Samui Villas & Homes News

Samui Villas & Homes News Copyright (c) 2008 Samui Villas & Homes. All rights reserved. http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com Samui Villas & Homes News and Press Release en-us Sat, 17 May 2008 02:55:46 EDT Top destinations for long-term investments Thu, 8 May 2008 03:29:40 EDT http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_108.html Top destinations for long-term investments No 1 - Philippines: The Philippines is an incredible destination for a short-term property investment. Using other countries in the region as a guide, and considering the fact that the Philippines' real estate growth is based on the same strengths, it is a safe bet that Philippines real estate will grow in value by 20-25% per year. Take Bangkok, where we can now see real estate being sold for twice what it was 3-4 years ago. And Cambodia's Phnom Penh is seeing strong 24%-25% growth year on year. Philippines real estate growth is -- like Phnom Penh -- fuelled by massive growth in its business and industry sectors, primarily in Manila as major companies flock in to build cheap office towers, inhabited by a cheap work-force, working with manufacturing goods bought just as cheaply. This then brings in retail chains and financial outlets in preparation for the increasing affluence of the population. The big corporations tend to relocate the top-level management, and the incoming executives are looking for quality rented accommodation. The same is true as the affluence of local people increases in their new jobs. David Stanley Redfern's Philippines real estate is perfect to capitalise on the demand for quality rented accommodation. The second tower of the three tower Lancaster condominium development is currently being built in Manila's Makati financial district, and the luxury condos thereof marketed by David Stanley Redfern. Units now going for 33k are set to be worth at least 46k in 2 years, and in the region of 60k in 4 years. Even after the Philippines substantial taxes are paid, there will be sufficient profit margin to make this an excellent short-term investment, ideal for a first-timer looking for entry level property. As a testament to the growth potential of Philippines investment property, the price of these apartments is going up by 17% on April 16th, so anyone fired up by the Philippines should act quickly. No 2 - Thailand - Koh Samui Island: Following the success of Thai island Phuket, Koh Samui emerged onto the property investment scene in a big way just over two years ago. It is now a semi-mature market and the resort properties which make the biggest profit are rarely available for less than 200,000. However, research of late last year showed that people who had bought a resort property in Koh Samui in late 2005 as a short-term investment, sold last year for twice what they paid. This showed that capital appreciation had been solid at an incredible 50% per year for the two previous years. Thailand's incredible growth is fuelled primarily by incredible tourism figures. As the number of people flocking in for the white sandy beaches, tropical climate and tropical atmosphere increases by 20% per year, resort properties on the beautiful island of Koh Samui will continue to attract a great proportion of the visitors, and property prices continue to grow strongly. Koh Samui now has more 5 and 6 star resort developments that any other island, and the competition in the market is good for buyers because it is forcing developers to find ways to make their developments stand-out. This intense competition has led to 2 bedroom off-plan luxury resort villas in Koh Samui's Maenam Hills development coming onto the market at a bargain price of 100k. The competition has also led to more developers offering finance on their Koh Samui property. Buyers can get 50% LTV finance on their Maenam Hills Villa. And David Stanley Redfern has other Koh Samui projects with equally impressive finance available. Asia’s boutique island to grow Thu, 8 May 2008 02:31:40 EDT http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_104.html Asia’s boutique island to grow Research by CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) has shown that Samui is experiencing significant growth. Last year, the island welcomed 1.5 million visitors, up from 600,000 in 2000. These tourist arrivals are expected to rise further with the introduction of the Thai Airways’ flights. In fact, the number of airport arrivals this year is expected to surpass the 2 million mark. Khun Prakaipeth Meechoosarn, Manager of CB Richard Ellis Samui, stated, “The improved connectivity will be a key factor in supporting growth in the area’s property market.” CBRE remains confident of the long-term prospects of the Thai resort market. Last year, the company opened on Samui as part of its plan to expand its network in Thailand. Its research said land prices in Samui continued to rise last year even though the number of individual transactions dropped, due to uncertainty surrounding proposed changes to the Foreign Business Act. The value of property transactions in 2007 was estimated at an average of Bt413 million a month, down from an average of Bt450 million in 2006. But, since last December’s general election, viewings and sales have increased. CBRE is now witnessing more developments within a price range of $2 - 3 million and believes that Samui is poised to soar on the back of a growing supply of strong, reputable brands. Samui may always be smaller in size than Phuket but it’s forging ahead in the real-estate field. David Simister, Chairman of CB Richard Ellis Thailand, says the one thing that has held Samui back previously has been a lack of quality branded stock. This market is now being catered for with residential projects, such as The Residences at Four Seasons Resort. Other branded villas include those at the W Koh Samui Retreat & Spa and the Conrad Koh Samui Resort & Spa. Mr. Simister pointed out that Casavela, a condominium developed by Aquarius Estates,is almost sold out and hasachievedmore than Bt100,000 a square metre. This is a clear indication that Samui is not too far behind Phuket on pricing. “A lot of people have indicated that they have projects in the pipeline yet to be launched so I think we are going to see a very different Samui in another year’s time where I think you will see half a dozen internationally recognised brands appear and that, I think, will bring a different level of tourist.” CBRE estimates that there is approximately Bt12 billion worth of property priced at Bt30 million or above on Samui. “Half of it has already been sold ‘off plan’ and some of the schemes have yet to break ground so we think that is a pretty good sign.” More hotel arrivals Thu, 8 May 2008 02:31:02 EDT http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_103.html More hotel arrivals Tanayong, a large residential and commercial property development company, has announced plans to open 12 hotels in Thailand over the next 5 years. Managing Director, Khun Kavin Kanjanapas, said the company intended to acquire and build a deluxe brand of hotels and resorts including one on Samui. Tanayong has appointed InVision Hospitality, a hotel consultant firm, to create the brand U Hotels and Resorts. Each will have a maximum 100 rooms and in some cases will include a residential element. TCC Land has set aside an investment budget of nearly Bt10 billion for new hotels this year. Samui will see the opening of two Imm Brand Hotels. The Erawan Group has released a plan to double revenues with its biggest expansion drive for 25 years. The three-year Bt9 billion development plan focuses on the hotel business. It will build 12 new hotels including an Accor Ibis budget hotel on Samui and rooms will be added to Renaissance Samui as part of the plan. After 36 years of operating locally Amari Hotels and Resorts is expanding internationally. However, despite the move abroad, the company is also in the process of developing a new hotel on Samui worth Bt1.6 billion which is scheduled to open in 2010. The Sirimaya will target high-end tourists and be managed by Amari. Located on Chaweng Beach, it will be the group’s second hotel on the island and a pilot project under the new Sirimaya brand; separating it from the rest of the Amari chain. It will feature 110 rooms and be located on 10 rai of land. The boutique hotel operator Sri Hotel Group plans to open two new properties worth Bt450 million by 2010. Chief executive officer, Khun Chokchai Kolsrichai, said the Bt300 million Saree Samui Hotel will open in November on a 10-rai plot. Room rates will start at Bt7,000 per night, with a target occupancy of 60% in the first year of operation. More than 85% of the hotel’s target guests are expected to be foreign visitors. Langham Hotels International, a Hong Kong hotel brand, plans to expand its hotel management business in Thailand’s five major destinations over the next five years, said vice-president Andrew Jessop.