Compass Amazing Resorts

Compass Amazing Resorts and the Dominican Republic

2011-02-20T06:09:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know that Compass Amazing Resorts has taken on a new development in the Dominican Republic. The resort is in the popular tourist town of Punta Cana. We have been amazed by the sheer volume of information requests that have come in for this resort and so have made a website just for the resort itself.

The website is in Spanish but there are options to be able to view pages in English if necessary. You can also go to the download area to request a brochure on the resort.

Normal operations continue in Compass Amazing Resorts for the Spanish and Portuguese property sales and we would encourage anyone to contact us as soon as possible with a view to some great bargains we have in Costa del Sol.

Enjoy the journey!

Compass Amazing Resorts Reaches agreement for Punta Cana Development

2011-02-03T16:17:00.000-08:00

We are now finalising an agreement to offer a truly fabulous opportunity for our clients in the sun drenched island of The Dominican Republic. On the world renowned "Amazing" resort of Punta Cana we will be offering two bed, one bath apartments for as little as 49,000 dollars!

The apartments will be sold fully furnished and with air conditioning so all you'll need to do is take your toothbrush!

Punta Cana has long been the destination for wealthy Americans and Canadians. It's the first time in more than two years that Compass Amazing Resorts offer property in the Caribbean and we are delighted to be there again.

For further information please write to us on info@amazingpropertyinspain.xom and we will send you a brochure.

Whatever you do, enjoy the journey.

Portugal Voted the Top Place to Live in Europe!

2010-10-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

In a recent survey by the NatWest Quality of Life Index, Portugal was voted the Best Place to Live in Europe and the 3rd Best Place in the World. It was beaten by Canada and New Zealand and closely followed by Italy, France and then Spain. The survey revealed that increasing numbers of UK workers are now spending time working abroad and that the number of people retiring abroad is also rising.

Escaping pressured jobs and stressful life styles and a desire for a better way of life has led to more British Citizens moving abroad than ever before. Thirty seven percent of expats surveyed put quality of life as the number one factor influencing their decision.

The survey was taken by British expats living permanently abroad and looked at key criteria including: healthcare, public transport, weather, housing, food, entertainment, education, security, natural environment, leisure and culture, public services, law enforcement, availability of consumer goods, sanitation, retirement facilities and banking services.

It was revealed, and probably of no surprise, that British expatriates are healthier, wealthier and happier wherever they move to, but why did Portugal come out on top?

Portugal has a total population of just under 11 million; less than the population of London! This contributes to a slower and more relaxed pace of life with fewer queues, less traffic jams and congestion and altogether a whole lot more space to move around in.

Let’s also not forgot that Britain and Portugal have long had good relations, dating back to 1373 when the two countries signed the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, which is the oldest alliance still in force in the world.

The Algarve is the most popular destination in Portugal for expats. With its 200 km coastline home to over 50 sandy beaches, of which a third fly the prestigious blue flag for cleanliness of water, its little wonder this province of Portugal is so popular.

The weather is without doubt one of the most important factors. With over 300 days of sunshine per year and temperatures ranging from the high 30’s degrees C in summer and rarely dropping below 10C in winter.

Portugal’s quality housing also makes it a great place to invest in property whether for life style or holiday rentals. Newly constructed properties are spacious and generally built to a high standard. This, together with the implementation of strict building regulations, which controls growth and manages development, will ensure that Portugal retains it charm and desirability for generations to come.

For more information on Compass Amazing Resorts in Portugal please click.

Spanish East Coast Property Prices at 2005 levels

2010-08-22T04:27:00.000-07:00

According to news out today, the price of property in the autonomous community of Valencia, which takes in a lot of the East Coast of Spain, including the capital, Valencia itself, is now at the same level as in 2005.

The price per square meter has been reported as 1,459 Euros whereas in 2005 it was at 1,428 Euros, practically the same.

Of course this does not affect all coastal Spanish property. A large part of these statistics are taken from urban property prices in the bigger cities which can seriously bias them. When we take into account the increasing unemployment in Spain and the recession itself, it stands to reason that the price of property in the cities will, at the very least, stagnate.

As we commented in our Blog yesterday, this does not necessarily spell doom and gloom for the overseas buyer. Property in the coastal reasons of Spain is not only linked to the Spanish economy. Most of Northern Europe wants to purchase something in the Spanish Costas so prices in some areas have held steady or even risen.

This is the case with property in places like Nueva Andalucia in the Costa del Sol, Punta Prima in Costa Blanca and parts of north Costa Blanca like Denia and Altea. Villas in Altea and apartments in Denia have remained quite strong.

Whatever you do, enjoy the journey!

Does "Buyers' Market" mean let's not buy?

2010-08-21T08:03:00.000-07:00

BUYERS' MARKET
"A market which has more sellers than buyers. Low prices result from this excess of supply over demand. also called soft market. opposite of seller's market."

We are asked by many customers if Spain is experiencing a so called buyers' market now. We would say that this is the case, but not in all of Spain and also only for people who actually want to be buyers.

Why do we say this? It seems that people are confusing the idea of a buyers market, as defined above, where the presence of more sellers than buyers puts the buyer in a strong position, with "having the seller over a barrel"!

Think of your own property. If you were in a hurry to sell and had seen that prices had not risen in the past year or so you would certainly be more hesitant to increase your price and perhaps more open to negotiate. But you would still have a bottom line below which you would not go. And this is the same with Spanish vendors. More so in the last few months as sales have been made.

In areas such as The Costa del Sol, property supply has been limited in the last few years as a result of the unfortunate corruption problems the town hall in Marbella and Estepona had suffered. This actually translated into lower supply. However, prices were still artificially high due to the boom that took place from about 2001 to 2004. These prices had to come down.

And finally they did. If we take an area like the well known road to Benahavis, there are developments there like Gazules del Sol or Lomas de Marques, where a bargain hunter in the world of Spanish property could find an apartment for around 200,000 Sterling. This summer you would be lucky to find anything up that road for that price, the average pricing for a two bed two bath apartment there being closer to 250,000 sterling. Yet we have seen more people miss out on the deals in the last year or so because they had been "reliably informed" by the UK press that we are in a "buyers market" which they understood to mean a don't-buy-now-because-prices-will-drop-market.

Our advice is to look seriously for the property you want, be sensible with your budget and when you find the property you do like, bargain like mad for it. But don't let it go just because you think it might drop in price and don't make silly offers either, remember that a vendor has as much a right as you to be treated fairly. In the market we are seeing in the Costa del Sol at the market, we are seeing the good properties are selling and the true Buyers are having their day in the market.

Good News for Portugal!

2010-08-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

Portugal made the headlines recently in the UK press, reported as the best family value destination in Europe! British researches found the Algarve region of Portugal to be the most economic to visit with Lisbon coming out as the second best city for short breaks. The stunning Algarve beaches were voted amongst the highest in the world.

According to the survey, in comparison to 2009, the average price of a meal has fallen by 47%, costing £15.89 for a 3 course meal with wine in a local Portuguese restaurant. Not only did Portugal come out top with restaurant prices, but also at the beach where it was reported that the average charge for one hours rental of a pedalo was almost half of the cost in France or Majorca.

Portugal is now being described as “this season’s bargain hotspot” by the Mirror, while The Sun has proclaimed that “Portugal pounds the competition to give you the best value for money this summer”.

It's no wonder Portugal remains one of the top destinations for Brits buying abroad! For more information on Compass Amazing Resorts in Portugal please click.

Spain's Financial Sector: Some Facts and Figures

2010-06-05T02:17:00.001-07:00

Much has been spoken about Spain being in trouble. The UK press loves bad news and so announces stories with the same morbid glee that it would, I am sure, announce the end of the end the world. When one of the small regional banks in Spain was bailed out two weeks ago by The Bank of Spain, the British press ran the typical "Yet another Spanish bank..." story. Yet the bank in question accounts for less than 0.6% of the Spanish banking system. Spain is all about regions and small local banks as well as high street banks. This appears to be a concept that leaves us Brits confused. We try and measure everthing by our own yardstick. Yet the UK press neglects to ask how it is that Banco Santander purchased Abbey National, Bradford and Bingley and has made huge inroads in our own financial sector. So what if we were to compare the Spanish banks with their European counterparts. According to a report published today by Expansion, capital and reserves held by Spanish banks, including provisions made, amount to 7.9% of its debt which is 1.7% above the European average of 6.2%. Resources held by the Spanish banks far outweighs what the other European banks can count on. The report goes on to compare Spain to other countries, including France and Germany, and illustrates what some people already knew - yes the Spanish banks are more exposed than others when it comes to real estate investments, but in nearly ALL other areas they are actually stronger than most other banks. In terms of profit margins they are also streets ahead of their peers. For the full report please see here http://www.expansion.com/2010/06/04/empresas/banca/1275684814.html

Have an Amazing Weekend.

Posted via email from amazingresorts's posterous

Pound to Euro at its Highest Point in 2010!

2010-06-03T03:21:00.001-07:00

The currency news for yesterday, June 2nd, was encouraging for overseas property buyers. The pound sterling was at 1.1957 against the Euro, a huge jump from the 1.10/1.11 levels of the past semester.

What does this mean in real times for a customer looking at property in Spain or Portugal? Let's say you were looking to buy this two bed two bath apartment in the complex of Benatalaya on the road to Benahavis.

The price of this property is currently 225,000 Euros, reduced for a quick sale in a complex where the next most economic unit is at 287,000 Euros. If you had purchased this property two weeks ago, the price in Sterling would have been 199,115 pounds. If you buy it this week it will cost 188,174 Pounds. So this amounts to a saving of 11,000 sterling for the same property.

Of course it begs the question, if I wait another six months then at this rate will it drop to about half its value? We never know, however it might drop more or indeed it could also go back up. However, we must always take into account the "Dutch Auction" nature of this market. There are people out there who have a set budget and when the price drops, for whatever reason, they act. A great property like this will not be there for ever. So if you were holding out for a Spanish luxury apartment for under 200,000 sterling, you can now get this fabulous two bed two bath in Benatalaya for 188,000. If you add the closing costs of around 9% then you pay 204,000 sterling and move in! This unit comes with TWO garage places, under floor heating in the two bathrooms and a fully fitted SIEMATICA kitchen.

