Things That Make Dubai Such an Attractive Place

As Dubai continues to develop a reputation as a holiday hot spot with plenty of luxury hotels and enough designer shops to satisfy every shopaholics needs, it is worth noting that there are many other aspects to the emirate that make it such an attractive place to stay.

First and foremost, Dubai offers the safe and secure environment that many people crave, but are unfortunately unable to get in some of the world's leading cities. This is a clean and relatively crime free city that offers a safe haven for residents and tourists alike, which is a huge positive in drawing people, especially families, to the emirate.

Tax, or the lack of it, has always been one of the biggest incentives in attracting expatriate workers and investors to Dubai. A life without income tax, which in some countries can amount to as much as 48 per cent of income, has obvious appeal.

In addition to this, with no capital gains tax or rental income tax charged, it is easy to see what has attracted so many foreign investors to buy property on these shores. Over the past few years, Dubai has been a property investor's dream. Many people who took the plunge and purchased property here have achieved some fantastic returns on their investments, through both capital growth and high rental returns.

The good news is that for those who have not yet stepped on to the property ladder here, there are still some good opportunities in the market, which remains strong.

Pole position
If the key factors in deciding where to buy property is location, location, location, then Dubai is in pole position. It is easily accessible from all corners of the globe and sits within a few flying hours of many different countries, making it the ideal option for a second home or for those looking to relocate while still maintaining close links with their home country. Indeed, its strategic location has helped Dubai position itself as the business hub for the entire region with great links to huge consumer markets such as India. This will only increase with time. Admittedly the price of some goods and services has increased in recent months, but when compared to some other major cities, Dubai is still able to offer its residents a relatively low cost of living.

While the lack of supply has forced rental rates up and the prices of some products have risen as a result of the strength of certain foreign currencies, there are still bargains to be had here. For example, petrol in Dubai is at least four times cheaper than in the UK and there are many places where you can eat out here for much less than you would pay for cities such as Dublin or Paris.
An important factor for many is that Dubai is able to offer the personal freedom, political and economic stability that they are not afforded in their home country.

In addition, another major pull is the lifestyle. There is an abundance of leisure and entertainment opportunities and the climate lends itself well to outdoor activities and family fun at the beach, although it has to be said that only the hard core sun worshippers will make it there in the summer months.

Finally, there are the people. As one of the world's fastest growing cities, with hundreds of people moving here each week, Dubai's cosmopolitan environment makes it a great place to meet interesting and fascinating people from all walks of life. And that really is a privilege. Gulf News

Egyptian Market Hot Once Again

A glance at the advertisements crowding the pages of many Egyptian newspapers is enough to reveal that real estate is currently one of the most active sectors of the economy.

After languishing for years, the sector is now booming on the back of three years of economic growth averaging seven per cent.

"Yields in office building and retail are anywhere between 20 to 50 per cent," says Maher Maksoud, Managing Director of Sodic. "In Europe they are below 10 per cent. Residential yields are not as high, but they are very good in terms of cash flow generation."

Home Infomation Packs

Properties marketed for sale from 14 December 2007 in England and Wales will need a Home Information Pack (HIP), which includes a home energy rating. The Pack includes an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), containing advice on how to cut carbon emissions and fuel bills. Also included are documents such as a sale statement, searches and evidence of title.

For more infomation click on this link

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/housing/556732

India's November tourist arrivals up 15.5%

Reuters have reported that tourist arrivals in India rose 15.5% in November from a year earlier, boosting foreign exchange earnings from the sector by 27.6% on year to $908.2 million, the government said.

There were 510,987 foreign visitors in November, compared with 442,413 in the same month of last year, the Tourism Ministry said in a statement.

Tourist arrivals in the first eleven months of 2007 totalled 4.40 million, up 12.7% from the same period last year.

Ras Al Khaimah - Clean up of ocean bed

The Environmental Protection and Industrial Development Authority is finalising a major plan to rid the ocean bed of rubbish. The plan aims to remove old fishing nets dropped into the sea over the past few years. Recent surveys of the sea have shown large quantities of the nets and many other fishing instruments to have been dumped into the sea, causing damage and suffering to marine life.

Buoyant Retail Spending

Cash withdrawals in the run-up to Christmas are up on last year. This points to strong consumer spending despite current economic uncertainty.

Data from the LINK network of cash machines has shown average daily cash withdrawals in the first ten days of December are up by 7.1% on November figures, compared to a rise of around 5% in the previous four years.

