No End in Sight For Falling House Prices in Greece

Greek house prices continued to fall at an accelerated rate during the first two months of 2010. According to Greek members of the UK's Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the average drop in price has been approximately 10% year-on-year, with variations relating to factors such as location, availability of housing stock and developers' readiness to negotiate.

All indications suggest that the Greek property market will be more downcast in 2010, than it was in 2009, when house prices fell by around 5%. The Greek economic climate has clearly deteriorated, unemployment is rising rapidly and banks continue with stiff loan distribution policies. Such factors have almost frozen the demand for newly built homes, which are the least affordable properties, since developers go to great lengths to keep prices stable. This continuing attitude will increasingly lead to prospective buyers looking for resale homes that are 10-15 years old and in good condition.

Data from the Bank of Greece for 2009 illustrates that newly built homes showed more resistance to falling prices than resale homes. The respective rates were 3.1% and 5.6%.

The annual RICS survey for the European housing market estimated that house prices in Greece fell by 5%, placing the country roughly average for Europe. However, it should be observed that the correction of house prices in most markets began in 2008, which was not the case in Greece, where property values had actually risen.

Generally in Europe, different groups seem to be forming. The first faction includes countries with housing markets that are falling at an escalating pace, such as Germany, Ireland, France, Poland, the Netherlands and the Baltic countries. In contrast, countries such as Spain, Greece and Denmark the fall in house prices continues, but at a slower rate than in 2008. The second fraction where the housing market crash has been short live and the first signs of recovery are already visible regarding both price and sales, includes the UK, Norway, Sweden, while Switzerland and Austria experience no fall in house prices at all.

The RICS report states that the recovery is expected to gather speed in 2010 when low interest rates take effect and economic activity accelerates. Moreover, a collapse in the property markets of Europe will be averted; therefore, this turn down will probably be more limited than the last major one in the 1990s.

North Carolina Houses for Sale

For most grown ups, childhood days are consistently linked up with the home where all the sweet memories are rooted. I know of a person who spent his early days in North Carolina and after years spent in different states, his homing instinct brought him back to the same state. "I must find a place here", he said to himself, confident that here in North Carolina he would retrieve his peace of mind, long lost in roaming all over the United States. As luck would have it, his darling wife was also raised in North Carolina and he planned his progeny to become enduring residents of the state of his choice, too. He became intent on buying a home in North Carolina to spend the rest of his life there and started searching for North Carolina houses for sale.

Selection of site posed no problem at all since he knew his state in and out. "Foothills of North Carolina wouldn't be pricey", he argued with himself, but downtown Chapel Hill where he lived at first would cost quite a fortune. So he had a make a decision at this critical juncture. "Do I prefer to lead a secluded country life or go for a downtown dwelling? Which one will be more appropriate for me", he asked himself.

But at the back of his mind he always thought of finding North Carolina houses for sale. Also, some other factors muddled his head. Since he had married late in life and had to raise his children, the place had to be safe from all angles. Finding out good schools nearby counted a lot, too. "What are the prospects in near future," he inquired about the likely rise in value of property in North Carolina, over the phone. After all, every possible angle needs to be covered. You do not know what tomorrow may bring. "I must find a comfortable home whose value should appreciate over the coming years", he assured himself. Having settled on all the factors, our man in sat content before his PC to do a search of North Carolina houses for sale.

Google.com, his best friend, was already there when he tapped the Internet and the sale was through in the shortest possible time. So, for people considering North Carolina houses for sale, all they need to do is just hit the search engines and they are sure to find many properties to make a pick from. Finding North Carolina houses for sale is not really a very difficult thing to do.