If you wish further information on this or other properties overseas please email us on info@amazingpropertyinspain.com or contact us via the website http://www.amazingpropertyinspain.com/

Whatever you do,

Enjoy the journey!

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from amazingresorts's posterous

Spain's problems spell opportunities for overseas buyers

2010-05-31T06:31:00.001-07:00

There seem to be a great debate now as to whether a sovereign debt crisis in Spain actually makes it a worse time to buy. Let's look at the two sides of this debate. On the one hand we have people who believe that if the country gets into further difficulty then Spanish property will not be worth anything. In some ways they are right, but only with those properties that are available in abundance or that were already so overpriced that they are still not worth purchasing.

And this is the key. The other side of this story is that just because Spain is having a sovereign debt crisis that the developers or vendors of the country are suddenly going to be accepting any price or that we can buy the Royal Palace, La Zarzuela, in Madrid for a few quid. After all, don't they say it's a "sovereign debt" problem?

The reality is that this type of crisis will sort the wheat from the chaff but the property that has really been affected is the centre city property aimed at the nationals. They are now hitting the dole queues at a a terrible rate and soon will be unable to service the mortgages on their overvalued properties. In the face of negative equity will they walk away? They might, but history shows us that in the UK when faced with negative equity many people tightened their belts, borrowed from family and waited.

So perhaps the idea of buying a property in the centre of Palencia or Bilbao could be precarious because its price may fall even more if the economy does not recover. But can this be said of the property that is, and always was, destined to the foreign market?

In the market that concerns us, the Spanish Costas, could it not be argued that it is the UK economy that decides how the market reacts? True, there is some property that really will not sell but this is not to say that we can expect 8 bedroom villas in La Zagaleta to be down in price anytime soon.

We exagerate, of course. The large existing stock of two bed two bath apartments will certainly see "price adjustments" but there is still a hierarchy of quality to follow. The best property will hold prices and will sell before others. we are seeing great property selling NOW. Many clients are being disappointed because they wait too long and then some other Northern European buys the unit. If you hold out too long

We have seen whole Spanish property developments sell out in the last few months and these were developments that have had unsold units on them for years. Why? Because the Spanish economy has little to do with pricing in Costa del Sol or Costa Blanca. All of northern Europe would love to have a Spanish villa or apartment and they are quite literally lurking waiting, like in a Dutch auction, for the price to drop just a bit before snapping it up.

The number of British buyers in Spain in the last 5 months has once again surpassed buyers from other countries, but don't be fooled into thinking you can take your time. If you find a great property, at a price you like, go for it because you may be disappointed. After all, you don't want to be buying just one more distressed unit, you want to buy a great property that suits you and that you want to use. You could spend the rest of 2010 looking for a bargain or you could buy a bargain now and spend the rest of 2010 relaxing and using it!

Whatever you do, enjoy the journey!

Summer Shopping for Property

2010-05-31T00:52:00.001-07:00

In spite of the adverse news about the "weaker" economies of the so called PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain) Compass Amazing Resorts have seen a sharp upturn in visits AND buyers of property in three of their 6 destination resorts, Spain and Portugal being two of them.

There could be many reasons for this, of course, however we believe that the main factors behind this are the price drops in Spain and Portugal. Many people know that, although there is an oversupply problem in Spain, the best deals go faster. Once someone sees something that they truly like, unless it is one of many, they should make a fair offer and go through with it.

Tim Landseer Brooks of Compass Amazing Resorts makes the following comments. "Those who are buying now are generally lifestyle customers. They want their place in the sun and know that now is a good time to buy. For lifestyle customers there is little to be gained waiting out the summers in search of a slightly better deal. They might as well get stuck in and start to enjoy the overseas lifestyle that has been their dream for so long."

Another reason why there has been a pick up in people searching and buying is purely because the summer is the overseas property "season". This is when people get time off and feel more inclined to visit the resorts and view property. Plus the relative weakness of the "target" economies is helping the pound move in our favour - just last week alone the shift in the pound has meant a decrease of nearly 3% in the price of Spanish or Portuguese property.

So if you have dreamed of buying that apartment in Marbella or a nice villa in Turkey or perhaps it's a townhouse in Bodrum, Didum or some other part of the sun drenched Turkish coastline for you, get in contact with Compass Amazing Resorts via email on info@amazingpropertyinspain.com give us a call or just drop in to a local branch of Reeds Rains or Your Move, our affinity partners in the UK.

Whatever happens, you'll enjoy the journey with Amazing Resorts.

Posted via email from amazingresorts's posterous

SIMA 2010 Starts today

2010-05-21T00:27:00.001-07:00

As we had advanced in an earlier post, the Salon Inmobiliairia de Madrid or SIMA, still the world's largest real estate trade fair, opens its doors today. For all of us in the overseas property industry this trade fair represents an acid test to the relative strength of demand as well as giving indications as to what newbuild developers aim to do for the rest of the year.

You can obtain further information on the trade fair or why not just turn up at the IFEMA show centre in Madrid.

Enjoy the journey!

Posted via email from amazingresorts's posterous

Spanish property dips below 100k Euros again

2010-05-20T01:18:00.001-07:00

It is well known that property in Spain has been dropping in price for the last few years. Although in some areas these price drops have flattened, the news from Spain today is that in some areas prices have dropped below the "pyschological" 100k barrier.

At SIMA 2010, Madrid's world famous real estate fair, there are properties on offer in many parts of Spain for less than 100,000 Euros, and some from as low as 59,000 Euros. Now even though a lot of this offer is urban inner city property don't worry, the Spanish Costas are well represented in some of these offers.

But before you dash off to Spain to buy one of these bargains or think to use this info as a level to try and lower the price on that villa you've been following on the internet there are a few points that need to be emphasised here.

The properties at 59,000 Euros are in Foz, in the north of Spain on the "Lugo Coast". These northern Spanish properties may not be to the taste of the typical overseas property buyers. The climate there is a bit like the UK and there are no useful airports nearby. What you save on the property you might lose on the airfares. Also a large number of these units are in "edificios de altura" which is the Spanish name for blocks of flats or "tall buildings"! Tall apartment blocks have never been what the UK market demands.

In saying all this, any price drop is great news as it places a downward pressure on ALL Spanish property. However, in the more sought after Costas, like La Costa del Sol, we are seeing that prices, far from dropping any further, are beginning to stabalise and even rise. A good example are properties on the road to Benahavis, just outside Marbella. Here over the last 18 months we have seen properties sell quite steadily and, as market forces do their thing, this has caused an increase in pricing as the stock diminishes. Pricing in that area, for quality apartments, is now closer to 250,000 Euros and developers are holding their ground in the face of aggressive offers from customers.

So do not be fooled by the press. Actually this is good advice even away from the world of property! There are bargains to be had in Spain, for now. But the good stuff, as always, is starting to dwindle. In this market the early bird gets the deal! The ideal thing is to contact an agent with years of experience in Spanish property, like Compass Amazing Resorts, and let them help filter the best property for you.

One last word of advice, Spanish property is not in the internet, it's in Spain. Come on over and look at some!

Whatever you do, Enjoy the journey!

Posted via email from amazingresorts's posterous

UK's new government spells good news for overseas property

2010-05-13T03:04:00.001-07:00

There can be no doubt that the forming of a new government in the UK, albeit a coalition government, spells good news for industry in general and the overseas property industry in particular.

At Compass Amazing Resorts we welcome this change of government and hope that the much hyped "sense of partnership and common purpose" truly helps get the country back on the road to prosperity.

A new government marks a new era of stability. The tories, even if their current mandate is leavened by a sprinkle of Lib Dems, have always been a party that backs business and supports economic growth. David Cameron should now impulse changes that bring about stability in the public and private sectors which in turn will stabilise the country and create employment. This in turn will lead to a return of confidence in the economy. Something that we have all been waiting for.

Posted via email from amazingresorts's posterous

Mortgages granted in Spain rises 8.5% in February

2010-05-02T07:27:00.001-07:00

For all of those who are waiting for a "recovery" in Spain the 8.5% increase in February of mortgages granted in the country is certainly a good sign. This marks the second consecutive month with positive interannual figures.

According to Spain's National Institude of Statistics 54,813 mortgages were granted in February. This is 6.2% above January which had already been hailed as a good sign with an interannual increase of 2.3%.

For people wishing to obtain a mortgage on their Spanish property , or for people wishing to sell on property, this is clearly good news. "We have clients who have property in Nagueles, in Marbella," explains Helen Smith, from Compass Amazing Resorts, and they have been able to sell because the family wishing to buy their home obtained a mortgage in only three weeks.".

The Minister of Housing for Spain, Beatriz Corredor, has also pointed out that these figures are a clear indication that the Spanish banks and building societies are making access to finance "more agile" than before. It is interesting to note that November 2009 ended 28 months of negative tendency in finance for homes and housing in Spain, although December then returned to a negative year on year percentage.

At Compass Amazing Resorts we are delighted to see that Spain, although it has been downgraded again last week by S&P, is starting to get some positive figures on the board. More than 800 Britons have purchased property in different parts of Spain such as the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol and even more out of the way places such as Galicia and Asturias. "The British love affair with Spain goes back decades and won't be kept back for long, even in the face of financial turmoil", adds Helen.

Posted via email from amazingresorts's posterous

Speedy boarding and the future of overseas property

2010-04-30T14:09:00.001-07:00

Stricken British Airways has had one strike and then one week of ashen disaster after the Icelandic volcano did, or did not - as this is now open to debate - closed down European airspace. At Amazing Resorts we saw a week of almost no activity in overseas property thanks to the latter and received delayed, irritable and not very interested visits because of the former. So for us expert expats it is no secret that there is a direct link between overseas property and the airlines.

