Bengaluru’s International Airport at Devanahalli

To join the recently launched Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International airport is the  soon-to-be-operational Bengaluru International Airport at Devanahalli in Bengaluru (known as Bangalore in the West). Bengaluru International Airport is spread across 4,300 acres of land area. The airport, it is said, will be the third busiest in India and is expected to have at least 7.5 million passengers every year. At peak hours, the terminal building can accommodate 2733 passengers. With a second runway and expansion, a future capacity of 50 million passengers is targeted. The airport will have 900 domestic flights a week.

Infrastructure-related projects such as a hardware technology park and extended cargo terminals will be built in the second phase. Once commissioned, Bengaluru Airport is expected to be the costliest airport in India and one of the costliest in the world. The user development fee is fixed at Rs. 675 ($17) for domestic passengers and Rs. 955 ($24) for international passengers.

Bangalore’s northern region growing as a commercial and residential zone

Bangalore, the leading contributor to India’s IT industry attained significance and title as the Silicon Valley of India. Recently, CNN rated Bangalore as one of the best places to do business in the wired world. Developments have been on fast stride in the northern region since the airport project was launched in 2005.

According to a Knight Frank report, northern Bangalore is estimated to have residential space of around 8 million square feet by the end of 2008. The reason is attributed to the soon-to-be operational Bengaluru International Airport. Over the last year, residential property prices have shown an increase of 30%. Residential properties are currently priced at Rs.2,400-4,500 ($60-$110)per square foot, with villas, at a higher range of between Rs.5,000-6,700 ($125-$170) per square foot.

The northern Bangalore area, including Devanahalli, where the airport itself is located, is attracting investors seeking to capitalize on the new national and international air links once the airport is functioning.

Hebbal, Yelahanka, Bellary Road, Jayamahal and R T Nagar are teeming with several new commercial projects, as these regions lie close to the new airport at Devanahalli. Several builders have acquired land for proposed commercial, residential and integrated townships in Devanahalli, off Bellary Road, Hoskote, and Doddaballapur Road. With luxury projects likely to find more customers in this part of Bangalore, the northern region is considered as a leading property investment area.

Sobha Developer’s exclusively designed Sobha Lifestyle development near Bengaluru International Airport

Sobha Developers recently announced Sobha Lifestyle, the largest villa project by the builders in Bangalore. The Rs.250 crore (US $62.5 million) project is spread over 58 acres and is located 7 kilometers away from the airport.

Sobha Lifestyle, in partnership with Bangalore-based realty firm Renaissance Holdings will have 165 villas on plots measuring 5,000, 7,500 and 10,000 square feet, having a built-up area of between 3851.70 square feet and 6436.28 square feet each. According to the builders, they plan to offer world-class residential space as it is in close proximity to the new airport. The villas will cost Rs.3 - 5 crore ($750,000 - $1,250,000) each.

Sobha Lifestyle will offer facilities including a state-of-the-art club house, swimming pool, gymnasium with sauna and Jacuzzi, multipurpose party hall, table tennis room, reading, card and carom room, amphitheatre, tennis court, jogging track and CCTV for security. In addition, Sobha Lifestyle will have 10 acres of green space. The project includes usage of solar panels, rain harvesting and a ground water replenishing system.

This is just a start and with time, more luxury projects are expected to be the flavor of Devanahalli and nearby northern regions of Bengaluru.

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According to a recent study from the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), the fourth quarter of 2007 revealed favorable conditions for the buy to let industry.

More specifically, Scotland and the North West area in the United Kingdom offered especially pleasing returns on “buy to let” investments.

In fact, the website, LandlordExpert.com, offered the following information on this interesting buy to let business report from the ARLA:

The North West recorded an average percentage (per annum) of 11.03, while Scotland’s rose to 11.07 per cent. This was particularly significant when compared to figures from across the country, which averaged 10.81 per cent per annum.

Scotland and the North West also topped the poll for gross annual rental yields. While the national average stood at 4.81 per cent, Scotland ARLA reported a figure of 5.23 per cent and 5.29 per cent in the North West.

Of those polled in the ARLA survey, nine out of 10 said they had no intention of selling their properties over the next 17 years, a statement which reflected reports that UK buy to let investors were in it for the long haul.

Things are looking good for the UK buy to let industry!

Paragon reveals favorable buy-to-let statistics

The Telegraph also recently reported that rents are in fact the highest they have been in seven years - according to a Paragon report.

Specifically, rents rose 2.4 percent since between February and March 2008 alone and since last quarter, rents rose an impressive 5.2 percent. Moreover, proprety yields - rent as a percentage of the value of a property - rose from 6.0 percent three months ago to 6.3 percent.

Look out for the good buy-to-let deals

One example of a locale that is currently getting interest from buy to let investors, developers and first time home buyers alike is the Canterbury area in the United Kingdom. Simon Backhouse, from Strutt & Parker - a property consulting firm - recently stated in the TimesOnline that two bedroom seafront that flats are selling for £150,000 - or as he says “for peanuts”. In turn, buy to let investors recognize this “deal” and are seriously investing in properties in the Canterbury district.

All in all, it appears that there are be opportunities in the UK buy-to-let investment sector for business savvy individuals and developers alike. Do your research and keep your eyes peeled for a good deal!

Technorati Tags: buy to let property, UK property, UK real estate, real estate, real-estate, real estate news, off plan property, off plan, property investment, real estate investment, overseas property