Investors looking for a good deal on an Italian property should be able to find an asset at a reasonable price, it has been claimed.

Director of the international department at Savills Charles Weston Baker told the National buyers can now find houses in the country for 20 to 30 per cent less than their value in 2007.

He explained that stricter planning laws in Italy have resulted in less oversupply than in other Mediterranean nations, such as Spain, but that the weak market has still pulled prices lower.

Meanwhile, Harrison D’Onofrio, Italy sales manager for Hamptons, recommended that potential buyers look at regions such as Puglia and Calabria.

Significant investment has been put into improving the local airports in these parts of the country, he explained.

According to the Knight Frank Prime International Residential Index, several popular areas in Italy saw house prices fall throughout 2010.

The firm revealed that Cortina, Tuscany, Venice, Florence and Sardinia all saw property values drop by five per cent during 2010, with Rome being the only Italian destination to register an increase last year.

Report – IBTimes Hong Kong

Vancouver is a coastal city situated in British Columbia, Canada. The city has a high population density relative to other North American cities. Vancouver is characterized by high rise residential and commercial buildings. In Mercer Consultings annual “Quality of Life” survey, Vancouver was voted the 4th. best place in the world to live. Vancouver has the highest property prices in Canada and after Toronto it’s the most expensive city to live in.

Average House Prices in Canada, (September 2009) Canadian Dollars

Vancouver $611,000
Toronto $407,000
Calgary $395,000
Montreal $285,000
Halifax $234,000

Get more info on Real Estate in Canada and Worldwide.

The city of Auckland is situated on the north island of New Zealand and has a population of 1.4 million residents. The city is popularly known as the “City of Sails” because of the vast amount of yachts to be seen in its harbour. It has warm sunny humid summers and mild damp winters. In 1939 the city had its only recorded snowfall.

Auckland has many cultures. The majority of its residents claim European decent (mainly British), substantial Maori, Pacific Islander and Asian communities exist as well.

In a “Quality of Living” survey, Auckland was voted the 4th. best place to live in the world, mainly because of its positive aspects like, mild climate, good job prospects, excellent schools and health care, as well as numerous leisure and sporting facilities.

Property prices here tend to be higher than the rest of the country. The average price of a house in Auckland is NZ$339.000

Find out more about New Zealand Property and Real Estate.