Investors Feelilng More at Home in Real Estate

Reading through the many international property publications and blogs, is proving to be a happier experience of late, especially where luxury homes are concerned. Not surprisingly, the more volatile the European money markets appear to be, the greater the interest in solid and trustworthy high-end real estate properties as a long term investment.

Life on the Go - part III

I know the sun is out and summer heat is here to stay. No one wants to think about this year's unending downpoor - but as soon as I caught a glimpse of this, I knew it needed sharing.

Sunshine Season!

The sun is finally beginning to shine across Europe, which means the ladies, especially those planning to spend their summer in beach homes, are beginning to fret about getting into their bikinis. This blog is the most entertaining food blog I know, and it also has a great list of salad recepies, guarenteed to make for more entertaining food than cucumber and lettuce.

A Must Read for Real Estate Fanatics!

Combining our love of real estate literature, celebrity lifestyle and a phenomenal sense of humour, this has become one of my favorite blogs to follow. Get pictures, floorplans, price tags and often enough a fowarding address for your favorite celebrity's pads, second homes, estates they leave to their ex's and just about any other real estate property they may own!

Overseas Property Trends

Following tax rate increases, announced 50% of income tax-rates and clamp downs in the U.K, upscale real estate agents and law firms report that there is a “wealth exodus” taking place in the U.K. As published in the 2010 issue of OPP (Overseas Property Professional) Magazine, England’s wealthiest are out to buy new permanent addresses. Traditional European tax havens such as Switzerland and Monaco are always sought after, but changes in the tax regime are generating much buzz around upmakrt properties in Portugal, which also benefits from its reputation as a landmark retirement destination.
Click here to read the full article.

Upbeat Growth Forecasts!

In his first conference of 2010 IMF Managing Director, Dominique Strause-Kahn stated that recovery from the economic crises has been significantly faster than expected. The International Monetary Fund will be publishing updated growth forecasts later this month, which Strausse- Kahn revealed will be upbeat for investors.

Cape Verde "Credible and Useful"

The vision, determination and courage generally recogninzed in Cape Verde by the International Community at large, have earned it the status of a "credible and useful", states the Portuguese Ambassador to Cape Verde Graça Guimarães in a two page interview printed in the Portuguese daily financial newspaper OJE. She further describes the archipelago as a strategic partner for Portugal and the European Union and as such a natural destination for small and medium size companies.

Expresso das Ilhas - 8th Anniversary

We would like to "take a post" to congratulate Expresso das Ilhas, Cape Verde's leading weekly newspaper for its 8th year in circulation! Through the years they have been for us an informative and accurate source on all things Cape Verde!

If you happen to be in Cape Verde this week, you should try to attend their international conference on Communication, taking place Thursday December 10, at hotel Trópico in Cidade da Praia.

We wish them continued success!

Christmas Decor for All of Your Homes!

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Here are some of our favorite home decoration ideas for this Christmas. From the summer home abroad original decor, the all out festivity home, the Mediterranean property Christmas feast to a neutral classic Christmas anywhere anytime design!

World's Most Expensive Real Estate Properties

Avenue Princesse Grace in Monaco, according to a recent Luxury Property report is the world's most expensive street, and houses some of the most stunning real estate properties money can buy. What is the price of a property here? Depends on the size, but the investment would set you back € 126,845.56 per sq/m! If you find it a little extravagant, browse through the less expensive neighborhoods that comprise the top 10 list of the most expensive streets, worldwide.

Life on the Go - Part I

Do you travel often enough that some airports are more familiar to you than home? Do you spend a lot of time at airports? Have you just bought that second home but have nt yet got all the furniture you need? The "Suited Case" by Erik de Nijs - perfect for you.

Cruising into Praia!

The new Seaport of Cidade da Praia was inaugurated this afternoon in a ceremony presided by the minister of Infrastructure, Transportation and Telecommunications . The main purpose of these new premises is to be offer comfort, safety and hygiene to all the visitors arriving to the island by ship. Government sources guarantee that this year alone, approximately ten thousand passengers cooming in or out of Cape Verde will make use of the seaport.

Cape Verde Tax Cuts - Dynamic Economy

Having cut VAT from 15% to 6%, Cape Verde has established itself as a player in the highly competitive arena of Foreign Investment. Added to the country’s investment in infra-structure, an economy which has been fueled by the private sector and the government's strict fiscal diciplin and and you what you get is the seventh consecutive year of positive evaluation and high praise from the IMF. A sure sign that Cape Verde remains a strong destination for Direct Foreign Investment.

Europe's Closest Tropical Destination

Recently The Daily Telegraph published a list of the 20 most stupid complaints made by holiday makers to their travel agents. These are based on an actual study conducted by Thomas Cook and ABTA.

Among the most stupid complaints were; “The beach was too sandy” or “we had to cue outside with no air conditioning” – but for us, the one that took the prize was “It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England it only took the Americans three hours to get home”. Jamaica! Seriously? The smart tourists with time constraints, have been going to to Cape Verde - "Europe’s closest tropical destination" for years!

Cape Verde celebrates Tourism

Sunday September 27th marks the 29th World Tourism Day which will be celebrated across the planet. As a country investing heavily on it's tourism industry and infrastructures Cape Verde is, as ever, paying attention. The ministry of Economics together with several interested entities (Expotour, Hotel and Tourism Industry University in Cape Verde) have organized their first Tourism Fair, which is open to the public, throughout the weekend.
Whether you are a tourist or own an investment property in Cape Verde, don´t miss out!

"A Drop of Water"

If you are buying you're second home in Cape Verde or somewhere like it where it does not rain - Bas Van de Veer Design have just made the world a better place you with "A Drop of Water" - a rain barrel that makes saving water really easy by providing a watering can that is automatically filled when it rains. This way, the user doesn't have to fill the can with our precious tap water, but uses free'rainwater instead to water the beautiful gardens.

Biús

Ponta Bicuda is saddened to learn the news of Biús

Cidade Velha - on UNESCO's World Heritage List

So every time you hop on the plane and fly out to Cape Verde you cannot tear yourself away from the clear water and white fine sand. When you do, you mostly like to relax around the pool in your villa. So even though you said you would, you never did get around to visiting Cidade Velha which is one of the 11 new cultural sites that have been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List. Now you know that when you return to Santiago Island, Cidade Velha will be a must on your list of things to do.

Investments between Cape Verde and Canary Islands Made Easy

Cape Verde Investments and Proexca Canaries Public Investment Office have announced the signing of a protocol that will facilitate and stimulate investments and projects in both archipelagos. A meeting will be taking place before year’s end in which further information and more significant measures will be announced.

Better Quality of life in Santiago Island, Cape Verde.

This weekend the prime minister of Cape Verde attended the official launch of the public sewerage and water construction works in Santiago Island, Cape Verde. This project has received a joint investment from the Cape Verdean government and EU and in addition to the network system ,will also be connecting homes to the system.
“This is an investment which has immediate impact on the lives of the people by making their quality of life better” said José Maria das Neves.