Real Estate & Investment News in United Kingdom from Propertyshowrooms.com

UK house prices fall but analysts remain confident

Wed, 1 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Despite new research suggesting that house prices in the UK are falling at their fastest annual rate in 18 months, market analysts remain confident about future prospects.

Property search company Hometrack's research has found that values are around 3.7 per cent lower in May when compared to a year previous, with the late Easter break and bank holiday weekends impacting demand.

The survey also showed that the number of new buyers registered with estate agents fell by 0.5 per cent over the month, the first decline since January.

However, analysts remain more optimistic, with some forecasting that the UK market will hit rock bottom this year and begin the road to recovery.

According to the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), the recovery will be gradual.

"We think the market is currently close to the bottom for the UK as a whole and there are signs prices will stabilise over the second half of the year. The main factor driving up prices is the shortage of available housing which has already pushed up rents," said Douglas McWilliams, CEBR chief executive.

Sellers exceed buyers in UK property market

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The number of properties for sales in the UK market far exceeds the amount of buyers in the majority of regions, a new report has found.

This is according to figures published by Rightmove, which noted that London is the only market in which buyers are in plentiful demand.

A weekly average of 28,390 properties entered the market in April - up nine per cent on 2009 figures. The increased seller numbers has resulted in the biggest monthly jump in agents' unsold stock since May 2007, Rightmove added.

"This is a clear indication that the number of properties available to buy is not being matched by the number of buyers able to proceed," said Miles Shipside, director of Rightmove.

"With buyers still struggling to raise the necessary finance, the net result has been the biggest jump in unsold stock on agents' books that we have recorded in nearly four years."

The news follows recent comments from Jon Brown, partnership manager at iammoving.com, who suggested that a lack of demand from domestic property buyers in the UK means that house prices in the country are likely to remain at the same level as they are currently at until 2012.

UK property offers investors double-digit returns

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Residential property in England offered investors double-digit annual returns last year, it has been claimed.

Standing at 10.4 per cent, the IPD UK Residential Index shows that individuals with real estate in the UK enjoyed capital growth of 7.4 per cent and income growth of 2.8 per cent.

Speaking at the IPD UK Residential Annual Launch, Mark Weedon, head of UK residential services at the firm, said: "Residential performance continues to deliver high returns with low volatility."

He added that central London property had outperformed the rest of the market and offered impressive annual growth of 13.1 per cent during 2010.

The tenth yearly residential index also reveals that residential property outperformed all other main asset classes.

"With returns of over ten per cent, year-on-year, none of the major asset classes come close," Mr Weedon said.

According to the latest real estate index published by Halifax, residential property prices recorded a fall of 0.9 per cent compared to the previous month. It means that the average house price in the country now stands at £162,867.

Demand and supply pushing UK property rents up

Fri, 4 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Buy-to-let property investors active in the UK real estate market will be pleased to hear that strong demand and falling supply are driving rents upwards.

According to a report published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), a total of 40 per cent of industry professionals surveyed reported that rents increased in the three months to January.

As rents increased, gross rental yields have also risen sharply and they have now increased in each of the last four surveys.

"The current buoyant state of the rental market is likely to persist for some time to come, given the challenges facing the sales market. It is unlikely that finance for first time buyers will become much more readily available, while uncertainty over the economy may also deter potential homebuyers," said Rics spokesperson Jeremy Leaf.

Supply of rental property to the market continued to decrease, with four per cent more surveyors reporting decreases over the three-month period.

UK prices to increase alongside demand

Thu, 3 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The huge shortfall of property and rising demand is set to help push UK real estate prices up in the coming year, it has been claimed.

While falling home values and weak demand at the start of 2011 has left the overall market stagnant, the future is looking more positive.

This is according to Vernon Pethard, managing director of NewHomesForSale.co.uk, who has suggested that growing interest from potential buyers in new homes is helping the market to recover.

It comes as the property portal reports that it has seen the number of people enquiring to buy a new build home increase by over 60 percent year-on-year in January.

"Homeowners are making an investment in their future when purchasing a new build home. Long term benefits include reduced running costs, improved re-sale value, a healthier living environment, and the satisfaction that comes with leaving a smaller carbon footprint on the earth," Mr Pethard explained.

"With the huge shortfall in housing and the latent demand rising it would be a fair assumption that property prices will rise in line with demand over the long term."

London residential rents to grow 3% in 2011

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

International property consultant Cluttons has forecast that residential rents in the central London property market will grow by three per cent this year.

As a result, the firm believes that there will be a rise in the number of investors looking to buy property in the UK hoping to take advantage of the growing buy-to-let market.

