Cheap Flats In London

For those of us who have enjoyed income from investment property over the last few years, the ground is looking a little shaky to say the least. Houses prices have slumped, interest rates have risen, the cost of living has gone through the roof and people are extremely wary of buying, selling or even renting property due to the current economic situation.
However, while home owners may complain about losing several thousand pounds on the value of their investment property, spare a thought for the owners of Canary Wharf. The value of their portfolio of property has dropped by 500 pounds million in just over a month, according to their latest release of figures.
Much of this has been due to the collapse of some major businesses that were leasing office space in Canary Wharf. Lehman Brothers were renting office space from Songbird’s portfolio of investment property at a rate of 41 pounds per square foot that was due to rise later this year to 53. pounds Lehman Brothers lease was due to run for another 25 years and this will lead to a vast hole in the rental income for landlords, Songbird.
It is hoped that this will be largely turned around after Asian financiers Nomura implement their proposed takeover and will be looking to employ much of Lehman’s ex staff. Though it is unlikely that they will take on all of Lehman’s staff, a good proportion will be back in paid work very soon and they will be needing office space – so hope Canary Wharf landlords.
All office space across London has dropped by up to thirty per cent in the last year due to economic difficulties but Songbird still have over 99 per cent of their investment property on Canary Wharf let, which means that they, at least, have hope of riding out the storm.
Of course, these bigger companies will lose a lot more money than the average man in the street because of the fact that they have more invested more money in the first place but losing a little can have a much more devastating effect on the average person who cannot afford to lose a penny. The majority of properties are not investment property but have been purchased as a family’s main home and when the credit crunch bites so hard that mortgages can no longer be afforded, repossessions happen and families are homeless.
This then puts the onus on local authorities to re-house people but they are already under enormous strain trying to house immigrants and the poor or homeless. Because of this, local authorities often turn to housing associations and even private landlords to re-house the people on their lists. This is all very well while private landlords can still afford to keep property that they rent out but this isn’t looking promising either.
This is a dilemma that many people have seen coming for ages and it is frustrating to see the executives of the big financial institutions raking in ever higher bonuses. What most of us would like to know is what these bonuses are for, how the banks can afford them when they are all struggling, where this money is coming from and why isn’t it being ploughed back into the system to ease the situation?
At the end of the day, the average man is pretty much helpless in the face of these financial difficulties and we are left using our own judgement on how to keep our heads above water but we do have the option of how we vote when it comes to how the government deal with this crisis.

Land is a tangible investment – you can see what you are getting – but in addition you have the chance to enjoy it for its own sake, with the potential for considerable returns. Land as real estate investment property has risen in value by nearly 30% in the last 12 months and is up by 130% since the early 1990s.Land compares favourably as an investment when compared with high risk stock market picks, making it an excellent real estate investment property opportunity.Land which can be bought affordably can be turned into a real money-spinner if you get the right permissions subsequently. As an example, a plot of land in the South East, bought for £15,000, could gain planning permission for a four bedroom detached house. A builder could buy this land for £200,000 to sell a £600,000 house. This represents an excellent real estate investment property investment.Land has some great advantages:1. There is a finite amount of land2. Land can increase in value in two ways * By increasing property values, as demand outstrips supply * By gaining planning permissions3. There are strong possibilities of exceptional short to medium term returns4. Any nationality can buy UK landRecent government activity with regard to housing has made this a good time to own land. The government wants more green belt land to be built upon to increase the house-building programme over the next ten years. As other investment markets are feeling the squeeze, it is inevitable that land prices will continue to rise in the coming years. Real estate investment property such as land will shoot up in value.The price of land has gone up by a multiple of eight in the last 20 years, with the most expensive land to be found in London and the South East. Prices here have been forced up by a shortage of residential land and an increased need for more housing.In the medium to long term land can be a good investment, but you can make really big money if you buy land without planning permission and subsequently get permissions for that land.So far, since it came to power, this Labour Government has approved 162 different schemes of development of green belt land. Still the shortage of housing continues to increase, with the shortfall predicted to be one million homes by 2022, unless there is a dramatic pick up in development. There is also a shortage of land suitable for development. A recent report said that an additional 70,000 to 120,000 houses per year would have to be built to keep pace with demands.  These facts make land an attractive investment, and prices for land are expected to keep rising as demand for new housing continues to increase.The largest gains can be made when buying land without planning permission, as the land can be purchased at relatively low cost and if the land is later granted planning permission large profits can be made.There are obviously some things to look out for when buying land and such things as access rights, road infrastructure and many other things need to be checked out.Land as real estate investment property has the potential to make big money if you do you homework, and it is also recommended that you use a solicitor when investing in land, to ensure that everything is in order.

