Planet property: Global house price report highlight’s world’s real estate hotspots
- Global house prices rising at 4.7% per year (Economist House Price Index)
- UK, US and Germany highlighted as real estate hotspots (Property Frontiers)
- Output rising across entire UK construction sector (Markit/CIPS UK construction PMI)
The Economist House Price Index is one of the most important reports when it comes to providing a snapshot of the health of the world’s real estate markets. The latest report, released in October 2015, paints a largely positive picture of the planet’s property. Of the 26 markets studied, prices are rising in 21 of them, at a median pace of 4.7% per year.
Knowing where to invest
“Data such as this is key when it comes to knowing where to invest,” comments Ray Withers, CEO of specialist property investment company Property Frontiers. “It’s encouraging to see that the UK, the US and Germany are all enjoying sustained price rises. It shows how sensible our clients have been in investing in buy-to-let properties in those countries.”
Looking at the UK
House prices in the UK have been rising since Q2 2009, albeit with a few bumps along the way, according to the Economist’s report. Nationally they’ve risen by 11.5% in Britain between then and Q4 2014. The new-found confidence in the market has seen construction pick up pace, with the latest Markit/CIPS UK construction PMI reporting rising output across all parts of the industry in September 2015 – the 28th month in a row that the sector has been creating jobs. All of which is great news for property investors looking for a stable market.
One area of the UK that is firmly on buy-to-let investors’ maps is Manchester, and in particular Salford Quays. The area is booming and developments like Custom Quay, where the 60 one and two bedroom duplex apartments are available for investment from £127,000 with 8.4% expected yield, are attracting investors keen to be a part of the city’s bright future.
Heading across the pond
Over in the US, the figures paint a different picture, but one that is equally interesting from an investment perspective. Though prices have broadly been rising since Q1 2012, they remain some 22.4% below their peak value in 2006. For property investors, this means the chance to invest in real estate that could well increase in value at quite a pace over the years ahead.
At Chandler Oaks in South Carolina, just 45 minutes from the huge financial hub of Charlotte over the border in North Carolina, the potential for returns is certainly exciting, with investment from $48,671 and a minimum of 11.4% gross yield for two bed apartments. Fully tenanted and fully managed by a local property management company, the development is proving extremely popular, with 70% of the apartments already snapped up.
Buy-to-let in Berlin
Back in Europe, Germany is another country that is the focus of buy-to-let investors’ attention. The market in Berlin has some interesting characteristics, including rising rents (even with rent controls in place) and low property prices. Stadtpark Steglitz is a collection of studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments spread across three buildings in the south west of Berlin. Investment prices start from €109,000, with gross yields up to 5.6% realistically expected.
According to the Economist’s House Price Index report, home values in Germany were largely immune to the global financial crisis that started in 2006/07. In fact, prices there have remained fairly stable since the mid-1990s. It is only since around Q1 2009 that they have begun to rise steeply. Between then and Q4 2014, house prices shot up by 22.8% in Germany, delighting those who had already invested in property there and causing other investors to pay cities like Berlin some serious attention.
For further details, visit www.propertyfrontiers.com or call the team on +44 1865 202 700.