In 2011 the auspicious Lonely Planet guide put Albania in at #1 in their ‘Best in Travel for 2011′ list. Shortly after, London’s very own global business newspaper, The Financial Times dubbed Albania one of the year’s most intriguing prospects for emerging travel.

And now, getting 2012 off to a flying start, Albania has been named by MSN Travel as one of the Hottest Destinations of the year. In at 4th position, Albania makes the prestigious shortlist compiled by one of the world’s longest established travel companies – Cox and Kings and ABTA Travel Association.

Perhaps best well-described as ‘a country awakening from a long, oppressive hibernation’, Cox and Kings herald Albania as a: “Landscape of almost heart-wrenching beauty, rugged mountains, snow-capped for much of the year, towering above unspoilt white sand beaches and green mysterious valleys.”

This beautiful description conjures up a vivid portrayal of untouched lands just waiting to be explored. Like the people of Albania, who have been previously hidden behind a blanket of communism and corruption, the nation is now emerging as a hidden European gem.

MSN Travel says of Albania:

“Bordered by Greece, Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro, Albania is nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean but has long been ignored as a travel destination after years of being shuttered in communist isolation. But the world is slowly awakening to its potential as both a beach and historical destination with miles of coastline along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, and historic archaeological ruins that trace the country’s history back through the to the Bronze Age.”

Ravin Maharajah, Partner in Lalzit Bay & Spa Resort, the 5* resort under construction on the stunning Adriatic coastline of Albania, comments on the latest accolade awarded to this country:

“We started this venture in Albania, carrying out the exploratory work for the resort in 2008. We were extremely confident of the success that will come out of Albania as it heads away from oppression and towards modern Europe. Our early forays into the country led us to a land of plenty. There is an abundance of sunshine, white sandy beaches, crystal clear warm waters, beautiful mountain ranges and above all a kind, warm and generous population.

“We have been bowled over time and time again with the efforts that the Albanians are making to push their country forward, make changes and improve the infrastructure.”

The apartments in Lalzit Bay Resort are moments away from the beach and situated in beautiful private gardens. The villas are designed to be the ultimate beach properties in Albania – spacious, stylish and with private swimming pools.

Priced from just €35,000 for apartments, for more information contact Lalzit Bay on 0845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.

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One of the major attractions of purchasing a skiing property in the US rather than Europe is the cost. Since the global recession, US property has tanked and has yet to fully recover. This means that there are more opportunities for investors at both ends of the scale – budget ski properties and luxury skiing properties. Estate agents in Colorado have said that some properties have seen price drops of up to 35pc since their highest point and this has piqued the interest of increasing numbers of international property buyers.

Aside from the price, Colorado is an east place to get to. For skiers, it offers regular snow falls, slopes to suit any ability and it tends to be slightly quieter than the European ski resorts. During the off season, there are plenty of things to do in the area meaning there is no shortage for rental potential all year round.

Europe has also seen a price drop however the US still tends to win on a ‘bang for your buck’ basis – although Europe still remains an excellent proposition for those looking to invest in ski property.

The price reductions on European ski properties are not as great as those that have been seen in the US however they still offer great value for money, especially in the more popular ski resorts, as there will always be rental demand in the area.

Wherever you choose to purchase your ski property, the basic principles of buying remain the same:
- Altitude is not the most important factor; look for properties when it is ski in/ski out
- Infrastructure should be good
- Accessibility to the local ski areas should be excellent
- Good local amenities are a bonus
- Consider a leaseback scheme if you want to take some of the stress out of managing the property

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According to some reports, some developers are now offering discounts of up to 35% on new properties. This has led to some discord as previous investors have paid much higher prices and have not been able to benefit from these new buyer discounts.

Some analysts have warned that property prices may drop by a massive 20pc over the next two years as current prices are unsustainable and unrealistic.

A decade ago, China’s property market started to boom after authorities privatised a large percentage of housing stock across the country. According to state media, in 2000 there were just 1,000 second-hand home sales in Beijing; last year saw well over 200,000 sales. As prices increased, many people saw property as a wise place to invest money and this pushed price and demand up even further.

However the writing has been on the wall for a while. Authorities took measures last year to try and cool the property market down by introducing things such as restricting the number of properties people could own and increasing the minimum downpayment required for property purchases. Partly, these measures were introduced to help ensure that housing was more affordable for more people – and to stop property investors adding to their already large portfolios.

These measures are now starting to take effect and many believe that property prices in China will now start to decrease to a more sustainable, affordable level.

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The report, which charts the level of interest in the overseas property portal’s listings, saw a condo in Pattaya attract the most enquiries In October. What was it about the luxury Thailand apartment that triggered such a torrent of attention?

