The European Central Bank (ECB) has kept Eurozone interest rates at 1% for the eighth month in a row.

The decision comes as little surprise with many economists predicting the interest rate hold.

John Busby, director, French mortgage specialists Athena Mortgages, comments, “Another month, and as predicted another hold. It’s a prudent decision, as 2010 kicks off with the European economy facing a difficult year.  Read more... (226 words, 1 image, estimated 54 secs reading time)

FOC Sales & Marketing has now re-branded as The Fractional Group in order to take the FOC model deeper into Europe and across the world.

Based in new, luxury offices in Marbella, Spain and within FOC’s headquarters in Guernsey in the Channel Islands, The Fractional Group is the most comprehensive “one-stop shop” for shared ownership. Its team of real estateand investment professionals handle general questions, sales, financing, management, marketing and even furnishing issues.

The Fractional Ownership Consultancy (FOC) is the UK authority on shared ownership. For over nine years FOC has led the way in providing developers with the legal and administrative framework for selling and managing the most successful shared ownership products in Europe.  Read more... (392 words, estimated 1:34 mins reading time)

The dynamic of the European property market is set to change considerably in the New Year, with the UK potentially the biggest loser, experts predict. From 1 January 2010, companies and trustees managing investment funds in the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and British Virgin Islands will be able to invest in French properties free of the French annual 3% tax on their open market value. This will radically alter the flow of funds within Europe and represents a genuine threat to any recovery in the UK property market.  Read more... (753 words, estimated 3:01 mins reading time)

Property investment across Europe has fallen in the last three months in line with expectations however many foreign property investors are hopeful that the property market will pick up again this year.

Property and real estate investment turnover in Central and Eastern Europe was around 220 million Euros, a third of the amount that was turned over in the last three months of 2008. The major issue appears to be a lack of liquidity of funds- with investors struggling to fine mortgages, the property market in Europe has stagnated.  Read more... (183 words, estimated 44 secs reading time)