IPIN Live - Archived posts for May 2010

Increase in gilt prices over the past two weeks, as traders pull money out of European investments, has swung fund into profit for the first time in months.

The Scotch whisky industry makes nearly £4bn for the Scottish economy - and workers are three times as productive as bankers, a new report has claimed.

All occupants of residential units in Dubai will compulsorily have to pay housing fees from January 1, 2011....

Global property developer Emaar Properties PJSC said it is offering commercial customers the opportunity to start businesses...

The number of homes being put on the market has reportedly soared by a third since the Government announced plans to scrap home information packs.

The government will not confiscate any land owned by private individuals to build the facilities that will be required if Qatar wins the right to host the 2022 World Cup....

The price of Platinum could spike during the FIFA World Cup next month, as South Africa struggles to power its mining industry off the back of increased demand for electricity from stadiums, broadcast

Property veterans Raymond Mould and Patrick Vaughan, who have correctly timed the real estate cycles on two previous occasions.....

It seems the Canadian's are not only buying up condo's in Florida but investors from north of the border are looking to purchase huge swathes of commercial real estate in Manhattan.

Prime-Minister Vladimir Putin has welcomed the opening of the International Bank Congress in St. Petersburg on Thursday. In his telegram to the participants.....

Dubai homeowners could save hundreds of millions of dirhams in service fees after the introduction of a strata law....

Henderson Global Investors has named Timothy Horrocks chief of its real estate operations in Germany with immediate effect, according to a Reuters report.

JP Morgan Chase is being sued by Lehman Brothers' estate, which accuses the James Dimon-led firm of illegally siphoning billions of dollars.....

Several multi-billion-dollar buyout real-estate funds are letting investors exit their financing commitments at the end of the vehicles investment periods.....

Legal and General Property and Mitsubishi Estate Company last night launched Central St Giles, the mixed use development in central London, and confirmed a host of letting deals.

The unpredictable currency markets over the past month have kept traders entertained and many economists are predicting that more volatility is to come. The euro in particular has been attracting much sceptical feeling, with fears that some European leaders are not fully supportive of the recent bailout measures....

Britons must brace themselves for sharp rises in interest rates if the UK is to avoid spiraling inflation, a leading international think-tank has warned.

Many things in life depend upon timely information. Whether that be a traffic report in the morning on the way to the office, or the latest financial reports on a company you might be about to invest in. All of us consume media driven information in some form or another, be it via the TV, radio, newspapers or the internet....

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) were originally introduced to the market in the US in 1960 and have been around ever since, gradually making their way to destinations further afield. Basically, a REIT can be described as a company that manages a portfolio of real estate to earn a profit for its shareholders....

Italy will take tough measures in the coming two years to cut its budget deficit from the current 5.3% of GDP to 3%, the maximum allowed....

An Aston Martin auction in the UK has broken all previous records to realise 4.7m GBP (5.5m EUR), while super-luxury car sales in the US soar as the wealthy become tired of frugality.

Investment-grade polished diamonds are on track to post returns of 15% this year, outperforming UK stocks and even gold, as some investment managers express concern....

Nakheel is facing its first claim from a company using the Dubai World Tribunal - more than Dh10 million (US$2.72m) worth of roadside billboards.

The new guidelines for implementation of the Strata Law for jointly owned properties, which came into force yesterday....

Jones Lang LaSalle, a leading global commercial real estate management and investment Services Company, and the largest in the Middle East, has reported that investors expect a 10% gain in Saudi Arabia's real estate market....

Located south of Mexico's Riviera Maya, Tulum already is ranked among the top beach destinations in the world. With a new airport scheduled to open.....

The pace of the UK's economic recovery is greater than thought, new figures show, as the GDP growth for the first three months of the year was revised up to 0.3%.

The Budget's building depreciation changes will affect buildings with an estimated useful life of 50 years or more such as.....

Going, going, gone: An increasing number of homes are now being sold at auction....

Rio Ferdinand will be hoping to get his hands on the World Cup this summer in South Africa but the winners of The Property World Cup only have to wait until Thursday....

Recently released figures by the federal government in Australia have led to calls from many to tighten restrictions on overseas investors in the country. The body has revealed that during 2009, foreign property investment accounted for....