More than £3.2billion of cash has been withdrawn from more than 64,000 LINK cash machines so far this December - an increase of £140 million on the same period in 2006.

The figures suggest that last week's quarter point cut in interest rates boosted consumer confidence and encouraged mortgage holders to spend more freely.

The value of cash withdrawn is generally an accurate indicator of retail spending, so the figures point to a good Christmas for retailers despite current economic uncertainty in the housing and credit markets.

Emirates Palace is Middle East's best

The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences has awarded its international five star diamond award to the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, selecting the iconic hotel as the finest in the Middle East.

"It is an honour to be recognised by esteemed organisations such as the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences," said Noel Massoud, General Manager of Emirates Palace.

Dubai's real estate prices likely to remain high!

Dubai Chamber says supply and demand will match only in 2023.

Dubai's real estate prices are not likely to stabilise in the near future, a study of the real estate sector by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) revealed supply and demand of real estate will reach equilibrium only in 2023.

"Equilibrium is when demand equals supply, and prices do not increase any more - they remain steady," said Dr Belaid Retab, director of DCCI's Data Management and Business Research.

Realty Outlook:

• 1.845m projected population in Dubai in 2010
• 131,019 residential units set to be delivered by private developers between 2006 and 2012
• 172,932 Additional residential units needed between 2007 and 2010

Interest Rate CUT!!!!

The Bank of England have decided to cut interest rates from 5.75% to 5.50%.

Speculators are predicting at least 3 further cuts by the third quarter of 2008.

UAQ Marina Launch

Homes International have just launched prestigious villas at the highly desirable Marina in Umm Al Quawain.

A desirable residential address master planned development by Emaar.

If your vision of an ideal destination includes an exclusive residence, world class recreation and waterfront amenities within walking distance of home, the Mistral Community is the opportunity of a lifetime.

Named after a European wind system prevalent in the Mediterranean Basin, ‘Mistral’ represents strong winds accompanied by a piercingly clear sky. It’s this very feel that the master planned community offers you. Comprising of single family detached villa homes.

Located between a lake and an extensive landscaped park, it has everything you need for carefree daily living near at hand. This includes supermarkets, retail outlets, schools, a mosque and much more. Adding to the fresh and breezy feel of this magnificent neighbourhood are the pedestrian pathways, which lead you from the community straight into an exciting open space. Here you could turn to the open beach or the buzzing Town Centre. Or else, head to the world-class marina basin.

Mistral has been masterfully designed to accommodate every expectation and to make marina living a reality for you. It’s urban lifestyle you’ve always cherished.

House Prices

Nationwide building society reported that house prices dropped by 0.8% in November, the sharpest fall over the last 12 years, after a 1.1% rise in October. The decline took the annual rate of house price inflation down to 6.9% from 9.7% in October.

Bank of England to Cut Rates?

If the Bank Of England fails to cut interest rates on Thursday then sterling could soar against the dollar. Predictions are rumoured to set the pound at around $2.08 after the Bank's decision. It believes this weeks strong retail figures make a cut less likely.

Dollar Slips on Gulf Speculation

Dubai: The dollar slipped to a record low against the euro on Tuesday as speculation mounted in international financial circles that the Gulf states are ready to either revalue their currencies or do away with their peg to the dollar and more bad news from the banking sector added to the downward pressure on the greenback. Gulf News
Read more at: http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/11/21/10169135.html

UAE is the world’s most attractive expatriate destinations

According to a new global survey of expatriate hot spots by Mercer, The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has one of the world’s most attractive personal tax environments. Mercer’s Worldwide Individual Tax Comparator Report analysed the tax and benefits systems of32 countries, focusing on personal tax structures, average salaries and marital status. For single managers, the UAE is the most attractive tax environment according to percentage of net income available. The UAE ranks highly as it does not assess any income tax and the country’s social security contributions amount to only 5 percent of an employee’s gross salary. Russia, ranked 2, applies a flat tax of 13 percent across all income levels, while Hong Kong reaches rank 3, with taxes and social security contributions at 14.2 percent of gross base salary.Other important considerations for expatriate allowances are housing, private schooling and local cost of living adjustments, and there are additional complications around contributions to the home country pension plan. These factors can all contribute to the high cost of a global expatriate workforce, said the Mercer report.

