Before discussing the rental market in Istanbul, a housing source shared an old Ottoman wives’ tale about Turkish coffee.

In St. Maarten, two main currencies are used: the U.S. dollar (USD) and the Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG). Throughout the country I saw both currencies listed for prices in stores. 

After being away from survey travel for more than a year, it was an experience getting readjusted while simultaneously learning the new processes of international pandemic travel.

While Haiti is considered to have a high level of COVID-19 cases and the population is doing their part by wearing masks, Port-au-Prince has been overcome with strife from political protest, violence, and burgeoning cases of kidnapping.

In the bustling and colourful city of Accra, there is much to offer expatriates including a variety of recreation, shopping, and culinary exploration. While Accra has kept up with some Western customs, it lacks an abundance of Western clothing options.

Due to COVID-19, many markets that have recently been driven by short-term lettings ala Airbnb have had to reverse course. The short-term rental markets in Prague, Dublin, Madrid, Barcelona, Reykjavik, and many others have transitioned back to long-term rentals as a result of closed borders and a drastic reduction in demand.

The decision to move the Nigerian capital from Lagos to Abuja was made in 1976. However, after many years of planning, development, and construction, Abuja finally replaced Lagos as the political capital in 1991.

When it comes to expatriate housing in Taipei, Tian Mu and Xinyi are two of the top picks for most assignees. Xinyi is popular for singles and couples because it’s centrally located to everything the downtown has to offer. Tian Mu has many single-family homes and large apartments that are particularly attractive to western assignees. Tian Mu also has two international schools, the Taipei American School and the Taipei Japanese School, and the Taipei European School is also close by, making it very popular with those going on assignment with a family.

There is a strong Chinese presence in Phnom Penh. Chinese investment is expanding the limited recreational activities in Phnom Penh by funding hotels, resorts, and casinos. According to recent reports, Chinese firms are planning to fund bigger and better 5-star hotels and serviced apartments in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, hoping to bring more tourists and potential investors to Cambodia.

Rents are stabilizing in Dublin following a long period of inflation. Vacancy rates are still very low, and it can be difficult to find a one- to two-bedroom apartment in the city. There are a number of new developments, but progress is slow. Some companies buy blocks of buildings to renovate for employees, which decreases overall rental stock.