Now we see that British Airways cabin crew are once again looking to strike and we sigh and look to the heavens (No pun intended!). We don't pretend to understand the beef that the cabin crew with their employers, but we do think that this whole episode is damaging the reputation and also the revenue and therefore survival of one of the world's best airlines. If they do not solve this then will the future of air travel be in the hands of Ryan Air and Easy Jet? Not that we have a problem with these airlines, but we would like the power of choice. Imagine the airports if none of the airlines had seat allocation. We could have a set of starting blocks just past passport control and perhaps throw in some obstacles for them while allowing for a glass tunnel where the speedy boarders will stroll past on the way to the gate.

Nope, it's not a future we would relish. Come on BA, get things sorted so we can settle down and receive contented passengers. After all, if you strike everytime the volcano is not bothering us we'll never get anywhere.

However, where ever you go, check out our destinations for great second homes and residences in the sun and above all,

Enjoy the journey!

Posted via email from amazingresorts's posterous

UK houses pricing in highest climb since June 2007

2010-04-30T01:56:00.001-07:00

Nationwide, the UK Building Society, has announced that UK house prices have increased by 10.5%, the first time growth has reached double figures in almost three years.

This spells good news for the UK economy although some have suggested the price jump is down more to undersupply with steady demand than a true increase in property values.

"It's basic economics," Explained Tim Landseer Brooks, of Compass Amazing Resorts "If people do list their properties the supply drops which, in times of steady or increasing demand will cause an increase in price."

Simples? Perhaps, but in an ecomony that has been rife with bad news this type of report, whatever the reasoning behind it, is very welcome.

For those interested in buying property in Spain or Turkey, we have seen a sharp increase in sales over the last 6 weeks so we would recommend that people come out and view sooner rather than later.

Enjoy the journey!

Posted via email from amazingresorts's posterous

Spain's bad news could spell good news for UK buyers

2010-04-28T14:46:00.000-07:00

This evening Standard & Poor has dropped Spain's credit rating once again. The wekaness of the Greek economy has been blamed for the reduction of Spain's rating from AA+ to AA. This is the second drop this year.

In spite of dropping the rating, S&P have said that they still regard Spain as stronger than neighbouring Portugal. Fitch has maintained their rating of Spain at AAA.

The impact of this news was a body blow to the Spanish stock exchange which fell 2.99% today.

However, this bad news will put pressure on the Spanish banks to release some of the distressed property stock they have been "hiding" in their books. This stock will, in turn, drive prices of other stock downwards and could set Spain up for a veritable feeding frenzy from foreign buyers.

So if you are in the market for property in Spain perhaps now is the time to browse for inspiration in http://www.amazingpropertyinspain.com/ or our newly launched http://www.amazingpropertyinmarbella.com/

Enjoy the journey!

Cyprus - An Amazing Island

2010-04-21T03:50:00.000-07:00

Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean, covers an area of around 9,300 square kilometres and has a population of approximately one million. It is an island of contrasts, from alluring sandy beaches, vine clad slopes to fragrant mountain peaks and ancient ruins that stir the imagination. With its sub tropical climate; hot temperatures in the summer and the possibility to ski in the mountains in winter, Cyprus is a firm favourite as a choice for property investment.

Compass Amazing Resorts have some fantastic opportunities available in this magical destination. From beachfront apartments to country villas, we have handpicked the best of the best, with prices starting from an amazing £100,000:

Properties near Pafos with stunning swimming pool & gardens

Priced from just €115,000

Use our property search on our website to see this and many more amazing properties currently available on this charming Island.

Watch this "Air" Space!

2010-04-19T00:04:00.000-07:00

Many years ago we were practically forced to learn not only how to write but also to at the very least attempt to pronounce the capital of Iceland - Reykjavik, pronounced "wreck-e-oh-vic". This was thanks to various European summits and agreements being hosted there.

Now thanks to something in Iceland there probably won't be any meetings hosted anywhere for the near future. The volcano in Iceland called, wait for it, Eyjafjallajokull, pronounced, er, Ayja, er, Ehyafall... er, this is worse than Google's text recognition! let's just call it Ayja, has stopped air traffic across Europe and therefore, for those of us in overseas property, we are also stopped. This week, of a potential twenty couples searching for their dream homes in our different destinations, only one have made it. Well, they didn't really make it, as such, they were already here.

At Amazing Resorts we are not a hard sell company and are confident that these clients in Marbella today will be comfortable having ten sales staff show them around the beautiful resorts we have here!

As to Eyjafjallajokull, it continues to throw its plane grounding ash into the sky and therefore keep iceland on the map. Last year Iceland went spectacularly bankrupt, this year it may help push such venerable insitutions as British Airways over the edge and meanwhile we are all told to wait and see. So, our advice, watch this "air" space.

Spanish Banks set limits on new price drops.

2010-04-16T00:43:00.000-07:00

In an interniew en the Spanish newspaper "El Mundo", the President of the Colegio General de los Colegios Oficiales de la Propiedad Inmobiliaria (COAPIS), Santiago Baena, declared that the price of property in Spain will not drop any further, and may even rise in some areas.

The bank in Spain has now become a strong player in the supply side of the market with property that has been repossessed from both developers and members of the public.

"Everthing has its limit" Mr. Baena esplained. "And the prices are about to reach rock bottom."

Reposessed property can not be sold below its mortgage value, a value that was originally a percentage of the sales price. Also developers can not apply further discounts to those already applied. Once they reach a certain point the very banks who finance them will take the property back rather than allow them apply deeper price cuts.

In this fierce debate of value versus price, we at Compass Amazing Resorts have one piece of advice: if you like what you find and you can afford to buy it at the given price, do so. The market is much more active now and people are losing deals because they hold out for even further discount.

"It has become a bit like a Dutch Auction," explains Tim Landseer Brooks, at Compass Headquarters in Regent Street. "Many people are waiting for the price on a particular unit to drop again because they know the property has been on the market for some time, then suddenly it is gone."

In the last two months Compass Amazing Resorts has seen a rise of more than 200% in property sales wehn compared to the same period of 2009.

"This is not a false spring," Says Tim. "This is a positive trend. Something that is good for the market."

If you are interested in Spanish property then please browse our property selection on http://www.amazingpropertyinspain.com/
Have an Amazing day!

Jump in Spanish Property Sales

2010-04-15T13:11:00.001-07:00

While true that it is easy for sales of property to experience positive changes when compared to last year, the jump in sales in February was far above the expected increase.

According to the Spanish National Institute for Statistics (INE)

After an increase, year on year, in January of only 2%, the number of homes sold in Spain in February 2010 compared to the same month last experienced a staggering 18.7% increase! It is thought this increase is a result of both renewed confidence in the market and also a decision by buyers to buy before the July 2010 increase in IVA (Spanish VAT) which will go up by 1%.

Good news then for a market that has been assailed by negativity for some time.

Here at Amazing Resorts we have also noticed a welcome jump in interest and also sales. Our site http://www.amazingpropertyinspain.com/ although only a few weeks old, has experienced a great number of "hits" and we already have clients booking trips to view properties that have been showcased there.

Our advice is to do like the Spanish and buy before July. Now is the time to take the plunge and buy your home abroad.

As usual you can drop us a line on info@amazingpropertyinspain.com

Have an Amazing evening.

Amazing Property in Spain launches new website

2010-04-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that we have launched a new website to focus on the increasing demand for property in the Costa del Sol, with special emphasis on property in Marbella. Amazing Property in Marbella will showcase the very best, hand picked properties along the Costa del Sol. For clients demanding a careful selection of luxury property or the best bargains in quality units along the sunshine coast

A Place in the Sun Live 2010

2010-03-30T04:43:00.000-07:00

Once again Compass Amazing Resorts was present at the UK largest overseas property show A Place in the Sun Live 2010!

Hosted by Amanda Lamb, Jasmine Harmon and Jonnie Irwin the trade fair exceeded expectations and saw many many visitors receiving top quality information from exhibitors.

Compass Amazing Resorts had two stands at the show, one to showcase property in Spain and the other to provide information on Turkey, Florida, Cyprus and some bank product from Spanish bank Bancaja.

All properties shown at the show were well received and we are now sending out more specific information to all clients who we have spoken to. Many thanks to all for your questions and interest, remember more information is available on http://www.amazingpropertyinspain.com/ or you can email us on info@amazingpropertyinspain.com

Have an Amazing week!

Bank lending in Spain shows positive increase

2010-03-29T01:23:00.000-07:00

According to El Mundo newspaper this morning bank lending in Spain increased by 2.3% in January.

What is interesting is that the average rate of interest achieved for mortgages signed this year has dropped by 28.02% to 4.05%.

Holy Week Tourism

Another important piece of news in Spain and Portugal is that numbers of hotel bookings is much higher than anticipated. Some areas of Spain are reporting 100% occupation in bookings with Costa del Sol at nearly 80%. The Algarve leads Portugal.

This may be because after the wettest first quarter to the year in decades, the sun has finally returned to southern Europe!

Bancaja offers turning into Spanish Sales

2010-03-05T13:13:00.000-08:00

We are thrilled to say that we have now started to see the fabulous offers from Bancaja turn our interested respondees into proud home owners!

At the end of the three week period we have seen dozens of clients get their mortgages approved and then move towards completions. A truly amazing deal.

In a press release today we have detailed the offer for all to see. For further information please visit http://www.amazingpropertyinspain.com/

Top 10 Places to Buy in 2010

2010-03-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

As you know Amazing Resorts were at A Place in the Sun exhibition last October (and will be exhibiting again at the next A Place in the Sun - the UK’s only dedicated overseas property exhibition returns to Earls Court London on 26th - 28th March 2010).

A Place in the Sun organisers asked visitors at the last exhibition where they were looking to buy overseas. This was then combined with each country’s popularity and A Place in the Sun’s own assessment of what the country offers in relation to accessibility, value for money, lifestyle, infrastructure etc.

