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Gibraltar


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HOLA441

Just thought I would post some information concerning Gibraltar.

The local market there is something of an enigma for a number of reasons:

Postitives

  • Genuine land shortage
  • Lots of relocating staff for gaming/banking/insurance/shipping industries
  • Full employment, in fact greater than 100% - 18,485 out of a population of 30,000, with many thousands commuting from Spain everyday
  • Gibraltar address required in order to send children to school there or own a Gib-registered vehicle
  • Property required in order to qualify for High Net Worth status
  • 10% yield on rental properties
  • Very low crime levels

Negatives

  • Vastly over-priced in relation to average salaries....approx £19K
  • Living in Spain a far superior lifestyle
  • Crossing the border has become easier
  • Rents jaw-droppingly low, 20-30 miles further up the coast in Duquesa, Manilva etc
  • Recent budget changes have removed tax incentives for owning properties...new flat rate tax with no allowances
  • Much smaller properties compared to Spain

Overall, I think the sweeping changes in the last budget in June, have started the rot in the Gibraltar housing market.

Previously, flats were purchased specifically to offset income tax. Allowances were deducatable against mortgage interest & insurance/endowment premiums. The new system has slashed tax bills for middle to high earners.

Added into the mix, the recent credit crunch, I noticed today in the local paper that, prospective buyers were facing mortgage refusals by local lender Barclays due to affordability issues (now where have we heard that before :lol: )

.....On the report that a number of purchasers are experiencing difficulties with their bridging loans Barclays states that it is addressing all applications for facilities, be they bridging facilities or mortgages, with due care and attention to affordability.

“The general public and Regulators would expect this from a responsible lender such as Barclays Bank. Regrettably, as is the case in all borrowing requests, and prospective purchasers of these properties are no exception, a relatively small number will not be able to meet the reasonable and prudent requirements we apply to ensure borrowers can afford what they wish to borrow,” said the bank.

“In the report, it was mentioned that the Government are looking to other lenders to offer facilities. In other words, Barclays Bank is the only Bank currently offering facilities to these prospective purchasers.”.....

http://www.chronicle.gi/readarticle.php?id...tar%20Chronicle

Edited by jaseywasey
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HOLA442

Having made my post last week, I have spent some time investigating the Gibraltar market and I have come to the conclusion, it is a monumental bubble on the Iberian Penisula.

Let's look at Watergardens, a large development in Gibraltar, close to the marina and the town centre.

A 3-bedroom flat is for rent in this complex at £1500 per month

http://www.bfagib.com/rentalsdetail.asp?Property_ID=1937

A similar property in the same complex, is for sale at £315,000.

http://www.bfagib.com/sales/salesdetail.asp?Property_ID=1345

With a 10% deposit, interest only @ 7.25%, the monthly payment would be £1712.81, but you also need to take into consideration both:

  • the service charges of £639 every 6 months = £106.50 per month
  • lost interest on 10% deposit = £31,500 * 0.05/12 = £131.25

Therefore total monthly cost = £1950.56

The rental yield of this property is 18000/315000 = 5.71%, however the landlord is subsidising the renter to the tune of £450.56 per month :lol:

But of course, I haven't included any Capital Appreciation :rolleyes:

Let us move approx. 1 mile across the border and look at similar flat in the Spanish town of La Linea.

The following flat, although not having sea views, is of a similar size and located in a safe, central area of the town:

http://www.idealista.com/pagina/inmueble?c...otos&tipo=I

For Sale at €225,000 (£157,343)

Therefore, with a 10% deposit and interest at 6.25%, the monthly payment would be €1054.69

Plus

  • No monthly service charge!
  • Interest lost on the 10% deposit, €22,500 * 0.04/12 = €75 per month

Total monthly cost = €1129.69/1.43 = £789.99

A similar flat to this could be rented for approx €800 (£559) per month (expensive for Spain, but driven much higher due to re-located workers demand for property close to the Rock).