$296170 Single Family Property, Salem, OR

Visit www.TheWhittonGroup.com foradditional information regarding this property. Dave + Dewey Whitton - The Salem Real Estate Group MLS #9079002 Located in Salem, Oregon Single Family Property, Status: Active, County: Polk, Year Built: 2009, 5 total bedroom(s), 2.5 total bath(s), 2 total full bath(s), 1 total half bath(s), Approximately 2705 sq. ft., Master bedroom, 3 car garage, Heating features: Forced air, Gas, View, Approximately 0.17 acre(s), Lot size is less than 1/2 acre, Elementary School: BRUSH COLLEGE, Middle School: WALKER, High School: WEST SALEM Single Family Property $296170 2705 sf 0.17 acres

Homes For Sale in Portland

Portland, Oregon has been termed the greenest city of United States. The city of Portland also happens to be one of the favorite places to settle down in the country. This could well be the place where you decide to start your own family. The Portland real estate market is booming, and so is the variety of homes for sale in Portland. Portland includes diverse and unique neighborhoods. Housing a population of over 550,000, this city still remains the eco-friendly place to raise your own family. If you're looking for your dream home with all the related luxuries, then there can be no better choices than Beaverton houses of Washington County, Portland.

Beaverton houses bring you a lot of options. If you are looking for the best homes for sale in Washington County, then you will also find some of the best deals available in today's market. The city includes some of the most charming bungalows and hillside luxury houses around. In case you are looking for something modern, you will find spacious condominiums, family homes and apartment to suit all your requirements.

Portland has different types of homes to meet the needs of people looking for a fresh start. The Portland real estate market provides homes for individuals belonging to all walks of life. The real estate market of Portland offers a great variety from which to select a new home. You can even get land for sale in Washington County if you want to build a new home for yourself. With its populous neighborhoods, Portland offers newcomers a diverse and distinctive society and culture of which to be a part. It will really be a place where you will love to spend your life with your dear ones.

Described as "The City of Roses," Portland is endowed with dry, warm summers and temperate and rainy winters. This is one of the places of the United States which abounds in sprawling gardens and parks. The city is also known as one of the most ecologically important natural areas. As it's one of the most populous cities in the United States, many people are keen to own houses in Portland. There are currently few new homes for sale in Portland offering you a host of amenities and modern luxuries. Furthermore, there are open houses and pre-foreclosure homes as well.

Recent figures state that the average price of homes for sale in Portland is around $417,900. This reflects an increase in the price since earlier figures this year. Reflecting the demand for popular places, some favorite surrounding areas of the city show average price listings of $663,900 to $878,700. Of course, it is always advisable to check prices with your realtor before buying a home.

Housing Market Trends and What They Have to Say to Home Buyers

With the real estate market in the state that it is in today, many people are finding it more and more difficult to be optimistic. With the constant media reminders of the economic crisis we are amidst, it is difficult for the public not to be pessimistic. In order to gain a better insight on the state of our current economy, as far as the real estate market is concerned, investors have to ask themselves some really important questions in order to get a true estimate of where it is at.

One of these questions is just how accurate is the market? How the market is portrayed in the media may be far different than what state it is actually in. Most of the information that is relayed by the media is often of a generalized nature. In order to offer a better perspective, this information needs to be specific to each area. Each state has different inventory that is available for sale. Also, whose perspective it is being reported from can also skew the way it is observed. Individual real estate agents, the real estate industry, and investors all have different views on the same topic because they deal with different areas of the market.

Another question that becomes apparent is Market trends are always changing and that is why they are aptly labeled so. But who dictates these trends? Is it the federal law makers, each individual state, or the investors within each respective community? The answer is all of the above. The truth is that the economy cannot be completely defined by one group of individuals. They all take part in the formulation of housing market trends.

One fact that is apparent, no matter who you ask, is that it is definitely a buyers' market right now. The home building industry has been declining and building permits for future construction are also down. In addition, housing starts were up only about half a percent. Home builders are still continuing to build homes but just at a more reserved pace.

This may just be a blessing in disguise for those who wish to take advantage of the current real estate market. Less starts and permits being issued coupled with a steady pace of modest construction may be just the way to stabilizing the economic state of the housing industry. There is no reason to build new homes when there are already so many on the market that have yet to sell.

The slowing construction has both the benefit of now creating any unnecessary inventory that will not sell and also the effect of maintaining the positions of those individuals who are employed in the construction industry. With employment rates hitting a staggering low, opting to completely shut down the building of new units would devastate both workers in the construction industry and the economy as a whole.

On another note, the eight thousand dollar tax credit offered to first time home buyers and was incorporated as an economic stimulus plan last year clearly affected the real estate market in a positive way. The incorporation of this program was a great contributor to the country's economic growth last year. In fact, single family home sales wend down almost four percent after the eight thousand dollar tax credit had ended in November. This was probably one of the main reasons as to why it was extended to be offered until the end of April of this year.