A Place in the Sun’s Top 10 Places to Buy in 2010 are……

1. Spain
2. Florida
3. France
4. Portugal
5. Turkey
6. Italy
7. Cyprus
8. Greece
9. Caribbean
10. Bulgaria

And we can offer you property in 2 of these destinations! Watch this space for more details on our stand at the A Place in the Sun Exhibition, Earls Court, London on 26th - 28th March 2010!

See you soon!

Bancaja offer gathers pace!

2010-02-19T00:19:00.000-08:00

Well you saw it first with Compass Amazing Resorts. Last week we announced that we had teamed up with Bancaja Habitat in an amazing alliance that brings you the ability to choose from a huge range of properties in Spain, pay 15% and then NOTHING for three years.

Maybe have asked us how this works. It's quite simple. You come to Spain and choose your Spanish property, whether it's an apartment in Vera, Almeria or a townhouse in lovely Denia in North Costa Blanca.

You pay a reservation fee and send the paperwork to Amazing Property in Spain. We will put the application for the mortgage together and pass it to the bank.

Once they get the approval you pay the balance of the price up to 15% PLUS the closing costs. What are the closing costs when you buy a Spanish second home? Here they are:

Spanish VAT (Called IVA) = 7%
Legal document fees (GJD) = 1%
Lawyer's fees, if you have used one = 1%

grand total 9%.

So if you take any property from our currnent Bancaja Habitat portfolio then ALL you pay is about 24% of the price and you move in!! SIMPLES!

Any information you may need please contact us on info@amazingpropertyinspain.com or pop into any branch of Reeds Rains or Your Move.

Have an Amazing Friday!

Bank of Spain demands that Spanish banks and building societies drop prices of real estate units by 20%

2010-02-11T17:11:00.000-08:00

In news today from Madrid, the Bank of Spain has make it public that it has demanded that come the end of this financial year, the banks and building societies holding property will have to reflect a 20% drop in value in their balance sheets.

Banks hold property as a result of purchases they make for investment reasons or due to repossessing property from people unable to pay their mortgages or other loans that may have taken property as collateral.

This spells good news for potential inevestors as Spanish banks have, to date, been reluctant to drop prices even in the face of interested buyers. The so called “repossessions” market has not truly taken off due mainly to the bank’s reluctance to accept any price drops.

“The banks are ultimately against selling at a loss. Like all investments, only when the sale is made is the loss properly reported, something that managers and share holders don’t like seeing.” Says Helen Smith, from Compass Amazing Resort’s overseas office. “However, the banks can not hold on to these properties for ever. This move by the Bank of Spain is great news for the overseas buyer and invester. It’ll free up property that to date has been too highly priced."

Also today, Spain, currently holding the presidency of the European Union, has announced a public debt of 4 billion Euros while Brussels has given details of a plan to aid the ailing Greek economy. Both of these may seem like bad news for the UK buyer of Spanish property but the expectation in the market now is that the Euro will fall against the pound. Indeed, The City of London report more than 7 billion sterling has been placed “short” against the Euro. This essentially means that the Euro is most certainly expected to drop soon. Good news for us Brits wanting a deal in Spain, or any other country in the Euro Zone!

Buen viaje!

“Free Money” offered by Spanish bank!

2010-02-09T04:59:00.000-08:00

This amazing deal from Bancaja Habitat offers no interest or capital repayment for 3 years, a Loan to Value of 85% and even has no administration fees (except notary charges and the usual taxes).

The properties are mainly situated on the Valencia coastline and are immensely attractive to those wanting low money down deals.

Amazing Resorts has teamed up with Bancaja to offer Spanish homes or developments that they have financed. Contact us today to find out more about this incredible offer or click here for further information on the different properties available.

But why such an amazing offer? Well, many Spanish banks are “hiding their losses” by not declaring properties in negative equity therefore in a move to sell repossessed property Banjaca came up with this innovative solution to address the problem: free money!

Given the way Spanish banks, indeed ANY banks, have been over the last year or so, this move by Bancaja Habitat to help move Spanish property, can onbly be seen as positive. The overseas property market can now breath a sigh of relief as people can gain access to their dream home abroad, with a minimum outlay. Some clients have even said that it's almost low enough to put on a credit card! Your Spanish investment can now become a reality. Contact us immediately for more information or download our summary of some of the best offers in different parts of Spain.

Have an Amazing week and we look forward to giving you the keys to your new amazing property in Spain! Olé!

UK House prices increase!

2010-01-29T13:40:00.000-08:00

According to mortgage giant Halifax house prices in the UK rose by 1.9% in January.

This news, which took many pundits and indutry comentators by surprise, is pleasant news indeed for the real estate industry and could also be a welcome harbinger of economic recovery.

The average price of a home in the UK is now reported to be 163,966 which represents an increase of more than 4,000 since the end of December.

Good news indeed, even more so given the tendency of the previous months. As we know, at Compass Amazing Resorts, the UK economy is the driver for the overseas property industry.

Portugal Rentals - Make Money from YOUR Property!

2010-01-14T09:43:00.000-08:00

According to recent statistics, rental of property in Portugal increased significantly in 2009. As a result of this, rental values are increasing and, in some cases, a monthly rent exceeds a typcial monthly mortgage repayment!

This is great news for those of you looking to have your property work for you. A typical one bedroom property to rent in Portugal averages between 400 to 650 euros per month.

Spanish Tax changes in 2010! And yes, it affects property!

2010-01-10T07:14:00.000-08:00

As part of the package put together by beleaguered Spanish government, the VAT levels in Spain increase this year.

So why do we mention this in a property Blog? Well firstly because the VAT on restaurant bills goes up by 1%, something that really hurts us at Amazing Resorts, but, more importantly, the VAT on Spanish property, currently at 7%, will increase to 8% on July 1st, 2010.

So if you were wondering if it was worth waiting and waiting for that Spanish bargain, then we would recommend NOT paying that extra 1% to the Spanish tax office.

The Spanish property market has see quite a bit of movement in the last few months and some great great properties have gone for better than great prices.

To help you, browse through our fabulous selection of property on http://www.amazingpropertyinspain.com/ and then fly out and see us. We WILL find what you want and at better prices than anyone else.

Beat the Big Freeze!

2010-01-07T07:50:00.000-08:00

It seems that everyone is talking about it. January 2010 in the UK! The worst winter since 1963, or, as some are saying, the worst winter in more than a century! Stocks of grit are running low, supermarket shelves are almost bare and sales of cat litter have been reaching record levels as people use it to try to melt the ice on pathways. Travel is thrown in to total chaos with airports closed, flights cancelled, trains grounded and buses simply skidding! Warnings have been given for people not to travel unless it is absolutely essential and to set out fully prepared and equipped with shovels, sleeping bags and flasks of hot beverages.

Well, here at Amazing Resorts we have a solution for you to beat the Big Freeze! As we shiver in to the New Year, why not make 2010 the year that you make the change and escape the chill! Next winter, instead of being snowed in with the heating pumping away and staring out of the window into bleak greyness; you could be sitting on your terrace, sipping a chilled glass of wine whilst watching the sun set on the horizon.

The bargains are still out there but it’s no use spending hours and hours doing endless searches on the internet and looking at pretty pictures. The best buys have to be seen to be believed so come on, get your skates on and see for yourself why NOW is the time to beat the Big Freeze!

Just a couple of examples of the current bargains........

PORTUGAL, ALGARVE

Priced now at just €159,000, this spacious 2 bedroom townhouse with private garden area is an absolute bargain! Click here for full details.

SPAIN, COSTA DEL SOL

Huge reductions on this fantasic resort in the Costa del Sol, prices now from just €201,250. Click here for full details.

A Right Royal Residence!!

2009-12-16T09:35:00.000-08:00

Zara Phillips, daughter of The Princess Royal, Princess Anne has chosen a plot of land and is to have a holiday home built on a Golf Resort and Spa in central western Portugal, around 50km north of Lisbon.

Speaking in a recent interview with the Sunday Times, Zara Phillips said that construction on her first holiday property is due to commence in 2010. The property is based on one of the resort’s original designs, a four bedroom, four bathroom property with around 220sqm of living space, a private pool and a terraced garden.

Explaining her decision to build a property here, Zara Phillips said: “I have been to the Algarve before, and competed the other side of Lisbon, but they just looked after me so well here. People just let you get on with things.”She added: “My villa will be built on the edge of vineyards that have been there for centuries. There are stunning beaches nearby and (partner) Mike [Tindall] and I can improve our handicaps on the golf course. The decision to build my holiday home here was pretty straightforward really.”

The 200-acre inland development, around 20 minutes’ drive north of Lisbon, founded by Eduardo Netto de Almeida, part of a dynasty of Portuguese horsemen, includes a riding school and equestrian centre, with stabling for up to 60 horses, which may be used by Zara Phillips, who is a renowned event rider.Zara Phillips said she is planning to make regular visits to Portugal using the low-cost EasyJet airline service from Bristol to Lisbon until the villa is finished, which is expected to be in the spring of 2011.

Read the full article here.

Amazing Resorts with City Centre Las Vegas!

2009-12-09T13:40:00.000-08:00

For all of those interested in investment and awe inspiring lifestyle property Amazing Resorts has been chosen as a Preferred Agent for the Las Vegas CityCentre project.

Appearing in todays edition of This is London, CityCentre is a project that attempts to move away from the pure gambling image of Vegas.

It will be a generation before the likes of this are seen again; in these turbulent times it is the result of staggering mastery that such a phenomenal project is nearing completion. The intrinsic value in this development is simply staggering; in our opinion this is potentially one of the most undervalued developments available.

"Let me explain" continues Landseer-Brooks. "Ordinarily a development of this stature would have doubled in price from the starting of the build process to delivery. What we’ve seen here is prices reduced by 30% (130% under-valued in the old market) yet all the amenities being delivered to specification."

