad have helped to grow the popular real estate market in Florida and even as hard times have hit they are taking advantage of the low prices and low dollar value. A report from the consultants Gerson Lehrman Group notes that foreign buyers are now positioning themselves to buy distressed and unde...

Celebrities Selling Their Homes

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

A host of celebrities have taken recent actions with regards to their real estate, much of it coming in the Los Angeles/Beverly Hills area where stars tend to congregate. To start with, Britney Spears is still trying to unload her former home in the gated Summit community in Beverly Hills. The Summit Circle property, after being on and off the market, is now listed for approximately $6.5 million. Spears has moved to another gated community in Cal...

US Dollar Exchange Rate Reaches New High

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The pound has reached its highest level against the US dollar since November 2008, trading this morning at $1.61. The news has been welcomed by British buyers of property in Florida, as well as businesses importing from the States or any other region where sending US dollars abroad is required to make payment. The dollar is also at its weakest against the Euro this year, trading at above $1.41. The weakness in the Ameri...

Florida Home Sales Increase

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The first quarter of 2009 saw Florida home sales rise, a trend which continued into April. That good news was driven by the fact that home prices across the state were down significantly. The new $8,000 tax rebate for first time homebuyers was also a factor in increasing sales. For the month of April, sales of existing homes in Florida rose 18 percent compared to a year earlier. There were a total of 13,111 homes sold statewide in April,...

US Dollar Exchange Rate Reaches New High

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Fed Sees Hopeful Signs

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The United States Federal Reserve expects the US economy to improve in coming months, according to new reports from the central bank. After the Fed’s last meeting at the end of April, policymakers declined to take any new steps to help the economy. The Fed launched a US$1.2 trillion effort in March to purchase government debt and mortgage securities in an effort to shore up the US economy. Documents from the April meetings said tha...

Florida Property Sales Rise To British Buyers

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The Florida Association of Realtors announced a surprise rise in sales for the first quarter of 2009. The green shoots of a recovery could well be in place with FAR figures indicating a 25% rise in sales of existing single-family homesA total of 31,412 existing homes sold state-wide in 1Q 2009; during the same period the year before, a total of 25,071 existing homes sold. It marks the ninth straight month that Florida has reported higher existing...

Most US Homes Lose Value Over Past Year

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Most American homeowners believe their home’s value has declined over the past year, and research from Zillow.com backs up that belief. However, the news is actually worse than many homeowners think, according to the reports. While 60 percent of American homeowners think that their home has lost value, research shows that as many as 80 percent of homes declined in value. Additionally, most homeowners think that the bottom has hit a...

Pound Down on UK Inflation Report

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The Pound has today given up its recent gains following the Bank of England’s quarterly inflation report and accompanying speech by Mervyn King. The Bank’s downbeat picture of the economic outlook has sent shockwaves through markets, after a few days of positive data had given the Pound a welcome boost and prompted speculation about the beginning of a recovery for UK plc. King confirmed that interest rates are likely...

Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner Purchase Home

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have bought the home of movie producer Brian Grazer in Los Angeles for approximately $17.5 million, according to news sources. That is significant discount from the original asking price of $27.5 million for the Pacific Palisades home. The cliffside home has a 9,000 square foot main residence that was constructed in the 1940s. It has spectacular views of Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean. Mr. Grazer and hi...

US New Home Sales for March

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Sales of newly constructed homes in the United States fell in March by 0.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 356,000, just a small drop from February’s revised rate of 358,000. That is actually better than many economists thought and provides some hopes that things may be starting to get better in the US housing market. The US Commerce Department released its latest figures, which included revisions to the February nu...

Fewer Americans Moving Home

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The lowest percentage of Americans since 1962 moved to a new home in 2008, according to new census data. Additionally, immigration from abroad was the lowest it has been in over a decade. The United States Census Bureau released its annual report that showed the annual rate at which residents moved fell to 11.9 percent. For 2007, the rate was 13.2 percent, and the highest number ever recorded was in 1984-85 when it was 20.2 percent. The ...

U2 Guitarist Plans New Malibu Housing

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The Edge, U2’s guitarist, is planning an extensive home and additional buildings on property he currently owns in Malibu, California. The project, however, is running into resistance from neighbors who are worried about its size and impact on the environment. The U2 star has plans for a house with 19 overlapping roofs which he wants to call Leaves in the Wind. Additionally, he wants to construct four additional buildings on his 156...

US Foreclosures Jump in March

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Foreclosure filings rose in March in the United States to 341,180, according to RealtyTrac. The total number includes bank notices to bank repossessions, so there is some leeway in there for the actual number of people who lost their homes. That figure is up 17 percent from February and 46 percent from March, 2008. For the first quarter of 2009, filings rose 9 percent from the previous quarter and 24 percent from the same time in 2008. Nevada and...

Shopping Mall Operator Files For Bankruptcy

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

General Growth Properties, one of the largest mall operators in the United States, filed for bankruptcy in mid April. The company has been in negotiations for months with its creditors for better terms on paying down its $25 billion debt. When those failed, it decided to reorganize through bankruptcy. The company is based in Chicago and filed for bankruptcy in Manhattan. It indicated that its malls will continue to operate and has secure...

Manhattan Sales Fall 52%

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The number of property sales in Manhattan fell by 52 percent in the first quarter of 2009 compared with the same period in 2008, according to recently released figures from the Corcoran Group. The median sales price for a Manhattan apartment fell only 2 percent, to US$925,000. That number was somewhat skewed by the addition of several new, high-end units and developments that hit the market, keeping the median price high, according to the report....

Luxury Florida Mansion Seized From Madoff

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Fraudster Bernard L Madoff assets are being stripped from his ownership whilst he spends the rest of his days behind bars. The latest asset to go is his Florida waterfront mansion and vintage yacht U.S. marshals changed the locks at the unoccupied property and inventoried the 8,753-square-foot home, listed on tax rolls as worth $9.3 million. Madoff's 55-foot yacht named "Bull," a 1969 Rybovich valued at $2.2 million, was seize...

Latest Celebrity Homes News

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Actor and comedian Cheech Marin has recently lowered the asking price for his Malibu, California beachfront house. The former partner in the Cheech & Chong comedy duo was asking $3.9 million, but the price has been dropped to $2.95 million. The home is 3,400 square feet with four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. It has a deck that overlooks the Pacific Ocean and direct access to the beach. Simon Cowell isn’t selling his new $22 mil...

US Real Estate Sales Up

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released news that sales of existing homes in the United States rose by 5.1 percent in February from the previous month of January. The annual rate of sales for the month was 4.72 million homes, compared to 4.49 million in January. This was the largest jump in monthly sales since July, 2003, according to the NAR. Home sales activity has now returned to December levels, but is still lower than i...

CBRE Tops Real Estate Survey Again

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Commercial real estate firm CB Richard Ellis has been named the top brand in commercial real estate around the globe by the The Lipsey Company. This is the 8th consecutive year that the company has come out on top of the survey. Conducted by The Lipsey Company, the survey measures how industry participants perceive commercial real estate brands. More than 40,000 professionals from REITs, institutions, lenders, commercial brokerages, and...

US New Home Construction Rises in February

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The US government recently reported that new home construction rose a surprising 22.2 percent in February, showing the largest percentage gains since January, 1990. The rise to a seasonally adjusted pace of 583,000 new homes is the first since April of last year. Analysts had expected starts to decline a small amount for the month in the face of dwindling demand and huge competition from foreclosed homes and unsold properties. Acco...

California Frank Lloyd Wright Home for Sale

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

One of the last homes designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright is now on sale in California’s Central Valley. The Fawcett House is a 3,700 square foot home that was designed by Wright in 1955 and completed in 1961, two years after his death. The six bedroom home is located on 80 acres in the famed farming country of California. It has four and half bathrooms and a low-pitched roof with angular wings that blend into the ...

Home Sales Drop to 10-Year Low in US

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Previously owned home sales in the US fell 5.3 percent in January after showing an increase in December, according to the National Association of Realtors. Existing home sales, which are the largest part of all home sales in the country, fell to an annualized rate of 4.49 million in January. That is the slowest pace in over a decade, and 8.6 percent lower than January, 2008. The median home price also fell, to $170,300. That is the lowes...

US City Home Prices Fall 18.5%

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The home prices in 20 major United States cities fell 18.5 percent in December from a year earlier, according to the latest S&P/Case-Shiller index. It was more than predicted and follows an 18.2 percent fall in November. In a separate report, the Federal Housing Finance Board said that real estate prices across the US fell 8.2 percent for all of 2008. The fall in the index was the largest on record. During the fourth quarter of 2008,...

