Landlords look to the North West to secure double-digit rental returns

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

The UK buy to let sector is continuing to present itself as one of the best areas of investment according to latest industry data.

Recent findings collected from the Halifax have indentified that UK house prices increased by 1.2% in October 2011 with the average home in the UK standing at around £163,311. While the increase shows that the UK housing market has “proved resilient” in recent months, those entering the property market, particularly first time buyers will be less likely to afford homes in the UK, forcing many to rent instead.

Almost 4 million properties (2010) are in the Private Rented Sector providing homes for 1 in 6 households and, as demand for rented property continues to grow with the agency network Countrywide highlighting that rental properties now take an average of just 12.7 days to be let, with an average of 5 prospective tenants competing for each property, rental rates are rapidly increasing reaching record highs of £718 a month (LSL Property Services, Sept 2011).

Ray Withers, Director of Buy-to-Let experts Property Frontiers comments,

“With demand outstripping supply in the Buy-to-Let market, those with enough capital to invest in the growing Buy-to-Let arena are benefitting from some of the highest monthly returns on record. Big rental returns from UK property have alerted overseas investors to the UK, attracted not only to a solid market from which to reap weighty returns, but also a safe and reliable place to invest.”

In terms of location, the North West of England has been pinpointed as offering some of the best opportunities for investment within the UK seeing a 20% rise in rental rates this year alone due to the unprecedented demand for rental accommodation.

In the city of Liverpool, demand is fast outstripping supply due to the reduction in home ownership and the number of new homes being built (well below the Government target of 250,000 pa). This has led to an increase in landlords purchasing apartments in Liverpool at below market values in order to capitalise on the growing Buy-to-Let market.

Meanwhile, demand for accommodation in and around the city centre also continues to rise as more students and young professionals enter the city with one residential lettings agency reporting that rental levels are now 10% higher than last year.

For investors looking to snap up a lucrative deal in a flourishing market, Crete Tower, the second tower within the prestigious development comprised of 64 high quality 3 bedroom apartments within a private gated community located north of Liverpool City centre could provide the answer.

The development will include an on-site gymnasium, management office, on-site security, CCTV and 128 parking spaces while all units shall be beautifully decorated and delivered ready to let with carpet, blinds, light fixtures, and internet connection.

All apartments in Crete Tower’s sister building sold out within a matter of weeks and so with units costing just £69,000 for a 3 bedroom apartment – 21% below market valuation with a 10% net rental guarantee for 3 years this is an opportunity too good to miss.

For more information contact Property Frontiers on +44 (0) 1865 202700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com.

 

TheMoveChannel.com adds Zoopla UK property to overseas listings

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

TheMoveChannel.com has signed a new deal with Zoopla to add the real estate site’s UK property to its extensive international database of property listings.

The agreement will see the leading overseas portal extend its portfolio to include domestic real estate, meeting the increasingly strong global demand for UK residential and buy-to-let property.

As international investment in UK real estate continues to rise, TheMoveChannel.com will enable the Lead Galaxy network to provide more opportunities to the 600,000 buyers who visit its portals each month.

Director Dan Johnson comments, “Lead Galaxy is thrilled to announce this partnership between TheMoveChannel.com and Zoopla. This year, investors from China, Russia and Scandinavia have all shown a growing interest in UK property, particularly the booming buy-to-let market. Nearly 50 per cent of our visitors are based outside the UK, and combining TheMoveChannel.com’s international presence with Zoopla’s portfolio will provide investment opportunities to buyers who otherwise wouldn’t necessarily be aware of them.”

By supplying customers with Zoopla’s real estate in addition to its own catalogue of overseas property, TheMoveChannel.com looks forward to remaining the leading independent overseas property portal both at home and abroad.

Notes to Editors

Founded in 1999, TheMoveChannel.com is the leading independent website for international property, with than 400,000 listings in over 100 countries around the world, marketed on behalf of agents, developers and private owners.

The website address is http://www.TheMoveChannel.com and the office address is 45 Lafone Street, Shad Thames, London, SE1 2LX.

Contact Dan Johnson on 0207 952 7650 for further information.
 

