A US property developer has carved a niche in the country’s struggling property sector by targeting “under-valued” real estate investment opportunities in Los Angeles.

Creative Environments of Hollywood (CEH) is offering the likes of Cosmo Lofts in Hollywood, a conversion of a 1920s furniture warehouse, and Westmoreland Lofts, a former fabric dye factory.

The firm specialises in developing old buildings ignored by other firms and turning them into contemporary apartments, creating unique investment opportunities. CEH vice president of finance Zachary Schneiderman said:

“We leave nothing to chance. We have inhouse architecture, design, development, construction and property management. By controlling all the variables, we control cost, quality, timing and service.”

“We see value where others do not, in neighbourhoods often overlooked. We never lose sight of our responsibility to our partners, our tenants and our communities.”

CEH’s newest development is Lacy Studio Lofts, based in Lincoln Heights, one of Los Angeles County’s oldest districts. The former industrial site has been converted into 47 distinctive units, with commercial and residential apartments available.

The design focuses on the “transformation of modest industrial materials into chic modern details” and features exposed wood beam ceilings with brick walls, custom steel spiral staircases, sleek Italian cabinetry and polished concrete floors.

A leading consultant has said the Gulf property market remains a strong proposition for property investors looking to escape volatile markets elsewhere in the world.

DTZ warned the credit crunch has not yet eased but added the Gulf regions would escape the more striking effects of what may still be to come. The advice follows the publication of the firm’s annual Money into Property report, which looks at global property trends.

The report revealed that the value of the real estate capital market reached US$12 trillion (£6 trillion) in 2007, up 18 per cent on the previous year. However, it also showed global direct property transactions were down some 50 per cent in first three months of 2008, compared to the same period last year.

DTZ Middle East operations managing director Robin Williamson said:

“Based both on our research and our on-the-ground experience of dealing extensively across the Gulf markets, we have seen strong indications that the regional property markets are much less likely to succumb to these global trends.

“Indeed, we are planning to expand our operations in the region to take advantage of the strength of the local property sector.”

DTZ has a presence in six Gulf locations including Dubai and Saudi Arabia and is currently undergoing “aggressive expansion” across the region to match its growing client list.

The South East of England remains a profitable spot for buy-to-ley property investment, according to the experiences of one developer.

Countryside Properties claimed sales of its apartments in Kent were testament to statistics from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) showing rental yields in the South East of England have seen a sharp increase since 2007.

Property investor Robert Coppen, 40, recently bought a two-bedroom buy-to-let apartment at The Fishing Village, a Countryside Maritime development on St Mary’s Island, Chatham Maritime, in Kent.

He said:

“When I first visited The Fishing Village I immediately knew it would be a great long term investment opportunity. The apartments are light and spacious and the riverside location is excellent.

“I have rented the apartment out but I can envisage myself using it as a ‘getaway’ in the future. I was slightly nervous about buying a property in the current market, but the quality and location of The Fishing Village makes it too good an opportunity to miss out on.”

He added rental returns “stack up” from his purchase and said he believed there is good capital investment potential in the area.

Last week property builder Persimmon Homes claimed to be bucking the UK market trend, reporting an average of more than six sales per week. The Sandbach-based firm said its hotspot was the Lyme Valley development in Newcastle under Lyme.