Britain's economy grew slightly faster than initially estimated in the first three months of this year after a strong rebound in industrial production and business services

Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Barr launched a real estate price index system at a major trade exhibition. The index will give information on property prices not only in Makkah...

Emaar International Jordan launches today a new collection of apartments within Rift Living in the Samarah Dead Sea Resort...

Dubai-based construction giant Arabtec expects that it will receive cash payments by the end of June from Nakheel....

Bank of London and the Middle East plans to unveil a Shariah-compliant absolute-return fund in the next few months....

The FTSE 100 has lost nearly 3% of its value within seconds of opening due to further eurozone fears and concern over tensions in Korea.

The nation's housing market is on the verge of recovery, and prices should gain over 12% by 2014, according to the majority opinion in a poll of industry experts.

Finally, the new Liberal Democrat/Conservative coalition has published its after-election manifesto. It is a sizable document which offers a selection of prospective policies, promises and pledges which it hopes the electorate will welcome with open arms....

China struck a conciliatory note at the opening of talks with the United States today by vowing to spur domestic demand...

Negotiations between the Iraqi National Investment Commission (INIC) and several UAE real estate developers and investments companies on "big and giant" projects in different parts in Iraq have reached "advanced stages"

Surging property market cools as property auction clearance rates drop by up to 14 per cent in capital cities.

The Dubai Land Department has started to deregister properties, which strips buyers of their title, after sending hundreds of letters to investors who have missed payments on off-plan projects.

A new HUD rescue measure focuses on local grants in metro areas most devastated by the foreclosure crisis, including housing rehab projects....

The Government is warning that New Zealand's fragile economy could be in for trouble with the prospect of property markets crashing in our biggest export markets.

Property investment can be a profitable business.... if you get it right. Many have made mistakes and lost money instead of gaining from their ventures. We list the top 5 common mistakes made so hopefully you can be more assured of a profitable property investment.....

Gross mortgage lending fell to an estimated 10.2bn GBP in April, down 12%....

Dubai World yesterday agreed economic terms with its major creditors over the most controversial aspect of the government-owned company’s restructuring of $23.5 billion (€18.7 billion) in debts

With the worlds media gearing up for World Cup meltdown, we thought it poignant to take a look at the lighter side of the subject, and what it means to the investment world....

Individuals are returning to the Portuguese market and looking to invest in property following the influx of distressed bargain hunters that flooded the country last year. Agents and developers are beginning to report a shift in demographics in line with economic recovery....

Make a guaranteed £149,970 income over 10 years with your initial deposit protected 100%. All permits are now in place on this superb hotel unit investment opportunity so this is the perfect time to invest safely through IPIN - your deposit is 100% insured, all permits are in place, the first 3 years min. 6% rental income has been put in escrow and you are guaranteed a minimum 6% rental income for 10 years... why wait?

May 22nd is the day that all UK-based property investors are likely to be waiting for with bated breath after new chancellor George Osborne announced that the first Lib Dem/Conservative emergency Budget will be held on that date....

The Government of Sharjah is preparing a law that will allow sale of freehold property to foreigners for the first time - as long as they get approval from the Ruler of Sharjah.

UAE companies have presented a request to establish 150 million residential units in Iraq, according to head of the Iraqi National Investment Commission (NIC).

Home information packs (Hips) will no longer be required from today, the new coalition Government has announced.

In Greece the largest trade unions are to hold a 24-hour general strike in a series of protests against planned changes in the national pension system...

The global economic crisis has meant that the markets have experienced their fair share of knocks and bruises over the last year. The term market volatility has been bandied about on a regular basis and an increasing number of investors have now become aware of the dangers that they can face....

Optimism among Buy to Let landlords is currently running at its highest level since 2007.

To avoid sinning when investing in property, try to follow these 10 commandments and you should be on your way to a heavenly investment experience. The following points are a simple guide on what should be taken into consideration before investing in property for the first time.

The Finance Ministers of the EU 27 countries met in Brussels on Tuesday to approve the creation of a stabilization fund for EU member states. The fund will make up 60 billion Euros.....

Nakheel said it has secured settlement on 50 per cent of agreed claims with trade creditors, mainly contractors and suppliers.

Twice as many people with a variable rate mortgage have made overpayments on their loans last year than in 2008, the UK's biggest mortgage lender has said.

