IF you come here in France, without doubt the most productive and booming real estate industry is located in Valencia. Valencia is one of the stopovers of America’s Cup in 2009. America’s Cup is of course the most famous sailing race all over the world. This early, hotels and several resorts are now sprouting near the Valencia port. And sandwiched between these hotels are subdivisions which are slowly getting developed as the anticipated event grows nearer and nearer every day. Inland, there is also a growing surge of apartments for rent and for sale. Prices of condominium units vary and are negotiable but them each suite is furnished with lots of amenities – heater, air conditioners, an LCD screen television and everything else in between. The Spanish Grand Prix in 2008 which is supposed to take place here has sadly been scrapped though but that doesn’t mean that properties here are not hot.

Then in the Pyrenees at this time of the year, there are lots of properties for sale there too as the mountain range is emerging as the next Alps of Europe. People from the Netherlands and Sweden who have been bored going to the Alps try to ski and have some sled racing here in the Pyrenees. It is relatively cold here during winter but that definitely doesn’t dampen the mood of the tourists to stay in mountain cabins and have some fun. It’s a Spartan life in the cabin with no access to the Internet at all. Of course, there is satellite Internet connection but without because it is too costly and it doesn’t have any high-speed access, it is not worth it. But don’t worry, all you need to do is buy some DVDs and you can have a movie marathon on your vacation at the mountain cabin.

Off the coast of the Iberian Peninsula, there are also surges of properties in the Balearic Archipelago like those in Ibiza and the archipelago capital of Palma de Mallorca. Even though Ibiza is still the hottest destination for tourists and expatriates, Palma de Mallorca is slowly catching up. Most of the expatriates who have loved to stay here in Spain are having Spanish wives and you’ll love to hear from them learn the new language. The same scenes can be found in Spanish territories off the coast of Africa, the Canary Archipelago which is composed of half a dozen islands but the most famous ones are Tenerife and Las Palmas. Tenerife has a dormant volcano and this is a strategic place to live. There are villas as well as apartment units here for sale too.

Back here in Spain in nearby Portugal, the nation has also taken a slice of the pie as far as European real estate industry is concerned. The success to any real estate economy is synonymous to the success of its tourism economy. The same is true here in Portugal. Despite the Madeleine McCann kidnapping, both the tourism and real estate business continue to flourish in such places as Praia da Luz.