European and Spanish Hotspots back in Vogue for British Real Estate Buyers Rather than far flung destinations

GoldAcre Estates the Canary Islands and Greece specialists stated that they have started to see a significant increase in enquiries from the internet, with the Greece business seeing an increase in the numbers particularly in Crete.

This seems to be to be a trend that seems to be supported by a recent report by Global Edge and Savills International via the Global Edge website GlobalEdge.co.uk

The Canary Islands has long since been a favorite with the British and European buyer famed for its mild winter climate and laid back lifestyle, recent economic factors and adjustments in prices in Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria have been a factor in their return to favour, but according to a survey of 1200 second home owners by Savills International British overseas home buyers are reverting back to more traditional second home destinations,.During the overseas property boom, the proportion of Brits buying outside of Western Europe grew significantly as buyers became motivated by the potential for capital gains. However, since the market turned in September 2008, buyers have returned to the traditional favourites of Spain, France, Portugal and Italy.“In 2010, the overseas second home market will be characterised by cash-rich, lifestyle buyers benefiting from lower prices in traditional, established holiday home hotspots.” Says Charles Weston-Baker, Head of Savills International.The survey data also confirms that 2009 was one of the worst years for the industry. 70% of respondents invested in overseas property between 2003 and 2008 but just 2% had in 2009.Rebecca Gill, research analyst at Savills International comments. “Whilst UK overseas home ownership has doubled since 2001 recent global recessionary trends have seen take-up levels dramatically slow. Factors such as fewer overseas holidays, reduced leisure spend capacity and financing availability, unfavourable exchange rates and declining house prices have impacted second home purchasing activity.”
20 % Of existing owners plan more purchases
The positive news is that a fifth of respondents said they are considering or planning additional holiday home purchases in the future. The top ten destinations being considered were France, Spain, Portugal, the US, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Morocco, Brazil and Turkey.However, further property price falls, better mortgage availability and a strengthening of sterling against the Euro are all necessary conditions before we see the market return to anywhere near the transaction volumes of 2007.

Reduced Golf Property in Fuerteventura

This detached villa next to the golf course in Las Playitas, Fuerteventura has just been reduced by €44,000 for a limited time. The purchase price is now €316,000 down from €360,000 outstanding value as this villa has 4 bedrooms over three floors, a plot size of 1,500m2 and borders a natural park which leads down to the seashore just a few minutes walk away. Also in walking distance is the newly extended 18 hole golf course and academy of Las Playitas which also boasts a heated Olympic swimming pool and gymnasium plus a variety of restaurants and water sports facilities. The larger town of Gran Tarajal is a 5 minute drive away where a Blue Flag beach awaits alongside a new Marina and ferry terminal. The style, size, quality and favored position of this villa makes it an ideal rental investment, holiday home or permanent residence and at this new price offers a solid capital return.

For more information on this or other property options contact us at info@goldacre-estates.com or call directly 0034 928 535044.

The 6 Best Places To Windsurf And Kitesurf

Windsurfing and kitesurfing expert Gareth Bayley introduces 6 of the best places to get on your board.

El Médano, Tenerife
Only 10 minutes drive from Tenerife Sur airport, El Medano is a wind and kite surfers' paradise, featuring year-round cross-onshore winds from the left and water temperatures where you can get away with board shorts and rash vest (if you're hardy) or a shorty wetsuit (if you're a wuss). Water temps are around 17 C in mid-winter and 25-26 C in summer.
The wind is strongest and most reliable in summer, but the wind stats are pretty good all year round, thanks to a north-east trade wind strengthened further by a thermal effect. In summer, leave your big kites and sails at home; kiters here tend to use just 7m kites or smaller, and the windsurfers are looking at between 3.5m and 5m sails. Travel: find cheap flights to Tenerife

Hot spots:

El Medano Bay - suitable for any level with a mixture of chop and small waves. The wind tends to fill in as the morning progresses, and then remains steady throughout the day, with surfers out right until sunset. El Médano is not the easiest place for learners, but there are schools right on the beach for both kitesurfing and windsurfing, with fully qualified instructors.

