THE ASSOUFID GOLF CLUB
 

Morocco’s Most Exclusive Golf Prepares for Opening

No longer just a destination for culture vultures and bargain hunters, Marrakech is braced to become one of the most sought after golf destinations, challenging more traditional markets such as Spain and Portugal.

With 10 new courses planned for opening in Marrakech by 2012, there can be little doubt that golf is high on the tourism agenda. The long awaited opening of The Assoufid Golf Club is set to deliver the city’s most compelling and exclusive golf proposition, setting the standard for the competitive set.

Due to open at the end of 2008, The Assoufid Golf Club is now taking applications for membership. The club’s eagerly awaited opening will herald a new era for ‘golf Morocco’. Contrary to many desert type courses, Assoufid benefits from natural undulation and unrivalled landscaping, offering a challenging game for serious golfers not just holiday punters.

Ali El Kasmi, Director of The Moroccan Tourism Board states ‘The opening of the Assoufid golf course in Marrakech will undoubtedly boost the city’s credentials as a golfing destination, particularly during winter time when European golfers are often on the lookout for warm and reasonably accessible golf courses around the Mediterranean. This opening can only reflect the level of confidence and maturity that the city of Marrakech can pride itself upon by attracting not only local Moroccan golf fans whose number is growing considerably, but also new golf tour operating companies and European golfers.’

The club has assigned just 300 membership positions, 90 of which will be given to villa owners. Members benefit from access to a world class 18 hole golf course designed by Niall Cameron a former European tour player, Clubhouse managed by The Rocco Forte Collection, and state of the art golf academy staffed by PGA qualified professionals complete with dedicated practise areas and computer technology to analyse your game.

Campbell Elliot, Director of Golf at The Assoufid Golf Club states ‘In my opinion our course has been designed sympathetically and imaginatively to get the best out of Assoufid’s inimitable beauty which will provide all levels of golfer with an exceptional golfing experience’.

The Assoufid Estate also has 90 bespoke villas sitting on nothing less than 1 hectare amongst lush landscaped gardens ensuring complete privacy and commanding views. Owners can also benefit from management and service agreements provided by The Rocco Forte Collection, who will operate the 100 room boutique hotel and spa, L’Hotel D’ Assoufid.
 

For further information please contact:

Brett Gregory-Peake – brett@frankearnest.com – 0207 402 8797

Maria Fournier – maria@frankearnest.com – 0207 402 8797
 

Eco Investments in Belize

It’s not often that you get the chance to invest in paradise from just £25,000, but Property Frontiers have now made this possible. ½ acre land plots clustered around a boutique hotel at the heart of the spectacular Belizean rainforest are now available to investors. For a limited number of purchases, the developer is offering 50% finance over 5 years meaning investments can be made with an initial outlay of just £12,475. This is a low risk chance to make a solid, ecologically friendly investment in an emerging market where gains of up to 60% are expected on land plots over the next 18 months. (For Belize location see maps).

Offering one of the world’s most appealing retirement packages, Belize attracts a consistent influx of retirees, especially from the USA. Free to import car and belongings duty free and exempt from income tax on income sourced in or outside of the country, the fiscal incentives for retirees are obvious. With legal and parliamentary systems similar to
those in the UK, the purchase process for land investment in Belize is relatively straightforward. Supported by a healthy economy which sees steady annual GDP growth, Belize also enjoys sustained Foreign Direct Investment rising by 134% between 2002 and 2006.

Under a canopy of lush green trees, Belize Reserve immerses you into a jungle habitat like no other. This unique eco-community is completely self-sufficient running solely from on-site solar and hydro power and using an anaerobic bacteria sewerage system.

Currently available for just £24,950, these plots are expected to appreciate in value by up to 60% within the next 18months and can be built on at a cost price.

All properties in the Reserve will be built from locally sourced wood in an
environmentally sensitive fashion. Bordering the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve, much of the land will remain protected so that the rich biodiversity is preserved. Awarded an ‘excellent’ kitemark by www.whatgreenhome.com  Belize Reserve was rated on its carbon emissions, waste levels, sustainable water supply, local and sustainable building materials as well as sustainable transport.
For more information on Belize or Belize Reserve please contact Emma Holifield eholifield@propertyfrontiers.com

Investment Land for Sale in Argentina

 Almost 7000 miles away from the UK’s troubled housing sector lies one of the most handsome terrains in the world and one ripe with investment potential. For the first time Property Frontiers are selling investment land in Argentina – a nation of unparalleled natural beauty and rich cultural history. With capital appreciation in the region of 19%, undervalued land values and strong exit strategies Argentina is maturing into a frontrunner for overseas investment. (For Argentina location see maps).

 Predictions for the future of the Argentine economy are suitably robust on the back of strong growth rates in recent years of between 8% and 9%. In accordance with such positive progression, affluence levels across the country have risen whilst huge amounts of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) are flooding in. In 2007 alone, $4 billion was invested into Argentina and it is expected that in 2008 $5.5 billion worth will be channeled into the country. Further, with the Economist Intelligence Unit predicting year on year increases of the same amount for the next 5 years, now is an opportune time to be entering this region.

