Reading Time: 3 minutes Which real estate markets should you be watching this year? 2015 was an interesting year for real estate in the emerging markets. While there were a number of challenges as a result of fluctuating oil prices, currency stability, and changing investment laws; a new year brings new, exciting prospects. But what will the next 12 months hold for developing countries and their real estate markets? As 2016 gets underway, we explore the real estate markets to watch this year. Mexico City, Mexico Forecasts from PwC expect that by 2025, Mexico City will have become the seventh richest city in the world. This increased wealth is expected to create more opportunities for the real estate industry in the coming years. While the drop in oil prices and declination of the peso has caused challenges, Mexico’s capital city is experiencing a surge of growth when it comes to real estate. As foreign…

Reading Time: < 1 minute While Indonesia and Thailand are considered as big names in South Asian glamping (luxury camping), there are opportunities for other nations to follow suit. A recent publication by C9 Hotelworks alludes to the increasing demand for back-to-nature holiday experiences. People are tired of overpopulated cities. The chance to get out to natural landscapes and stare at the stars is appealing to city dwellers. You know it’s a thing when big players like the Four Seasons are establishing tented accommodations. The number of tents is generally limited to preserve the intimate experience. The appeal for property developers and tourism operators is the return on investment, given the low capital cost. Destinations that are following the trails blazed by Indonesia include Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Is there potential for Bangladesh to get involved? Certainly, Bangladesh is already an eco-friendly dominant force and, the glamping industry has many synergies with the sustainable building…

Reading Time: < 1 minute Finally, some six years after plans were finalized, the India-Bangladesh railway project is going ahead. The rail line, which will cost Rs 580 crore ($84 million) will be a vital link between two major transport hubs, Agartala and Akhaura. The line will stretch for 15 kilometers and is expected to be completed by 2017. Two-thirds of the track will fall on Bangladesh’s side with the remaining third in Indian territory. This has been a pet peeve of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina since January 2010, when she met Manmohan Singh, her equivalent in India. The pair laid the foundations for the ambitious project upon meeting on the Prime Minister’s two-day visit to New Delhi. The line is also important in the wider Trans-Asian Railway Network, which will connect the South Asian nations with Europe, passing through India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The Indian government is committed to paying the full cost…

Reading Time: 3 minutes Right on the back of narrowly losing against India in the Asia Cup final, Bangladesh are back in action again, pitting their wits against the Netherlands. Bangladesh, with a 2-1 ODI series victory over India in June 2015, is a different animal than the 2004 team. They have a fantastic squad at the moment, probably the best ever. Bangladesh will take on the Netherlands in the first Group A fixture at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala tomorrow Wednesday March 9th. Where to watch Bangladesh live The game kicks off at 3pm IST and as usual coverage is on Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports 2 HD, or Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 3 will telecast it in India. Check out some great bars that show the big games Background Bangladesh is now one of the firm favorites to progress to the group stages of the T20 World…

Reading Time: 2 minutes The fallout out from Britain Leaving the E.U may stimulate interest in real estate in the emerging markets. Nobody actually thought the United Kingdom would vote to leave the E.U. It was like a child dangling his toys out of the pram, most analysts thought it was economic saber-rattling; an idle threat by misguided nationalists but the unthinkable happened— so what next? In the immediate aftermath of Britain’s decision to leave the E.U Sterling took a nosedive plummeting to a two-month low against the dollar. With that came a £100bn slice from Britain’s biggest companies. It was clear to all that their decision to leave would have major consequences for the global economy. The devaluation of the pound could lead to inflation and a rise in interest rates, which would depress the housing market; and that is enough to scare international investors away. With America coming up to a presidential…

Reading Time: 3 minutes In just a few weeks, the Olympic Games will be underway in one of the most flamboyant cities on Earth. Rio will not only put its stamp on the summer Olympics with flamboyancy but also with innovation. Virtual reality, underwater digital lap counters, video reviews, and a vast range of new inventions will change the way we experience watching sport in this digital age. Indeed, just as we have seen new technology revolutionizing real estate, the same thing is happening in sport. Digital innovation is changing the world! Rio Olympics is set to showcase some of the most modern and technological advances ever seen in sport. Virtual reality One form of innovation which has been changing the world in many ways recently is virtual reality, VR. In the real estate industry, we have seen how virtual reality is beginning to make waves and transform the experience of searching for a…