But even so, the landlord is still subsidising the rent to the tune of €329.69 per month and only achieving a yield of 4.27% :lol:

However, comparing the Gib flat to the Spanish flat, shows just how bubbly the Rock is:

£315K v £157K purchase price

£1951 v £790 monthly cost

£1500 v £559 rental value

And the only extras you are getting for living in Gib are:

  • Easy commute
  • Children can attend the local schools
  • Cheaper cars/running costs

Therefore, I can safely declare that Gibraltar is an enormous bubble on the the Iberian Penisula.

(for the purpose of this calculation I have used the following values:)

Exchange Rate:

€1.43 = £1.00

Borrowing Rates:

Spain 6.25% (4.75% ECB)

Gib 7.25% (5.75% BOE)

Saving Rates

Spain 4%

Gib 5%

Edited by jaseywasey
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HOLA443

I dissagree. Reason people pay this is due to the High Networth residency scheme that Gibraltar has. The tax advantages outweigh the higher living cost.

But i do agree, both Spain & Gibraltar have rental yields below cost of finance, this is almost everywhere in europe (except Germany). This is a sign prices are too high.

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HOLA444
I dissagree. Reason people pay this is due to the High Networth residency scheme that Gibraltar has. The tax advantages outweigh the higher living cost.

But i do agree, both Spain & Gibraltar have rental yields below cost of finance, this is almost everywhere in europe (except Germany). This is a sign prices are too high.

Only some properties qualify for HNW residency usage, generally "luxury" developments.

I agree this does inflate the prices at the higher end of the market, however, (unfortunately I can't find the figures), but I think there are only a relatively small number of HNWs in Gibraltar.

The main pressure on the rental prices, are company lets for relocated staff, non-Europeans who are not permitted to live in Spain, and those who want to send their children to the local state schools.

Spain is crashing as we speak, the painful 10% purchase costs, which could be swallowed in a rising market, are devastating when prices are falling.

Why pay 10% to buy somewhere that is falling in price, when you can rent a similar property for 50% of what your interests payments would be? :o

From the Spanish Property Forum........

Returning to topic, received this unsolicited e-mail today - don't know how they got my address but there is an apparent discount of nearly 20%, plus it's fully furnished.

Don't know if bank valuations are notoriously high, low or true to market price as this will affect whether this is truly a 'bargain' or not.

Bargain Apartment Elviria

2bed 2bth apartment, Los Patios de Santa Maria Golf

Next to Santa Maria golf course and clubhouse, 10 minutes walk to

pino commercial, elviria, with restaurants, shops banks and

pharmacy, 15 minutes walk to beach including nikki beach and the

don carlos hotel and beach club.

86m2 built plus 35m2 terrace, complete with parking and storage,

cream marble floors, travatino marble bathrooms,

sold fully furnished, at the low price of 259,999 euros,

previous bank valuation on similar apt in this development was 320,000euros.

http://www.spanishpropertyinsight.com/foru...68&start=45

Edited by jaseywasey
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HOLA445

It was thanks to some Gibraltarian property investors that I found Meditteranean Morocco. They in 2005 advised me 'the smart money is buying in Morocco now, just 7 km away'. 'Smart money' included crime money btw.

Gibralter seemed even then to have already put on its easy gains, and I could'nt find any decent yields.

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  • 1 month later...
5
HOLA446

GIB PROPERTY PRICES SET TO DROP, SAYS REPORT

By Brian Reyes

House prices in Gibraltar are set to drop in the New Year, according to a study by the local branch of international accounting firm Deloitte.

Many of the real estate agents polled by Deloitte for its November property survey said the Gibraltar residential market was cooling down after a relentless climb over recent years.

Back in July respondents expected house prices to stay flat or increase. Three months later, those expectations had shifted unanimously to ‘no change’ in price. That could signal the start of a dip in the market, Deloitte said.

One crucial factor is the belief that prices for properties in existing housing estates will soften once the new affordable schemes become available.

“The current shift from a positive-neutral price expectation to a neutral one may reflect this belief and signal the interim phase before expectations turn negative early next year,” Deloitte said in its second quarterly survey.