Europe was the welcome beneficiary of measures to protect the zone's most indebted nations earlier this month. In the latest attempt to ward off fears surrounding the Greek economic crisis and restore faith in European markets, the European Union has stepped in with a huge bailout proposal that is designed to protect its vulnerable economies....

An analysis by mortgage giant Fannie Mae indicates that the annual rate of economic growth slowed in the last quarter compared to the previous quarter

European finance ministers meeting in Brussels have agreed to clamp down on the regulation of hedge funds.

Africa's economic growth is expected to rebound to 4.8% in 2010 after dipping by over 2% in 2009, a report released Tuesday said.

Finally, a bit of positive news comes out of the US property market, as the latest statistics released by RealtyTrac show that, for the first time in 40 months, foreclosures have fallen in April in comparison to last year....

Unnerved by the on-off prospects of a Conservative-Liberal coalition last week and debt crisis contagion risks in the eurozone, UK high net worth individuals....

Dubai has overcome the late 2008 liquidity crunch, but the city's excess property inventory has not yet found its price, according to Merrill Lynch (Dubai).

Residential property market in Dubai will see 44,000 vacant homes and an average price fall of 15 per cent in 2010, Bank of America Merrill Lynch said.

President Dmitry Medvedev hopes to strike gold by building five ski resorts in the North Caucasus that rival the best Austrian resorts by 2020, an official said Monday.

The consultation process on the scraping of controversial Home Information packs which is expected to be announced this week has been welcomed by UK estate agents.

There was further demand in the European commercial property market in the first three months of 2010 particularly from foreign buyers

The Budget's changes to the housing market could force rents up in the $200 billion sector but deliver first-home buyers big opportunities.

London and Capital, the boutique wealth manager specialising in property investment, has hired a head for its commercial real estate finance team.

Brian Myerson and Proteus Property Partners, an affiliate of his Principal Capital group, are suing QVT for nearly £5m (€5.8m) in unpaid performance bonuses

The Landesberg and Rosenberg families have appointed Savills and Gerard Nolan and Partners to arrange a buyer for the St James’s Hotel and Club, the luxury venue they acquired for £20m (€23.4m) in 2005

The Nakheel invitation for claims consultants to bid for contracts last week is the first public invitation to tender after a prior private bid for tenders, according to the industry.

Jordan's Minister of Public Works and Housing Mohammad Obeidat discussed on Saturday with the Indonesian Ambassador to Jordan Zainulbahar Noor and the accompanying delegation, scopes of cooperation between the two countries...

The government has prioritized spending during the crisis, but drastic budget cuts and systemic reforms will be required over the next three years

A limited availability of active mortgages is holding back the recovery of the property market, which has remained low for about two years now, according to sources.

The Greek Prime Minister has said legal action may be taken against US investment banks for their role in the country's debt crisis.

Whilst investing in property won’t guarantee a place in the national rich list, we have taken a closer look at how property millionaires are made, and some of the fundamental rules they apply to get there. A study conducted by the high street bank HSBC revealed that property has made more millionaires than the UK national lottery has in the 15 years since it started...

The most recent information relating to the property market in Dubai has hinted that recovery may be on the cards. Colliers International has reported that real estate values in the region climbed four per cent in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous quarter, but what does this mean in real terms for real estate investors?

Property prices in the Asia-Pacific region are performing strongly at the moment, putting European and North American markets to shame with their price rises and rapid development. The recent Knight Frank Global Real Estate Market report said that the region had generally rebounded well - especially in the second half of last year - after experiencing a slowdown in trade during the latter part of 2008 and early 2009....

The hike of capital gains tax to 40% mooted by the UK coalition Government could force many of the country's wealthy to leave, say experts.

The apartment market continues to rebound from the "Great Recession" according to the National Multi Housing Council's (NMHC) latest Quarterly Survey of Apartment Market Conditions.

NDA’s usually contain very specific information, typically including exactly what type of information cannot be shared, and then exceptions for when this information is allowed to be shared. NDA’s usually lasts for a pre-determined length of time, which is generally specified within the agreement.

Owner-occupiers surveyed in April said they expected the value of their homes to increase by 1% over the next six months, a slight improvement on the 0.9% rise anticipated in March.

According to projections by Barclays Capital, the number of foreclosures joining the housing supply will top out later this year, and then start declining.