"The continued performance of the residential market has not escaped investors’ attention, particularly in the face of growing inflation concerns," said Andrew Stanford, head of the residential consultancy division at Cluttons.

"Overseas investors remain a strong driving force for the market, with Central London offering a genuine asset in a secure market and providing diversification outside a domestic economy."

The comments come after research from property website Zoopla suggested that weaker than expected demand is leading a number of residential property sellers in the UK to reduce their asking prices.

According to the study, 37.4 per cent of all homes currently on the market have been reduced at least once in the past year.

Estate agents positive about UK property market prospects

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

The UK property market has experienced a "jump-start" to the year, with estate agents hopeful that the increase in activity will continue throughout 2011.

According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), 59 per cent of those surveyed said that they had seen an increase in the number of house hunters looking to buy property in the UK during the first two weeks of the year.

This was counterbalanced by a rise in the number of potential sellers signing up to agents over the same period, NAEA said.

"The results of this latest survey would seem to indicate a renewed confidence in the housing market as we begin 2011," said NAEA president Mike Jones.

"It is encouraging to see that the majority of our agents are noting an upturn on both the buyer and seller sides and those that didn't are still reporting steady figures consistent with January of last year."

Meanwhile, a recent report from property consultants Winkworth suggested that the availability of finance from banks would determine the UK property market's recovery.

UK market likely to remain stable into 2011

Sat, 4 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Ongoing challenges which remain in the UK real estate market surrounding securing a mortgage will mean that the rental sector in the country will remain strong going into 2011.

According to Caroline Kavanagh, group lettings director of Badger Holdings Group, the current record levels of demand for rental stock is being driven by the large number of individuals either priced or opting out of the sales market.

"On the supply side, we are seeing more tenants staying on in their existing properties, preferring to accept a rent increase rather than risk searching for something suitable in the open market," she said.

"This has been exacerbated by a reduction in the number of new investors entering the market to satisfy additional demand."

As such, the expert has suggested that the market will remain static as we head into the New Year, with demand outstripping supply, those with property in the UK will be pleased to hear.

UK house prices drop in August

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

UK house prices fell during August, according to figures from Hometrack.

The property intelligence group's data highlights that the average house price dropped 0.3 per cent across the month to £158,300, following a 0.1 per cent decline in July.

August's drop has been attributed to a fall in the number of people looking for a new home.

Richard Donnell, director of research at Hometrack, said: "The unmistakable fact is that the availability of homes for sale has improved markedly and this has reduced the support for house prices provided by the scarcity of housing for sale over 2009 and early 2010. This comes at a time when there is growing weakness on the demand side - a weakness which represents more than just a seasonal blip."

However, recent research conducted by economists at Oxford Economics suggested that a shortage of new homes being built over the next few years will lead to house price growth, meaning people should act quickly if they want to invest in UK property.

The researchers stated that average residential prices will increase by 7.5 per cent this year.

UK property prices to rise by four per cent in 2010

Wed, 4 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Those considering investment in UK property may be interested to learn that prices are predicted to increase by four per cent during 2010.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) recently predicted the UK property market will see prices rise by four per cent this year in its Consumer and Housing Prospects report. It also stated this increase would continue to 2014 due to a shortage in available property.

Despite other forecasters predicting a "double dip" in the British housing market, CEBR, which works to provide businesses with economic solutions, is confident that short supply and high demand will enable prices to rise year-on-year to 2014.

Report author Benjamin Williamson said: "While we see a double?dip in house prices as being completely avoidable, this does not mean that we will see a return to dizzying house prices any time soon. Our forecasts show that house prices are unlikely to reach 2007 levels before 2013."

Brits expect UK property market to 'stay the same'

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Those considering overseas property investment may be interested to learn that many Brits expect the UK housing market to stay the same or rise over the next 12 months.

A survey conducted by Rightmove.co.uk found that, out of 20,000 perspective home movers, 75 per cent expected the UK market to sustain its current level or increase between now and summer 2011.

People's belief that house prices in the UK could still rise is despite news that, last month, sellers began to drop asking prices.

However, the report by Rightmove.co.uk shows a drop of nine per cent in the number of people expecting house prices to stay the same or rise over the next 12 months.

Commercial director for the company Miles Shipside said: "A nine per cent drop is a significant shift."

However, Mr Shipside pointed out that with three-quarters of potential home movers still predicting prices to either remain the same or increase indicated an expectation of price stability on the UK housing market.

Last week, LettingZone reported that those looking to rent property could struggle over the next four or five years, as the number of rental properties available continued to fall short of demand.