It added: “With the negative effects of the credit crunch still around for a few more months, along with falling property prices in Spain and no sign of an interest rate cut by the Bank of England, we expect residential property prices in Gibraltar to slightly come down in early 2008.”

The level of recent sales activity also suggests a slowdown in the market, Deloitte said.

In June 2007, some local agencies were completing 20 or more deals per month. In October, responding to the latest survey, most agencies said they were completing around 10 sales per month.

According to Deloitte, real estate agents generate the vast majority of their business from the local market, with the Spanish sale accounting for less than a quarter of their total sales. The properties most in demand are two-bedroom homes priced between £200,000 and £500,000. Even so, some 17% of respondents said sales in Spain now accounted for over 50% of their business.

Deloitte suggests a number of possible reasons, not least the softening of the local market which may be driving agents to seek revenue elsewhere.

The drop in Spanish house prices could also be a factor, as might the new dual income tax system which may be encouraging people to buy in Spain, forgo their allowance here and opt for a lower income tax bracket. “Whether this is only a seasonal phenomenon or a more permanent change, only time will tell,” Deloitte said.

RISING COMMERCIAL DEMAND

In contrast to the residential market, rising demand for commercial properties is having a knock-on effect in prices.

Of the agencies polled by Deloitte, some 83% expected rents on commercial properties to head north in the coming months.

“This is not surprising given the shortage of office space in Gibraltar, and it seems that the problem is only exacerbated by the inflow of new international business and gaming companies into Gibraltar,” the Deloitte survey said.

“Policy-makers should be paying particular attention to this problem as the more acute it becomes, the lower the attractiveness of Gibraltar as an international finance and business centre.”

Deloitte’s Gibraltar Real Estate Survey is a quarterly report that provides a snapshot of the local property market, identifying key trends and reflecting the expectations of real estate agents active in this crucial sector of the local economy.

http://www.chronicle.gi/readarticle.php?id...tar%20Chronicle

Edited by jaseywasey
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HOLA447
GIB PROPERTY PRICES SET TO DROP, SAYS REPORT

By Brian Reyes

House prices in Gibraltar are set to drop in the New Year, according to a study by the local branch of international accounting firm Deloitte.

Many of the real estate agents polled by Deloitte for its November property survey said the Gibraltar residential market was cooling down after a relentless climb over recent years.

Back in July respondents expected house prices to stay flat or increase. Three months later, those expectations had shifted unanimously to ‘no change’ in price. That could signal the start of a dip in the market, Deloitte said.

One crucial factor is the belief that prices for properties in existing housing estates will soften once the new affordable schemes become available.

“The current shift from a positive-neutral price expectation to a neutral one may reflect this belief and signal the interim phase before expectations turn negative early next year,” Deloitte said in its second quarterly survey.

It added: “With the negative effects of the credit crunch still around for a few more months, along with falling property prices in Spain and no sign of an interest rate cut by the Bank of England, we expect residential property prices in Gibraltar to slightly come down in early 2008.”

The level of recent sales activity also suggests a slowdown in the market, Deloitte said.

In June 2007, some local agencies were completing 20 or more deals per month. In October, responding to the latest survey, most agencies said they were completing around 10 sales per month.

According to Deloitte, real estate agents generate the vast majority of their business from the local market, with the Spanish sale accounting for less than a quarter of their total sales. The properties most in demand are two-bedroom homes priced between £200,000 and £500,000. Even so, some 17% of respondents said sales in Spain now accounted for over 50% of their business.

Deloitte suggests a number of possible reasons, not least the softening of the local market which may be driving agents to seek revenue elsewhere.

The drop in Spanish house prices could also be a factor, as might the new dual income tax system which may be encouraging people to buy in Spain, forgo their allowance here and opt for a lower income tax bracket. “Whether this is only a seasonal phenomenon or a more permanent change, only time will tell,” Deloitte said.

RISING COMMERCIAL DEMAND

In contrast to the residential market, rising demand for commercial properties is having a knock-on effect in prices.

Of the agencies polled by Deloitte, some 83% expected rents on commercial properties to head north in the coming months.

