UK PROPERTY MARKET BUST OR STALLED???As the UK property market is very much in the news at the moment, this post is very well timed. There are some very honest and informative views on the sector, the economy and the outlook for the UK, as well as mention of buying a hotel room for let! There is no doubt that the UK sector will at best pull back and at worst, crash. There are some very interesting points raised including the fact that UK sub-prime is near non-existent and we have the Olympics on the way – all factors which should ensure the markets are insulated somewhat.
The UK property market is a very tricky one to call partly because prices have risen so much over the last few years, and income is now out of line with house prices. However, because fewer new home buyers are able to purchase a home outright, we are seeing massive demand in housing association stocks – where buyers receive financial assistance in exchange for a stake in their property. This area is the foundation behind much of the recent rise and much of the expected support for the market, although some pull back appears inevitable in the short term – but hopefully not a crash! |
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Moving away
Over the last few years we have seen a large increase in the number of Brits moving overseas to live, with many attracted by the weather, the prospects and investment opportunities. This thread offers an interesting array of areas to consider from Portugal to the Gold coast of Australia! Each and every location mentioned seems to have merits, and the majority already have an ex-pat community which can be a big help. The internet seems to be playing more than bit part in the increase in Brits moving overseas, with many now able to explore potential areas of the world in great detail.
A question such as “Looking for inexpensive, warm place away from UK” was always likely to encourage an array of different opinions, views and options and this thread has not disappointed! It will open the eyes of many Brits who are looking to move overseas, with a surprising number of areas around the world already housing a large ex-pat community. It also offers a very useful comparison of the UK housing market with that in other areas of the world, where property can be a fraction of the UK price. Until you actually begin to look, it can be difficult to appreciate how expensive the UK market is (in places) to that of many overseas countries. |
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Everybody loves to hate Bulgaria
Unfortunately this thread seems to have started a battle between those for and against Bulgaria, and the impact which forums can have on the reputation for a particular area. Many seem to have over looked the actual potential which Bulgaria has for the future, and highlighted potential problems with advisors and agents in the area. While this is a common problem for many people investing in foreign markets, rightly or wrongly the Bulgarian market seems to have received more criticism than most. Once you have stripped out the personal attacks from the various contributors, there is an interesting underlying subject which is vital to any investment – Trust.
While a little unsettling to see such an aggressive post, the value of forum moderators has been shown to the full, with a number of attempts to defuse the situation. As mentioned on a number of occasions there is a very fine line between personal opinions and potential libel, something which we are all keen to avoid. Unfortunately the personal attacks overshadow what is a very important subject for any investor, the value of a good agent, good advisor and the trust you put in them. As they say, it only takes one bad apple to spoil the barrel, and this post is a perfect example of such a scenario. The minority seem to be taking the headlines, and the trustworthy agents seem to be suffering. |
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Property in Brazil - General buying and selling tips for BrazilBrazil seems to be very much an up and coming area of the world for property investment, having received a fair amount of coverage on the forum of late. As informative posts go, there are very few which can beat this thread for detail and useful information, whether you are looking for confirmation of the laws, finance restrictions or just information on the country. For a country which has received more than its fair share of bad press with regards to sky high inflation in the past, the property market seems fairly well developed and structured. This thread contains some great tips and advice for investors looking at this area of the world.
It can be no coincidence that Brazil is proving more and more popular on the forum, with a number of members expressing interest, and many publishing very detailed information on various aspects of the country and property purchase process. However, many people seem concerned that Brazilian agents are tending to try and steer buyers away from legal representation, which would be suicide in a market alien to the investor. The only weakness in the property investment chain seems to be finance, but there are signs that the domestic mortgage market is progressing, and increased overseas interest can only speed up this process. A very interesting and most informative post. |
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What Will Be A Property Hotspot For 2008???
An interesting question which is sure to appear more and more over the next few months, and has also prompted a number of differing opinions. Is it time to look at new markets? Is it time to look at expanding older markets? Or is it time to look at land, rather than actual property? It seems as though the recent credit crunch in the US (which has subsequently spread across the world) has spooked a number of potential investors. Quite correctly, a number of potential investors suggest that the credit crunch episode is not yet over and caution should be the watch word.
A very interesting and topical thread which shows that some investors are taking a more cautious approach as we move towards 2008. The credit crunch, market saturation and potential slowdown in worldwide property markets all feature heavily in this thread. It is interesting to see investors looking at buying property and funding developers, all early stage property development. Are some people looking for new markets which are not there? There is no doubt that the risk / reward ratio for the 2008 property market has moved, with many now looking towards rental income and firm cash flow, rather than capital gains. |
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How can you invest in Egypt? when you cant even find a flight from LondonAs you will guess from the title of the thread, this post is about flights to Egypt and how this may effect your investment decisions. The interesting thing about this thread is the fact it takes out the whole argument about whether you should or should not invest in Egypt and concentrates on how access to an area can effect the thoughts and decisions of many investors. While there appear to be some flights available from London, they seem to be few and far between. However, with tourism on the up in Egypt and the likelihood of more direct air links in due course, it does beg the question, is it a risk worth taking now?