Plagued by rising foreclosures and negative equity levels, along with falling prices, the US housing market bottom is expected to be delayed until the third quarter of 2010.

With the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats now snugly installed at Number 10 amid widely ranging opinions from the press speculating on how long the coalition will last, announcements on the UK economy are flooding the press as David Cameron and Nick Clegg set about the British economy with their financial hatchets.

The pound has had a torrid time of late, its value reached a record low in March - against the Australian and Canadian dollar - after the financial markets feared Britain was heading towards its first minority government since 1974....

Lebanon's Economy and Trade Minister Mohammad Safadi said on Wednesday that real estate investments in 2009 reached $7 billion.

Abu Dhabi's top hotel has upped the stakes in the contest to have the most glitz in the Gulf by installing an ATM that dispenses gold bars.

After 11 hours of negotiations, finance ministers of the European Union's 27 member countries on early Monday morning adopted a 750 billion euro package to defend the euro currency

Brazilian oil holding Petroleo Brasileiro has announced about a new 4.5 billion barrel deposit found 195 off the coast of Rio de Janeiro.

On May 19-21 Sotheby's is to present in Moscow's historical museum its most expensive items of the Russian art which will be auctioned in June, an official with the auction house said Thursday.

The first trade licence for business operations on The World islands project in Dubai has been granted to Kleindienst Group, owner and developer of The Heart of Europe project on The World.

After creating a euro stabilization fund, the European Union is going to its Euro-Parliament with a package of measures to tighten financial control around the EU and avert meltdowns

The number of mortgage deals available at up to 85% loan to value (LTV - requiring a deposit of 15%) is at its highest since October 2008

Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) is further tightening the criteria it applies to its Halifax-branded interest-only mortgages and scrapping them completely on home loans over 500,000 GBP.

Investing in the stock market has long been considered to be a successful method of securing returns that can far outweigh ones that can be gained from a traditional bank or building society....

Recently, landlords have been faced with an uncertain market as pressures on the economy have led to falling property values and expensive mortgage repayments. The pressure placed on the Buy to Let market was further compounded after the chancellor used the Budget to promise to make buying property easier for first-time buyers, which sparked fears that renting could be set to go out of fashion....

Kagoshima (Kyodo) The Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima Prefecture erupted Tuesday for the 500th time this year, raising the possibility that the mountain will have its most active year on record,

In spite of the United Kingdom's robust and rumbustious election campaign, once the votes were counted and the winning members of Parliament (MPs) were declared, it was clear that the U.K.

South Korea’s central bank leaves its policy interest rate unchanged, as expected, and says it foresees continued growth in the nation’s economy but also warns of uncertainty.

Bank to deliver its latest Inflation Report as David Cameron's new coalition Government takes power.

Nakheel, the real estate unit of Dubai World that is restructuring $14.2 billion of debt,

A senior official from the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs for Cities Planning says there are no more large pieces of land in the capital city that can be used for housing.

A group representing a wide range of elements of the housing industry is calling on whoever forms the next government to overhaul the tax system in such a way as to encourage housebuilding.

On the heels of nearly 20% price growth in 2009, a series of interest rate hikes could take some steam out of the sizzling Australian real estate market.

Although still below historical norms, Seattle housing sales surged 55% in March to record its ninth straight month of growth.

The FTSE 100 has closed 53 points down at 5334, a fall of 1%, as political uncertainty reversed the giant gains it made on Monday.

Australia has shown very positive growth in the investment property sector in recent years, both for residents and foreigners (until recently introduced legislation). We bring you the highlights of Australia’s budget announced earlier today to show what is happening in a developed economy that for all intents and purposes, is fast outgrowing everyone else in the midst of a global recession.

Any investors with a keen eye will have noticed that Australia's property market has been enjoying significant price rises over the past few years. A rising population and lack of new builds is helping to ensure that the majority of individuals who purchased real estate in the country can now expect to enjoy significant returns....

Gold has long been held as a popular vehicle for investment by numerous speculators. Many individuals purchase the precious metal because it is generally viewed as being a safe investment.....

Greek debt crisis will have only a minimal impact on the Thai export sector, Ath Phisalvanich, director of the International Trade Studies Center

President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, who is currently on a 2-day visit in Damascus, has said that Russia is seeking more active trade cooperation with Syria.

