photo credit: ScorchamacHello there all you property investors. This is just a quick note to remind you to go and make a cheeky offer on that new house or apartment that you’ve had your eyes on. So taks a look at stock new homes for sale now.

As property developers approach their full or half year at the end of June they will want to make the figures look as good as they possibly can. So why not get out there and do your bit – for the property industry and seek out investment opportunities.

There’ll be bargains galore to be had. So here’s a quick check list so that you’ve got all your ducks in a line.

• The property – you’re looking for a stock unit that the developer will be happy to off load. Just because it’s stock, it doesn’t mean it’s no good.
• Finance – You need a good mortgage broker who can be relied on to get the mortgage through on time. Remember – most developers will only agree a killer deal if you complete before the year/half year end, and not a moment later.
• Conveyancing – You need a great solicitor, because you need to complete right on the nose.

If you’re flush with cash and don’t need a mortgage, you can bide your time right up to the end of year. You’ll still need a solicitor who can push the deal through on time, but the closer you leave it – the better the deal.

Check with your mortgage broker and make sure that you can deliver before going for the deal of the year.

Technorati Tags: real estate, realestate, investment opportunities, property, property investment, new homes, business, finance

photo credit: JasonJTThe signs are there if signs are needed that now is a great time to be a property investor. Sometimes we hold back while others take the plunge for fear that we may have misinterpreted what we see. The best property investment advice I can give at the minute is buy.

buy now

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Now is the time to buy property. Now is the time to get into real estate investing because it’s a buyers market, and there are bargains to be had. I read this article in today’s FT about a fund that is banking on the downturn in the property market.

Nice Capital can see investment opportunities flashing in front of the eyes as they expect to pickup good property investments that will rent well and have healthy capital growth potential.

This is what Martin Skinner; chief executive of Nice had to say: “It is the perfect time to look to buy houses in London as there are huge discounts already available”

hands off investment

The company knows that they will have to hold the stock they pickup for between five and seven years.
Investing in a property fund as opposed to investing in property yourself is a hands off way to invest in the growth potential of real estate. To find out more, click here to visit their site.

Technorati Tags: realestate, real estate, investment advice, property investment, real estate investing, business, finance, property

photo credit: egarc2

The UK Government is planning to provide free legal advice for those at risk of repossession and foreclosure, and specialist training for debt agencies.

Here fishy fishy

Is this a joke? Can you imagine – you’re at your wits end with worry about losing your home and possessions because you can’t keep up with your mortgage, and the government has come up with some free advice. Specialist training for debt agencies is like teaching sharks to smile before they bite you.

Foreclosure is big business

Property repossession and foreclosure is big business, you wouldn’t think so, but it is. There is loads of money to be made repossessing homes. The guys who operate it will dispose of your possessions for less than they are worth, pay themselves a healthy commission then p*ss off.

It’s just like mugging old ladies in the street, except this is legal. If your down on your luck and struggling to make ends meet, be especially careful who you talk to and what you agree to. Ask yourself a question: Why do these people want to help? Who pays for their services? The answer is – you do!

Investment Opportunities

If you are a property investor on the look out for great investment opportunities, you could make a fortune from somebody else’s bad luck, don’t waste your time browsing round the local estate agents. Go straight to the scene of the accident and make friends with your local insolvency practitioner. Look – that’s him there in Accident and Emergency.

Technorati Tags: repossession, foreclosure, real estate, realestate, investment opportunities, property investment, mortgage, finance

photo credit: -Marlith-

There is a new trend within the UK which is gathering momentum. Property investors, who previously invested in buy-to-let, typically investing in city based apartments, are turning towards an investment opportunity learnt from our friend in the States.

In the US and other locations across the world it is quite common to invest in condominium apartments which are fully managed, maintained and promoted under a brand name that the public recognize. They cater for short to medium term stays of between a day to a week or more and so achieve high occupancy levels compared to that of an apartment let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement (AST).

Availability, Accessability, Convenience

Aparthotels provide a level of availability, accessibility and convenience that regular rentals simply cannot match. Typically big cities attract a large transient work force who arrive on a Monday and leave on Friday to return to homes and families. Many employees work on a temporary contract basis or secondment that may be of an indeterminate length. This makes it difficult for them to commit to a six month rental contract as their situation can change with a few days notice.

Step forward the aparthotel which offers benefits to both the investor and the occupier as the space offered is more generous than just a hotel room, and the services are more in tune with clients needs.

Property investment within an aparthotel has many benefits for the investor, as the management, maintenance and marketing aspects are taken care of.

Does Your Property Investment Stand Alone?