Demand to continue to outstrip supply in UK rental market

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Real estate investors looking to take advantage of the buy-to-let market in the UK may be interested to hear that the imbalance between supply and demand for rental property is likely to continue.

According to LettingZone, a surplus of prospective tenants will face a shortage of available homes for the "next four or five years".

Mark Garner, managing director at LettingZone, said that the situation had been caused by the difficulty for individuals to get on to the housing ladder.

"There is not much more stock coming on to the market and there are certainly more tenants coming on to the market and this will continue for probably the next four or five years," he added.

"Existing renters aren't moving because it costs a lot of money to move house, so they are finding it easier and cheaper to stay put."

Meanwhile, the news is likely to lead to increases in average rents, with demand outstripping supply across the country.

Indeed, earlier this year, FindaProperty.com reported that the average rent increased by 2.3 per cent during the second quarter of 2010 compared to the first.

UK property values still rising

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Property values in the UK have continued to rise throughout May and the overall market remains stable, the latest figures suggest.

The UK house price index, which is produced by the department of communities and local government, shows that mortgage completions during the period were up and prices had risen by 0.7 per cent compared to the previous month.

According to the body, the rise means that property values are now 11 per cent higher than they were at this stage last year and had grown 1.7 per cent during the quarter.

However, Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), believes that the index may add to the uncertainty about the current state of the real estate market in the UK.

He argues that the conflicting information being given by various different price indexes was giving off mixed messages.

"Notwithstanding this, the key indicators from the latest RICS Housing Market Survey all suggest the second half of the year will be softer in terms of pricing than the first half," Mr Rubinsohn explained.

"New instructions are now outstripping buyer interest and this has been reflected in the RICS price expectations series turning negative."

Knight Frank recently claimed that prices for prime country houses rose 2.5 per cent in the second quarter of the year.

Government austerity measure will slow UK property price increase

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Investors looking to buy real estate in the UK may be interested to learn that the number of properties available for sale is at its highest level since January 2008.

Research conducted by FindaProperty.com has found that the number of homes currently on the market is 35 per cent higher than at the beginning of this year, with asking prices also increasing.

The portal claims that recovering prices, the scrapping of Home Information Packs and worries over changes to capital gains tax are encouraging sellers to the market.

"We've seen a flood of sales properties come on to the market this month," said Nigel Lewis, property analyst for the website.

"Demand for property has helped prices stay strong despite the explosion in the number of homes for sale and this fifth month of rises means asking prices are now higher than at any point since July 2008."

However, Mr Lewis predicted that the current austerity measures implemented by the government would prevent prices from soaring "out of control".

Nationwide building society recently claimed that price increases in the UK market would begin to slow later this month.

London property attracting overseas investment

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

There has been an increase in the number of foreign property investors looking to buy real estate in London, with many viewing the market as a safe haven, Prickett and Ellis has revealed.

According to the estate agents, the combination of competitive house prices and the weak currency has created "bargain prices" for overseas speculators.

"It is the way it always will be; if prices come down in international terms, you get more international buyers. But it has come down nevertheless, so that must be good news for the domestic market," Nigel Ellis, director of the company, explained.

The property expert was speaking in response to research carried out by Savills which revealed that 55 per cent of all property transactions in the centre of the capital were made by foreign buyers last year.

Mr Ellis added that the influx of investment from abroad was likely to continue if the Bank of England keeps interest rates low, with individuals "looking for a safe haven and London is probably the safest of havens".

UK property price improvements continue

Tue, 8 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Property prices in the UK continued to post improvements throughout May, but recovery could begin to slow later this month, the Nationwide has warned.

According to the building society, concerns over a proposed increase to capital gains tax could but a dampener on the recovering market, with fears that many buy-to-let investors could flood the market with property to avoid the rate increase.

"It is difficult to know with any precision how many people would bring forward a decision to sell," Martin Gahbauer, the Nationwide's chief economist, said.

"The incentive to try to beat the higher tax rate is most pressing for those who have owned their properties for a relatively long period of time and therefore have relatively large unrealised gains," he explained.

However, last month, homeowners enjoyed a 0.5 per cent growth in property values, with prices up 12.2 per cent from the lows experienced in February 2009.

LandlordZone.co.uk claims that rental demand is likely to remain strong in the majority of areas in the UK this year.

The website cites difficulties obtaining mortgages and uncertainty surrounding jobs as reasons for the continued popularity of the sector.

Strong rental demand across the UK is 'likely to continue'

Wed, 2 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Buy-to-let property investors in the UK will be pleased by news that strong rental demand in most areas is likely to continue.

LandlordZone.co.uk has claimed that the difficulty to obtain a mortgage and uncertainty surrounding jobs has helped to ensure that an increasing number of individuals look to rent property.