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With a relatively stable political structure and an enviably healthy economy derived largely from foreign investment into residential real estate and oil reserves, the Latin American giant Brazil is, it seems, bucking the global downturn that is affecting many markets around the world and emerging something of an investors’ dream. In fact, it was named the world’s most significant emerging market in the respected Morgan Stanley’s Emerging Market Index just recently. Beleaguered global financial markets are looking at Brazil’s economy with admiration it seems. 

“Brazil’s central bank believes that it has underestimated the strength of its economy and has moved its previous forecast of 4.5 per cent GDP growth for 2008 up to 4.8 per cent,” says Samantha Gore of uv10, a Brazil property specialist company based in Spain. “Having studied figures just released, which show Brazil’s current GDP to be £749 billion in 2007, up 5.4 per cent on 2006, the official number-crunchers decided that they’d been too cautious.

Brazil does seem to be resilient to the turbulence in the northern half of the Americas, a turbulence which has sent shockwaves across Europe. And, while the Spanish property market is currently down on its luck, Brazil has the very same to thank for making a major contribution to its current fortune.”

Its property market is still very much in its infancy, however. Prices are still well below the £80k mark in most areas and are expected to yield a good rate of capital growth over the next few years as current demand way outstrips supply.

Estimates suggest capital growth could be as much as 20 per cent year-on-year. Nearly eight million new homes are needed to cater for the country’s growing population, but while its cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro may be home to the largest number of its residents, it is the north-east region that is seeing a surge in investment property.

Much of the current real estate development is focused on the Rio Grande do Norte region on the north-east coast, and more specifically around Natal, the region’s capital. The city is widely regarded as having some of the finest palm tree-lined beaches and lagoons in the world that stretch for 400 or more miles. The coastline is characterised by a chain of sand dunes, including the Genipabu and Tibau do Sul dunes that have bars and restaurants dotted along their length, and the bays of Pipa and Pirangi. Small resorts are springing up, although the whole area is still new in terms of real estate development.

Uv10 is currently marketing a number of developments in the north-east. Among them, the Quinta da Lagoa resort of 83 high-spec studio, townhouses and bungalows that the company says is ideal for rentals. Located in Tibau do Sul, near Natal, the development guarantees five per cent gross per annum for three years from delivery. “Judging by the figures from its sister resort, Pousada dos Girassois in Pipa, which enjoys 80 per cent occupancy per year, you could stand to make a lot more,” says Gore. “Girassois is one of the most successful developments in Pipa and the value of property for sale in Pipa has doubled in just two years.” Prices at Quinta da Lagoa start from around £45,200.

Around 80,000 new houses and apartments are earmarked for the north-eastern region, especially around Natal, to cater for the region’s growing population and the demand from foreigners for second residences. While this appears a large figure the area is vast however, and development is controlled by the government to protect the environment, adding to the area’s appeal as an investment hotspot. Combine this with the potential for some good rental returns from the region’s increasingly buoyant tourism sector that has seen significant investment in sports and leisure centres in recent years, and you have an area of Brazil that is becoming more and more appealing.

“The property market in Natal is in its relative infancy and the coastline is almost development-free; supply currently lags way below demand,” says Trevor Byrne, GEM Estates’ Brazil expert. “New development is springing up alongside sporting and leisure facilities but the authorities are paying great attention to the environment before granting licenses – aesthetics and stability are of greater importance to them than squeezing every last penny out of every last square metre.”

GEM Estates is currently offering spacious beachside apartments and villas in Tibau do Sul for as little as £75,200 and village apartments in nearby Maracajaú from £45,000. Its Lago Azul development in Tibau do Sul has a frontline beach position with ocean views. There are many on-site amenities, such as pools and tennis courts. So confident is the company in the project that it is offering all clients a seven per cent guaranteed rental return for three years from completion. The company also has Ma-Noa Park in the village of Maracajau, near Natal, which is famed for its on-site aqua park and extensive sports facilities, including a golf course and football pitch. Prices are low and capital growth expected to be high.

“Prices of property for sale in Natal are incredibly low right now but outside investment in infrastructure such as golf courses and a new airport will increase demand for property and inevitably trigger natural price hikes,” adds Byrne. “Being the closest part of Brazil to Europe, thus drastically cutting down flying times to between seven and nine hours from most European cities, Natal has phenomenal beaches, a permanent summer and with year-round rental potential suits both audiences – the pure investor and the holiday-home hunter.”

