Sacha Tarkovsky asked:


The Hellenic Republic (Greece) has always been one of the most appealing places to live. From the most ancient times people settled there for its wonderful weather, superb sea, and agricultural wonders.

Owning some Greek real estate can give one a sense of having bought a piece of history give the the opportunity to make steady and consistent capital gains and provide a great lifestyle at affordable prices.

There is really nowhere else like it on earth. As the Greeks like to point out, the Gods could have settled anywhere, but they picked Greece.

Distinct Markets

The real estate market in Greece falls into two basic categories, commercial and residential.

However in both cases, there is the well developed areas of Athens and Salonika, and then the touristic areas of the Greek islands and coasts.

In all cases the market has been performing steadily upwards since the end of WW2.

The Greek real estate market is also as popular with non-Greeks as it is with the Greeks themselves.

Florida of the EU

As in the Florida phenomenon in the United States, Greece is becoming an increasingly popular place for aging Europeans and others to retire.

Health care is as good as anywhere else in the EU, the local populations is typically multilingual and the weather provides a summer of 8 to 9 months a year.

For sheer beauty and cleanliness, the Greek seas are unbeatable in Europe. Property prices rise at a moderate but consistent rate.

The Commercial Market

By far the most developed real estate opportunities in Greece are the touristic sites in the commercial market.

Many hotels in Greece are now owned by non-Greeks, and in all areas; the cities and the islands/coasts. Typical sale and purchase margins are all double digit and can easily exceed 35% to 40%.

Greek and Foreign banks in Greece are now loaning substantial funds to finance commercial purchases. Tourism in Greece has been on the rise ever since the 2004 Olympics.

The Residential Market

The residential market in Greece is certainly dominated by the Greeks themselves; but only in the cities.

There are whole areas (Mani, for example, in the Peloponnese) that have become German and Swedish colonies. Areas near Salonika (Porto Carras) are also fully developed with villas of all sizes and sorts.

Typically the buyers do not sell once the purchase is made, as it appears to be retirement settlements.

There are any number of reputable real estate brokerages in Greece ready to assist the potential buyer.

However there is no substitute for actually traveling to Greece for an extended vacation, and learning directly about the climate, geographical situation, law and regulation, Greek foods and customs, and financial (banking) assistance.

Getting Around in Greece to Investigate Real Estate Opportunities

It is very easy to rent a car to drive around Greece. There are many ferry boats that can transport you to the islands, and the road system, even to remote mountain villages is well developed.

The Greeks are a hospitable people, and take great pride in entertaining visitors. While investigating the real estate opportunities, you can also get to know the Greeks themselves, and decide (like so many have) that this is a great place to live and later retire.

Robert Lipply asked:


Imagine a little piece of Greece transplanted to the northern part of Pinellas County. The delightful town of Tarpon Springs, which has a population of around 20,000 is famous for its unique Greek heritage and culture. It also has the distinction of being the oldest town in the St Petersburg area.

The first Greek immigrants were attracted to the area during the 1800s when they were employed in the thriving sponge industry. The town was given its name after residents spotted fish jumping out of the water and in 1905 sponge diving was introduced to the town. By 1930, millions of dollars a year were being generated by the sponge industry.

Today, although the sponge industry isn’t as profitable as it once was, Tarpon Springs retains its unique Greek culture and not surprisingly, has the largest percentage of Greek-Americans in the country. Today, more than 20 restaurants offer authentic Greek cuisine and the downtown area offers antique shops, boutiques and specialty stores.

The town is also well known for its Epiphany celebrations every year in January - the largest such festival in the United States. Naturally, delicious Greek food and traditional music feature large in the festivities, as well as several religious services.

Undoubtedly though, the highlight of the event is the spectacle of several young men of the town diving into the cold waters of the bayou to retrieve a wooden cross. Tradition says that whoever recovers the cross will be blessed for the next year, and the proud winner is carried triumphantly through the town.

And, if like many others before, you have the urge to buy a home, a second home, a vacation home - or even relocate - to this unique and fascinating town, property in Tarpon Springs is affordable and plentiful.

Homes for sale in Tarpon Springs range from sprawling waterfront properties such as Anclote Isles to exclusive gated golf course communities like Wentworth or Crescent Oaks to imposing mansions in and around Craig’s Park. The more affordable end of the market has a wide selection of condos, modest single family homes, and mobile homes as well. Greece never seemed so easy to get to!