Tom Entwistle, director of the lettings portal, said that he expected rental rates to remain consistent.

"We are in an uncertain period with worries about the economy once again, brought on by the euro crisis, plus a whole host of new measures to be introduced by the new government, with as yet unknown effects on the housing market," he explained.

Mr Entwistle made the comments after research by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors predicted that rents would continue to climb, with the lack of supply of homes contributing to the increase.

The findings of the study demonstrate that a growing number of chartered surveyors were reporting a rise rather than a fall in rents so far this year.

Price increase in the UK property market expected to slow

Wed, 2 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Price increases in the UK property market are expected to slow over the course of the year, experts have forecast.

During the first quarter of the year rises have been consistent and steady, with levels currently 13.6 per cent higher in comparison to 2009, but there are signs of the growth slowing.

According to Jones Lang LaSalle, increases will begin to fade and will end the year down one per cent across the UK.

James Thomas, head of residential investment and development at the company, said that the forthcoming emergency Budget would have a significant impact on the property market.

"The impact of structural changes to the national economy, aimed at curbing the national debt, has left buyers and sellers unsure of the right time to act," he added.

"London and the south are likely to fare better and outperform the wider UK market as a result of global investment capitalising on the continued weakness of sterling."

Earlier this year, it was revealed that the number of new builds in the country is currently at its highest level since the second quarter of 2008.

Lack of new homes is pushing rental yields up

Fri, 28 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Buy-to-let investors in the UK may be interested to hear that a lack of supply of new homes is leading to a resurgence in the lettings market.

According to the Residential Lettings Survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, rents are being pushed higher by the imbalance of supply and demand, with the net balance of chartered surveyors reporting rising rather than falling rents reaching 30 per cent.

Furthermore, surveyors are confident that rents will remain popular, with 36 per cent of those questioned expecting the positive growth to continue.

"With sellers back in the housing market, supply has fallen back in the lettings sector. This is good news for landlords as rents are set to move higher in the coming months and yield returns are likely to improve," explained spokesman Jeremy Leaf.

"The news that buy-to-let specialists are beginning to lend again may also encourage investors to return to the market."

Earlier this year, the National Landlords Association reported that landlord confidence in the real estate sector was at its highest level since the end of 2007.

New builds at highest level since 2008 in UK property sector

Thu, 27 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

UK-based property investors may be interested to hear that the number of new builds in the country is at its highest level since the second quarter of 2008.

However, sector experts have warned that the level of residential builds still might not be enough to avert a housing crisis.

Simon Rubinsohn, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) chief economist, said that the current number of new builds was about 50 per cent short of the level achieved at the high point of the previous housing cycle.

"The lack of mortgage finance for first-time buyers, coupled with a shortage of development finance, are two key factors holding back a more meaningful recovery in residential construction," he said.

Rics expects housing starts over the course of 2010 to total approximately 120,000 - a figure it says is short of the 170,000 seen during the middle part of the last decade.

Earlier this month, the coalition government decided to abolish the controversial Home Information Packs, which were designed to speed up the process of purchasing a property.

UK landlord confidence 'highest since 2007'

Sat, 22 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

UK landlords have reported their confidence in the real estate sector to be at its highest level since the end of 2007, it has been revealed.

According to figures released by the National Landlords Association (NLA), 57 per cent of owners believe that the coming three months will be good for their businesses.

Furthermore, 28 per cent have predicted that the property market revival will continue over the same period, representing a five per cent improvement on last year.

Commenting on the results, Chris Norris, policy manager at the NLA, said that the increased optimism was encouraging after past bad news.

"Landlords have faced considerable challenges recently. Everything from longer void periods to an increase in rental arrears have taken their toll on landlords' optimism," he said.

"Alongside a more positive outlook for their own lettings businesses, landlords are beginning to think more actively about possible acquisitions in the next quarter."

However, recent mooted proposals from the new coalition government about raises in capital gains tax could soon put an end to this confident outlook.

Low interest rates good news for UK buy-to-let investors

Fri, 21 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Low interest rates will act as a boost to the UK private rental sector, with both landlords and tenants benefiting financially, it has been claimed.

According to Malcolm Harrison, a private rental sector expert, investors with buy-to-let mortgages will be able to take advantage of the cheap rates to pay off their mortgages.

"Landlords are able to let their properties, they don't have as many outgoings so they are in a better position," he explained.

"If interest rates remain low, and if more buy-to-let products come on to the market, it is going to be good for the private rental sector."

Furthermore, Mr Harrison claims that there is a growing demand for rental property.