“This is not surprising given the shortage of office space in Gibraltar, and it seems that the problem is only exacerbated by the inflow of new international business and gaming companies into Gibraltar,” the Deloitte survey said.

“Policy-makers should be paying particular attention to this problem as the more acute it becomes, the lower the attractiveness of Gibraltar as an international finance and business centre.”

Deloitte’s Gibraltar Real Estate Survey is a quarterly report that provides a snapshot of the local property market, identifying key trends and reflecting the expectations of real estate agents active in this crucial sector of the local economy.

http://www.chronicle.gi/readarticle.php?id...tar%20Chronicle

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HOLA448
  • 1 month later...
8
HOLA449

Gib Banks Try And Prop Up Ailing Housing Market

NATWEST LAUNCHES LOCAL 100% MORTGAGE

NatWest Bank is launching a new 100% mortgage in Gibraltar. NatWest says this is one of a series of measures designed to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the mortgage market in Gibraltar and to highlight its determination to help more first-time buyers onto the property ladder.

The new 100% mortgage is available to first and second time buyers and there are a choice of schemes. Applicants will need to show that they can afford to meet the monthly repayments but there will be no need to provide an upfront deposit.

“As one of the most experienced mortgage lenders in Gibraltar, we are aware of the difficulty that first time buyers, in particular, find in raising the up front funds required to provide a deposit on their first home, especially in a market where property prices continue to rise. Equally as responsible lenders, we also want to ensure that potential homebuyers take on a financial commitment that they can afford and we help them in this regard also,” said Robert Mancera, Area Retail Manager , NatWest.:

NatWest is extending the term applicable to all its mortgage schemes from 30 to 35 years giving customers greater flexibility with repayments and introducing a new mortgage calculator facility which helps in determining how much a customer can afford to repay each month.

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HOLA4410
10
HOLA4411

Is Natwest the Natwest that we know? The reason I ask is that Barclays Gibraltar for example is not the Barclays that you find on the high street in the UK. They just pay to use the brand name and offer the typical substandard, 3rd world service that you expect out there.

I had heard that certain banks in Gib had stopped offering mortgages completely on property in the CDS. This leads me to think that this offering is firstly a gimic, with very strict conditions disallowing the vast majority of people that would typically go for a 100% mortgage. Secondly, the Gibbos for some reason think that they are insulated from the trainwreck that is going on down the coast. How typically arrogant of them. After years of laundering money from eastern european gangsters they have got so rich and arrogant. What a horrible horrible place.

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11
HOLA4412

Credit Crunch Hits Gibraltar

OPPOSITION CRITICAL OF DELAYS AT WATERPORT TERRACES

GSLP/Liberal Opposition says it has been alerted to further problems being experienced by purchasers at Government’s Waterport Terraces development which may affect the ability of many of them to complete on their purchases. They say that these problems have come about following the delays to the project for which the Government is the developer.

The present problems relate to purchasers who entered into the obligation to purchase property at Waterport Terraces after they had been approved for mortgages by lenders at the time that they entered into the commitment to buy.

“Whilst lenders were previously prepared to lend up to 95% of the purchase price of the properties, purchasers are now finding that the lenders are now adversely reviewing their lending criteria. This arises from the international problems affecting banks generally,” said the Opposition..

In a statement they say that if the development had been completed as originally scheduled from July 2007, the purchasers would have been able to take advantage of the borrowings offered to them by lending institutions.

“Shadow Minister for Housing Charles Bruzon has continuously pressed the Government in Parliament on the delays to Waterport Terraces and its completion dates. In answer to questions from Mr Bruzon, the Chief Minister told the last meeting of Parliament that the estimated completion date for the first phase of Waterport Terraces would now be this month, May 2008. This is ten months behind schedule, during which time purchasers have been paying interest on their bridging loans which was not budgeted for at the outset. The fact that the Government was the developer was seen by many as a guarantee that there would be no problem in this respect and there many people who understandably feel let down,” said the spokesman.

The Opposition says that it is further informed that lenders are now offering only a maximum of 85% to 90% loan to value mortgages.

