Chairman Gordon edges closer to group's ambition of being the UK's biggest property investor.

UK-BASED property group Liberty International emerged from last year's harsh trading conditions with a 5,2% valuation surplus.

The second Improvement District in Sandton became operational in mid-November last year. The ‘Sandton Business Improvement District’ (SBID) covers the commercial area of Sandton bounded by Rivonia Road, Sandton and Grayston Drives. Anyone passing through the area can’t help but notice the smartly uniformed and highly visible safety and security officers and cleaning and maintenance personnel as well as a noticeably cleaner environment than previously. The older Sandton Improvement District, the ‘Sandton City Management District’ operates around the predominantly retail area in which Sandton City, Sandton Square, the Sandton Convention Centre and a number of hotels and office buildings are located. Between the two Improvement Districts some 38 safety and security officers (16 on mountain bikes), four rapid response vehicles with six armed officers and 24 cleaning and maintenance workers operate daily. In addition 16 “Ambassadors” attached to the hotels, convention centre and certain buildings dressed in complementary uniforms “bulk up” visible physical presence A smaller crew operate at night.

Economic factors have brought underground living back into vogue, says Ross Davies.

Conventional wisdom suggests that with the rand improving strongly against the world’s major currencies, and with inflation and interest rates expected to head back down from their current highs, one of the best places to look for good investments would be on the listed property market. But the experts warn otherwise, saying that while property shares are expected to rerate next year, other equity investments will do better.

COROVEST Capital Property Investment has entered the UK retail property market, buying 20% equity in a £241m fund that holds four UK subregional shopping centres.

There aren't any easy bargains to be picked up along the way Two years ago you could have bought virtually any property share, property unit trust (PUT) or property loan stock (PLS) and made money.

PREDICTIONS made in April and May this year by Mike Flax, Interest rates would drop and further boost the listed property fund sector, have now been proved correct.

CORONATION Property Equity Fund has chosen to limit new investment in its fund to R400m because of the limited choice offered by the listed property sector of the JSE Securities Exchange SA.

Regus CEO Kevin Rawnsley expects vast growth