Turkey voted Frommers favourite for 2012

by Charlotte Ashton Turkey

Where do travellers want to visit next year? According to the leading guidebook publisher and travel website Frommers, 51% of readers quizzed about their top destinations to visit in 2012 voted in favour of Turkey.

Amongst a list of 10 destinations compiled by Frommers, Turkey was announced as the reader’s top destination to visit in 2012, despite being up against strong contenders such as Paris, Italy and Hawaii.

Described as a Frommers ‘favourite’ since the publication of Turkey on $5 a Day in 1971, the nation’s economic powerhouse, Istanbul, has been marked as one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities as well as one ‘packed with a rich  Byzantine history, divine architecture, fantastic street food, and one-of-a-kind shopping.’

Ray Withers, Director of Turkish property investment experts Property Frontiers comments,

“With Turkey becoming one of the biggest success stories of late having emerged as a sound economic marketplace underpinned by an already thriving tourism industry, positive acclaim from a leading and trusted source such as Frommers will certainly help propel the nation even further, much to the delight of foreign property investors.”

Further positive news arrives from the latest REIDIN.com index which has revealed that Turkey has experienced an increase in the value of residential property with average house prices rising by 0.73% in September 2011 compared to the previous month, while rental values jumped by 0.90% across the same period.

Meanwhile, the Turkish construction sector has grown by 13.2% in the second quarter of 2011 according to data released by the Association of Real Estate Investment Companies (GYODER) with property sales reaching 107,308 in the country in the second quarter of 2011, an increase of 17.8% over the first quarter.

With Turkey ranked in seventh place in the list of most-visited global destinations, according to the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Turkish government has revealed that foreigners invested in excess of $1.3 billion in the Turkish property market last year, thanks to heightened confidence in the market.

With this in mind, the projected demand of 2.9 million houses by 2015 has led investors into the lucrative Buy-to-Let world where there is high demand for good quality rented housing in Istanbul and surrounding areas with Property Frontiers recognising the growing potential of Istanbul as a lucrative property investment hub.

Located in the western suburb of Beylikduzu, one of the fastest growing areas presenting not only one of the best opportunities for property investment but cheaper property price tags than the rest of Europe, the spacious 1 and 2 bedroom luxurious modern apartments of Kensington Residence, affording immediate and guaranteed rental income at 7% for 2 years, will present tremendously good value for money with an investment of only £17,325 required for a 1 bedroom and £30,450 for a 2 bedroom apartment based on the investor utilising 70% LTV finance.

On the other hand, those looking to invest in a key asset class in the proven market of Istanbul can look no further than the booming student accommodation sector.

With University Dormitories and Government Funded Dormitories accounting for only 12.7% of rising student housing demand, a shortfall of housing stock for around 254,000 students has emerged and the new student accommodation development HAN Florya, located in the booming western suburb of Küçükçekmece, will provide an optimum opportunity to capitalise on the growing demand for student housing offering a secure high yielding low level investment starting at £14,965 with no buying, ongoing maintenance or management costs while investors can enjoy a guaranteed NET yield of 10% per annum.

For more information on investing in the Frommers favourite, please contact the experts Property Frontiers today on +44 (0) 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com.

French Ski properties still providing best opportunities for buyers according to expert report

by Charlotte Ashton France

Investors looking for a ski property this season may want to turn their attention to the French region of the Alps according to the recent Alpine Property Market report from Savills.

Over the last decade, the popularity of Alpine properties has risen significantly with ski properties accounting for 9% of holiday home purchases between 2009 and 2011.

Meanwhile, the report highlights that France is still the most visited ski location in the Alps, maintaining resilient apartment and chalet prices thanks to continued rental demand from tourism despite the effects of the economic downturn.

With strong revenue streams generated from rental demand, Alpine ski properties provide an intriguing investment opportunity for potential buyers. In fact, thanks to Alpine resorts having developed a summer tourism infrastructure, property owners can now benefit from both summer and winter returns.

Business Development Manager, Charlie Williams of Terresens, France’s leading eco-friendly property developer, comments,

“French ski property is a sound choice for any property hunter. Interestingly, the report from Savills identifies that around 62% of the market is driven by buyers seeking lifestyle and investment benefits and France is home to a number of famous ski destinations that afford both. For example, our key ready development Le Centaure in Belle Plagne offers a great package with a 4% rental income and 4 weeks personal usage; you can’t go wrong.

