November 2013 Monthly Archive

With Dubai's real estate market benefitting tremendously from the improved economic conditions, tenant demand has once again begun to ripple across the border into Sharjah, Dubai's northern neighbor and the United Arab Emirates' third largest state.

Polish property developer OKRE has obtained a building permit for a class A office building located in the Ochota borough of Warsaw, as the company expands its portfolio in Poland. This is OKRE's second project.

U.S.-based REIT Kite Realty Group has purchased a 10-property retail portfolio in the U.S. for $307 million. A New York-based real estate private equity firm sold the 2.1 million-square-foot portfolio which spans four Southeastern states.

As global consumer trends increasingly shifts to online shopping, retailers are forced to adapt their infrastructure plans by adding "big box" real estate to stay in the game. Global online sales account for four percent of total retail sales.

Fixed mortgage rates in the U.S. increased ahead of the holiday break, amid mixed data between pending home sales and house price increases, according to Freddie Mac. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.29 percent for the week ending November 27.

Soccer superstar David Beckham plans to build a Major League Soccer stadium in Miami, possibly creating a sports hub in the city's downtown area. Neither Mr. Beckham nor MLS have officially announced an expansion franchise in Miami yet.

Finnish pension fund Ilmarinen wants to increase its foreign property investments, in an effort to make its portfolio more international. The country's second-largest pension fund said it plans to target direct, long-term commercial property investments in the Nordic region.

I recently refinanced and took out a home equity loan at the same time. My husband and I really outgrew our current home. Can we sell the house while we have an equity line? Do we need to pay that off first?

The number of holiday travelers during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is forecast to be slightly lower than last year, as consumer confidence dwindles and storms threaten travelers. Approximately 43.4 million American are expected to travel.

Land prices in Japan's major urban areas increased in more than two-thirds of places surveyed during the third quarter, according to the land ministry. After years of no activity, the property market has been showing signs of a revival.

The Carlyle Group announced today the purchase of Diversified Global Asset Management Corporation, a global hedge fund manager with a portfolio worth more than $6.7 billion, as part of the group's plan to diversify its investment options.

Homes prices in the 20 U.S. cities tracked by the S&P/Case Shiller Home Price Indices increased by 13.3 percent in September, the largest growth since February 2006, after increasing by 12.8 percent the previous month.

The volume of industrial transactions in Hong Kong plunged 76.2 percent during the third quarter, compared to last year, according to a report from Savills. With only 578 deals completed during the third quarter.

China's property developers, investors and owners have been mulling the impact of a recent major meeting of the Communist Party, which indicates how cities and land rights are intended to develop.

U.S. home sales increased 13 percent in October, compared to last year, according to the latest data from RealtyTrac. The number of homes sold in October was two percent higher than the previous month.

Pending home sales in California increased in October after dropping for two months, but were 9.9 percent lower than last year, according to the California Association of Realtors. The pending home sales index increased 2.5 percent in October.

Bahrain-based Investcorp Bank has purchased a residential U.S. portfolio through its U.S.-based real estate arm for approximately $270 million.

The U.S. pending home sales index dropped for the fifth consecutive month in October, reaching its lowest since last December, according to the National Association of Realtors. The index dropped 0.6 percent to 102.1 in October.

If you live north of the Equator, winter is coming. And day after dreary day, our souls may begin to turn as cold as our bodies. But there are some places where "winter" is just a word. Where the sun is warm, the drinks are cold, and the beaches are world-class.

Spain's Banco Popular plans to sell its property management business to two U.S. investment firms as a means to strengthen its capital. Popular will sell the property management unit to Kennedy Wilson and Varde Partners.