“It’s a good opportunity to enter Thailand as the country is Asia’s premier resort destination.” The Arayaburi Group has set aside an investment budget of Bt1.5 billion for four new hotels and resorts including another on Samui. Arayaburi Group already owns 10 hotels and resorts nationwide with 700 rooms; 5 of which are here on the island. Finally, Samui may see the Treasury Department enter the island’s hotel industry. It’s currently considering a Bt1 billion investment to develop a 5-star resort on 30 rai of state property. The department, a unit of the Finance Ministry, oversees 12.5 million rai of public land nationwide, much of which is under control of various state agencies and the armed forces. Officials said the development plan would aim to build a 5- or 6-star resort on the island in a joint partnership with a private developer. Samui a world property hotspot Thu, 8 May 2008 02:30:18 EDT http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_102.html Samui a world property hotspot The expert overseas property company, David Stanley Redfern, has recently highlighted Samui as the second best worldwide location for a property investment after the Philippines. It stated that Samui now has more 5- and 6-star resort developments than any other Southeast Asian island, and the competition in the market is good for buyers because it’s forcing developers to find ways to make their developments stand out. In a separate report the company has again promoted investments on Samui stating that people who bought on the island in recent years have made 100% profit on their investments and resort properties continue to grow by 20% a year. Samui’s incredible growth is fuelled primarily by impressive tourism figures. As the number of people taking advantage of the island’s white sandy beaches, tropical climate and relaxed atmosphere increases by 20% per year, resort properties on Samui will continue to attract a great proportion of the visitors, and property prices continue to grow accordingly. Renowned property agency Colliers International supports this opinion and states that foreign investors are expected to invest up to Bt70 billion in the Thai property sector this year, following the lifting of the Bank of Thailand’s 30% capital reserve requirement. Despite the fears of a global market slowdown Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:32:03 EDT http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_101.html Despite the fears of a global market slowdown Despite the fears of a global market slowdown caused by what many analysts are already calling a recession in the U.S., the overseas property investment sector continues to flourish. While David Stanley Redfern Ltd research into overseas property markets is ongoing, their 2008 research is finally at a point where they are willing to present their top investment destinations and the reasons why. Liam Bailey, head of international research for the international property specialist said: "This will be the first part in a serious that will first cover the top five destinations for short-term investment, and then the top five destinations for long-term investments. Doing them in groups of two allows us to give a more detailed explanation of why we favour each one as a good destination for property investment." No 1 - Philippines: The Philippines is an incredible destination for a short-term property investment. Using other countries in the region as a guide, and considering the fact that the Philippines' real estate growth is based on the same strengths, it is a safe bet that Philippines real estate will grow in value by 20-25% per year. Take Bangkok, where we can now see real estate being sold for twice what it was 3-4 years ago. And Cambodia's Phnom Penh is seeing strong 24%-25% growth year on year. Philippines real estate growth is -- like Phnom Penh -- fuelled by massive growth in its business and industry sectors, primarily in Manila as major companies flock in to build cheap office towers, inhabited by a cheap work-force, working with manufacturing goods bought just as cheaply. This then brings in retail chains and financial outlets in preparation for the increasing affluence of the population. The big corporations tend to relocate the top-level management, and the incoming executives are looking for quality rented accommodation. The same is true as the affluence of local people increases in their new jobs. David Stanley Redfern's Philippines real estate is perfect to capitalise on the demand for quality rented accommodation. The second tower of the three tower Lancaster condominium development is currently being built in Manila's Makati financial district, and the luxury condos thereof marketed by David Stanley Redfern. Units now going for £33k are set to be worth at least £46k in 2 years, and in the region of £60k in 4 years. Even after the Philippines substantial taxes are paid, there will be sufficient profit margin to make this an excellent short-term investment, ideal for a first-timer looking for entry level property. As a testament to the growth potential of Philippines investment property, the price of these apartments is going up by 17% on April 16th, so anyone fired up by the Philippines should act quickly. No 2 - Thailand - Koh Samui Island: Following the success of Thai island Phuket, Koh Samui emerged onto the property investment scene in a big way just over two years ago. It is now a semi-mature market and the resort properties which make the biggest profit are rarely available for less than £200,000. However, research of late last year showed that people who had bought a resort property in Koh Samui in late 2005 as a short-term investment, sold last year for twice what they paid. This showed that capital appreciation had been solid at an incredible 50% per year for the two previous years. Thailand's incredible growth is fuelled primarily by incredible tourism figures. As the number of people flocking in for the white sandy beaches, tropical climate and tropical atmosphere increases by 20% per year, resort properties on the beautiful island of Koh Samui will continue to attract a great proportion of the visitors, and property prices continue to grow strongly. Koh Samui now has more 5 and 6 star resort developments that any other island, and the competition in the market is good for buyers because it is forcing developers to find ways to make their developments stand-out. This intense competition has led to 2 bedroom off-plan luxury resort villas in Koh Samui's Maenam Hills development coming onto the market at a bargain price of £100k. The competition has also led to more developers offering finance on their Koh Samui property. Buyers can get 50% LTV finance on their Maenam Hills Villa. And David Stanley Redfern has other Koh Samui projects with equally impressive finance available. Who wants a new airport on Samui? Wed, 9 Apr 2008 23:16:29 EDT http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_99.html Who wants a new airport on Samui? The spectre of a new airport continues to haunt Koh Samui. As your April 3 edition reports, a public hearing was organised on March 12, furnishing fresh information and allowing the general public to voice its opinions and grievances. The "majority support" stated in your headline is misleading. The majority (of 342 people) who attended the meeting, encouraged by interested parties, may have given their support. But even so, a majority vote cannot change the fundamental issues - something that none of the past discussions have examined in a comprehensive and objective manner. These include the basic geological unsuitability of the site, the exorbitant costs of expropriation and landfill, the environmental impact, and the ultimate futility of creating a second airport when the problem of the first can be addressed. Once one has reviewed these issues logically, one can only be troubled by the nagging thought that, based on the fundamental infeasibility of the airport project and consequent waste of resources, that either a personal vendetta against Bangkok Airways, or a grand plan for financial gain must be at play. By default, a project of these