Sunniest Places in France

The city of Marseille in the Bouches du Rhone takes top spot as the sunniest place in France, according to figures provided by Meteo France*. The city has 2,801 hours (264 days) of sunshine a year.

The neighbouring town of Toulon has the same number of days of sunshine, but is beaten into second place as it records slightly fewer hours of sunshine per day over the year.

Sunniest Places in France

01) Marseille, Bouches du Rhône
02) Toulon, Var
03) Carpentras, Vaucluse
04) Saint Auban, Alpes Maritimes
05) Le Luc, Var
06) Ajaccio, Corse du Sud
07) Nice, Alpes Maritimes
08) Montpellier, Hérault
09) Nîmes, Gard
10) Bastia, Haute Corse
11) Embrun, Hautes Alpes
12) Perpignan, Pyrénées Orientales
13) Aubenas, Ardèche
14) Montélimar, Drôme
15) Millau, Aveyron
16) Carcassonne, Aude
17) Aurillac, Cantal
18) Albi, Tarn
19) La Rochelle, Charente Maritime
20) Gourdon, Lot

The leading town in Languedoc-Roussillon is Montpellier with 2,618 hours (219 days) of sunshine, whilst the inhabitants of Perpignan enjoy 2,392 hours (200 days) of sunshine per year.

Eyes may be raised at the high placing of Aubenas in the Ardeche, which has 2,374 hours (200 days) of sunshine a year. This is because of the location of the town, sitting as it does on the border of the Cévennes mountains and the Mediterranean region.

La Rochelle also confirms its reputation as the sunshine resort of South West France, posting 2.055 hours (193 days) of annual sunshine.

Outside of the top twenty, other places of note include Mende in the Lozere with 203 days of sunshine, but with fewer average hours per day. Toulouse is in 24th spot with 202 days, Bordeaux 190 days, Bergerac 196 days, Cognac 191 days, Lyon 211 days, and Biarritz 199 days.

Those places that fared worst were Charleville Mezieres in the Ardennes, Cherbourg (Manche), Brest (Finistere), Saint Brieuc (Cotes d’Armor) and Rouen (Seine Maritime).

We have not been able to publish the full list here, but if you wish any more information on a particular town or city, then contact us and we will see what we can do.

*Study period covers 1970-2000.

Learn more at www.french-property.com/news/

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Property in the Isle of Wight - The secret of it's charm

This island is a hit with second-homers, rock fans and those heading for retirement.

Its dramatic coastline, hills, forests and wildlife — more than half the island is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty — make it an ideal family holiday destination.

What to see Queen Victoria’s lavish summer home, Osborne House, is a must. Charles I was imprisoned at Carisbrooke Castle before his trial. The Needles is one of the most photographed spots in Britain. Farringford was Tennyson’s home. Train buffs, and children, love the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

What’s new Vantage Point, Cowes: a two-bed flat with underground parking and waterfront views is £750,000

Travel The most popular ferry route to the mainland is Fishbourne to Portsmouth (40 min). Other destinations include Lymington and Southampton. Island Line trains serve only towns on the east side of the isle (there are only 8½ miles of track).

Quality of life Chilled. It’s a great place for walking and all other outdoor pursuits. Crime rates are relatively low, and there is a real emphasis on community.

Smartest streets Some of the Victorian houses in Ventnor are very grand. In Cowes, the old town, particularly the parade and the seafront, is admired; flats there range from £300,000 to more than £1 million, and large Georgian houses go for £2 million to £3 million. Houses on Yarmouth High Street range from £500,000 Edwardian homes to two-bed Victorian houses costing from £200,000 to £300,000.

Restaurants The George Hotel in Yarmouth and The Seaview Hotel in Seaview are highly regarded. For seafood, try Salty’s in Yarmouth or The Boathouse in Ventnor. The New Inn in Shalfleet is an award-winning foodie pub. The Hambrough Hotel, Ventnor, is the only Michelin-star restaurant.

Nightlife Lots of great country pubs, notably the Kings Head, the Bugle Coaching Inn in Yarmouth and the Pier View in Cowes. Ryde buzzes at night — party people head for The Balcony, Liquid Lounge and Joe’s. For drama/arts, the Medina Theatre and the Anthony Minghella Theatre at the Quay Arts Centre, both in Newport, or the Shanklin Theatre.

Education Ryde School with Upper Chine (recommended by The Good Schools Guide) and Priory School are the only two independent schools on the island. Most primaries have a good reputation. Working life Many people commute daily to Southampton or Portsmouth, or weekly to London. Isle of Wight Council, GKN Aerospace and BAE Systems are the largest employers on the island.

Upside The island is only 2½ hours from London (via ferry and train) — less than many places in the West Country — making it great place to have a second home.

Downside The need to take the ferry to go anywhere — although locals (Caulkheads) say that this preserves the island’s character.


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Dubai: riskiest market?

Over supply and population decline makes Dubai one of the riskiest property markets for investors, it is claimed...

As thousands of recently unemployed expats prepare to leave the emirate when the school terms ends next week the reality of the impact of the global recession will be felt, according to Saud Masud, an Analyst at Swiss investment UBS.

