Overseas property hotspots for 2008

3rd January 2008

BuyAssociation.co.uk property editor Paul Collins predicts the best countries for overseas property in 2008.

Predicting the next big markets for overseas property buyers is becoming increasingly difficult as time moves on, as there are now few developed countries where British buyers have not started to pick up property and develop or improve it. With the increasing influence of low-cost airlines on how we decide on and take our holidays, along with the demise of the traditional package holiday, owning a holiday home is more and more the norm for the general public.
On top of this are the buyers who no longer trust the pensions markets or stocks and shares, and are using the overseas property markets as a way to invest and make money. If anything, this type of buyer is looking to get to the newest markets ahead of the crowd, and make their investments before the real growth starts.

These predictions are by no means a precise science, but they should hopefully give you something to consider when you are looking for your own place in the sun (or snow).

Businesses plan for the future in Nocatee

Last modified 1/2/2008 - 7:18 am

Originally created 010208

As the first homeowners start moving in, stores will be opening in mid-2009.
By CHRISTINA ABEL, Shorelines

It's a new year and commercial and retail developers have resolutions planned for the Nocatee development.

As the first homeowners start moving into the massive planned community southwest of Ponte Vedra Beach that will eventually have 30,000 residents, commercial services are not far behind.
Regency Centers Corp. of Jacksonville bought 24 acres in Nocatee for a mix of grocery stores, restaurants, banks and other businesses. The construction will begin this year and stores will start to open in mid-2009.

Richard Ray, a partner with the Parc Group, developers of Nocatee, said the partnership with Regency is important.

"We have been working for over a year on the planning and design of Nocatee's Town Center," Ray said. "We are confident that Regency Centers will create a unique environment for shopping and entertainment in the heart of Nocatee."

The Nocatee development covers about 14,000 acres in northeast St. Johns County and southeast Duval County. About 11,000 acres of land will be maintained as parks, green trails and preserves. The rest of the land is being built into seven residential neighborhoods and a town center.

Leaving the Real Estate Slump Behind in Panama

A Naples developer is capitalizing on unprecedented growth in the once-sleepy Central American country of Panama.

by Amy Keller

When the real estate slump first hit Florida two years ago, Naples developer Todd Gates began sniffing around Central America and Caribbean markets for business opportunities. Gates, chairman of a Naples-based construction and real estate development company that bears his name, realized quickly the place to be was in economically booming Panama.

The once sleepy Central American nation is experiencing unprecedented growth thanks to an influx of American retirees, investment from other Latin American countries and the $5.25-billion expansion of the 93-year-old Panama Canal, which will double the canal system’s shipping capacity by 2014.

To land projects in Panama, Gates forged a partnership with Cocige, one of Central America’s largest construction companies, helping American and European companies looking to expand into Panama navigate the permitting process. The Gates-Cocige partnership offers companies the peace of mind of working with an American-based contractor and the expertise of individuals who understand the Panamanian system.