Property prices send moon values skyward

Land on the moon is selling fast in New Zealand and Australia, driven by sky-high real estate prices in hot spots like Central Auckland and Sydney, according to Auckland-based Lunar Realty's Rob Hood, who says sales the past month have been 'sensational'.

Monday, November 24th 2003, 6:33AM

by The Landlord

'We've sold 1700 properties in the past month he said 'and our new agent in Melbourne is run off his feet'. Lunar Realty holds the Oceania franchise from US-based Lunar Embassy, whose Dennis Hope clinched rights to 'sell the moon', having filed ownership claims with the US Government and United Nations. 'Two factors are making a difference' says Hood. Commercial space travel is getting closer and property values here are going through the roof. So more and more people are prepared to make a small investment to acquire an extra-terrestrial property.

'For only $59 you can have a title to a whole acre on the moon. It's probably the most affordable real estate anywhere.

'We normally get a bit of a rush before Christmas, as people buy up properties as gifts for family and friends', says Hood, 'But this sudden early demand has taken us by surprise'.

Enquiries, he says, are not just from small time investors: 'Last month we sold a 100 acre property and are currently negotiating to sell a 1000 acre estate in the Oceanus Procellarum, complete with extensive crater views.

'Doctors, barristers, real estate agents, military personnel, civil servants and a knight of the realm are recent buyers, all looking to make a very inexpensive purchase either as an investment or a gift. Current sales worldwide stand at 408 million acres through franchisees in most of the major countries, including many large scale purchases by major corporations.

Recently founder Hope was awarded the Business Advisory Leadership from the United States Congress and the Republican Gold Medal Award for entrepreneurship.

'As a sponsor of the "X-Prize", a private sector initiative to put three people into space to a distance of 100 kilometres and back to win US$10 million, we are confident that space tourism is just around the corner', says Hood. 'Indeed we believe that we will be selling return flights within the next five years for under US$30,000 a head - and that includes all meals'.

ends

Released by MediaPeople NZ on behalf of Lunar Realty info@lunarrealty.co.nz.

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