'In my view Dubai's property risk profile appears to be one of the highest in the post war era and while one may debate the potential support factor from Abu Dhabi the fundamental oversupply and population dynamics risks are very much there,' he said.

He described the scale of Dubai's real estate collapse as being on a par with Hong Kong's housing crash at the start of the decade and boom and bust cycles in other markets such as Singapore and Ireland.

In Hong Kong the Asian financial crisis triggered a 70 per cent collapse in real estate prices between 1997 and 2003.

'While Singapore, Hong Kong, Ireland are considered property market comparables, Dubai is very unique due to its demographics, supply pipeline and relevance in the Middle East,' he added.

He has already predicted that residential property prices in Dubai could plunge up to 70 per cent from their peak in the fourth quarter of last year.

He also said that investors would return to the Dubai market in the second half of 2009 when prices would be at their most attractive. But now that prediction is looking rocky.

Meanwhile tenants and owners in Dubai's Discovery Gardens have threatened legal action against developer Nakheel unless service charge fees are reduced further.

The Dubai based master developer announced on Monday it was lowering the service charge by 80 pence per square foot and it would be backdated to January 1st, 2009.

Despite this reduction residents say they are still paying far more than tenants in similar developments across the Emirate.

'We're not going to accept and we won't pay unless it's under £2. Nakheel is hoping this will go away but it's not going to happen,' said Michael Aldendorff, who is leading a petition signed by 68 residents.


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Retire to Where and Do What?

The term “Golden Years” seems to have all kinds of connotations; to some it may mean the beginning of the end, to others more fortunate it means the years of freedom with gold! Yes, to many of the latest generation of baby boomers about to retire or recently retired, the “Golden Years” have become the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, i.e., the free time and the financial ability to enjoy their favorite activities and perhaps even serve a purpose to their community. Retirement often coincides with important life changes; over time, a retiree will virtually eliminate the frequent social contacts with previous work-related associates, will have a completely different spending pattern, will have the time for new or inactive hobbies, sports, or other activities, might sell a long term residence, and yes, may even move to a new location. Upon retiring 13 years ago, we moved to a secluded gated community in Clearwater, Florida. It was very nice, however it seemed that all the neighbors were still working and seldom around during the days and therefore nobody knew anybody in the neighborhood. We met some nice folks at the local country club; however most of them could only play one day per week or on Saturday because they too had jobs that occupied their time. When you did run into a group of retirees, like over at the local shuffleboard courts, they seemed to be geezers on their way out! We were still young, at least at heart, and wanted to play every day and every night. We finally had the financial ability and free time to do whatever we wanted to do, only needing friends and good weather to do it.

We had been vacationing at our condo in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, known as PV or Vallarta, since 1984 and we knew that the climate in PV was absolutely perfect from November through May, its seven month “high season”. We had no idea what there was to do in Vallarta other than lay on the beach and drink cervezas or sip on margaritas nor did we know whether or not there were any other retired Americans or Canadians living there. In 1997, we sold the condo and purchased a luxurious new villa on the mountainside overlooking Banderas Bay and El Centro, the downtown area of PV. Our plan was to spend six months in Clearwater and six months in Vallarta per year. The first six months of November through April were spent in PV and the second six months of May through October in Clearwater. Perhaps that wasn’t fair because the extreme heat in Florida made that summer miserable, especially after having so much fun during the previous six months in Vallarta. The average daily temperature in PV had been 73°F with virtually no rain the entire period. While in PV that first year, we must have met over fifty nice couples and absolutely none of them had to go to work tomorrow!

Other than a couple of golf courses, one that was playable, the other a cow pasture, a couple of tennis courts, great deep sea fishing, and a couple of small charity related clubs, there really wasn't a whole lot to do in Vallarta during the gorgeous daytime. The nightlife was somewhat better with parties at someone's house, condo, or restaurant almost every night. The North American community was relatively small and very open to newcomers. After the first year of splitting time between Florida and Vallarta, we decided to sell the house in Clearwater and travel or cruise during the summer months of June through October and spend the “high season” in Vallarta.

During the ten years that we've lived in PV, things have changed dramatically. Today, the size of the American/Canadian community is difficult to estimate with thousands of new houses and tens of thousands of new condos having been built. The population of our sleepy little Mexican fishing village is now roughly 350,000 inhabitants and we can only guess that there are 50,000 Americans and Canadians here at any given time during the “high season”. You can be assured that none of them have to go to work tomorrow and that they're all in search for the same things; they are here to enjoy life and reap the benefits of years of hard work. With perfect weather, the remaining challenge is to find the things to do that are most enjoyable. With good people, time, and money, those things came to Vallarta!

There are now seven magnificent golf courses in PV with three more either in the planning or construction phase. There are too many tennis courts to begin to count them and of course, deep sea fishing will always be here. There are art classes, dancing classes, computer classes, language classes, and classes for just about anything you ever wanted to learn but never had the time. There are card clubs, fitness clubs, acting clubs, car clubs, writing clubs, and clubs for anything of interest to retirees. Another huge group of organizations in Vallarta has to do with charitable activities; this includes the International Friendship Club, Becas Foundation, Toys for Tots, Feed the Children, Make a Wish Foundation, etc., which most of us are involved with to some extent. There are so many daytime activities now in PV that one can be as busy or as relaxed as he wants to be. The nightlife borders on being ridiculous during the “high season” with the Malecon, or walkway along the beach, being more active at midnight than it is at noon! There are hundreds of fine restaurants and numerous parties every night. With so much fun available, we’ve learned that in order to survive, sometimes you just have to say no! To pass away the time at home, we all have satellite TV with 350 channels and high speed internet service.