Negative aspects of this type of investment need to be considered before you go ahead and invest, such as – if the hotel management company goes bust, what happened to your investment? Also: Does your investment stand on its own as a discreet unit in the same way that a regular apartment does?

More Info…

If you are interested in this type of property investment here are a couple of sources of further information:

Guest Invest – Hotel Investment Opportunities
Telegraph - Room Service Offers More Tahn Just a Smile

Technorati Tags: real estate, realestate, property investment, investment opportunities, business, finance

photo credit: eNil

If you’re hoping for a major drop in the price of property abroad, you could be in for a long wait. That’s the claim made by one overseas property expert, who believes that UK buyers have high expectations that property prices in foreign climes will fall, but are going to be disappointed when they don’t.

“The current credit crunch is giving the UK buying public expectations of dramatic price reductions, but this is a misconception with the overseas high end market,” said Serge Cowan, managing director of Unique Living.

“The world is a big place, the UK market - although important - is not essential, so buyers holding back or expecting major price falls in overseas property hot spots (marketing at £500,000 or above) are going to be disappointed.”

Instead of pinning your hopes on unrealistic aims, Serge suggests that buyers would be wise to look to regions where growth is still strong. “Even though they may lose on the conversion, they gain on the capital growth,” he explains.

One region he highlights as being a good example of an area where there are prices for all budgets, plus steady capital growth and good possibilities for renting is the French Riviera. The Cannes Film Festival and the Monte Carlo Grand Prix alone bring a multitude of wealthy people desperate for accommodation.”

Technorati Tags: real estate, real-estate, real estate news, off plan property, off plan, property investment, real estate investment, overseas property

photo credit: ceonyc

Today the BBC is running a story about a mortgage broker called Isah Attayi who has been banned by the Financial Service Authority (FSA) for trying to fraudulently obtain mortgages for both himself and his clients by exaggerating his income.

In February, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) warned of the scope for fraud by unscrupulous professionals in the property industry who tried to cash in on the demand for newly built city-centre flats.

As a property investor this is something that you at the very least need to be aware of. You will probably be in contact with a number or mortgage brokers that you use on a regular basis. Mortgage brokers tend to be like the sea, which comes in and goes out with the tide. This means that they all are good on their day – then their not so good, then they are good again.

Mortgage rates and deals change all the time. Suddenly one broker has a product from a lender that can’t be got elsewhere – because it’s exclusive. That’s why serious property investors use a bunch of brokers.

So why do you need to be careful? Many brokers fill out the forms for the applicant. If you’re a big investor this is a service you will insist on, otherwise you might as well apply for the mortgage yourself, after all – who wants to spend their life filling out forms? So you need to be absolutely sure that the information they fill out about you is exactly right and consistent. People make mistakes, they forget, they don’t understand.

Imagine for a second that you send the office junior out to get sandwiches and your only instruction is ‘get me anything but nothing that contains nuts’. The chances are you’ll be the one with the peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Technorati Tags: mortgage, mortgage finance, mortgage fraud, business, real estate

photo credit: Chrispitality

I read this article today in the Telegraph about how the top end of the new homes for sale property market is alive and kicking. Apparently its revival is only paralleled by the top end ‘Super House’ buying that last occurred in the 60’s.

So why is this? When the man in the street is feeling the pinch, the super wealthy are out spending money like it’s going out of fashion. I suppose the keyword is credit. Most of us use credit in some form or other for everything from buying the groceries to holidays.

This means that the moment interest rates change, 99% of us are affected, and if the interest rate moves north – we all have to tighten our belts. This doesn’t apply to the super wealthy – because they don’t live on credit – which is probably a lesson to us all.

It’s a lesson that it’s taken me a long while to learn, but I think I’ve got it now. The ease with which we obtain credit makes us by things that we would never buy if we had to pay with cash that we saved.

As property investors we need to be much more thrifty and careful with our money. It’s a valuable lesson that we can learn from the Asian Community who don’t generally waste money the way the rest of us do.

When I look back at the money I’ve wasted over the years on credit and credit cards, I could retire. My advice – a) stop wasting money on things you can’t afford, b) use the credit crunch as a massive lesson that will make us all change our behavior and c) save your money – then buy a big house for cash. Then you’ll be credit crunch proof.

Quite how that all fits in with OPM – Other Peoples Money – I’m not sure as when it comes to a credit crunch it appears that it’s best to use your own.

Technorati Tags: UK property, UK real estate, real estate, real-estate, homes, new homes for sale

In case you didn’t know it – Inside Track, a giant of buy-to-let in the UK has gone bust. To be precise: Inside Track’s administrators, have said that only Inside Track Seminars Ltd are in administration and no other companies within the Inside Access Properties structure were affected.