 Of particular interest to international property investors should be the national trend which sees Argentines favour investment into the construction sector rather than safeholding their money in banks. In addition, Argentines typically holiday and weekend within their own country meaning domestic tourism is high. As a result, demand for new build and holiday property is strong and dependable. According to Founding Director of Property Frontiers Ray Withers, ‘the fact that there is already strong local demand for property, without real bank financing, coupled with the relative lack of mass foreign investment and growing tourism means that the future potential of market growth is high’.

 Based around a popular boutique hotel with very high occupancy levels, Property Frontiers are now selling land plots at Estancia Catalina in the beautiful Cordoba Province. Responding to guest requests for the opportunity to buy land in the extensive grounds of the luxury estate, land is now being sold at only $15 per sqm. It is intended that the hotel’s surrounding 5500 acres will be transformed into a very low density exclusive residential development to meet local demand. This will be the archetypal Argentinean getaway and will offer an array of activities including horse riding, polo, walking, mountain biking and fishing plus the rare chance to encounter giant condors.

Estancia Catalina is not currently available to the local market and is significantly under priced compared to local comparables therefore offering investors the chance to buy in at a low price with the opportunity to sell on to local buyers in the future.

 To find out more about Estancia Catalina, Cordoba or properties in Argentina please contact Emma Holifield eholifield@propertyfrontiers.com  01865 202700

 

Portugal and Cyprus: the Overseas Property Pairing for 2008

  

Overseas Property Investment Index reveals new overseas property purchasing trends across the UK

 

London, 10th July 2008 – Overseas property purchasing statistics, revealed today by foreign exchange specialist, Currencies Direct shows that in spite of the fact that Britain is collectively tightening its purse strings, there is still a real hunger for foreign bricks and mortar.

 

Based on the number of foreign exchange transactions made by Britons buying property abroad in the last six months, the Overseas Property Investment Index (OPII) has revealed that Portugal is beginning to threaten the USA’s usual third spot, as Brits monitor the housing market across the pond and also begin to consider safer overseas bets than the high-risk, quick-return emerging markets regions of 2007.

 

Mark O’Sullivan, director dealing Currencies Direct, comments, “Emerging market regions have grabbed the overseas property headlines over the past year, but there has since been a cooling of interest in some of the more obscure overseas property locations. Investors are now looking to established markets, whose appeal will remain consistent amongst ex-pats and holidaymakers, guaranteeing a rental market for as long as Brits can afford to holiday abroad.”

 

Portugal is one of the surprise packages of the year so far, making it the number one choice for Brits buying abroad, outside of the ‘power three’ of Spain, France and the USA.

 

O’Sullivan says, “When it comes to nurturing the steady growth of its property market, Portugal is learning from Spain’s mistakes, and as a result has much stricter planning regulations in place. This has ensured that new build properties are coming onto the market steadily, and that Portugal is not suffering from any of the planning irregularities its neighbour has endured in recent times.”

 

A Cyprus for Sore Eyes

 

Another small but perfectly formed surprise package comes in the form of diminutive Cyprus which has proved to be one of the most popular buying destinations for Brits in 2008, despite being a fraction of the size of the rest of the top 10.

 

O’Sullivan comments, “Property prices have risen by as much as 80 per cent over the past five years in Cyprus, but still represent good value, particularly for new build property, which is in the majority on the island. Cyprus also enjoys a strong bond with the UK, has a consistently mild climate and favourable taxation laws, all factors which combine to make it a popular destination for retirees and investors.”

 

The latest stats from the OPII are based on the number of transfers Currencies Direct has made on behalf of customers since the beginning of 2008. Please see below for the full 2008 table:

 

Position	Country
1	Spain
2	France
3	USA
4	Portugal
5	Italy
6	South Africa
7	Australia
8	Cyprus
8	Canada
10	New Zealand

 

Who’s Buying and Where Are They Buying From?

 

The OPII also reveals some interesting differences between the spending habits of males and females and splits across various areas of the country.

 

The total male/female split of overseas property buyers in 2008 is 71% and 22% respectively, demonstrating that men are making the vast majority of purchases. However this average fluctuates depending on the property buying location, with 83% of the people transferring funds to buy a property in Saudi Arabia being men. Conversely 42% of people buying property in Greece were female – a spike of more than 20% over the next most popular region amongst women.

 

London and the South East were the most active overseas buying regions, accounting for 6% and 18% of the total transfers respectively. Although both areas are recognised as two of the UK’s most affluent, it is within these areas that people are currently struggling to get a foot onto the property ladder. O’Sullivan comments, “Given the worsening of the UK housing crisis, and first time buyer mortgage approvals reaching an all time low, it seems that people living in London and the South East are buying abroad in order to escape the effects of the credit crunch.”