A picturesque US ranch is expected to go for a knock-down price when it goes under the hammer to phone, live and online bidders. Located in Hamilton, Montana, the 60-acre property is up for grabs as America’s housing market flattens and could be secured with a 10 per cent on-the-day deposit.

Auctioneers The National Auction Group said no minimums or reserves are on the property, which goes on sale on July 14th. The seller, Dr Larry Melia, said:

“We meticulously restored the original Craftsman style home to its original luster, gleaming floors, doors, windows and trim accentuate spacious rooms.

“We’ve added fine finishes and energy-saving measures to make the home beautiful and comfortable.”

John Payne of The National Auction Group added:

“The water rights, easements for conservation and development , along with approved septic sites, make this a valuable one-of-a-kind property.”

The estate could be sold in its entirety or in tracts and benefits from the natural beauty of the Sapphire and Bitterroot mountains. The National Auction Group is also handling the sale of 30 condos in a gated community at Emerald Greens, Alabama, which also features a nine-hole golf course and pool.

Again free of reserves, this auction will go ahead on July 19.

A sustainable double-tower development has got underway in the heart of Dubai at Jumeirah Village. Built by Hydra Properties, the iconic Hydra Twin Towers project will feature two towers with 32 storeys each.

One will be a luxurious residential tower while the other will serve as a hotel apartment complex, with the pair overlooking Meadows and Emirates Hills on one side and Jumeirah Golf Estates on the other.

The project is expected to be completed by early 2010 and is being handled by Al Hatem Contracting Corporation in consultation with the Architects Planning Group. Hydra Properties chief executive officer Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim said: “All hallmarks of the Hydra Properties will be again evident at the Twin Towers, underlining our commitment to quality and sustainable development in a region that calls for a careful handling of the environment.”

The project will include spacious car parks plus shops, spas, gyms, and restaurants forming an “exclusive community”.

Hydra is taking requests from investors via its website, www.hydraproperties.com and has also recently announced the completion of 65 per cent of the excavation and land levelling work for Eve’s Tower.

The building is the world’s first exclusive tower for women entrepreneurs, located in the centre of Dubai’s Business Bay.

An increase in the popularity of surfing among London professionals has seen a surge in the popularity of property investment in Newquay, UK. The Guardian reports old beach lodges are being demolished in favour of new apartment developments, with units selling for up to £1 million each.

According to the paper, the Cribber Green Rooms, a former backpacker haunt on Headland Road, has sold for £2.5 million - seven times the price paid for it six years ago.

Quoted by the Guardian,Chris Baxter, of estate agents Bradleys, which handled the sale, said:

“This is a fantastic plot with views on both sides and close to Fistral beach, one of the best surfing spots in Europe. People are still willing to pay for the best sites here.”

Much of the boom can be traced back to the ongoing development of Newquay Cornwall Airport, which now offers flights internationally and to and from London.

Last month the site opened a new arrivals hall, marking the second stage of its development and part of plans to increase throughput to 700,000 passengers per year. The remaining works on the terminal are due to finish in July 2008 as the airport gears up for its busiest summer on record, with 23 routes served throughout the UK and Europe.