“Moreover, the report also suggests that there are opportunities for owners with ski property in prime locations to capitalise on high rental demand. With this in mind, we at Terresens have the most luxurious ski property right in the heart of Méribel, ranked one of the 50 most expensive locations for residential property in the world by the Knight Frank Prime Residential Index (2010), which reflects the desirability and income potential of the Meribel area.”

Further data revealed from a Ski Resort Report from The Post Office, shows that France is one of the more reasonably priced ski options. When it comes to a price breakdown on hiring ski equipment, classes at Ski School and lift passes based over five to six days for instance, France beats its popular ski rivals Switzerland, Canada and the US with a total of £436.80 compared to Switzerland’s £571.54 ski costs.

For potential buyers looking to benefit from consistent rental demand and sustainable yields from tourism, Terresens afford the very best selection of French ski properties designed to accommodate the perfect lifestyle and fill investor pockets.

Le Centaure in Belle Plagne

A beautiful character resort situated in an ideal location in the heart of the French Alps in the Paradiski, Le Centaure in Belle Plagne provides studios to 3 bedroom apartments that are spacious and bright. In addition, the development affords a range of luxurious facilities dedicated to wellness and relaxation including an indoor heated swimming pool, massage room and Turkish bath.

Nestled between forest and mountain pastures, Le Centaure in Belle Plagne offers stunning scenery, a splendid panorama and slopes for all the ski delights and, as a snow-sure key ready development Le Centaure priced at €190,748 excl. VAT offers a 4% guaranteed rental income as well as the added benefit of 4 weeks personal usage.

Les Balcons de la Chapelle, Meribel

The limited number of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom apartments and chalets of Les Balcons de la Chapelle occupy a prime location in Meribel, just a short walk from the ski lifts, shops and restaurants and commands incredible unobstructed views out over the mountains. Available fully furnished to your specification, these luxurious residences afford stunning views over the valley and la Chapelle Notre Dame costing from €560,000.

Le Hameau de Rennes, Vars

In between the Northern Alps and Provence, Vars combines the authenticity of traditional villages and the comfort provided by big ski resorts with up to 4% rental income for just €165,040 excluding VAT.  

Le Hameau de Rennes has 131 furnished and decorated 1 to 3 bed duplex apartments which are divided into beautiful traditional chalets offering large spaces with fully-equipped built-in kitchens, flat-screen TV’s, customised traditional furnishings, finely-decorated interiors, and balconies to enjoy the serene views with your family and friends.

La Chapelle, Sainte Foy, Tarentaise

La Chapelle is a luxurious 4* development providing a fantastic lifestyle and investment opportunity with ski-in ski-out facilities. With only 9 remaining units out of 68 apartments, La Chapelle, located in the heart of a traditional village offers very modern facilities from €255,754 excl. VAT with furniture and parking as well as offering a guaranteed annual rental income of 4.3% plus 1 week usage.

The apartments are finely decorated using traditional Savoyard style, mixed with fully equipped kitchens and bathrooms and flat screen TVs. You will also enjoy the relaxation area with the heated indoor pool, spa and sauna.

Coming soon……

Sainte Foy Phase II

Located in the French Alps, this south facing development is being built in line with the traditional local architecture using specific materials to create the trademark wood and stone finish and will provide ski in/ski out facilities.

With exceptional views, the fully furnished 1bed to 4bed duplex properties will afford a swimming pool and spa as well as a well-being area and will provide investors with a 3.7% rental return guarantee and VAT paid, saving you 19.6% on the purchase price.

La Rosiere

In the Espace San Bernardo, La Rosiere is located at an altitude of 1850m, offering 140km of ski slopes. It has a lovely traditional rustic Savoyard feel with low-rise chalet style accommodation built mostlyin wood and stones. Linked to La Thuile in Italy, La Rosiere offers inter-national skiing with excellent snow conditions.

With a 4% guaranteed rental return and VAT paid, saving you 19.6% on the purchase price, the development affords fully furnished 1 bed to 4 bed properties only a short walk from the shops and amenities.

