As the international economy continues to recover, investors are starting to return to realty investments in a big way. However, whilst much investment was seen in exciting new locations over recent years, the tide seems to have turned back to the more traditional European countries.
As such, France is enjoying a sizable thirty three percent share of all inquiries emanating from Europe, the UK and further afield.
France has always been a good port to head to when looking at real estate investments; and this is truer now. Helped by successive governments’ cautious approach to all things financial; high quality investors have been seduced. Other than this, there does not seem anything particularly attractive.
Possibly even more surprising than this interest in France, is the interest in close neighbors Spain. Whilst there have been reports of political corruption, inquiries for realty investments have soared to over 20%.
These stories, also centering on licensing laws, seem to have run for longer in the international press than locally however, and is really nothing that we haven’t all heard before at one time or another.
Whilst private buyers, (retirees, second home buyers etc), may have been put off, it has simply made the market more exploitable for the seasoned investor. That interest rates and a flood of properties have been seen of late too, perhaps this surge in real estate investments is not such a surprise after all.
This of course puts both France and Spain collectively, controlling in excess of half of all market inquiries emanating from the UK and Europe. However, a sizable amount of interest is also to be seen in Turkey, Portugal and Italy.
Whilst Turkey may not be considered an established investment opportunity for some, it has held its own for many years. With a Mediterranean climate too, tourism is booming, (presently set to exceed the thirty million mark for the first time in a twelve month period), which is sure to make investors take notice.
Not being part of Europe, and subsequently the strong Euro, has also helped a great deal of course. Whether or not this will change should the country be welcomed by Europe is hard to say; though it is unlikely for the foreseeable future, and its thirteen percent rise in inquiries looks set to continue.
Portugal and Italy currently sit third and fourth in inquiry levels, which is in keeping with where they have consistently performed historically.
Portugal has always been attractive for those lacking enough capital to invest in Spain of course; such as it enjoys markedly lower real estate prices. However, these have declined by a further thirty percent in like for like sales over the past year; making investment even more attractive.
Italy always maintains a hold on the market of course, and is particularly strong in tourist hot spots; certainly an area for real estate investments in if you are in for the long haul. The rise here has also probably been helped by uncertainty from potential investors into Bulgaria and Croatia.
|
|