Obama Announces Housing Initiative

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

19/2/09- As the US Commerce Department announced a record low number of homes were begun in January, President Obama unveiled a $75 billion plan to tackle the foreclosure crisis. The President’s efforts, entitle the Homeowner Stability Initiative, are hoped to stem the tide of foreclosures for some nine million Americans who could potentially lose their homes in the coming months. The new plan also highlights the fact that US...

Recovery For the Pound As Dollar Weakens

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

A recovery for the Pound today, after European GDP data came out weaker than expected, forcing the Euro slightly cheaper. Good news for achieving the best Euro exchange rates. The US Dollar also became cheaper during the course of the day, as the Pound took some strength from some momentum across the board. Mid-market rates at 1630 GMT: Sterling – Euro = 1.1183 Sterling – US Dollar = 1.4407 Sterling – Australia...

Jennifer Aniston has Birthday Party in Beverly Hills

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston celebrated her 40th birthday on February 7th at her new home in Beverly Hills, California. Aniston reportedly purchased the home in 2006, but had it extensively remodeled and only recently moved in. The 9,000 square foot property was designed by Hal Levitt and cost approximately £9 million. Attending the former Friends star’s party was a whose who of Hollywood stars, including Oprah Winfrey, Sh...

Florida Sales Up in December

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Florida saw an increase in home sales during the month of December, mirroring a national trend. Low prices and foreclosures help to spur the sales increase in some areas, though the state has seen year over year increases in existing home sales for the past four months. Existing home sales in Florida for December, 2008 rose 27 percent with a total of 11,053 homes sold statewide compared to 8,712 homes sold in the same month of 2007. That...

Existing US Home Sales Unexpected Rises

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Sales of existing homes in the United States saw an unexpected rise in December. The increase is mostly a result of bargain-basement home prices being sold in foreclosures and year-end deals. The report from the National Association of Realtors indicated that sales of existing homes rose 6.5 percent in December to an annual rate of 4.74 million. That’s an increase from the revised figure of 4.45 million in November. Lawrence Yun, N...

Celebrity Real Estate Goes On Sale

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Superstar Celebrity actor and judge for”America’s Got Talent” David Hasselhoff has put his Los Angeles mansion up for sale at a cool $5,950,000. The sale according to Big Time Listings is a result of a divorce agreement between Mr. Hasselhoff and wife Pamela Bach. So what do you get for a near 6 million dollar price tag these days? The Los Angeles home has five-bedrooms, five and half baths, a gourmet ki...

Best Cities to Invest in 2009

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Forbes Magazine (www.forbes.com ) has come out with its annual list of best cities in which to invest in real estate around the world, and this year there are some surprises. Washington, D.C. topped the list, ahead of traditional favorites such as London and New York City. With a huge stimulus package in the works and a new government led by Barack Obama, the city is viewed as a good place to invest in real estate. London, last year&rsqu...

Lance Armstrong Selling Texas Ranch

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Seven time Tour de France winner and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong has turned into somewhat of a property collector in recent years. As he and his new team race and train down under getting ready for the upcoming cycling season, the American cyclist is selling one of his Texas properties. The 440 acre ranch, located outside Austin, is on the market for US$12 million. Located in the Texas Hill Country, the 178 hectare property has a 4,...

Housing Starts in US Drop

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Housing starts in the United States are expected to fall to record low levels in 2009, according to recent news. At the International Builders Show being held in Las Vegas, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) predicted that single family housing starts will drop to about 441,000 for 2009. That is the lowest number on record, and nearly 75 percent below the record high of 1.7 million homes that were begun in 2005. The NAHB&rs...

Orlando Foreclosure Rate Tripled in 2008

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The Metro Orlando, Florida area had the seventh highest rate of home foreclosures in the United States in 2008 with one in every 18 household receiving a formal default notice from a lender. In the four-county metro area, consisting of Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake Counties, that means that 46,843 properties had foreclosure filings taken against them. That’s three times the rate in 2007 and 5.5 percent of all households in the area. &...

Manhattan High End Property Falls

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Prices in the most expensive real estate market in the United States have fallen over the past year, according to one expert. Brown Harris Stevens is a luxury real estate firm and it recently revealed that average property prices in New York have fallen for the third successive quarter. Manhattan is the most expensive place to live in the US and has been generally resistant to past recessions and declines in the market. With the economic...

Sarah Palin Beats Oprah Winfrey As Better Neighbour

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

You can't choose your family and in some respects the same applies with your neighbours, so if you had the choice who would you choose? A survey commissioned by an online real estate website found that most would select Sarah Palin. According to the survey conducted by Harris Interactive(R) and commissioned by real estate Web site Zillow.com. U.S. adults would most like to be neighbours with Sarah Palin (14%), followed closely by Oprah W...

Top Places to Live in the United States

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Money magazine and CNN have come up with their annual list of the best places to live in the United States, and this year Plymouth, Minnesota comes out on top. The Minneapolis-St. Paul suburb of 50,000 has just about everything, from great schools, affordable housing and lots to do. Fort Collins, Colorado comes in second with Naperville, Illinois taking third. Located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains about 30 miles north of Denver, For...

US Existing Home Sales Plummet

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The number of existing homes sold in the United States dropped considerably in November as prices also dropped. The National Association of Realtors indicated in its most recent report that home sales drop to an annualized rate of 4.49 million units in November, down from 4.98 million homes in October. That is well below the predicted rate of 4.93 million units that industry analysts were looking for. “The only region where we're s...

Bargains Drive Up Sales in South Florida

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Even as the United States economy is in a recession and mortgage lending remains very tight, bargains on new and existing homes are driving sales across Florida. Statewide, sales increased 15 percent for the month as the median price fell 24 percent to $169,700. Sales for October in Broward County rose 46 percent, according to the Florida Association of Realtors. The median price dropped 29 percent to $252,500 from $354,000 a year ago. T...

US Fed Cuts Interest Rates to Record Low

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

17/12/08-The United States Federal Reserve Bank cut interest rates to between 0 and .25 percent, a record low. The previous rate was 1.0 percent, and the bank indicated that it was willing to keep rates low for an extended period of time to battle the ongoing recession. In a statement released at the time of the cuts, the Fed said: “The Federal Reserve will employ all available tools to promote the resumption of sustainable economi...

Dollar Exchange Rates Improve

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

London 15/12/2008- Some cheer at last for buyers of property in the USA – the dollar exchange rate has improved against the ailing Pound on fears of more interest rate cuts in the States. Analysts predict that the Federal Reserve will announce an interest rate cut tomorrow evening, after their 2-day meeting today and tomorrow. As the interest rate in the US is only 1%, further cuts will mean holding Dollar assets is even less appealing to...

International Real Estate Prices Show Global Synchronization

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The international real estate research house Global Property Guide present their new findings that confirm 2008 house prices falls and some predictions for 2009. Interestingly the report covering the major overseas property destinations shows that the entire world’s property markets now move in a synchronized manner House prices fell by more than 10% in the UK, the US and Ireland during the year to end-Q3 2008. House pri...

The World�s Most Expensive Real Estate

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Dec 08 Homesgofast London Forbes’ annual top ten most expensive properties list shows that the credit crunch has even crept into streets paved with gold, as the homes are cheaper than last year and the wealthy are withdrawing properties from the market, unable to reach the price they want. Still, a property must be worth more than around £40 million to even make it onto the list, which only features publicly listed sales not private...

President Bush Buys Home in Dallas

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush have purchased a home in Dallas, Texas. The first couple will move out of their White House space when incoming President Barack Obama is inaugurated on January 20th, 2009, and will move to Dallas. Currently, the Bushes spend their time away from Washington at their ranch in Crawford, TX, which is south of Dallas. They plan to continue to visit the ranch, but reports indicate that they will make ...

Sterling Exchange Rates Plummet Again

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

2/12/08 London-Sterling recorded its biggest loss against the Dollar since 1992 yesterday - falling over 5% in one day.Volatility on the equity markets, along with poor UK sentiment and speculation about interest rate cuts later this week, led to a terrible day for the Pound, although markets have been steady this morning.If you need to transfer money overseas, these are worrying times. The US Dollar tends to gain value in times of worry, as in...

The High Line Comes Alive in New York

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

A 22-block stretch of west Manhattan is about to have a unique new park. The High Line is being created on top of the old elevated railway that runs along the Hudson River from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street. The park has helped to spur private investment, with about 1.5 million square feet under way and another 2.5 million square feet in the planning stages. When everything is finished, there will be some $4 billion in private investment along...