Les Calvert asked:


Come to think of Brazil, and you’ll immediately get transported to the football capital of the world! The land of Ronaldos, Ronaldinhos, Peles, and Romarios is the next projected global economic powerhouse. Occupying almost half of the South American continent, Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world. Considering its vast size, the Brazilian population of around 190 million is miniscule, to say the least. This is because sea-loving Brazilians are mostly concentrated around the coasts. It is estimated that around two-third of the nation’s population is situated along the coastline. This leaves a vast chunk of the country’s mainland open for development projects, and a virtual goldmine for the global property investors.

What Makes Brazil a Hot Investment Destination?

Brazil has many attractions that allure the people from all over the world to this Samba land. The country is a major tourist hub of South America. It’s not just the soccer-crazy Brazilians that invite attention, but also the entire Brazilian lifestyle that has lent a unique identity to the country.

To start with, the country plays host to the world’s biggest rainforest - The Amazon. This is reason enough for the nature loving tourists to flock and hook up to Brazil for days, and witness the wildlife-rich wetlands of the Pantanal, the canyons and caves of the Chapada Diamentina, and the Mata Atlantica (Atlantic forest), which runs for much of the length of Brazil’s coastline.

Brazilian seashore adds to the charm of the country with sun-kissed beaches dotting over 7000 kilometres of coastline. The legendary Copacabana and Ipanema beaches are just some of the magnificent water-features of Brazil. The aquatic sports are also one of the major highlights of the Brazilian beaches.

If you think you’ve heard enough of Brazil, we are not done yet! The Annual Carnival at Rio de Janeiro is synonymous with the Brazilian way of living - dancing to the tunes of samba and merrying about all night! This not-to-be-missed annual event is attended by millions of revellers from around the world and attracts global media coverage.

Another major reason, besides tourism, behind the growth of the property market in Brazil is the country’s booming industry. Brazil is one of the few countries that have mastered the art of ethanol-blended petroleum products. This technology is of massive help in curbing rising pollution levels due to the burning of fossil fuels the world over.

The country is largely seen as one of the fastest developing economies of the world along with China and India, and if the trend continues, Brazil will be a jackpot destination for every real estate investor. A largely peaceful country, Brazil attracts Europeans for its low cost of living, which is just 20% of that in the UK/Europe.

The proactive government developmental policies, along with the favourable currency exchange rates fuel the robust property sector all across the country. Brazil is well-connected with major cities of the world through regular flights in and out of the country. The lively Brazilian people have a rich tradition of living life to the hilt, is one factor that clinches the deal for Brazil as a hot real estate destination.

Hottest Investment Locations in Brazil

Currently, Brazil enjoys one of the fastest growing property markets in the world. Therefore, you can be rest assured that money spent on property in Brazil is a wise investment translating into greater appreciation for the capital in a short period of time. And before you jump on the Brazilian bandwagon, here’s another happy piece of information you’ll love to hear. Millions of foreign nationals own property and business in Brazil benefiting from the fact that property ownership is guaranteed by the Constitution for Brazilians and foreigners alike. And land ownership in Brazil is in perpetuity, which includes full mineral and water rights.

Any kind of coastal property in Brazil is worth a goldmine. Since most of the population and tourists’ activities are centred on the coastal areas of Brazil, cities like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo are always on top of the investment chart. For a little over £50K, you can enjoy beachfront apartments, duplexes and villas in Natal, or residential club villas in Fortaleza. Of course, several low-priced properties are also available in every segment - off-plan, built-up, or land.

If you are looking to capitalize on the vast agricultural land in Brazil, the places like Western Bahia State should be your choice of destination. Brazil is expected to be self-sufficient in terms of food available to its citizens, within a few years. Thanks to the mineral-rich fertile soil of the country, the cities, like Louis Eduardo Manghales, have emerged as agri-hubs in Brazil. Obviously, the developed agricultural land will cost you a little more than the uncleared land in areas, like SE Tocantins, which is believed to contain a hugely fertile land, but development here is still some years away.

Some other places ideally suited for investment in residential and commercial property include the towns of Rio do Conseicao, Dianopolis, and Rio Grande de Norte.

Brazil has investor-friendly laws, byelaws, and regulations. However, you may require the services of an attorney or a estate agent for successfully negotiating and transferring the property. There may be certain formalities to be satisfied before you can legally own a property in the country, but these are not very technical formalities that require much effort on your part. Read our buyers guide on Brazil for more details.

