MARCH 2012 |
www.opp.org.uk Contents ON THE RECORD THIS MONTH...
“I guess there are many reasons why selling overseas property investments in Sweden is a good market to be in. Swedish people are very positive to foreign investments and there are many reasons why they consider other countries.” Andreas Versen, Partner, Station Invest Agent Profi le: PAGE 40
“The Chinese are very cautious. We do not buy things off - plan on a whim. We like to think carefully and only work with partners that we trust. In fact, this is one of the most important characteristics of the Chinese buyer market.” Adam Wu, CEO, China Business Network The Last Word: PAGE 64
PORTUGAL REPORT: FEELING POSITIVE? (Page 45)
OPP wrote to more than 20,000 overseas property professionals this month to ask them how they feel about the current state of the Portuguese residential real estate sector, and the immediate outlook for this struggling Eurozone economy. Here are their answers, and the mood seems to be realistically upbeat. It is a country with a lot of problems, but it also has a lot to off er, they say. And the tide is turning. Think, act, and be positive seems to be the message. We also have an exclsuive outlook report written by the Portuguese government’s Director of Tourism expert Filipe Silva to give you an inside track feel for how things are going at the highest level. See page 49. There is also an exclusive interview with Vale do Lobo CEO Diogo Gaspar Ferrreira.
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EDITORIAL COMMENT Support the Portuguese fi ghtback
08-09 INDUSTRY NEWS Asia starts to fall amidst global gloom
10-11 INDUSTRY NEWS Canada prices could soar by nearly 10% says CREA
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FINANCE NEWS New JV fund raises $500m for Chinese resi investment
DEVELOPER & FRACTIONAL NEWS “Exciting” fractional future hit by lack of confi dence
MEDIA & TRAVEL NEWS Multi-lingual virtual streetviews hit Canadian market
PEOPLE: MOVERS & SHAKERS / EVENTS Key appointments and dates
20-21 YOUR SHOUT: LETTERS AND BLOGS Why are there so many bears in the China shop?
22-23 NEWS EXTRA: U.S. DISTRESSED What is happening in the “Rustbelt” cities?
24-25 LETTER FROM BEIJING - OPP CHINA Where is Chinese overseas property buyer?
26-27 BUSINESS:THE 55+ MARKET Australia’s industry is mature and growing
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SUSTAINABILITY Attitudes to reporting green progress are changing
MORTGAGE OUTLOOK Turkey continues to tick all the right boxes
33-34 NAR VIEWPOINT Aff ordability at its highest in U.S. markets
TORONTO CALLING MARKET SNAPSHOT: PHUKET 37
INVESTMENTS Are SIPPs suitable for the way they are used and sold?
38-39 CANADA OUTLOOK China’s attraction to Toronto condos has a long history
40 42
AGENT PROFILE Selling to the Swedes is proving big business
MONTENEGRO Massive investment surge is propelling the market
45-47 PORTUGAL REPORT: THE OPP SURVEY Results reveal a realistically upbeat industry
38 | What have MAD Architects and Marilyn Monroe got to do with Toronto’s Chinese buyer surge?
RUSTBELT RETURNS
56 | With the mainland rocked by fl oods, Thailand’s islands are proving attractive to overseas buyers.
OPP AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2011
49-50 THE GOVERNMENT OUTLOOK Portugal’s visitor boom is boosting market confi dence
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THE MORTGAGE OUTLOOK Tough times for Portugal but money is still out there
54-55 THE INTERVIEW: DIOGO GASPAR FERREIRA Negative image must change says Vale do Lobo CEO
56-57 MARKET SNAPSHOT: PHUKET The facts and fi gures for the Thai island hotspot
59-61 OPP AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2011 A look at our best Cape Verde and S.E. Asia developers
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THE OPP DEAL ZONE Find your next big opportunity here
64-65 THE LAST WORD: ADAM WU China Business Network’s CEO talks to OPP
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22 | Some US cities missed the boom, but are now also missing the bust. How can you capitalise on this?
59 | Who won the developer awards for Cape Verde and South East Asia ... and why?
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OPP TRADE DIRECTORY Useful industry names and contact details
CAREERS SECTION Find your next job in OPP
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