George Hamilton... love that Fanta glow

If you need any more evidence that it’s a buyer’s market in the United States as well as Britain, put on some sunglasses and cast your eyes towards perma-tanned American actor George Hamilton. George closed a (literally) sweet property deal this week on a luxury condo in Los Angeles, but only after insisting his estate agent throw a year’s supply of cookies into the mix.

That’s right – cookies. A dozen a month.

We’d LOVE to pretend that what shall herein be referred to as ‘The Cookie Clause’ was merely the casual whim of an ageing orange soap opera star – you know, in the same way that J-Lo might demand twenty-seven thousand fresh gardenias on her backstage rider, or Jim Carrey might insist on a vegetarian chef for his pet iguana (this one from the ‘ridiculous but apparently true’ files). But actually it seems the unusual purchase condition stemmed from George’s discovery that his estate agent’s wife owns a local bakery.

This strange turn of events has got us thinking, though. If American estate agents will crumble under a demand for cookies (if you’ll forgive that horrendous pun), what else would they give in to?

So in the spirit of pushing boundaries and making childish demands, we’ve compiled a list of Other Freebies That Desperate Californian Estate Agents Might Be Willing to Throw Into the Deal:

• A year’s supply of Botox injections
• A walk-on role in Desperate Housewives
• Surfing lessons
• A shopping spree on Rodeo Drive
• An invitation to one of Hef’s infamous shindigs at the Playboy Mansion
• An apparently rare-as-hen’s-teeth place in a good LA school for your child (you never know, they might even surrender their own child’s place at Beverly Hills High or similar, forcing the poor kid into home-schooling and a wretched life of minimal social interaction. Hey, desperate times…)

Are there any opportunities for estate agent exploitation we’ve missed? Let us know.

1. New flights scheduled from London
As of summer 2008, new flights from London Gatwick Airport to Podgorica in Montenegro have made the country more accessible to people in the UK – meaning you can expect a major boost in tourism from Britons keen to experience Europe’s next great holiday hotspot.

2. A clever Tourism ‘master plan’
In 2001, the Montenegrin government unveiled a blueprint for all their tourism targets right up to 2020. So anyone letting out their investment property in Montenegro can basically kick back and relax while a steady stream of holidaymakers cruises into the country, courtesy of a very organised and extensive tourism scheme.

The plans include major new resort complexes and marinas opening up and down the coast, featuring million-dollar golf courses and luxury hotels.

So far tourism has risen 17% per year since the plan’s implementation, making Montenegro one of the fastest growing holiday destinations in the world.

Daniel Craig as James Bond

3. Bond. James Bond.
I’m prepared to admit that Daniel Craig looked mildly delish in his first outing as Bond, James Bond. Yes, he can wear a flimsy blue swimsuit like nobody’s business. Yes, that tux lent him a certain je ne sais quoi. But let’s not kid ourselves here – we all know the real star of 2006’s Casino Royale was not the gin-swilling lady-killer. As far as film sets go, Montenegro’s mix of natural beauty and Euro-glamour provides a pretty stunning backdrop. So stunning, in fact, it refused to stay in the background and (sorry Daniel) actually seemed to steal the show.

They say in the film industry you should never work with children or animals. Perhaps they should add Montenegro to that blacklist.

4. A-m-a-z-i-n-g properties on offer
Like this and this.

5. Mountains, beaches, lakes, national parks, bays and canyons
(Okay, yes. I tried to cram six reasons into one. Sorry about that.)

What this country lacks in size it most definitely makes up for in natural diversity. From the Rivieras to the coastline to the mountainous central regions, Montenegro must be fairly close to the top of the list in terms of jaw-dropping magnificence to be found in Europe.

As the economy at home continues to splutter and wheeze, increasing numbers of affluent Britons are looking to move abroad, according to currency exchange specialists HiFX.

The company reports that the number of enquiries they’ve received regarding emigration has increased by 30% so far this year. Interestingly, though, actual relocations have increased by only 10%.

So more and more of us dream of finding our own place in the sun, and with good reason – several good reasons, in fact. Without being too spectacularly doom-and-gloom about it, the UK’s rising cost of living, frustrating tax system, increasing crime rates and depressing weather are casting a rosy sort of glow on places like France, Morocco and Spain.

Spanish sunset

Another great reason to take the plunge, as if we needed one, is the ever-growing ease of working abroad. Technology advances allow many of us to commute via the internet, while for others there are new and exciting career opportunities in increasingly globalised places such as Dubai – opportunities may not necessarily exist for them in Britain.

But still, the comparatively mild 10% increase in people actually diving into a new life abroad is troubling. It seems that even though we’ve set our sights on sunnier climes, the property market at home is determined to rain on our parade.

The thing keeping many people from their fantasy of jetting off to a new life abroad seems to be the old ball and chain that’s dragging them back to Blighty – the house that they just can’t seem to sell. Without the equity from the sale of their home, most people don’t feel they can afford to emigrate and have resorted to delaying the big move.

Unfortunately, because visas must be activated within one year of issue, speeding up the process becomes a far more pressing issue for many. Unless presented with an alternative to sale, some people may find themselves enjoying the gloomy weather for many years to come. HiFX notes that UK homeowners keen to move abroad might consider renting their property instead of selling it, or perhaps switching to a different type of mortgage.

For those with capital behind them, though, there doesn’t seem to be much of a hold-up. The mass exodus is expected to continue dramatically over the next year, and frankly with some of the amazing properties (not to mention amazing value for money) we’re seeing in places like Portugal, the United States and Italy, we’re not surprised.