Valmorel la Belle

In the core of Grand Domaine, Valmorel la Belle is located at an altitude of 1400m and offers 150km of slopes for alpine skiing and 20km for cross-country skiing. The buildings have been designed to fit in line with the Savoyard architecture using local materials like wood and Lauzes for roofs.

With ski in/ski out facilities, the fully furnished 1 bed to 4 bed properties with provide a pool and spa facilities, a restaurant and easy access to the centre of the resort as well as providing private parking and a 4% guaranteed rental return. VAT is also paid, saving 19.6% on the purchase price.

Flaine

In the heart of the Grand Massif Flaine is linked to Samoens, Morillon, Les Carroz and Sixt Fer à Cheval, and offers 265km of ski slopes as well as stunning 360 degree views over the Massifs of Mont Blanc, Aravis, Belledonne and Jura.

Compromising 2000 sqm of facilities and recreational activities as well as ski in/ski out facilities, the development will afford fully furnished 1 bed to 4 bed properties with a golf course, swimming pool and spa and a great well-being area not to mention a 4% guaranteed rental return and paid VAT.

To find out more about these wonderful French ski properties please contact the developer Terresens on + 44 (0) 203 101 110 or visit www.terresensproperties.com.
 

Albanian Riviera voted the Top Value Destination for 2012 according to Frommer’s

by Charlotte Ashton Albania

Travel guide Frommer´s has declared the Albanian Riviera as the Top Value Destination for 2012 according to its editors, authors, and experts from around the world.

Unveiling their list of top travel destinations for next year, the experts at Frommer’s also polled readers to find out where they wanted to visit in 2012 with the beautiful Albanian Riviera emerging as a winner.

The list which included something for everyone, from large cities, to quiet beach towns and riverside homes highlighted Albania as having all the natural attractions of its Croatian counterpart in the north but without the large crowds and high prices.

Ravin Maharajah, Partner of Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, the 5* luxury residential development located on Albania’s Adriatic coastline comments,

 

“Albania’s coastline is quite simply its greatest asset with 295km of Adriatic coastline that runs from Montenegro down to Greece.

 

“Albania is full of gleaming white beaches, easily among the most beautiful in Europe. Within it lies a rich history and a land of legends and ancient civilizations. It is a nation where travellers will enjoy authentic traditions and cuisines, as well as a friendly welcome.”

 

With a 200% increase in tourists visiting the Balkan nation between January and August this year compared to numbers in 2008 as well as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicting strong economic growth of 3.5% in Albania for 2012, the country is not only beginning to get the attention it so rightly deserves but is creating a favourable climate for foreign and domestic business as well as those on the lookout for property.

With this in mind, the 5* Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa can provide the perfect property investment opportunity for as little as €38,000 for a luxury apartment on a beach-front resort.

 

This stunning property development, recently voted ‘Project of the Year’ at the 2011 RealEx conference in Tirana recently for its high quality infrastructure and strong commitment to the environment will provide outstanding on-site facilities including a beach club, BBQ area, tennis courts and restaurants.

 

For more information please contact Lalzit Bay on 0845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.
 

Top of the Props: America surprise second choice for buyers

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

America is now the second most popular overseas property destination in the world, according to the latest Top of the Props report from TheMoveChannel.com.

After a long-running battle between France and Spain at the top of the chart, the US has unexpectedly turned the two-horse race into a three-way competition for top spot. The country rose by two places in the rankings, replacing the traditional runner-up as the surprise second favourite for buyers in October.

America has always been one of the most popular places for foreign real estate investment, alongside France, Italy, Portugal and Turkey. But while Spain remains the country of choice for buyers (receiving 3 per cent more enquiries than the month before), America saw an increase of 1.06 per cent in enquiries last month.

That number may seem like a small increase, but interest in US property has grown by 3 per cent over the past three months, indicating a consistent appetite from overseas buyers for the country´s heavily discounted property market. France had 1.57 per cent fewer enquiries last month, while interest in Portugal also waned, by 2.42 per cent – perhaps a sign that the continuing Euro crisis is sapping interest in continental property markets.

