Archive for March, 2011

Buying Property In Tuscany On The Cheap

Tuscany remains the top choice of investors looking to buy properties in Italy. But despite the global slowdown its enduring appeal means properties in Tuscany do not always come cheap.

As an example while prices across the United Kingdom plunged by 15.9 per cent in 2008 according to the Nationwide building society in Florence they fell just 1.9 per cent according to Italian research institute Nomisma.

But there are bargains to be found in the property in Tuscany market if you know where to look. One such place is the Maremma at the southern tip of Tuscany. The Maremma with more than 160km of beautiful coastline starts from Follonica south of Piombino and stretches down to Monte Argentario. Eastwards it extends as far as the borders of Siena province.

And it is proving fertile ground for property in Italy bargainhunters. In areas such as Sorvana famed for its wine tours a threebedroom semidetached house can be snapped up for around 200000 while you can expect to pay 250000300000 for a similarlysized detached house. A couple of hours drive north to Siena and you can treble those prices.

Other scenic towns in the Maremma popular with buyers and tourists include Saturnia spa resort and Pitigliano its buildings famously hewn from the rockface.
Here 100000 will get you an apartment ideal if you want to use it as a base to explore other more expensive parts of Tuscany.

However the Maremma has more than enough attractions of its own and has drawn Italian and foreign holidaymakers for decades ensuring that your investment in property in Italy here has superb rental potential.

Follonica is a lively beach resort and home to the Modigliani art gallery with works by Picasso and Dali. Some 15km miles south lie the beaches of Cala Violina where the sand is so fine that ancient folklore suggests it sounds like violins when walked on.

Some of the finest beaches in Tuscany are to be found on Mount Argentario an island attached to the mainland by three narrow strips of land. Viewed from the air it appears sculpted with breathtaking precision a large flower between the Maremma and the sea.

Monte Argentario is one of the Maremmas most highly soughtafter areas among investors searching for property in Italy. And it has a much slower turnover of properties with owners keen to hold onto them for as long as possible.

The seas of the Maremma are also very popular with watersports enthusiasts while skiers flock to Mount Amiata a dormant volcano turned holiday and ski resort. And Punta Ala has one of Europes most majestic golf courses which looks out to sea

Saturnia is another delight its thermal baths a great place in which to be pampered with beauty treatments and relax in thermal pools.

Other typically Tuscan towns popular with visitors include Abbadia San Salvatore Bagni San Filippo Castel del Piano and Manciano full of picturesque boutiques selling local handicrafts.

But you cannot leave the Maremma without witnessing one of its unique palios medieval racing contests. While Sienas famous event is run with horses in Roccastrada it features donkeys. And locals in Paganico gather once a year in September to watch…racing frogs.

Then again the Maremmas a place quite like no other.

About the writer:  Fabrizio Giglioli is an expert on property in Italy with more than 20 years’ experience in the profession.

Real Estate: Wheres The Bottom?

In recent months the US real estate market has seen its fair share of turbulent weather as house prices continue to fall. While the Federal Reserve has taken significant steps towards making lending cheaper interest rates remain artificially high as the troubled financial sector continues record writedowns. So far only a quarter of the IMFestimated 1 trillion in subprime losses have been reported which means mortgages won’t be affordable for a long while even if homes continue to decline in value. According to the Case Schiller house price index which covers 20 major metropolitan areas house prices are depressing at an annual rate of 12.7 though its rate of descent is accelerating. As long as homeowners continue to lose equity loans will become increasingly difficult to obtain.