Orlando Now a Holiday Bargain

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Normally, Orlando is a busy and expensive holiday destination for travelers and even those with second homes. But with the economic uneasiness this year, Florida’s vacation capital has plenty of good deals from hotels to resorts to airfares, and there are many great deals for those who want their own place in the sun. Airlines are cutting prices to fill normally busy holiday flights to popular destinations, and Orlando is one of t...

US Celebrity Real Estate News

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

In the US celebrities have been making the news regarding various aspects concerning their luxury real estate. Famous US stars include Denis Richards, Peter Sampras and Suzanne Somers. Actress Denise Richards Famous for her near epic divorce and custody battle with now ex-husband Charlie Sheen more so than for any film roles she has had, Denise Richards is selling her home in Los Angeles. The five bedroom home is listed for approxim...

Overseas Property Investors Expectations Changing

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Overseas property investors have changed their expectations with the types of investment deals they expect to buy and still remain enthusiastic when the right investment is presented to them. These are the claims made by overseas property portal Homesgofast.com and international real estate agents who specialise in investment property. Homesgofast.com conducted a campaign featuring low priced real estate and what it described as ‘Irresisti...

New York to Stop Property Tax Rebate Checks

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

7/11/08 London-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said this week that he would halt a $400 property tax rebate to help fill a budget shortfall. The rebate checks have been sent out annually since 2004. The mayor detailed both budget cuts and tax increases that would help to offset the budget gap, which is estimated to reach as much as $4 billion in the next two years. Many members of the city council were dismayed at the announced tax...

The Dollar Reclaims Some Prestige

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

It was just a few months ago that the US dollar was seen as a bad investment. Having reached lows against the euro and near record lows against the UK pound, many investors and countries were talking about the end of the dollars dominance. Though the worldwide financial crisis may have had the US property sector as its instigator, it is also drawing many people and countries back to the popular currency. Since the spring, when the mortga...

Existing Home Sales Rise in Florida

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

For the first time in nearly three years, existing home sales in Florida rose during the month of September compared to a year earlier. This follows the national trend for the month as sales across the state jumped 24 percent from September of 2007. Additionally, condo sales also increased by 11 percent from a year ago. A total of 10,817 existing homes were sold across th...

US Existing Home Sales Rise in September

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Existing home sales increased in September, 2008 both from August and from the same time in 2007 according to the National Association of Realtors. Single family, townhomes, condominiums and co-op sales, which are all grouped in the existing home category, rose 5.5 percent from August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.18 million units for September. That is also a 1.4 percent increase from the 5.11 million unit pace in September of 2007. ...

US Looks to Increase Aid to Homeowners

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

As the economy tumbles and home foreclosures are mounting, US officials are trying to increase aid to homeowners. A senior Bush administration official was on Capitol Hill this week and told a Senate committee that they were working on a plan to help shoulder some of the losses on home loans that are modified. The new insurance program would be run by the Treasury Department under the $700 billion financial rescue plan that Congress pass...

Senator McCains Luxury Home in Auction

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Phoenix Arizona will be the scene for the auction of the decade with Senator McCain’s former house going to auction on 25th October 2008. According to the Phoenix New Times the luxury house is being listed for a 12 million dollars Owning a potential presidents former home appears to have some great advantages when it comes to selling the property. The owner of Senator John McCain’s former home is selling the house hoping to m...

US Housing Starts at Lowest Levels in Years

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The United States Commerce Department has released its latest housing report and the news isn’t good for the beleaguered housing and construction industry. For the month of September, 2008, new home construction starts fell to a seasonally adjusted rate of 817,000 houses. That’s a 6.3 percent decline from August and is more than 31 percent below September of 2007. It is also the lowest monthly rate for home starts since January, 1991....

Florida Ginn Resorts Property Up for Auction

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Some of the nicest new homes at Ginn Resorts in Florida are going up for auction on November 8, and bidding will take place online and in person in Orlando. These homes are located in three Ginn properties in the Sunshine State: Reunion Resort is located in the town of Reunion, just outside of Orlando; Bella Collina Golf Club, which is in Montverde just minutes to the west of Orlando; and Hammock Beach Resort is situated on the Atlantic Ocean in ...

Marr International Launch International Property Services

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Marr International Ltd the company behind the successful overseas property website Homesgofast .com have launched their new corporate website and along with it services aimed at the international property industry. At a time when most companies are reducing their expansion plans Marr International are moving toward global online marketing services specifically for the real estate industry. The company is now using the experience and expertise gai...

New Online Auction for Florida Homes

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

13/10/08 London- An auction of prime Florida property is taking place on Saturday 8 November at 3PM UK time. Unlike other property auctions this one is taking place online and is set to save bidders thousands in travel expenses and in the price they pay for a home. There are currently over 18 properties that will be auctioned off with original asking prices from the low $600,000s to $2.5 million. These homes are located at three distinc...

Florida Helping Housing Investors

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

While the US Congress put its financial bailout bill in place, the state of Florida was also working to help take the sting out of the economic problems that have hit the state and its real estate industry. Governor Charlie Crist recently signed an executive order that opens up $571 million in state-backed financing that developers and buyers of real estate can access. The hope is that developers will start building new homes and apartme...

Million Dollar Florida Homes At Online Auction Causing a Stir

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The prospect of owning a million dollar home in the sunshine state of Florida is causing quite a stir with British buyers at the overseas property website Homesgofast.com. Taking place on November 8th 2008 is an online auction that will see luxury Florida real estate going under the hammer. The luxury homes auction is being organized by Orlando-based British Homes Group, (www.britishhomesgroup.com) in collaboration with Stirling So...

Top 25 US Housing Markets

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The top US cities for house price appreciation have been rated by real estate market predictor HousingMarket.com and the Mississippi city of Biloxi is coming out on top for 2008. The city was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but looks to see a 4.9% appreciation in housing prices for all of 2008. The government sponsored GO Zone act, or Gulf Opportunity Zone, has helped to drive the reconstruction of the area. The number two ...

Citigroup Buys Wachovia Banking Operations

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

In the US its seems there in no end to big company buy outs the latest take over comes from Citigroup which have agreed to buy Wachovia’s banking operations, a move that that would concentrate power within the nation’s banking industry in the hands of a few giant lenders. Citigroup will absorb up to $42 billion of losses in the deal, with the FDIC covering any remaining losses, the government agency said M...

Middle Class Americans Forced To Sleep In Cars

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

A recent BBC News report highlights the alarming trend in people sleeping in their cars as a result of being made homeless after the collapse of the housing market and credit crunch. BBC Reporter Rajesh Mirchandani describes the depressing scene of a typical car park in Santa Barbara in which a car park across the street from luxury mansions sees the arrival of few cars that take up spaces in different corners. In each car, a woman, perh...

New US Home Sales Report

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

New home sales in the United States dropped in August to the slowest pace in 17 years as average prices also fell significantly, according to report released by the US Commerce Department. In August, new home sales fell by 11.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 460,000 units. That’s the slowest pace for new homes since 1991. Economists in the US had been expecting about a one percent drop in new home sales, so this d...

Explosive Demolition Wakes Miami Florida Residents

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The Miami Herald reports of the demolition The Miami Arena at about 8.06 am Sunday 21st September. The huge structure needed several controlled explosions to cause the collapse of the inner sections of the arena which had become victim of nearby competition. Video footage shows several explosions around the huge structure resulting in the implosion and collapse of the inner walls. The resulting smoke and dust was sent high into the Flo...

The Most Expensive US Housing Markets

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

According to a new study, eight out the top ten most expensive housing markets in the United States are in California, while eight Midwestern cities are among the ten most affordable. The Coldwell Banker Home Price Comparison index compares the average value of a 2,200 square foot house with four bedrooms, two and half bathrooms and a two car garage across the top 315 US markets. La Jolla, CA came in as the most expensive community in the country...

Las Vegas is Growing, Again

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Las Vegas is growing once again with a number of new real estate projects under way in the area. These condominiums, hotels and mixed use projects are transforming the gambling capital of the world into a more livable and, in many cases, sustainable city. The downtown area is in the midst of an unprecedented shift with its new public facilities, transportation projects, galleries, clubs, shops and more. Additionally, there are a number of new dev...

Olympic Architects Design High Rise in New York

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Herzog & de Meuron, the architects of Beijing’s Olympic Stadium, commonly called the Bird’s Nest, as well as Munich’s Allianz Arena, have designed a residential skyscraper in New York City called 56 Leonard Street. This is the Swiss firm’s first high rise property development and is a 57 floor condominium tower in the Tribeca area of Manhattan. The new development will be as unique as the architects’ oth...

