Patriot games for investors - Article Blast! Free Articles And Content For Reprint On Your Website, Newsletters and Ezines. Submit Your Articles For Free!

Patriot games for investors

Written by Jim Barnaby

Friday, 14 March 2008

There are many elements that constitute reasons for people investing in a particular country's property sector, but, it seems, proximity and a certain patriotic affiliation is high among them.
Such is the view, at least of Les Calvert, director of overseas investor portal Property-Abroad.com. He suggested that while locations such as Florida may be highly attractive, distance prevents such places being as popular as somewhere like France.
He added: "Initially it has to be the proximity and knowing it's only an hour or two away [that makes a location popular], so that you know you can make full use of a weekend. That is one of the main reasons why certain countries remain as favourites."
This, of course, should ensure that France, Spain and Portugal remain high on the list of popular destinations, while Cape Verde property will enjoy being in the same time zone and Cyprus property is not too distant to put it out of reach. With plenty of low-cost air flights and - in the case of France - the Channel Tunnel, there are obvious advantages for these countries.
Yet this is not all, suggested Mr Calvert, which may explain why other geographically close European countries, such as Germany, the Netherlands or Belgium - the latter also having Eurostar access - do not enjoy the same profile.
He said: "Other reasons are psychological, for instance if a country has always been an ally of Great Britain in times of war etc, then it is more likely to be a popular investment destination. If we feel that we have a close companionship with a country people tend to keep that in mind. It's a patriotic thing."
Notwithstanding obvious cultural differences which can either charm or repel, this kind of factor could apply to France, at least since Napoleonic Times, while not of course to Germany. Spain may be somewhat harder to account for, given that in the 1940s it was ideologically aligned with Germany and Italy, albeit uninvolved in the war. Perhaps, therefore, it is a combination of these factors which will each contribute to a greater or lesser extent to the appeal of a country.
In the case of France, it may be instructive to note that its charms made it the number two overseas destination for Irish property investors (both commercial and residential) in 2007, behind Britain, where the historical and linguistic links are obvious. As Ireland was also not involved in WWII it may be reasonable to assume that being the geographically second closest neighbour, as well as having the various charms of wineries, Alpine Scenery, the Romance of Paris and the sun and sea of the Cote D'Azur, helped France in this respect.
Then again, maybe it is about price as much as anything else. This week Trisha Mason, managing director of estate agency VEF, told the Daily Telegraph: "Detached stone properties in France went up 20 per cent overall last year, but you are still paying on average 40 per cent less that you would in the UK. And properties like these don't exist in Britain." With investments around like these, geographical proximity is a bonus. Meanwhile, a bargain is a bargain, whichever side France fought on in any particular war.
In today's world Property investment is an excellent investment option especially investment in UK

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com

About The Author:

Jim Barnaby is a real estate investment broker and successful property investment adviser delivering research and selected UK and overseas property investment solutions with experience in spanish properties, french property investment, German property, Cyprus holiday homes, Property in Cape Verde, German property investment, cape verde property buy to let property

You are welcome to publish this article free of charge on your website, newsletter, or e-zine, provided:

You don't change the article in any way
You include the entire article, including the "about the author" box
All hyperlinks must remain intact, including email addresses, and the link to ArticleBlast.com at the bottom
In doing so you agree to indemnify the article's author, and ArticleBlast.com and its directors, officers, employees and agents from and against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities which arise out of its use
It is also recommended that you provide a courtesy copy of your publication to the author of the article