Inside Track made the statement that: ‘Due to the continuing sustained difficulties arising from the credit crunch Inside Track has been placed into administration.’ The firm announced it was cancelling its forthcoming property seminars in March.

Inside Track lured wannabe property investors to them by giving away free seminars and then using hard sell techniques to flog weekend courses for £2,500 plus, where the secrets of property investment were revealed. Ho bloody ho!

The sad truth is that Inside Track played on the minds of those gullible enough to believe their hype. An acquaintance of mine fell for their sales pitch when they buttered him up by flattering his intellect, then relieving him of serious Wonga, because he was a Doctor. I don’t want to appear clever after the fact here; as the truth is that we are all capable of buying a dream with hopes of a better life and untold wealth. Give me a show of hands – who here doesn’t want to be a millionaire?

I know that a lot of property investors have been badly burnt by Inside Track, and most will be new to property investment. Hopefully they will learn from their mistakes, because, to put it frankly, it was their fault that they were taken in.

The real secret of property investment is – there is no secret of property investment. It’s simple, do your research, then make a purchase based on what you know. Nobody can see into the future, so you have to act on what you know. It’s vital that you take a good look before you leap. And while you’re at it, do some thinking too!

Off Plan Property Exchange lists new homes, houses and property investment for sale worldwide so that buyers and sellers can contact each other directly. Do your research and find your own investment opportunities.

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

photo credit: srbyug

While the real estate market in the UK has seen better times, there still is money to be made in the buying and selling of homes in the United Kingdom. Where can you make money you ask? Well, the luxury home real estate market looks to be a promising property investment in the UK in recent times. As luxury homes do cater to people who appreciate the “finer things” in life, buying and selling such a property is slightly different than the mainstream real estate market. Further, since these luxury investment properties are now more affordable, now may be the time to take advantage of some great investment opportunities.

Unless you have been sleeping under a rock, you are without a doubt aware that there is a slowdown in the UK real estate market.

That said, some luxury homes have sold for some pretty astounding prices this year. For instance, Off Plan Property reported just last month that the world’s most expensive property sold off plan in the prestigious St James region of London … for over 115 million pounds!

Even more recently, the Birmingham Post reported that a luxury concept home was sold off plan for approximately two million pounds near Lichfield - more specifically the house is located four miles from Lichfield and 15 miles from Birmingham. The house, itself, is an ultra modern one and it boasts of just over 4,375 square feet of living space.

Some of the impressive features in this house will include five bedrooms and five bathrooms, heated floors, an infinity pool, sliding panel windows, and an open fireplace.

The house is also eco friendly and will feature solar panels, heat exchange, geo-thermal heat pumps, and rainwater recovery. Further, all the timber used in the house will come from sustainable resources.

Why was this particular property investment so popular?

Apparently the uniqueness of the property and the attention to detail were the key selling points for this house.

“Once it is finished, I believe it will become a new landmark in the area,” said Miles Tydeman, a Lichfield selling agent - as told to the Birmingham News.

Further, this agent was also impressed that this property had very particular specifications. For instance, the fact that all of the teak wood should be from sustainable sources was one of the details that particularly impressed him.

What about luxury homes in general as a property investment?

Well, with prices lowering in the real estate market, now may well be the time to invest in luxury investment property.

Ben Stein, an actor, economist and lawyer, recently said the following about luxury real estate during a speech at a Luxury Real Estate Spring Retreat:

“Real estate is the only good which is both a consumption good and an investment good,” Stein noted. “Real estate is the best investment in the history of the world. Buy low and sell high, just like the stock market. Prices are low now, which means anybody who is smart will be investing now.”

All in all, if proper research is conducted beforehand (as it should be), the UK luxury real estate market looks to be like a promising property investment.

Technorati Tags: UK property, luxury property, luxury real estate, property investment, off plan property, UK real estate, investment opportunities

Off-plan real estate developments usually involve a new build apartment block or rows of contemporary-style houses, but what if you could invest in homes planned for a listed building or classic structure, perhaps even a football ground?

When Arsenal Football club first announced it was to up sticks from the ageing Highbury Stadium and moved to a new home at nearby Ashburton Grove, questions were raised about what would happen to the 38,000-seater arena where the team had played home games since 1913. That same arena is now undergoing transformation into 711 apartment properties in a project called Highbury Square - one of the most innovative and ambitious property conversions London has ever seen.

