Brazil is fast becoming one of the world’s property hotspots and projects from big names in the north east region will boost its reputation even further.

It was reported in papers such as the Telegraph this week that the very first ‘David Beckham World of Sport’ professional sporting complex will be launching at Cabo Sao Roque, near the city of Natal. Part of a luxury resort that’s being built, the complex will include a scholarship and training school for children, as well as facilities for visiting sports teams. It’s due to be completed in 2014, just in time for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Also being created within the same development is the Rubens Barrichello Driving Experience. The project will include a Barrichello Racing Museum, as well as a four-wheel driving experience and go-karting for families and will offer a scholarship programmes for young Brazilians.

How does football link to property?

You could be forgiven for wondering how on earth these projects provide any relevance to property, but experts say they’re definitely linked.

“Although some people might think that a soccer academy offers a tenuous link to the property market, tourism and property investment are close cousins and each have a knock-on effect on the other,” commented Samantha Gore, sales and marketing director of Brazilian property specialists UV10. “The more people attracted to an area, the more buoyant the property market becomes, for they all need short-term accommodation. Just look at how Disneyland transformed Florida’s property market.”

Sporting events improve transport too

In addition, it’s important to keep in mind that major sporting events inevitably carry other benefits for an area too, not least in terms of transport. Local transport links and local facilities have to be improved if an influx of tourists and sporting professionals are to descend on an area - as has been witnessed many times in the past in areas where big events, such as the Olympics, have occurred - so this too will have a knock-on effect on property.

Beautiful Brazil bounces back

Brazil, the largest of the Latin American countries, used to attract fewer tourists than Austria and Ireland, but in recent years, its appeal for property investors has been soaring. One of the reasons is the abundance of beaches along the coastline and a fantastic climate - with an average of 27ºC all year round. Add to that the fact that luxury properties can be picked up for as little as £60,000 - or even less on some off plan developments - and you’ve got the perfect mix for canny investors.

The city of Natal has already received extensive investment input. Over $1.8 billion are being invested into new hotels and over 10 golf courses are being created. In 2009 a new airport - the largest in South America - will open. This northeast area of Brazil is already the most accessible from the UK, with flights taking about 11 hours and costing in the region of £290 - £500 return. If predictions are correct, property prices will grow as all the new developments come into fruition and Brazil really comes into its own.

Bursting the house price bubble

I was sent a link to the BBC’s Panorama Program ‘Bursting the House Price Bubble’ which is an exposé of the fraudulent dealings of Simon Morris’s Morris Properties company.

This interesting and eye-opening program describes how Simon Morris’s company sold property to investors at vastly over-inflated prices, with vastly over-stated rental income promises.

Unfortunately, many property investors have been conned out of large amounts of cash by Simon Morris and in some cases have even lost everything, which is very terrible indeed. This is an extreme example of what can go wrong if you don’t keep your wits about you when buying or investing in property. I have two pieces of advice on this which are:

1. Don’t trust anyone. There are very few times in life that you need to trust anybody 100%. Keep your eyes and ears wide open. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t!
2. Take responsibility for your own actions - it is you who will ultimately carry the can, if you’re not happy with a property deal - walk away.

Missing the main point

There was a significant point in the BBC’s program that was glossed over, when really it has a major significance as regards the burden of trust. As a property investor myself I expect mortgage lenders, property valuers and solicitors to do a good job and look after my interests. The BBC focused mainly on informing the world about the appalling, fraudulent conduct of Simon Morris, when it would have been equally appropriate for them to complain about the surveyors who carry out property valuations and the mortgage lenders who use their valuation.

Land registry fuels house price rise

Apparently property valuers look at valuations of similar properties on the land registry site to help in valuing a property. Because Simon and his mates have sold properties at inflated prices and had the values recorded on the land registry site, other properties have also been over valued by valuers looking at those figures, fuelling house price inflation.

Surely the guys that carry out property valuations are savvier than that! Surely mortgage lenders have more in their locker than that! Don’t they? Isn’t this the big crime? Without the phony valuations - Simon Morris couldn’t have been able to sell property at over inflated prices. Without phony valuations - mortgage lenders wouldn’t lend money to see such fraudulent transactions go through.

Read more on the Morris Properties fraud:

Property Disaster - BBC Inside Out report on Simon Morris and the Morris Properties scandal

Transcript of ‘Bursting the House Price Bubble’, the BBC Panorama program about the fraudulent dealings of Morris Properties

It’s a tricky situation: Canada is such a popular place to live that people are crowding into cities faster than the housing markets can accommodate them. The influx has caused rental prices to skyrocket beyond what’s manageable for many Canadian residents. If you’re planning on living in Canada, read on for three great ways to avoid overpaying in a landlord’s market.