proportions will invite the age-old practice of money under the table and kickbacks proportional to the size of the budget. Land expropriation: Supporters of a new airport have already drawn up complete plans for its construction without consulting the local community. The area envisioned for the new airport used to be Samui's largest rice growing basin (thung naa) and is still subdivided into small plots owned by hundreds of families. Many people in Na Mueang district are opposed to the idea of an airport next door, and any expropriation plan will have to deal with hundreds of different parties and separate court cases. In addition, it is rather naive to assume that 500 million baht will be sufficient for land expropriation. Appreciation in land values on Samui is one of the highest in Thailand, and for a 2,100-rai property in the thung naa area of Na Mueang even 1 billion baht would not suffice. It is also naive to believe that the costs involved in building the airport would be in the area of 1 billion baht. Realistically speaking, we are looking at an amount well in excess of 2 billion baht. Geology: The area in question constitutes an expansive floodwater basin acting like a sponge for excessive seasonal rain water runoff from the mountains to the north. That is why, with the right type of clay soil and seasonal flooding, the terrain was indeed ideal for growing rice, and should be earmarked for an enlarged water reservoir in future. By contrast, one would in fact be hard pressed to find a less suitable site for building a runway, which needs to absorb the impact of heavy planes landing. Both the top soil and in particular the geological strata below are by nature clayey and unsupportive compared to rock, gravel or sand. Therefore, in order to build a foundation suitable for a runway, large-scale excavation and re-fill would need to take place. As the bedrock only starts at a depth of 80 metres, piling is an unlikely option. Because of the natural cycle of seasonal (at times severe) flooding, not only the runway but all other utility areas such as terminals, will need to be raised at least two metres above the level of the existing rice fields. Due to the scarcity of suitable soil on the island, large-scale landfilling is a very costly undertaking. Once the area can no longer function as a flood plain, many surrounding residential areas and roads would be subject to severe flooding, unless a floodwater diversion system of large proportions is built to deal with this problem. Bangkok Airways: There are many good things to be said about Bangkok Airway and one can only admire Dr Prasert's pioneering vision to invest hundreds of millions of baht to build a private airport on Samui. Whether one feels that this was positive or negative for the island is a matter of perception and personal opinion. Fact is, investment on the island increased tremendously and many upmarket hotels and residential homes were built as a direct consequence of this development. Samui can pride itself in being home to one of Asia's most beautiful airports. Using a combination of simple yet aesthetically pleasing architecture and well-maintained gardens, the airline has made a serious effort in providing a beautiful gateway for Koh Samui What is more, with its recent completion of a new terminal and facilities, passenger capacity has been increased significantly. The ugly downside is that Bangkok Airways, as the sole owner of the existing airport, engages in monopolistic practices that enrages locals. The airport maintenance tax of 300 baht (which does not exist at any other domestic airport in Thailand) is just one example of squeezing money out of passengers. Everyone on the island has suffered at one point or another from the airline's high-handed disregard for its customers. Flight delays are more the rule than the exception. Understandably, many people are disgruntled. However, building a new airport is not the solution to this particular problem. It would be like shooting sparrows with cannons or prescribing unnecessarily expensive medication, which only addresses the patient's symptoms. If indeed the problem is Bangkok Airways, then why not address this issue directly and force the company to improve its services, allow other airlines to operate, and charge more reasonable prices? I believe hotel operators and local organisations (if they join hands) are in a very strong position to achieve this. Impact on infrastructure and environment: The desultory state of Koh Samui's infrastructure, public facilities and services simply cannot cope with increasing numbers of residents and visitors. In fact, more and more visitors are choosing not to return to Koh Samui because the glossy brochures do not always match the reality of its increasingly damaged environment. Surely, slowing development to resolve existing problems before they completely get out of control would be the wisest choice. Conclusion: It appears there will be no problem raising funds (to the tune of 2 billion baht) to build a new airport. A concerted effort to address and deal with many of the problems plaguing Samui today would cost a lot less. The present dispute over the new airport should be seen as an opportunity to re-examine Samui's present state of development. Instead of more indiscriminate development and building, the island urgently needs visionary planning based on sustainable tourism concepts. We should not allow this beautiful island to become another victim of short-sighted and destructive, big-money politics. Efficient solutions to the island's present problems, the long-term effect on limited natural resources and ultimate sustainability should be carefully considered before any more development takes place. Sustainable Property Developments Mon, 31 Mar 2008 03:06:36 EDT http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_97.html Sustainable Property Developments Thailand is fast learning from the mistakes of massive over-development seen in the tourist resorts of Spain and taking action. Thailand is well known for its natural beauty. This is the very reason we have seen a huge holiday property boom in the country, particularly in tourist hotspots where developers, both big and small, are establishing real estate projects to keep up with the constant demand. This exponential growth in places such as Phuket, Hua Hin and Koh Samui has inevitably had a detrimental effect on the country’s ecosystem. It is difficult to ignore the peculiar sense of irony in all of this, but Thailand is fast learning from the mistakes of massive over-development seen in the tourist resorts of Spain and in some cases, taking serious environmental measures to maintain sustainable property developments. Why is it Important? We’ve all seen or at least heard about Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and despite individual opinions on the matter; it is hard to ignore the effect it has had on the mindsets of people today. Environmental issues are now at the forefront of every political platform in all the developed and developing nations where people are opting for greener alternatives and finding ways to reduce their carbon footprints. The issue has been around for decades, but it is only recently that consumer choices are beginning to affect the way goods and services are produced. This includes the way properties are being built. Discerning buyers are now looking, and at times, demanding for properties to be built in a responsible and sustainable manner. This, in turn, is changing the way property developers conduct their business. Thailand’s Environmental Standards The shift towards greater sustainability in property construction also stems from Thailand’s greater public awareness of environmental issues. Many individual tourist hotspots began implementing their own regionally specific laws in relation to zoning and urban planning. The most renowned example is the Phuket Town & City Planning Ministerial Regulation B.E. 2548, which assigns zoning areas for specific types of developments. Nationwide, more environmental regulations are springing up to cater for the future impact of major projects in the country. This is where the old Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) steps in. EIA had its humble beginnings in the US in 1969 and is now implemented in over a hundred countries worldwide. Thailand adopted the use of EIA some twenty years ago, but it has always been met with mixed success. The main problems with EIA in the past were the lack of personnel, expertise and funding, which made it very