Professional property investors will prosper

September 4, 2008 by OPPE News

Mortgage brokers have said the future still looks bright for professional UK buy to let investors, but added “question marks” remain around the future of amateur landlords.

A survey found 45 per cent of brokers think professional buyers will maintain their portfolios, and just under half said they thought investors would buy more property this year.

This figure is up from 44 per cent when a similar poll was run six months ago, suggesting buy to let investors continue to ride out the credit crunch.

Only six per cent of those polled said professional landlords were likely to sell some of their portfolios in 2008.

But the same questionnaire found 82 per cent of brokers think amateur landlords will not buy new homes, an increase on 62 per cent six months ago.

The research was carried out by The Mortgage Works, which polled 2,425 intermediaries in August.

The Mortgage Works managing director Andy McQueen said:

“True professional landlords understand the property market, the needs of their target customers and the tax and financial implications of running a buy to let business.

“They are also more focused on building high-yielding businesses, as opposed to seeking short-term capital appreciation, and so are excellently placed to not only withstand, but prosper during, the current market.”

Nationwide Building Society operates The Mortgage Works as a specialist lending subsidiary.