As this feedback loop works itself out a regionally dependent phenomenon has begun to emerge. Although home prices averagely dropped in the US the story doesn’t end there. Despite lowered economic growth forecasts and commodityrelated inflationary pressures which are felt much more diffusely throughout the economy several metropolitan areas have remained more robust which explains dissenting votes on the past two rate cuts by the regional Fed chairs from Dallas and Philadelphia respectively. Part of their reasoning is based on working against what they view as a misconception about the scope of the Fed’s powers among many investors; namely that the central bank is the only agent responsible for assisting challenged markets. Political jockeying has and will continue to play a role in their decisions especially in the charged climate of an election year but their dissenting votes represent the resilience of many areas of the US that continue to experience growth. From Charlottesville North Carolina to Austin Texas many metropolitan areas continue to develop quickly seemingly insulated from much of the speculation and predatory lending that has defined tracts of the US. While some of the worst affected markets in the Southwest like Phoenix Arizona and Las Vegas will take considerable time to rebound some price correction was inevitable. This is partially due to property value spirals in recent years without corresponding increases in infrastructure and demand. In markets where growth had already been steady home prices have been relatively stable.

If the federal government steps in further to freeze or help renegotiate more of the estimated two million subprime mortgages projected to default over the course of 2008 prices may stabilize more quickly. Politicians closing ranks in a show of solidarity will likely be reluctant to make bipartisan efforts a priority while the presidential race remains in the limelight which makes investment in the near and medium term likely to be more profitable both in markets where prices have overcorrected and in stable markets. This is because any governmentbased mortgage interest rates freeze may be less favorable than current rates which are firmly negative. Moreover refinancing remains available should climates change. In any case the worst may not be over for a lot of America but some places have weathered the past eight months relatively unscathed.

About the writer:  Escapesomewhere Real Estate is a small brokerage working in the Austin real estate market. They host a free search of the Austin MLS along with providing updated mortgage interest rates

Enjoy All That South Carolina Has To Offer

Some people think about South Carolina and their thoughts seem to get stuck around Myrtle Beach. Others think about South Carolina and immediately consider the classic beauty of Charleston. The lucky few however when they think about South Carolina find themselves breathing a little easier thinking about the beauty of Spartanburg County South Carolina.

Those who have experienced the beauty of Spartanburg County recognize the rich landscape of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They look back fondly on memories of time spent at Lake Bowen. These lucky few recognize that The Cherokee Foothills Scenic Parkway allows them to drive through the landscape and take it all in. They know too that just because the area is so rich in natural beauty does not mean that they won’t have access to all of the modern conveniences that they would find in a city or in a larger town.

The reality is that this beautiful country area is just a few hours from Charleston. The reality is that those who have spent time in Spartanburg County know that Asheville North Carolina a city long known for its artistic and cultural heritage is less than an hour away: they know that great restaurants art galleries shopping and other experiences are just a short ride away.

Those who have made the choice to make The Cottages at Turtle Creek their home have already discovered all that the area has to offer. They know that they are able to reach everything that they would like to experience without having to make a huge effort. They know that both the beauty of the natural world and the convenience of cities are within their reach.

As a result those who call The Cottages at Turtle Creek home find that theirs is a life steeped in convenience in beauty and in luxury. Those who make The Cottages at Turtle Creek home discover that their property is a part of a beautiful preserved landscape. They know too that their homes are virtually maintenance free lawns are maintained and trash is removed without the residents having to focus on getting those tasks taken care of. They know that they are able to enjoy community gardens to explore the beauty of their community by following a walking trail through the area.

Choosing to live at The Cottages at Turtle Creek doesn’t mean limiting the options that are available to you. If anything those who live at The Cottages at Turtle Creek find that they are in a unique position to enjoy all that surrounds them. Hiking golf biking and horseback riding boating and fishing: all of these activities are nearby and getting out enjoying them is simply a matter of going out and doing it.

That’s the beauty of life in Spartanburg County South Carolina: everything that you’re looking for everything that you want to be able to get out of your life is available to you. All that you have to do is go out and take advantage of it something that’s easy to do when you call The Cottages at Turtle Creek home.

Find out more at http://www.livesouth.com/southcarolina/cottagesturtlecreek

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Discover How To Make An Absolute Fortune With Guaranteed Income Property And Learn The Secrets Only The Savvy Investors Know!Click here for FREE online ebook!http://www.guaranteedincomeproperty.com/