chrispy
02-10-2004, 12:45 AM
Arrived back home today after two weeks whizzing to London/Prague/France. As all of you will realise once interested in property you can't help yourself and look up real estate brochures and newspapers wherever you are, so thought you may be interested in some brief bits and pieces I picked up.
UK - read the property papers, it appears that there was a dip in the property market in March but the property market is now back on the rise. One article in the Sunday Mail stated that over 1m British have purchased second homes in Europe in the last year, mainly in Spain. The rental market there is called buy to rent and this is an expanding market. Some people I know are buying large houses in regional areas (Preston, Lancs for example) and setting them up as student accommodation for local Uni students. One young couple in their twenties are now onto their 3rd development in 3 years and can let all the rooms as long as they make them available for the commencement of the uni semester.
Prague - I could not believe the building going on here. Close friend works for one of the large US banks and they have opened 84 branches in the past 12 months there, it is the fastest growing area for this particular bank. The transport system was amazing, so fast, clean and punctual. The food however was disgusting, OK if you like goulash and polystyrene dumplings (sliced). People were not friendly, but very focussed and efficient.
France - visited the French Alps where friend has purchased an unbelievable house. House prices are on the increase there as well. Loved the area, prices were good, but transport in and out was difficult, you had to have a car. Prices in comparison to Eastern States of Australia were relatively cheap for what you got, but I was unable to ascertain rental market as could not read french. People were incredibly friendly and helped this little old lady to find her way around Lyon. Scenery was magic, we went to the local market and I could not take my eyes off the mountains.
London transport stinks - it took 4 hours to travel 30 miles, trying to get to heathrow. Caught train, after buying ticket all the way through to Heathrow, cost 24 pounds. Power went out on the main line, I waited 45 minutes, I asked the Station Master who said they had no hope of getting the power back for the next couple of hours. Got a taxi into London, cost 55 pounds, got on the underground, went one station on the circle line, it was stopped because someone had died on the train. Got off got on another line, it was stopped because some nutcase was walking along the track, got onto another line (remember I am running from platform to platform with a large loaded suitcase and bags), power went off!!! Finally managed to get to Paddington to book in to Qantas (where I have booked in and left suitcase for at least 3 years) only to find booking counter now closed!!
Finally manged to get to Heathrow just as plane was being boarded, luckily being a frequent flyer I had been prebooked and they were holding a seat for me!! I was so relieved, sat on the plane and fell asleep. :)
I am so glad I made it home. :D
Chris
UK - read the property papers, it appears that there was a dip in the property market in March but the property market is now back on the rise. One article in the Sunday Mail stated that over 1m British have purchased second homes in Europe in the last year, mainly in Spain. The rental market there is called buy to rent and this is an expanding market. Some people I know are buying large houses in regional areas (Preston, Lancs for example) and setting them up as student accommodation for local Uni students. One young couple in their twenties are now onto their 3rd development in 3 years and can let all the rooms as long as they make them available for the commencement of the uni semester.
Prague - I could not believe the building going on here. Close friend works for one of the large US banks and they have opened 84 branches in the past 12 months there, it is the fastest growing area for this particular bank. The transport system was amazing, so fast, clean and punctual. The food however was disgusting, OK if you like goulash and polystyrene dumplings (sliced). People were not friendly, but very focussed and efficient.
France - visited the French Alps where friend has purchased an unbelievable house. House prices are on the increase there as well. Loved the area, prices were good, but transport in and out was difficult, you had to have a car. Prices in comparison to Eastern States of Australia were relatively cheap for what you got, but I was unable to ascertain rental market as could not read french. People were incredibly friendly and helped this little old lady to find her way around Lyon. Scenery was magic, we went to the local market and I could not take my eyes off the mountains.
London transport stinks - it took 4 hours to travel 30 miles, trying to get to heathrow. Caught train, after buying ticket all the way through to Heathrow, cost 24 pounds. Power went out on the main line, I waited 45 minutes, I asked the Station Master who said they had no hope of getting the power back for the next couple of hours. Got a taxi into London, cost 55 pounds, got on the underground, went one station on the circle line, it was stopped because someone had died on the train. Got off got on another line, it was stopped because some nutcase was walking along the track, got onto another line (remember I am running from platform to platform with a large loaded suitcase and bags), power went off!!! Finally managed to get to Paddington to book in to Qantas (where I have booked in and left suitcase for at least 3 years) only to find booking counter now closed!!
Finally manged to get to Heathrow just as plane was being boarded, luckily being a frequent flyer I had been prebooked and they were holding a seat for me!! I was so relieved, sat on the plane and fell asleep. :)
I am so glad I made it home. :D
Chris