Canada is an evergreen and popular nation with international investors and it is becoming an increasingly popular choice with those in search if the ultimate lifestyle property . It is said that investors looking for the ideal place to buy should consider Quebec.

Quebec is described as a “four season outdoor playground” because of its mountains and lakes, its ski runs and protected wilderness areas, and as a result it is already hugely popular with North American visitors who love the great outdoors and who embrace the unique cultural fabulous province.

Many of those who have visited this province have also realised that it is one of the most affordable in Canada for real estate, and this has led to Quebec becoming home to a certain number of high end, exclusive communities where real estate is prized.

It is these communities where there has been an intensification of the internation property interest as well; locations such a Mont Tremblant- North America’s number one ski resort- have become particularly desirable as they offer the ultimate blend of high-end real estate with luxury lifestyle.

Because of the vast size of the nation, Canada generally offers a buyer far more real estate for their property pounf or dollar, and because the country is a first world leading tourism center offering world-class amenities and facilities aswell as being home to some of the worlds most striking natural scenery. Canada really can be said to have it all.

Ever wanted to swap your home just for a short time? Now you can with HomeLink, the world largest home exchange organisation. HomeLink International was established in 1953 and continues to lead the way in home exchange holidays. Here you can pick your desired destination and then fill in your search criteria, from a non smoking home, to somewhere that pets are allowed. You can then browse the homes up for exchange with their desired destination.

The idea is that you swap your home with another HomeLink member for the duration of your holiday. You stay in their home while they stay in yours. You don’t pay rent and neither does the other person. It’s a free exchange, and they call it a HomeLink holiday.

Take a few days in Amsterdam, two weeks in California or a tour of Australia. Exchangers are most interested in the location. As one journal said about exchanging cottages and mansions, “size doesn’t matter, so long as the place is right”.

Anual membership for HomeLink is from £115 depending on how many pictures you have and how detailed you advert is.

Now thats what I call a cheap holiday! Click here to go to their website

If the banking crisis is threatening the size of City bonuses and property prices, then the news has not yet reached some in Canary Wharf.

The owner of a pair of penthouse apartments at Berkeley Tower, the tallest building in Canary Riverside, has put them on the market with a record asking price of £18.7 million. That’s £14million more than he paid for them three years ago

The total size of the properties are twice the size of the average three-bedroom semi, at more than 6,000 square feet.  This means the cost is more than £2,700 per square foot, more than double the previous Canary Wharf record of £1,216 per square foot.

It is estimated that about 88,000 homes are valued at over £1 million in England and Wales, up from just 30,000 homes five years ago, according to figures by Halifax

When it comes to sales above the £1 million mark, the SW7 postcode has been in second place for years but this year it was matched by W8. The SW1X postcode, which includes Knightsbridge, remains in fifth place, behind NW3 (Hampstead). This may change when flats at One Hyde Park come on to the market with asking prices of at least £20 million each.

However, estate agents today warned that turmoil in the financial markets could see central London homes fall in value for the first time in more than five years. Property agency Savills says houses and flats in the £1 million to £3 million bracket will be stagnant at best for the rest of the year and could fall by up to five per cent.

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Italian architect David Fisher is building his first skyscraper, the Dynamic Tower, and it happens to be one of the most ambitious construction plans since the Pyramid of Khufu. Every floor of the 80-story self-powered building rotates according to voice command, and nearly the entire structure of the $700 million building is pre-fabbed.

The Dynamic Tower offers infinite design possibilities, as each floor rotates independently to create a building that constantly changes shape, resulting in a unique and ever evolving architectural structure.

The Tower is environmentally friendly and the first building designed to be self-powered, with the ability to generate its own electricity, as well as for other nearby buildings, it achieves this feat with wind turbines fitted between each rotating floor, An 80-story building will have up to 79 wind turbines, making it a true green power plant,’ Dr. Fisher stated.

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