Goa, the smallest state in the Indian Union is located on its western coast. This erstwhile Portuguese colony is a prime vacation destination for international and Indian tourists alike. Goa borders the Arabian Sea and the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka, and two of its greatest attractions are its laid-back pace of life and its 105 km long coastline, which is made up of several white sand beaches.

The Mandovi River divides Goa into the two distinct districts of North and South Goa. The administrative capital of Goa is Panaji which is located in the commercialised area of North Goa.

North Goa is the setting for all the main tourist activity, which is concentrated on the dining, shopping and entertainment establishments along the beaches of Baga, Calangute, Anjuna, Candolim etc. However in recent years, South Goa has also seen some planned development in the form of several five star luxury resorts such as the Leela Goa, Taj Exotica and the Park Hyatt.

Second home paradise

Regular visitors to this beach haven have over the years decided to acquire second homes in this sunshine state and this has given a fillip to residential real estate in Goa. Initially many buyers in Goa wanted to buy the heritage villas which were constructed during the Portuguese times but there are not many of these historic homes, which are also obviously extremely expensive to purchase. Consequently in order to meet this demand there has been much high end development in the form of independent villas and homes in the prime residential areas located in North Goa such as Dona Paula, Caranzalem and Miramar.

Large Indian real estate companies like DLF, Parsvanath and Pune’s reputed Gera developers have bought up large tracts of land for development in Goa. Gera are involved in both commercial and residential real estate in Goa and are currently developing a business center in the Central Business District of Panaji. Their prominent residential project is called Gera’s Astoria and is located in an elite residential area of North Goa called Caranzalem. This area is situated close to Miramar Beach and most of the apartments located in this T shaped complex afford a gorgeous view of the beach.

Gera’s Astoria is a project that consists of premium resort style two and three bedroom apartments. This development comes equipped with several international-style amenities such as landscaped gardens, a Jacuzzi and a swimming pool with a swim up bar, a  barbecue area, a children’s activity center, a gym and a club house.  This kind of all inclusive resort style living is bound to appeal to many European tourists who visit Goa every year and are looking to buy a vacation home in their favored holiday haunt.

Peace Valley Resort - selling like hotcakes

However the development which has evoked a lot of interest in the blogosphere and amongst the international investment community is a development which is being promoted  as gated community by a leading local Goan developer called Sanatan Real Estates. This project is called Peace Valley and it is located over a vast  verdant area measuring more than  75,663 sq. meters. Peace Valley is located in Sirvoii village which is in the district of Quepem in South Goa.

The Peace Valley development consists of 57 luxurious villas and 174 apartments. This exclusive gated community will have  a host of amenities which include round the clock security and CCTV surveillance, a therapeutic Ayurvedic Spa, a nine hole golf course, three swimming pools, tennis courts, a helipad, horse riding facilities, discos and bars.

Peace Valley offers you two choices for property investment: you can either buy a plot of land and have your own villa built according to your customized design or you can buy an apartment.

The apartments which range from one to five bedrooms were initially offered for sale at a price of approximately €28,000 and it’s no surprise that many of them have already been snapped up by expatriates and non resident Indians who are looking to get on Goa’s property ladder.

In other words, hurry if you want one!

Many property developers who normally focus on Canadian small town markets are finding that their markets aren’t quite so small anymore. The national real estate boom has made the cost of buying property in Canada’s big cities prohibitive for buyers on a budget and the selection has been reduced even for those who aren’t as limited financially. As a result, small towns and rural areas are attracting more local and international buyers. Investors and property developers, take note!

Canadian rural property developments offer quality on a budget

Rather than saving every dollar for the years and years it takes to get a deposit together for an urban home, many Canadian first-time buyers are trading their city-dwelling plans in for affordable homes in smaller areas.

Rural properties are especially attractive to singles and young families because the lower prices help stretch each dollar further. In fact, a recent Statistics Canada study reported that 71% of rural-dwelling adults aged between 25 and 39 owned their own home; by contrast, only 48% to 54% of their urban counterparts were homeowners.