difficult to properly maintain and administer the system. It was often seen as a heavy burden on the bureaucracy with little compensation in comparison to the value the housing projects themselves brought in. As such, it became just another administrative procedure to go through with little or no participation from concerned parties. The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONREPP) is the agency responsible for the administration of EIA in Thailand. Since 2005, it has made moves to improve the efficiency of EIA by implementing various new measures that included more funding and greater local community participation. There are currently 22 types of project that need to obtain an EIA. Property developments aremin one of these categories. There are also two levels of EIA depending on the scale of a project. Projects deemed to have less environmental impact will only be required to obtain an Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE) while projects with greater impact will be required to do the full EIA. IEE vs. EIA If you are buying a property off-plan in Thailand, check with your developer whether the development requires either an IEE or an EIA along with its status. IEE can be done in much less time as most of the assessments are gathered from secondary data. EIA on the other hand, requires primary field data and a much more comprehensive analysis of major as well as minor impacts on the environment. It will also end up costing the developer more in terms of time and money and this is why some developers try to avoid the need to obtain an EIA by reducing the size of the project to just under the requirement criteria. This may save them some time and money in the short term, but more sophisticated buyers are now more willing to pay more for a greener property and may shun any properties that they think may have taken short cuts. Both an IEE and IEA will also list any pertinent ‘Green Areas’ of the project, which will require special attention. IEE and EIA are best described as an anticipatory environmental management tool. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the developer you choose has not circumvented any of their obligations to obtain an IEE or EIA. This will also ensure that the property you buy supports sustainability and has been built with the environment and local community in mind. Kert Stavorn is a senior legal consultant for Siam Legal International. Kert’s practice primarily focuses on real estate, construction and corporate matters. kert@siam-legal.com Raikkonen buys into Phuket Sun, 23 Mar 2008 03:10:20 EDT http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_95.html Raikkonen buys into Phuket World F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen has become the latest in a string of sports stars to buy into a Thai resort development. The Finnish Ferrari driver has revealed that he has invested in luxurious beachfront unit on Thailand's largest and most popular island, Phuket. The Swiss-based star is believed to have paid an estimated US$1.5m for a private villa in the sought after Serrenity Terraces – a residential development in the up-and-coming Rawai area. The driver joins big names such as Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole and Manchester City manager Sven Goran Eriksson, who have also bought properties in the Kingdom. “I am delighted with this unique opportunity to own a secured private waterfront residence in Phuket. When representatives of the Serenity team presented this project, I was immediately impressed by the location, its design, and the strong team behind the development— always a key decision factor,” said the Finn. He continued, “I am really looking forward to enjoying the rare vacations away from the track, in this hide-away beachfront community.” Ramesh K. Hamal, director of Green Heritage Group added, “To have a high-profile sports personality such as Kimi investing in this project is not only good news for Serenity Terraces, but also for Phuket’s increasingly luxurious profile among discerning international buyers looking for the best private residences and lifestyle.” UK architects wins $1bln VTNM job Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:37:21 EDT http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_93.html UK architects wins $1bln VTNM job British architecture firm Aedas has won a consultancy deal for a US$1 billion project to build a commercial-residential complex near the Thu Thiem Bridge in Ho Chi Minh City's Binh Thanh District. It will include a 35-storey office building, a five-star hotel, hospital, a shopping mall, entertainment centre, and apartment blocks with 3,300 units, and schools on a 10-ha site. It signed a contract on March 17 with the HCM City listed Construction Joint Stock Company No5 and real estate company SATO, which will jointly develop the project. The projects first phase will involve 3.2 ha and investment of $400 million, including design cost of around $4.5 million. It is expected to be completed in three years. Aedas has 32 offices around the world and employs 2,100 architects and designers. It offers architectural, interior decoration, civil design, planning and supervising consultancy. AYGP Championships resumes with Rolex China Sea Race Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:29:00 EDT http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_92.html AYGP Championships resumes with Rolex China Sea Race After a lengthy break between regattas the 2007-08 AY Grand Prix Championships that determines the top racing class skipper and yacht each year in Asian waters, resumes this week, with the bi-annual Rolex China Sea Race and quickly followed by the President's Cup in the Philippines. Depending on weather conditions the overall RCSR winner could come from anyone of the very diverse yachts entered in the IRC Racing Class A & B. Two TP 52's of Sam Chan's Ffreefire 52 and Geoff Hill's new Strewth plus Neil Pryde's custom Welbourne 52 Hi Fi are expected to stage a good fight for line honours. Defending champion Fred Kinmonth/Nick Burns co-owned Farr/Mills 51 Fortis Mandrake will be hot on their heels and Chris Meads Corby 43 Full Metal Jacket is also expected to excel over the 565 nautical mile course. Ma. Fidel / Judes Echauz Sydney 46 Subic Centennial has always done well here and despite her age Jon Wardill's Cassidy 55 Australian Maid can still spring a surprise as waterline length is vital on long distance races. Given the right conditions the smaller boats in Racing B like Paul Bankowski's Kerr 11.3 Jaywalker, Roland Buser's Sydney 36 Stella and three Beneteau First 44.7's Cloud, Crystal and Walawala could also be in the hunt for the silverware and the Rolex timepiece. All will be chasing the 2000 Race Record of 47h 43m 07s set by Karl Kwok on the Whitbread 60 Beau Geste.. From the 1200 start time on Thursday 20th March, shore-based fans can follow the action online at http://www.rolexchinasearace.com as they are using PurpleFinder technology to provide satellite positioning from each boat, which will be updated every two hours during the race. The 24th running of this Asian blue-water classic has now become part of Rolex's distinguished portfolio of international offshore races. To receive Daily Reports and download copyright free high-resolution images one will have to register online at: http://www.regattanews.com Presently in the AYGP Championships Ray Roberts DK46 Quantum Racing (11 points) has a clear three point advantage over Frank Pong's 75ft R/P Jelik (8 points) who have been battling it out regatta for regatta during the 2007-08 Season. As they are not competing on the RCSR this leaves the way open for Neil Pryde's Hi Fi, Fred Kinmonth/Nick Burns Fortis Mandrake and Sam Chan's Ffreefire 52 the chance to improve there standings and stage a final push for the coveted title. However all this could change after the yachts arrive in the Philippines and get ready for the Presidents Cup in Subic Bay. Both Ray Roberts Quantum Racing and Frank Pong's Jelik are returning to the frey and expected to continue there head to head battle. Ray Ordoveza's Andrews/Excel 53 Karakoa is usually skippered by US racing legend Steve Benjamin and Ma.Fidel / Judes Echauz Sydney 46 Subic Centennial by Aussie Olympian Jamie Wilmot have won here before and may yet again throw a spanner into the works which is likely to affect the AYGP pointscore. Most the racing class from the RCSR have entered the President's Cup producing another impressive line up that will no doubt produce some exceptionally close racing. The