unit. Allowed tenure is based upon a 50-year
leasehold with renewal possible. Foreigners
married to a Vietnamese citizen may enjoy
freehold tenure.
The relaxation of foreign ownership restrictions is more significant than previously
anticipated, and marks a strong step towards
opening up the Vietnam real estate market to
overseas investment.
Vineyard property values rising
steadily due to global demand
Wealthy individuals are turning increasingly to
vineyards as an addition to their property portfolios, with winemaking regions in the United
States and New Zealand particularly attractive.
Knight Frank latest global vineyard index
tracked changes in the price of lifestyle/
boutique vineyards, of two to 15 hectares
in size, with detached family residences,
rather than hobbyists and larger commercial ventures and concluded their values
improved in 2014.
In its third annual report, Knight Frank looked
at 14 winemaking regions, some in Old World
markets such as Bordeaux and Chianti and
some in the New World such as Colchagua
Valley in Chile and Mendoza in Argentina. On
average, the vineyards’ values rose 4.5% in
the year ending June 2014, compared to a
6.3% gain in the previous 12 months. Despite
the slower rate of growth, the proportion
of wine regions that recorded positive price
growth increased from 60% in 2013 to 79%
in 2014.
A particular standout on the list was Sonoma
County in California, with 17.9% growth.
However, Sonoma prices remain a relative
bargain compared to nearby Napa, at just
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