The whole area, which enjoys a glorious climate, has attracted government funding to protect the natural heritage as well as enhancing the tourist infrastructure. Development work is closely monitored so as not to detract from the area’s natural wonders. Its towns, villages and small resorts are connected by the coastal highway that winds its way through countryside overlooking the bays and dunes, while Natal’s Augusto Severo International Airport has regular flights to and from Europe. A brand new multimillion-pound airport is under construction and is due to be completed by 2010. It will be the largest airport in Latin America. 

Further investment has come though the likes of international sports stars Rubens Barrichello, who is building a motor sports facility in the region, and David Beckham, the force behind a football academy in Natal. The project is timely for when Brazil hosts the 2014 World Cup. The region around Natal is also earmarked for several large golf courses. Projects such as these increase the region’s potential for tourism, and thereby rental income and capital growth on real estate investment significantly.

“The investment in the general infrastructure and tourism in the north-east of Brazil has been significant over the past few years, and is set to continue for the foreseeable future,” says Deanne DuKhan, portfolio strategist with specialist property company Experience International in London. The company is currently marketing a number of new high specification projects, including the Jacuma Beach Resort in Natal where prices start from just £63,700, the nearby luxury beachside resort of Praia Bonita, where studios and apartments start from £39,070 and the gated community of Pipa Paradise, which comprises 128 sizable apartments and villas that offer good value at prices from £61,899.

“The government is committed to developing the area and with the new airport just a couple of years away we feel that property in the Natal area and along this coastline of Brazil offer some of the most exciting investment opportunities we have seen in a long time.”

For those with the money to purchase an investment property there has been much concern about the old adage of putting your money into bricks and mortar given the looming recession in the UK and US. However, this saying still holds true but you need a little more care as to where you buy your investment property.
The world is an ever smaller place now and it is possible to buy a property anywhere, renting it out through an agent and recovering a fairly decent income even after expenses. The best way to get a good deal is to do your homework and find an investment property in an up and coming area that other people haven’t stumbled upon yet.
There are many websites and news items that will give you tips on where to buy the next hot property and it also pays to keep an eye on the current political stability of a country that you may be interested in. It is possible that past problems have put a dampener on the property market and you should be able to snap up a bargain. People have short memories and you will soon recoup any outlay in a resale.
Countries that form what was once Yugoslavia are a good option for investment property at the moment. Political unrest and war are a bit of a distant memory and many are seeing the rare beauty of the countryside surrounding places like Bucharest. Located in the south east of Romania and near the Bulgarian border, Bucharest is home to some of the most amazing architecture of the world where modern meets ancient in a jumble that just seems to work and always means you coming away with the feeling you have seen something unique that you couldn’t experience elsewhere.
It is an excellent central location for trade between the Middle East and Europe. Bucharest is central to the economy of Romania and has grown consistently over the last eight years. Cultural must sees are the opera, ballet and their symphonic music and are all things that the Romanians take a great pride in and which seems to come so naturally to them.
There is something for everyone when it comes to entertainment. Festivals and events take place all year round and there are a multitude of casinos and cinemas and jazz clubs to choose from. Transportation is efficient and easy and a flight from London to Bucharest takes less than three hours. This makes it an ideal place for an investment property as you have the ideal location that is easily reached from London.
Built on the banks of the River Dambovita and home to some of the most spectacular lakes surrounded by parks, woodlands and botanical gardens, make Bucharest a place to truly relax. Man-made structures are not the only thing to be appreciated. Awesome natural landscapes throughout the countryside take one’s breath away.
As far as the available investment property goes, the occasional traditional bargain can be picked up. However, this is much regeneration going into this country and new builds are widely available. New build apartments start at around 70,000 Euros and have the advantage of being in areas that are being prepared for the tourist trade which is gradually increasing as popularity and trust gain momentum.