Tim's belief is that it is an unparalleled project. "It is truly amazing. Most major developments ‘caught in the crunch’ have been either moth-balled or delivered with a fraction of the original amenities plus specifications. City Center has not deviated from the master plan at all; what we have here is a $9 Billion development which was originally made up of $6 Billion with a $3 Billion residential offset. We end up with a mouth watering £9 Billion development with an offset of under $2 Billion - that’s $1Billion off without any upside projections built-in."

With British Airways offering a non-stop daily service to Las Vegas, Amazing Resorts are taking bookings for viewing trips now!

In The Amazing Resorts spirit of supplying key-ready investments in just a few weeks, the world will be introduced to CityCenter. The phenomenal resort destination brought to life by eight world-renowned architects, CityCenter will debut a new era of resort experiences with the ambition to refine and redefine Las Vegas.

"I have never heard anyone come back disappointed from Vegas" finished Tim.

With properties starting from as little as $348,000 and a wide variety of units from studio apartments to condo units to the incredible 5.9 million dollar luxury penthouses with 3 bedrooms and spread across nearly four thousand square feet and open to the glittering city scape of the one and only Las Vegas.

Investors who wish to get more information can contact Amazing Resorts via the website http://www.amazingpropertyinspain.com/

A Place in the Sun - Top Ten Destinations

2009-12-08T14:16:00.000-08:00

On March 22nd of this year, on this Blog we announced that in our opinion Spain was "The New Spain"!

Now A Place in the Sun have published their Top Ten Destinations for 2010 and guess which country is number 1? Yep, you've got it. Spain.

Remember that A Place in the Sun choose their best destinations based on several criteria, usually based on entry level pricing, potential for capital growth, level of development and quality of product.

So, as we said in March, if you are still undecided as to where to start your property search, you could do a lot worse than Spain!

For those who are interested in the next destinations here is the full list:

1. Spain
2 Florida
3. France
4. Portugal
5. Turkey
6. Italy
7. Cyprus
8. Greece
9 Caribbean
10.Bulgaria

We at Compass Amazing Resorts offer amazing properties in Spain (1), Florida (2), Portugal (4), Turkey (5) and Cyprus (7).

So that's 50% of the list! Not at all bad, I am sure you'll agree.

Green Shoots?

2009-12-05T14:30:00.000-08:00

According to the The Spanish National Statistics Institute, INE, the sale of apartments in the province of Alicante rose by 15% in September making it the best month for sales this year.

Many of us may know the province better as The Costa Blanca, including holiday destinations such as Torrevieja, Altea, Denia and of course the mighty Benidorm.

This is not the only province to experience some positive stats. The regions of Galicia (North West Spain) and the Basque country have also experienced positive sales figures for the first time in 2009.

Further good news for the Spanish ecomony comes in the form of an increase of 37.7% in the sale of cars in November, making it the third consecutive month to show an increase.

This increase in new car sales is another sign of the return of confidence to the Spanish market.

‘Motorsport Facility of the Year’ for the Portimão Racetrack in Portugal

2009-11-13T04:36:00.000-08:00

In the Professional Motorsport World Expo 2009 Awards, which recognise the best teams, personalities, technology and infrastructures in the motoring world, the Algarve Motor Park won the award of ‘Motorsport Facility of the Year’.

Gary Anderson, a Formula 1 commentator and one of the judges at the awards, considers the Algarve Motor Park “One of the best circuits at the moment. It has a unique configuration and
demanding curves that provide unique challenges, to both drivers and engineers.
Making a car drive fast around this circuit will guarantee the same occurs the
rest of the season.”

This means that the circuit is recognised internationally and viewed highly by the best in the business.

What a Scorcher!!

2009-11-13T04:31:00.000-08:00

In 2009, the month of October was the hottest on record for the last 14 years.

The Portuguese met office confirmed that the average temperatures in October of 2009 were far superior to the standard comparative average.

There were several days last month when the temperature soared above 25 degrees and even peaked at 30 degrees in the South and central Portugal. Some regions of Portugal even registered heat waves (several consecutive days of above-average temperatures) between October 10th and 18th.

Actual Photo taken 31.10.2009, Santa Eulalia Beach, nr Albufeira!

An “Oscar” for the Algarve

2009-11-13T04:25:00.000-08:00

The Algarve was awarded the travel trade’s equivalent of an ‘Oscar’ for its marketing and promotional strategies during the annual World Travel Market fair.

The fair, held in London between 9th & 12th October, is described as the premier global event for the travel industry. The Algarve’s regional tourism board (ERTA) won the award for its alternative marketing programmes aimed at selling the region as more than just a sun and beach destination to modern tourists.During the awards ceremony, the region’s annual Allgarve events programme was cited as an example of good promotional practices. The events are held in the region every summer and incorporate various types of activities including concerts, gastronomic events, sports and leisure.

Fiona Jeffery, chairman of the WTM, said: “Allgarve is an excellent example for all traditional sun and beach destinations to follow.”

Next year, the ERTA is also looking to work on tourism offers in niche markets as well as attracting more tourists from Scandinavia and the Benelux countries as well as its traditional market of visitors from the UK, Germany and Holland.

Amazing Resorts to Launch Florida Property Showcase

2009-11-04T14:08:00.000-08:00

Compass Amazing Resorts is proud to announce that it will soon launch a dedicated website to showcase the best properties in Florida. Amazing Properties in Florida will offer the very best in property with the Compass Amazing Resorts level of service and attention to detail.

So watch this space, soon Amazing Property in Florida will be filled with the sunshine state just for you.

Portugal Property IS 'more affordable'

2009-11-03T10:38:00.000-08:00

According to experts, Portuguese property has become more affordable both in resort areas and other parts of the country.

There is no doubt that the market had seen falls as overseas investors have dwindled in the recession. In the major resort areas prices have dropped by around five per cent, while elsewhere the fall has been 25 to 30 per cent. Such dips in cost may interest buyers looking at acquiring property abroad.

Those who do invest in Portugal may be encouraged by recent news that it was among the countries reporting an end to their recessions. During the second quarter of this year Portugal's gross domestic product grew by 0.3 per cent which was the same figure as those recorded in the period by France and Germany.

Algarve – A Golfer’s Paradise

2009-10-30T07:27:00.000-07:00

The Algarve, world renowned for its mild climate, woke up to golf in 1966 when Penina opened. It was an emblem course, designed by Englishman Sir Henry Cotton who transformed a rice field into a beautiful course after the necessary earthworks and planting 300 thousand trees.

According to regional environmental association Almargem, there are currently 39 golf courses in the Algarve, some of which are under the final phase of construction. A further 13 are still at the project stage, which means that the region could have more than 50 courses in the next few years.

Golf investors continue to prefer the Algarve region, according to the vice-president of the national tourism board, who said there were more than 20 requests for licences for golf courses currently under application, most for the Algarve. Several of these new courses are planned for the eastern Algarve, especially in the county of Alcoutim, which is preparing to have its first three courses built in the near future.Also not yet constructed, but under planning, are future golf resorts Verde Lago in Castro Marim, Monte Rei in Vila Real de Santo António and Quinta da Ombria in Loulé.

Costa del Sol Opportunities

2009-10-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

As the year has gone on we have seen some incredible property deals go through. If a bargain is what you want, a bargain is very much what you can get in todays Spanish real estate market.

For those who think that holding out is a good option, it may have been, but we are seeing signs now that developers and vendors are getting back into stable cash flow situations again and so are putting prices back up or just not dealing.

After all, these sales are putting money back into their pockets.

To this end we thought we'd put a example out of one developer who has had decent sales during the summer and has announced some final deals from now until the 25th of December. After that, they will be settling their prices for good.

This means that this is the last time you'll get one of these properties for UNDER 300,000 Euros!

So if you want to buy that perfect property in Spain why not look into buying one before Christmas? You could find yourself with one of these stunning properties.

If you want more information please go to Marques de Atalaya

or to download the mini brochure for this site you can go to:

http://www.amazingpropertyinspain.com/

Have an Amazing evening!

Portugal - The World’s Most Welcoming Country!

2009-10-15T01:50:00.000-07:00

According to a recent report by the United Nations on Human Development, Portugal was number 1 out of 60 countries when welcoming and integrating legal immigrants. The study considered access to education, health, the right to vote, labour rights, social security and assistance for families – all of which showed that Portugal was a generous country compared with other, richer Western European neighbours.

The report was based on a questionnaire distributed in countries as different as Sweden, France, Germany, Canada, Spain, the United Kingdom, India, Chile and China.

Amazing Resorts at A Place in The Sun 2009 Live!

2009-09-29T15:12:00.000-07:00

Always seeking the best for our clients, Amazing Resorts has spent the last few months preparing for A Place in the Sun 2009 Live!

The main basis for our preparation has been to persuade some of our best developers who have the best products to allow us to offer some units at this year's fair at truly AMAZING prices.

Well, we're delighted to say that some of our developers stepped up to the plate with some simply stunning offers exclusively for A Place in the Sun visitors.

We can not preview these conditions until the fair starts in Friday, October 2nd but suffice us to say that they will include further discounts on property already reduced in price and long term benefits such as free community fees for a number of years.

So please pop into The NEC in Birmingham and visit us on stands B11 and F37 where we will be happy to give you all of the information on these AMAZING offers.

Remember, there are only 15 units, once they are reserved, they are gone!

For free tickets to the show valued at 10 pounds each please write to us on info@amazingpropertyinspain.com

SEE YOU IN BIRMINGHAM!

Signs of Recovery in the World's Housing Markets

2009-09-04T09:22:00.000-07:00

The world’s housing markets are showing signs of recovery, according to the latest survey of world-wide house price indices prepared by the Global Property Guide. Seven countries have emerged from the house price slump - see full article here.

Q: Where are all the bargains? A: Overseas!

2009-08-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

Can we step up and say we have heard some, er, good news about the property market?

Nationwide has reported house prices (UK) up for the third month in a row. The actual figures are reported to be a rise of 1.3% in July. This may sound low but it actually constitutes the highest climb in a quarter since February 2007.

Another aspect that has been underlined recently, is that there may be a risk of longer term property supplies due the sharp decline in housing construction.