Property for Sale from the Rich and Famous

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Denise Richards has just listed her California home for $4.25 million, which is $100,000 less than she paid for it. The ex-wife of Charlie Sheen and popular tabloid target says she wants to be closer to her kids, so she is selling her home in Los Angeles’ Hidden Homes neighborhood. The home is a traditional New England style house and has 5,600 square feet of space. There are five bedrooms with a master retreat and sitting area. Th...

South Florida Sales Up Prices Down

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Sales of existing homes in two south Florida counties are up, and that’s in large part due to significant price reductions. Sales for Palm Beach and Broward Counties, both north of Miami along the Atlantic Coast, were up in July over the previous year. According to the Florida Association of Realtors, buyers purchased 652 houses in Palm Beach County and 581 houses in Broward County. For Palm Beach County, the sales for July jumped ...

US Property Sales Up Prices Down

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Home prices in the United States fell in July, but the lower prices also helped to spur an increase in the number of homes sold. A report from the National Association of Realtors indicated that July home sales increased 3.1%, while the median existing home price was down 7.1% from a year ago. For July, 2008, the median for all housing types – single family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – was $212,400 compared to $228,600 ...

Global Credit Crunch Worsening

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The International Monetary Fund reports that the global credit crunch shows no signs of abating in its latest financial stability report. The IMF report indicates that falling house prices and slowing economic growth around the globe are hitting credit hard, as banks are under increasing pressure. "Credit quality across many loan classes has begun to deteriorate with declining house prices and slowing economic growth. Although bank...

Westgate City Center, Glendale, Arizona

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Westgate City Center is the hot new destination outside of Phoenix, Arizona. Located in the suburb of Glendale, this new urban center is has everything you could want in a place to live and work. Home to the University of Phoenix Stadium, where the Arizona Cardinals play their home football games, as well as the Jobing.com Arena, where the Phoenix Coyotes play their hockey games, this town is the place to be in the Phoenix area. One of t...

New Mall set for Bradenton, Florida

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

A 272-acre megamall is one step closer to construction in Bradenton, Florida after a judge recommended the acceptance of the current plan. University Town Center, to be located near Interstate 75 and University Parkway is expected to include 1.6 million square feet of retail space, 220,000 square feet of office space, 500 hotel rooms and about 1,750 residential units. "We are very excited that we received a favorable recommendation,...

Dollar Posts Dramatic Rally

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The US dollar posted a substantial rise during the first week of August, signally that its long, seven year slide might finally be at an end. At the end of the week, the Euro was worth just over 1.50 US dollars, and it looks to start this week off even lower. The UK Pound ended up worth just over 1.92 US dollars. The weekly rise for the dollar was the largest since 2000 and signaled good news for US investors, while indicating increasing...

Las Vegas Designer Homes Aimed at Overseas Buyers

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Not far from Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport and near the new South Point resort is a fantastic new residential building called LOFT 5. Inspired by the elegant lines of minimalist design, LOFT 5 combines the evolution of modern architecture with upscale amenities for an unparalleled lifestyle.The designer homes will be attractive to sophisticated overseas buyers who will also benefit from a weak US Dollar. Floor plans at LOFT 5 r...

Texas Attracts International Property Buyers

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

International buyers at the international real estate website Homesgofast.com are being attracted to the north side of Austin, Texas. Here the Stoneleigh Condominiums are proving to be one of the area’s hottest condo projects. The Austin area is one of the most popular in the country, and is a high-tech and educational center for the state. This fantastic project offers great living in a great area as well as a hot inves...

Best Places to Invest Foreign Real Estate

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE), annually tracks the best places to invest according to its members. The group is a non-profit trade association and represents some 200 investors from around the world with over $700 billion US in overseas real estate. While some markets are seeing definite downturns, such as the US and UK, these are often places where investors will turn in times of instability as the long-te...

Orlando Has Less Homes For Sale

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

While it isn’t the end of the real estate problems for south and central Florida, news out of Orlando indicates that things may be starting to turn around. Individuals and families are moving into new homes in the metro Orlando area faster than the homes are being constructed, causing the inventory of available new homes to shrink, according to a just-released report by Metrostudy, a housing and real estate industry research group. ...

President Bush Signs Housing Bill

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

July 30, 2008 – President Bush signed into a law that is intended to help rescue the beleaguered housing market in the United States today. The new housing law has two main objectives as it offers more affordable mortgages to homeowners at risk of foreclosure and also seeks to stabilize the country’s two largest mortgage finance companies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The law sets up a $300 billion fund to help distressed...

Nicholas Cage is Selling Property in Las Vegas

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Nicholas Cage is selling his Las Vegas property. The star of the National Treasure movies is asking a mere $9.95 million for his 14,000 square foot home. It also has garage space for 16 cars and sits on a lot of .36 acre. The house has 7 bedrooms and includes a movie theatre and an elevator. Mr. Cage has become known is real estate circles as a savvy investor in property. In January of this year, he sold his Newport Beach, California ho...

US Housing Starts at 17-Year Low

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Construction of single-family homes in the United States fell to its slowest pace in 17 years in June according to recently released statistics. The US Commerce Department reported that builders began work on new homes in June at an annualized rate of 647,000 units, which is a 5.3% drop from May. That is the slowest pace for new homes in the US since January, 1991. While single family home starts are not doing well, apartment building st...

Donald Trump Sells Florida Home for $100 Million

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

American real estate mogul and businessman Donald Trump sold his house in Palm Beach, Florida this week for $100 million US. According to Trump’s personal spokeswoman, the $100 million sales price is the most ever paid for a single home or estate in the United States. The Palm Beach mansion was sold to Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev. Called Maison de L’Amitie, the property has several buildings and approximately 60,00...

Euro Hits Another Record High Against Dollar

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

July17 – The Euro hit a record high against the dollar this week before falling back just a bit on a decrease in oil prices. According to the European Central Bank, on Tuesday, July 15 the reference rate for the Euro was 1.599 dollars. During the day the exchange rate was actually over 1.60, hitting an all-time high at $1.6037. The dollar got a boost from the Federal Reserve, with economic data indicating that the next Fed move wil...

Abu Dhabi Purchases Share of Chrysler Building

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The government of Abu Dhabi recently bought a 90% stake in New York City’s famed Chrysler Building, according to news reports in the New York Times. Tishman Speyer Properties, which owns the ground underneath the art deco skyscraper, will still have a controlling interest in the property. The 77-story tower, which was opened in 1930, has long been one of Manhattan’s prime properties. Some of the unique features of the buildin...

International Real Estate Prices Fall

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The International real estate price boom that has seen investors heading buying overseas property could be at an end according to the latest Global Property Guide survey of house price indicators. 21 countries in the guide saw decreases in house prices however 13 countries in house price indices saw prices rise during the year to end Q1 2008. It is clear that where house prices are not falling, they are clearly losing momentum. ...

Realtors Association & Overseas Buyers in Florida Boost

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The Florida Association of Realtors and international real estate portal Homesgofast.com both note positive movements in the Florida property market. The realtors’ associations’ most recent sales report shows that there was an upswing in existing home and condominium sales in April, 2008 over the previous month. 11,200 homes were sold in April, while 3,900 condos were sold during the month. Homesgofast.com report that April saw the ...

Simon Cowell No X Factor in Beverley Hills

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

American Idol and X factor judge Simon Cowell has still not moved into his house in Beverley Hills despite having bought the home back in 2006. Even at a price tag of USD$8 million the home was not exactly what the multi millionaire wanted. Mr Cowell demolished the existing luxury home to build his own dream home which today still remains unfinished. Simon Cowell shot to fame after his unique and cutting remarks on talent shows earned hi...

Good News Its 11am for the US Housing Market

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

CEO Nicholas Marr of International real estate website Homesgofast.com gives his angle on the US housing market. I am a unique position running an international property website which attracts thousands of buyers each day. I observe month by month which overseas property market is attracting buyers. It is easy to pick up new trends and also what investors are getting excited about. Types of international buyers I split...

Foreign Currency Update By Halo Financial

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

1st May 2008-Foreign Currency specialists Halo Financial report that US interest rates were cut, as expected, by 0.25 percent last night as the Federal Reserve moved to increase the availability of cheap money in order to offset the economic downturn. The detail is explored below but the effect has been to weaken the US Dollar against most currencies. The Bank of England has also been in the news this morning after comments suggesting th...

Arizona Real Estate Sending Out Mixed Messages

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The Arizona real estate market is sending out mixed messages to international investors considering buying property in the region. The market reports an increase in sales in the condo resale sector whilst at the same time a bank that has expanding into the area records big losses due to the slump in real estate sales. Despite a troubled housing market in the United States, the low price (< $200,000) condominiums in the Arizona southea...