Cabezo - further upwind, featuring waves and only for the more advanced rider.

Sotavento, Fuerteventura
Like Tenerife, there's very good and reliable wind in Fuerteventura, and off-water fun aplenty if the wind should drop, although Fuerte is so blessed with wind that it's become a fixture of one of the major kitesurf world tours. Travel: find cheap flights to Fuerteventura airport

Hot Spots

Sotavento Beach - wide and long with a lagoon for learners to pick up the sport. On the outside, a mixture of chop and waves pulls in the more advanced.
Sotavento is around 40-50 minutes from Fuerteventura Puerto del Rosario airport.
Flag Beach - the other main location on Fuerte for wind. Situated in the north east.


Cabarete, Dominican Republic north coast
Another legendary spot in the Caribbean for wind and kitesurfers, with a chilled out beach atmosphere in which to recover from tricks gone awry. This is very much the place to mix a Caribbean holiday with your wind pursuits. Cabarete's wind is most reliable in the summer months. Find cheap flights to the Dominican Republic
Hot Spots
Kite Beach - this imaginatively named kite spot can get busy due to its relatively smooth waters protected by a reef but there is plenty of space to spread out in Cabarete, including at Bozo Beach a bit nearer to town, but featuring chop and small waves. If you get bored quickly, then there's always a guided downwinder you can take.
Cabarete is about 30 minutes drive from the nearest airport, Puerto Plata. It's quite a bit further to the next airport, Santo Domingo, around three-four hours drive away.
There's a good range of accommodation for any taste and budget. And there's a great variety of bars and restaurants on Cabarete's main beach drag.
If the wind drops, you can always explore inland, cheaply hiring a car or motorcycle in Cabarete.

Aruba, Caribbean
Aruba, a Dutch dependency located off the coast of Venezuela, has some of the most reliable wind stats on Earth. Not a big island, you nevertheless need to hire a car if you're going to get the best out of the two wind spots, at either end of the island.
Hot Spots
Fishermen's Huts - this area provides off-shore wind and therefore flat water conditions. For a small fee, someone will keep an eye on you and bring you back in if you can't stay upwind. Time is divided between kitesurfing (morning and late afternoon) and windsurfing (day).

Boca Grande - located at the other end of the island, the cross on-shore winds, chop and small waves at will keep you entertained for days. It's not a huge bay for launching, but once you're on the outside, there's the whole Caribbean to play in.
Aruba is also great for diving, on wrecks as well as reefs. And for the ultimate dive sensation, head to Aruba's sister island of Bonaire, the entire coast of which is a designated marine park, and rightly so. The water temperature is always balmy, so surfers can leave their wetsuits at home.
Aruba is the perfect place for a couple or family who want to be doing different things on their holidays. Beach bums can head to the brilliant (and cooler to the touch) coral sand beaches outside the main hotels. Watersports nuts can head off to the windsurfing, kiting and diving. And all can get together again in the evening, for the laidback but delicious Aruban cuisine.
Travel: Find cheap flights to Aruba

Red Sea, Egypt
There are a number of places around the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, perfect for windsurfing, kitesurfing and diving.
Hot Spots
Dahab - the "Goa of Egypt" but with plenty more wind averaging over 300 days a year of sailable weather. Dahab is laidback, friendly and always sunny, and along with Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada, is also world renowned for good diving. Travel: find cheap flights to Sharm el-Sheikh (just 1 hour away.)
Sharm el-Sheikh - not quite as windy as Dahab, but Sharm's still got it. The main reason to come to Sharm, however, is to sample the world famous diving, including on the "Thistlegorm", the wreck of a World War 2 freighter complete with its wartime cargo. Plenty of dive schools here to choose from, as well as charter boats to join going out to the main sites on day trips or longer liveaboard excursions. Travel: find cheap flights to Sharm el-Sheikh, just minutes away.