The expert's comments come after the Council of Mortgage Lenders released new statistics which demonstrate that the low interest rates are contributing to an improvement in buy-to-let arrears.

In addition, the council reported that buy-to-let activity in the first three months of this year settled back to former levels.

Stability of buy-to-let will be disturbed by UK CGT rise

Tue, 18 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The stability currently present within the private rental sector is set to be disturbed by the government's plans to raise capital gains tax (CGT), it has been claimed.

According to the Residential Landlords' Association (RLA), a sudden increase would undermine the confidence that has been returning to the market in recent months.

The comments come in the wake of an announcement by the coalition government that it will increase capital gains tax for non-business assets, although it has promised "generous exemptions for entrepreneurial business activities".

Alan Ward, chairman of the RLA, explained that he wanted to see landlords exempt from the proposed rise.

"Increases in CGT should also exclude landlords retiring from the business as they are often long-term investors with major capital gains after many years of business development," he added.

The RLA says that the new government must focus on encouraging investment in property, rather than punishing landlords looking for further investment.

In addition, PricedOut said that landlords should not be included in any new capital gains tax exemptions.

Capital gains tax likely to hit UK investors hard

Mon, 17 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

UK property investors could be looking to offload properties if capital gains tax rises are implemented by the new Conservative and Liberal Democrat government, it has been suggested.

If the move takes place, which is widely expected, real estate speculators are likely to suffer as a result, with buy-to-let landlords forced to pay expensive rates on their properties.

Capital gains tax currently stands at 18 per cent, but could be set to soar as high as 40 or 50 per cent if the changes are adopted.

The National Landlords' Association has called upon the government to recognise buy-to-let investors as businesses or entrepreneurs so that they can be exempt from the revised rate.

"We are concerned that a tax increase of this nature will act as a barrier to further investment in residential property just at a time when there is an urgent need for more housing," David Salusbury, the organisation's chairman, said.

"There should be further consultation with the industry before drastic changes are made."

Yolande Barnes, head of residential research at Savills, recently claimed that the result of the general election would have a profound effect on the recovery of the UK property market.

UK property to benefit from eurozone troubles

Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Current economic and financial troubles in eurozone destinations are likely to have a positive effect on the popularity of UK property, it has been suggested.

Estate agent Prickett and Ellis has made the prediction based on the feelings of uncertainty that some investors have surrounding real estate in EU countries.

Nigel Ellis, director at the firm, explained that overseas investors could feel safe if they came to the UK because it is a large economy and a "good place to invest" in a property.

"The fact that we are self-contained economically is of great benefit to the housing market," he added.

"I would think that foreign investment in our property would benefit from this problem with the euro."

According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, 17 per cent more estate agents reported growth in house prices during April, compared with just nine per cent in March.

The figures show that prime property in London led the way, with 55 per cent more surveyors reporting increases in the capital.

London continues to post house price gains

Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Property prices in London are being boosted thanks to the arrival of a rising number of overseas investors, it has been suggested.

Foreign buyers now account for 56 per cent of all purchases in the UK capital, according to the Knight Frank Prime Central London Residential Index for April.

In total, sales rose by 18 per cent on a yearly basis but failed to improve on March's figures, falling 23 per cent compared to the previous month.

However, the cost of buying real estate in London has gone up, with a 1.3 per cent monthly increase during April.

Liam Bailey, head of residential research at Knight Frank, explained that the general election had helped to slow the market and caused people to put off finalising deals.

But the property expert highlighted the successful 13 months that have been experienced, with a steady and constant growth in house values.

"The real bright spot throughout the market has been international demand. These buyers have been taking an ever larger share of the market following the weakening of the pound," Mr Bailey added.

According to the Residential Landlords Association, property prices are expected to rise by a further 1.48 per cent over the next 12 months.

UK property market to enjoy growth

Tue, 11 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

UK property investors will be pleased to learn that the country's housing market is expected to enjoy substantial growth over the next year and beyond.

The prediction was made by Ben Wilkie, editor of What Mortgage, who is confident that price increases will occur now the general election has finished.

Mr Wilkie added that if the Bank of England base rate remains at 0.5 per cent, new homeowners are likely to be encouraged to enter the market.

"It very much depends on what happens after the election," he explained.

"If there are heavy cuts ... then I think the market will contract a little bit, but I think generally we are on an upward trend."

According to the Centre for Economics and Business Research, house values are expected to rise by 5.3 per cent in 2010, 3.4 per cent in 2011 and nine per cent during 2012.

In addition, CEBR claims that low mortgage rates and the slow rate of house building are helping to ensure that affordability remains favourable.