skippers that can quickly adapt to the tricky Subic Bay conditions over the four-day, eight-race series that combines windward/leeward courses with passage races can expect to stand proud on the podium come presentation night. Preparations are well underway for the grand finale at the 7th Koh Samui Regatta from 1st-7th June. Last season the AYGP Championships went down to the last race at Koh Samui with Frank Pong's Jelik being crowned Asia's top skipper and yacht for 2006-07, after narrowly piping Neil Pryde's old Hi Fi before the reconstruction. Just to recap over the five seasons the AYGP has been awarded Peter Ahern and YO! won the inaugural 2002-3 Championships, in 2003-04 the honours were divided between Peter Ahern becoming the Skipper of the Year and Sam Chan's Ffreefire the Yacht of the Year, over the 2004-05 Season Neil Pryde and Hi-Fidelity were victorious, then once again in 2006-06 Neil Pryde this time on Hi Fi Team Pryde and in 2006-07 Frank Pong on Jelik became the fourth different winner to claim the coveted title during a champagne soaked ceremony at the prestigious Central Samui Resort on Chewang Beach. Winning after eight hard fought regattas spanning five countries will undoubtedly go down as the only tried and tested methord to calculate the true Asian Racing Class Keelboat Champion each year. A Perfect Samui Landing For “Royal Orchid” Service Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:41:16 EDT http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_87.html A Perfect Samui Landing For “Royal Orchid” Service Thai Airways International Public Co., Ltd. led by Flg. Off. Apinan Sumanaseni, President, organized a gala dinner to launch their new route to Koh Samui at Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui. The guests of honour included Vinai Buapradit, Governor of Suratthani, Supatra Chirathivat, an owner of the hotel and Senior Vice President – Development of Centara Hotels & Resorts, Dr.Prasert Prasartthong-Osoth, Chaisawas Kittipornpaiboon, The Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Transport, Adisorn Kumnerdsiri, Sheriff of Koh Samui. The theme ‘French Polynesian’ was set in the main lawn of Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui. The theme colour was purple which is the colour of Thai Airways International’s (TG) logo. The guests were asked to wear white and cream. The party started with a cocktails reception, followed by a buffet dinner. When all the guests arrived, the Brazilian Dancers of Samui Zico’s Restaurant performed and Flg. Off. Apinan Sumanaseni, the President of TG came up on the stage welcoming all the distinguished guests and presses. Thereafter, Vinai Buapradit, the Governor of Suratthani province, was invited to give an opening speech. The champagne was opened and then everybody toasted to mark the launch of this new route. Famous singer Jennifer Kim came on Stage with the Famous Ko-Mr.Sax Man to surprise all the guests. Great fun was had by all and the party concluded with a lucky draw to win round-trip tickets Samui-Bangkok-Hong Kong, a round-trip ticket Samui-Bangkok-Chiang Mai and a round-trip ticket Bangkok-Samui with accommodation. Now TG is ready to receive bookings to Samui!! Bam! Splat! Getting soaked in Bangkok Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:40:13 EDT http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_86.html Bam! Splat! Getting soaked in Bangkok Boom! "What was that?" I asked as the needle-nosed long-tail boat shuddered. "I dunno," my friend Lane said with a shrug. "Maybe we hit something." I turned to ask our boat pilot, but he was no longer manning the motor. He was flat on the deck, covering his head with his hands, trembling. This did not bode well for our floating-market tour in Bangkok. "Excuse me, sir," I said, "but why are you " Bam! Something slammed into the port side just above the water line, nearly toppling me overboard. What in blazes was going on? I peered over the edge of our 30-foot craft, expecting to see water gushing into the hull, but all looked normal. I motioned to Lane at the front of the boat, and as he lumbered down a deck no more than 4 feet wide, steadying himself with poles supporting a frilly canvas roof, something appeared to whir by his head. "OK," I said to our guide, whose name escapes me 20 years later. "What is happening, and why are you lying on the deck?" "Songkran," he said slowly, as if to a child. "Worst day for floating-market tour. I tell you, today no good!" Lane scratched his head. "Yeah, come to think of it, he did seem a mite put off when we showed up." It had seemed unusual that we were the only tourists to show up for such a popular attraction. But we still didn't know what had rocked the boat and why our guide looked petrified. "Why," I asked, "is today the worst for " Splat! Splat! Splat! A fusillade of water balloons struck Lane and me simultaneously. Cheers erupted from both sides of the river. We hit the deck beside the guide as balloons exploded around us. I frantically dug into my backpack for a guidebook. "Songkran, did you say?" I asked as I riffled through the pages. New Thailand tourism website; Songkran festival in April Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:39:14 EDT http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_85.html New Thailand tourism website; Songkran festival in April Chiang Mai's Mandarin Oriental Dhara Devi Hotel can be found in the 'Thainess' section of TAT's new Web site.The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched a new themes and deals website, a handy tool for those beginning research on a trip to the Southeast Asian hotspot. Information on the colorful site is organized into themes, including beaches (from Samui to Phuket), nature (think luxury tents and jungle tours), trendy (Bangkok boutique, baby) and Thai-ness (historic palaces and the like). It’s a site still needing polish as well as time (e.g., travelers’ reviews will be a great addition to the site, if and when they can build the audience that includes inspired review-writers). However, even in its infancy, the site offers a useful range of info for those interested in some online exploration of Thai travel possibilities. Surf around and see what kinds of accommodations and special deals are available. Though not a booking site, it gives brief overviews on a variety of accommodations, and then the venue contact info in case you want to reserve anything. In the Festivities section, I was reminded that the country’s largest, most boisterous event, the Songkran festival, is just around the corner. A countrywide party in which everyone throws water on everyone else, it occurs April 13-15, 2008. If you’re thinking about soaking it up (or soaking in it, rather), you’ll need to make plans very, very soon. Samui expected to pass Phuket as most expensive resort destination Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:52:39 EDT http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_84.html Samui expected to pass Phuket as most expensive resort destination The 10 or so luxury resorts planned for Koh Samui over the next five years will make the island the most expensive destination in the Kingdom. The Mandarin Oriental, the world's top chain of luxury hotels, is considering building a resort on the island. It will be its third property in Thailand, following Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Banyan Tree, Intercontinental, Conrad, Sheraton and W Hotel of the Starwood Group are also at different stages of development. Local chains like Amari will not be left behind. It will launch the Sirimaya Resort next year or in 2010, along with an X2 Resort this year. Tourism Association of Koh Samui president Seni Puwasetthawon yesterday said more than 10,000 guestrooms would be added over the five years to the 14,000 rooms available today. International arrivals have been increasing gradually since the December 2004 tsunami hit the Andaman Coast, he said. The recent opening of a direct route from Bangkok to Koh Samui by Thai Airways International is another factor making the island boom by bringing in 300 tourists a day. The island is welcoming a million tourists a year now and expects 1.5 million in a few years. The association predicts average room rates will surpass those in Phuket, currently the most expensive resort destination. Amari Palm Reef Resort Samui general manager Viranat Silananda said several four- and five-star hotels had already opened, such as the Buri Raksa, The Library and the Four Seasons, while others were undergoing upgrades. "I