A UK developer hit by the credit crunch has demolished half built homes to avoid paying staged payments to the local council planning department.

The French government is creating new planning zones to take into account the possible effects of natural disasters which have major implications for developers and property owners.

Major developers in Spain are now crashing under the pressure of the country's worst property downturn. The future of thousands of homes under construction are now in doubt.

Eco homes could be the answer to Spain's failing property market, experts believe. Developers should take notice of the surge in interest and offer some kind of 'green' element in their buildings.

The property market in Mumbai is reporting a dip in house prices and rentals, with those in the suburbs the worst affected.

Dongtan, China's flagship eco-city is facing delays before the main construction even gets underway with completion of the first phase now unlikely before 2012.

Over development in Bulgaria is having a serious effect as various projects are being halted over concerns about quality, standards and a lack of planning and vision.

Mountains could be the saving of the Las Vegas property market which has undergone one of the biggest slumps in the US.

Some property developers and builders in the UK are suffering in the current climate but major projects are still going ahead.

The troubled Spanish property sector is unlikely to recover for at least three years, according to the latest report from a group of 19 European research institutes.

Work on the much anticipated international airport for the Caribbean island of St Vincent has started along with a promise from the government that it will open on time in 2011.

Bargain properties in Spain may not be all that they seem, with some suffering from shoddy workmanship.

The 20 year tax exemption for buyers in Panama which expired last year has been restored to keep the country's booming real estate market on the rise.

A new coastal law under discussion in Nicaragua could severely restrict and even halt beachside developments, it is feared.

A leading tourism expert has hit out at criticism of the condo-hotel market, saying a few unprofessionals are tainting what is essentially a sound property investment.

The property market in Spain is 'dead' and unlikely to improve in 2008, according to two experts.

Worries that the real estate market in Dubai is a bubble waiting to burst are dismissed by the major developers who claim that population growth alone will be enough to sustain demand.

Real estate markets in Asia are being urged to embrace 'green' technologies and help in the global fight against climate change.

Hyderabad, the fifth larges city in India, is aiming high. Officials have given the go-ahead for it to become a skyscraper city with a minimum construction limit of 30 floors.

British architects are leading the way in developing new techniques for buildings in Russia that need to cope with extreme temperatures.

Britain is not the only country where first time buyers are being priced out of the market or unable to get finance to get on the first rung of the property market.

Three years after London won the 2012 Olympics construction work has started on the Olympic Village but opinion is divided over whether there will be a great effect on property prices.

Developers who fail to invest in professional property maintenance suffer in the same way as motorists who take their cars to cheap back street garages, it is claimed.

High speculation property investment is coming to an end in Panama and investors should look to the longer term, it is claimed.

Green building is increasing in busy areas like the United Arab Emirates as property developers realise the benefits of saving energy.

Eco-homes are here to stay and will become ever more popular as uncertainty about fuel supplies increase and costs continue to rise, according to a leading architect in the field.

The Spanish government has rejected calls to use public funds to jump start the ailing Spanish property market and bail out struggling developers and real estate agents.

As a result of the real estate crisis in Spain, nearly one third of the 1.8 million properties build since 2005 cannot be sold, according to a leading construction association.

Foreign property investment is not just about the cost of the house, too many buyers don't take into account the amount of money needed to repair and renovate, according to a chartered surveyor.

The environmental impact of new buildings is becoming important as eco property investors increasingly seek out developments that lessen the impact of global warming.

The Spanish government has announced ambitious plans to return the coast of Cádiz to its natural state.

Overseas investors in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, are likely to see strong property price growth during 2008, according to market analysts.

America's leading economist Alan Greenspan has given a gloomy prediction for Spain's already ailing property market.

The parents of Britain's former No 1 tennis star Tim Henman are just some of those who have decided to battle against plans by the UK government to build up to 10 ecotowns by 2020.

Despite gloom and doom about many property markets it is still possible to make a healthy profit by buying off-plan, according to a new guide for property investors.

The credit crunch may be biting across the globe but according to property investment experts it is a good thing for Thailand. It isn't affecting people directly but an indirect effect is likely to be realistic valuations and therefore long term stability for investors.

It's still just a few minarets in the desert, but it's poised for a property explosion. The lunar landscape of Ras Al Khaimah is about to be transformed. It is creating a buzz about being the next Dubai.

The Northeast coast of Brazil has experienced massive exposure in the past 12 months and now excitement is being increased by the draw of the 2014 World Cup.

Panama may be best known for its famous canal, but it has also received a boost on the investment front from the property tax exemption laws for new buildings.

A series of projects have been planned for Dubai expansion this year, totalling UAD 3 billion for the fiscal year in the budget.

Delhi based real estate developer BPTP set a new Indian record during a mega-auction when they won a 95-acre plot. Their bid for the plot was INR 5006 crores (which roughly translates to USD 1.2 billion).

Abu Dhabi is poised to have a property market just as big if not bigger than Dubai. The current construction projects totaling $90 billion show just how much promise the region has.

Recent reports suggest that Egypt's real estate market is remaining strong. This is happening in spite of the skyrocketing costs of building materials, suggesting a certain maturing of the overall market.

Limitless, a Dubai-owned developer, has received a $1.2 billion loan under Sharia law from 18 different international banks. This loan allows them to go forward with many different projects including work on the Arabian Canal and homes for 1.5 million people in Dubai.

Reports indicate that a large growth that was unexpected in Canadian housing starts hit in the month of February.

Fujairah has been relatively off the map in the recent boom in the UAE, but this it appears is about to change. Dubai Investments has partnered with the Fujairah government on four new projects worth UAD 2.5 billion.

The costs of construction in the Middle East are lower than in North America and Europe and even than in some places in Asia. Primarily, this has to do with lower costs of importing raw materials as well as lower costs for labour.

In an effort to solve housing shortages, the Abu Dhabi government is ramped up their building construction. They now expect to have 200 buildings constructed by 2009. The buildings will be under the purview of the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank.

Housing plan will offer more affordability to Australian housing market.

Kingdom Holding Company is set to start looking at bids for construction of a mile high tower in Saudi Arabia.