Ki Gray asked:


As the Austin real estate market expands in all directions, areas we used to think of as “way out there” are not only seeming closer, but are getting their own infrastructure. Maple Run in Southwest Austin is just one of those areas. Located south of William Cannon, north of Slaughter, west of Brodie and east of Mopac, this little oasis offers quiet streets, attractive and affordable housing, burgeoning businesses and is a hop, skip and a jump to one of the city’s cleanest, newest and nicest parks.

Each street in the area seems to have its own personality. The Deer Park subdivision is full of brick homes, with meticulously manicured gardens and lawns. These folks do a magnificent job with holidays their Christmas lights are worth a trip, and Halloween is always scary!

A few blocks down, you will find a more relaxed atmosphere, maintained just as nicely, but with a more casual feel. The busiest street is Copano, which is not busy at all! The houses in this area can run the gamut from a 3,000 square foot two story brick home with a pool to a 1200 sq. foot one level 2 br/ 2 bath with a nice yard. Many of these homes back to a greenbelt: nice and quiet.

Brodie Lane, one of the main north-south thoroughfares of the area, is full of convenient businesses closer to Ben White, but as you follow the street south of William Cannon heading down to Slaughter you find new business popping up almost every day. Take the intersection of Alexandria and Brodie you have the best Cajun food and live music in town, an Austin Regional Clinic, Love Pet Hospital, Shipley’s Donuts, a florist, nail salons, a JiffyLube, and more! Just up the road is a Montessori school, just down the road is the Kid’s Zone preschool and daycare.

Austin Telco and Advance Auto just came to the area, although the property adjoining them still has cattle on it a truly Austin juxtaposition.

Families will love the Longview playground and park located at the eastern end of Harper’s Ferry. Swings and a play structure perfect for toddlers on up to school age are in great condition, and there are lots of trees for shade. A big field is perfect for kicking the ball or throwing the Frisbee, and there is a basketball court right up the hill. If you are looking for a little more, just head over to Dick Nichols just west of Mopac off Davis.

The toddler structure here is brand new, and the bigger kids one is in great repair. Picnic tables, a fountain for splash play, volleyball courts (or the world’s largest sandbox, depending on your age), tennis courts and a hike/bike trail can all be found here. Their pool is one of the best, with separate shallow and deep ends, plus a toddler wading pool all crystal clear and in excellent condition.

It might seem “way out west” but Southwest Austin is only 15 minutes to downtown, and the bang for your housing buck make it well worth considering.

Art Gib asked:


Following the rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Katrina struck the New Orleans area in 2005, Louisiana real estate has not been up to the standards that it once was. While real estate in Lafayette, Shreveport, Monroe, and Lake Charles is still somewhat thriving, the New Orleans area is still struggling, as is - to a lesser degree, the real estate in Baton Rouge.

Now, these cities’ real estate markets are relative, of course, as 3 years ago immediately following Hurricane Katrina they were virtually non-existent. The cleanup and restoration efforts in the New Orleans area, in particular have helped the real estate market throughout the state to rebound to some degree and an aggressive set of statewide leaders has also helped the rebounding process.

The Interstate 20 corridor, which ranges from Vicksburg, MS through Shreveport, is a great place to live in Louisiana as it is far enough from the devastation in southern Louisiana and includes some of the great cities in Louisiana, such as Shreveport, Ruston, and Minden.

Another one of the great cities to live in is Lafayette, Louisiana. Real estate in Lafayette, LA can be a great investment, despite its proximity to the gulf coast. Because of its historic background as well as it’s the nearby ocean, Lafayette, LA real estate is among the most popular (and most stable) in the state.

Founded in 1821, as Vermilioville, by the French-speaking Acadian, Jean Mouton, Lafayette was renamed, in 1884,for French military General Lafayette, who is considered a hero for fighting with and providing significant aid for the American Armies during the Revolutionary war. Currently, petroleum and natural gas are the area’s dominant industries, while agriculture (which was the dominant industry until the 1940’s) is still a significant industry.

Today, the Lafayette area brings in a significant number of annual tourists as the Cajun and Creole cultures of southern Louisiana attract many visitors who wish to explore and learn more about these unique groups of people. Additionally, because of the world famous varieties of Cajun and Creole food, Lafayette has one of the highest numbers of restaurants per capita in the United States. This is another great reason to consider Lafayette, Louisiana real estate.

Louisiana has a lot to offer as a place of residence in the United States, including the beautiful and diverse city of Lafayette. Despite the trouble and difficult times facing parts of Louisiana even now, there are still great opportunities in Louisiana for residents and visitors alike.