“That is likely to cause great hardship to many who are unable to stretch their finance further to purchase these allegedly ‘affordable’ homes.”

The Opposition says it considers that all of these problems are the consequence of the Government’s “unconscionable delays” in bringing the Waterport Terraces development to fruition.

“This is an example of real suffering by people as a result of GSD inaction and procrastination. Now even the credit crunch which has taken years to develop has caught up with the GSD and is affecting ordinary, working Gibraltarians who wish to buy their first home. The government needs to address this problem and not let down the purchasers at this development again,” said the spokesman.

http://www.chronicle.gi/readarticle.php?id...tar%20Chronicle

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HOLA4413

> 1 mile across the border and look at similar flat in the Spanish town of La Linea.

I remember visiting la Linea around 1970 - it was a ghost town with virtually no inhabitants, you could by a villa for a few hundred quid. At the border with Gib there were spanish shouting across the 100 meters of no man's land trying to communicate with relatives and friends on the other side of the border while mean looking Spanish border guards patrolled up and down. It was a bit like north and south Korea.

Obviously the best thing my grandad could have done at the time is invest the 500 quid he gave more for Christmas in land in la Linea, rather than Southern Water Co bonds returning 16d/£ per annum.

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  • 2 years later...
13
HOLA4414

[...]

Let us move approx. 1 mile across the border and look at similar flat in the Spanish town of La Linea.

The following flat, although not having sea views, is of a similar size and located in a safe, central area of the town:

http://www.idealista.com/pagina/inmueble?c...otos&tipo=I

For Sale at €225,000 (£157,343)

Dragging up this post from an old thread... That same property is STILL for sale and epitomises the Spanish property market. Three years on it still hasnt sold and has been reduced by a mere 10k euros.

The Spanish just dont know about dropping prices to sell, its not a concept that they are familiar with and i think it also shows that there really is very little labour mobility in Spain. Or, perhaps this is actually owned by the bank...

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  • 10 months later...
14
HOLA4415

Dragging up this post from an old thread... That same property is STILL for sale and epitomises the Spanish property market. Three years on it still hasnt sold and has been reduced by a mere 10k euros.

The Spanish just dont know about dropping prices to sell, its not a concept that they are familiar with and i think it also shows that there really is very little labour mobility in Spain. Or, perhaps this is actually owned by the bank...

There are areas where the price of houses has dropped in Spain. Also plenty of mobility - I've worked in Madrid, and almost every Spanish you came across was from elsewhere in Spain. I think there is a reluctance to reduce prices in that particular area, as there are always new workers turning up in Gibraltar (where prices are really prohibitive).

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HOLA4416

It was thanks to some Gibraltarian property investors that I found Meditteranean Morocco. They in 2005 advised me 'the smart money is buying in Morocco now, just 7 km away'. 'Smart money' included crime money btw.

Gibralter seemed even then to have already put on its easy gains, and I could'nt find any decent yields.

Yes, we all remember those days of the boom in North Africa property prices. That's where the "smart money" went. It's nice to know that the money was smart because the people spending it on properties in North Africa with inflated prices sure weren't very smart. I wonder how it's worked out for those people today. Do they have to step around mobs of camped out protestors to get to their property? Or maybe they are trying to sell it on to another sucker because the King has promised to invest billions in infrastructure in the area? Smart money included crime money, you say? Well, it didn't take much intelligence to come into that money, and it didn't take much intelligence to invest it down there either.

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HOLA4417
17
HOLA4418

the Morrisons there is a real rip off

Yep Morrisons is not only the their busiest shop but their most profitable. A complete Rip-Off but with no other choice and ex-pats from Spain it is going to stay that way.

As for house prices, with all the new builds prices have actually dropped from £5000 sqm in 2006 to about £3500 now. Now fairly stabilised. Prices of Houses have not dropped though as they are limited in numbers and are still about £5500-£7000sqm.

Rental has dropped about 30% as well so at least now relatively affordable.

N from Gib!

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  • 3 months later...
18
HOLA4419

Update!

