The realistic optimist

Realism means facing the announcements made yesterday by the new Spanish government regarding important tax hikes, drastic cuts and an unprecedented GDP deficit of 8%.

Optimism means relying on the new regulations that promise to stimulate the stagnant real estate market. Among the measures just established are the reintroduction of a tax benefit and a super-reduced VAT rate of 4% on the purchase of new homes.

In addition, the new Public Works Minister Ana Pastor has included a housing policy in her portfolio and made reducing stockpiles of unsold new homes one of her priorities.

These measures tell us that this may a good time to purchase buildable land like the plot offered on this blog.

We shouldn’t forget that investing in land continues to be an option that promises benefits in the medium or long-term, whilst gold and silver prices threaten to begin their downhill or at least unstable course in the coming year, especially if the European debt crisis continues.

Whatever the news, I wish everyone a happy New Year full of optimism, mixed with a bit of realism!

The Spanish Christmas Lottery

December 22nd is a big day in Spain: the Christmas lottery. Buying the plot of land showcased on this blog is like winning "el gordo" (the fat one), the grand prize, except the odds are better.

Good day for the housing market

We’ve gotten used to the markets’ to-the-minute rss feeds on how they respond to every bit of economic news released in Europe. It’s hard to get a firm footing in this financial storm.

However, this past Tuesday was a good day for the housing market as stocks surged, partly in response to positive economic data on the housing sector in the U.S. and positive indicators from the euro zone.

According to the N.Y. Times, the hopeful mood in Europe was sparked by reports from a study showing that “The German economy seems to be successfully countering the downturn in Western Europe.” as well as by the successful auction of three-month bills in Spain.

The promise made by Mariano Rajoy, Spain’s newly appointed president, to stimulate the housing market through a housing policy geared towards growth and cohesion is also seen by investors as a positive and encouraging news feed.

Raging storms and the warmth of Christmas

Winters are also a great season to visit Caión. And when Nature unleashes its fury, it creates astonishing visuals. So even if it doesn't snow in our village, Christmas can still hold a special charm when stormy seas are raging!

Rough? Yes, but relaxing, too, especially when you're lucky enough to be contemplating those images from inside your very own, warm, cozy home. If you decide to purchase the buildable land lot offered on this blog, you'll be one step closer to living moments like this.

The video above is of a tempest that hit our Atlantic coastline and the port of Caión. I would have chosen a different soundtrack; you can imagine your own.

Playing it safe as the Euro currency crisis continues

It seems that I'm not the only one who thinks investing in land can offer protection against the possibility of an even greater economic downturn in the Eurozone:

"From a personal investing perspective, therefore, it is advisable that one consider holding at least some small part of their assets in “hard asset” alternative investments such as precious metals, oil, agricultural land, and others. These hard assets can act as a hedge against inflation, thereby offering some protection from the worst effects of massive QE."

Read more: http://technorati.com/business/finance/article/why-the-crisis-with-the-euro/page-3/#ixzz1gWxgPyfc

As good as —no— better than gold!

No, it doesn't shine like gold, it's not the same color as gold and it certainly hasn't got the same texture as that precious metal. And we all know that you wouldn't be able to wear this fabulous piece of land to your next dinner date because it just wouldn't look right.

On the other hand...

Smart investors know that this real estate asset is as good as—or even better than—gold. I keep wondering how long it will take for that perceptive buyer, knowledgeable about the market, to purchase this buildable property.

Real Estate Investments: As Good As Gold?

In these economically uncertain times, many people are turning to gold as a safe investment. But is gold as brilliant a choice as it seems?

... some argue that investing in real estate continues to offer the security that investors are searching for in recession-plagued Europe or even the U.S.

Read more: http://technorati.com/business/article/real-estate-investments-as-good-as1/#ixzz1g86jEKGI