As you are well aware, the housing market in the UK is in a bit of a downturn.

That said, certain real estate properties continue to sell. How do some properties manage to beat the odds and continue to sell well in spite of the current market situation? Well, the main reason is the same old one - location, location, location!

What makes a property desirable location-wise?

Well, that really depends on the buyers, and what their particular needs are at the moment. However, in general, proximity to a downtown centre, transportation, schools, green space, shops, museums, airports and so on are desirable traits. A neighbourhood with a low crime rate is always desirable as well for obvious reasons.

K-Point development sells out in nine months

An example of a property that sold relatively quickly despite the UK housing downturn is Gladedale’s K-Point development in Kennington.

K-Point sold all 28 of its luxury one and two bedroom apartments within nine months - with most of its units bought off plan.

As this property is located just two miles from the centre of London, half a mile from the Kennington Tube Station, 5 minutes from the Embankment, 7 minutes from the West End, 13 minutes from Brixton Academy, and 18 minutes from Canary Wharf, location, without a doubt, played a leading role in the successful sale of these properties.

Sid Griffiths of selling agents, Barnard Marcus, has this to say about Gladedale’s K-Point development: “We were very pleased with the extent of the interest we received in the K-Point development and it comes as no surprise that it has sold out so quickly.”

With its innovative design and contemporary finish, the K-Point development certainly appealed to our market and its position next to Kennington Park offered a unique opportunity to have open green views in what is otherwise an urban central London location, explains Griffiths.

Nevertheless, as you hunt for off plan property to buy or invest in, it is extremely important to keep in mind that properties located in prime areas will indeed continue to sell despite less than ideal real estate market conditions. The extra investment involved in buying a centrally-located property could very well prove more than worth it!

European real estate giant Yoo by Starck expands into Indian real estate market, designing their first project for India, which will be developed by Panchshil Realty. The proposed condominium project will located in Pune, a few hours drive from Mumbai, India’s commercial and financial capital. In India, luxury projects are high on demand and property buyers and investors interested in branded projects can now enjoy international brands and lifestyle.

Yoo by Starck - World-class property developers

John Hitchcox and Philippe Starck founded Yoo by Starck in 1999. Yoo by Starck has quickly earned a reputation for its high-flying lifestyle brand and top quality luxury properties. According to Yoo’s website, they hold the accolade of selling 90% of their first residential apartment project in NYC within just seven days of the launch! Yoo by Starck is currently working on 41 projects totaling 25,000 apartments across 21 countries.

Panchshil Realty - Top Pune builders

Panchshil Realty, based in Pune, India has completed and delivered over 1,135,000 square feet of residential projects, such as Satellite Towers, Forest Castles, Queen’s Court, Silver Woods and Waterfront in Pune. They have also developed integrated workspaces like ICC Tech Park, ICC Trade Tower, Panchshil Tech Park and have several projects under various stages of construction, including Panchshil Corporate Park and Quadra I & II. In addition, they also have IT & ITES ‘Special Economic Zones’ (SEZ) at a total built up area of 4 million square feet.

Yoo Pune

The proposed You Pune project will consist of 33 floors with footprint of around 10,000 square feet. The total land area for the project is 21 acres at Hadapsar, next to Magarpatta, and opposite Amanora townships. The four-five bedroom apartments will measure approximately 5,000 square feet and cost around Rs.7.5 crores ($1,973,700) each. Penthouses too will be available as part of the project. An estimated at Rs.1,500 crores ($394,736,900) are being invested in this project, making it one of the costliest in India. If you are looking for both a top quality brand and a prime location, Yoo Pune could be your right choice for investment or for living.

Mr.Sagar Chordia, director of Panchshil Realty points out, “The Residential service condominiums in collaboration with Yoo by Starck project will be privately owned residential apartments, with hotel facilities. They will be privately owned and independently managed.” Facilities in the Yoo Pune project will include laundry, valet, personalized housekeeping services, clubhouse, and spa. At Yoo Pune, plans are on to rope in companies like Oakwood Resorts and Mariott Hotels to provide services.

According to Panchshil Realty, the project will begin in October 2008 and take four years to complete. The Yoo Pune project will be one of the most prestigious projects India has seen to date.

Many more Yoo projects on the cards

Yoo Pune is sure to attract incredible attention from both international and domestic investors, and the good news is that there is more to come. Yoo by Starck is reportedly planning projects in locations such as Gurgaon, Goa, Bangalore and Mumbai.

By entering Indian real estate when the market is at booming stage, well-known international brands such as Yoo will definitely enhance the image and prestige of India’s condominium real estate and change the face of residential areas like Hadapsar.