America´s ascension was just one of several surprises, as Cyprus and Thailand both jumped several places to enter the Top 10 most popular destinations. Cyprus has been suffering from unemployment and economic woes in the years since the housing boom, but the country is now starting to claw back buyers, as property prices dropped for the sixth quarter in a row last month. New legislation to allow buyers to officially receive property title deeds is also encouraging investment, with many foreign investors already taking advantage of the more transparent system.

The Thai property market has just been hit by major flooding, although high-rise condominium sales are expected to grow as a result. Indeed, overall property transactions in Bangkok actually increased by 1,500 during the second quarter of 2011, according to CB Richard Ellis. But while Thailand and Cyprus made October a month of surprises, the biggest shock remains the US victory over France, as real estate away from the Eurozone continues to demonstrate its pull.

Director Dan Johnson comments: “French real estate has been seen as a safe investment zone in Europe for some time, so America snatching second place is a great achievement. The US market is currently full of foreclosures and repossessed property, with the affordable prices tempting buyers away from the French ski slopes and into the States.

“It´s interesting to see Cyprus and Thailand regain their status as former Top 10 property destinations. The flooding may see Thailand´s popularity decrease next month, but Cyprus´ low prices leave a lot of room for investment as buyers look for familiar markets amid ongoing economic uncertainty.”

 

Notes to Editors

Founded in 1999, TheMoveChannel.com is the leading independent website for international property, with than 400,000 listings in over 100 countries around the world, marketed on behalf of agents, developers and private owners.

The website address is http://www.TheMoveChannel.com and the office address is 45 Lafone Street, Shad Thames, London, SE1 2LX.

Contact Dan Johnson on 0207 952 7650 for further information.
 

London’s East End is hot pick for investment as borough ranked Top 10 Destination of 2012

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

 

Investors considering buying in the Capital should take a second look at the Royal Borough of Greenwich in the East End of London, ranked by Frommers, the worldwide travel guide, as one of the Top 10 Destinations of 2012.
 
Sitting alongside exotic global destinations such as Ghana and Beirut, Greenwich, often considered to be the gateway to the East End of London, is set to enjoy its time in the limelight even further next year due to the numerous Summer Olympic events happening right on its doorstep.
 
Ray Withers, Director of investment experts, Property Frontiers, which is marketing a new hotel investment in the Royal Docks, comments:
 
“We are delighted to see that the East End of London and indeed Greenwich receive internal accolade for its touristic appeals. The area as a whole has developed considerably in the last two decades with the establishment of the Canary Wharf financial centre, revitalisation of the Docklands, expansion of London City Airport and the Olympic Site having a very positive impact. It is certainly one area which holds a great deal of interest both to us and our clients.”
 
An up and coming tourist destination within London, if you get under the skin of Greenwich it is easy to see why this ‘little green patch’ of London has been given such an  exciting accolade. Greenwich was the main naval centre of England in the 18th and 19th centuries and is steeped in history, to the point that it is now an UNESCO heritage site. The architecture is awash with remarkable baroque facades by architects such as Wren, Hawksmoor, and Vanburgh as well as fine cuisine, interesting shops and a wonderful covered market which sets this area apart from many others in London.
 
Home to the largest leisure arena in Europe, the O2, Greenwich will also be the place to alight the new Emirates Air Line cable car which is being installed across the River Thames, expected to take thousands of tourists to and from the Olympic Park at Stratford.
 
With already high levels of tourism to the area and Frommers ear-marking the borough as a top place to visit in 2012, demand for accommodation is also set to rise, creating a lucrative opportunity for savvy property investors.
 
As Withers explains,
 
“If you want to make a property investment which has a winning formula not just for today but for the future then you need to select an area that is just about to hit the ‘big time’ and where there is long term growth forecast. Rising tourism and a shortage of accommodation makes the East End of London the perfect investment environment.”
 
Over 5,000 hotels rooms have been opened or re-opened in the east of London already with thousands more expected in the next few years. Global brands, such as Holiday Inn Express, have identified the potential of this area and are investing heavily. Following the opening of Holiday Inn Express at Stratford, the new Royal Albert Dock Hotel, operated under the Holiday Inn Express brand will over have 204 en-suite rooms just minutes from the Royal Albert Dock DLR station.
 
