Gaining financial security is the main reason why most people turn to international property investment. Property has been, and will continue to be, one of the most solid long term investments available. Investing in property represents the ‘best reward versus risk investment’ you can make. It’s commonly known that pension & investment funds have been giving poor returns since the stock market turbulence of 2003. So whilst other investments are failing to excite, international property investment continues to deliver higher than ever returns. Therefore, leaving your hard earned cash in the bank to collect interest, may not be the best option.
 
Property can sometimes be a difficult investment to manage; many in-experienced property investors make basic errors turning their investments into a financial burden, rather than an asset. These errors can be easily avoided with the right advice and assistance.
 
Basic mistakes many novice investors make, include:

Paying too much
Not doing enough research
Buying in the wrong areas
Not having secure entry and exit strategies in place

These errors can be avoided with the support and advice of a reputable property investment company. Compass Worldwide Properties (www.compasswp.com) currently helps its client to avoid these mistakes by negotiating good discounts, carrying out extensive due diligence checks and helping people devise a secure investment property strategy.
 
COMPASS WORLDWIDE PROPERTIES – POINTING YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Bulgaria is a country roughly the size of England. It is situated in the South Eastern part of mainland Europe and covers an area of 110,994 square kilometres. It is bound in the east by the Black Sea; in the north by the River Danube and Romania; in the south by Turkey and Greece and in the west by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Macedonia. It is, therefore, strategically located at the crossroads between Northern and Southern Europe and between Europe and Asia. The population is estimated at over 8 million and as one of the most rapidly advancing nations in Europe; Bulgaria has become a byword for international property investment. Bulgaria has a Continental climate with short Springs, hot Summers (average temp 20 to 30°C), long sunny Autumns and ski resort Winters (average temp 3°C but often dropping to -30C).

Within Bulgaria there is much to draw foreign visitors and investors alike, from 354km of Black Sea coastline, to 37,000km of hiking paths in the mountains, to a ski scene that rivals the Alps in beauty whilst being far cheaper. The World Trade Organisation forecasts that by 2010 the country will be visited by 20 million tourists annually, making it one of the world’s most promising international tourist destinations.

Bulgaria traces its foundation as a state to 681 AD. After a period of 500 years as part of the Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria became an independent principality in 1878 and a Kingdom in 1908. The Bulgarian People’s Republic was proclaimed on 15 September 1946. Following the demise of the Communist regime in November 1989 and the establishment of democracy, the country has now been restyled the Republic of Bulgaria. The present day Bulgarian economy has essentially been shaped by the industrial network put in place during the communist years when Bulgaria was an integral part of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) group of nations. This period saw Bulgaria move away from being a country with a primarily agricultural base to being one of the prime producers of chemicals, steel, electrical components and computers.

Within the property market, Bulgaria is turning towards higher quality developments; only granting permission to the highest-quality projects, and taking care to protect the national parks and natural resources which have proven such an attraction. The cost of living in Bulgaria is one of the lowest in Europe.

Sofia: population 1,200,000 capital and main commercial centre. Plovdiv: population 338,300, second most important town. Varna: population 320,670, one of two principal ports. Bourgas: population 209,480, one of two principal ports. Rousse: population 178,440, important town. Stara Zagora: population 167,710, important town Pleven: population 149,180. Dobrich: population 100,000. Sliven: population 136,150, important town. Shumen: population 104,480, important town.

Situated in the north-west corner of Africa, with an area of 446,550 square kilometres, Morocco has both a Mediterranean and an Atlantic coastline. The dominant feature of the country is the Atlas Mountain range. The population is estimated at almost 29 million, and is growing at about 3.3% per annum. The economy is dependent on agriculture and employs 50% of the population. During the summer months (June to September) temperatures inland can reach around 38ºC and the towns situated on the coast usually average around 22ºC to 27ºC. The average temperature during the winter months (November to May) is 15ºC.