1) Choose a smaller city

If you’re new to Canada, you may have only heard of three or four Canadian cities. However, there are dozens more urban centers with plenty of jobs, schools, and entertainment for every member of the family. Yes, they are smaller, but their costs of living are generally much more reasonable. Before deciding on a big city like Toronto or Montreal, consider what you need out of your home city and then starting doing some research.

If you’re looking for post-secondary education, keep in mind that many of Canada’s greatest universities are not located in its biggest cities. For example, the award-winning University of Guelph is located just one hour from Toronto in the small but vibrant city of Guelph, Ontario. You’ll still be close to Toronto, but you’ll save a lot of money on rent and other living costs.

If you’re looking for that perfect job somewhere in Canada, check out websites like www.monster.ca for thousands of listings in great areas all over the country. Remember that the smaller cities will almost always offer more affordable rental housing.

2) Hold off on a rental commitment

While Canada’s real estate market is definitely on the upswing, the growth rate is slowing down slightly. This is a good thing if you’re a renter because it means that you’ll be getting some of your bargaining power back. If you must rent, try to wait as long as you can before signing a new agreement. If your landlord isn’t budging on his or her price, consider moving. With vacancy rates gradually increasing, landlords are rapidly losing their ability to overcharge for their properties.

3) Buy or build ASAP

Of course it’s difficult to get a down payment together for a home of your own. That said, it’s still advisable to do what you can to scrape the money together. There are many mortgaging options out there to help you buy or build the home of your dreams, not to mention thousands of realtors and builders who want your business, especially in the smaller centers.

If you’re looking into buying a resale property, smaller cities will have more affordable options because they aren’t usually as popular as the biggest cities in Canada. If you want to hire a builder, remember that many builders offer discounts for locking in a price early. Furthermore, it’s practically guaranteed that your house will go up in value in a growing market like Canada, even before you move in.

Visit the website for the City of Austin, Texas, and you’ll see a link for “Music” - the city has so many live music venues per capita that it rivals some of the country’s most well-known tune towns.

Music and more

Austin’s justifiable pride in its musical identity is evident in its support of events like Live from the Plaza, an annual happening that features free concerts at high noon on Fridays at the City Hall Plaza (March through June and September through December). If you need more evidence of the relationship between Austin and music, turn on your television: for more than three decades, PBS has broadcast live concerts on its weekly “Austin City Limits.” In fact, the show is so popular, it inspired a spin-off Austin City Limits Festival, which brings dozens of bands to town for three days in September.

Music is only the start of Austin’s unique traits. Visitors and residents alike enjoy the city’s abundance of art museums, farmers’ markets, historic and cultural sites. The head office/market/cafe of Whole Food Market attracts hordes of food snobs to shop and snack. And who can resist a visit to Congress Avenue Bridge, home to the largest urban bat colony in North America?

Prominent among the city’s attractions are the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum, which makes available to researchers the documents and historical materials from the Johnson era. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center promotes the use and conservation of native plant species. If those two venues aren’t enough, the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park and LBJ Ranch, 50 miles to the west, chronicles the history of the nation’s 36^th president and illustrates his strong connection to the Texas Hill Country.

An attractive choice of properties and neighborhoods

Many experts consider Austin real estate to be a sound investment today due to healthy job growth in the area and the fact that property prices are holding stable. Neighborhoods in Central Austin run the gamut from hip to homey. It is no surprise that downtown Austin hosts a vibrant nightlife; what might surprise, however, is that folks living downtown have created a comfortable community for themselves, as well. Their homes are within walking distance of Town Lake, bike trails, shops, and cafes. Several loft developments provide living space, including the 21c Museum Hotel and Residences, which combines upscale residential units with a boutique hotel.

Young families and professionals who want something a bit quieter can find their place in Austin’s historic Clarksville neighborhood. Large trees, rolling hills and cute, older homes are making this an increasingly desirable place to settle down. Two small neighborhood parks with wading pools attract moms and toddlers in warm weather, while Shoal Creek trail beckons hikers and cyclists. Historic Hyde Park has been characterized as a “front porch” neighborhood. Not far from the University of Texas at Austin, many members of the campus community make their homes in the neighborhood.

Why move to Austin, Texas?

There is much to attract newcomers to the Austin area, and climate is undoubtedly part of the draw: it is hard to resist average winter temperatures in the 50s and summertime highs in the mid-80s. The city’s population, which numbered around 1.2 million in 2000, grew to more than 1.5 million people in less than a decade.

The local economy is characterized by knowledge-based industries and includes businesses in health care and technology; government and education support the regional economy, as well. The well-educated and highly-trained work force find jobs with tech firms like IBM, Apple Computer, and AT&T; major insurance companies, health care industries, and numerous colleges and universities employ thousands of people. And of course, the Texas State Capitol is located in Austin, so naturally, many people find jobs with the state government.