HELLO ALL VOLCANIC EARTHLINGS!

Welcome to the July 2007 Edition of "News From The Crater's Edge".

This month I thought that, instead of talking skin care, I would share with our many readers from overseas the quite phenomenal investment growth taking place here in Vanuatu. I'm referring specifically to land sales! It seems that Vanuatu is the latest real estate "Hotspot" in the South Pacific.

Land prices over the last 3 years or so have soared. Even so, there is ABSOLUTELY no sign of this bull market abating anytime soon. Many prudent investors, both local and from overseas, have really made a killing. In many instances, the capital gain has been 300% and in some cases, considerably higher than this.

AND yet, you can still pick up your very own piece of beachfront land for a fraction of what you would pay at home.

Land fever truly has gripped our South Pacific island paradise! The big winners have been astute investors, baby boomers with cash to spare and ordinary couples with some extra cash but not enough for them to invest back home.

Recent Developments

Real estate prices in places like Australia, New Zealand, the USA, the UK and so on have definitely gotten right out of hand. Try buying a waterfront block of land in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne or Perth for $160.00 AUD, let alone one with its own ocean beach!

It seems to me that the sharp rises in the land market here since 2003, are primarily due to residential and investment land, in other more mainstream countries, being far too expensive now and/or because the market is no longer a rising market. The prices being asked are often out of the financial reach for many people, while seasoned investors are looking for better capital growth.

To give you some idea of the frenzy, around 90% of the available land here on the main island of Efate has already been sold, Consequently, it is the northern island of Esperitu Santo (Spanish for "Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit") that is now becoming the focus for many investors, both local and overseas.

Personally Speaking

Esperitu Santo, more commonly referred to as "Santo", is actually the largest island of the 83 islands that make up Vanuatu. Santo is renowned for its worldclass scuba diving and snorkeling. It's got the huge SS President Coolidge, (a luxury liner that was converted to a World War II troop ship, before being sunk in 1942), the USS Tucker ( a US destroyer that also sank in 1942), the renowned Million Dollar Point, Millinium Caves, Champagne Beach, Big Bay, natural rainforests and beautiful, secluded beaches.

Vanuatu straddles what is known as the “Pacific Ring Of Fire”
	Esperitu Santo (islands)

Aore (pronounced "Arie") Island, Santo is only a few minutes across the water from Luganville, the main town and it is the beachfront (one acre) lots, with 40 metre frontages, at Aore Point that are attracting much of the attention. Part of the reason could be that there are now direct flights from Brisbane and Sydney with the international airport just across from Aore, on the mainland.

All of the early release Lots at Aore Point have been sold but the better blocks (in my opinion) are those in the new release, but they are selling fast. These blocks favour the prevailing trade winds (cooler than those lots on the Eastern side) and ideal for snorkling due to their close proximity to the reef.

So Volcanic Earthlings, if you have ever thought of owning your own slice of paradise, now's your chance..... but you'd better be quick. Either contact one of our local Vanuatu real estate agents or, if you are from overseas, you can email me direct with your "Expression Of Interest" and I will put you in touch with the right people.

VOLCANIC EARTH
PO Box 1540 Port Vila. Vanuatu
Tel: 678 46112 Email: enquiries@volcanicearth.com
www.volcanicearth.com

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