Zero Emissions Not A Myth Build Green Cee 25/04/2008
In June this year the world will witness the first zero emissions building ever, Gamze Celikyilmaz from the Regional Environmental Center (REC), told participants of Building Green CEE conference. To be named the REC zero emissions conference centre, it will exclusively utilise environmentally friendly technologies. Two solar panels on its rooftop will generate 22 300 kWh a year in what will be the largest sun-fed power capacity in Hungary. Its walls will be insulated to ensure minimum energy losses, while its lighting system will be equipped with light sensors that will regulate artificial light according to natural light available. Heating and cooling will be navigated through underground resources. The facility is the joint initiative of the Italian Ministry for the Environment,... more

Loan Consultant Says Time To Refinance Mortgage Loans Is Now 09/04/2008
Interest rates on mortgage loans rose for the third time since 2005 in March. More than 70 per cent of mortgage borrowers will have to pay higher instalments in April, Tihomir Toshev, executive director of Credit Center, an independent loan consultant, said at a news conference on April 7. In the past three months alone, eight of the 11 banks on Credit Center's watch have raised their interest rates on standard mortgage loans maturing in 25 years and financing up to 90 per cent of the property's value, Toshev said. Clients should consider re-negotiating or re-financing their contracts, the two opportune loan management options in such circumstances, he said. The time was ripe because international financial markets were settling down, the European Central Bank was set to... more

Dutch Group Corio Mulling Interest In Bulgaria 20/03/2008
Dutch property group Corio is mulling potential acquisitions, including in Romania and Bulgaria. While some of its competitor companies have been affected by the global credit crunch, Corio, on the other hand, is still in a position to raise an expected 3 billion euro through bond emissions and the sale of some of its assets, the company’s CEO Jan de Kreij told Reuters, as quoted by investor.bg. The funds might be raised within the next five years and poured into construction or acquisition of real estate, Corio’s executive added.       . Corio is focused on Spain, Italy and Turkey, and possibly a new developing market in East Europe like Bulgaria or Romania. “We have noticed that some of the major players, particularly in Spain, find difficulty in securing finance, which, hopefully,... more