Direct mail has long been considered an effective marketing tool. Now, in this digital age, direct email marketing has taken over. It has many advantages including cost, flexibility and immediacy.

Unlike direct mail, email marketing campaigns are not constrained by weight limits or postal restrictions. Email marketing is instant and allows multiple links to be imbedded in the message, driving traffic to company websites.

Moscow is the world's most expensive city when it comes to the cost of living for the third consecutive year, according to the latest Cost of Living Survey from Mercer. Tokyo is in second position climbing two places since last year, whereas London drops one place to rank third.

Oslo climbs six places to 4th place and is followed by Seoul in 5th.

From October 2008 landlords offering property for rent will be required by law to provide prospective tenants with an Energy Performance Certificate for their property.

The certificates (EPCs) will have to be provided free either when (or before) any written information about the property is provided to prospective tenants or a viewing is conducted.

In the last few years there has been a massive increase in buying and letting property abroad, a trend driven by rising British property prices, the opening up of new destinations by budget airlines and cheaper air fares.

Letting abroad can work well and is a great way for landlords with properties in the UK to spread their risk. However, there are many things to be aware of.

Now that real estate prices on average have adjusted and fallen across most of the Spanish market, it makes it a very positive time to explore these alternative opportunities.

According to a Spanish investment property specialist the main investment approach that has seen larger investors profit substantially on an ongoing basis is buying properties for rent within the larger commercial and university cities in Spain where domestic demand is not abating.

Joe Upchurch, director of Aston Lloyd said, The obvious attraction of buying in an emerging market is that prices are generally low and if you are buying purely for investment in the areas we have identified, things are bound to change.

"We have highlighted the negatives as well as the positives. Each area is not without risk but with due diligence, you should be able to avoid the pitfalls.

The average number of transactions per surveyor fell further in July as a lack of mortgage finance continued to weigh heavily on the market.

However, sales expectations have improved, driven by sellers beginning to offer more realistic asking prices says RICS' UK housing market survey published 12 August 2008.

83.9 percent more Chartered Surveyors reported a fall than a rise in house prices, a decrease from 86.

With Many home owners deciding to rent their homes out instead of selling The Money Centre has provided a list of top tips to help landlords stay within the law.

The top tips to renting out your property are:

Speak to your lender - your mortgage lender needs to know you are renting out your home. Some lenders will allow this but the majority won't.

Direct mail has long been considered an effective marketing tool. Now, in this digital age, candid telecommunicate marketing has taken over. It has many advantages including cost, flexibility and immediacy.

Unlike traditional mail shots, telecommunicate marketing campaigns are not constrained by weight limits or postal restrictions. Email marketing is instant and allows multiple links to be imbedded in the message, driving traffic to company websites.

From Oct 2008 buy to let investors offering property for rent will be required by law to provide prospective tenants with an Energy Performance Certificate for their property.

The certificates (EPCs) are going to have to be provided freely, either when (or before) any written information about the property is provided to prospective tenants or a viewing is carried out.

In France the house buying process starts with an initial agreement that sets out the terms and conditions of the sale. Although a provisional contract until the notaire, a state official who acts for both sides, has prepared the title deeds, the preliminary contract is legally binding on both the buyer and seller. It is therefore strongly advised to have the contract drafted by a professional (avocat or notary).