Morocco has many attractions, from the chaotic city of Marrakech to the quiet Berber villages of the Atlas Mountains. The climate is excellent and it is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination. Marrakech is home to many attractions including the nation’s best golf courses and hotels, and has the Atlas Mountains on its doorstep. Casablanca is the biggest freight port, followed by Tangier.

Morocco’s close association with France (it was ruled by the French from 1912 to 1956) means that it has long been popular with French buyers. As yet though, worldwide buyers are still to discover Morocco’s charms in any great numbers. However, this is changing as increasingly professional practices are beginning to appear and instil a greater confidence in the buying process. Morocco’s popularity as the most exotic short-haul destination available to Western Europeans is starting to have an impact on property prices as well as the tourist industry.

Morocco enjoys financial stability and economic reform is firmly on the Government’s agenda. The Moroccan Government is keen to attract foreign investment and has provided a number of incentives to encourage foreigners to invest. Foreigners may invest in any sector available to Moroccans. The Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and Double Taxation Agreement allow for the protection of existing and future investments.

Casablanca: population 5,000,000, industrial and trading centre and main seaport. Rabat: population 634,000, capital and seat of the Moroccan Government; its twin, Sale: population 677,000, lies just across the river. Marrakech: population 750,000, is the market town of the south, noted for its carpets. Tangier: population 562,000, commercial centre, and seaport for the northern region. Fez: population 775,000, religious, university and commercial centre, noted for its handicrafts. Meknes: population 623,000 important agricultural market town. Oujda: population 680,000, administrative and commercial centre in the north-eastern region, on the border with Algeria. Agadir: population 603,000, winter tourist centre in the south and important fishing port.

Romania is a country in South-eastern Europe. It shares a border with Hungary and Serbia to the west, Ukraine and Moldova to the northeast, and Bulgaria to the south. Romania has a stretch of sea coast along the Black Sea, and the eastern and southern Carpathian Mountains run through its centre. The population is estimated at around 23 million, of whom 55% live in urban areas. Romania’s climate is temperate continental, with cold winters and hot summers, and often with short springs and autumns. The Black Sea coastal area enjoys mild winters and cool summers. The average summer temperature is around 22°C to 24°C; the winter average is -3°C to 0°C.

Romania has the majestic castles, medieval towns, great hiking, wildlife, and cheap skiing of much of the undiscovered former Eastern Bloc. The primary focal point is the capital Bucharest which lies on the Wallachian plains, between the Carpathian foothills and the Danube River. The Carpathian Mountains run north-south, almost as far as Bucharest, before turning west. There are fertile plains, gentle hills, prime agricultural land, and numerous vineyards. The Danube delta, rich in fauna and flora, has been designated a special protected area by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The medieval Saxon towns of Brasov and Sighisoara are of great tourist appeal. Their Transylvanian hill location and association with everybody’s favourite Vampire has put them firmly on the tourist map. Resort towns such as Constanta, Romania’s largest port and second largest city, Mamaia, Eforie Nord, Neptun-Olimp and Costinesti are popular with tourists in the summer months.

The modern state of Romania was formed by the merging of the Danubian principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia in 1859. The state united with Transylvania in 1918. A flourishing period characterised the decades between the two World Wars. On 30 December 1948 the People’s Republic of Romania, which later became the Socialist Republic of Romania, was proclaimed. Following the revolution of December 1989, Romania returned to democracy. Its capital and largest city is Bucharest, the sixth largest city in the European Union (EU). Romania joined NATO on March 29, 2004, and the EU on January 1, 2007. Romania has the seventh largest population and the ninth largest territory in the EU.

Bucharest: population 2,250,000 is the capital and the main commercial and political centre. Constanta: population 348,000, the principal port on the Black Sea. Galati: population 326,000, a major port on the Danube. Iasi: population 341,000. Cluj-Napoca: population 332,000. Timisoara: population 322,000. Brasov: population 322,000. Craiova: population 307,000.