UK property prices set to continue rising

Thu, 6 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

UK-based property investors could be interested to hear that real estate values in the country are likely to continue to rise over the course of 2010.

The latest indices, published by Nationwide, shows that property prices experienced a one per cent growth last month, with low levels of stock and high levels of demand fuelling the rise.

However, Nationwide predicted that the price growth was likely to stabilise in the coming months as more properties entered the market.

"Given the very strong performance of house prices from May 2009 onwards it will take monthly increases in excess of one per cent for the annual rate of inflation to be maintained in double digits," explained Martin Gahbauer, chief economist at Nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) has claimed that prices are set to grow a further five per cent over the course of the year.

According to the CEBR, a combination of low mortgage rates and shortage of new developments will contribute to the price growth.

Growth in tenant demand boosting UK property investors

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Increasing demand from tenants is leading to a growth in the number of individuals looking to enhance their property portfolios in the UK, it has been claimed.

The latest Paragon PRS Trends Report has suggested that an increasing number of landlords were looking to expand the number of houses that they owned compared to the previous year.

According to the study, the most popular type of property for investors to purchase would be terraced housing, with over two thirds intending to buy this option.

In addition, a quarter revealed that in the first three months of 2010 they had seen a rise in demand for lodgings from tenants.

"Demand for property investment has remained strong during the recession and has improved since house prices stabilised," Nigel Terrington, Paragon Group chief executive explained.

He went on to add that the long-term outlook for landlords in the UK remained healthy, with the economic situation forcing many households to utilise rental services.

FindaProperty.com recently released the results of a poll which showed that 39.1 per cent of house hunters believed that a new government would be a good thing for the UK housing market.

London property market continues to grow

Mon, 5 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The latest figures from the Land Registry paint a good picture for the housing market in the UK capital.

According to the data, the average house price in the UK rose by seven per cent so far this year compared with 2009, with London leading the way with its fifth monthly increase in property prices.

Property investors may be interested to know that the boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea were the beneficiaries of the largest growth with prices rising 17.5 per cent last month.

Simon Rubinsohn, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors chief economist, told Property Wire that the increase was consistent with the current housing situation.

"The year-on-year gain in house prices continues to accelerate and now stands at seven per cent. The report does, however, note significant regional variations," he added.

Mr Rubinsohn went on to claim that the removal of stamp duty for first-time buyers, announced in the budget last week, will help to fuel demand for houses and could continue the upward trend in prices.

Earlier this month, a survey by the consultancy CB Richard Ellis Group found that a significant majority of investors would be looking within the UK for property investment opportunities this year.

UK leading European property revival

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The UK is leading the way in terms of European property revival with transaction volumes and house prices experiencing growth over the last six months, it has been announced.

In news that is sure to interest potential British property investors who are unwilling to travel long-haul distances for their gains, the European market has been named as the prime target for real estate purchase in 2010.

A new survey by the consultancy CB Richard Ellis Group has found that 60 per cent of individuals questioned will be looking to the market close to home for potential investment in the coming year.

Jonathon Hull, of the company, explained that the UK has benefited from a transparent market, changing prices and a weak GBP.

"Any prime properties coming onto the UK market are attracting extremely strong investor interest ... but tenant covenant and lease length are key concerns for investors," he added.

Earlier this month, it was claimed that long-term investors within the UK property market were reaping the rewards of the current economic situation.

Planning ahead 'is the way to retire abroad'

Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

People who feel they cannot afford to retire abroad should plan ahead and not give up hope, it has been claimed. According to the Independent, many people currently feel that the...

Japan gains uplift from real estate sector

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Japan enjoyed a boost from real estate companies yesterday after the country's central bank said it would accept bonds of real estate investment trusts as collateral...

Escaping recession overseas is possible

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

People thinking of escaping the economic gloom of the UK by purchasing an overseas property have been advised to pursue their dream.

Shelter Offshore claims that the negativity of many recent press reports should not deter people from searching for their ideal home in a foreign country.

According to the website, buying a property abroad can benefit people in many different ways, even if recent events mean that living in a eurozone country has become more expensive for Britons.

"Whether the grass is greener or not, the weather is often better, the lifestyle is often more laidback [and] the general outlook on life is generally more positive," Shelter Offshore explains.

"If you plan carefully and aren't unrealistic about it, you can have a much better life overseas," the website adds.

A recent article from the property advice portal claimed that property in France can provide buyers with a more affordable lifestyle, particularly if they avoid the major cities and tourist areas.

Visit our off-plan property France page.

Housing market presents "excellent time to buy"

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Buyers looking to make property purchases are currently ideally placed to complete a transaction in the market, the founder of one property website has stated...