Banks avoid losses
Britain’s taxpayer-owned banks are selling repossessed property assets. Is this good news? Apparently not; according to The Times (24th August 2009) the banks are selling these distressed assets to their own subsidiaries!

This neat little manoeuvre enables them to negate cashing in at the bottom of the market, and to enjoy the inevitable returns in years to come. Looks as if ‘our ‘bailed-out banks continue to share the spoils amongst themselves.

We also read in the Sunday Times (23nd August 2009) home sales in America jumped at their fastest rate in 10 years during July!

Tim Landseer-Brooks from Compass Amazing Resorts says ‘It could emerge that the genuine opportunities lie in the overseas markets, especially The Costa del Sol & Florida’.

Now the Sunday Times has pitched in with an encouraging article about overseas property. Is it time to dive back into the overseas property market?

Portugal Exits Recession

2009-08-21T10:37:00.000-07:00

Official figures show that Portugal, together with Sweden, has exited recession in the 2nd quarter of the year. The country's economy grew 0.3 percent in the three months to June.

German and France led a suprise rebound out of recession last week - a further sign that a global economic recovery is taking hold.

Algarve A-Listers!

2009-08-11T04:16:00.000-07:00

In previous posts we have mentioned celebrities Cristiano Ronlado holidaying and Angelina Jolie house hunting in the Algarve. Today we focus on why the rich and famous seem attracted to this stunningly diverse region and what role Southern Portugal plays in their celebrity lifestyles.

For years Portugal has been overshadowed in terms of quantity by the neighbouring Spanish Costas but the Algarve managed to maintain its modesty. With strict building laws ensuring en mass construction was controlled, it now boasts a reputation of its own in terms of quality and hold its appeal to many A-List celebrities. Sir Cliff Richard has been an Algarve advocate for decades together with footballers Alan Shearer and Michael Owen, Irish pop band Boyzone front-man Ronan Keating, singer Bonnie Tyler, health queen Rosemary Connolly, and popular UK TV presenters Charlie Dimmock and Carol Smillie.

Steven Gerrard and his family own a home in the Central Algarve, the Beckhams are said to be huge fans and former England footballer Teddy Sheringham and Formula 1 race driver Rubens Barrichello are also property owners. Robbie Fowler, Gareth Southgate and football coach José Mourinho also add to the list of celebrity home owners.

Other celebrities, such as David Seaman, preferred to invest in the Western Algarve, attracted by its natural wilderness and rural beaches where famous faces including Prince William, pop band Blur’s Alex James and rock legends Metallica’s base player Robert Trujillo have all been spotted surfing.

It is only recently that several international brands have emerged such as Hilton, Formula 1 and Nikki Beach, as well as mainstream brands like Starbucks and Subway. So while the Algarve, with its chic restaurants, boutique hideaways and exclusive hangouts may have earned itself a reputation of being something of a ‘cool’ celebrity playground, it remains true to its down-to-earth roots that offer the rich and famous the privacy to be who they want to be far from the glare of the media’s lenses, an inconspicuous destination that can effortlessly outshine its more glamorous rivals by simply being itself and giving its visitors the opportunity to do the same.

Opportunity Knocks!

2009-08-01T03:57:00.000-07:00

Much has been said of the oversupply problem in Spain, that so much new property has been built in Spain it will take years to be absorbed by natural market forces and demand.

However, this highlights one thing for people interested in buying in Spain: Opportunity! If any industry suffers oversupply the natural result is that the price goes down.

Supply and Demand

In Economics at school we learned that supply and demand was all about how much money chases how many products. In a nutshell if there is only one product on offer then ALL the money is needed to buy it. If there are two products, then half the money and so on.

In Spain there are many many properties on offer which means that you need less money to buy any one of them.

When to buy

In previous posts we analysed whether we should wait to buy or take the plunge now. We suggested taking the plunge now. This is not to say that you don't look before you leap! It also shouldn't mean that you start to view so much property that you are unable to decide.

The truth is that if you have some money to invest and you are interested in a property for your own use, there has probably never been a better time to purchase.

At Amazing Resorts we suggest people research the market well, request sound advice from us and then come out to look. Be prepared to make offers but remember, offers should be made with a view to completing quickly. The only reason prices have dropped or developers are willing to negotiate is because they want, or need, to sell.

One man's meat...

It might sound unfair or even callous but one man's meat is often another man's poison. In this overseas market there is an abundance of properties bought by people who may now be overstretched. This forces them to sell at almost whatever price they can get. They can no longer afford the luxury of waiting for the market to "come back". This is where you can act and secure a great deal.

Bank "Repos"

This is a strange area. Is it worth looking at bank repossessions? In many ways it is. However, if you had several houses and couldn't keep up with the payments on all of them, would you let the best ones be repossessed or the worst?

With this in mind, Amazing Resorts concentrates more on bank stock that is the result of debt / equity swaps. These are usually a smaller collection of units within an existing development. They can consist of only five or ten units that the bank has taken from the developer to pay off some debts and provide cash flow to him. These are by far the best units because the bank will come in and choose.

if you were the bank and could choose some property, would you go for the best or the worst?

Exactly.

info@amazingpropertyinspain.com download our guide "Overseas Property Guide 2009: Spain is the new Spain".

Survey : Fractional Owenership

2009-07-31T00:29:00.001-07:00

There has been increasing talk and interest in the idea of Fractional Ownership and we feel it is time we explained exactly what this entails. We have also created a survey so that you can give us your opinion on Fractional Ownership.

You can do our survey here:

http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/axaCU2X/Fractional-Ownership-Is-it-for-you

Euro Zone Mortgages and 3 Month Euribor Record!

2009-07-28T04:35:00.000-07:00

3 Month Euribor rate at an all time low!

Last Tuesday, the 14th July 2009, the three-month Euribor bank-to-bank euro lending rate fell to a new record low, breaking through the 1% barrier for the first time ever.

This has a substantial impact on the cost of borrowing in popular destinations such as Spain and Portugal.

Portuguese and Spanish banks generally base borrowing on the “three month Euribor rate” which in turn is underpinned by the prevailing European central bank base rate. The three month Euribor rate is currently at 0.97% at the current time

The bank will then allocate a spread of anywhere between 0.4% to 1% on top of the Euribor rate for the duration of the mortgage, depending on the loan amount and the “loan to value” ratio.

What is a "spread" you might ask. The spread is the mark up the bank give you on top of Euribor. So a spread of 1% means, if Euribor is at 1%, your mortgage payments will be 2%.

To give an example of how the decline of the 3 month Euribor rate has impacted mortgage costs in Spain and Portugal, following is a comparative simulation based on borrowing Euro 200,000.00 in July 2008 against July 2009 on an interest only basis:-

In July 2008 with the 3 month Euribor at 4.25% plus the bank spread of 0.7% equals a total of 4.95%. Therefore, for a loan of Euro 200,000.00 at 4.95% this would equate to a monthly interest payment of Euro 825.00

In July 2009 with the 3 month Euribor at 1.00% plus the bank spread of 0.7% equals 1.7%. Therefore, for a loan amount of Euro 200,000.00 at 1.7% this would equate to a monthly interest payment sum of Euro 283.00

This comparison clearly shows an incredible saving of the same mortgage facility of Euro 542.00 per month!

What are you waiting for???

Albufeira, Portugal – a top worldwide tourist destination!

2009-07-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

Trip Advisor, the travel expert site with more than 10 million members has recently undertaken a survey on the best worldwide destinations for holidays and Albufeira, Portugal came in third place. Albufeira beat off competition from Corfu (Greece), the French Riviera and Cyprus just to name a few and was only beaten by the Canary Isles and Amalfi in Italy. Trip Advisors members describe it as a “modern city resort” and together with the beauty and diversity of the beaches and exciting nightlife its easy to see why!

Amazing Resorts On the road!

2009-07-09T11:28:00.000-07:00

This weekend marks the beginning of our summer road shows. Amazing Resorts, in partnership with Your Move will be travelling around the country offering advice and information on properties overseas.

The first weekend we will be in Coventry and Droitwich. For venues and times please click here.

This weekend, apart from the usual range of fantastic properties and great bargains overseas, we are presenting a unique opportunity in Portugal's beautiful Algarve - Eden Resort.

Close to Albufeira, and 30 minutes from Faro aiport, Eden Resort is at the forefront of modern resort development. Made up of apartments and townhouses set in marvelous grounds with 5 outdoor pools and one indoor pool with turkish bath and sauna.

The resort also has a chidren's club and infant park, poolside snack bar, top quality restaurant and clubhouse. Eden Resort also has its own private beach bar so if you feel you can drag yourself away from the extensive gardens and facilities, why not relax on your own private bit of beach?

We were very impressed with the quality and design of Eden Resort and that is why we have decided to place it as our first "Featured Devlopment" for our first weekend on the road.

Many people have asked us why we want to do these road shows, feeling the overseas property exhibition may have died. We understand the sentiments behind this but believe that the public have a genuine interest in receiving information from experts in a slightly more informal environment.

"It's much more reassuring for customers to meet in a well known high street real estate office," says Helen Smith from Amazing Resorts, "Here they can receive professional advice and information for their investment overseas".

If you wish to join us you can find all the details on our ads via the site or you can contact Your Move in Droitwich or in Coventry.

See you this weekend!

Where to buy 2009 - Spain

2009-06-29T15:16:00.000-07:00

A recent survey by Global Edge has shown that Spain remains the most popular search for people looking for property abroad. Indeed the survey indicates that Spain is more than TWICE as popular with English speaking home seekers than France, the next most popula destination.

The study, published in December 2008, obtained data from Google searches in English and saw that Spain commanded more than 27% of the property search criteria.

So, although the Financial Times has been trying to compare Spain to Latvia we at Amazing Resorts know that the discerning property hunter wants to buy in Spain.

