No.1 Investment

The Eastern Algarve is voted No. 1 Overseas investment hotspot by Channel 4's A Place in the Sun.

Costa de Cabanas, sited just 20 minutes from Faro Airport, enjoyed 18% capital growth last year. With golf courses and a spectacular 'island' type beach, the area seems to deserve its No 1 spot.

Right now, units within Costa de Cabanas Phases 2 and 3 are exclusively to UK investors via Offplan-Investor. (Completion is due in the final quarter of 2008).

With freehold villas and apartments offered with a 5% Rental Guarantee for 5 years could this be your ideal Place in the Sun?

Property Market Boom set for 2007

City Links lives up to its name

City Links is a new build development on the site of Salford's original bus and tram depot.

The scheme retains the façade of the original building, built in 1923; the original Old Clock Tower has also been kept and beautifully renovated.

Located just 3 miles from Manchester city centre, City Links is ideal for commuters to Salford and Manchester by road or tram link - in fact, the new tram line passes right by the building on Eccles New Road!

Eccles property prices are on the up, as the ripple effect of property growth emanates from the hub of the city centre.

Hot news is that Offplan-Investor has a pre-market launch exclusive to investors with apartment net prices from just £96,250. Click on the box below to sign up for property alerts.

Make money from buy to let!

One million households in the UK now live in buy-to-let properties. This figure will rise dramatically over the next decade. So where are you investing next?

Good news for Landlords!

Changing lifestyles, employment patterns and financial circumstances are all combining to encourage more people to rent.

At the end of the 1980's, around 40% of 20-24 year olds and roughly 66% of 24-29 year olds were already owner occupiers. Now only 20% and 50% or these age groups respectively purchase.

This is a considerable social change, with many people moving to owner occupation at least a decade later in life than people of their age used to.

With increasing numbers of 20 and 30-somethings still unable to afford first homes there is little doubt that those offering rental properties in prime locations are on the right track. Interestingly, in a recent poll carried out by ARLA, 13% of tenants declared that they had no interest in buying a property of their own.

The primary reason given was that they would prefer to live in a location of their choosing than move to a less desirable, but more affordable, neighbourhood.

Which returns us to the premise that location is all. Good news then for those with a portfolio bursting with city centre apartments. Or is it?

UK housing shortage still dire

With a glut of new build, surely over-supply is the last thing landlords need?

"Not at all," enthuses David Walters of specialist investment company, Off-Plan Investor.

"You can't get away from the fact that the UK is grossly under-supplied in terms of housing stock.

An exponential development of brownfield sites is barely scratching the surface of housing demand, which is why we're seeing a growing, not a diminishing, demand from investors to buy into regional capitals.

Linfoot PLC's Lumiere development in the heart of Leeds (pictured here) is a great example of an exciting urban investment. Entry level prices are just £116,000 with low deposits phased over four years."

Mix up your portfolio

So where should we all be rushing to invest?

"Don't put all of your investment eggs into one basket," cautions David Walters. "Many of our regular investors hold a wide mix of investments, from city and suburban apartments, to houses with the opportunity for multiple occupancy and, increasingly, lifestyle properties working on a guaranteed holiday rent.

All represent an advantage over traditional investments".

Landlords expect portfolios to soar

Novice Landlords offered tribunal help

Landlord Line

This January, the Manchester resale market cooled just when I wanted to a quick sale, reports investor Jeni Franklin.

Intending to back-to-back an off-plan deal, the post Christmas slump left me with one option; short term rental whilst seeing if the resale market rises. "Too easy," I thought, "Anyone can ‘Ann Maurice' a place." 

At first it was fun; drooling over sofas and media cabinets, driving miles out of my way to look at designer lamps and leather beds. I considered adding design services to my limitless talents and then reality struck.

Playing Mrs Design Lady was costing a fortune. Not only was I wasting time, but I simply didn't have the buying power to furnish my apartment as cost-effectively as a "real" interior designer. I remembered Kit it Out, the interior design people I'd met at The Property Investor Show North. After the show, director Clare Whitehead showed me around some of the schemes she'd designed. I'd liked what I'd seen.

Since then, Clare's expanded her design service to work with investors right across the UK. I was sure she could help out!

With access to top Italian names at discount prices, Kit it Out is adept at staging homes stylishly and affordably. (Of course, for those who can splash out on the extraordinary, Clare can turn fantasy into reality.)

For the price of a shopping trip with internet retailers, I now have quality furniture and fittings suited to discerning tenants. And the result? One happily rented apartment, which is more than covering its monthly costs. Don't try to stage a property for sale or rental all by yourself, it'll cost you more than time.

Welcome news

Yes, this is the first of our monthly newsletters which will bring you market news and hot property alerts. Stay with us - next month we've a trip to sunny Nice to give away!

With all good wishes,

Michele Andrew, Editor

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