Lower costs are a definite factor, but the large difference in rural versus urban ownership is also due to the fact that the availability of rental housing in rural areas is often sparse. Adults who no longer live with their parents are faced with the choice of renting or buying and rural adults, with few rental options and low housing prices, are logically more likely to buy. Urbanites, on the other hand, take a little longer to get into their first home because high costs and more rental properties make delaying their first home purchase a little easier.

Small town property markets also appeal to more expensive tastes

Smaller real estate markets also have something to offer buyers with a little more disposable income. Many homeowners choose to buy in towns close to the cities in which they work in the interest of a more serene commute and the ability to escape the city when the workday is through. They also usually enjoy bigger lots and a much larger selection of properties.

The most prosperous property developers are building custom homes with unique floor plans, luxurious amenities, and dazzling views - and yes, they are building in Canada’s smaller markets. The evidence is in the numbers; most of Canada’s top selling regions are in small towns and rural developments, not in the cities. Many of these are properties that can - and often do - double as vacation or retirement homes for those who are not faint of wallet.

Canada’s rural areas grow to accommodate demand

It may come as a surprise that many of Canada’s rural real estate markets are doing so well. However, the reality is that these areas have appealing characteristics for diverse groups of buyers. With cities getting bigger and costlier, property developers are taking the opportunity to attract buyers of all shapes and sizes to Canada’s smaller developments.

The property market in Bulgaria has been in the news a lot over the last few years, especially with regards to the availability of cheap property deals. But, whilst Bulgarian property is certainly more affordable than in other more established areas of Europe, lower prices definitely don’t mean lower quality and, in fact, there’s now a growing demand for luxury property in Bulgaria.

Rich and famous set their sights on Sofia property

Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, has been known for its cheap holidays, cheap flights, cheap food and drink and cheap property, but a growing number of foreign investors and high profile figures are buying up the more exclusive luxury properties and demand seems to be increasing.

Sofia is home to many of Bulgaria’s 200,000 millionaires and there is a growing number of foreigners working for multinational companies who are seeking properties within easy commute of the capital.

Hollywood star Antonio Banderas has spent many months in the city filming The Code, which is due for release later this year, along with Morgan Freeman, who has revealed his interest in purchasing a block of executive apartments in Sofia. Also heading to the city in 2008 are Pink, Michael Bolton, Vanessa Mae and Marilyn Manson.

Many of the luxury property buyers are happy to pay more than €3,000 per m² for a city centre complex - quite a contrast to the property prices seen in the city only a few years ago.

Bulgarian property boosted by EU accession

“Since Bulgaria’s EU accession, foreign buyers’ confidence in the country has grown immensely. British buyers, who still believe Bulgaria to be a destination for low end investment, rather than a second home or luxury rental investment, need to revisit the market,” commented James Gonzalez, a market analyst at Obelisk International.

The overall profile of the city is also being raised, thanks to musicians and celebrities who are including Sofia on their tours. One example is rock legend Lenny Kravitz, who has included the city on his ‘Get on the Bus with the Love Revolution’ tour this summer, which will be held at Sofia’s Akademik Stadium on 27^th July. With tickets only costing £15 - a fraction of the price similar tickets would be in the UK - many international fans are taking advantages of the cheap flights and heading to Sofia for the weekend.

Luxury property in Bulgaria remains affordable

The demand for higher quality, luxury properties is already being recognised by developers, who are raising the quality level of new developments. But property prices are still very competitive. “Luxury properties are still within an affordable range for many overseas buyers, compared with more traditional markets,” says James. “A luxury apartment in Sofia’s commuter belt averages around £100,000 - you would be hard pressed to find a good apartment in the Costa del Sol for that price.”

If you’re interested in finding out more about property opportunities in Sofia, you can download a free 2008 property investment report, courtesy of Obelisk.