Safaga - South of Hurghada, but with a much quieter vibe. Again, great wind statistics and different conditions for all levels. And did we mention the diving? Again, world class.
Moon Beach - for something a little bit different, try Moonbeachretreat.com, equidistant from Sharm el-Sheikh airport and Cairo International Airport. Moon Beach is a get away from it all kind of place, tucked away on the east coast of the Gulf of Suez, near Ras Sudr. There, you can try kitesurfing, windsurfing and yoga for when your limbs fail you. The Moon Beach team arrange windsurfing from your doorstep. The kitesurfing is run out of a resort twenty minutes up the road. The wind of course is great and reliable. No diving, though. Travel: find cheap flights to Cairo


Tarifa, Spain
The European Mecca of windsurfing and kitesurfing, Tarifa needs little introduction. Situated west of Algeciras on Spain's Atlantic coast, Tarifa benefits from the effect of winds funnelling through the Straits of Gibraltar from the east (the "Levante") and the west (the "Poniente").

In summer, the Levante can get quite mental, occasionally hitting Force 10! But in general expect more manageable wind and a relaxed but hip off-water life, centred around the funky and compact Tarifa old town.
The water is a mixture of chop and small waves. Water temperatures are high in the summer, so you only need board shorts and rash vest. In the autumn and winter, you're going to need a full wetsuit.
Off the water, there's plenty to see and do, so hire a car and make some trips to fishing villages, mountain towns and the sherry capital of Jerez.
Travel: Find cheap flights to Jerez, Gibraltar and Malaga.

Source Skyscanner

Evidence Of Green Shoots In The UK Housing Market

Further evidence of green shoots in the UK housing market at the start of the month
stimulated GBP to notch new highs for 2009 against the US dollar at 1.6744. According to
the Nationwide, house prices jumped by 0.9% in June, the second consecutive monthly rise,
bringing the annual house price falls below 10%.

However the final figure for Q1 GDP (Gross Domestic Product), revised down to a 2.4%
drop in growth, the steepest quarterly fall in 50 years, reminded the market how grim things
were at the start of the year. So with the last three quarters (Q3 08 -0.6%, Q4 08 -1.6%, Q1
09 -2.4%) showing this recession deepening, there is a lot at stake that the talk of green
shoots will buck the trend.

There was further evidence of stabilisation in the UK economy with the latest readings of the
Purchasing Manager’s Index for manufacturing and services. The positive momentum in the
manufacturing sector was confirmed with a reading of 47.0 in June from 45.4 in May and the
all important services sector held expansionary territory with a reading of 51.6.

In the US, seen as the leading indicator in this credit crisis, the data took a turn for the
worse. Despite marginal improvement in the housing sector and the manufacturing sector,
consumer confidence surprised the market by dipping back down lower from 54.9 in May to
49.3 in June and the all important non farm payrolls scuppered hopes of a solid recovery.
The non farm payrolls proved to be 100k jobs worse than expectations with 473k jobs lost in
June.

The equity markets around the world bucked their recent weakening trend to rally across the
board backed up by an impressive Chinese Q2 GDP number of 7.9% allowing the FTSE to
end the week with its strongest weekly gain for this year of 6.3%. Other significant events
included further signs of stabilisation in the housing market with the RICS housing market
survey jumping from -43.8 to, its highest reading since September -18.1 in June2007.
As we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the lunar landing, the equity markets continued
their propulsion higher as confidence grew amid the US reporting season, with 75% of
companies that have reported thus far, exceeding market expectations. The FTSE 100 has
now pushed higher on 10 consecutive trading sessions, a feat only managed twice in its 25
year history and never at this rapid 10% rate of ascendency.

