Maximise your FOREX advantage with Excel Currencies
Property investment in 2015 has a slightly different complexion to previous years, which is witnessed mostly at the high end. There is a new liquidity in real estate markets that reflect the considerable volatility seen in FOREX markets this year.
Buyers from Russia, are safekeeping their capital from a fallen rouble in Central London’s prime property markets. British buyers are looking to the Eurozone for improved value against sterling. The US Dollar investors are enjoying an international free rein with the greenback currently riding high as the world’s strongest currency.
Naturally, it follows that when making a real estate purchase in another currency, the exchange rate you achieve can have a significant effect on the property’s value and also its yield potential. For that reason, it’s always best for investors to align themselves with FOREX professionals when it comes to currency conversions towards a property purchase.
Excel Currencies are a world-leading provider of foreign exchange and have been offering preferential FX rates for all currency conversions (particularly to property investors) for many years. Excel’s clients range from individuals to large corporations and their FX rates remain some of the most competitive across the board.
Customer service is crucial when you are dealing with large sums of money in various currencies and Excel take it very seriously. Managing Director Karl Daly says; ” Excel Currencies strive to provide the best level of customer service and guaranteed unbeatable exchange rates. These coupled with our up-to-the-minute market analysis enables us to maximise our clients’ return for their money “.
Excel Currencies guarantee to give you a better exchange rate than your bank, passing on savings to you of around 5%, which on a transaction of £100,000 is a significant reduction of £5,000! Excel obtain the best FX rates because they use a panel of currency providers rather than relying on one source, as many other foreign exchange providers do.
No commissions or fees of any kind
They also charge no commissions or fees of any kind, which makes a big difference to how much you gain from a currency conversion. Excel makes its money from the spread (the difference between the rate they quote and the interbank rate) and so maximum savings are always passed on to you.
If you know you are completing on a property purchase in a different currency, you can fix the exchange rate for a future date with Excel. Their ‘forward contract’ product allows you to fix a rate today with a 10% deposit, for any date up to 2 years in the future. Perhaps you need to pay a deposit and settle the balance on completion in three months’ time? You can fix the rate for both transactions at the same time if the rate is to your advantage.
Buying a property in any currency can be complicated and expensive. That’s when you need someone inside FOREX markets to make sure you always get the very best FX rates. Excel Currencies have more than 35 years combined experience of specialising in foreign exchange. Plus, they consistently deliver unbeatable exchange rates for property buyers in all countries around the world.
When buying or selling currency with Excel, your funds are held in one of a number of pooled client trust bank accounts that fully comply with FCA regulations. You are secure in the knowledge that funds can be only used to fulfil your contractual obligations and not for any other purposes, which is a bonus.
 
Article by +Roxanne James on behalf of Propertyshowrooms.com
There’s more to Orlando than Disney World!
Orlando, Florida has been synonymous with Disney since first opening what was originally called the Magic Kingdom to universal acclaim in 1971. However, these days there is much more driving property investment in Orlando than Disney World and the year-round Florida sunshine.
Dublin-born Garrett Kenny, founder of local property consultants Feltrim Group said: ” Orlando is still one of the world’s prime destinations. It now attracts over 60 million visitors every year which represents huge recent growth. But the area is also fast- becoming a major hub for aerospace, life sciences, R&D, medical, digital tech and business services such as call centres. “
” What we’re seeing here reminds me very much of how Dublin positioned itself over the last number of years as an innovation hub. There is no state income tax and major international corporations are moving operations here. “
This is good news for the savvy property investor because a new demand-stream has emerged in Orlando that could possibly present better yield opportunities. Renting out a property on a long term basis to a professional working in the area is going to supply more consistent rental income than holiday rentals. Whilst it’s possible to charge more for short term lets, there are the void periods, changeover cleans and more ongoing maintenance requirements to consider that don’t apply to the same extent with longer tenancies.
Orlando has been a popular destination for British property investors for many years with buyer-interest set to increase on the back of the dynamism of the local economy. Currently outperforming most other US states in terms of economic growth, Orlando is very much in focus as an investment hotspot.
Projects including the I-Drive 360 retail and entertainment complex, a new hotel at Universal Orlando and the construction of a soccer stadium in downtown Orlando are currently in construction. International names like Deloitte, Verizon and Voxx International are stepping up local operations, and adding hundreds of higher-paid jobs to Orlando’s labour market, drastically reducing unemployment numbers in the Sunshine State.
The indications are that Orlando is a leader in Florida’s economic expansion in terms of percentage of total jobs being added. Sean Snaith, economist at University of Central Florida said: “The Orlando metro area is by our forecast the fastest-growing metro area in the state for jobs. That is fuelled by the I-4 projects (infrastructure), Wekiva Expressway, SunRail, robust population growth, new companies here and yes, the expansion of tourism again.”
It seems Orlando is on a steep growth trajectory making it a great time to be looking at investment property in the area.
 
Article by +Roxanne James on behalf of Propertyshowrooms.com
Beside the Seaside in the Heart of Paris
While researching for yesterday’s article about Dubai’s beaches scoring high on the Telegraph’s list of the world’s most popular beaches , I found out something I didn’t know! Nestled in the Telegraph listing was Paris, which to my certain knowledge has no coastline and so how can the city be home to some of the world’s most popular beaches?
Naturally, I had to ask Google for the answer to this question and I have to say, the answer is quite delightful!
Every summer, urban beaches called ‘ The Paris Plages ‘ appear across the banks of Parisian rivers and canals, captivating residents and tourists from around the world by the City’s transformation to one of the most sophisticated beach resorts in the world.
Vast amounts of sand are brought into the centre of Paris to create the artificial beaches and riverside streets are blocked off to traffic. Lounge chairs are lined up facing the water in a strange juxtaposition to some of Europe’s most iconic architecture and ice-cream vendors wander through the crowds as they relax on the impromptu seaside.
Watersports are big during the Paris Plages season which runs from the third week of July and through most of August, with kayaking, canoes and sailboats available with qualified instruction free of charge. There are beach volley ball games, pedalos, free concerts, plenty of bijoux eateries and everything else you would expect at a beach even though you’re at a fake seaside in Central Paris!
The Paris Plages have remained a completely unique phenomenon since the first beach opened in 2002, along the riverside near the Louvre Museum to the Pont de Sully that crosses the river over the Ile de Saint Louis. There is no swimming allowed in the rivers but there are swimming and plunge pools together with a concert stages hosting free evening performances, rock climbing walls and boardwalk style cafes.
It just sounds so good the idea of buying a pied à terre in one of Paris’ trendy arrondissements has regained pole position on my ‘places to buy if I win the lottery’ wishlist.
It didn’t take long for me to locate my dream property on propertyshowrooms.com! I found a bijou one-bedder on the 18th arrondissement that fits the bill completely. If you’re buying in sterling you can currently snap this property up for just £380,000 and even though the apartment is just 55m², it is located in one of the typically gorgeous Parisian residential blocks, nestled among the vibrant City’s streets in an area consistently sought-after by property investors.
Imagine awaking to this scene from your pad on the 18th arrondissement, Paris
According to Airbnb, an apartment of this size on the 18th arrondissement would command a holiday rental of up to £150 per night through The Paris Plages season in summer. That’s not a bad return on your investment considering you can still easily achieve up to £100 per night during the winter months.
Paris is a one-off city. Completely unique, it never fails to surprise in the most delightful way and that’s why it remains the world’s most popular destination to visit year after year. If you can find an affordable entry point into Parisian real estate, you are guaranteed to be on to a winner.
 
Article by +Roxanne James on behalf of Propertyshowrooms.com
Business Partners