Mumbai Airport Revamp

India's busiest airport currently handling up to 45 landings and takeoffs per hour is having a $2 billion overhaul. Reputed as the world's most congested, handling 26 million passengers this year alone. That number is set to reach around 40 million a year by 2013.

Other startling facts are:

• Delhi airport is undergoing $2 billion revamp for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.


• Bangalore, India's IT hub, will get a $228 million international airport by 2008.


• More than 30 non metro airports are to be modernised by March 2010 at a cost of $1.2 billion.


• India's airports handled 90.4 million passengers in 2006 compared with 68 million the previous year.


• Indian airlines plan to add 400 aircraft over the next five years to meet the boom in demand for air travel.


• Mumbai has a $60 billion plan to turn the city into a global financial hub in the next decade.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie Buy an Island in Dubai

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have bought Ethiopia off the coast of Dubai in Nakheel's 'The World' development, according to UAE-based web site Ahlanlive. The couple intend to use their home as an eco-development. No price tag was given for the island, which are reported to be fetching up to $50m.

Mukesh Ambani Builds Himself A New Home

The worlds richest man Mukesh Ambani estimated to be worth in the region of £30 billion, overtaking both Bill Gates and Carlos Slim in the worlds rich list ranks is having his new home built in the most exclusive Mumbai suburb.

Plans for the £500m property show 27 floors, a health club, 600 staff and parking spaces for 168 cars. It is said to be the most expensive private home on the planet. It will house himself, his wife and his mother.

Mr Ambani's Reliance Industries which spans oil, textiles and biochemicals and has annual revenues of $27bn, has seen rises of nearly 80 per cent this year on the Sensex.

Farzana Joins The Team

Farzana Kauser joins the Homes International Sales Team after passionately following the property markets for a few years. At the tender age of 24, she has already build up a small portfolio of investment properties, with a clear focus of expanding her holding over the forthcoming years.

Farzana is rapidly learning about the property hot spots, and has the vision for potential growth during the build period. She has become very well rehearsed on the India and UAE developments, together with the reasons why the forecasters are predicting such major increases.

Farzana has already aided many clients by using her language skills - English, Punjabi and Urdu.

She awaits your call.....

Beat The 10% Price Increase

The developers of the Mira Road - Mumbai apartments have just announced a 10% price increase.

Homes International will still honour all business at the pre-increased price until the close of business on the 24th November 2007.

With prices spiraling as fast as the Indian Stock Market - This makes a fantastic addition to any shrewd investors portfolio for true capital growth!

Over 400 apartments have been sold in the last 2 months - availability is very limited - so call now to register your purchase!

Land Prices Rocket!!!!!

The prices of land around the Mira Road area of Mumbai have more than tripled over the last 10 months! This is further set to soar as Hiranandani has just completed on the purchase of 200 acres in the region! With such a high profile premium developer moving to the area, all the big names in retail will shortly follow suit; another excuse for prices to elevate!

The growth for Mira Road is extending past what was imaginable. Now that the last designated residential building land in Mumbai has been snapped up. Supply and demand will send prices into overdrive mode!

UAE Exchange Rate - Peaking At All Time High

Great news for all you investors!!!

The exchange rate for £1 to AED is currently at 7.7, saving thousands on those property purchases. Buy now and save before the currency rate becomes stronger!

Interest rates for UK - Held! November 2007

The Bank of England has just announced that it is to hold rates for November.

Rates have peaked but the Bank appears to be taking a 'wait and see' approach as the wider economy is still exposed to high oil prices and the background threat of inflation, believe many economists.

It's too early to say whether rates will be cut in December, until more retail figures are published over the coming weeks

RICS - Crash Predictions Are Premature

Rics (The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) has poured cold water on the "endless talk of the demise of the property market".

Simon Rubinsohn chief economist at Rics claimed that the British market will remain "resilient" as long as the overall balance of supply and demand is maintained, something that "historically has been the best lead indicator of future developments".

Commenting on various reports which have suggested that the UK housing sector is heading for a crash in the wake of the sub-prime collapse in America.

"We still expect the pace of house price inflation to gradually slacken as the credit crunch restricts the availability of mortgage finance - particularly to 'higher risk' borrowers - and the economy more generally slows" Simon conceded to say.

Homes International Launch Luxurious Vills in India

Close to Chandigarh lies the haven of Mohali Hills, a gated mixed use community for those who appreciate the best that life has to offer. Designed to nurture family living in a secure 3000 acre environment, Mohali Hills offers luxury villa, leisure and shopping options which provide families with privacy and protection, yet the freedom to grow and flourish in a thriving neighbourhood.