The extension of the eight thousand dollar tax credit to first time home buyers with the addition of the six thousand five hundred dollar tax credit to home buyers who have not purchased a home within three years has been a catalyst for the many more home buyers. Based on the activities that were witnessed last year in the real estate arena, this year has even more progress to experience.

The mortgage market also has its role to play. It also has much to offer to new home buyers in regards to the interest rates that are currently being offered. Thirty year fixed rates are currently about five percent. Fifteen year rates are only about four and a half percent. The rates are so low that it would be silly not to take advantage of them by getting a first time loan or re-financing an already existing one.

The housing market is slowly beginning to show signs of improvement. There has definitely been progress in the real estate industry over the past few months and it will continue to grow. Even though this growth is expected to be slow, it is also predicted to be steady as we emerge from the economic downturn the market has recently experienced.

Baby boomers are also being predicted to come back to the real estate market in a big way over the next couple of years. According to panelists at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) for Boomers and Beyond 50+ Housing Symposium last year, there will be a greater number of home buyers that will become more active over the course of the near future. For this reason, the housing industry has been focusing on this target group.

All of these factors combined are what is going to lead to the natural progression and gradual improvement of the current housing market. The housing market is perfect for those willing to buy.

Is Canada Too Expensive? Try Mexico Real Estate

Have you been thinking that Canada is getting too expensive? For real estate, for day to day living, for taxes? So do many other people - in fact, Canada's tourist numbers have been dropping for this reason lately. For those who need their savings to stretch a little further, Mexico real estate presents a continuously more attractive option for inexpensive living, and especially with cheap Mexico beachfront real estate available in up-and-coming regions. The possibilities are attractive both for retirement and other reasons.

No one needs to be convinced that the cost of life is high in Canada - real estate prices are at all time high of with an average for homes over $450,000, and prices for everything else just seems to be going up as well. While the high international value of the Canadian dollar brought some hopes of lower prices, experts say that this will take a long time to have any effects, and may not bring the results hoped; a smaller market and higher general importation costs will not allow importers to deliver products in the same vast quantities or low prices as to the U.S.

With the Canadian dollar high, the high prices are even more noticeable for those from other countries. During the period from 2002 and 2008, Canada has declined 15% in tourism, compared to a 30% growth internationally, which represents a drop to 14th place in the world. The drop has occurred mostly in U.S. visitors, who are the vast majority of visitors; in 2009 there were about 12,000,000 U.S. visitors to Canada out of a total of 16,000,000. Studies show that Canada is still well-loved, but people just don't feel they can afford it - sound familiar?

But there is good news in all of this for many Canadians. The strong Canadian dollar, now at par with the U.S, has made real estate and the cost of living even more accessible abroad; and among the choices Mexico shines out from the rest.

Mexico has very well developed infrastructure, both in terms of transportation (it is currently #1 in the world for the most new highway projects), excellent health care for prices much more accessible than in the U.S. and without the waiting lines in Canada, and activities; tourism activities, such as golf, ecoparks and marinas play an important part of lifestyle for Canadians and Americans living here, and Mexico's many celebrations and cultural events make life interesting for those who have chosen a Mexico retirement, or simply a new life in a year-round warm climate. Mexico is also close to home, with a 4 hour flight usually getting you from most places in Mexico to most places in Canada.

And how much does it cost to make Mexico your new home? Consider this; a lot with 20 m of beachfront in the state of Campeche (on the Yucatan Pesinsula) goes for $64,900 U.S. - and now you pay the same, since the Canadian dollar is on par - and for about $100,000 more you can have a high quality beachfront home built. Campeche is an up-and-coming tourism area and offers more and more activities and conveniences; it already has a Walmart supercenter (like the American ones that sell everything, including a full range of groceries), several large Mexican stores of a similar style with prices considerably lower than what you're used to (especially now with the dollar at par with the U.S), up to date health care, and a beautifully restored colonial city, and two world-class golf courses on the way.

This is only one example of a place where you can live in Mexico at a much more affordable price. If Canada is starting to seem expensive, consider Mexico real estate.

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