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It’s a buyer’s market, and if you’re tempted to pack your bags, lured by the sparkling crystal clear seas and low tax rates in this expat haven, you wouldn’t be alone, says Amy Grace


Not only were residents in Malta enjoying temperatures of nearly 20 degrees when the UK was snowed in last month, they were revelling in the knowledge that their tiny island Preston Smith Jersey , slightly smaller than the Isle of Wight and an hour ahead of GMT, has a superb quality of life, low crime rates, and a property market that has not experienced any drastic dips – most likely due to the fact that not too many Brits had joined the party during the last property boom in 2003 to 2004 and, consequently, there was no sudden mass exodus.


Close to southern Italy and North Africa, yet boasting a sophisticated European property scene that is a magnet for top designers and architects Brandon Scherff Jersey , Malta scored highly in the recent International Living Quality of Life Index, with freedom and security, climate and the environment all being awarded between 85 and 100 per cent. Though restrictions are placed on how many properties foreigners can buy on Malta, there are opportunities to buy, and rent out, multiple properties in special investment areas – Specially Designated Areas (SDAs). Tight regulations govern the conditions of purchase and rentals in residential areas outside the SDAs.


Mark Bodega, Director at HiFX Montae Nicholson Jersey , the UK’s leading independent online foreign currency exchange brokers, explains why he thinks there is still reason to exercise caution. He said: “It was apartments that led the house price crash. Malta’s EU explosive housing boom in 2003 to 2004 saw tremendous house price increases and sharp rises in construction activity, but with waning demand and oversupply, the housing boom is now officially over.”


However, with such a small landmass, the future for house prices looks promising. Even if the pace of capital appreciation has slowed, developers cannot simply keep retreating further inland as they have done in Spain.


Jeffrey Buttigieg, Regional Director for ReMax Malta, comments that: “Developers of high-end projects such as Portomaso and Tigne Point have had encouraging results throughout 2009, and are looking forward to a prosperous 2010. Those struggling are the developers of smaller, low-budget properties, though first-time buyers who were struggling to purchase a property previously are benefitting from the lower property prices and low interest rates.”


For those looking to invest in a holiday home or rental property Fabian Moreau Jersey , he recommends that the focus for a property search should be in an area where resales are easy to achieve, in one of the Specially Designated Areas such as those mentioned above and also Ta Sellum, Fort Chambray on Gozo, and Pender Gardens.


The rental market in Malta is predominantly based in the fashionable St Julian’s and Sliema area, with a good selection of seafront and inland apartments close by. This is the main centre of employment and entertainment on the island. “If you’re looking for a luxury villa, you can widen your search to Madiena and Ibrag,” says Jeffrey “but certainly Ryan Anderson Jersey , the number of buyers venturing into the niche market, such as 300-year-old farmhouses, has fallen and been phased out.” Those in search of the true peace and tranquility offered by a more remote property are likely to opt for the island of Gozo.


But for the majority of overseas buyers, attracted to the fiscal advantages of buying in an SDA, the Tigne Point development, just 15 minutes from the international airport, is well worth considering. Tigne Point is also just a short boat ride across the harbour from the island’s beautiful baroque capital city Jonathan Allen Jersey , Valletta, a World Heritage Site.


Vanessa Lupi, from the Marketing Department at Frank Salt Real Estate on Malta, says: “Though the island has never attracted hordes of buyers, the last couple of years have seen constant growth in the local market. Those who have invested here in the past have seen a significant return on their investment.”


Vanessa continues: “Another contribution to the demand for property was the introduction of low-cost flights to and from Malta Derrius Guice Jersey , making it easier for people to visit. The number of people buying for investment purposes is now relatively high, mainly due to a h Shop[/url] cheap air jordans mens Wholesale Nike Shoes Free Shipping Wholesale Nike Air Jordan