Live Auctions of Florida Property With No Reserve

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

15/4/08-Following the recent success of January’s live Absolute Auction, another auction is to be held this month by Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty in association with The British Homes Group. A top Florida Developer is putting scores of properties on the auction market with no reserve prices and no minimum. The luxury apartments on a development in a fantastic location in Florida will be sold to the highest bidder &nd...

Developer Gives Free Florida Holidays For UK Residents

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

THE BRITISH HOMES GROUP Florida, who provide sales and loans advice to UK property owners in Florida, is giving away a luxury family holiday as part of a package of incentives to encourage UK buyers to consider a LENNAR HOME. Lennar Homes is the third largest developer in the USA and Florida’s leading developer in 2007. The free family holiday, worth up to $7,500, includes: Limousine rides to and from y...

US Real Estate Go Zone Attractive To Overseas Buyers

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

International real estate buyers have been encouraged to examine the case for buying property in the Go Zone by the head of overseas property portal Homesgofast.com. Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the US Congress passed the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act, or GO Zone Act. The Act provides special tax incentives to spur rebuilding in the hurricane-damaged areas of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama along the Gulf of Mexico coast...

US Home Sales See Small Increase

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

4/04/08-The most recent housing reports out the United States indicate that existing home sales were up in February, the first time that sales rose seven months. Most analysts note that this is probably an anomaly, brought on in large part by significantly lower home prices, but they expect sales to begin increasing later this year on a consistent basis. The median national home price for February was $195,500, which was 8.2% lower than a year ag...

Florida Bus Tours of Repossessed Properties

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The credit crunch has taking its toll on numerous home owners in the sunshine state of Florida. This has created a genuine buyers market where bargains are ripe for the picking. Real estate agents in Florida have now come up with a new marketing technique that will help buyers see all the best deals by using bus tours of foreclosed properties. The Orlando Sentinel newspaper reports of the new method in real estate marketing. It foll...

Sterling and Dollar Both Looking Uncertain

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

25/03/08- Moneycorp the foreign currency specialists report on last weeks trading activity highlighting sterling and the US Dollar. Having traded at $2.02 last Monday morning the Pound dipped two and a half cents before rebounding on Tuesday almost to $2.03. From there, apart from a brief hesitation early on Wednesday it was down again, this time to $1.9750. The long weekend kept things quiet until early this morning when the Far East marke...

Moneycorp Help British Property Owners in Florida

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

24/03/2008-Moneycorp, the foreign exchange specialist, today announced a new alliance with LynxBanc Mortgage Corporation, a specialist international mortgage provider, which will provide British property owners in Florida with a safe way to stabilise their monthly mortgage payments. The alliance will appeal to the many British based Floridian property owners by providing them with a facility to fix their mortgage payments for up to two y...

Investors nervous about Sterling

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

17/03/08-Economic data from the UK presented a mixed bag. Industrial and manufacturing production figures kicked off the week with a reminder that activity is slowing. Producer prices were high enough to show that the Bank of England still has grounds for concern that inflation remains a threat. Although manufacturers are evidently absorbing much of the increased cost of materials and energy - up by 19 per cent in the year to February - they are ...

Las Vegas The New International Property Hotspot

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The overseas property portal Homesgofast.com has seen a sharp rise in international investors seeking investment property in Las Vegas. The US housing market is seeing foreclosures and mortgage default rates hitting record levels. It appears that overseas investors are seeking to capitalise on the situation by investing in the worlds entertainment capital city Las Vegas may be attracting overseas investors for a number of reasons. It is ...

Moneycorp Report Winning Week for Sterling

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

11/03/2008-Moneycorp the foreign currency specialists report on last weeks action in the currency markets. Sterling stayed within half a cent of its $1.9850 opening level until Wednesday morning when a one cent dip was followed immediately by a two cent rally. On Thursday the $2 barrier was broken and Sterling topped out at $2.02 on Friday afternoon. It was trading within 25 ticks of that level when London opened this morning, more than three cen...

Weak Dollar is Bringing more Europeans to the US

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The United States Department of Commerce released 2007 tourism figures and it is clear that the weak US dollar is bringing more people from overseas to the country. In 2007 there were an estimated 23.2 million visits from outside North America to the US, up almost 7% from 2006. The largest place of origin for visitors was Western Europe, where the strong Euro and UK Pound are having a big impact. At the end of the day on February 28, t...

Dollar & Sterling Foreign Currency Update by Moneycorp

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

18/02/2008- The British economy generated some intriguing inflation figures. First was the Producer Price Index, which measures manufacturers\' changing costs (input) and the prices they are charging for products as they leave the factory (output). Because they represents the first two steps on the way to the shop, PPI input and output prices are a pointer to what will eventually happen to consumer prices. In the year to January input prices went...

Foreign Currency Summary Report For Sterling

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

London 12th February 2008- Moneycorp report on the movements behind Sterling last week as it touched highs close to $1.98 Last week\'s market was typified by strange reactions to odd figures. For Sterling the first of these was the Halifax house price index. It had been expected to fall and it didn\'t. Yet there was no relief rally for the Pound. A surprise improvement in the UK services sector Purchasing Managers\' Index ...

Real Estate Agent Sued Over House Price

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Real estate agents in the US will be looking closely at a case where one of their own is being sued by a former client. The disgruntled home buyer is taking the agent to court to try and claim compensation for buying an over priced house. The claimant alleges that the real estate agent was aware that the home was over valued by $30,000 and hid this fact to claim a larger commission. The New York Times reported that real estate lawyers and bro...

Foreign Currency Sterling & Dollar Report

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

4/2/2008-Sterling started the week full of promise, pushing up through $1.98 to make repeated tests of $1.9550. On Friday the music stopped and the Pound slumped nearly three cents. It eventually found support at $1.9650 and renewed enthusiasm in the Far East this morning had taken it almost to $1.98 by the time London opened. It was therefore virtually unchanged on the week.There were some surprises from the Dollar, both in terms of the US...

National Association of Realtors Report

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

According to the National Association of Realtors, (NAR) the final number of existing homes sold for 2007, including condos, single family houses and co-ops, came in at 5.652 million units. That’s compared to 6.478 million units sold in 2006. While prices and mortgages remain relatively low, making it a good time to purchase a home in the United States, the market has been showing an uncharacteristic weakness, according the NAR&rsq...

Michael Jackson May Lose Neverland

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Trying to raise USD23 million in mortgage finance for a home is not easy in today’s credit squeeze environment. This stark reality is facing Michael Jackson who now faces losing his fantasy land home Neverland. The mortgage broker trying to find fresh financing for Jackson on his $23 million loan held by Fortress Investments is finding it near impossible to find a willing lender. If Neverland is not refinanced, Fortress can ...

Manhattan Prices Remain Strong

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Indicators out of New York show that apartment sales in Manhattan continue to defy the trends in the rest of the United States and are setting new records. According to recently released statistics from four major New York City real estate firms, as reported in the New York Times, average prices for the fourth quarter of 2007 were up 17.6% from a year earlier. That means that the average sale price for an apartment in Manhattan was $1.4 million...

Rupert Murdoch in Grand Property Renovation New York

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Homes of the famous and very wealthy are rarely seen by the public. Rupert Murdoch, head of Newscorp and one of the world’s wealthiest men, is no exception, but renovations to his Manhattan apartment have allowed a brief glimpse into his grand plans. According to a recent article in the New York Times, Murdoch’s triplex apartment on 834 Fifth Avenue is undergoing major renovations, and the work that is being undertaken is so big and...

Real Estate TV Now Part of Fox International

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

London 09/01/2008-Overseas property on the TV is set to take a leap forward as Fox International Channels (FIC) announced today it has acquired a controlling stake in UK based media company Real Estate TV (RETV). With its launch three years ago, RETV created a whole new media vertical specifically addressing the needs of viewers interested in real estate. Currently you may find them on Sky Digital, BT V...

Florida Home Buyers Discover Lower Keys

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

London 7/1/2008 -Florida home buyers are discovering a part of Florida that has escaped the crowds and development associated with a modern Florida. Most overseas buyers interested in Florida have heard of Key West, the westernmost of the string of islands along Florida’s southern coast. But just to the east of Key West, for some 36 miles to Marathon in the middle of the Keys, are the Lower Keys. These have long been the forgotten Keys; the...

City Money Moving to the Suburbs

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

London 7/1/2008-While property prices in many parts of the US and UK are experiencing some upheaval, two major cities have had relatively stable, if not rising, prices. New York City, and in particular Manhattan, and London, are still the leaders in their respective countries for housing prices. While the strong market in each of these cities has made it difficult to many to buy in, another phenomenon is the city dwellers cashing out and moving t...