Today in PV we have clean water, clean food, safe living conditions, and modern health care. Most importantly, we have many good friends that are all here to enjoy life doing whatever pleases them under absolutely ideal weather conditions. All of our friends are successful retirees, have good health, and appreciate the perfect climate with an average temperature of 73°F and clear skies. One of the main differences between Clearwater and Vallarta is that in Vallarta, every single American or Canadian that you see is here to enjoy the good life, is open to new friendships, and has the day off tomorrow! Anyone retired or about to retire is really missing the boat if they don't at least consider Vallarta as their retirement destination.

For the full series of articles regarding travel to and retirement in Vallarta as well as pertinent Puerto Vallarta links, please visit us at www.pvreba.com/.

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Buy Real Estate in China and get a Free Wife!

Just when I thought I'd heard every creative way of flogging off property when the chips are down - along comes a new one to prove me wrong - an entrepreneurial developer in Beijing, China, has decided to lure buyers to his luxury Ecological Bay project with the offer of a wedding to one of their sales ladies - and he's even throwing in a dowry to seal the deal...

In an astounding display of what going beyond the call of duty for work means, the sales girls working in the Jin Tai Cheng sales office in Beijing have agreed to act as bait to tempt buyers.

The Ecological Bay villa development is hoping to entice Chinese men who are finding it tough to nab a wife - thanks to the Government's ‘One Child' policy, there are around 120 men to every 100 women.

The Chinese economy has slowed down dramatically over the past six months and demand for real estate in China's major cities declined sharply.

In a sign of increasingly desperate times for China's property market, with housing sales plummeting by as much as 20 per cent - new ways to sell property are constantly being thought up- but this has to be the most novel idea yet.

The Ecological Bay website asks, ‘Planning to buy a house? Can we tempt you with the offer of a young bride - and a dowry as well?'

Once buyers decide to purchase a home, when they are on the site choosing kitchen colours and curtains to kit out their new pad, they can also browse the sales girls' age, height and read information about their other...assets.

If a buyer and a sales girl date successfully and go on to marry, the company is offering a wedding present of £6,000 to couples who are still married after a year.

The company lured the sales ladies with a commitment to pay eight per cent in sales commissions as well as the opportunity to secure a wealthy husband.

Mr Li Jingguo, Director of the research centre for urban development and environment under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "Last year was the gloomiest period for China's real estate market since housing reform in 1998, in the face of the global economic downturn."

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Expansion in Melbourne gets the Go Ahead

Under a new 20-year plan unveiled by the Government, Melbourne’s urban area will be allowed to continue its sprawling growth, and will house an extra 415,000 people – but campaigners are arguing that it will destroy the city’s cherished green spaces…

Melbourne already has one of the largest urban footprints in the world due to its low density housing, resulting in a vast suburban sprawl, with a high level of car dependence and minimal public transport outside of inner areas.

Now, the urban sprawl is set to increase even further, with news that it will expand by another 41,000 hectares under the template set out in the new Brumby Government plan.

Those who have been a part of the bid to save green space and contain urban sprawl - through a planning blueprint called Melbourne 2030 – are now saying that their efforts are dead in the water.

The main expansion will happen along the Hume Freeway in the north and past Caroline Springs in the west and will add hundreds of new housing estates to the area.

Much of the land zoned for development is on previously protected ‘green wedge’ zones, leading to strong criticism of the plans by many eager to protect the city, but developers have (unsurprisingly) welcomed the news.

The number of people that the new developments plan to house – 415,000 - totals more than the entire population of Canberra.

Victorian Premier John Brumby said the growth boundary had to be extended because of Victoria’s huge population boom. “We are seeing 2000 people a week coming to our state.”

Planner and RMIT University Associate Professor Michael Buxton said, “It is tragic for Melbourne’s future because we are going to end up with two cities - we are going to end up with a whole lot of houses far from services and employment in the outer suburbs and more and more people being shoved into them.”

There are also huge transport changes in the pipeline – with a £2 billion regional rail plan and an outer ring road – to be finished in 2014 and 2020 respectively – on the cards.

In order to offset the loss of 6,918 hectares of grasslands, the Government plans to establish new reserves totaling 15,000 hectares. But this hasn’t gone far enough to placate green groups and planning experts, who warn that the urban sprawl will now go on indefinitely.

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Support for Urban Development in Dubai on Track

Dubai’s rapidly growing population and tourist numbers have caused a severe traffic congestion problem in the emirate – and the new Dubai Metro aims to help to ease that by offering an alternative way of traveling - the Red Line is set to open on September 9th this year while the Green Line will open in March next year.

It is predicted that the population will top three million by 2017 and tourist numbers are expected to reach a whopping 15 million by 2010.

