Trump bumps India up the overseas property ladder

New York-based Trump Organisation has plans for India - big, big plans. On the one hand, US-based billionaire Donald Trump is wooing potential buyers from India for his 45-storey Trump International building coming up in Manhattan and on the other, Trump Jr is setting up a $1bn (£500.5m) fund to buy property in India.

Astute property investors are hedging their bets on the likely outcome of this sudden rush in Indian property investments and developments. It could all come crashing down like many other property markets or it could see an influx of foreign property investors.

The Indian property market is growing year-on-year, mainly because of the growth in the middle classes. However, the developments that will potenitally be on offer by the likes of the Trumps are high-end therefore not affordable by the middle classes.

Driving through the different towns in India, it's not unusual to see abandoned half-built developments. Once promising, these high-end property developments now lie barren due to investor pull-outs, untrustworthy suppliers and most of all, lack of interest from the Indian buyers. There is a definite over supply of properties in many parts of the country yet a rosy picture is being painted for foreign investors.

Polical strife in Thailand puts investors off

Overseas property investors can strike yet another destination of their list. Violent protests in Thailand which left one person dead and 43 injured have put a black cloud on the otherwise booming property market in Thailand.

Thai stocks are set to fall, with fears of further political unrest dominating the market.

Credit Suisse Group are advising investors to avoid stocks in Thailand and to re-think property investments. A statement from them suggested violence will continue and the country will soon become 'ungovernable'.

British holidaymakers are being warned to avoid trouble-hit Thailand unless it's very essential. Frequent attacks, including bombing and shooting, due to insurgency and civil unrest continue.

Going Green Could Save You Green

Energy Efficient Homes provide hope to Property Investors

Carbon appeal is set to surpass 'kerb appeal' for property buyers claims a new research from the Energy Saving Trust. The survey reveals that energy efficient homes could be a vital driver to keeping the property market moving in the current doom and gloom climate. The study results show that half of UK homeowners believe homes with greener features are easier to sell in the current market and 53% of all householders say they would be willing to pay extra for them.

The research reveals however, that estate agents could be under-selling the value of greener homes through a lack of information.

Despite the fact that householders are willing to pay on average £3,350 more for a 'green' home, almost half (49%) feel that estate agents don't put enough value on a home's green features and 56 per cent feel that estate agents don't know enough about energy efficiency performance.

There is a clear appetite for clearer information however, as two-thirds (66%) of householders would like more guidance from estate agents on the likely running costs of a home.

The research also indicates that failing to pay enough attention to a home's 'carbon appeal' could make it harder to sell, as over three-quarters of those surveyed (78%) agree that having 'poor' energy rating on their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) could lead to buyers haggling down the price of a home on the market; furthermore two-thirds (66%) agreed that in light of the current economic climate, home-buyers are more likely to consider the EPC to ensure a home has lower-running costs.