Bucharest, Pitesti and Slatina top the cities with most accessible apartment prices

Residential complex Maresal Averescu superstructure

One year from launching the financing version in lei of „Prima Casă“ programme, the accessibility of dwellings in Romania has visibly improved, while the prices have remained constant, Capital writes. The daily newspaper compiled a top of the cities with most accessible prices.

In determining the accessibility degree of a dwelling financed by loan, three variables must be analyzed:  value of the dwelling, loan cost (monthly installment) and level of revenues (to set the ratio of the installment within the revenues – the indebtedness).

Residential complex Maresal Averescu superstructure

In the first half of this year, the top of cities that provide access to the lowest indebtedness for the acquisition of a two room apartment has changed. At the moment, Piteşti, Bucharest, Slatina, Târgu-Jiu and Sfântu Gheorghe top the city ranking, while six months ago Alexandria, Sfântu Gheorghe, Slatina, Reşiţa and Bucharest ranked on the first five positions. 

The change was mainly triggered by the wage fluctuation and in some situations by the adjustment of the average transaction prices.  Piteşti and Bucharest have been the most dynamic cities in this period, climbing from the 6^th and 5^th positions to the top of the ranking. Today, the average Bucharest earner can easily realize that the 244 euro/month installment that he or she has to pay for an old two room apartment is under the level of rents demanded by owners for the same type of dwelling, the acquisition of an apartment being more advantageous.  

Residential complex Maresal Averescu

The dwelling price annual wage ratio is placing Bucharest on the 10^th position, while Sfantu Gheorghe, where the index is 6.3, ranks first.

On the opposite side, Oradea, Suceava, Buzău, Focşani and Vaslui are the cities where indebtedness is the highest in the country. In these cities the prices have stabilized at a relatively high level and the income has not recovered the difference.  For instance, the average price per sqm of an old apartment in Oradea is 16% lower than in Bucharest, but the average wage is half of Bucharest average wage.

National priceshave dropped significantly from mid- 2008 until today. Old buildings have registered a decline of approximately 40% and the prices of new apartments have dropped 33%.

Residential complex Titeica

What is interesting is the fact that during the past year the share of new dwellings, built between 2008-2014, in the loans granted through „Prima Casă“ programme increased to 37%. Real estate consultants have noticed a visible bounce back of new apartment sales after the improvement of the access to real estate loans and price cuts applied by real estate developers in the past years. 

  

OCTAGON involved in the construction of residential projects

Residential projects have not had a major share in the portfolio of OCTAGON CONTRACTING & ENGINEERING, but the company was involved in the construction of several residential projects over the years, within which it performed civil and geotechnical works.

Residential complex Titeica

OCTAGON built the concrete structure of three residential buildings, diaphragm walls and bored piles D 600, for the residential complex Maresal Averescu 159.

Within the residential complex Tineretului Hills, located on Pajistei St. in Bucharest, OCTAGON executed diaphragm walls D 600 m, h = 13, top beam 60 X 100 m, bored piles and retaining walls.

For the residential complex Titeica, located in Bucharest, on 206- 208 Titeica Road, OCTAGON  built diaphragm walls D 600 mm, h = 14 m, micro piles D 178 mm- 125 ml and sheet piles.

 

 

 

OCTAGON CONTRACTING & ENGINEERING

For more information click HERE. 

Phone: (+4)021.232.39.20

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Construction works at Brasov city belt to be resumed. OCTAGON has built bored piles for section I

Brasov City Belt

Construction works at Brasov city belt, a project that started in 2003 and which was temporarily stopped, will be resumed soon.  Brasov city belt is also one of the road infrastructure projects of OCTAGON CONTRACTING & ENGINEERING. In 2011 the company was geotechnical works subcontractor and built bored piles for section I.

Brasov City Belt- Bored pile cage launching

The National Highways and Roads Company (CNADNR) announced in a press release that the bid procedure for section I, streching between DN1 and DN11 and for section II, which connects DN 11 with DN 13, ended. Brasov city belt will have four sections, a total length of 24.3 km and two lanes on each traffic way. The road, built especially for the transport of merchandise and transit is open to traffic on two of the four sections.  

Brasov City Belt- Bored pile cage ram in

So far only 56% of the works necessary for the completion of section one has been delivered. The section has a length of  7.2 km and starts from Dârstea area (from the current bypass, on which a bridge over Timisul Sec stream will be built), bypasses the landfill,  crosses the road to Tărlungeni, bypasses CET, crosses Timiş-Triaj area, and then reaches DN 11 (towards Sfântu Gheorghe) in the roundabout from Stabilus area. 

Brasov City Belt- Bored pile cages

Besides the two lane traffic road, the project also includes the construction of a passage, crossing DN 11 and the railway that leads to Târgu Secuiesc.

OCTAGON   performed the following works for section I of the city belt: bored piles D 1,080, cage ram in, bored pile concreting and bored pile injection.

Brasov City Belt- Bored pile concreting

Doubling section II which connects DN 11, the exit from Braşov to Hărman, to DN 13, the exit from Braşov to Târgu-Mureş is absolutely necessary in order to allow highway regime traffic. At the same time, an important issue faced by drivers crossing the city belt will be solved, the construction of a road passage over the city belt, at the intersection with the county road to, where many accidents have occurred.

Brasov City Belt- Bored pile drilling

Construction works at Brasov Bypass started in 2003 and so far only section III has been delivered. The section covers 6.3 km and connects National Road 13 with National Road 1, at the exit from the city to Sibiu.

Brasov City Belt- Bored piles concreting

The construction of Brasov Bypass is only one of the road infrastructure projects performed by OCTAGON. 

Road infrastructure became an important segment for the company starting from 2010. OCTAGON  also performed geotechnical works within other major infrastructure projects:  Orastie- Sibiu Highway- sections 2, 3 and 4, Bucharest- Ploiesti Highway,  Bucharest Highway DN 7- DN 1A, Chitila- Mogosoaia, Pedestrian crossing over Mures River and Rehabilitation of DN 6 Domasnea- Caransebes, km 408+ 895- 449+ 960.

Construction works performed by OCTAGON within these projects include:  execution of bored piles, injections and sheet piles.

Brasov City Belt- Cage launching

OCTAGON is performing at present geotechnical works at the “Underground tunnel Piata Presei Libere” (Bucharest). 

At the same time, the company is continuing bracing works with columns and sheet piles at the project “Rehabilitation of Brasov- Simeria railway, Coslariu- Sighisoara section”, where the general contractor is FCC Construccion.

OCTAGON CONTRACTING & ENGINEERING

For more information click HERE. 

Phone: (+4)021.232.39.20

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Ten Gorgeous Chateaux for Sale in France

    British daily The Telegraph has compiled a list of ten chateaux for sale, located in various areas of France. The buildings look spectacular and prices match the description.

1. Location: Raulhac, Cantal

Guide Price: €1.45m (£1.15m)

    The big headache here is going to be choosing which of the 13 impressive bedrooms you want as your own. The other hazard is that with 9,149 sq ft of space and 25 main rooms, you may get lost. Dating from the 16th and 19th centuries, this fairytale chateau offers a unique display of heraldic arms and a herbarium as well as the ubiquitous wine cellar, sauna, chapel.

2. Location: Chateau Forge du Roy, Dordogne

Guide Price: €3.9m (£3.11m)

    There are plenty of outdoor pursuits on offer at this former 17th century hunting lodge. As well as a swimming pool and gym there is a trout lake, a park, beautiful woods and nearby opportunities for canoeing and cycling. Afterwards, flop in one of the six bedroom suites, while your guests head for a well-earned rest in the guest house or gite.

3. Location: Chateau de Bussiere, Loches, Loire Valley

Guide Price: €2.7m (£2.15m)

    Rest assured the soaring slate spires of this graceful 13th century building have been regularly repaired and restored, so the elements will stay firmly outside. It has seven bedrooms, each with bathrooms and dressing room, while quirky features include a handmade antique stove in the kitchen and a Chinese sitting room.

4. Location: St Laurent de Chamousset, Lyon

Guide Price: €1.99m (£1.59m)

    Serious jet-setters need only apply. Set in 8.65 acres of glorious parkland, this early seventeenth century chateau has its own helipad so you are only a few blade-swirls away from the next party. However, with nine en suite bedrooms, a ground floor dedicated to reception rooms and a swimming pool, there is plenty of space to entertain at home.

5. Location: Essonne, Ile de France

Guide Price: €25m (£20m)

    A mini Versaille? Well, nearly. It was built in the architectural style of Louis XIII in the early 17th century, so the court of Marie Antoinette may well have flounced through a century later. Today, the 16-bedroom chateau set in 98 acres is a haven of peace - despite the odd hunting party or film crew. Fully renovated, it is for sale with an additional 50 acres of agricultural land and will be handy for the new metro linking Paris and Orly airport in 2020.

6. Location: Houdan, nr Paris

Guide Price: €1.49m (£1.21m)

    This family-sized five-bedroom chateau is set in just under 10 acres of manicured land and has a number of surprising features, including a large, two-way fireplace and some eye-catching paintwork. Besides an embarrassment of reception rooms, there is a Jacuzzi, a swimming pool and a guest house.

7. Location: Brantome, Dordogne

Guide Price: €1.06m (£847,000)

    Bob about in the salt-water swimming pool, amble through the orchard or saunter in the French-style landscaped gardens. There is certainly plenty to keep you occupied should you tire of wandering through this dreamy eight-bedroom chateau. And if you want to extend your empire, there's an option to buy surrounding properties and land.

8. Location: St Benoit du Sault, Indre

Guide Price: €795,000 (£635,000)

    The lucky new owners of this three-towered chateau will be able to give thanks in their very own chapel. Renovated to a high standard, the six-bedroom property also boasts its own 31 acre estate with river frontage, a barn and a smaller house.

9. Location: Chateau des Saules, Ansacq

Guide Price: €3.78m (£3.02m)

    Three Musketeers buffs will love the fact that the rogueish Cardinal Richelieu lived here in the early 1600s. Destroyed and rebuilt several times over the past 600 years, the chateau's most recent facelift gives it 1,968 sq ft of living space. And if you're security conscious, there's a well-kept 12th century moat to keep out marauders.

10. Location: Nr Cazals, Lot

Guide Price: €1.26m (£1m)

    A mere skip from the village shops, this charming chateau also benefits from nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, three reception rooms, a chapel, beautiful Italianate gardens and a swimming pool. Best of all, there are still some unrestored rooms and cellars to divert you.

OCTAGON CONTRACTING & ENGINEERING

For more information click HERE. 

Phone: (+4)021.232.39.20

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Skanska, the developer that chose OCTAGON to Green Court Bucharest, delivers project designed by famous architect Calatrava

Real estate giant Skanska, the developer of the office complex Green Court Bucharest, built by OCTAGON, has delivered a project impressive through architecture, size and execution: Florida Polytechnic University. The Innovation, Science and Technology (IST) Building that is the centerpiece of the campus was designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava and built by Skanska, as part of a collaborative team of numerous design and construction partners.

 

You might be impressed by the project’s facts: this 160,000-square-foot structure was completed on-time and within the strict $60 million budget. This was accomplished despite such immense challenges as 90 percent of the structure being on a radius.

 “Completing this project makes my team and I feel extremely happy and at the same time somewhat sad,” said Chuck Jablon, the Skanska vice president who has overseen this project from the beginning. 

Of the design, Jablon said, “You can’t tell me that this design hasn’t captured you. Calatrava captures your curiosity on the drawings alone. Then, when you start building it and you see it evolve, he gets your heart. And when the building is far enough along so you can see the full design realized, he’s damn sure captured your soul.”

 

Inside, the roof’s exposed underbelly reveals concrete rakers that converge at an apex containing a skylight. A grand staircase takes center stage. Throughout the building, the concrete is clean and crisp – which required tremendous attention to detail and concrete craftsmanship from our team.

The complex rooftop system is supported by a concrete ring beam – 72 inches deep and 30 inches wide – that encircles the interior of the second floor’s grand common area. On the building’s radii, each column rotates on another angle. This building has about 300 radius points, with an incredible 90 percent of everything done on a radius. As Jablon said, “You see the radius – do you feel it?”

Calatrava designed the building to inspire students with a sense of optimism: “My first aim is to make an inspirational environment for the students and the professors and everyone working here.”

 

 

For more information click HERE. 

OCTAGON CONTRACTING & ENGINEERING

Phone: (+4)021.232.39.20

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