Investing in cross border investment property has always been an area much loved by the rich and the famous. However, today individuals have started purchasing offshore real estate investment property as well. Rather than investing in some less regulated country, some US investors have decided to invest in the UK with its common law legal heritage so that their investments are more legally protected as compared to the emerging economies like Vietnam and Bulgaria. This article covers three more reasons why you might want to consider investing in a real estate investment property in the UK.
Firstly, investing in a UK investment property would act as a hedge against the falling US Dollar. This would mean that your monthly rental would allow you to take advantage of the falling USD against the British pound. This would result in more rental for you even if the monthly rental does not increase due to currency gains. A good idea for you would be to analyze your global investment property portfolio and do some portfolio analysis and examine how the currency movements might affect your returns on investment and make some corresponding changes in portfolio allocation.
Secondly, investing in the UK is good as there is a strong rental culture in the various parts of the city and other areas. This would mean that you will earn more for your buck as compared to investing in some other areas in the world. Not only that, but because the UK is a strong magnet for education like some parts of the US, you have lots of opportunity to rent out your investment property to overseas students. Other areas in the UK that are good for rental investment property are places like the Lake District where tourists can come and rent your investment property to stay. If you are so minded to migrate to the UK, running a Bread and Breakfast property or guesthouse might be something interesting for you to consider doing.
Thirdly, as with the rise of the European Union, the number of foreign professionals and banks moving into London is set to rise so as to facilitate an increase in UK based funding into the rest of Europe. Rental returns in London may continue to rise in tandem with such a trend since many of these foreign professionals are now working in London. With the rise in professionals renting properties who have large spending power, such a trend may continue into the immediate future and give you a good return on your investment property.
In conclusion, investing in an investment property in the UK may be a good move, as it would enable anyone from the USA to take advantage of the rising GBP against the USD, take advantage of strong rental yields and increased rental from areas such as London, the tourist areas and university towns. As with most investments, spend some time talking to as many real estate brokers and agents as possible and spend some time learning about the particular area you are intending to invest in and you will do better in your UK investment property.

Investing in property in Dubai is the smart and obvious choice, especially following on from the passing of Law Number 7 that allows for the ‘foreign freehold ownership of property’ in certain designated areas in Dubai.
However, there still remains an underlying factor which may seriously reduce the allure of Dubai: the rate at which inflation continues to grow and the cost of living ever on the increase.
An example of this inconsistency in inflation rates and sheer immense expense of cost of living in Dubai is apparent when one takes a look a the cost of privately educating a child – in the UK it’ll set you back upwards of GBP 46,000 annually but in Dubai you can almost double that figure which inadvertently makes it even more expensive to live in Dubai than in London! A fact which quite honestly baffles the mind.
When looked at in a positive light, inflation can be regarded as a sign that the economy in Dubai is strong enough and healthy enough to cope with price increases which may directly affect the property market, leaving many experts with the assumption that Dubai’s property sector will indeed be able to withstand a further boom in price increases.
The negative spin on inflation however, is that by reducing the amount of disposable income inhabitants of Dubai have monthly, proportionately, this affects the amount people can and will be able to afford to pay for accommodation and eroding the tax free living attraction of the emirate altogether.
With so much uncertainty and acute division of view in Dubai’s real estate sector, there is a definite clouding surrounding the property investment market in Dubai.
The question remains, is Dubai’s real estate market on the brink of a notable rise in fortunes or is Dubai precariously on the threshold of a monumental collapse?
On the one spectrum is the viewpoint that the passing of Law Number 7 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum will result in an upsurge in Dubai’s property market profit margins.
On closer inspection of the desirability of Dubai’s property market, one can easily determine whether or not Dubai’s intrigue to international investors has faded, or not.
Dubai remains a tax free country, in which there is an overabundance of employment opportunities available to qualified international professionals.
Due to the fact that so many varying employment opportunities abound, salary packages and incentives on offer are usually very impressive, such that an expatriate can reside in Dubai and legitimately avoid having to pay the local government any personal taxes. This factor contributes to many internationals relocating to Dubai, as it remains a desirable place to live. Accordingly, this fact alone means that there is a constant demand for property in Dubai to buy and rent.
According to developers situated in Dubai, “There remains intense demand for completed property in Dubai which is why rental rate increases have been capped by the government. Previously the only way those moving to Dubai could find immediate housing solutions was to rent, and those investors with completed investment properties available for letting were increasing rents to astronomical heights which resulted in the government’s intervention.”
Dubai need to now develop and maintain a vigorous resale market, as those individuals that relocate to live and work in Dubai should have the ability to purchase property, or at least have the choice between renting and buying a completed home, which if implemented effectively should remove the need to cap rental rate increases thus bringing in more economic flow to the real estate market in Dubai.
As a direct result of the fact that many investors who bought off plan properties in Dubai are expected to take up residence in their completed units upon completion, there will be less demand for either rental accommodation or even resale property.
Could this then be the fuel behind the recent upsurge of developers now offering incredible incentives to those who agree to purchase unsold off plan properties?
There have been reports of some developers offering potential purchasers luxury cars and other incentives if they commit to purchasing new waves of off plan properties that can have up to a 3 year build period…is this because they are finding it hard to shift their stock, or is this because the desire to own property in Dubai has only increased in insurmountable proportions. Seems like only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: International interest Dubai has certainly NOT diminished.

