Spain's popularity as a golfing holiday destination makes property within easy reach of a course a good investment.

This is according to Marc Pritchard, sales and marketing manager of Taylor Wimpey de Espana, who explained it has a strong international reputation among golfers.

"It's certainly the most popular European golf location and anyone thinking of buying a golf property in Spain would definitely be making a wise move," he asserted.

Mr Pritchard highlighted figures published recently by KPMG, which revealed almost two-thirds (60 per cent) of the golf tour operators surveyed experienced a rise in the number of bookings for golfing trips in 2011.

There are over 300 golf courses in Spain, with Andalusia in the south of the country a particular hotspot due largely to the warm year-round climate. According to the Spanish tourism association, there are more golf courses per sq m in Malaga and Cadiz - provinces in Andalusia - than anywhere else in Europe.

The value of residential real estate in Dubai increased by 1.53 per cent in April, compared to a month earlier, while in Abu Dhabi property prices dropped by 0.65 per cent.

In Abu Dhabi, this now means the cost of buying a home has fallen 5.82 per cent year-on-year. By contrast, it has become more expensive to make a purchase in Dubai, with prices there climbing by 11.46 per cent in the same period, according to the REIDIN figures.

It is a similar picture in the rental market too, with Dubai experiencing both monthly and yearly rental price rises. However, the cost of leasing smaller apartments in the emirate fell last month.

Rental values in Abu Dhabi continued to slide month-on-month and registered a 9.38 per cent decline since April 2011. Conversely, it is small apartments that are performing well in Abu Dhabi, with flats measuring under 50 sq m or between 51 sq m and 100 sq m seeing monthly rises in rental charges.

In the latest Knight Frank Prime Global Cities Index, Dubai was the best performing Middle Eastern destination, posting a quarterly increase in property values of four per cent during the first three months of 2012.

An increasing number of former homeowners who lost their US property in a foreclosure are re-entering the housing market.

According to a report by Reuters, there has been a rise in the volume of mortgages backed by Federal Housing Agency (FHA), with this type of finance accounting for 30 per cent of residential real estate purchases at the end of last year.

In 2005, this figure stood at 4.5 per cent, indicating a growing number of Americans are turning to the FHA for help funding a property transaction.

People applying for an FHA-insured loan do not require as high a credit rating as with conventional lenders and can pay a lower deposit. However, interest rates tend to be higher and an upfront mortgage insurance premium is included in the finance package.

Research published recently by RealtyTrac revealed the rate of US foreclosures has hit its lowest level since July 2007. In April, the number of repossessed properties fell by five per cent month-on-month and dropped 14 per cent on an annual basis.
 

The volume of money ploughed into Romanian commercial property increased significantly in the first quarter of 2012.

Property Magazine International reported on data published by DTZ Echinox, which revealed the €99 million (£78.9 million) invested in the country's real estate market between January and March represented a 189 per cent rise over the final three months of 2011.

Looking at real estate investment for last year, compared to 2010, the mixed-use and residential sectors made the biggest gains, with retail assets losing out.

According to DTZ, prime yields in the office, retail and industrial industries are stable, standing at eight, 8.5 and 10.5 per cent respectively.

Romanian real estate is a popular choice among alternative investors, US firm Alternative Asset Analysis recently claimed.

The organisation explained fluctuations in global economies are encouraging investors to turn away from equities and look elsewhere for opportunities, with property in Romania among the top options.
 

Property investors who own real estate in South Africa and lease it out need to be aware of new legislation being introduced in the country.

Attie Pretorius, director and head of the national real estate practice at law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, explained the Rental Housing Bill will have implications for landlords.

One chapter of the legislation relates to the establishment of tribunals to solve disputes between landlords and tenants, such as issues relating to overcrowding or poorly-maintained properties.

Meanwhile, Cape Town has recently introduced a by-law to tackle the problem of dilapidated and abandoned buildings, which allows the local authority to repair or demolish a property at the expense of the owner, Mr Pretorius added.

In a recent article for MoneyWeb, commercial property national head at Rawson Property Group Jason Lee urged landlords to exercise caution when choosing tenants. He advised those leasing out homes not to be worried about asking for large deposits, as this financial protection is needed because landlords are liable for charges when tenants default on bills to utility companies.