This has led to the Dubai municipality identifying the need for a rail system to relieve growing motor traffic and support urban development.

Planning for a metro system started in 1997 and the first two lines of a high-tech driverless rapid transit system are soon to be opened to passengers. The Roads & Transport Authority is constructing the 74.6 km long Dubai Metro project at an initial cost of £2.5 billion.

The first line to open will be the 52 kilometre Red Line, which runs the length of Shaikh Zayed Road.

Plans are still in the pipeline for future Dubai metro lines, but the ‘needs of the city’ will be ‘re-evaluated’ first, said Engineer Abdul Redah Abu Al Hassan, Director of Planning and Development at the RTA’s Rail Agency.

Mr Al Hassan said that the Purple Line will be the next metro line to be launched in Dubai, which will connect Dubai International Airport with Al Maktoum International Airport being constructed in Jebel Ali and will run on Al Khail Road.

It’s not just the metro coming to Dubai either. Two hundred and seventy kilometres of tram lines are also in the pipeline and are expected to be completed by 2020. There are also plans for a comprehensive network of 3,000 buses to crisscross the city and water transport in the works.

Mr Al Hassan added, “We want to achieve the target of 30 per cent of people using public transport once the complete mass public transport systems is in place.

“The current ratio of just six per cent people using public transport is very low,” he added.

Property price proximity
It is predicted that properties in Dubai near metro stations will increase in price once the first line is finished in three months time.

But, as Dubai does not currently reply on a public transport system network, it may be some time before properties near a metro station reflect price increases such as you would see in a city like London, where being in close proximity to a tube, station or bus stop is a huge bonus.

Areas such as Jumeirah Lakes Towers and Business Bay could be sold at a 10 per cent premium because of the number of metro stations nearby, experts predict.


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A New Life in New Zealand

They say home is where the heart is but it turns out some of the happiest people are those who have put 11,500 miles between them and their home town – Britain’s most content expats are those living in New Zealand, according to new research, which found that the country ranked highly in all areas of life…

It may be on the other side of the world but that hasn’t stopped thousands of Brits starting a new life in New Zealand – in fact, it may even have encouraged them.

Despite being roughly the same size as the UK, the Land of the Long White Cloud has 56 million fewer people – meaning no more queuing for anything and shopkeepers that have time to stop and chat to you.

New research carried out by Natwest International Personal Banking found that Britons living in New Zealand rated the country highly in all areas. Not only does it have one of the lowest average property prices in the developed world, it also has lower taxes and a far better quality of life for children and those who enjoy outdoorsy pursuits.

Of course, you won’t find the same cosmopolitan offerings in terms of theatres and galleries as you will in London but that is cancelled out by the sheer weight of free outdoor activities on offer.

The stunning, unspoilt scenery also played a part in the British love affair with New Zealand.

Whilst average wages are lower than in the UK, a favourable tax regime means that earnings go further.

Of all the 2,000 expatriates surveyed in 12 countries, 86 per cent believed their lives were better than before they emigrated and 92 per cent said they were happier. Despite the global recession, eighty seven per cent were better off.

Most said their wages had gone up, with almost 80 per cent earning between £50,000 and £85,000.

Six out of ten left Britain with less than £5,000 in savings. But almost half now claim to be worth between £250,000 and £500,000. A quarter said they were worth between £500,000 and £1million.

Dave Isley, Head of NatWest International personal banking, said, “Expats say they are living healthier lifestyles abroad, whilst also benefiting financially.

“This is particularly true for expats in New Zealand who not only say they benefit from low property prices, a favourable taxation system and a healthy lifestyle but also the beauty of New Zealand’s natural environment.

“Our latest expatriate study has revealed that despite the global slowdown affecting everyone, the potential to earn more money abroad is clearly one of the main benefits expats are experiencing,” he added.

Quality, not quantity

In the quality of life index, New Zealand came ahead of Canada, which topped the poll last year. They were followed by Australia, France, the United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, the U.S. and China. Despite their wealth, Singapore and Hong Kong came last.

A feeling of being sick of Britain was the main reason given for moving abroad and almost all said that emigrating was the right decision.

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Owning Property in Cyprus - New rules for title deeds

Investors concerned about the notorious Cyprus property title deeds issue will be interested to hear that new legislation has been introduced in a bid to clear up years of problems – however, before you pop the champagne corks – the new rules will only apply to new purchases, meaning that vast numbers of owners will still be without legal documentation…

Thousands of overseas buyers have chased cheap property deals in Cyprus over the last five years, but buyer confidence has taken a knock after some owners found developers were hanging on to title deeds for their property in Cyprus.

As so many of the property owners in Cyprus are foreigners, this new legislation surrounding title deeds was crucial to their peace of mind about the ownership of their homes.

Up to 100,000 buyers – both locals and foreigners - have paid for their properties but have no legal documents to prove that they own them – which means that they are trapped as they are unable to sell them on without the documents.

But now, much to buyers’ distress, the Cypriot Government has seemingly reneged on a promise to sort out the mess and ‘help everyone,’ as it confirmed that the new law will not effect old transactions.