Less than 10 per cent of the real estate development is still available to purchase off-plan as of April 2008, with prices starting at £345,000. Properties will include terraces and balconies, a 24-hour concierge service, plus a fitness centre and swimming pool.

Stands intact at Highbury Square

Remarkably, the original shells of the four massive stands have been preserved and are successfully being converted, with the stadium’s pitch becoming a stunning two-acre shared landscape garden for lucky residents to enjoy.

The East Stand was once, ironically, partially at the root of the club’s expansion problems as it is a listed building, but is now one of the most attractive sides of the development, which is expected to be fully complete this summer and sure to tempt more than gunners fans.

Buying something as unique as this could be seen as a way of not only getting your hands on an exciting property investment but also as a method of preserving the past and helping to support the character of the local area. And, of course, converting a large building into homes is sometimes far less costly than constructing it from the ground up. Imagine the cost of putting up four massive apartment buildings at Highbury from scratch.

Property conversions are common in London, thanks to the capital’s long-standing and increasingly chronic lack of space. Naturally, Highbury Stadium is not the only old building undergoing a residential revolution. Although already complete, the former Trebor Mints factory conversion in Katherine Road will give you an idea of what is becoming increasingly fashionable among developers and property investors alike.

A spectacular 1930s monolith, it is now 65 residential properties and office units with the addition of two extra new floors and a daylight-filled courtyard in the middle of the building. And the ‘Trebor Quality Sweets’ lettering on the exterior has even been restored to its former glory.

Live in a former gin business

Forced in part by space limitations, London continues to set the standard with similar property conversions. How about a new home in a former gin distillery? Although no alcohol appears to be included with any new property purchases at the simply named ‘Distillery’ project close to Canary Wharf.

Former home to Old Seager gin, this exciting property investment opportunity integrates part of the site’s listed architecture and remodelled warehouse to produce a mixed-use development. Its website quotes Ken Livingstone, current Mayor of London, as calling it ‘an exemplar of process and design in London.’

The building’s apartments will feature oak finishes, open studios and duplexes, plus a ’sky gallery’ in the building’s upper floor to create panoramic views. £225,000 is the starting price if you are interested in investing in one of these properties, with completion earmarked for 2010.

Monolithic Mills converted to apartments

Outside of London a northern mill or factory conversion seems a regular and apparently attractive bet. Leeds and Manchester, once at the hub of the industrial revolution, both boast their own financial districts, with Leeds’ banking haven the biggest area of its kind outside of the capital.

As such the textile mills that once housed the world’s first organised heavy industry are a potential goldmine for property developers keen to convert them into apartments for young professionals settling either side of the Pennines.

Elisabeth Mill, Houldsworth Village, Stockport, is being turned into 138 apartments by specialists Millshomes. The site is a grade II listed former cotton mill and currently in the second stage of a two-phase conversion. If Victoria Mill, phase one, is anything to go by, Elisabeth Mill will feature exposed brickwork, penthouses, high ceilings and uninterrupted views. £139,359 is a discounted starting price for these property investments, with all units done and dusted by August 2009.

Over in Leeds, the vast Bank Mills building, once empty, grim and redundant, is now the subject of a transformation into Roberts Wharf, by City Lofts. Additional new build properties are also being added here, to create 198 new Conran-designed loft apartments plus 13,000 sq ft of office space. Some of these properties are already completed and a few units are left off-plan, with £90,000 and up the asking price and full completion down for October this year.

Other property conversion innovations

The same property developer is behind Springfield Mill, Nottingham, in the east Midlands. Once the home of lace production, it is now a four-storey apartment development with 105 units. Work is underway already with June 2008 the finish date. Again, an element of Jasper Conran design is as standard.

Manor houses and hunting lodges prove popular candidates for more rural conversions. The Mulberry Green Collection, Essex, will feature seven apartments in a listed manor house, once gutted by fire but now set to be a luxurious set of homes starting at £299,950.Work on this project is set to get under way this year.

As the NHS continues a programme of selling off older sites, hospital conversions might also make future property investment opportunities. School conversions are also common. Victorian school buildings lend themselves well to homes with high ceilings and airy windows. Parts of Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire in the east Midlands are in the midst of an educational cash investment from the Government. The borough of Melton in the former and Bassetlaw in the latter are undergoing schemes that could see large school buildings up for grabs in the not-too-distant future.

Although rare gems, conversion properties off-plan could become more common as developers seek to minimise costs in the current economic climate - and what better way to preserve the past while laying down a future property investment?

Technorati Tags: property investment, apartments, building conversions, real estate, property UK, real estate UK, real estate investment, off plan property, off-plan property