Popular search engine giant Google, signed a contract to buy office building in New York at 111 Eight Ave. for about $1.8 billion which will serve as the company's Manhattan headquarters. Google already leases 51000 square meter of space in this 18-story building, which was built in 1932. This sale will be the biggest transaction for a single building in the U.S. this year and the largest commercial real estate purchase by a tenant in U.S. history. The building at 111 Eighth takes up an entire block between West 15th and 16th streets in the Chelsea section of Manhattan, south of Midtown. The former industrial warehouse has 270000 square meter floor space, more than the Empire State Building has. Google Inc., according to the latest data, with market capitalization of $188 billion is the third valuable technology company in the world after Apple and Microsoft. Google Inc. was founded in 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Later in 2001, Eric Schmidt from Apple, currently CEO of Goole, jointed the team of two founders. According to the latest company regulatory filling, Schmidt and Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, all of whom own significant amounts of company stock, will continue to receive a symbolic $1 salary next year.

The leading property developer of Cyprus and the Greek Islands Leptos Group launched the construction of Neapolis Smart EcoCity. The Eco City will be located on a 1.1 million sq.m. site in Pafos in the mythical "Aphrodite Gardens". The Neapolis Smart EcoCity is the first project of its kind in the Mediterranean and one of the largest in Europe and anticipated to generate gross development value (GDV) in excess of 2.5 billion euros offering sustainable annual returns to its investors during the 13 year development period. The Leptos Group has 50 years of experience in property development business and success of the project ensured almost 100 per cent. The philosophy of Michael Leptos, founder and executive chairman of the Group, is to execute projects with sophistication, quality and excellence in design whilst remaining conscious of the environment it shares. The Neapolis Smart EcoCity is founded on the concept that superior lifestyle combining healthcare, education, research, residential, retail and business services are inextricably linked with the environment. The project will generate 8000 new jobs by the close of 2018, contributing significantly to the local economy. The first phase of this project, consisting of the innovative smart eco-city infrastructure, the Neapolis Hospital and the Assisted Living Residences is already underway and will cost about 171mln euros.

In August this year, movie star Nicole Kidman and her husband Keith Urban purchased luxurious apartment with stunning views of the Hudson Bay in Manhattan Chelsea (New York). Starting price for penthouse apartment on the 12th floor with 302sq.m surface was 12.5 million dollars, but maybe the charm of Nicole helped pull down the price to $ 10mln. The apartment consists of 3 bedrooms, 2 terraces, library, double height Great Room , kitchen and a garage... Yes, the 32.5sq.m garage, which reside on the same floor with a kitchen. This innovation was first used in New York and looks like this: a special car elevator lift the car to the owner's floor and then you can enter garage with entrance to the kitchen. This feature is really very handy, especially after heavy shopping. It is also very much helpful when renovating and furnishing the apartment. Nicole and Keith live most of the year in Nashville, Tennessee, but also own homes in Australia and Los Angeles.

Maxim Galkin has built a six-story castle just like Harry Potters Castle, in the village Gryaz (mud). The total area of the castle is 2300 square meters and there are more than 20 dwellings, including five bedrooms, an observatory, a library, fireplace, winter garden, a sports complex with swimming pool, and one of the rooms is designed special for Alla Pugacheva. All rooms are decorated with antique statues and paintings that artist brings from all over the world. The construction of the castle lasted four years and it is almost finished! The only work left is to finish gate, put a stone driveway and to face the "Colosseum" (a type of a Greek amphitheater, harboring the estate from prying glances of passers). Many publications have reported, that Galkin was planning to celebrate a housewarming in November holidays, but Maxim has decided not to pass ahead of this joyous occasion and he is planning to finish the construction next year. The construction of the palace worth more than $ 10 million, and this is not the end! According to Maxim Galkin, 200 years ago on the castle construction site, was located the mansion of the aristocratic Leo Tolstoy's family. But one thing is obvious: the Great Magician Galkin will never dispense his assets as Tolstoy did, and will enjoy it for the rest of his "magic" life.

Dubai wants to beat all records for high-rise construction. At the beginning of the year, the tallest building of the world, wonderful Burj Khalifa with 823 m height, opened its doors for public. At the end of the next year Dubai is going to set the new world record, now for the highest all-residential skyscraper. As reported by Tameer developing company, the 414-metre tall Princess Tower in Dubai's high-profile Dubai Marina will be ready for delivery by fourth quarter of 2011. The 107-storey building with 723 apartment units will hold residential height leadership only for two years, because in 2013 in the same area of Dubai will complete 516 m tall and 120 storey luxury Pentominium Tower construction, the design of which already won several professional awards. By definition of Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, current World Number One all-residential building is the Australian Q 1(Queensland Number One; Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast), standing 323-metre high with 78 floors.