INVESTING

Singapore's New Creation Church recognises the power of contemporary audience-capturing ministry and strong business returns of a good investment.

It is not all gloomy in the Australia housing market. According to the latest RP Data/Australian Financial Review (AFR) data, there are some suburbs that allow investors to earn amidst disappointing price declines.

www.globalpropertyguide.comNo end to the global housing market downturn is yet visible, except probably in the US, according to a survey of global house price trends by the Global Property Guide. Asia is weakening, and house price falls in the worst-hit European crisis countries are dramatically accelerating.

Despite the recent floods, an extraordinary change of mood has gripped the Philippines, the sense of a new beginning.

The chairman and CEO of game developer Zynga Corp, Mark Pincus, has unloaded two of his properties in the San Francisco Bay Area worth $10.17 million not because of a lifestyle downgrade due to a recent stock plunge.

Retirement was something you were supposed to have sorted out by now. Superannuation was something that was going to help you do it. And the age you tell your boss, or your employees, 'I quit' was something you were supposed to have your eye on.

Charter Hall Retail REIT (ASX:CQR) (the 'REIT') has announced that it is in the tail-end of acquiring Wanneroo Central Shopping Centre in Perth, Western Australia for $70 million.

Ireland's economy is now slowly recovering, but its residential property market is still in deep trouble. In 2011, the national residential property price index plunged by 16.7% (-18.7% inflation-adjusted), based on data released by the Central Statistics Office.

Property research firm www.globalpropertyguide.com investigated on the property development in Japan almost a year after the devastating earthquake.The Tohoku Earthquake of March 2011 had a not entirely surprising effect - the Japanese are now more nervous of condos, and their prices have fallen sharply.

Property research firm, www.globalpropertyguide.com has featured the possibilities of investing in the thriving property market of Seychelles. Blessed by nature, the Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 islands with superb beaches, an unspoiled landscape, virgin forest, amazing marine life, lots of orchids, bougainvilleas, hibiscuses, gardenias and frangipani, and a profusion of bird species found nowhere else. It is 1,600 km off the coast of East Africa, with a population of only 81,000.

Overseas investors hold one third of the new Australian apartment market. That's about 13,000 apartments in 37 projects spread across Australia, said property group CBRE.

A survey of more than 360 internationally renowned real estate professionals, including investors, developers, property company representatives, lenders, brokers and consultants has revealed the emerging top earners for the real estate sector in 2012.

Sydney is ranked as the third most favourable market in the Asia Pacific region for commercial real estate investment next year, largely due to the resiliency of the Australian economy, according to Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Asia Pacific 2012, a real estate forecast jointly published by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

TV reality sensation Kim Kardashian has signified interest to purchase property in Dubai after her recent visit to the UAE with mom Kris Jenner. Will it be a good investment for Kim? Ibtimes.com.au tries to scrutinize the property investment scenario for the Kardashians in Dubai.

They want the auction to be as peaceful and as successful as possible. Hollywood's Julien's Catalogue.com would not want to brandish the name of the former owner of the antique pieces of furniture and other art works from a mansion in Holmby Hills Estate.

In the Gulf, developers are learning from what did not work and moving on to what is feasible for all. Property developers in the Gulf are trying something new in the market -- focusing on actual housing demands with great consideration to economic reaches of the potential occupants.

Planning Minister John Day is calling for expressions of interest from interested parties to purchase land in the Perth City Link in Western Australia, touted as the most significant inner-city development opportunity in more than a century.

Living and working as a real estate broker in The Riviera Maya, Mexico, I am constantly engaged in conversations with folks who recently purchased their "dream home" in Mexico.

Commonwealth Bank today announced a new online game that will help gamers invest money without risking real life money to do so.

Do not be spooked by gloomy economic forecasts: right now there are great bargains to be had for the canny property investor. A slowing of the Australian economy and a decrease in demand for housing has created a once in a lifetime opportunity for buying solid investments in areas with strong growth drivers.

Today’s market conditions favour property investors who are looking to benefit from ongoing seller discounting, healthy rental income growth and longer term capital gains. For those considering investing, here are hints and tips from Australia’s largest independently-owned mortgage broker Mortgage Choice: