The Stockholm housing rental market has been mostly stable over the last several months, despite a steady increase in demand. Rental units are challenging to find in this near-zero vacancy market and houses are especially limited. For new assignees, there has been an increase in demand for employer-backed leases and this trend is expected to grow.

During a recent survey quarter, I had the pleasure of surveying Athens, Greece. While I was on-site, I encountered several protests and demonstrations, which allowed me to really feel like an assignee, navigating the change of social disruption.

My expectations for my November visit to Luxembourg did not include traffic jams, road closures, scaffolding, bulldozers, excavators, jackhammers, or circumnavigating around open-pit construction sites, but that’s exactly what I found.

AIRINC is featured in the February edition of Mobility, a magazine that "examines the key issues affecting the global mobility workforce." This article appears on page 10, the "Tips and Trends" section, and is entitled Housing Markets on the Rise—and Not. 

Western rideshare apps have struggled in Turkey. Protests by taxi drivers and government opposition have left these ridesharing companies in a state of uncertainty over the last year. On my recent trip to Ankara and Istanbul, I experienced this firsthand. In Ankara, I tried to use a popular local rideshare app but gave up because it was only available in Turkish despite claims that they support English-speaking users. Apart from the local rideshare app, there was no other rideshare presence in Ankara, and I was entirely reliant on local taxis.

Berlin rents increased over the past year. Demand is growing from new start-up companies and larger international companies establishing headquarters in Berlin. Construction of new rental units is underway but expected to take a few more years before appearing on the market.

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.

For years, Venezuela’s currency (currently the VES, was VEF) was the only currency legal to use within the country. However, with hyperinflation and a rapidly depreciating currency, using the VES was often difficult. Although not technically legal, transactions would often still occur using U.S. dollars, as it is a stable currency.

The rental housing market is slowly picking back up in Aberdeen after the slump in global oil and gas prices. Despite current events like Brexit and climate change concerns, the oil and gas industry is seeing a slow but steady revival in this coastal city, bringing in more expatriates who are increasing the demand for good quality housing.

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.