Opposite London City Airport, the Royal Albert Dock Hotel affords a premium location with easy access and modern on-site amenities including meeting rooms, restaurant and bar. Rooms across the three floors are available to purchase at 22% below official RICS valuations at £125,000 with 50% non-status finance available upon completion.
 
Owners can expect up to 10.5% NET yield but year 5 and only £5,000 deposit is required to invest. For more information contact Property Frontiers on +44 (0) 1865 202700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com.
 

Albania bucks fears of a Europe-wide recession as IMF predicts 3.5% GDP growth in 2012

by Charlotte Ashton Albania

A recent report released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated that Albania’s GDP growth for 2011 will be around 2.5%, reaching 3.5% next year.

Although the growth forecast for this year is lower than the registered 3% GDP growth seen in 2009 and 2010, the Albanian government is predicting a more positive scenario; putting GDP growth in Albania at around 4.5% signaling excellent news for investors in the Balkan nation.

In its report, the IMF stated that it expected the strong performance of the leading emerging nations to be the main driving force behind growth in the world economy, highlighting that emerging countries such as Albania coped well with the global crisis after implementing strong policies in the country before the economic downturn took place. 

In addition, the findings also indicate that Albania is one of the best performing Balkan nations this year with Bosnia and Herzegovina only experiencing a 2.2% GDP increase followed by Montenegro at 2.0%. Croatia is expected to expand the least this year with only 0.8% GDP growth.

Ravin Maharajah, Partner of Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa, the 5* luxury residential development located on Albania’s Adriatic coastline comments,

“Albania has much to offer investors. Indeed with the IMF suggesting that the Eurozone and the US could fall back into recession, expecting the United States to grow by only 1.8% in 2012 and the Eurozone by 1.1% next year, it would appear that Albania will lead the way in faster economic growth in the coming years. The report even predicts Western European nations such as France to fall behind Albania’s growth, with a mere 1.7% GDP growth in 2011 and only 1.4% for 2012.

“As a testament to Albania’s potential, our customer base continues to grow as the benefits of buying a beach property in Lalzit Bay Resort outweigh the macro-economic issues affecting the Eurozone. We’ve sold many units in the last few months and have released more to meet demand”.

With interest rapidly growing and the expectation of increased GDP growth as well as high visitor numbers in coming years thanks to a wider range of infrastructure projects, 5* Lalzit Bay Resort & Spa can provide the perfect property investment opportunity for as little as €38,000 for a luxury apartment on a beach-front resort.

This stunning property development, recently voted ‘Project of the Year’ at the 2011 RealEx conference in Tirana recently for its high quality infrastructure and strong commitment to the environment will provide outstanding on-site facilities including a beach club, BBQ area, tennis courts and restaurants.

For more information please contact Lalzit Bay on 0845 125 8600 or visit www.lalzitbay.com.
 

East London set for hotel room boom

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

London, known as a ‘world in one city’, remains one of the most sought-after and popular tourism destinations on earth attracting over 26 million visitors each year from across the globe. And with growth at 5% per annum (International Passenger Survey Q1 2010) and over 500,000 extra visitors expected in 2012 due to the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, the outlook for London’s tourism industry and confidence in London’s hotel market, especially in the East of the city, is sky high.

PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) report on the Capital’s hotel market recently highlighted that London was the best performing city in Europe last year. In July 2011, hotel occupancy levels reached 92% according to PwC while demand is expected to outstrip supply next year particularly in Q3 2012 thanks to a combination of tourist attracting events including the Olympic Games and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. In fact, as demand soars PwC estimates that London’s average room rate in Q3 2012 could reach £183 resulting in a growth increase of 36% for average room rates.

Ray Withers, Director of property investment expert’s Property Frontiers comments,

“The hotel market in London this year has been forecasted at near double digit growth while 2012 is expected to be a record breaking year for the hotel market. The London Plan, a guidance strategy for London formulated by the Mayor has incorporated an objective to provide an additional 50,000 hotel rooms between 2006 and 2026 while between 2010 and this year alone, over 5,000 new rooms have opened or re-opened in response to growing demand for accommodation.”