Growth in the UK in Q2 fell by 0.8%, more than twice as bad as market expectations, taking
the year on year drop to 5.7% and markedly outpacing the recession in the early 1990’s,
although still behind the 6.4% drop in growth in the early 1980’s. There were however some
fresh green shoots from of the housing market, with a jump in mortgage approvals and also
on the High Street as retail sales surged by 1.2% in June, although the weather and early
discounting were cited as the transitory positive influences.

The rampaging global equity markets were again the driving force for the Dollar’s decline
last week with just a little help from the UK’s favourite dinner party topic, house prices, to
bolster Sterling. With up to 75% of major US corporate results out-stripping analyst’s
forecasts and household UK names such as BT and Cadbury doing likewise, the growing
investor optimism had translated directly into higher share and commodity prices and a
familiar sell off in the Dollar.

Source HIFX

International Business Opportunity In The Canary Islands

International Business Opportunity with leading real estate company in the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria.

Are you looking for a business opportunity in the Canary Islands?
Are you looking for a lifestyle change with High Rewards?
Do you want to run your own business and be supported by one of the most experienced Real Estate Companies in the Canary Islands?

GoldAcre Estates is looking for partners to fuel our expansion program in the Canary Islands.
Our Partnership program is looking to offer exciting opportunities to selected individuals that want to run their own business in the Canary Islands with ongoing existing business available for franchise.

Full Training and Ongoing Support provided.
Take the initiative today and invest in your career and lifestyle for a future in the sun!

For further details e-mail nicolast@goldacre-estates.com

John Goldacres Introduction for the Latest Newsletter

This is John Goldacres introduction for the latest newsletter

Well summer is on us in the Canary Islands and its hot good job we have some of the best beaches in Fuerteventura to Relax and Unwind on. Been a recent flurry of activity on Vista Mar with our first clients taking title, this really has turned out to be a fabulous development pool is now completed, gym fitted out, a really 5 star resort.

I travel to Greece on the 5^th to visit our office there but first a two week break to be enjoyed first.

The property market still remains sticky .. Its like walking in mud .. still hard work with the euro to sterling exchange rate ranging anything from 1.15 – 1.18 to the GBP but 1.15 / 1.16 is where we have seen the most of the activity since our last newsletter.

Mortgages are still being granted although the banks are more stringent in their underwriting and the valuation companies under instruction from the Bank of Spain to be cautious in their valuations.

But it is not all doom and gloom as the press would still have us believe, inquires are on the increase both in the Canary Islands and Greece, there are still some great priced properties available, see our recent selection of one bedrooms below and there is a more positive feel generally amongst people.

Since our last news Fuerteventura has seen the introduction of regular services from Easy Jet and Monarch ( link these two to the blog ) so flights are becoming once again an issue of non importance I researched flights with Easy Jet on the 5^th December and returning on the 19^th from the UK and the total was £81 return, which was excellent. So those that thought access was becoming more difficult it shows in todays world things can change in an instant and with over 45,000,000 million euros being spent on the airport in Fuerteventura this was a definite change that was to happen. Please also remember if you have flight only GoldAcre Estates can assist you in finding your perfect accommodation to stay during your search for your Dream Home.

So safe low cost flights, Happy hunting and of course at GoldAcre Estates we are always on hand to help and advise with any questions you may have.

If you would like to receive our newsletter please contact us at info@goldacre-estates.com

30th July 2009

Cost of new housing falls in Spain but the Canary Islands is less affected

Canary Islands Real Estate, Fuerteventura Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria property better than mainland Spain.

The cost of new housing fell 2% in the first quarter of the year compared with the same period in 2008, the first annual decrease since the property market bubble started to deflate in mid-2007.

According to data published today by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the price of housing as a whole fell by 7.6% between January and March, the biggest decrease since prices started to fall in the second quarter of 2008. The main reason for the fall is still the slump in prices in the second-hand-property market, brought on by owners selling just to clear bank mortgage commitments, but it is the first time that new housing in Spain has also seen a decrease.