The popularity of Pattaya’s property may seem surprising after Thailand’s extensive flooding, but investors were attracted to the resort a matter of days before the tragic event took place. The demand for the luxury coastal condos, located 600 metres from the beach, actually foreshadowed industry predictions, as Colliers International Thailand suggested that the water-damaged homes would lead to a rise in interest in condominiums.

Indeed, apartments attracted the most attention from investors in October, accounting for 6 out of the 10 most popular properties on the site. Closely following Thailand’s condos were flats in Cumbria and new apartments in Spain, but each were driven by different investment needs.

The Spanish apartments show the continuing demand for seaside property in the popular region of Murcia. The new build properties, located close to Murcia’s airport and the upcoming Paramount Theme Park, are a traditional lifestyle buyer choice, eligible for a 50 per cent discount in VAT until the end of the year.

But apartments are also strong opportunities for buy to let investment. Cumbria’s two-bedroom flats (promising 9 to 11 per cent gross yields) were a familiar runner-up to Thailand, dropping one place in popularity after drawing the most enquiries on TheMoveChannel.com in September.

As rents in the UK are revealed to be the highest in Western Europe, buy to let apartments remain a secure form of investment. London-based accommodation, in particular, has the highest rental rates on the continent, with Westminster hotel units holding a firm fourth position in October’s chart.

Istanbul also had apartments to offer investors last month, as Turkey’s booming economy and high student housing demand combined to attract the sixth-highest number of enquiries for Kucukcekmece’s one-bedroom flats. Other non-eurozone markets also demonstrated their appeal, as investors considered properties as diverse as Hungary homes in the heart of Budapest to apartments in Bulgaria’s cheap ski resorts.

Half-price apartments in Egypt’s Hurghada resort were equally popular in seventh place, providing below market value real estate to investors tightening their purse strings. But with buy to let opportunities both in the UK and overseas and new condos in Thailand cheaper than repossessed homes, October proved that apartments remain a popular form of investment, come hell or high water.

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Unveiling their list of top travel destinations for next year, the experts at Frommer’s also polled readers to find out where they wanted to visit in 2012 with the beautiful Albanian Riviera emerging as a winner.

The list which included something for everyone, from large cities, to quiet beach towns and riverside homes highlighted Albania as having all the natural attractions of its Croatian counterpart in the north but without the large crowds and high prices.

Ravin Maharajah, Partner of Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, the 5* luxury residential development located on Albania’s Adriatic coastline comments, “Albania’s coastline is quite simply its greatest asset with 295km of Adriatic coastline that runs from Montenegro down to Greece.

“Albania is full of gleaming white beaches, easily among the most beautiful in Europe. Within it lies a rich history and a land of legends and ancient civilizations. It is a nation where travellers will enjoy authentic traditions and cuisines, as well as a friendly welcome.”

With a 200% increase in tourists visiting the Balkan nation between January and August this year compared to numbers in 2008 as well as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicting strong economic growth of 3.5% in Albania for 2012, the country is not only beginning to get the attention it so rightly deserves but is creating a favourable climate for foreign and domestic business as well as those on the lookout for property.

With this in mind, the 5* Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa can provide the perfect property investment opportunity for as little as €38,000 for a luxury apartment on a beach-front resort.

This stunning property development, recently voted ‘Project of the Year’ at the 2011 RealEx conference in Tirana recently for its high quality infrastructure and strong commitment to the environment will provide outstanding on-site facilities including a beach club, BBQ area, tennis courts and restaurants.

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Statistics from Kyero.com, Spain’s largest English language property portal, for Q3 2011 show that the national average asking price for property in Spain increased to €266,100 in September compared to €263,000 back in June this year, suggesting a shortage of quality properties in the most popular regions.

Of course, as prices rise and tourism booms with some Costa hotels enjoying 100% hotel occupancy over the summer months, potential buyers will be on the hunt for attractive opportunities. In fact, property professionals across the nation have already witnessed an increase in inquiries and inspection trips, with overseas mortgage specialist Conti recording a 7% rise in enquiries about Spanish property in August this year.

Marc Pritchard, sales and marketing director of leading Spanish developer Taylor Wimpey España, comments,

“The price rises in certain parts of Spain is an encouraging sign for investors with locations such as the Costa Blanca, Costa Calida, Alicante and Murcia experiencing marked price increases.

“Alicante, for instance, has experienced improvements in its infrastructure, seeing a second airport terminal open, which is always good news when it comes to attracting more visitors.”

Indeed, Alicante is one such region that has seen average property prices rise steadily since the end of last year with average asking prices of €220,000 seen in December 2010 gradually rising to €231,000 last month according to the latest figures from Kyero.com in Q3 2011.

With prices in Alicante province below the national average it is hardly surprising that it experienced the biggest number of sales to foreign buyers between April and June 2011, however of the 22% increase in Spanish property sales in Q2 2011, a total of 90,746 properties sold according to the Spanish government, Malaga hit the top spot for sales to foreigners with 1,110 sales taking place in the second quarter of this year.

