Properties with views - Out of this world

An American man who's been selling properties on the moon since 1980 claims lunar real estate is a great investment.  Oddly enough, 5.7 million people have agreed with him, purchasing up to 200 of his properties a day. Dennis Hope said he saw the opportunity to sell property on the moon after considering the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. The treaty, which is the basis for international space law, has no explicit restrictions on individuals owning satellite bodies beyone Earth.

Struggling for money after a divorce, Hope filed a declaration of ownership with the United Nations.  After failing to receive any 'legal problems' with his claim, he launched a brokerage to sell lunar real estate. Since then he has sold roughly 600 million acres on the moon, charging US $24 a property.  Buyers have hailed from 193 countries, numbering around 5.7 million people. Many of the sales have become gifts, others were purchased for novelty value, Hope said.  "If you own land on the moon, there's the opportunity to think, 'maybe someday.  Maybe I won't make it, maybe my kids won't make it, but maybe my grandkids will be able to go up there and utilise the property.'"  Source Australian Broker Issue 10.06

"Bring your winter woollies - the nights will be chilly we think!"

---