Steve Long, chief executive officer of CasaCalida Property Group, has highlighted several attractions that make the Spanish region stand out.

Among them are Europe’s largest shopping mall, a new continental airport and the proposed development of the Paramount theme park.

Mr Long commented: "I have been telling people for years that Murcia is the best place in Spain, if not in Europe, to invest in property."

He added there are comparatively few Spanish real estate developments on the market in the area, which means demand will far outweigh supply should the projected visitor numbers – of three to five million tourists each year – for the new amusement park prove to be correct.

In December last year, Proyectos Emblematicos Murcianos SA, the promoter behind the Paramount attraction, announced it would complete the purchase of the land required for the project on February 6th.
 

However, managing director of Portuguese agent Infinito Real Stephen Anderson noted investors are increasingly finding other avenues to raise money for their purchases.

"Recently, we have seen a few savvy developers offering an alternative method of funding to avoid the stumbling block of acquiring finance from the bank, thus helping to get the property market moving," he stated.

Mr Anderson went on to explain such deals usually involve a 30 per cent deposit from the buyer, with the remainder of the property’s value being paid off over a period of years agreed by both parties.

He added the buyer can then use the flat or house as they wish, either living there themselves or renting it out.

Last month, a report published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) indicated there are opportunities for investors in the Portuguese lettings market.

According to the organisation, the restrictions on lending are forcing more people to move into rented accommodation, with Rics senior economist Josh Miller commenting the sector is exhibiting "robust demand and strong transaction expectations".

Data collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics examining the performance of the real estate markets in the country’s eight state capitals revealed Brisbane’s property prices took the biggest hit, falling by 6.7 per cent annually.

Meanwhile, Canberra held up the best, recording a decline of just 2.6 per cent, while Sydney put in a similar performance with a 2.7 per cent slide.

The quarterly figures released by the organisation indicate that in certain markets, Australian property prices may be making a recovery.

Perth, Canberra and Hobart all posted increases in real estate values in the final three months of 2011 of 0.5 per cent, 0.7 per cent and 0.8 per cent respectively.

Last month, the Housing Industry Association (HIA) published mortgage figures for November 2011, which pointed towards a "modest revival" in the established lending market.

Dr Harley Dale, HIA chief economist, explained lending for purchases of existing homes have now risen in five out of the previous six months.

This is compared to profits of €2.1 billion recorded in the same three-month period in 2010.

One of the reasons given by the company for its poor performance is its exposure to toxic Spanish property assets.

The financial institution has set aside €1.8 billion to cover losses on repossessed dwellings in the south European nation at 50 per cent of their book value.

Alfredo Saenz, Santander chief executive, told AFP the bank is taking a "conservative" approach to the economy. He added the firm wants to be "a step ahead" of the anticipated legislation in Spain that will require such organisations to recognise the extent of their bad real estate loans.

Last month, Bloomberg reported on a statement made by Spanish economy minister Luis de Guindos to state broadcaster TVE, where he predicted the price of buying a home in Spain will fall as banks release their real estate portfolios on to the market.
 

In the latest Knight Frank Prime Global Cities Index, the city was ranked 20th out of 23 locations surveyed based on the annual decline in real estate prices.

However, the data indicates this downward trend in Kuala Lumpur is beginning to slow, with such assets shedding just 0.6 per cent of their value during the final quarter of last year.

Kate Everett-Allen, of Knight Frank’s international residential research team, explained prime property markets around the world continued to outperform their mainstream counterparts, despite seeing prices slide over the last 12 months.

She added any climb in real estate values experienced in 2012 will be bolstered by a "flight of capital from troubled world regions", coupled with a desire among investors to expand their property portfolios rather than focus on other asset classes.

A report published last month by the Real Estate Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia found increasing optimism among the nation’s house builders, with 74 per cent of those questioned expecting prices of homes to rise this year.
 

EstateNetFrance revealed nearly 16 per cent more homes were for sale in January, compared to December.

This also represents a 12 per cent rise in comparison to the same month in 2010.

According to the organisation, many sellers were waiting until the new tax regulations relating to property in France came into force at the start of January to put their houses up for sale.

In addition, assets that had previously been taken off the market have been listed again, increasing the pool of available real estate.

The company pointed out it is a "buyer’s market" in France, even in the luxury sector on the French Riviera, where the average price of a high-end home has fallen below €2 million (£1.7 million) for the first time.

Last month, EstateNetFrance asserted buyers still view property on the French Riviera as "a secure, long-term investment", which is why there was substantial growth in the number of real estate transactions recorded in the area during 2011.

PGA Catalunya Resort highlighted research conducted by The Spanish Valuation Society, which found there was more demand from French, Scandinavian, English and Russian purchasers for real estate in Girona in 2011 than in the previous year.

As a result of the greater level of interest in Girona’s property markets, prices have remained more stable here than elsewhere in Spain.

Some of the reasons for this include the region’s proximity to the coast, its favourable climate and the selection of leisure facilities in the area, PGA Catalunya Resort asserted.

Investors seeking real estate in Spain that is ideal for holiday rentals may also be encouraged by comments made earlier this month by head of Spanish Property Insight Mark Stucklin.

He asserted it is "a buyer’s market" in the country, particularly in "consolidated areas that are well-established with a good range of amenities and services".
 

According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) Global Commercial Property Survey for the final three months of 2011, Brazil’s real estate market has shown resilience in the face of a largely negative picture elsewhere in the world.

Respondents in the country are predicting a rise in rental values, as well as capital growth, in the period from January to March this year.  Canada is the only nation where sentiment is more positive in these two respects.

Property professionals in Brazil also anticipate demand from occupiers will continue to outpace the supply of available premises over the next few months.

Writing for Global Property Guide earlier this month, developer Ruban Selvanayagam stated there are "massive" opportunities for investors in Brazilian real estate, although he urged potential buyers to approach the market with caution and to carry out extensive research to ensure the property they purchase will meet their expectations.

So says Mark Stucklin, head of Spanish Property Insight, who explained looking in these locations means buyers "can now be picky and fussy about what they go for".

He highlighted the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca and Alicante as the three most popular regions for property investors at present.

"Consolidated areas that are well-established with a good range of amenities and services will be the most interesting and will be where people are looking," Mr Stucklin stated.

However, he warned there is over-priced property on sale, so buyers need to do their research before committing to a purchase.

Managing director of Currency Index Robin Haynes pointed out last week (January 26th) that people investing in property in the eurozone – including Spain – can now expect to get approximately eight per cent more for their money than in July 2011, thanks to the reduced value of the euro compared to sterling.
 

This is according to SA Commercial Prop News, which outlined several areas that need to improve before the real estate sector in the nation can get better.

Among them are employment growth, more support from lenders to borrowers who are struggling to pay their mortgages and an upturn in the global economy.

Commenting on the state of the South African residential real estate market, chief executive officer of Auction Alliance Rael Levitt said: "There’s likely to be more pain before there are any real gains for the sector, primarily because of the giant inventory of homes on the market."

Earlier this month, chief executive officer of ooba Saul Geffen stated that it is a buyer’s market in South Africa at the moment, partly because of the low interest rates in the nation.