say Koh Samui is now entering its third generation," Viranat said. The first generation was locals, and they have already closed their doors. The second wave was outside investors settling in some 10 years ago, such as Bangkok Airways, Imperial and Amari. And now the latest group consists of international hotel chains, convenience stores and hypermarts. However, Koh Samui also faces tougher competition this year, because at least two resort islands - Phuket and Bali - are staging recoveries and could take guests away. Klaus Rauter, group general manager of X2 Resorts, said X2 Samui was the latest in a series of new developments of the stunning X2 Resort properties situated on the southeastern coast of the island. It will open in June. Saving Samui Thu, 6 Mar 2008 23:02:40 EST http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_83.html Saving Samui Keeping Samui as a beautiful, tropical island destination may be easier than you think. Global awareness regarding environmental issues is currently very high. New advances in technology together with more extensive studies of pollutants and their affect on the world put governments in a much stronger position to take action. Across the whole world, large scale proposals are being discussed every day about ways to reduce the damage being caused by people’s every day routines and the use of certain products. Ignorance of the problem has become less of a defence as certain products and practices are consistently highlighted as potentially damaging. However, despite being aware of the problems, you may not think that anything you do is particularly harmful to the environment. And, by the same token, you may not realise that there are simple things that you could do as an individual that could actually make a difference. Over the next few months, Samui Property will feature articles aimed at what we can do, as visitors and residents of Samui, to help protect and preserve the island as a place that’s attractive and rewarding to live on. Articles focussing directly on issues, such as: saving water and electricity; using passive cooling techniques to reduce the need for air-conditioning; and the recycling of waste, will all be visited. The intention of these articles is not to encourage or suggest that everyone should protest when they see damage being caused to the beaches and coral. Or that we should all criticise others for their wasteful or environmentally damaging behaviour. Obviously some people will feel so strongly about the subject that their level of awareness, and therefore their response to some of the problems, will be more extreme. But these featured articles will concentrate mainly on self-governance and the things we can do as individuals to improve the situation. Most people do know that there could be problems in the future if action isn’t taken now. However, many do not have the time or desire to become actively involved in local or national politics. And many genuinely believe that as an individual there’s probably very little that they can do to have any effect on the bigger picture. For that reason the articles will, hopefully, point out a few of the every day things that we all do that can be harmful or damaging to the environment. But which, fortunately, can be addressed without demonstrations or any major effort. In fact, all of the things covered will not only be easily adopted, but they will have little noticeable impact on your daily lifestyle routines. And, even more importantly, the subjects covered will show how easy it can be to change what we do in such a way that helps the local environment and, more importantly to some, will actually save us money along the way. For example, there are simple procedures that can reduce the use of the air-conditioning units in your home. This will cut the release of pollutants that contribute to global warming and acid rain. And it will drastically cut the cost of your electricity bills whilst having an almost unnoticeable change in room temperatures inside your home. As previously stated, ignorance of the problem is no longer an excuse. But, lack of knowledge about simple, cheap and practical ways to change things is perfectly understandable. Not everyone can afford to install expensive water or energy saving systems; not everyone can buy the latest appliances that have been designed to reduce the problems; and not everyone wants a garden devoid of the beautiful plants and flowers that require regular watering. With a very small amount of effort and, in some circumstances, a small amount of money spent now can have considerable effects on the environment and on your own personal expense in the future. During future dry seasons if the available water on the island should run out, it will be too late then to ask what you can do to save the water you use in the house or on the garden. By taking some minor steps now it may actually prevent that situation from ever arising in the first place. The beauty of Samui is one of the main factors that has encouraged so many people to make the island their home. Developments in infrastructure and in all aspects of life have seen the island become a place where western people can live contentedly with all the features and home-comforts they would experience in their own countries. However, Samui is a small island with limited resources that need protecting and preserving to maintain that standard of lifestyle. With just some basic adjustments around the home, that beauty, and the environment of the island, which makes living here so rewarding, can be maintained and extended well into the future. Chatuchak dev hit by licence debacle Thu, 6 Mar 2008 22:59:39 EST http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_82.html Chatuchak dev hit by licence debacle The director of Bangkok's Chatuchak district has filed a police complaint against the developers of a luxury condo complex in his jurisdiction after it was alleged that the project went ahead without approval for one of its two buildings. Phanwattana said that while Prinsiri Plc's The Pulse got underway before he took up his current position, he made the complaint at Paholyothin Police Station after being informed by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Public Works Department of the alleged anomaly. However, deputy managing director of Prinsiri, Chaiwat Kovitchindachai, was adamant that his company had not acted illegally: “We applied for the construction licence under Article 39 (2) of the Building Control Act,” he said. “We have filed the application and the approval is pending. If the construction plan is to be amended, we can re-file the application [until we meet the criteria].” According to The Nation Prinsiri has been advertising units in the development since late last year, with starting prices of Bt2.55m per unit, and has sold some 80 per cent. Real Estate Investments Starting Guide Thu, 6 Mar 2008 22:54:09 EST http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_80.html Real Estate Investments Starting Guide No matter how much stilted or swollen words have been written about real estate investment strategies. The investment strategies boil down to two objectives: Buying real estate to accumulate cash. Buying real estate to build equity and wealth. Which strategy to choose depends entirely on you and your needs, your personality, and so forth. Frankly, either choice is fine as long as you choose one early in your career, commit to it over the long term and do everything you legally can to make it successful. In this article, I'll look at the cash accumulation strategies and the pros and cons of each. I'll treat the build equity and wealth strategy in another article. The Cash Accumulation Strategy Let's assume you're relatively new to the real estate market and need methods for pursuing a cash accumulation strategy. Below are several methods you can try: Bird dogging. In simple terms, you find good properties for investors and charge them a finder's fee for doing so. This is strictly a cash strategy. Advantages: It doesn't require any cash on your part or previous knowledge. It's also the fastest way to earn cash. In addition, it's a great way to learn the rope of the local real estate market. Disadvantages: The money you earn per transaction is the least in the market. It also takes considerable time and effort to locate suitable properties. Flipping. Flipping is the art of buying property, waiting for the right moment, and then selling it for a quick profit. In basic terms, you're controlling the property with a binding purchase