House prices fell in all the autonomous communities in the first quarter, with the biggest drops being registered in Catalunya (13.7%), Comunidad de Madrid (11.2%), Basque Country(10.8%), Navarra (10.1%), Aragón (9.7%), Balearic Islands (8.1%) and La Rioja (8%).

Below national average drops were registered in Cantabria (7.2%), Comunidad Valenciana (5.2%), Canary Islands (4.3%), Andalucía (3.9%), Castilla and León (3.3%), Castilla-La Mancha (2.5%), Extremadura (2.2%), Asturias (1.8%), Murcia (1.6%) and Galicia (0.5%).

For more information:
Calle Guirre, No1 Oasis Tamarindo- Local No17, Corralejo Fuerteventura Canary islands Spain 0034 928 535044 www.goldacre-estates.com

International Business opportunity, Canary Islands, Gran Canaria

Are you looking for a business opportunity in the Canary Islands?

Are you looking for a lifestyle change with High Rewards?

Do you want to run your own business and be supported by one of the most experienced Real Estate Companies in the Canary Islands?



GoldAcre Estates is looking for partners to fuel our expansion program in the Canary IslandsOur Partnership program is looking to offer exciting opportunities to selected individuals that want to run their own business in the Canary Islands with ongoing existing business available for franchise.



Low Initial start up costs,Full Training and Ongoing Support provided.



Take the initiative today and invest in your career and lifestyle for a future in the sun!For further details e-mail nicolast@goldacre-estates.com or Telephone 0034 928 535 044

Fuerteventura Named As Biosphere Reserve

As well as a tiger reserve in India and a former military training area in Germany Fuerteventura is one of 22 new sites from 17 countries added by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to its World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Biosphere reserves are areas designated to serve as places to test different approaches to integrated management of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine resources and biodiversity. As a result, they are sites for experimenting with and learning about sustainable development

Fuerteventura is the second largest island of the Canaries archipelago, close to the West African Coast. It includes a wide range of ecosystems from desert or semi-desert areas to coastal and marine habitats. While the island is characterized by a rich diversity of marine species, including dolphins and cachalot’s, as well as marine turtles that reproduce on its beaches, the biosphere reserve also represents one of the world’s major geopalentological observatories. Development of sustainable ecotourism practices is the major focus of the population living on the island. The island is also investing in the increase of its renewable energy capacity, mainly through wind-based and solar energy production and is representing itself as one of the models for the implementation of the European Union's Directive on Renewable Energy.

The other new sites are: Lagunas de Montebello (Mexico), Flores Island (Portugal), Geres-Xures (Portugal and Spain), Shinan Dadohae (ROK), Altaisky (Russia), Vhembe (South Africa), Giam Siak Kecil – Bukit Batu (Indonesia), Great sandy (Australia), Lajat Biosphere Reserve (Syria), Desnianskyi (Ukraine), Delta del Orinoco (Venezuela), Cu Lao Cham – Hoi An (Viet Nam), Mui Ca Mau (Viet Nam), Mount Myohyang (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea), Biosphare Bliesgau (Germany), Similipal (India), Pachmarhi (India), Nokrek (India), and Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve (Lebanon).

Is the overseas Real Estate market beginning to show signs of improvememnt …….

According to Primelocation.com they have reported seeing an increase in the number of websearches for spanish real estate increasing over French real estate and amercican real estate from the British marketplace as over 1 million search for overseas property in February, the number of enquires being mirrored by GoldAcre Estates for Canary Islands real estate and golf property runs very much in line with the increase in sales for the same period…………


In spite of difficult economic conditions and significant falls in the value of Sterling, searches for international property on Primelocation.com increased in January 2009 by 72% month-on-month and broke through the one million barrier in February, according to data released yesterday. Spain was the most popular country searched for on the portal, attracting just under 300,000 searches, some 60,000 ahead of last month’s most popular country, France (238,729). The USA held on to its third position with 153,912.The portal believes that the countries that have performed the best y-o-y are those located outside the Eurozone, with the USA for example rising by 130% in popularity during that time. Searches for Turkish and Australian property also performed well with a rises in searches of 25% and 18% y-o-y.“After a slow down in searches for international property in the second half of 2008, we have had a very strong start to 2009,” said the portal’s international business development manager Ann Wright. “Searches for international properties on Primelocation.com were up 72% on December and February searches and leads to agents look to be up over 100% on January. Some of the growth is in areas outside the Eurozone where sterling has suffered less than it has against the Euro. It may also be that people who held off investing in 2008 are now hoping to take advantage of the falling prices in some areas.”