Emaar Properties has started proceedings to seize properties from buyers who have defaulted on payments for flats in Dubai Marina.

Saudi Prince Abdulaziz Bin Ayyaf Al-Miqrin, Mayor of Riyadh, opened here Sunday the 13th Edition of the Riyadh Exhibition for Real Estate and Architecture Development 2010

John Paulson, the hedge fund manager, has told investors that housing prices in hard-hit California will begin to rise this year, setting the stage for a wider recovery

Shoppers and home buyers are continuing to spend, but April's growth in retail sales values was the weakest since last September and home sales remain much lower than before the recession

After 11 hours of talks, finance ministers settled on a stabilisation package. The euro surged on Monday as finance ministers announced permanent measures worth 750 billion euros ($964 billion)

As economic conditions progress and regress over time, homeowners are often the ones who feel the effect. With the property market and home loans directly tied to the prosperity of a country's economy it is important for savvy investors to ensure that they are clued up before they enter the market....

The Ajman Real Estate Regulatory Agency (Arra) has filed police cases against some absconding developers who have failed to fulfill their contractual commitment

Arabtec will conclude its agreement with Nakheel on payment solutions by this weekend or early next week, said Arabtec chief executive.

Home-owners will find out if their mortgage is to rise when the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee makes its latest interest rate decision today.

Europe has agreed a 500bn euro (£433bn) emergency package to stabilise the eurozone and stop the panic from the Greece crisis spreading further.

Barclay's plan to sell the assets and development business of University Partnerships Programme is the latest move to tap into growing demand for real estate assets that offer secure income

The social housing maintenance group hopes that the appointment of the City heavyweight as its new non-executive chairman will stabilise the business after a turbulent six months

Developer RGI International plans to invest $1.3 billion in its economy-class residential project in Moscow as market distress is forcing it to broaden beyond the high-end property segment.

Uncertainty over next week's Budget with its potential for tax increases for landlords is being blamed for a sluggish property market.

Subprime lender heavily embroiled in US housing meltdown agrees to pay $600m to settle lawsuit brought by New York pension funds

A Whangarei church that spent more than $7 million on two properties in two days faces a multimillion-dollar debt

After one of the most hotly contested and publicised general elections in decades, the UK economy emerges today with no one at the helm. Whilst technically at the time of writing, Gordon Brown still reigns at Number 10 as the current Prime Minister, the UK is now in a situation, as suspected, of having a hung Parliament.

Gold is hitting new highs against the euro, Swiss franc, sterling and Japanese yen and the price looks set to move yet higher, according to bulls of the precious metal at RBC Capital Markets.

London's leading shares were hit by another sell-off as the uncertainty of a hung Parliament and the Greek debt crisis sent investors rushing for the exits.

A strong exchange rate will normally lead to an increase in activity from overseas property investors as they look to capitalise on the potential to get 'more property for their money'. Essentially, a country's exchange rate is influenced by the demand for the currency in international markets....

The US property market has long been a favourite destination for investors, with its diverse mix of property and climate combined with an ever-popular tourism market making it a favoured destination for professional and amateur investors....

The global economic crisis has had a profound effect on a number of property hotspots around the world. With recession tends to come a doom and gloom environment for a country's real estate market, but opportunities can also present themselves for savvy investors looking to exploit the fall in prices....

Delhi will have real estate regulator by this year-end, Urban Development Minister S.Jaipal Reddy said. He also said the government was talking to other states to have similar regulators.

More than nine in 10 of the world's commercial property markets are tipped for growth after a two-year slump dragged down the value and size of the sector

The market turmoil triggered by Greece's debt crisis has forced Swire Pacific and Americold to postpone public share offerings that would have been the biggest IPOs in their regions this year

The Buy to Let market in the UK is continuing to post improvements and provide investors with a viable opportunity to make a profit, it has been claimed. According to Mortgages for Business, there are an increasing number of chances for individuals to gain access to finance and those with good credit and organisation can take advantage of the current market....

According to the latest survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, developing economies in Latin America and Asia have been demonstrating confidence about their future, with the markets leading the way in terms of the property and economic revival....