contract. This strategy is most effective in areas where the demand for housing is so high that there's a limited supply, causing prices to rapidly rise. Advantages: With this method, you'll get negotiation leverage and good profit potential. Also, it can be a good life if you enjoy an entrepreneurial life style and a lot of freedom. Disadvantages: Volume can be low, depending on market conditions so your income can fluctuate. Although flipping is entirely legal, it received bad press due to con artists making a quick buck by duping customers. So, you may need a thick skin in terms of other people's opinions of you. Another disadvantage occurs when too many speculators get into the market. When that happens, prices drop quickly, and you end up stuck with the property and no immediate profit. Another possible downside is that interest rates can rise, thus dampening the demand for housing. A final disadvantage is hidden property problems. If you don't pursue careful due diligence, you can end up with expensive repair costs that eat up your profits or even cause a loss. Buy and sell as-is. This method is simple: buy a property, leave it as-is, and then put it back on the market but at a higher price. Advantage: When done right, you'll find that the profit margin is even higher than with the flipping method. Disadvantages: This method takes time and, due to that fact, volume may be low. Buy, improve, sell. With this method, you purchase a property, make cost-effective improvements, and then sell it at a higher price. Advantage: Margins are even better with this rehabbing method than with the previous methods. Disadvantages: With this method, you have a much bigger investment time and money than the previous methods. Choose the strategy that best matches your personality and situation. Forget Expensive Renovations Thu, 6 Mar 2008 22:51:57 EST http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_78.html Forget Expensive Renovations Question: When is it a good time to call it quits about doing makeovers or add-ons to a second home? How much equity in a home should one have and keep, and how much of the equity should be put back into the home? -- Elizabeth M. Sullivan, East Manatee, Fla. Answer: In the dinosaur days when I bought my first home, lenders used to require a 20% down payment. That was more for their protection than anything else, since buyers with a big equity stake in their homes would be less likely to cut and run should hard times hit. But it's not a bad rule of thumb, especially in a market like the current one, where home prices overall dropped 4.5% in the third quarter over the year before, according to the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index. Though you won't have extra money to invest in other, perhaps more lucrative investments, keeping a big equity cushion makes it less likely that you will wind up "upside down" in your home, meaning that you'll owe more on your house than it's worth, should the housing market continue to fall. That's assuming, of course, that you plan to keep your house for a few years, until the market rebounds. If your goal is to renovate it and sell it quickly, then it may make sense to extract whatever equity is needed -- and no more -- to make repairs and upgrades necessary to make the house competitive. But I recommend staying on the conservative side, especially since it's a second home. Forget the pricey add-ons, unless you are bringing it up to modern standards by adding a second bath to a one-bath house, or a third bedroom to a two-bedroom house. Instead, stick to inexpensive cosmetic upgrades, like new paint and siding. For kitchens and baths, buy stock cabinets and faucets, rather than custom, and stay away from items that are easily damaged, like glass vessel sinks and fragile chandeliers. I also suggest purchasing mid-range rather than top-of-the-line appliances (check Consumer Reports for good buys), and laminate countertops rather than granite, unless the home is in the upper brackets. Buyers don't expect the same levels of quality in casual second homes that they do in primary ones, though they do appreciate having everything fresh and new. In two areas, though, it makes sense to splurge: Flooring and windows. Floors in vacation homes are often a mess, suffering from tracked-in sand, mud and spilled beer. So it makes sense to upgrade to durable hard surfaces like ceramic tile, slate or stone. And impact-resistant windows in hurricane-prone areas, or energy-efficient windows in ski country, can be big selling points. Whatever you do, keep in mind that you probably won't get back all of the money you've invested in upgrades. For a list of typical paybacks for remodeling jobs, see Hanley-Wood's Cost Versus Value report. So keep your plans simple -- after all, who wants to waste good beach time waiting around for contractors to arrive? Online Sleuthing Thu, 6 Mar 2008 22:47:02 EST http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_76.html Online Sleuthing The Web has helped home buyers find places to live for years, through real-estate agencies' sites and classified listings. But now a number of sites have emerged that provide a raft of information beyond price, location and photos. Among other things, these sites allow house hunters to screen prospective neighbors, evaluate school districts and see how members of the community rate a street's Internet connectivity and cellphone service. Shoppers can keep abreast of the news in a neighborhood they're considering, and get alerts when houses list for sale or restaurants open -- or when a registered sex offender moves to the area. Consumers can find energy-efficient homes and compare locations by levels of toxic waste or drought conditions. And both buyers and sellers can join discussions with others who are in the market and real-estate professionals. All of this information can be particularly helpful in turbulent real-estate markets like today's, when many people would welcome greater assurance that they're making the right decision. Here's a survey of what's out there. Comparison Shopping "You can see just about any type of information about a house on Trulia.com," says Matthew Orr, a Long Beach, N.Y., resident who used the site to find the home he and his fiancée are due to close on this month. For starters, users can enter a city, town or ZIP Code and see a listing of every home for sale, sortable by price, address, number of bedrooms or bathrooms, broker or type of home (single-family or multi-family). They can also narrow the search by establishing parameters for location, size and property type. Mr. Orr says he and his fiancée used Trulia.com, which is owned by San Francisco-based Trulia Inc., to zero in on houses with big yards for their dogs, and he recommends the site's home-comparison features. Clicking on a listing brings up a page with a more-detailed description of the home, including how long it has been on the market, and photos. This page also offers lists of similar homes for sale and similar recently sold homes, with links to pages for each of those homes; charts comparing the home's price to those of the similar homes and to the average listing and sale prices in the area; a sales history for the home, drawn from public records; and a link to a real-estate guide for the area that includes information on market trends, schools, crime statistics, income levels and commuting times. There are also discussion boards, and users can arrange to have email alerts sent to them when properties within their search parameters are listed or sold. The site can also send alerts when the price of a particular house changes or the house is sold. Similar features are available on the site owned by Seattle-based Zillow.com. Boulder, Colo., resident Melanie Fredericks says that when she and her husband were considering selling their house and buying a new home closer to their jobs, they used Zillow.com to "gather all the information before even heading to a real-estate agent, and decided to wait for a better time to sell." One feature she found helpful was what the site calls Zestimates, which are Zillow.com's estimates of the value of homes, including homes that aren't listed for sale. Another interesting feature of Zillow.com is that people whose homes aren't on the market but who would consider selling at the right price can post a "Make Me Move" price to see if there's any interest worth exploring. Users of these and other real-estate sites should keep in mind that the data the sites use can sometimes be dated. For instance, information