Los Angeles, the City of Angels, is where things happen, including the biggest sales dollarwise in the history of real estate. Why does this particular piece of geography continue to attract so much high-end buyer interest? Is it the temperate climate, the ocean, the celebrities? David Parnes and James Harris of the famous The Agency offer their opinions on where this one-of-a-kind market sits now and where it is headed.
Monaco, the iconic microstate on the French Riviera, is distinguished for its properties, including claiming the world’s densest population per square kilometre, with a large number of residents qualifying as millionaires. Monaco is a beloved destination for the jet-setting elite but also cherished as a place to call home—if one can find an available home to purchase! In our feature, a few residential opportunities for high-income buyers are showcased.
Just a short time ago, the innovative commercial real-estate company WeWork seemed to have got it just right. Its unique concept involving shared “flexible workspaces, agile services and leading technologies” apparently filled a void in networked office-space management. But its stellar progress came to an abrupt halt with the failure of its much-anticipated IPO. With debts piling up, this American start-up’s future lies in the hands of its Japanese rescuer.
Alternative is a broad term, taking in whatever is different from the conventional. In investments, that means anything that isn’t stocks, bonds or cash. It’s a large playing field that is attracting an increasing number of investors, including some of the wealthiest in the world. Returns can be high, but so can risks; what are some of these diverse investment opportunities and of what should the shrewd investor be cautious?
Over the past 30 plus years, Barbados has built a reputation for luxury second homes comparable to those of the most sought-after destinations in the world. Historically known as “The Jewel in the Crown” with its riches from sugar and rum, this British colony could boast of the second-oldest parliament outside of Britain.
Northern California, with its pleasing climate and bountiful natural resources, is home to everything from delicious wines to technological breakthroughs. And also some of the priciest real estate on the planet. Here’s a peek at some of the top trending areas for those seeking to dwell in luxury as close to the action as possible. Although inventories are tight, there are still opportunities for the savvy homebuyer.
Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, is rich in oil but suffers from underuse of its own human resources. Abu Dhabi’s commitment to rebalancing away from oil will be underpinned by improvements in financial education, exemplified by a new academy launched by Abu Dhabi Global Market in partnership with the London Institute of Banking & Finance.
Marbella, a city in southern Spain strategically located on the Mediterranean Sea, hosts a luxury real-estate market that is virtually recession-proof. Having survived the last financial crisis relatively unscathed, unlike other markets in the country, Marbella is giving rise to new-look and high-tech luxury properties with values that appreciate on average by 10 percent annually, with those priced above €20 million qualifying as “super properties”.
As the Muslim population grows worldwide so does the demand for Sharia-compliant finance. Even in areas in which Muslims do not yet make up the majority, there is a strong demand for this type of niche financing, particularly for real-estate investment; understanding the main structures of Islamic finance that are integral to real-estate transactions are guaranteed to grow in relevance.
Real estate continues to attract investors, especially when other investment options are shaky at best. In Europe, non-listed real estate funds offer an alternative to direct investment, involving much less capital and greater diversification. But how do these funds respond to applicable risk factors compared to the direct investments?