Posts from — February 2008

The Algarve may have led the way for property purchases but buyers are now looking everywhere, from Lisbon – possibly Europe’s most underrated capital – to Porto, as well as hunting out inland bargains in the vast plains of the Alentejo or the wine-producing Minho region, says Cathy Hawker, Evening Standard.

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Luxury comes in many forms. There is gold taps and sumptuous chintz or there is bare minimalism where less is definitely more.

Hotelier Sonu Shivdasani believes in the second type. He thinks luxury is “space, privacy and simplicity” and has made a small fortune selling this dream to celebrities and wealthy business people through his award-winning hotel chain, Soneva Resorts.

Soneva Kiri

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If nothing else, a new residential tower going up in Dallas is in esteemed architectural company. The Museum Tower, a 42-story condominium project, is part of the city’s rapidly growing Arts District, which includes the work of four Pritzker Prize-winning architects: the Renzo Piano-designed Nasher Sculpture Center; the Meyerson Symphony Center designed by I.M. Pei, the Winspear Opera House planned by Sir Norman Foster and Rem Koolhaas’ Wyly Theater. [Read more →]

The RICS house price balance declined at the fastest pace since July 2005 but limited supply is still propping up the market, says RICS’ UK Housing Market Survey.

Surveyors reported that house price growth remained negative for the third month in succession.

22.2% more Chartered Surveyors reported a fall than a rise in house prices, down from 14.9  in September -  the fastest decline in sentiment since July 2005 when 30.9%Chartered Surveyors reported a fall than a rise.
However, new instructions declined for the fifth consecutive month. 17% more Chartered Surveyors reported a fall than a rise in new instructions to sell property. 

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