Florida Luxury Property Auction No Reserve!

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Two top Florida Developers are putting scores of properties on the auction market with no reserve prices and no minimum. The luxury apartments on developments in two of the best locations in Florida will be sold to the highest bidder however low that bid might be. The January sale clear out starts at 11am on January 19th when Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty, in association with The British Homes Group, will hold a li...

Moneycorp report on US Dollar & Sterling

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

London 7/1/2008-A main feature of the currency markets over the festive period was investors' selective vision with regard to economic data. For the Dollar especially, movements took place as often as not despite, not because of the figures. The end-of-year squaring of short Dollar positions that took four cents off Euro/Dollar went on for reasons of strategy or risk management, not particularly because of any new-found optimism for the US econom...

New York City Property A New Design

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

A new luxury 11-story condominium in New York City is currently being planned and designed by noted Japanese architect Shigeru Ban. This new project is on West 19th Street in what is called the West Chelsea section of Manhattan. This ultra-exclusive building has only eight units in it, with a 1,949 square foot condominium going for $4.1 million USD. The building gets its name from the retractable metal shutters and large windows of the u...

Europeans Have a Money Advantage

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

With the record lows of the US dollar against the Euro and 30-year lows against the English pound, Europeans have a distinct advantage when it comes to buying things American. This is true for all types of items, from retail goods to real estate. Those who want to invest in property in the US are in an enviable financial situation. Unfortunately, the opposite is true for Americans who live and work in Europe. Many are having a harder time in rece...

New York Real Estate Market is Stable

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The high end real estate market in New York City remains relatively stable, despite the problems that are being seen elsewhere in the United States. With some of the most expensive and most sought-after properties anywhere, the New York real estate market is in pretty good shape, particularly when compared to the rest of the country. According to news reports from the New York Times and other media, sales of the most sought after, high e...

US Dollar Update by Moneycorp

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

London 10/12/07- The Pound remains strong against the US Dollar despite some falls last week. It peaked just short of $2.07 on Monday and again on Tuesday before dropping sharply. It touched a low of $2.02 on Thursday and has spent its time since then climbing laborious back above $2.03.The Monetary Policy Committee’s interest rate decision overshadowed Sterling’s whole week. Initially it just looked as though investors were clearing ...

Exclusive Hawaii Resort is Expanding

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Along the Kona Coast on the big island of Hawaii is the exclusive golf resort of Hokuli`a. This 1,550 acre development has recently opened up a new section of building lots to the general public. Previously, housing was only available to club members, but now there are plans to have as many as 600 units on the property Currently, though, there are only a limited number of sites are available. This is truly a spectacular part of the...

Florida Mortgages Now Better

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

International buyers could well be the key to kick starting the Florida property market and a recent alliance may be evidence of this. Stirling Sotheby’s International Realty has joined forces with British Home Loans Florida. The Florida based international mortgage brokerage company specializes in arranging financing for British, European and other 'Foreign National' homebuyers in the U.S. The two companies working together...

US Dollar & Sterling Update

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

London 3/11/07-There was some good news for the Dollar on Monday night. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, a sovereign wealth fund, announced that it would invest $7.5 billion in Citigroup, the troubled US financial conglomerate. The investment represents about 5 per cent of the group and is almost enough to cover the losses it has incurred since summer. The market's interpretation was that if ADIA had enough faith in the US financial sector to ma...

MTV Cribs Selling Celebrity Houses

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

29/11/07 London-MTV Cribs a TV show that allows anyone interested in celebrity lifestyles to see how their favourite stars live is now being used as a marketing tool to sell property. Successful rapper 50 Cent is going to use the show as a platform to help sell his luxury home. The multi millionaire is selling his mansion after owning the home for only 3 years at a cool $18.5 million price tag The 19 bedroom property located in Farm...

Foreign Currency Market Update

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

26/11/07 London- Last Monday's $2.0450 opening level was the low of the week. With the exception of Friday's spike above $2.0750 Sterling spent most of its time between $2.05 and $2.07. When the London market opened this morning it was close to the top of that range.Thursday's Thanksgiving holiday was not celebrated by the Dollar. It had little indeed to be thankful for other than micro-improvements in a couple more statistics relating to the res...

Overseas Property Investors & Western New York

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Western New York Real Estate is offering extreme value for money for overseas property investors. One UK based agency has now sold over 100 Western New York homes to UK investors who are keen to get in on the action. Homes are available from only £10,000 and coupled with a strong pound the state is proving irresistible. When it comes to real estate prices and growth the western part of New York State has traditionally lagged behind...

US New Home Sales Up For September 07

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

News reports from the United States provided some much needed good news for the beleaguered housing market. Sales of new homes were up 4.8% for the month of September, rising to a seasonally adjusted rate of 770,000 for the year from the August rate of 735,000. The latest figures are according to the US Commerce Department in news reports from Reuters. The median price for a new sold in September rose to $238,000, an increase of 2.5% fr...

Foreigners Buyers in Manhattan

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The New York City real estate market is seeing an influx of investors from abroad, helping to keep the market going strong. Many of these overseas property buyers have no intention of living on Manhattan, where most of the property is being purchased. Rather, they see it as a good opportunity for rental income and a long term investment that will appreciate. An article in the New York Times highlights this trend and notes that condominiums are ...

US Dollar and Sterling Moneycorp Advice

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

London- 29th October 2007. The Dollar and Sterling still seem to be the talk of the town; the US Dollar staged a swift rally in a thin market simply because investors were not prepared to chase the Euro higher after the weekend's record high. Without the Euro to drive things forward Sterling was subject to a similar round of profit-taking. Some innocent bystanders will have been hurt in the scramble but most simply stood aside and waited for the ...

US New Home Sales Rose 4.8% in September

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

GE Money�s British Mortgages Abroad Ceases Lending in Florida

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Florida, 18th October 2007 – GE Money’s British Mortgages Abroad, the most popular mortgage lender with British homebuyers in Florida, is no longer accepting mortgage applications. In a surprise announcement on Friday, GE Money advised US brokers by email that British Mortgages Abroad would not accept any mortgage applications received after close-of-business that day. GE Money’s Duncan Berry said in his email...

Brooklyn Offers an Affordable Alternative to Manhattan

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Just across the East River from the skyscrapers – and their equally tall real estate prices - of Manhattan is Brooklyn. This borough, still part of New York City, has long bee seen as an affordable alternative to the high prices in downtown New York on Manhattan Island. Some neighbourhoods have become quite popular and now rival the more expensive places in the city, but for many people who want to live in the city, Brooklyn is a good optio...

Sterling Against The US Dollar

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

London 15th October 2007-Sterling explored a range of almost two and a quarter cents, first dropping to $2.0250 then rising to $2.0475 before falling back to Tuesday's low. On Friday it added a cent to open this week 50 ticks lower than a week ago. Japanese, Canadian and US holidays made for a thin market last Monday. It set the tone for a week of indecisiveness that included several changes of direction for Sterling/Dollar. With little ...

Millionaire Homes at The Plaza Hotel New York City

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The Plaza Hotel in downtown New York City is one of the icons of the city, located at the intersection of Central Park and Fifth Avenue. For many visitors to Manhattan and New York, stars and regular people alike, nothing has been as representative as staying at the Plaza when in town. Now, part of the famous 100-year old hotel is being turned into condominiums for those who actually want to own a piece of the legendary building. Some famous gues...

Foreign Currency News By Moneycorp

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

London 8th October 2007- Foreign currency news is always important to overseas property investors and with the strength of the pound against the US Dollar currency news is playing important element to the decision making process. Having begun last week above $2.0450 Sterling took three days to slide below $2.03 before a recovery on Thursday and Friday that brought it back up to $2.04 in readiness for this Monday's London opening.From M...

Market is Still Tough for Sellers in Florida

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The latest sales information from the Florida Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors shows that the property market for homes and condominiums is still trying to find steady ground. Unit sales and prices both fell in August for the state as a whole. Sales of existing homes fell to 11,279 in August, 2007 from 15,252 the previous year, for a 26% decrease. While that is a fairly substantial fall, the number is about what sa...

International Real Estate Buyers & US Housing Market

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The tide could well be turning for US real estate as International Real Estate buyers slowly turn their heads towards the US. Overseas property portal Homesgofast.com and National Association of Realtors report that overseas investors are increasingly in search of US real estate bargains. UK and European buyers are spoilt for choice when searching to buy property abroad from a range of emerging property regions such as Brazil, India, an...