This means that buyers remain at the mercy of the developer who sold the property to them and the banks that hold their title deeds as collateral for loans.

The Cyprus Property Action Group, which is a collection of British nationals who have bought homes on the island and are campaigning for better protection for foreign property owners, are furious.

Back in February of this year, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband revealed that the British High Commissioner to Cyprus had ‘received assurances’ from the Cypriot Interior Ministry that they would introduce a bill to address the situation soon. At that point there was no mention of the new law relating only to future transactions, thus the buyers assumed the rules would help all of them.

Tasos Coucounis of law firm Andreas Coucounis & Co, said those denied deeds could file an action in court.

Cyprus Property Magazine reported that Mr Coucounis advised if vendors still failed to issue a deed after a successful action, buyers can “ask for Specific Performance of his sale contract from the court, in which case a Court Order for Specific Performance can be issued fast and presented at the Land Registry for transfer of the Title Deed without the vendor’s signature or participation”.

Now, they face a long court battle to get the rights to their title deeds and months more worry in the meantime.

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Why Healthcare Is Killing America

by Bud Conrad, Editor, The Casey Report

Healthcare is the biggest segment of our economy. In the debate over who should pay for what or, increasingly, for whom, most people don't stop to understand just how large a portion of our society's money is dedicated to healthcare.

For some perspective, as a share of GDP, the U.S. spends about twice that of other advanced nations. This is an important reason why the U.S. is increasingly uncompetitive in global manufacturing. It is, for instance, the most important factor (besides poor management) that General Motors and Chrysler are going bankrupt.

Going forward, the situation is guaranteed to get worse. The Obama administration is committed to major reform to cover the 40 million people not now covered by insurance. Once everyone has insurance, with many paying nothing at all for coverage, patients won't care what it costs, and the system will quickly spin out of control.

And it's already out of control. I recently spent one day in the hospital due to a broken arm, which cost on the order of $100,000. Remarkably, that eye-opening amount still doesn't include the ambulance, the doctors, the x-rays, the CT scans, or the anesthesiologist. I'm still getting bills. The system is far more broken than is widely understood, unless you have had a recent bad experience.

Projections for healthcare are particularly problematic because of the demographics of so many people born just after World War II. Soon, there will be less than three people in the workforce for each retired person. That will result in huge taxes on the few workers to supply the expensive end-of-life medical care for the retirees (and it is in the latter years where medical expenses really begin to rack up).

This bubble was predicted and a government trust fund was set up. Unfortunately, as is typically the case, the government couldn't keep its hands off the money, and so it has already been spent. The outlook is not good. In fact, in just over 10 years from now – by 2020 – the demands on the government for Social Security and Medicare will get so high that they cannot be met. And it gets worse from there.

It's a safe bet, based on history, that the government will once again try to print its way out of the problem – but all that will do is further destroy the dollar and drive interest rates up even more. Just to be clear, this is not just about a government program gone awry, but as much or even more so a demographic problem – which makes it all the more intractable.

Don’t wait to be saved by the government; take your life – and your asset protection – in your own hands. For example, by playing one of the most obvious and inevitable trends and Bud Conrad’s favorite investment for 2009. Click here to read the full report.

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New Lots in the Bahamas - No Name Cay

The Bahamas isn't just casinos, crowded outdoor markets selling tacky souvenirs, or the enormous Atlantis resort with its famous waterslides and aquarium. There are more than 700 outer islands (just 30 of them inhabited) and 2,500 cays surrounded by unbelievably clear water with visibility up to 200 feet. And these outer islands form the third longest barrier reef in the world.

Just 175 miles east of Palm Beach, an hour's flight away from Fort Lauderdale and Miami there is a four mile long island called Green Turtle Cay, part of the Abacos Islands.

Just a short walk from the ferry dock, you'll find Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar, where the Goombay Smash, a potent signature cocktail of the Bahamas, was born nearly 50 years ago.

But just have one cocktail... don't linger there, you can come back anytime...lets keep travelling south of Green Turtle Cay where lies the romantic No Name Cay with its miles of broad, sandy beaches. No Name Cay is the first deserted island south of Green Turtle, about 10 boat-minutes south of the entrances to Green Turtle's White Sound, Black Sound or Settlement Creek.

And this is where our journey ends, because No Name Cay has just been given permission for a unique development.

Lots of 1 acre and above are being offered for sale starting at $225,000. All of them are oceanfront and some of them are beachfront and oceanfront!

For anyone who has ever imagined owning a private villa on a peaceful, almost deserted island, surrounded by the Caribbean sea, white sand off the end of the verandah, - your journey ends here!

No Name Cay - a blank canvas of beauty and peace, of sky and sea ....a wonderful home or just a great investment.

Contact us for more information!

Deb Andrews
Editor - Caribbean Property and Lifestyles Magazine

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Bringing Your Pet to Mexico

Many people wouldn't dream of traveling or moving to Mexico without the family pet. After all, it's a member of the family too! You can bring your pet or pets with you, but you must do some planning before hand.

If you want to bring your pet to Mexico, you'll need two pieces of paper. The first is a vaccination certificate to ensure your pet has been vaccinated against rabies, hepatitis, pip and leptospirosis. The second is an office health certificate that must be issued by a veterinarian no more than 72 hours before entering Mexico. Your professional Mexico Real Estate Agent can give you more information.

