Amberlamb: Property Investment Abroad
The Latest News Tips and Ideas For Overseas Property Investors
Published on 24 July 2008 at 02:17 pm
Filed in Property News for Bulgaria
There was a time, prior to EU entry, when the Bulgarian property market could do no wrong. Speculative investors were cashing in on the attraction of the Black Sea coastline and the appeal of the mountain ski resorts as fast as budget airlines were opening up routes to this emerging market in Eastern Europe.
Then came EU entry and profitability started to wane, and now it seems that there’s not much good news for property in Bulgaria. Bulgaria has had its EU funding suspended for being allegedly a corrupt country, interest in the nation’s real estate market has declined and a damning article in the Irish Independent has warned would-be buyers off Bulgaria altogether.
Published on 15 July 2008 at 07:27 pm
Filed in Property News for Egypt
The recent media reports relating to the real estate market in Egypt paint a picture that would make anyone think twice about buying property anywhere else. Even the Prime Minister of Egypt believes that the construction industry has just witnessed a 15% expansion. But are all these tall tales about the success of the Egyptian property market too good to be true, or do they illustrate a picture of an investment asset that really is too good to miss?
Let’s take a closer look…
Published on 14 July 2008 at 10:33 am
Filed in Property News for Brazil
From the outside the Brazilian economy is doing something of a crazy dance at the moment. On the one hand the currency has risen to great heights of strength on the back of investor confidence, and on the other hand stocks have crashed because traders are concerned about the knock on effects of America’s dire economy. Inflation is rising sharply and causing concern, but President Lula is well known for his inflation busting attitude. So this all begs the very important question, can Brazil’s property market continue to boom?
Stacey (of Gavin and Stacey fame) thinks so – according to an interview with the actress who plays the part of Stacey in the Sunday Times this week, she has invested in a property in Brazil. Many media and property sources are now using her as testimony to the health of the market! Sorry, what a load of rubbish – is she a real estate investment tycoon? No she is not. Does she have greater insight than the next man or woman into which way the Brazilian real estate market will go? No she does not. Me thinks one needs to look a little more closely at Brazil before one jumps in actually…
Published on 23 June 2008 at 12:00 pm
Filed in Property News for Greece
Greece is an interesting nation to consider when writing about property investment and buying homes abroad because whilst it is a hugely popular holiday destination, few foreign buyers ever buy second homes, retirement properties or even investment real estate in Greece. The reasons for this include the fact that it is expensive to buy on the mainland and on the islands, it is far from a simple experience thanks to a lack of centralised land registry, and because the government has made it all but impossible for overseas buyers to enter the market in the past.
But ironically, when all around us international property markets are flagging as a result of a global ‘credit crunch’ and more specifically because of stagflation in the UK, the property market in Greece is developing.
Published on 19 June 2008 at 05:47 pm
Filed in Property News for Brazil
Everyone is being told that Brazil and Natal in particular are the next big thing in terms of property investment success – “it’s the place to invest, and if you don’t believe us, believe the Beckhams!” property developers are saying. Well, yes the Beckhams are reputedly putting money into ventures there, but commercial ventures of the football academy kind! And what a ridiculous reason to invest in a place anyway, it’s not as if David Beckham is a global real estate genius.
Okay, okay, so we admit there is much to delight in in terms of the Brazilian real estate market and also in terms of what’s happening in Natal, but the be all and end all is not tourism property and it is not just a tiny pocket of the Brazilian property market. There are alternative property investment opportunities in Brazil you know…
Published on 11 June 2008 at 05:06 pm
Filed in Property News for Romania
We’re having sleepless nights here at Amberlamb – not a wink of sleep is being found as we toss and turn and ponder the property market in Romania. Now, the situation has arisen many time before when we can see the appeal in a market when all around are ignoring us – but never before have we had such a negative perception of a market and been so seemingly wrong.
The trouble is we’re still not convinced about investment property in Romania – despite some online sources misquoting us and claiming we’re hot on the market, you know who you are guys, shame on you! But we’re apparently the only ones with less than a fair opinion of the potential to be had in Romania.
Published on 09 June 2008 at 12:02 pm
Filed in Property News for Bulgaria
In Spain you have properties that are being slashed in price, in the UK you have a real estate market that is stagnating, in Northern Cyprus you have a market that has stagnated for so long that it is actually doing quite well thanks to its genuine bargain status, and then you have Bulgaria’s property market that could go either way – i.e., up or down.
There are robust fundamentals supporting a residential and commercial property market that bode well for long-term strength in Bulgaria – but there are also some serious and significant flaws in Bulgaria’s property market that could undermine it catastrophically and for the long-term. Here’s what we think…
Published on 02 June 2008 at 04:47 pm
Filed in Property News for Cyprus
We’re in a bad mood today thanks to tax bills and telecom providers so we thought we’d take it out on the Cypriot property market and give you some of our favourite reasons not to invest in property in (the Republic of South) Cyprus, because quite frankly there are quite a few compelling ones!
Yes, this article is about Southern Cyprus and not the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. So don’t get confused guys. Right – reasons not to invest include the fact that tourism numbers are falling, property investors are scarce, the government’s left hand hasn’t a clue what the right hand is doing and policies and practices across the island are scaring would-be buyers, investors and visitors away.
Published on 31 May 2008 at 12:12 pm
Filed in Property News for Malaysia
Malaysia is a hard one to call – on the one hand you have undeniable evidence that the mid-high end in the residential sector is doing very well, and on the other hand you have inflationary pressures impacting local affordability and demand. On top of this, analysts and experts on the real estate market in this Asian nation are all delivering mixed messages about investment property in Malaysia.
We thought we’d try and bring you a bit of clarity – although we’re quite confused too! We’re certain of Malaysia’s immediate appeal, we are certain of Malaysia’s strong tourism sector and we’re also certain that the nation’s government is committed to keeping the foreign investment environment as healthy as possible. But is this enough to ensure a healthy landscape for property investors in Malaysia over the medium to longer term?
Published on 29 May 2008 at 01:56 pm
Filed in Property News for Morocco
If you ever wondered whether the property market in Morocco was secondary in any way to the government, to the economy and to the future successes of the nation you would be wrong, and a recent report from MAP (the Maghreb Arabe Presse in Rabat) supports this fact.
It shows how strong a contributor real estate is to the economy in Morocco and so in answer to the question posed in the title of this article, namely ‘how important is property in Morocco?’ the answer is an unequivocal ‘very!’