US Dollar & Sterling Make Busy Times In Foreign Exchange

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Sterling kept pace with the Dollar for most of the week, staying mainly within half a cent of its $2.03 opening level. On Thursday the wheels came off and Sterling headed lower. It was down to $2.00 by Monday morning and pointing South. Just for a change the Dollar was not the victim of choice during the week. It did lose about a cent to the Euro but actually managed to head upwards against the Yen and, of course, Sterling. The US econom...

Pending Home Sales Make Dollar Uncomfortable

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The Dollar had another uncomfortable week. Its losses were due almost entirely to two bad economic data, each of which cost it an almost instant cent. Having been lulled into a false sense of security by Monday's Labour Day holiday and a softer but adequate services sector PMI on Tuesday the Dollar took its first smack in the teeth on Wednesday from news that Pending Home Sales had fallen by 12 per cent in July. It was the biggest ever m...

Overseas Property Agents the Brits are Coming

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Traditionally the summer months see a slow down in overseas property purchases and traffic reduces on many overseas property websites. The autumn is around the corner and a new upsurge in the booming overseas property market is predicted in the coming weeks. New research from Moneycorp, the UK’s based foreign exchange specialist, reveals that the number of people buying abroad rises by as much as 26 per cent in the autumn mon...

Brad Pitt Helps New Orleans Rebuild

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Actor Brad Pitt recently visited the construction site of a new housing project he helped set up in hurricane-battered New Orleans. The low-income housing project that is being backed by Global Green USA seeks to provide affordable, environmentally friendly housing in the city’s lower Ninth Ward, which was hit particularly hard by the hurricane and flooding. According to the New Orleans Times Picayune newspaper, this is the first new housin...

US House Prices Drop in 2007

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The median house price in the United States is expected to fall for the first time this year since the government began tracking prices in 1950. An article in the New York Times says that the decline will be modest, from 1-2% and may even continue into 2008 and 2009. Over the past year there has been a slowdown in certain markets that were at record levels, such as Florida and Northern California. This news report, however, notes that p...

US Home Builders Give Huge Incentives To Buy Real Estate

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

New homebuilders are offering lots of incentives for potential buyers across the United States. Incentives such as free swimming pools, taxes paid and initial mortgage payments are being offered at some of the pricier new home developments, according to a news report in the Wall Street Journal and Yahoo! Incentives like these have been offered in the hardest hit areas of the US housing market for a while now – Florida, in particular. With t...

New York City Real Estate Shows Gains

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

While the rest of the United States real estate market is in a bit of a slump, the New York City residential market is still solid. In a recent survey reported in New York real estate magazine The Real Deal (www.therealdeal.net) sales are up for the second quarter and prices have increased from the beginning of the year. According to a report from appraisal firm Miller Samuel, as noted in The Real Deal, Manhattan sales numbers jumped ...

Florida Home Sellers throwing in Cars & Pool Tables

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

In the most recent data available, according to the Florida Association of Realtors (www.floridarealtors.org), home sales in the state totaled 12,607 for the month of May. That’s down 34% from last year, when there were 19,072 homes sold. The median price has also dropped from $250,100 a year ago to $237,000 this May. With the market in a bit of low spot for home sellers, now is a good time to get some great deals on homes...

International Real Estate News

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The world of International Real Estate has seen some huge acquisitions by some of the worlds largest real estate companies including Colliers International and Morgan Stanley Real Estate. Colliers International, commercial real estate services, announced the purchase of Torode Realty, Ltd., a leading commercial real estate firm specializing in industrial real estate brokerage. “The addition of Torode reinforces Co...

US Housing market slows as Sterling Flirts with 2 Dollar pound.

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Overseas property investors buying in the US or in countries that have currency pegged to the Dollar will have kept a keen eye on the foreign exchange markets last week . Sterling flirted with the $2 Dollar level, at one point dropping back to $1.9925. On Thursday 28th June 07 a more serious attack took it above that resistance level and on Monday morning it touched above $2.01. The US residential property market continued to ...

Florida Continues to be a Buyer�s Market

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The news out of southern Florida continues to be a mixture of good and bad news. Good news for anyone looking to purchase or invest in property now, not so good for those who need to sell right now. The market is definitely a buyer’s market, and with exchange rates being what they are international buyers can get some great deals on both existing housing and off-plan property. In recent news articles in the South Fl...

Dollar runs out of steam helping overseas property buyers

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

It appears to be a great time to buy property in the US for those with Sterling in their pockets as its recovers much of the previous week's losses against the US Dollar. Moneycorp currency specialists report that at the beginning of this week it found a burst of new support and Sterling was trading above $1.98 when London opened for the week.The Dollar got off to a slow start. There were no US economic data to provide direction on Monday o...

Florida Homes Going Green

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

While businesses and individuals increasingly look to save electricity, recycle and generally work with more environmentally friendly methods, the building industry has also started to get involved. Real estate investors, both domestic and international, have noticed this trend and are also looking for more green homes in which to invest. The Florida Green Building Coalition (www.floridagreenbuilding.org) is a group of builders, suppliers ...

Rapper 50 cent selling Mike Tysons former home

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Successful Rap Artist 50 Cent real name Curtis James Jackson is selling his 52 room Connecticut mansion that he has reportedly spent some 6million Dollars on in renovations. The house which was once owned by Boxer Mike Tyson was bought by 50cent in September 2003 for a cool 4.1 million Dollars. The house benefits from its own Helicopter Pad and offers plenty of room covering 48,000 plus square feet/ Cu...

Millions visiting Disney Florida

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida once again tops the attendance list for amusement parks worldwide. According to a report recently issued by TEA/ERA (http://www.connectingindustry.com/pdfs/TEA-ERAAttendance06.pdf), the Orlando area resort had an estimated 16.64 million visitors in 2006, up 3 percent from the previous year. Disney’s other Orlando area parks, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney’s Anim...

Florida property appears all good to overseas property portal

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The Florida housing market has never looked so appealing to international investors according to the overseas property portal Homesgofast.com. The UK based company has just returned from a week with realtors in the Miami and Central Florida area to see for themselves what's on offer to overseas property buyers. Nicholas Marr CEO ‘ Our visit has shown us with our own eyes that buyers can achieve true value for money in ...

South Florida Real Estate News

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The real estate market in Florida continues to struggle for sellers while buyers have many options available. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper, www.sun-sentinel.com, notes that Broward County, just north of Miami, had both good and not so good news. Prices of existing homes rose a bit in March, which was the first year-over-year increase since last May. The number of homes that sold, however, fell 25% from 804 a year ago to 601 in...

Sterling The US Dollar & property investors

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Overseas property investors have been paying particular attention to the latest development in the currency markets. The smallest fluctuations in the money markets can make a huge difference to the price of a property abroad and requires careful planning with a specialist broker. Moneycorp offer investors a daily brief to help them keep up to date with the foreign exchange markets. Moneycorp report that US real estate...

Walt Disney World Florida Tops Attendance List Again

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Buyers Market in Orlando Florida

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Some recent information out of Central Florida continues to show how much the market has shifted in the past year from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market. While there are still some communities and cities that have seen considerable gains in prices and value, the overall market has definitely changed. That means it is a great time to buy, and an even better time for international investors with the dollar being so low against forei...

Overseas property investors & 2 Dollar pound

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

International real estate investors will be breaking open the champagne at today’s news of the 2 Dollar Pound. Florida real estate for example has already low prices and many attractive incentives for investors this coupled with a weak Dollar makes investing in Florida real estate irresistible. Sterling touched its highest level against the Dollar for 26 years. Many forecasters believe that the Dollar has further weakness in store but...

Florida has Great Opportunities for International Investor

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Florida has been one of the hottest real estate markets-literally and figuratively - in the United States and worldwide over the past several years, and recent news indicates that is still the place to invest. While overall the market has slowed, there are still many areas that are going strong and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Financial magazine and website Forbes (www.forbes.com) has three Florida c...

Florida real estate, currency & the overseas buyer

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

A unique combination of a buyers market in Florida and the weak US dollar makes an irresistible combination for overseas property buyers considering buying real estate in Florida. Moneycorp Foreign Currency specialsts report a surge in foreign exchange enquiries from savvy US property investors, as the Pound leaps to a 14 year high against the Dollar. Florida realtors report that Florida real estate is in demand from US and internation...

Moneycorp Currency advice on a near 2 Dollar Pound

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Foreign currency specialist MoneyCorp report the edging closer of the 2 Dollar Pound .Starting from $1.97 last Tuesday Sterling had moved convincingly above $1.98 by Friday and was looking at $1.99 this Monday morning 16th April 2007.Sterling performed well against an ailing US Dollar last week but did not do so well elsewhere. There was good news from the British Retail Consortium, which reported further sales growth in March, and ...