You can bring two large pets (dog or cat) with you. It is possible to bring more, but you must obtain permission from the Mexican consulate. You'll need to contact the one nearest you. There is no quarantine period for pets entering Mexico. Make sure to check with the airlines if you're flying into Mexico. Often airlines have restrictions on size, weight, type of carrier, etc. Be sure to contact your airline and plan ahead.

Owning a pet in Mexico is much the same as owning a pet in any other country. Most dog owners in Mexico have their domestic help care for their dog. You'll seldom see an owner out walking their dog. Make sure your dog's caregiver is aware of your dog's exercise and feeding schedules. Also make sure your dog is comfortable with its caregiver.

Stray dogs and cats are common in Mexico and they carry many diseases. To protect your dog or cat make sure they have the right vaccinations and they are administered correctly. It's also important to treat your pets for parasites. Veterinarians abound in Mexico and they do make house calls. Again, ask your local professional Mexico Realtor for recommendations or referrals.

When your pet leaves Mexico, the same documents are required as when they entered. You'll need a certificate of vaccination and a certificate of health from a veterinarian. You will also need to get an export license in order for your dog or cat to leave the country. Your pet will undergo a visual inspection and there is no cost for this license.

While the process may seem drawn out, it is in place to protect all pets – in and out of Mexico. For those who would never consider moving without their pet, it just requires a bit of pre-planning and some local information from your Mexico real estate agent.

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Learn to Speak French - Afternoon Courses in Paris

Learning French language in Paris is a wonderful experience. Paris is a really beautiful city, with so many places of interest to visit that time at your disposal seems to be never enough. But sometimes students who choose to study French in Paris must sacrifice entire mornings of guided tours and journeys in order to stay in classroom for attending French lessons.

So, people whose desire is to meet their needs either as tourists and as students, or students who wish to have free mornings and learn French at school during the afternoon, will be pleased to know that there are French schools in Paris that organize Afternoon French Courses.

These courses, which generally last one week at least, will give to all foreign students the chance to learn French language in a constructive and quickly way, thanks to rich schedules of classes which include many specialistic seminars.

Such courses generally start on every Monday all year round, so students are always in time to enroll.

For detailed information about French language schools and French language courses in Paris visit the "learn French in France" section on Learn Languages Abroad website.

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The Next Brazilian Real Estate Hotspots

The 12 host cities for the highly anticipated 2014 World Cup have been officially unveiled from the long list of 17 in Brazil - causing international property investors to start pinpointing these cities as the next investment hotpots...

Football's ruling body, FIFA, has selected 12 Brazilian cities to host matches at the 2014 World Cup finals.

The cities were announced at FIFA's annual congress in the Bahamas by FIFA President Sepp Blatter and it was agreed to up the number of host cities from 10 to 12 due to the sheer size of Brazil.

Blatter said, "It was a very difficult decision to choose just 12 venues from the initial list of 17. We want to make this World Cup a sporting success and this is the most important thing."

Natal, Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Cuaiba, Curitiba, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Sao Paulo were all selected.

Manaus won the battle between Amazon basin cities Rio Branco and Belem, while Cuiabá was chosen ahead of Campo Grande from the Pantanal zone - an area of outstanding natural beauty and resource.

Belem, Campo Grande, Goiania, Rio Branco and Florianopolis were the cities that missed out.

The football tournament is the world's biggest single code sporting event in terms of audience - including billions of television viewers. The power of publicity generated from the tournament has led to property investors looking to Brazil for money spinning opportunities.

All the stadiums are required to hold at least 40,000 spectators, with the final to be staged in the famous Maracana Stadium which was refurbished in 2006 and reopened in January 2007 with an all-seated capacity of 88,992.

James Gonzalez, Market Analyst at Obelisk Investment Property, had the final word, saying that the Brazilian property sector has ‘everything going for it' at the moment.

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Mortgage Arrears – Is “handing back the keys” a solution?

Please note that the information provided in this article is of a general interest nature and intended as a basic outline only. It is not intended as any substitute for detailed legal or other professional advice specific to the reader’s circumstances. Nothing contained in this article should be seen or taken as the writer or publisher providing legal or financial advice.

A few months ago, when I was writing the TRG Handbook "Buying Distressed Property in Andalucía" (http://www.distressedpropertyhandbook.com/) I was told some Spanish banks were anticipating an avalanche of clients who were in financial difficulties and would be seeking assistance with their mortgages. Recent reports suggest that the prediction is coming true.

From the banks point of view formal repossession proceedings are both expensive in terms of time and money. It appears for those facing such miserable circumstances that another option may exist. The solution is a legal procedure established by Article 1.175 of the Spanish Civil Code (SCC) known as a “Dación en Pago”.

This means handing back the keys to the bank, signing in the bank’s favour a formal Deed before a Notary under which the bank agrees to cancel the balance of outstanding mortgage debt and release the mortgage debtor from any continuing liability to the lender in respect of the old debt.

In order to consider whether a Dación en Pago is a potential solution there are three important provisos.

