American Companies Opting For Green Real Estate

Regardless of the non-compliance with the Kyoto Protocol, the United States of America still helps Mother Nature by taking part in green real estate. This doesn't only mean an increase in the amount of construction supplies corporations with green friendly products, it also leads to foreign players having a piece of green properties.

According to current real estate news, corporations such as Goldman Sachs, IBM Corp., Toyota Motor, and JPMorgan Chase have already made a move towards green friendly properties. Aside from that, there are other companies including Bank of America and Accenture are on its way to getting themselves their own buildings made using green materials. Whether through construction or leasing, said companies are determined to go green.

Maybe it is due to constant information dissemination regarding global warming as well as other environment-related dilemmas, green real estate is now becoming one of the fastest growing sectors of an already booming industry of commercial properties. Based on current market reports, approximately 5% of new commercial buildings all over the United States of America have attained the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification just||as of the previous year. Approximately 10% more are to follow by next year. This statistic does not even include residential properties, that are also predicted to undergo a change.

In addition, the change is affecting not just with new buildings, but also in already existing buildings as well. Developers such as the Durst Organization as well as Hines are cutting half empty office buildings then placing them under renovation. Everything is altered according to eco-friendly standards. This is done to increase rent by 3% higher compared to the previous charge as well as amplify the property value by 7.5%.

Real estate news also notes that aside from a possible increase in rent, these are also utilized because they can save up to ten percent in utility spending each year. A number of the already existing green real estate use up forty-two percent less electricity and it also consumes 34% less water compared to traditionally constructed properties. More importantly, as innovation on sustainable materials keeps up, green constructions are predicted to be more cost-effective.

British buyers back in force

Falling Spanish property prices and a rising Pound are luring increasing numbers of British house-hunters back to Spain, reveals a new survey. And leading Spanish housebuilder Taylor Wimpey España confirms the trend with a big jump in sales to Brits.

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Around 56% of Brits enquiring about the Spanish property market are actively interested in purchasing opportunities according to a study by Spanish real estate agent Inmoaction, with 27% of respondents saying they would buy a second home in Spain.

Results from the survey of more than 1,500 people highlights that the decline in prices in the Spanish property market is increasingly attracting British buyers looking for a well-priced dream home.

“While the data shows that Brits seem to be showing a great deal of interest in Spanish property, we at Taylor Wimpey España are seeing this interest translate into action,” says Marc Pritchard Sales and Marketing Manager of leading Spanish house builder Taylor Wimpey España. “While enquiries by Brits increased by 5.5% in August this year compared to last year, last month saw 53% of all our property sales in August made to British clients – the strongest sales month to British buyers since September 2010!”

Pritchard has no doubts about the driving force behind the resurgence of interest from British buyers. “Opportunities to purchase quality properties in good locations at low prices combined with the strength of the Pound and just 4% VAT has meant that Brits are prepared to act in order to take advantage of the current market,” he explains.

Keen to capitalize on this activity, the Spanish government and the Spanish Property Developers Association will be working together to formulate a plan that will target foreign buyers in order to help reduce the level of real estate stock on the market in Spain with a focus on Russia and China as well as EU nations. Russia is a fast-growing market for Spanish property and over 11% of Taylor Wimpey España sales last month were to Russian buyers.

For property hunters looking for high quality affordable property Taylor Wimpey España has some excellent properties on offer at only 4% VAT until the end 2012.

For example, on the Costa del Sol, La Floresta de la Mairena, key-ready flats from only €178,000, and Los Robles de los Arqueros (pictured), in the Los Arqueros Golf & Country Club, just 5 minutes by car from Puerto Banus, from only €240,000.