Top 10 searches in February 2009 through Primelocation.com
1 Spain 299,762
2 France 238,729
3 USA 153,912
4 Italy 65,126
5 Portugal 56,882
6 UAE 18,596
7 Turkey 15,105
8 Australia 14,545
9 Cyprus 12,611
10 Bulgaria 12,220

Total searches during February: 1,002,810Monthly search destinations – Top 10 January 2009 1 France 29%
2 Spain 23%
3 USA 15%
4 Italy 6%
5 Portugal 5%
6 Australia 2%
7 UAE 2%
8 Turkey 2%
9 Cyprus 1%
10 Bulgaria 1%

Canary Island Villas...Peaceful Villages...Golf and Fuerteventura Lifestyle

Living and owning a villa in the small villages of Fuerteventura offers a relaxing lifestyle in a safe enviroment. With excellent golf courses and the islands fabulous beaches always close this is why Spanish real estate remains so popular with purchasers...in the Canary islands

Villa in Lajares , views of the Fuerteventura countryside... garden and roof terrace. want to know more?GoldAcre Estates S.L, Corralejo, info@goldacre-estates.com...28th February 2009
Price 285,000 Euros

For information 0034 928 535 044
email info@goldacre-estates.com

Canary Island Villa with great rental potential...Spanish Real Estate

The Canary islands provides wonderful opportunities for property investment and holiday rentals.....Real Estate in Fuerteventura offers high quality homes.....

This amazing luxury villa is a modern and extremely spacious property that benefits from large bright rooms and has the unique feature of an indoor swimming pool. Four large bedrooms. Fantastic views of El Cotillo, and the north coast of Fuerteventura. Comes with large garden with double garage.... 26th February 2009

Price 650,000 Euros

For more information call 0034 928 535 044

or email info@goldacre -estates.com

Can you afford to miss out on these low, low prices?

Canarian Real estate now offers some of the most competetive priced properties.....A spacious 2nd floor apartment with a sheltered south facing terrace overlooking the large communal pool. Fully furnished with kitchen and underground garage. Situated in Las Caletas, La Oliva, just south of Fuerteventuras famous Dunes. Contact GoldAcre Estates Today.

Price 83,000 Euros

For more information call 0034 928535044

or email info@goldacre-estates.com

Fabulous one bedroom Property for sale in Corralejo,Fuerteventura

Corralejo, Fuerteventura, Canaries.

This Charming one bedroom chalet style property is situated in a small private development with a large communal pool and well tended gardens. It comes fully furnished with kitchen and a sheltered patio with bougainvillea growing over the wooden pergola. With the sea shore just a 2 minute walk, the famous dunes 15 minutes walk away and all of Corralejo’s facilites within easy walking distance this is a superb property at a great price.
Because of its location this would make an ideal investment opportunity being perfect for holiday rentals.

Price 100,000 Euros

For further details call us today on 0034 928 535 044

A survey by Yorkshire bank found that more than two out of five Britons are thinking of purchasing a property abroad.

Of the 43% considering buying overseas 66% said it was for the better weather and 55% wanted a slower pace of life. Those wanting to buy for retirement or for a holiday home were split almost evenly but 15% thought it was the best way to get on the property ladder.
However, about half of those questioned were put off by not knowing the legal process or having to deal with purchase in a foreign language. Of course when using GoldAcre Estates we will advise you thoroughly of all the legal requirements and act on your behalf after you go home and right through the purchase process.