House price sales have literrally collapsed. Anything from £300-£750k is not moving unless very sensibly (rarely in Gib) priced. The influx of retirees and high net individuals seems to have slowed down and those who arrive are renting. Rents still depressed, about a further 10% down and now stable. Low end below £300k are still moving, but a lot less sold than before.

Most people do not need to sell so will hold out. rents are still a fair return so cover owners mortgages. Mortgage availability from main UK institutions holding things back for most. A few years more inflation with stabilised House prices and things may start looking affordable. Inflation here seems rampant, like the UK especially food and drink.

N.

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  • 2 months later...
19
HOLA4420
20
HOLA4421
21
HOLA4422

* hear ^

Update as requested:

Mid Range Houses (£750k-2.5m) not selling well at all.

New build flats (last 5 years) are selling when priced right. Ocean Village is often discounted, Anchorage still has developers apartments and 3 beds make about £450k. Kings wharf sells at right price though the 4 beds are very hard to shift. Tradewinds still popular but often price themselves out of the Market.

Queensway Quay still moving but often at less than you are told.

Cliff Top house is a complete white elephant.......not popular at all except by the Barbary Apes who like the pool area.....

Traditional flats and Local shared ownership all moving well.

Rentals are about the same. No chance of the BTL guys moving in as Rental is about a 4% return!

Holding up for now, but with Spain being so cheap to buy and rent people are staying renting in Gib and buying in Spain which will depress house prices long term. No sign of a crash, more likely a gentle landing as we have seen over the last few years. People still getting pay rises and bonuses in Gib so no chance of a crash. Just stagnation of prices.

Cheers

N.

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HOLA4423

thank you. :)

Your comments on Clifftop House surprise me !

What makes it a white elephant ??

If you were looking at a hirise to live in, which buildings would you be shortlisting ? ....and why ?

Update as requested:

Mid Range Houses (£750k-2.5m) not selling well at all.

New build flats (last 5 years) are selling when priced right. Ocean Village is often discounted, Anchorage still has developers apartments and 3 beds make about £450k. Kings wharf sells at right price though the 4 beds are very hard to shift. Tradewinds still popular but often price themselves out of the Market.

Queensway Quay still moving but often at less than you are told.

Cliff Top house is a complete white elephant.......not popular at all except by the Barbary Apes who like the pool area.....

Traditional flats and Local shared ownership all moving well.

Rentals are about the same. No chance of the BTL guys moving in as Rental is about a 4% return!

Holding up for now, but with Spain being so cheap to buy and rent people are staying renting in Gib and buying in Spain which will depress house prices long term. No sign of a crash, more likely a gentle landing as we have seen over the last few years. People still getting pay rises and bonuses in Gib so no chance of a crash. Just stagnation of prices.

Cheers

N.

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HOLA4424

thank you. :)

Your comments on Clifftop House surprise me !

What makes it a white elephant ??

If you were looking at a hirise to live in, which buildings would you be shortlisting ? ....and why ?

Clifftop House is a terrible Location. Too far out from the centre and often too windy to open up your large windows and doors. Everyone I know who moved there has moved out! Grim place in the wet winter...but nice inside.

Of the New Build high rise Kings Wharf is the best. Great parking, Gym and pool. Nice Gardens and sunbathing area and only 3 minutes walk to Main street with amazing views!

Tradewinds is also very good, my only issue is the noise from the pubs late at night espesially in the Summer when the Windows and doors are open.

The two new Ocean Village Towers are Ok, but tend to be small. These are Majestic and Grand Ocean Plaza, however you do get some great pools to enjoy and go high for the view

The Anchorage is nice but feels more like suburbia, about 20 mins walk to town. Also only a small indoor pool. Nice if you want to live away from it all but not feel isolated like Clifftop Hell........

N.

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HOLA4425

Nautorius

Went for a walk down to Kings Wharf this afternoon. I see what you mean - quite an impressive complex. :)

I was surprised to that only stage 1 existed !

....It explains the great views to the South :)

I will take a closer look at Trade Winds tomorrow.

Thoughts on Rock Gardens ?

I owe you a beer... or 10 for all your help :lol: thank you

Paul.

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