Holiday bookings to reach 13m in February

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Nearly 13 million British people will have booked a holiday by the end of February, according to new research.

The survey from Sainsbury's Bank found that 28% of the UK population intend to arrange a holiday before March, despite the bleak economic outlook.

According to the findings, the nation's holidaymakers will spend a collective £8.5 billion, or £881.83 each, on their post-Christmas vacations.

Sam Marrs, manager of Sainsbury's Travel, commented: "It's really encouraging to see that people are still planning to get away despite the credit crunch, which just shows the importance of a holiday to the British public."

The survey discovered that London residents were the most eager to organise a holiday in the first two months of 2009, with 35% of people living in the capital planning to go away.

Earlier this month, airport operator BAA Scotland revealed that Spain was the most popular destination among people travelling from the airports in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen last year.

Visit our off-plan property Spain page.

Home Counties offer "bargain opportunities"

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Property in the Home Counties has seen a "significant" fall in price, making it ideal for those with the necessary finance to make purchases, it has been suggested...

Prime central London property prices fall again

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

There was a 2.2 per cent decrease in the values of prime central London property last month, statistics from Knight Frank have shown...

Price 'should not be the overriding factor' when buying property abroad

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The price of a property should not be the most important factor when searching for a home in a foreign country, it has been claimed. According to Dan Johnson, director of themovechannel.com...

Property investments not all about price

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

People planning an overseas investment have been urged not to get too distracted by the price of their chosen property.

Dan Johnson, director at TheMoveChannel.com, claimed that price should not be the "overriding factor" for new investors looking to enter the foreign property market.

He suggested that buyers should consider the likely returns and find out whether a particular property represents a potentially lucrative investment, rather than making price their "primary concern".

"If you're buying just because something's cheap, that doesn't make it a good investment [and] if you're buying something that's expensive, that doesn't mean it's a bad investment," Mr Johnson explained.

"I wouldn't suggest that the price should be the overriding factor for making that kind of decision."

According to research published by Cater Allen in September last year, 42 per cent of people planning to buy an overseas home would view the property as an investment opportunity.

Affordable housing funding announced by Scottish government

Fri, 9 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A further £10 million in affordable housing funding is to be brought forward, Scottish finance secretary John Swinney has revealed...

New year to bring 'increase' in property value

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

An increase in housing market activity is likely to result in rising house prices in London and across England, one estate agency has claimed...

750,000 British Homes Are Empty

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

More than three-quarters of a million of Britain's homes are empty - and the Government has been urged to take action...

Chris Hoy investing in holiday home in Brazil

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

BBC Sport Personality of the Year Chris Hoy is buying a holiday home in Brazil. The Olympic cyclist is investing in a villa on the north east coast of Brazil.

Hoy is buying a holiday home in the exclusive Laguna Beach development in Tabatinga, Brazil. The medal winning Olympian told The Daily Mail that he is planning on developing his property portfolio alongside training for the London 2012 Olympics.

"Property in Brazil is booming, so I'm keen to get in while prices are relatively cheap," Hoy said of his new holiday home in Brazil. "Most importantly I want to use the new home as a private winter training camp."

However, the holiday villa in Brazil will also provide Hoy with somewhere to forget about work: "And I'll get the chance to relax and go on the beach," he added. Hoy chose Brazil largely due to the favourable climate and ease of access; the airport at Natal is close to Laguna Beach.

The Brazilian villa will not be Hoy's first property investment: "I bought my first small flat in Edinburgh in 2000....I lived there for years and it proved a great investment."

The Scottish cyclist currently lives in an apartment in Manchester, close to the National Cycle Centre's velodrome. However, the sportsman is planning on trading up soon. "I'm going to begin looking for a larger place in Manchester. I've got a fairly small apartment at the moment, but I think it's time to buy a house."

This story was brought to you by holidaylettings.co.uk, the UK's No.1 holiday home website.

Credit crunch could encourage more to move abroad

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A top travel expert has predicted that rather than abating Britons' desires to move abroad, the credit crunch may actually encourage them.

While many are suffering financially, Association of Independent Tour Operators spokesman Ian Bradley explained that getting abroad is now a necessity for many Brits.

"Probably the biggest annual expenditure is a holiday. It's really being viewed as a necessity rather than a luxury," he commented.

"I think in this climate there's enough worry out there regarding redundancies, interest rates, house repossessions and all sorts of things; people just feel the need to get away.

"They put money aside and say: 'I'm going to get away, no matter what. I need to escape the doom and gloom.'"

Mr Bradley's comments may have struck an even deeper chord with some. The financial fiasco is bound to have made many Brits consider the merits of buying foreign property in places like Portugal.