1.The borrower should – where possible – have not already defaulted in the payment of any mortgage installment.
2.The lender should not have commenced any formal repossession proceedings.
3.The target property should not suffer from any negative equity. This broadly means that the currently appraised value of the property must not exceed the mortgage lending on it.

If the mortgage loan when purchased was based on a high loan to value then there is a clear risk that the value of your property may have fallen since completion giving a negative in excess of the mortgage over current value.

If the debtor believes that on an independent valuation by a tasador that the value of your property exceeds the outstanding mortgage then the debtor should take independent professional advice with a view to approaching their lender bank to consider a Dación en Pago. We understand that they are not compelled to accept your proposal but if the case is commercially good for the bank they are likely to consider it.

It should be understood that the typical costs associated with a property purchase will apply to a Dación en Pago as for a usual sale and will need to be shouldered by the bank.

We suspect that those banks that are using such arrangements are looking for “end user” purchasers to buy the property from the bank. As a result, the bank will prefer to finalise their Dación en Pago arrangements in tandem with the standard purchase paperwork once a buyer has been found. This will mean that the “new” purchaser pays the final “purchasing” costs in the usual way.

To attract the “new” purchaser the banks seem, with some reluctance, to be discounting their outstanding on the relevant property in order to liquidate their position. This should mean the “new” purchaser getting a discounted property that may well be priced at substantially below market value.

© Mark FR Wilkins 2009 (Marbella)

Mark FR Wilkins
Domus3Sixty
The Rights Group SL.
mark@domus3sixty.com
mark@therightsgroup.com
+34 600 343 917

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Gold Stocks in a Depression

By Jeff Clark, Editor, BIG GOLD

What if deflation wins?

While we think the odds are strongly stacked against it, particularly given the government’s furious pace of money printing, the prudent investor understands – and respects – the time-tested adage, “Nothing is guaranteed.” So while our chips sit squarely on the spot marked “inflation,” what will happen to gold stocks if we’re wrong?

The Great Depression Speaks

The most notable example of what happens to gold stocks in a prolonged deflationary environment is the Great Depression. However, the United States was on a gold standard at the time, so miners had a guaranteed selling price – which was a good thing for them, because their operating costs were plummeting. So the comparability isn’t perfect, but let’s see what we can learn.

When the stock market crashed in 1929, gold stocks were part of the general wreckage (sound familiar?). The market then rallied and recovered almost 50% of its losses by April 1930, with gold shares again tagging along. It’s what happened next that gives us our first clue about deflation’s effect.

When the bear market resumed in the summer of 1930, all securities sold off again – except gold stocks. Gold shares stayed basically flat until early 1931, when they boarded the elevator and headed for the penthouse. From 1929 to 1933, during the heart of the Depression, Homestake Mining went from $65 per share to $373, a 474% gain; and Dome Mines, Canada’s senior producer, went from $6 to $39.50, an increase of 558%.

Yes, volatility was high in the gold stocks throughout the depression, with occasional wild price swings, but after the 1929 crash most of the volatility was to the upside.

The bottom line is that the two largest gold producers – during a time of soup lines and falling standards of living – handed investors five and six times their money in four years.

Gold vs. Deflation

On April 5, 1933, President Roosevelt issued an executive order forcing delivery (confiscation) of gold owned by private citizens to the government in exchange for compensation at the fixed price of $20.67/oz. And less than nine months later, he raised the gold price to $35, effectively diluting the dollar in every wallet 41% overnight and swindling everyone who had turned in his gold.

We don’t know exactly what an untethered gold price would have done during the depression, but given its distinction in history as a store of value, it’s likely to retain its purchasing power in a deflationary setting regardless of its nominal price. In other words, while the price of gold might not rise, or could even fall, your best protection is still gold.

But with this said, the overriding concern is that in a fiat system, any deflation will be met with an inflationary overreaction (as we’re seeing). And the worse the deflation, the more extreme the overreaction will be.

It’s for this reason that the editors of BIG GOLD urge you to own physical gold, in your possession and under your control, given its reliability as a store of value in both inflationary and deflationary environments. If you have less than our recommended one-third of your investable assets in some form of gold, check around for places to buy gold coins and bars at good premiums.

Bottom line: Whether we’re served debilitating deflation or insidious inflation, holding gold (and silver), along with an appropriate allocation of precious metals stocks, offers us both a fort for protection and a canon for profit.

Buying physical gold and silver as safe-harbor assets is for many investors a no-brainer at this point. But only a few have heard of another prudent gold investment – one that has gone up more than 50% in 2008, at the exact same time when the overall stock market bombed. You don’t want to miss out on owning this “48 Karat Gold” stock… click here to learn more.

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North East Brazil - Natal Secures World Cup Stage

Natal in Brazil’s north east has just been given the honour from football’s ruling body FIFA to become a host city for the 2014 World Cup. Already a favourite with property investors, this coastal paradise will now be showcased on TV sets across the globe.