Interestingly, despite the price of property in Malaga standing at €299,500 (September 2011), above the national average, buyers seem to have taken a shine to this Costa del Sol region thanks to its important cultural infrastructure and rich artistic heritage. Malaga has even been nominated as a candidate for the 2016 European Capital of Culture, destined to boost future tourist numbers as well as property sales.

Meanwhile, further statistics from Kyero’s Spanish House Price Index (Q3 2011) highlight that the Balearic Island of Mallorca has the third highest average asking price in Spain at €416,300. Perhaps the golf courses, infrastructural developments, glorious beaches, year round lively atmosphere, celebrity residents and world recognised events such as the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 account for the high asking price compared to other Spanish provinces.

Indeed the Spanish government’s 4% reduction in IVA (the equivalent of VAT) on new stock properties until 31st December 2011 offering a potential saving of €8,000 on a €200,000 home combined with Taylor Wimpey España’s additional 4% contribution is certainly a big factor at play in attracting more buyers to the country. And, whilst property on Mallorca is more expensive than many of its counterparts, savings such us this can make a real difference, offering a quality property in a popular location at a discounted price.

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According to TheMoveChannel, Murcia was one of the most searched for locations for Spanish property in August 2011 – with La Manga, Caragena and Mar Menor being the areas with the most interest.

Spanish property has always been popular with foreign property buyers and Murcia appears to be fast becoming one of the property hotspots in Spain. Given the price of the better known destinations of the Costa Blanca or the Costa del Sol, it is no surprise that investors are looking for cheaper alternatives – and the Costa Calida in Murcia is one of the areas. There is a wide variety of property available and with plenty of bank repossessed stock on offer, there are plenty of property bargains around.

According to the latest Spanish House Price Index from Kyero.com in July 2011, the average asking price for property in Murcia was €163,000. This figures is 62% below the national average of €263,000. Prices have also fallen over the last 2 years from a high of €185,000 at the end of 2009.

In the past, the Costa Calida had a massive oversupply of properties and this had a negative effect on property prices. Now, the local housing market is more stable and combines with a 50% reduction in IVA (VAT) until the end of the year, it is no surprise that property investors are keen to snap up property in and around the area.

Tourism in the area is expected to increase thanks to an approval for the Paramount Theme Park due to open in 2015. The Corvera international airport is due to have it’s upgrades opened next year meaning more footfall through the airport – again helping boost tourism in the local area. Increased tourism should help boost rental prices which in the long-term should help boost property prices.

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Over the last ten years, Albania’s economy has seen real GDP growth and, despite the economic downturn in 2008, is one of only two countries in Europe that not only recorded economic growth of 0.4% in Q1 2009 but also an impressive 6% growth from 2001-10 – meaning Albania can boast one of the strongest performances in Europe.

As well as these impressive economic figures, the House Price Index in Albania is also strong, having increased by 1.6pc in the second quarter of 2011. Experts have also said that house prices have remained stable throughout 2009 and 2010 meaning the housing market is stable and although this means mega-money has not been made, it is a positive at a time when many housing markets have seen dramatic decreases in prices during the same time frame.

EU accession progress, infrastructure investment and the disparity in house prices between Albania and neibouring countries all mean that house prices in Albania are likely to stay positive. Given the economic stability of the country over the past few years, this all adds up to good news for property investors who are looking for a relatively safe, secure place to invest in.

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This IVA reduction will apply until the 31st December 2011 and will hopefully boost the flagging new build Spanish property market,

Minister of Development Jose Blanco explained that the IVA cut was to help revive the Spanish construction sector and help to create jobs in an area hit hard by the recession.

Property purchasers have welcome the news – as the Spanish IVA reduction can mean a large saving. Buying a €200,000 property will see €8,000 saved.

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According to TheMoveChannel, the state of Rio Grande do Norte is the most sought after areas for property investors in the last 12 months. The name means “Great River of the North” and refers to the mouth of the Potengi River. This river is home to Natal city, one of the most favoured areas for overseas property investors.

The results are surprising, particularly as the most popular tourist destination of Rio de Janeiro ranked in a lowly 11th place with less than 1% of potential buyer enquiries.

So why buy property in Brazil? Brazil has a growing yet stable economy which is always popular for property speculators, particularly when more popular markets such as Spain, Italy and the USA have been turbulent in recent times.

The state of Rio de Grande is particularly popular right now because it is home to the World Cup host city of Natal, increasing it’s visibility to the masses.

Property prices throughout Brazil are still relatively low meaning new investors are able to buy relatively cheaply in a stable market. TheMoveChannel has released figures that show that 62% of all listed property is below £25,000 with only 5% above the £100,000 mark.

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