International Living Reveals Top 10 Best Countries to Live
January 23, 2010
The 2010 Quality of Life Index, produced by International Living, ranks and rates 194 countries based on their quality of life. The index looks at nine categories: cost of living, culture and leisure, economy, environment, freedom, health, infrastructure, safety and risk, and climate. For the fifth consecutive year, France tops the list.
The top 10 countries in the 2010 Quality of Life Index and some of the characteristics that contribute to their high ranking are:
- France: An unsurpassable quality of life, including the world’s best health care.
- Australia: Countrywide access to an active and healthy lifestyle. Urban dwellers enjoy plenty of great culture, excellent food, and a favorable cost of living.
- Switzerland: A super-efficient, high-tech society and alpine tourism.
- Germany: Theater, art, and classical music concerts. Average employee earnings of €41,509 ($61,433).
- New Zealand: Pristine landscapes and absence of high crime rates, abject poverty, pollution, congestion, health issues and cramped city living.
- Luxembourg: A financial center and tax haven, and a per capita GDP of $88,000.
- United States: Convenience of getting what you want, when you want it.
- Belgium: Expat friendly with everything from English-language cinema to international schools.
- Canada: High living and health care standards. Vast natural resources, robust financial industry, and innovative manufacturing.
- Italy: Grand historic cities, 60 percent of the world’s art treasures, and a WHO-acclaimed national health care system.
Harris Real Estate University – Tim and Julie Harris
January 19, 2010
Interviewers note: I really enjoy meeting new people and the fun part of the real estate business is that there are all sorts of fun people to meet. One of the more fun people that I have met has been Tim Harris of Harris Real Estate University. Tim is bigger than life, and far more energetic.
Over the weeks since we first talked, I have grown to appreciate his zest for business and his passion for coaching. In a world of folks who do not walk the talk, Tim and Julie Harris do. Here’s a little information about them along with my interview.
Harris Real Estate University
Founded by: Tim and Julie Harris
Purpose: Educate REALTORS on the best techniques and skills of selling in today’s market.
They now reside in Las Vegas and in Laguna Beach California where they moved from their days as RE/MAX REALTORS in Ohio.
Promising Outlook for Commercial Real Estate Worldwide in 2010
January 17, 2010
Worldwide, 2010 looks promising for commercial real estate investment across most markets, and Asia offers the best opportunities, according to the 16th edition of the LaSalle’s Investment Strategy Annual.
The report says that the free fall in values has stopped in nearly all the major markets it follows and the early stages of restored investor confidence have begun.
Markets across the globe are recovering in very different and surprising ways. LaSalle offered the following information about specific markets:
United Kingdom: While capital values will still increase, a sharp rebound in prices means that the best opportunities have passed, the report says.
Continental Europe: France and Germany are set to see most of the investment activity in 2010. Re-pricing in other countries continues at varying speeds and Central Eastern Europe continues to be paralyzed.
United States: Its recovery is slower because the market has yet to reach bottom. Weak economic fundamentals are expected to push vacancies up and prices down until the second half of 2010.
Asia: The area is expected to offer investors the greatest range of opportunities in 2010 as China and India growing rapidly, and economies that have experienced a contraction in economic output reclaim lost ground by 2010.
LaSalle summarizes that investors in commercial real estate should be cautiously optimistic about the outlook in 2010. However, as a late cycle participant in the general economic recovery, real estate will behave differently from other asset classes.
Century 21 franchisor in China going public?
January 6, 2010
It was reported today on Blogging Stocks that the company with the exclusive franchise rights to the Century 21 brand in China, IFM, has started to fill out the needed paperwork to proceed with an IPO.
So far, IFM has the largest network of real estate offices in China, with more than 1,000 locations across 34 major cities. There are roughly 14,900 agents and staff, which manage 4.7 million property listings. With its heft, IFM is ranked #3 in terms of real estate volume in China.
Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs are reportedly the lead underwriters on the IPO.
Art Bartlett Co-founder of Century21 dies after long illness
January 3, 2010
According to a press release this morning, Century 21 co-founder Art Bartlett has passed away after a long illness at the age of 76.
“Art was a legend whose actions helped to write the very history of real estate and franchising,” says Century 21 Real Estate LLC President and CEO Tom Kunz. Bartlett created the concept of regional franchising and has been deemed the “father of conversion franchising” — converting existing small businesses into franchises.
“His vision, combined with his dynamic charisma and determination have positively touched the lives of generations of real estate brokers, agents and the millions of people for whom they help find homes globally,” adds Kunz.
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