Let's go over some of the reasons for buying in Spain:

300 days of sunshine: Let's never forget that although we love our British climate we much prefer everyone elses!
Affordable communications: It's so cheap to get to Spain and there are so many options. Every single UK airport serves Malaga airport for the Costa del Sol and Alicante for the Costa Blanca.
House prices have dropped and allowed more people than ever to buy in this desireable market
It's CLOSE. Let's face it, you're not going to spend a weekend in Dubai or Thailand. They are for the week long holds. Spain is still perfect for the Firday to Sunday getaway.
Sangria (We had to mention the drinking, so this seemed the least offensive! Olé)
800,000 Brits have already bought there. They must know something. This gives you the ability to access all of the familiar aspects of UK culture, food, drink and companionship.
The true Spain is still there for those that wish to immerse themselves in the Spanish culture.
As we have mentioned previously, the slowing of the market has led to bargains and opportunities emerging for buyers to really get something spectacular

The list goes on.

See you in Spain?!

Driving the Dream!

2009-06-29T01:42:00.001-07:00

The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve near Portimao has just launched its AIA Racing School offering instruction in Sporting and safety driving.

Choose from a range of high speed vehicles available including Porsche Cayman S, Porsche Boxter S, Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911 GT3, Porsche 911 Carrera, Porsche 911 GT3 RS, Ferrari 360 Challenge and BMW M3 in cars and Honda CBR 1000 RR in bikes.

The Racing School has several courses available for all levels of drivers and participants will be acquiring their skills from the best in the business: Pedro Lamy, Filipe Albuquerque, José Monroy, Tiago Monteiro, Pedro Couceiro and Manuel Gião will be the designated instructors of the courses.

Among the programmes available are the ‘Taxi Experiences’, where you will have a truly unforgettable experience sitting by the side of one of the professional drivers on a manic two lap race, in either a Ferrari Modena 360 or a BMW M3.

If you fancy a more hands on approach, then the ‘Driving Experiences’ are for you. These consist of four levels of driving courses (Classic, Silver, Gold or Platinum, including personal training) with prices ranging from €299 to €899. They are designed to test and improve your car handling with several different exercises.

Algarve Live Concerts

2009-06-26T06:55:00.000-07:00

Don’t forget the following forthcoming live concerts in the Algarve:

Joss Stone will be playing in Loule on 31st July, Seal is live in concert in Albufeira on 1st August and 80’s pop star Rick Astley is playing live on 2nd August in Albufeira.

Ronaldo joins the Royals in the Algarve

2009-06-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

The world’s best and most expensive football player in the world is holidaying in the Algarve. Cristiano Ronaldo is enjoying a relaxing break with his family in the central Algarve whilst Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, is also in the Algarve. Prince Edward has been invited to stay in one of the regions top 5 star luxury hotels where presidential suites cost over €3,000 per night and where he is set to watch the Duke of Edinburgh Cup charitable golf tournament.

Amazing Resorts teams up with Your Move and Reeds Rains

2009-06-24T03:11:00.000-07:00

Compass Amazing Resorts is proud to annouce that it has teamed up with high street estate agents Your Move and Reeds Rains.

All details are in our press release dated yesterday.

HTML Version

http://www.prlog.org/10265390-compass-amazing-resorts-announces-alliance-with-high-street-agents-your-move-and-reeds-rains.html

PDF Version

http://www.prlog.org/10265390-compass-amazing-resorts-announces-alliance-with-high-street-agents-your-move-and-reeds-rains.pdf

Lisbon, a Cultural Classic

2009-06-19T03:37:00.000-07:00

The charm of Lisbon exists in its strong links to the past; renovated palaces, magnificent churches and an impressive castle mirror the city's rich cultural heritage. Its eclectic blend of neighborhoods, culture and architecture distinguish this capital city uniquely from the other European capitals and make it a truly fascinating and comprehensive city to visit.

In recent months, Lisbon has been the recipient of incessant praise from worldwide mainstream and travel media. The New York Times recommended Lisbon as being the second “most interesting place on the planet to visit” behind Laos in December 2007. Lonely Planet ranked the city as one of ten cities to visit in 2009, describing the Portuguese capital as a “seductive mermaid”, whilst Lisbon was placed third by Yahoo Travel in its top ten of cities to visit last year.

Lisbon is one of the few cities in the world where a stay at a five-star hotel can still cost less than 100 euros per night. For cheaper accommodation, the world’s top two hostels can be also found in the city.

Light at the End of the Tunnel!

2009-06-19T02:51:00.000-07:00

The Guardian listed the Algarve’s expected return to popularity amongst British tourists as one of the signs that the economy is turning in Thursday’s edition under “10 alternative signs that the recession is over."

2009-06-12T07:02:00.001-07:00

Tavira’s New Multi-Million Euro Shopping Mall

Tavira Gran Plaza officially opened on June 5th. The €15 million shopping mall, serving the areas of Tavira, Vila Real Santo António, São Brás de Alportel and Olhão, boasts 110 shops, multi screen cinema and leisure area, restaurants, cafes and over 1,000 car parking spaces.

2009-06-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Portugal Becoming more affordable for Britons

A survey by a leading money exchange firm has revealed that property in Portugal has become more affordable for British buyers. A combination of factors have contributed to making Portugal a less expensive country to invest in for Britons looking to the Portuguese property market, including the general prices, mortgage costs and increasingly favourable exchange rates. Property prices and mortgage repayments are now significantly lower than in 2008 in many of the UK’s favourite foreign holiday home destinations.

The pound also hit a 2009 high against the euro on Thursday 11th June 2009 when £1 bought €1.17.

2009-06-12T06:39:00.000-07:00

Angelina Jolie Moving to the Algarve!

Rumour has it that Tomb Raider star Angelina Jolie and her six children are looking to move to a luxury home in the Lagos area of the Algarve. The Portuguese press reported this week that the Hollywood star is looking to make the move to escape the hectic pace of life in the US. According to one of the daily Portuguese newspapers, a luxury house located on the cliff tops above Lagos bay, has been considered. The stories were sparked by a posting on a celebrity gossip website, which quoted an unnamed source close to the couple saying that Angelina is considering the beachfront property.

Make your offer, and make it NOW!

2009-06-09T01:05:00.000-07:00

There'll never be sales like these ones! This is what many people in the consumer industry are saying. The Financial Times ran a story at the beginning of the year about the Harrods Sales. The current downturn overtook many businesses so fast that they were just unprepared for it.

Sale of the Century

Companies like Harrods had their usual full stock of products yet hadn't sold much of this stock. This means that going into the sales Harrods had more products than ever on sale.

This year Harrods simply won't buy in so much stock. They'll work through 2009 with a product more in keeping with the economic climate. This means that the sales next year will be a pale shadow of what they were this year.

This is the same in property. NOW is the time to find the best bargains. Why? Because the builders overseas need to improve their cashflow NOW. If they sell a few units now this will give them the cash flow they need to get through the coming months and years. This will mean they can relax and start being more commercial again.

Even British builders like Taylor Woodrow are having to adopt this approach. The Sunday Times told exactly this story in their article "Bargain Hunters return to the Costa del Sol".

This is not to say that you can go mad and make offer after offer. It is important to actually want to buy the property you're pitching for. "You have to be careful what you wish for!" Says Tim Landseer-Brooks from Amazing Resorts. "Developers will deal, but only with serious buyers."

It goes back to our expression from the last Blog: You want to buy a good property at a great price. It's a bit like being at an auction, if you see a property and you have made an offer that gets you a dramatic discount, go for it!

Distressed or depressed property?

2009-06-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

In these so called troubled times of credit crunch and recession it is inevitable in an optimistic company like Amazing Resorts to think of opportunities and bargains that are now out in the market.

However, we have to be careful. To mess about with the famous quote from Warren Buffet, you need to know how to buy a good property at a great price, not a great company at a good price! And that's what we're all about at Amazing Resorts.

There are many offers in the market now for "Distressed Properties". Our different product teams in our many destinations are reporting that there are great opportunities out there now. "Perhaps more than ever," Says Helen, in charge of product for Spain and Portugal. "But there is more rubbish than ever too" She adds.

So in times of trouble the guys who could never sell in the good days are also trotting out discounts and trying to entice people to buy their wares. Here at Amazing Resorts we have started to dub these properties "Depressed Properties".

So what is the main difference between a distressed property and a depressed property.

"I think the biggest difference is whether one is an opportunity or not", says Tim Landseer-Brooks, Regional Manager. "Everyone knows a bargain when they see one, but something shocking is always shocking!"

Certain properties that could not be sold in boom times clearly are not saleable in tougher times, like these.

So beware the big price drop and aim for a property that you like, that you could use and then get it for a great price... in fact, get it for an Amazing price.

Costa del Sol leads Spain's turism figures

2009-06-06T10:12:00.001-07:00

According to Spain's National Insitute of Statistics (INE) the Costa del Sol, that southern coast of Spain served by Malaga airport (With more and more flights also coming in to Gibraltar airport) has topped the other Spanish coasts in tourism.

The figures for the month of April put Costa del Sol at 332,352 people staying in hotels in the region. The next best area was the Costa Blanca (The coast served by Alicante airport) with 277,765 tourists spending at least one night in a hotel in the region.

This is a great sign for the Costa del Sol and a fantastic news for people who have invested or wish to invest there. Clearly an increase in tourism like this means enhanced rental potential as well as ensuring that local businesses prosper, a crucial factor in increasing capital growth in a any area.

In our recent article, "Spain is the new Spain" we had commented that perhaps the time had come for Spain to retake its crown as the number destination for British and Irish tourism. The return to the top spot is a step in the right direction.

Amazing Resorts recommend investment in areas with positive attributes, tourism, infrastructure and also excellent communications with the UK and Ireland, not to mention other northern european countries. Malaga airport is probably Spain's best served airport and holidaymakers can fly there from every single airport currently operating in the UK!
Tip of the week for lovers of the Marbella scene is a fantastic development on the road to Benahavis. Contact us immediately on info@amazingpropertyinspain.com for further information. There is up to 50% off at the moment and units are selling fast!
http://www.amazingpropertyinspain.com/

Have an Amazing weekend!