This post is a very interesting take on how access to an area will effect the present and future value of a property investment. It also poses the question, if you are certain that direct access will increase (due to increased tourism in this instance) is it an interesting risk to take? As and when direct access from places such as London goes live, that has the potential to open up markets to many more investors, agents, and developers. While not exactly the same, it has similarities with Northern Cyprus, which was for many years cut off from direct links to Europe, etc. Are we about to see a major shift in the property market of Egypt? Will the direct access factor have a substantial impact? |
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What will US$1 million buy overseas?An interesting question which has received some very interesting answers! Where would you invest $1 million? The suggestions have come thick and fast on this thread, with Portugal, Brazil and the Philippines to name a few fairly prominent names. It does show that a large amount of money to invest does open a lot of doors, with opportunities a plenty. The post has also attracted the attention of a number of sales led members (surprise, surprise), which again highlights the potential assistance available on the board. I would guess from the wide range of answers currently on the thread that the potential investor needs to give more detail about what they are looking at, i.e. their own preferences.
What would you do with $1 million? This thread opens up an interesting discussion in that would you, put all of your eggs in one basket and buy one property, or would you spread the risk over different properties and different areas? Does $1 million actually give you the potential to spread your investments, or is it borderline? The strange thing is that with smaller amounts the risks are there, but with $1 million the risks and potential rewards are larger. Do you go conservative, do you mix strategies or do you wait and see? In order to give a relevant answer to the question we probably need a little more detail from the forum member who started the thread. However, it is a very interesting question! |
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Adriatic Coastline investment from £20k!!In what may surprise many readers of the forum it seems that Albania may well be an up and coming "hot spot" within the new look Europe. The thread is full of believable figures, not the kind of hard sell "must buy now" material, more of an "interest is growing" scenario. However, there is still some dispute as to when the secondary property market will make an impact and whether properties aimed at the growing tourist market can be rented out during the year to at least cover finance costs. An interesting if not unexpected market may be about to open up, but it seems that this will not happen over night.
While not one of the more commonly mentioned "hot spots" of Europe, it looks as though a compelling case for the country is starting to materialise. It still seems that Albania is being held back by its past reputation, and the heavy communist influence of old. However, under the watchful eye of the EU the country seems to be slowly moving away from the past, and offers some interesting coastal investment opportunities. While it may be a little soon to throw a significant amount of your investment funding into the Albanian property market, a small structured exposure to the area may well prove to be a good long term investment. |
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Thinking of buying property in India, anyone done similar?Oh how such a simple question can prompt so many responses, options and advice. While India has been mentioned as potentially one of the largest economies in the world over the next decade, it does not often get mentioned in property investment forums. While tourism is growing in the country, it tends to be seen as more of an industrial / business area, something which some investors seem to be steering clear of. Is this a mistake? Well, the property market seems to be booming, the economy is going full steam ahead, and the reputation of India is growing day by day.
India is a country which looks set to grow and grow for the next decade or so, but yet the difference between the rich and the poor seems to be widening. As a property investment market it has been shunned by many, possibly because of mis-information or the fact that it does not conform to the traditional tourism business model. Either way, India is a boom economy at the moment and it is attracting overseas investment in a whole host of business sectors. However, the location, location, location principle will be vital in a country which has so many different standards of living. If you are looking for a good long term investment, India is a place you should be checking out as soon as possible. |
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Anyone Ever Bought A Forest?While this thread seems to have been missed by many, it offers a great alternative use for land, and the potential to make a steady income over time. Forestry investments have been common place in the UK for some time, and while the tax incentives have been reduced over the last couple of decades, they still offer a decent tax efficient investment. Some posters mention looking at some of the newer members of the EU and the prospects for forestry investment over there. While some of the figures quoted are similar to the UK, these appear to be in markets where the property developers have already been very active. An interesting alternative use of land, with the potential for good returns.
While forestry investments have always been mentioned in the same breath as tax efficiency, they do have attractions on their own. Timber, as mentioned by some on the thread, is a commodity and while prices have fallen dramatically since 1995, the new eco age we are entering does offer potential. The replacement of your carbon footprint is an aspect of the green campaign which will surely go from strength to strength. Even though it may not be as simple as planting a few trees and watching them grow, slowly but surely you would expect overseas markets to develop and prices to rise as their economies grow. As with any investment there are pitfalls, such as the location of the forest, the type of tree and the cost of up keep, but all in all, a very interesting thread. |
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