CHICAGO — The lawsuit filed last month by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission against Goldman Sachs for securities fraud, charging the bank with misrepresenting the way a collateralized debt

Last year the Hatoyama administration's Government Revitalization Unit scrutinized budget requests for fiscal 2010 under the slogan of slashing wasteful spending of tax money.

Tenants and building owners in Dubai will soon be able to register online their residential contracts with Dubai Municipality, Khaleej Times has learnt.

Saudi Arabia is considering the implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to augment the Kingdom's stock of affordable housing.

Freddie Mac on Wednesday requested another $10.6 billion handout from the federal government.

Understanding how and why stock market crashes occur is an important thing for any investor to know, to ensure that they are well prepared should the worst happen....

When planning your finances it is important that you understand the similarities and differences between saving and investing your money. It can be argued that both the practices complement each other, with savings being used as a means for investment in most cases....

The inflation rate dropped to the lowest level in 12 years in April, the State Statistics Service said Wednesday, as the ruble's longest rally since 2006 kept a lid on prices

With new home construction up notably over the opening quarter of last year, recovery in the residential sector is outpacing the non-residential side

Housing and rental vacancies have hit unprecedented levels. Included in these record vacancy numbers are a plague of abandoned properties fated for demolition

Germany's chancellor and the head of the International Monetary Fund have warned of financial contagion unless a eurozone debt crisis is stopped in Greece.

PDG Realty and Agre will create what they said would be the country's biggest real estate company in a R$2.3bn stock-only acquisition.

A Qatari investment company plans to launch two $500m funds to invest in Russian and Brazilian real estate, a further sign of deepening economic links between emerging markets

Diversification is the key to protection – A phrase often heard in the investment world when it comes to spreading risk. We take a look at some of the more diverse property based investments and explain a little more about alternative property investment strategies.

Buying property at auction is favoured by some because of its quick process; it is far quicker than regular property purchases. As soon as the gavel falls the deal is done. There are bargains to be had when buying at auction, but it is important to know how, and what to buy that makes them true bargains. We have put together a guide to help investors through the auction buying process.

Many of us have heard about it, but what is leverage with respect to property investment, and how can one make the best of it?

Master developer Nakheel is continuing consolidating its project portfolio while denying any hike in non-refundable deposit amount for new sales reservation contracts, a company spokesperson said.

Ezdan Real Estate Company, Qatar's biggest property developer by market value, is in serious talks to sell properties it owns in Doha to a Malaysian real estate fund for about QR 1 billion.

A US federal bankruptcy judge on Monday said that the estate of the late Jeffry Picower, an investor in Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme, is likely to reimburse the fraudster’s other clients

Resolution boss Clive Cowdery has secured a deal with two major banks to provide 5 billion GBP to fund a potential takeover of Prudential according to reports.

Australia's central bank raised its main interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.5pc on Tuesday, citing inflation concerns

Irish airports are set to reopen at 1pm after a six-hour closure due to more ash from the Icelandic volcano that grounded flights for nearly a week last month.

Small and medium sized businesses in the UK are reporting improving conditions in demand and production of goods.

Moscow may see a boom in the temporary apartments segment over the next two to three years, with the largest fraction being sold in the premium property market, a consulting company said.

Boosted by lucrative and high-profile projects, the Hertfordshire-based company mitigated the effects of the downturn in the building industry

At a time when unfinished property projects are stressing out some buyers, a new scheme in the UAE market aims to allow homeowners to unlock the value of their completed homes.

Kuwait's Real Estate Sector grew at unprecedented levels up to the end of 2007, thus enabling the sector to play a key role among the economy's non-oil sectors.

Homeowners who use their property to make a quick buck during the Rugby World Cup could be forced to pick up the tab if their home is damaged or property stolen.

Australia is cracking down on foreign real estate buyers as they price ordinary people out of the real estate market and now calls for a similar move are being voiced in New Zealand.

The hedge fund trade association has welcomed proposed new regulations in Singapore

SYDNEY'S "ballistic" property market is becoming intensely secret, as buyers splurge thousands to see exclusive listings and sellers stamp out public viewings.

In recent years equity release schemes have become a popular method of extracting cash from property. And with property values experiencing large increases in recent years it is no surprise that individuals who invested in property during the mid '90s are capitalising on its current value....

Portugal appears to have staved off the risk of a debt crisis like the one in Greece - but only in the immediate term.