Spain Real Estate News
Andalucía: land of the whitest white and the purest simplicity. Here's a rural resort in Vejer de la Frontera.
“I’m very proud of it. It’s our house, but it’s quite special because it’s one of the few houses in the town which has retained the really traditional style.” - Christina.
Federal Housing Finance suits are aimed at Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank
"The federal agency that oversees the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is set to file suits against more than a dozen big banks, accusing them of misrepresenting the quality of mortgage securities they assembled and sold at the height of the housing bubble, and seeking billions of dollars in compensation.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency suits, which are expected to be filed in the coming days in federal court, are aimed at Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank, among others, according to three individuals briefed on the matter.
The suits stem from subpoenas the finance agency issued to banks a year ago. If the case is not filed Friday, they said, it will come Tuesday, shortly before a deadline expires for the housing agency to file claims".
Seeking Space, Well-to-Do Londoners Dig Deep
"To compensate for the lack of natural light around his new basement swimming pool, one London homeowner installed an outdoor camera that projects real-time images of the changing sky onto the pool ceiling. To assuage the concerns of swimmers who hate cramped spaces, another resident dug down so far beneath the earth that his pool is 16 feet deep and has a high-diving board.
Britain is not immune from the housing slump, and London is still reeling from last month’s riots. But never mind. In a city that has some of the richest people and most expensive real estate in the world, well-off homeowners who have exhausted the traditional methods of home expansion — build up, or build out — are enthusiastically branching out the only other way possible: down."
Iconographies to decorate your walls
Bagel or baguette? J.F.K. or C.D.G.? Pigeons or rats? These abiding questions are the central conceit of Paris Versus New York: A Tally of Two Cities, the Web site by the Parisian graphic designer Vahram Muratyan.
A metropolitan touch to your city apartment.
Decorate your home in a Norwegian style
"Everything you would expect a stylish Norwegian home to be. White, bright with views to die for. Imagine wasting time lying on the deck just watching the sail boats glide by..."
Key element: glass walls. Let your house breath.
Hong Kong, Brazil or France are in the top list for real estate investment
Even as the value of residential real estate around the developed world continued its multi-year plunge in the second quarter, some countries bucked the trend. In seven national markets, housing values rose by more than 5 per cent in the second quarter compared to the second quarter of 2010. In two countries, prices rose nearly 20 per cent.
Data from the Global Property Guide for second quarter real estate values around the world reveals values in the U.S. dropped by 9.05 per cent in the period. Predictably, Greece, Spain, Ireland, and Portugal are the other nations with deep housing value problems. In Greece, property values fell 9.9 per cent in the second quarter of this year from the second quarter of 2010. That drop was 15 per cent in Ireland. Each of these European nations has deep deficit problems and has instituted austerity packages, which have tended to hurt growth and employment. Also, each is in the process of being financially bailed out by other nations in the EU.
Among the top countries to invest are: Hong Kong, Brazil, Thailand, Taiwan, Norway, Singapore, France or Switzerland.
Read complete list here: 247wallst.com
Analysis of US stock market situation
Amid a sluggish U.S. job market, a patch-work recovery in the housing market sector, and now damage from Hurricane Irene, it's understandable if U.S. investors are hesitant regarding deploying new money to the stock market.
Conclusion regarding where the Dow Jones is headed, near-term:
Technical Indicators: Neutral. The Dow is firmly below the 50-day (11,937) and 200-day (11,988) moving averages -- which is bearish. However, the Dow, as noted, did hold support at/near 10,700.
Fundamental Indicators: Slightly Bearish. During the second quarter earnings season, corporate earnings were adequate to slightly better than expected.
Monetary Policy: Bullish. Inflation remains low, at the core level (which excludes food and energy prices). Fed will at least continue to reinvest the proceeds of the second stage of it's quantitative easing policy to help stimulate the economy.
Fiscal Policy: Bearish. The U.S. Congress, led by the Tea Party-pressured Republican majority in the U.S. House, implemented austerity measures too soon.
Credit Markets: Recovering, but still strained, with still too many small/medium-sized businesses arguing they're not getting the level of credit they need to expand operations. Home mortgage qualifications terms remain very high.
Europe's sovereign debt situation has improved somewhat, but there could be more financial market ripples if Portugal or Spain require a bailout. So far, each has said they won't need outside intervention funds.
One of the most beautiful houses in the world
This extraordinary beachfront estate, on a ¼-mile white sand beach, is a rare masterpiece in architecture and interior design and includes every luxury imaginable. Having been featured in various design magazines as well as the TV show Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, this stunning property sleeps 10 guests in 5 impeccable bedrooms, with 5 full and 2 half-bathrooms. The sumptuous decor inside the forty-foot-high interior has been customized with the finest art treasures from throughout the world, creating a true beachfront palace.
The Jewel of Maui is a dramatic vision at night, as seen from the edge of the sixty-foot luxury infinity-edge pool. Inside, there is central air conditioning and a media room with a 9-ft. projection screen & plasma TV/DVD system. The grand hall ensures every guest in the home has a comfortable place to gaze at the ocean and pool areas from the plush, 30 ft wraparound sofa.
Creative wallpapers for your home or business
In a piece for Forbes, Hayden Shaughnessy writes:
The Carnovsky papers have been on display elsewhere — I can’t help thinking this is as good as any screen-based, tech-centric innovation. I love it and the sense of renewing the visual landscape.
Color perception is somewhat subjective. Choosing what color to paint your walls is no small task, and the process doesn’t get easier when you decide to go with wallpaper.
This new type of wallpaper not only changes colors under certain light, it changes patterns as well.
New Neighbourhood in Abu Dhabi
Could be a good investment opportunity. A new neighbourhood is being built off the Abu Dhabi-Dubai road east of the Abu Dhabi International Airport.
With a total area of 12.5 million sq. metres, the new neighbourhood will have 4.857 residential villas and all the necessary utilities. The area will give residential and other facilities for over 60.000 persons.
Divided into five villages, the project envisages all amenities and vital utilities such as shopping arcades, service centres, schools, healthcare centres, play grounds and community centres designed in the most modern way.