Recent studies suggest that the amount of people jumping on the investment property bandwagon is set to rise over the next six years, due to the 2012 Olympics. As with the many other benefits brought about by London’s hosting of 2012 Olympics, this predicted increase in investment property will not just affect London but all major towns and cities in the UK. So what kind of benefits can investment property afford?

Stability in Investment Property

Whether you are a first time buyer set to buy your own home or an influential investor looking into investment property the benefits which the investment in bricks and mortar afford, should not be underestimated. Although taking risks on the stock exchange may yield higher returns, investment property can provide you with a stable, steady income and a relatively secured level of return on investment. When looked at with a long-term view the investment property is unlikely to ever lose you money. You may have to pick the right time to sell a property but as long as you keep looking at this investment with a long-term view you will be hard pushed to go wrong. Put simply, property is historically stable and if you are prepared to wait it out you can make money on it.

Financial Gain

If you do your homework and consider your investment property as a long term investment the financial gains to be won through investment into property are fairly substantial. In short, one of the most significant benefits with regards to investment property is that as long as you have a bit of free capital you are able to borrow money from the mortgage lenders, in order to buy a property which you can then let out and charge tenants money in order to pay back the mortgage lender. In affect you become a middleman who is set to earn a good return on investment as long as you decide to follow a few basic steps.

Return on Investment.

Studies suggest that, on average, a home doubles in value every seven years and whilst this is not guaranteed as long as you have the property correctly evaluated and you buy in the right area you can feel certain that you are making a good, financially sound investment. This means that if you have a lump sum of money which you are interested in investing then Investment Property is certainly a type of investment worth having a look at.

Rentals have continued their upward climb down and are predicted to go even higher as certain factors that kept the rental market healthy continue to have an impact on the rental figures in the UK. According to figures from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the demand for rental accommodations has continuously increased due to the stabilisation of property prices and the tightening of mortgage lending conditions. This bodes well for the property investor looking to add to his investment property portfolio.
Where to buy investment property
Buying a property despite the credit crunch may seem a disadvantageous move. However, according to investor 1st Asset, there are two markets that a property investor can look to. 1st Asset states that properties located in super-prime locations such as west London are worth considering. Areas that are set to receive major new investment boosts are likewise considered by the company as an excellent option. An example is east London which is being primed for the 2012 Olympics. For you to be able to take advantage of these areas, it’s best if you get in the market quickly before the spotlight is directed at these markets and before buyers start to move in and prompt the increase of property prices.
Advantages of buying today
If you’re looking to make a property purchase, today is a good time to go ahead with it. The reason? Stamp duty amongst many other things. Recently, the one per cent stamp duty threshold was increased from £125,000 to £175,000 for a period of one year. Because of this, many property buyers had the opportunity of paying lower stamp duty and significantly lowering transaction costs – which of course translated to considerable savings. Another good reason to buy today is the emergence of the buyer’s market and therefore, the abundance of affordable properties. The current property climate has led to a rise in the number of repossessed properties, which are often sold cheaply.
What investment property to consider
With the increase in rents, it becomes sensible to invest in a buy to let investment property. It’s true that the media is painting buy to let properties as investment vehicles to stay away from. However, the Council of Mortgage Lenders recently expressed its belief that the media representation of the fall of buy to let company Bradford & Bingley is erroneous. The media portrayal of the firm was thought to have caused a furore among many in the industry. CML released figures for the first half of 2008 that showed a lower proportion of buy to let mortgages in arrears of more than three months compared to residential mortgages. Apart from that, CML data indicated no difference in the rate of repossessions.
When buying an investment property for conversion into a buy to let, you should consider obtaining it at a price below its true market value to enable significant savings from the day of purchase. Acquiring a BMV property is possible by finding sellers motivated enough to agree to sell for lower than the market value of their properties – some define this as the price an estate agent could reasonably expect to achieve within three months of marketing the property. Once you have found such a property, you’ll be able to take advantage of 100% financing from several private property investors ready to finance your investment.
What are the returns from letting property?
According to the Association of Residential Letting Agents, gross returns vary between 7% and 10% and will be lower for pricey properties. ARLA adds that the average rental return in Britain today flits around the 10% mark with the capital appreciation expected to match, if not surpass, inflation for the immediate future. As a general rule, the gross rents should range between 130% and 150% of the monthly mortgage payments.
Investing in property today may be regarded by some as unfavourable. But if you do your homework, make the necessary preparations and invest for the long term, you can be on your way to a successful and thriving career in property.