http://www.bancajahabitat.es/english/information/real-estate-news.aspx Noticias inmobiliarias ofrecidas por Bancaja Habitat en-EN
According to Informa.com, the country offers miles of beautiful beaches, great food and a range of entertainment options.

The online portal said: "For those who are more comfortable living ... there are bustling metropolises."

"For those with gourmet tastes, there are superb wines and fabulous cuisine," it added.

Spain's south-eastern coast has a higher percentage of retired people than anywhere else in the world.

This could make it an ideal option for those looking for a comfortable place to live once they start to draw their pensions.

Informa noted that many people are now choosing to purchase a home in Spain and then commute to another country to work.

Shelter Offshore recently reported that the cost of property in Spain has declined 12.8 per cent over the last 11 months. ]]>
Despite the recent events in the Spanish property market, developer Casas de Lorca told nubricks.com that British people still find a number of "strong pull factors" in the country.

These include the benefits of a laidback lifestyle, relatively low living costs and a warm climate.

Nubricks said the Iberian nation has begun to benefit from the declining interest in emerging countries, which are now seen as a less safe option during the current economic downturn.

It said that the rising financial uncertainty among many buyers made people "less sure of the more untried and untested destinations".

Good healthcare facilities in Spain have increased the country's popularity in the retirement market, Nubricks added.

A Homes Overseas survey recently found that Spain is one of the most popular destinations for prospective overseas property purchasers, with just under one-quarter citing it as their ideal location for a second home.]]> Mexico is one of the top countries of interest for English-speakers, according to a recent study.

Globaledge recently published the results of a study into Google searches made in September 2008.

Mexico was the second most popular search in central and South American with only Panama receiving more interest.

A total of eight per cent of the searches were for South America, of which 11.4 per cent were for Mexico.

Ashley Rigg, managing director of Globaledge, said: "International property portals frequently publish data on popular searches but the results are always skewed towards the traffic of the portal publishing the information."

Data collated from Google searches is the "largest and most reliable" source of information, he added.

Rentalo.com said Mexico offers holidaymakers and prospective expats the chance to explore white sandy beaches and Mayan ruins.

It stated that sun-seekers and history fans will both find plenty to enjoy in the country. ]]> Costa Blanca is set to receive a greater influx of tourists and investors from Germany after Air Berlin adds flights to Alicante.

People from 17 cities in Germany will be able to enjoy better access to Alicante through the region's El Altet airport.

The airport is the second busiest destination in Spain for Air Berlin and local hotel owners are hoping Germans will boost tourism during the economic slowdown.

With extra flights to the area, the Spanish tourist board is expecting 150,000 Germans to make their way to the Costa Blanca this winter.

In the first three-quarters of 2008, the number of foreign tourists was up 2.3 per cent year-on-year in Valencia.

The increased number of visitors to the region could mean that owners of rental accommodation in the area will experience an increased demand for holiday homes.

Shelter Offshore recently said that the Spanish property market is an attractive destination for cash buyers because property prices are falling.]]> Malaga has advised buyers to purchase homes in prosperous areas.

According to Homes Overseas, buyers who are still uncertain about acquiring a property in Spain should select an area that is already flourishing.

The property portal identified the Malaga suburb of Alhaurin de la Torre as a good example of this.

It pointed to the convenient location as one of the major attractions of the area, because it is seven kilometres from Malaga Airport and near to the region's beaches and motorways.

John O'Reilly, of Property Directors based in Malaga, said: "A four-bedroom, two-bathroom detached villa with pool in Alhaurin de la Torre is for sale at £396,000 [and] available for rent from £1,200 per month, with a rent-to-buy option."

Last month, budget carrier Ryanair announced that it is offering more low-cost flights to Malaga.

This could make the Costa del Sol even more accessible to investors and holidaymakers.
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KPMG Golf Advisory Practice conducted the report, which polled 80 specialist golf tour operators in 21 different countries.

The study also revealed that the climate was an important consideration when booking a golf holiday.

This could explain the predicted decline in bookings for established destinations, such as Scotland and Ireland.

Andrea Sartori, head of KPMG's specialist Golf Advisory Practice for the EMA region, said the report also shows how important tourism is to golf's economy.

Spain's popularity with golfers may be partly attributable to the number of top players the country has produced.

At the World Cup of Golf, Miguel Anguel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal had a four-shot lead over the representatives from other countries after carding a nine under par on Friday (November 28th).
]]> Spain.

According to Shelter Offshore, overseas property investors should not neglect to insure their homes abroad.

The online portal noted that buyers are unlikely to leave a home in the UK without insurance, particularly if they plan to leave it for a number of months of the year, so they should not do the same with a home in Spain.

"The majority of people who own property abroad are incorrectly insured," the property portal said.

"This can lead to problems and even heartache in the event that something happens to the property," Shelter Offshore added.

Taking out the correct insurance is crucial to adequately protecting their overseas homes, the firm said.

Investors are advised to research the market for the best deal before they purchase a holiday home or retirement property.

In related news, Jeff Stelling, the future presenter of Channel 4's Countdown, recently said wants to purchase a property in Spain.
]]> housing market in Spain has opened a window of opportunity for buyers in the UK, it has been claimed.

According to Shelter Offshore, the property slump in Spain is "fantastic news for British buyers with an appetite for a home abroad".

Some of the attractions offered by Spain include its warm climate, high quality of life and the "general atmosphere".

The online portal noted that the Mediterranean country is a "top flight" destination for Britons wanting to travel abroad, whether this is on holiday of permanently.

Investors with holiday homes in Spain might be able to make a profit by renting out their property to tourists when they are not using them.

Property Abroad recently revealed that Spain is the most popular destination for holidaymakers and investors.

Its findings were based on traffic and enquiries about purchasing a home in the Iberian nation.
]]> Alicante is a popular spot for retirees from the UK, partly because of its mild climate and clean beaches.

According to Andrew Regan, writer for an online agency, anyone considering making a move overseas to Spain should think about the realities of relocating.

He noted that many expatriates find that missing their family is one of the major drawbacks when leaving the UK.

However, he said Alicante could be an attractive choice because it has a number of cheap and regular flights back to Britain.

Mr Regan said: "Its [Alicante's] mild climate and clean beaches are more than sufficient to attract those who plan to escape the coldness of the UK."

Alicante's large expatriate community and "beautiful" setting were identified as major attractions for older UK residents looking to leave the country.

In related news, Nick Stuart, managing director of Spanish Hot Properties, said that buyers looking for a home on the Costas could get the best deal in 2009.
]]> Spain as the most popular destination for property investors.

Property Abroad revealed that more people from the UK choose to purchase homes in the Iberian nation than any other country.

Spain was ranked ahead of America in second, Cyprus in third and Portugal in fourth place.

Liam Bailey, Property Abroad's chief market analyst, said: "One thing I am surprised about however is Spain being number one."

The figures reveal that large numbers of British people are still looking to purchase homes in foreign countries, he noted.

Mr Bailey added that the other countries in the top five were not a surprise, although he did not predict that Cyprus and Portugal would rank as highly as they did.

In related news, Nick Stuart, managing director of Spanish Hot Properties, said that Spain is a "buyers market".

Investors could get discounts of up to 40 per cent on houses in the Mediterranean country, Mr Stuart noted.
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