London Tops The Property Hit Parade For Serious Investors

London came out top of the international property pops for commercial real estate investment according the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE). Nearly 200 members, who together own property worth $842 billion internationally were asked to rate investing in cities and countries.

In the city stakes London' easily came out top, a massive 31 points ahead of second-place Washington, and 40 points in front of third placed New York. London's great leap forward was dramatic – in 2008 it only rated a close second.

AFIRE investors saw prices having already bottomed in London, while in the US further declines were expected before prices turned up. Or as James Fetgatter, AFIRE chief executive, put it :

"London currently offers investors the advantage of a "re-priced" market."

On a country basis, despite the possible price dip to come, the United States with 44 per cent was again voted "most stable and secure real estate investment environment."

Germany came second with 21 percent of the vote, reminiscent of a forgotten Eurovision song contest...

"The financial crisis of the past year has obviously affected investors' perceptions of U.S. real estate as 'stable and secure,'" said Fetgatter. "However, it is also apparent that opportunity lies within this instability since the U.S., along with the UK, show substantially higher scoring for expected capital appreciation."

While just over half said the United States - where prices are off more than 40 per cent from all time highs - would likely afford best price appreciation going forward, the UK came a creditable second, perhaps surprisingly beating China, which has had a roaring 2009.

The type of property most favoured by investors was housing estates and flats, with other more business-oriented construction and property seen as somewhat less rewarding. It would appear the pro's are once again expecting housing to lead the recovery in 2010.

Meanwhile data released by Rightmove this week showed UK housing up for the year, in line with reports from the Halifax and Nationwide.

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Portuguese Government Still Predicting more than 3 percent Contraction in 2009

Portugal was one of several countries to see a growth in GDP in the second quarter. The 0.3% growth sparked hopes that its recession may be over, along with much of Europe.

However, yesterday the Portuguese government announced that it was not changing its forecast for 2009 of a 3.4% contraction overall for the year.

France and Germany made the headlines when they both saw GDP growth of 0.3% on the previous quarter. The headlines surrounded the fact that this may suggest that the European economic recovery is well under-way. So it is surprising that the Portuguese government expects Portugal's economy to fall back into negative growth -- one must wonder if they know something we do not.

Portugal's economy has become service orientated since it joined the European Economic Community in 1986, and has been growing in popularity as a destination for overseas property buyers and investors ever since the first signs of over-development began to emerge in Spain's most popular areas.

According to Liam Bailey a sector specialist SEO copywriter, lifestyle buyers are very much prevalent in the market.

"Portugal is not exactly a hot emerging market so it is often over-looked by pure investors, but it is very much one of the favourites in Europe with lifestyle buyers and holiday home investors," he said.

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Steady property values can be found in portugal

Investors considering buying property abroad might wish to consider a purchase in Portugal where values are relatively steady, it has been claimed.

According to Nick Barnes, a partner in residential research at real estate firm Knight Barnes, the overall value of real estate in the Iberian nations has risen by between three and four per cent annually for six years.

He told the New York Times that the country has never offered particularly high growth with regards to values.

This was attributed to the limited number of overseas investors buying property in Portugal and the "relative lack of wealth" in the country.

However, he commented: "It's slow, steady stuff, which is arguably more sustainable."

The expert claimed that buyers of property abroad in Portugal could expect to pay an average of €1,180 (£1,020) per sq m.

Mr Barnes explained that there has not been a major property boom in Portugal of the kind seen in Spain.

However, this has meant that the country's real estate market has been not experienced the huge bust that hit the sector in the neighbouring nation.

Portugal's stability was also highlighted recently by the Guardian, which cited figures from Global Property Guide indicating that in the Algarve there was only a decline in prices of 4.4 per cent in the year up to September 2008.

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US visitors encouraged to buy property in Turkey

Second home buyers could find buying a property abroad in Turkey yields positive returns.

According to Property Wire, the European country is currently making a concerted effort to promote its tourist attractions to leisure travellers from the US.

Turkey's affordability is being lauded as one of its main selling points, as it offers much lower prices than other Mediterranean nations such as France and Spain.

As a result, overseas property buyers could be well-placed to benefit from a surge in the number of visitors from overseas. Graham Holding, a second home owner with a property in Antalya, said rental investors in particular could benefit from the decline in tourism in other nations, such as Bulgaria.

"Knowing that Turkey is part of a major advertising campaign in the US means that we can target these markets," he commented.This comes after Abta - The Travel Association highlighted Turkey as one of the main hotspots for British holidaymakers this year.

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