Typical Villas consist of 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms plus Family room and Study 3550sq ft (approx. For more info contact a member of the Sales Team on 08700 99 2400

More New Homes Needed

The government should look to build an extra 270,000 new homes on top of its existing targets if it wants to meet demand, the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit have said.

The advisory body claimed that the three million new homes aim, will not resolve the problems for many first-time buyers, especially with predictions for continually rising prices.

Current house price inflation has meant that average UK property now costs seven times the average salary, and this is expected to rise to nine to ten times the average.

It is suggested that Britain's population would rise to 70 million come 2028, a figure that coupled with the housing shortfall is likely to result in more people turing to the rental sector in the future.

The Burj breaks height records

When fully completed the Burj in Dubai will be the
worlds tallest building. Currently construction is
working on floor 154, with a current height of 574.5m.

*The building will have the worlds fastest lifts travelling at around 40mph.
*The tower will house the first Armani Hotel.
*The tip of the spire can be seen from over 60 miles away.

Home buyers caught in stamp duty net

The Telegraph reports that a record 306,000 people paid stamp duty of 3% or more on their properties last year, as the Treasury cashed in on booming house prices.

The number paying stamp duty could pass a third of a million this year, as property prices are expected to climb by 10%, despite a cooling market.

The three bands are now 1% for properties over £125,000, 3% on properties over £250,000 and 4% on properties over £500,000.

Research published by the mortgage company MForm calculated that the average amount of stamp duty paid by people who bought houses last year was £3,581 - an increase of 25% on the previous year.

Click to read the full story http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/17/nhomes117.xml

Vodafone's Indian unit will spend $2b per year to speed up expansion

New Delhi: Vodafone's Indian arm will spend $2 billion a year as it aims to quickly expand in the world's fastest-growing mobile services market. Arun Sarin Vodafone chief executive officer also states that network expansion and sharing infrastructure such as towers, as availability of cheaper handsets and local calling rates of as low as one US cent a minute lure new users.

India added a record 16.4 million mobile users in July and August, taking the total to more that 200 million, up 63 per cent for a year earlier. The potential for growth is huge as only about 18 per cent of India's more than 1.1 billion people own a mobile phone.

Morgan Stanley estimates Indian telecom operators capital spending to rise 43 per cent in 2007-08 from a year earlier.

Gulf forex revaluation risk could squeeze dollar further

The broadly declining dollar could come under further pressure should Gulf Arab states decide to revalue their currencies and remove pegs to the greenback, prompting a flight out of US assets by the Middle East countries. - reports Gulf News
Read the full story here http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/10/06/10158387.html

Interest rates for UK - Held!

The Bank of England has decided to keep UK interest rates on hold at 5.75% for October!

The Bank is adopting a "wait-and-see" policy on rates until a clearer picture emerges of the effects of the recent global credit squeeze, economists say.

Full story is available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7027543.stm

India tops in migrant remittances

Total remittances into India from overseas Indians have grown steadily over the past 15 years, and dramatically in the past 10, skyrocketing from $2.1 billion in financial year 1990-91 to $24.1 billion in financial year 2005-06.

Factors responsible for the growth in reported remittances include the diminishing role of unofficial channels, shifting emigration patterns to high-skilled technology jobs, greater competition in the money transfer market, and the strenght of the Indian economy.

Dubai Cares – a global corporate social responsibility

'Dubai Cares' believes in the millions of children living in poor countries around the world, their dreams, ambitions and hopes to make the world a better, safer place for all. Unfortunately, these children do not have access to education nor do they possess the knowledge to turn their dreams into reality. Without education and the knowledge it imparts, their dreams will never see light, and we will forever remain in the dark, never knowing what this child and his or her dream could have done.

'Dubai Cares' is an invitation to all to make a difference - let us come together and move towards the goal of educating 1 million children with one motion. 'Dubai Cares' is an opportunity for all of us – regardless of our race, religion or ethnic background – to bring together the different communities in multicultural landscapes to support a common cause and contribute to a greater purpose. Visit http://www.dubaicares.ae

The Royal Breeze - A Superb Development

This development is just surpassing any beach front property anywhere in the UAE. We still have a couple of direct sea facing apartments for only £63k. There is absolutely nothing that can compete with these apartments for prime beach front property at this price. Comparables are: Jumeirah Beach Residence start from £133k and The Palm from £225k.