Indeed as demand sky rockets numerous hotel brands including Holiday Inn and Express have been popping up around the city, particularly in east London, fuelled not only by the new Olympic Park but also but the creation of new Special Enterprise Zones including the Royal Albert Dock, launch of Westfield shopping centre in Stratford and expansion of ExCel exhibition centre and London City Airport.

With tourists spending in excess of £9.3 billion a year in the city and a predicted increase in visitor numbers, new hotels in the east of London are a welcome addition with a very rare opportunity having emerged for investors to grab a piece of the action.

Withers explains,

“Affording an enhanced hotel experience, we at Property Frontiers are allowing investors from all over the world a rare opportunity to purchase an asset class seldom accessible to individuals. Holiday Inn Express, which is one of the seven brands of the world´s largest hotel company, Intercontinental Hotels Group Plc, located at the prime location of the Royal Albert Dock affords a first-class reputation and with three people checking into a Holiday Inn Express every second, investors will have the opportunity to gain affordable entry into the highly sought after, lucrative London market. Also, many investors have been previously put off investing in Hotel rooms due to the lack of a viable exit strategy but with this particular development there is a buyback plan at the end of the investment term.”

Priced at 22% below independent RICS valuations and with VAT paid by the developer, saving investors a considerable £25,000, Holiday Inn Express, Royal Albert Dock welcomes buyers from all over the world with 50% non-status finance upon completion available.

Set over four floors and consisting of two buildings with 204 en suite rooms, investors can purchase a hotel room on a 199 year leasehold for £125,000 and along with an established Holiday Inn Express brand, investors can enjoy a projected 10.5% net income by year 5 as well as a defined exit strategy.

For more information on investing in this lucrative market please contact the experts Property Frontiers today on +44 (0) 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com.

 

Guaranteeing buyer interest: Think Online Property’s Top tips for best describing your property

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

Rudyard Kipling, once said “words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind” and never was this truer than in the property sales world where promises of the perfect home are pledged to the potential buyer. However, on occasion ‘perfection’ isn’t always the case leading to the consumer watchdog, Office of Fair Trading (OFT), recently warning estate agents against failing to mention a property´s genuine characteristics early on.

Of course, vendors want to ensure a sale with many asking “what’s the best way I can sell my house?” Indeed, the journey begins by reaching for the thesaurus and deciding on what attention grabbing words can be used to paint the most attractive picture of the property.

With OFT claiming that some agents appear to be providing “misleading” information and are failing to meet the relevant consumer protection law, high street estate agents are now tightening their lips a little, wanting to ensure that they do not create a misleading impression of a property.

Peter Joseph, Founder and MD of Think Online Property, a leading online estate agent, comments,

“At Think Online Property, our approach to selling is a little different. As well as our handy new free value my home tool we also offer a great service that delivers an accurate description of your property. Once the seller has provided us with their own listing, we edit the information in such a way that focuses on best highlighting the properties genuine characteristics using carefully selected attention grabbing words.”

For those looking for some helpful advice on how to make a private house sale, award winning online estate agents and property description wizards Think Online Property has these essential tips to answer the question “how do I sell my home?”

TOP Tip 1 – State good characteristics of your area

It is always a good idea to mention a distinctive characteristic of your area or road, for example “A charming period house set in a quiet tree lined road in the popular area of Leigh on Sea.” If your area holds local events or has a great community spirit this might also be worth a mention.

TOP Tip 2 – List nearby services

If you are located near a great school, make sure you say so. So many schools have good Ofsted reports these days, so if a school close to you has a respectable academic record, include it in your listing.

Additionally, good transport links are often a vital consideration when buying property so if your home is situated reasonably close to a train station, tube line or has accessible roads then it is worth mentioning. For example “easy access to the A127 provides easy and quick access to London “.

TOP Tip 3 – Everybody needs good neighbours

Unless your property is detached, neighbours will be a consideration for potential buyers. If you do have delightful neighbours make sure you point it out. The more personal you can make a listing sound the more the reader will imagine themselves in your property.

TOP Tip 4 – List the Key Selling Points

Some things that are worth giving extra personal details on are any of the ‘key’ selling points that everyone looks for when buying a property.