International real estate investors Florida is ripe

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The real estate boom across the United States over the past several years slowed considerably in 2006. The slowing market has meant that in certain areas there is an oversupply of new and resale properties on the market. In one of the hotter markets in recent years, South Florida, this is quite true. For international real estate investors, retirees and those just looking for a property in the sun, this is actually great news. While some isolated...

Million dollar real estate just given away

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

In a remarkable move a Japanese Billionaire Genshiro Kawamato is opening up the doors to luxury living for low income families in Hawaii. Genshiro Kawamato is dedicating 8 of his multimillion dollar homes to low income native Hawaiian families. He is allowing all the families to live rent free for up to 10 years. Kawamoto owns dozens of office buildings in Tokyo under the name Marugen and his been buying and selling real estate in Hawaii ...

US Visa scams & Florida Brits on TV

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

One of the UK's most popular documentary television programmes ‘Tonight with Trevor McDonald’ featured a documentary concerning US Visa scams where the majority of the victims were the British. The programme also bought into question the immigration policy where Brits who had bought Florida property and invested in the region where not guaranteed the right to live in the state. It featured one couple who ran a company employin...

Koreans are big spenders on international real estate

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

When it comes to buying property abroad the South Koreans know how to flash the cash. In fact Koreans spent $780 million on real estate abroad in 2006, 34 times more than in the previous year. Blomberg.com reports that the surge followed the relaxation of government controls imposed during the 1997-1998 Asian financial crises. This year, the Finance Ministry tripled the maximum that individuals can spend on overseas investment ...

Becks, Posh Spice, Tom Jones & luxury US real estate

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

February 2007 seems to be a good month to buy, sell and search for luxury real estate in Los Angeles especially if you are a British Celebrity. Posh Spice has been in search of her dream home in Los Angeles California whilst singer Tom Jones sold his luxury Bel- Air home to a Spanish designer. Early February saw Victoria Beckham house hunting in Los Angeles in the city's smartest neighbourhoods. Los Angeles is synonymous with &quo...

Donald Trump golf courses help sell homes

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Marr international Ltd a UK based property marketing company have found that Golf Courses are proving key factors when selling millionaire homes. Whilst marketing a 4 million dollar luxury home from Palos Verdes Estates California they found that overseas buyers would have discounted the Californian home if it was not for Google Earth calculating the distance from the house to Trump National Golf course. Nicholas Marr CEO ‘ Wealt...

Florida property owners get cheaper home insurance

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Florida property owners will be thanking their lucky stars as officials announce big cuts in home insurance and helps secure the future for the Floridian real estate market. Florida home owners pay some of highest home insurance premiums in the US & what has made things worse was the anticipated increases this year of up to 80%. This would have left many Florida property owners in a position were they saw insurance as too e...

Florida real estate a silver lining from overseas property buyers

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The talk of London Town is the Christmas bargains on offer in stores across the shops in New York and in other cities across the USA. Surely this must mean a real estate bonanza for overseas property buyers looking for investment property overseas. The UK housing market has a shortage of homes for sale leading to constantly increasing property prices. Investors are not getting value for money in the British competitive market...

Florida property time to look not buy?

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Overseas property buyers may be changing their minds about emerging markets and look to Florida property as the US dollar continues to slide. It seems the ideal time to buy real estate in the sunshine state but is this really true? The Florida property market has always been an attractive place to buy overseas property. The attraction of Florida real estate to the overseas buyer includes: Highly regulated real estate industry gi...

The Windy City is Now the Tax-y City

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

When you’ve invested in real estate in Chicago, Illinois, you already know what kinds of benefits you’re getting. It’s a great city with lots to do, excellent restaurants and exciting sporting events. You can live near the water without the problems of hurricanes and you get to enjoy all of the seasons – from brisk falls to snowy winters, mild springs, and hot summers. It’s a place where many propert...

Florida property market indicates a silver lining

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The Florida Association of Realtors recently released numbers indicating that Florida’s home sales for the year slowed significantly, when compared with figures from the year before. As the sales decreased, so have the purchase price of homes. In third quarter of 2006, Florida's housing sector continued to reflect the US national trend which is witnessing higher inventory levels of homes available for sale and a slowdown in sales....

Californian real estate winners and losers

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Californian home owners and Californian house buyers receive news this week that could change both their fortunes. Bloomber.com report worrying news in the Californian housing market concerning California mortgage defaults. Mortgage arrears and subsequent defaults rose to their highest level in four and a half years. Banks and other mortgage providers sent 26,705 default notices to California homeowners in the third quarter, more than dou...

Florida property tax reforms

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

South Florida property prices are becoming beyond the reach of key workers in the sunshine state. New residential towers being built in Miami-Dade and Broward counties are now beyond the reach of teachers or public servants and other key workers. Calls are being made by Florida home owners for State legislators to help by lifting the cap on the Sadowski Trust Fund. The fund is intended to spur affordable housing. Property tax i...

Luxury property for sale $125 million

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

America has seen one of its most expensive homes put on the market at $125 million. The luxury home owned by billionaire Donald Trump is in Palm Beach Florida. For this magical price tag you get extensive marble flooring, 24-karat gold fixtures in the bathrooms, fountains, a large pool and 475 feet of oceanfront out the back. The home which covers 80,000 square feet is spread over several buildings. Sara Clemence, an editor for For...

Millionaire home owner rents for $50K per month!

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The New York Times reports that US millionaire home owners are having a hard time selling their homes and are turning to wealthy tenants to save the day. Jack Cohen, a developer in suburban New York, is having a difficulty selling a house that he built and put on the market for $3.75 million. Sheldon Dubrow, who is also a builder, is finding selling his Millionaire home in Brookline Massachusetts a struggle and has n...

Foreign investors pushing up New York apartment prices

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The value of apartment properties in Manhattan is currently increasing, boosted by foreign investment, according to reports. A strong local economy and Wall Street bonuses have also played an important part in supporting this sector of US property, according to Reuters, despite the fact that sales have fallen by 14.8 per cent. According to the Prudential Douglas Elliman Manhattan Market Overview, Manhattan apartments are currently seeing the hi...

Prices rise in US property sector

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The US property sector is experiencing a rise in prices as the market across the Atlantic continues to boom. According to real estate experts in the country, property prices in areas popular with British second home owners, such as Florida and California, rose up to 11 per cent in a year. In California, the median resale price was $562,380 in March, in New York it was $263,000 and US property prices rose by an average of 4.3 per cent on April 2...

Free housing fair organised in San Jose next weekend

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

A housing fair has been organised in the San Jose area of California next weekend. The event is due to take place next Saturday between 10:00 and 17:00 local time at the National Hispanic University, Mercury News has reported. A number of different groups will be targeted at the fair, including first-time home buyers, real estate investors, as well as those interested in consumer protection issues. Such matters as fraud detection and the actio...

"World's greatest real estate seminar" announced

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

A conference open to overseas property investors has been announced, with the organisers claiming it is the "world's greatest real estate seminar". The event will take place in Dallas, Texas in the USA between July 21st and 23rd and will feature a panel of experienced investors who intend to reveal their strategies on the best ways to "get rich in real estate". Much of the information available about US property investment i...

US property 'a solid investment'

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

Some 63 per cent of American real estate professionals believe that the US property market will either strengthen or remain consistent over the next year, according to a new study. The Bryan Cave Real Estate Executives' Forecast Survey was conducted among a variety of US property professionals and showed that the majority of them were optimistic for the future. This contradicts recent speculation in the US that the real estate market was headed...

Florida homeowners to contribute to hurricane fund

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

As the 2006 hurricane season begins for the east coast of the United States, Florida property owners have learnt that they will have to pay one per cent of value of their home insurance to cover an insurance deficit of $1.5 billion. The assessment will replenish the local Hurricane Insurance Catastrophe Fund, which will be out of pocket when tax-free bonds are sold to cover the cost of repairs from the past two years. Chief financial officer To...

New Hampshire homes a hit with Brits

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

More people from the UK are looking to buy US property on the strength of the pound-to-dollar exchange rate, but many are looking further than the obvious choice that is Florida New Hampshire-based Badger Realty explains that while travelling to Florida from London can take up to 11 hours, a flight to New England takes around half as long, making it an attractive overseas property investment opportunity. Pete Pietz, one of Badger's specialists...

PIA backs Florida insurance bill

Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:25:55 +0000

The National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) in the US has said that some parts of a recent Florida property insurance reform bill could be used by Congress for national insurance legislation to help storm victims. Given final approval by Governor Jeb Bush on May 16th, the new legislation includes a flex-rating system allowing rates to be adjusted by up to ten per cent, and the option of small insurers buying extra reinsurance...