Whether for a holiday home or just to escape the UK and its hassles all together, Portugal's idyllic beaches, pleasant climate and proximity to home could make it the perfect choice for UK investors.

Visit our off-plan property Portugal page

'Buy soon', investors urged

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A property expert has predicted house prices will increase "ahead of inflation" in two year's time, urging investors to buy within the next 18 months...

UK economy woes could make French property more attractive

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The UK economy is suffering in comparison to its European rivals, it has been revealed, which suggests countries such as France and Italy could be viable locations for overseas property investment.

Figures released by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) show that, from a position of relative strength a year ago, the UK economy is now smaller than the French equivalent.

What's more, the Italian economy is set to overtake the UK's in terms of size over the next 12 months given the current rate of the latter's decline.

"An overvalued sterling has inflated the UK's claims to be among the top five world economies," commented CEBR economist Ben Read.

"Where the UK's comparative output 'benefited' from sterling's rapid rise up to 2007, we now see the UK overtaken by France, despite both countries seeing a fairly similar economic performance over the past year."

The UK now has the sixth-largest economy in the world, with the US, Japan, China, Germany and France completing the top five.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy is in London today (Monday, December 8th) to talk with prime minister Gordon Brown about the global economic malaise.

Visit our off-plan property France page

Tourism more robust in Britain than elsewhere

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

The British tourism market is more robust than many of those in other countries as Brits are more likely to see a holiday as an essential rather than an extravagance, it has been claimed.

A survey conducted on behalf of the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) recently showed 47 per cent of people in the UK were not planning on changing their travel arrangements in light of the global economic turmoil, while 24 per cent were still undecided.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the organisation has revealed preliminary travel figures for this winter actually show an upward rather than a downward trend.

This suggests that investment in an overseas property in France, for instance, is still advisable as tourist demand is likely to remain high.

Explaining the reasons behind the British travel market resilience, the spokesperson said: "We've been going abroad in large numbers since the 1970s and for most people it's something they don't regard as a luxury anymore.

"We also have access to good deals, in terms of airline tickets and package tour operators prices, so we've got very good value."

Abta is a representative body and is comprised of more than 6,000 travel agencies and 850 tour operations based in Britain.

Visit our off-plan property France page

Falling prices prompt investor activity

Sat, 6 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Recent price drops in overseas property markets have enabled many investors to seek bargains in previously expensive areas.

This is according to Shelter Offshore, which claims that property buyers with an eye for a bargain are currently "getting active" in order to take advantage of the fall in prices.

Several major property indexes have reported price drops around the world recently, meaning investors with cash at the ready are poised to clinch favourable deals.

"If you're a cash buyer with an appetite for risk, the market is probably looking very attractive right now," Shelter Offshore states.

The website also says that overseas property developers and agents are likely to be particularly accommodating to interested buyers in the current climate.

"If you're in the market for a home abroad, now is quite possibly the best time to begin actively looking for that bargain property," it claims.

This view echoes recent comments from A Place in the Sun magazine, which said that more affordable overseas property is the "silver lining" of the economic downturn.

Brown announces mortgage repayment deferral to reduce repossessions

Thu, 4 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Gordon Brown has announced plans to try and cut property repossessions. Under the new scheme, home owners will be able to defer their mortgage repayments by up to two years.

The government has agreed the £1bn scheme with Britain's eight largest mortgage lenders, including HBOS, Abbey and Nationwide, reports The Telegraph. The move will allow households with mortgages of up to £400,000 to defer interest payments for up to two years.

Home owners who are made redundant or suffer from a loss of income, such as losing bonuses or overtime payments, will be able to benefit from the scheme. It will also be available to two earner households where one person loses their job.

As the scheme only covers interest payments on mortgages, anyone with repayment mortgages will need to switch to interest only mortgages before they can take advantage of it.

Announcing the scheme in the House of Commons, Brown said: "Hard working households that experience a redundancy or severe loss of income as a result of the downturn will be able to defer a proportion of their interest payments for up to two years as they get their family finances back on track.

Housing minister Margaret Beckett added: "This scheme will give households breathing space...and help ensure they do not face or fear repossession. It shares the risk of home ownership at this difficult time."

The exact terms of deferring the payments will need to be agreed between individual borrowers and their mortgage provider. The details of how the missed payments will eventually be repaid have not yet been announced.

The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has welcomed the move. Director general of the CML Michael Coogan said: "The government's recognition that it needs to offer increased support to help keep more people in their homes is welcome and we will work with ministers to make sure the suggested scheme will help in practice."

This story was brought to you by holidaylettings.co.uk, the UK's No.1 holiday home website.