The developer has made great progress and the buildings are well into construction. The Al Hamra Resort looks and feels like an exclusive 5 star beach resort should feel. With all the beach and leisure facilities integrated with the natural beauty of the area. A site visit was concluded on 27th Sept 2007 by our company to check progress. Conclusion: Excellent Investment.

Sterling pound still smashing the 2 dollar barrier.

The sterling pound is still smashing through the $2 barrier with rate today at:

GBP-USD STERLING POUND - US DOLLAR 2.0214

Directly linked to the dollar is the UAE Dirham at a fixed rate of AED 3.67 to $1
That means properties in Dubai are actually costing you 20% less to buy than a couple of years ago. For example an apartment for AED 465k is now only approx £63k whilst in 2004 it would have been approx £75k. Now is the time to snap up a bargain if you have some pounds to invest!

Mira Road Mumbai Selling Fast!

We are now sold out of 2 bedroom, top floor, park facing apartments.

ARLA Report - Demand - High, Voids - Reducing

Demand for rented properties has continued to outstrip suppy! Fifty-three per cent of letting agents say there are more tenants then properties, up from 50 per cent three months ago.

Voids compared with the second quarter, the average void period has fallen from 3.5 weeks (25 days) to 3.3 weeks (23 days).

Buy-To-Let boosted with soaring rents

Hamptons International Research Department report that the demand for rentals is keeping the market robust and landlords in pocket. Hamptons have seen a 40 per cent rise in the value of all letting renewals. Some landlords are successfully asking for 20 per cent more on renewal of the lease to some tenants, mindful of the market, are signing two year contracts.
Hamptons International also reported a 17 per cent rise in the number of applications looking to rent, while new instructions rose by 10 per cent.

Homes International launch SIPP friendly investment

We have just launched commercial offices in the UK, which are classified friendly under the 'SIPP' umbrella! Take advantage of saving tax right now, but be quick these offices are being snapped up in multiples very quickly by shrewd investors. They are all offered with a 8% rental guarantee for 12 months!

88,000 Homes valued at more than £1m in England and Wales

Halifax Estate Agents say that the number of homes selling for more than £1m has nearly trebled in the past five years, according to new figures.
A total of 6,170 sold for at least seven figures in the last year up to June 07, compared with 2,249 in the same period in 2002.

A Third of overseas homesowners have said they want to retire abroad

Simon Lambert of 'This is Money' writes substantial numbers of Brits could opt for the expat lifestyle according to research realeased by Natwest International, which says one in three current and potential overseas homeowners want to retire elsewhere.
Read more http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/mortgages/article.html?in_article_id=413131&in_page_id=8

How to Finance your Overseas Property

How will you finance your overseas property? The answers may be in the Comprehensive Independent Report on Overseas Mortgages. http://www.opp.org.uk/uploads/reports/080507161752D.pdf

UK to follow America's reposession frenzy? Not likely according to Knight Frank's

"No more can be squeezed out of the system. It would surprise me if what has happened in the States would be allowed to happen here. The UK did not see the expansion of a large sub-prime mortgage market in recent years. We are not as directly exposed to that scenario as the US is." Liam Bailey of Knight Frank’s research team

Brits leave home in record numbers to live overseas

Recent figures released by the UK government show that 365,000 Brits left the UK to live in another country last year. This mass exodus is the biggest since records began in 1991.

More staff required to cope with high volume of sales

Homes International is undergoing further expansion, by recruiting new people to join the current team. Success has meant that it is necessary to grow in order to satisfy the insatiable appetites of investors chasing those properties with astounding capital growth.

Malaysia Golden Palm only 4 plots left

This Iconic development is already nearly sold out. We currently only have a couple more plots left so hurry before they go! If it's anything like the Palm in Dubai then prices could go 5 times original price by completion.

Deloitte Research Survey on Booming India

Today, many global business leaders believe that they must have a strategy for China and India. Both countries are increasingly seen as burgeoning markets in their own right. Get the Deloitte report http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc/content/US_ChinaIndiaReality_Research.pdf

Dubai AED at sky high levels

The AED is currently swirling at an extremely high rate of AED 7.447 to £1 GBP. This lowers the price of our cheapest property in the UAE to £23,499. Now that's a bargain!!!

Zarachie Tower - Manchester has been selling strong and is now 50% sold.

Homes International will now begin giving client live information as often as possible.