on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms may not reflect recent renovations. And the census figures the sites use for demographic profiles may be years old, so they may not reflect recent trends in rapidly changing neighborhoods or towns. Someone's Listening One way to supplement the statistical information on real-estate sites and to get help with particular questions or concerns is to seek input from others in the market and from real-estate professionals on the sites' discussion boards. Both Trulia and Zillow say these are their most popular features. Lisa Suarez, an insurance broker from San Leandro, Calif., turned to a discussion board on Trulia.com recently after months of failing to find a buyer for her home. Ms. Suarez posted a message on Trulia Voices at 2 a.m. asking if anyone had any suggestions on how to speed up the process of selling her home. Within minutes, she says, she was contacted by a real-estate agent who offered some advice that Ms. Suarez liked, and the two agreed to meet. Ms. Suarez hired the agent, Cindi Hagley of Windermere Real Estate Services Co. in San Ramon, Calif., and within three weeks had two offers for her house that she is considering. "In this devastating market, it means everything that you can reach someone out there that's listening," she says. What the Neighbors Say Other sites are designed to give users a look at neighborhoods through the eyes of the people who live there. On recently launched StreetAdvisor.com, based in Melbourne, Australia, buyers can look for input from residents of a particular street about their neighbors, local services and more. For instance, potential buyers looking at a home on North Carlyn Ave. in Campbell, Calif., can read a review of life on the street written by Tom Huggett, who has lived there for 21 years. He notes that the first houses were built before World War II, and readers can practically feel the shade of the mature sycamores, redwoods, oaks and fruit trees he describes. The people range from infants to seniors, he says, and are "friendly but not nosey and helpful but not pushy." And he notes that it's only about three blocks to a "newly vibrant downtown" with a lot of bars, restaurants and shops. Reviewers also rate their street for its overall "vibe," which includes neighborly spirit and night life, among other factors; for its Internet and pay-TV access and cellphone reception; for its "health," which includes factors like cleanliness, noise levels and traffic; for the cost of living and real-estate values; and for services and amenities like public transportation, medical facilities, schools, child care, and parks and recreation. Users can post pictures and videos as well. One drawback of the site is that it hasn't had the time to build up much content. Mr. Huggett is the only contributor from his street, for instance, and users will find no comments for many streets. For a different take on neighborhood life, house hunters can check San Diego-based RottenNeighbor.com. This site lets users post complaints about their neighbors, so it can serve as a warning about frictions in a neighborhood. One recent user in Chicago wrote that the "guy on the top floor of this building plays his stereo all day and night. It's so loud....He's why I'm moving." Again, while such sites can be useful, there is a caveat. There is no way for sites that depend on user-generated content to verify the vast majority of information that people post, and of course such comments are largely, and often entirely, subjective. Is It Green? Several sites cater to house hunters' concerns about energy efficiency and the environment. Walkscore.com, started by Seattle-based Front Seat Management LLC in July, rates the walkability of a neighborhood by the proximity of stores, restaurants, schools, parks, libraries and more to an address the user submits. In the wake of a recent rash of brush fires, water shortages and other drought conditions around the country, Sperling's Best Places of Portland, Ore., launched DroughtScore.com last month. By entering a ZIP Code, town or city, users can see a graph showing the past 13 months of drought levels in an area, based on statistics from the National Climatic Data Center. For a broad view of the environmental conditions in a neighborhood, the best resource is the Environmental Protection Agency. At EPA.gov, house hunters can click on the "Where You Live" tab to learn about levels of air and water pollution, hazardous-waste sites and releases of toxic chemicals in a given city, county or ZIP Code. At EnergyStar.gov, a joint site of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, users can find builders working with the EPA to build homes that meet the government's Energy Star standards for energy efficiency. Another site, EcoBroker.com, owned by EcoBroker International, Evergreen, Colo., can also help users find homes with energy-efficient and environmentally friendly features. Schools, Crime and News Other sites specialize in information on school systems and crime statistics, areas that some real-estate agents aren't inclined to talk about because of concerns that their comments could be construed as steering people away from or toward certain neighborhoods. "I'm very careful as to what I tell buyers when they ask those questions," says Toni L. Medjuck, owner of Beach to Bay Realty in Seminole, Fla. "I'd rather refer them to where they can find the information." For Sergey Krasnovsky and his wife, planning a move to Seattle meant using GreatSchools.net to narrow their search to two school districts for their 8-year-old son. Only then did they look for a potential home to buy. "The site lets you analyze each school not only based on [statistical ratings] but also on real feedback from parents," Mr. Krasnovsky notes. The site gives information for both public and private schools, including test scores, the ethnicity of students, student-teacher ratios and spending per pupil. In addition to written reviews, parents rate schools for principal leadership, teacher quality, extracurricular activities, parent involvement, and safety and discipline. The site is owned by GreatSchools Inc., a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco. Another site, SchoolMatters.com, a service of the Standard & Poor's division of McGraw-Hill Cos., provides information on public schools only. For crime statistics, Las Vegas-based AreaConnect LLC lets users compare data for more than 8,000 cities at www.AreaConnect.com/crime. Family Watchdog LLC, based in Indianapolis, provides the addresses and pictures of registered sex offenders at FamilyWatchdog.us. The site also will send email and cellphone alerts if a registered offender moves into a given neighborhood. For a much broader scope, YourStreet.com, owned by San Francisco-based YourStreet Inc., lets users find recent news reports and commentary from blogs for any location in the U.S. The material includes crime reporting but also covers the full spectrum of community news. Users can also initiate or join discussions about local events. "We look at news as the foundation of what is really going on in a local community," says James Nicholson, YourStreet's CEO and founder. The EIA monitoring awards 2007 Thu, 6 Mar 2008 22:39:57 EST http://www.samuivillasandhomes.com/news/news_73.html The EIA monitoring awards 2007 Bangkok - Sukhothai Airport recently received the honor in "The EIA monitoring awards 2007" by Officer of Natural Resources and environmental policy and planning for the sixth consecutive year over its distinctive environment management. In this occasion; Dr.Yongyuth Yuthavong, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the concurrent Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, presented the award to the Mr.Pradit Theekakul , Executive Vice President - Administration of Bangkok Airways. The award - EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Monitoring Awards - is only given to business entities that are capable of maintaining environmental awareness and protection. As assessed for 2007, Sukhothai Airport has shown commitment in its continuous effort to assure the quality of the environmentally-friendly operation within the airport. Among the green projects are garbage management, organic rice farming (for in-flight catering and Hotel), using ramp transportation for energy saving project, etc. Sukhothai Airport was constructed with inspiration from nearby Thai temples dated from the ancient Sukhothai period, opened in 1996 to serving traffic to and from Bangkok as well as Chiang Mai