2009-06-05T05:35:00.000-07:00

Portugal Newsletter June 2009

Plans for Portimão as Europe’s Hollywood
Backed by Universal Studios and CBS Paramount, negotiations are underway for the construction of one of the largest ever entertainment complexes in the Algarve, combining a cinema studio complex with an amusement park.

The plans to transform Portimão into the Hollywood of Europe as part of the “Picture Portugal” project have been in place for some time however the involvement of interested foreign parties has boosted optimism for the ambitious project. The enormous development, which will require an investment of 750 million euros, is being pushed forward by Portimão Turis, the body behind the Portimão exhibition park.

The cost of building the themed amusement park is estimated to be 550 million euros while the complex for film production will make up a further 200 million euros. New details surrounding the location of the park have been revealed and rumours that it will be based next to the Algarve Motor Park have been confirmed with the 150 hectare site being located at Sítio do Escampadinho. The Picture Portugal project aims to create a new vision in film production in Portugal and will be funded by a consortium of private partners. The first stage of the project will see the construction of two of 11 film production studios to be completed by 2010. Special features of the studios will include post production audio and visual areas, a designated zone for outside film requirements and a “water tank” the size of a football pitch to be used for underwater filming. It is believed that the Algarve is the perfect place for film studios and that there are favourable conditions in Portugal for the film industry. These include a variety of landscapes within a small geographical area, an excellent climate and competitive salaries. Funding approval from PROVERE, the programme for the economic recovery of local resources, is currently being applied for by the project directors; however it is hoped that further private investors will back the development and push it onto the next stage.

Tall Ships Race – Lisbon Confirmed to Host the event in 2012
Once more, Lisbon is set to be one of the main host ports for the Tall Ships Race in the summer of 2012. It will be the sixth time that Lisbon has hosted this event, which gives the city and its maritime heritage enormous visibility internationally as over 1,000 boats from nearly 50 countries anchor in the Tejo Estuary for four days. Lisbon has also played host to the event in 1956, 1982, 1992, 1998, and 2006. More than 4,000 young people under the age of 24, 1,000 journalists and at least half a million tourists will pour into Lisbon from all around the world during the event between July and August 2012, while some estimates suggest that up to 1.2 million visitors could flood into Lisbon. The Secretary of State for Tourism has said that the unique conditions of Lisbon set it aside from all of the other European capitals and its wide estuary and location on the river front makes it the perfect setting to host an event of this nature. The ships will be berthed on the Tejo estuary where members of the public will be able to visit the ships and get involved in a range of activities for four days.

Music Events
In August, a four day festival of adrenalin-packed car racing and international music stars will be taking place at Algarve’s Motor Park. A varied programme is planned with music to suit all ages with British soul singer James Morrison and British hindu rock band Bloc Party already confirmed as headline acts. This will be the first festival of its kind in Portugal and will be held between 5th and 8th of August, named Rock One.

A variety of national and international bands are expected and, according to Portuguese press, Simple Minds, Anastacia, Snow Patrol, Offspring, Linkin Park, James, Sugababes and Groove Armada are all strong possibilities to appear. The entertainment area will cover more than 80,000 square metres and will include a DJ tent with music and a ‘Fun in the Box’ zone, where renowned national bars and discos will be open to the public. There will also be a Playstation zone which will host the Playstation 2009 Challenge and a Blue Planet area with an exhibition about water conservation.

Professional drivers will also be testing cars around the track at this unique festival. Tickets for the festival are due to go on sale shortly. Single day tickets are estimated to cost 50 euros and a four day ticket should cost 80 euros. Tickets can also be purchased in groups of four, with a day ticket for four people costing around 80 euros and a full festival ticket costing 240 euros. VIP tickets are also available, with champagne lounge tickets for two people costing around 1,000 euros and tickets for the motor park’s VIP tower predicted to cost 1,500 euros per couple. For children aged three to ten years, tickets will be available for five euros per child. This will allow children free access into the ‘Kid Rock Garden’ where parents can explore the festival whilst childminders supervise the children.

Live Concerts
Forthcoming live concerts in Portugal include Elton John, Seal, Kylie Minogue and the Eagles, just to name a few.

Sport

Portugals Figo Officially Announces His Retirement
Portugal legend Luis Figo has announced his definitive retirement from the game. He played his final match on Sunday when the Italian champions entertained Atalanta at the San Siro. He also achieved great personal success, winning the world player of the year title in 2001, a year after he was given the Ballon dOr and he was named Portuguese player of the year six times. Figo, who married Swedish model Helen Svedin, earned a remarkable 127 caps for Portugal, scoring 32 goals while playing almost 800 club games.

Queiroz turns to Ronaldo to keep Portugals World Cup dream alive
Portuguese coach, Carlos Queiroz faces a must-win game as he prepares to take his Portugal side to Tirana to face Albania in a World Cup Qualifier with his job on the line. Portugal’s position in Group 1 is dire; they have recorded just one win and have a paltry six points to show from their five games. Albania visited Braga to take on Portugal last October and left with a 0-0 draw, despite playing over half of the match with 10 men after having a man sent off towards the end of the first half. The match will also be the first for Albania’s yet-to-be-named new manager after the resignation of former Dutch international Ari Haan last month.

The Algarve Motor Park

The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve is one of the most modern and multi-functional race circuits in the world. It has been designed to be one of the best and most modern circuits in Europe and benefits from the best conditions of safety and comfort both for drivers and the public. There are an astounding 64 different possible layouts of the circuit, including those that have already been approved by the FIA for Formula 1 and by the FIM for Superbikes.

Events in the next few months include Le Mans Series, Superbike World Championship and Touring Car Champoinship.

Featured Property – Albufeira – Central Algarve – Fantastic Reductions!

Enviably located to the east if Albufeira these properties offer easy access to the best leisure facilities and amenities in the area as well as being within 10 minutes of the beach. These turn-key properties are built to the highest standard and boast a wonderful garden area with swimming pools and tennis court.

Last remaining one bedroom apartments reduced from €140,000 now available from €110,000 and two bedroom apartments at €180,000 reduced from €220,000.

Spain market rallying and Portugal catching up!

2009-05-31T08:20:00.001-07:00

Here at Amazing Resorts, we want to stay abreast of the market. In a week where the main overseas news centres on Dubai and its alleged plunge in property value, we can report more interest than ever in Spain and Portugal.

Only days after launching a campaign for a top notch development in The Costa del Sol with discounts of up to 50%, we were inundated with calls and messages.

This trend then repeated itself when we launched two strong campaigns on Algarve developments. Both developers were offering our client exclusive advantages that involved discounts on one resort and guarenteed rental return or condo fees free for five years in the case of the second amazing resort.

So although the news is still pretty gloomy from some overseas destinations, we see that UK interest in the more established destinations is returning.

Distressed property sales!!

2009-04-25T09:21:00.000-07:00

Bargain fever has struck the foreign real estate sector and Spain is coming top of every bargain hunter's list.

It seems paradoxical to be view anything that is "distressed" as positive. The term implies that there is an inherent need to move the property on or something bad will happen. Of course we all know that the bad thing is that the developer may go into liquidation or the bank may reposses the property.

So in this world of opportunities is all that glitters truly gold?

Of course it isn't. There is a big different between a developer with a short term cash flow problem and a developer going into liquidation.

In the first case might be a developer who places a limited number of units on the market with a discount so that he can turn them into cash to carry on trading normally. Usually he won't place his very best units on sale in this way and he won't negotiate much on the price either.

The second case might involve a developer desperately trying to shift his stock with all sorts of market trader tactics, discounts, promises of guaranteed exchange rates and so on. This in itself can lead to some very interesting opportunities but do ensure that the property is finished and with all licences and also ensure that a good number of units are already sold. The press and the web are full of horror stories about developments that are half sold and not maintained. Dead grass and green swimming pools is distressing, not distressed!

What about bank stock? There are two type of bank stock: Reposessed stock and stock from debt / equity swaps.

Repossessed stock is basically as it sounds. A developer can not maintain his payments to the bank and so they repossess stock he has not paid for. Invariably the developer is going to let the bank take his worst property. After all, if you had, say, five houses and could only pay the mortgage on our of them, would you let the best one go? Of course not. So we do not necessarily recommend repossessed stock as the best investment.

The second type of bank stock is MUCH more interesting. Debt equity swaps occur when a developer is behind on his loans and mortgages. The bank suggests settling some or all of the debt by selecting some of his stock to cancel the debt with. In this case the bank will choose what they most interests them, NOT what most interests the developer to give them. Amazing Resorts has exclusive access to some of the best debt / equity swaps on the Spanish and American market.

The bottom line? Contact Compass Amazing Resorts as soon as possible via info@amazingpropertyinspain.com and we will be happy to point you in the right direction for the best investments overseas.

Spain is the NEW Spain!

2009-03-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

Ok, Spanish property may seem like it's been done to death. Many people said that it was over for the whole Costa real estate world, but Spain is quite possibly the New Spain, now.

Many industry players have commented on this, from the Financial Times to pre and post completion specialists such as Snagging Overseas(http://http//www.snaggingoverseas.com/2009/03/spain-is-new-spain.html).

The question we get asked at Amazing Resorts is if now is the time or not for investing in Spain. The real answer is something only you can know. We're not trying to be mystic or obtuse, but now is the time to get the best bargain in Spain. If you want a property that is good quality, well located, and fun to use, NOW is the time to get it.

At the end of the day, the value of a property is derived from what you can do with it. As a result we say buy in the Costa del Sol. There is no other place so well connected, with such good infrastructures and, above all, with such top quality property.

With more than 60 flights a day to Malaga airport, top notch restaurants and bars and the world famous Puerto Banus (Or Port of Abuse!) as many people call it.

You might want to enjoy a quiet Spanish meal in picturesque Mijas village or just stay properly British in Torremolinos and enjoy a pint with the football. the Costa del Sol has absolutely everything to offer you.