Samantha Gore, Sales & Marketing Director of Brazil specialist agents uv10 comments, “We couldn’t be happier - Natal put on a very impressive pitch in order to become one of the host cities. This decision cements the great investment opportunity offered by property in and around Natal and we expect interest to accelerate in the run-up to 2014. Owing to its huge popularity it can already be tricky to find rental accommodation in Natal’s more desirable catchment areas such as the chic beach resort of Pipa, and recent investors will be delighted at this news.”

Samantha continues, “Major global sporting events automatically improve local transport links and facilities, we can only imagine the effect the World Cup will have on the area, particularly with the new airport on the way in Natal which is set to be the largest in South America. Here in Natal the Brazilian property market is far from its peak and there’s plenty of growth to be seen between now and 2014.”

As Brazilian president Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva said “soccer is more than a sport for us, it’s a national passion” and having won the Cup five times, they certainly have the credentials for a good event. It’s a real opportunity for Natal to enter the global stage and the real estate market has received a welcome boost.

www.uv10.com offers a range of hand-picked, upmarket property located along Brazil’s spectacular northeast coastline. Properties range from one bedroom furnished apartments in the resort of Morada dos Ventos, Pipa, with a rental income of 8 – 10% per annum for an entry level price of around 70,000 euros right up to four bedroom individually designed villas with private pools in Natal Ocean Club from around 900,000 euros.

Contact uv10 on info@uv10.com, visit www.uv10.com or telephone UK local rate +44 (0)845 643 1036 or the Spanish office +34 952 764 560. Skype uv10-brazil.


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English Speaking Expats in France Welcome Launch of ‘The French Paper’

A new national newspaper for the English speaking community in France was launched last month, with the publication of ‘The French Paper’.

'The French Paper' is the brainchild of Nicki Wade, an expat who has lived in the Charente for the past five years, and who is an award winning publisher with 18 years of experience under her belt.

She currently publishes 'Living Poitou-Charentes', a stylish and glossy bi-monthly lifestyle magazine that offers both regional articles and features, as well as broader stories about France.

Nicki has appointed as her editor, Michael Streeter, a seasoned ex Fleet Street journalist who was previously news editor of the Independent on Sunday, as well as having held previous senior positions in the industry. Michael also lives in France.

It will be interesting to see how the paper seeks to position itself in relation to 'Connexion', the existing national newspaper in France, which has established itself as an informative source of news and advice.

The publicity release speaks of a paper designed to be ‘practical, informative, inspiring and entertaining’ which ‘combines broadsheet sensibilities with magazine values’.

There seems to be no lack of ambition in the extent of the planned editorial coverage, with the paper proposing to write about ‘people, politics, food, wine, property, work, kids, business, country and city living, art, community, history, places, money, building, bureaucracy, jobs, gardening, lifestyle, shopping and education’ – all ‘in an engaging and above all clear style’.

First impressions of the launch edition are strong, with the paper displaying plenty of panache, and a lively, upbeat editorial style. They have also cleverly chosen to break up the paper, with two pull-out sections covering 'Work and Money', and 'Living'. There is even a small comic style pull-out for the kids!

The paper has an initial print run of 35,000. It is available via newsagents throughout France, as well on subscription.

Needless to say, it remains to be seen whether there is sufficient demand for two national papers in France. Indeed, there may well yet be another paper on the streets, as the title and intellectual rights to the now defunct 'French News' newspaper have been sold to readers of the paper. It could soon get quite crowded!

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Malta Property Investment

A traditional favourite with British holidaymakers, the small island of Malta is hoping to attract the luxury property investor. Once home to mass-market developments, Malta has learnt from its mistakes in the past and is now concentrating on high-end developments.

The Maltese emphasis is on the luxury sector, perhaps nowhere more so than in the capital, Valletta, whose Grand Harbour waterfront is currently seeing the fruits of a long restoration project. Costing around €25 million, Valletta Waterfront has been transformed from dilapidated rows of warehouses into a buzzing restaurant and retail area and a top tourist attraction. Near the Waterfront is the main quay, the principal entry point for the increasing number of cruise liners that include the island on their itinerary. The quay has just been lengthened to over 300m at a cost of €2 million and now allows larger cruise ships to dock.

Luxury property development is centred around specific areas on the island. Tigne Point is one such example. This rocky outcrop, which looks over to Valletta on the other side of the water, is a focus for luxury apartments. Construction at Portomaso in the St Julian’s district in the north of the capital includes a private marina.

Between joining the EU in 2004 and adopting the euro last year, property prices on Malta increased by around 8% annually. However, in common with many countries, Malta has seen a decline in its property market since 2008. According to the latest Knight Frank Global Price Index (Q1 2009), prices on the island experienced a year-on-year fall of 5.6% with a 1.7% drop in the first quarter of this year.

Maltese property is popular with foreigners who make up between 30% and 40% of buyers, with the British dominating the foreign buyer market. However, buying a property on Malta usually involves applying for a permit and the island implements strict purchase regulations for non-Maltese nationals. There are also rental restrictions – second homes cannot generally be let unless they are a villa with a pool or come into the category of “first-class luxury flat”.

“Malta has many attractions including its year-round climate and the increased availability of low-cost flights,” says James Gonzalez, Market Analyst at Obelisk Investment Property, “but it’s a small island and doesn’t suit everyone. And its purchase and rental regulations also restrict investment.”

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