Budget gets Britain building while record property prices get buyers buying

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

In light of the news that average property asking prices in the UK have risen to a record high of £255,962 in March, according to Rightmove, the Chancellor’s 2014 budget announcement last week was eagerly awaited by all those with a stake in the UK’s property market.

Record price rises
The Rightmove data shows a month-on-month increase of 1.6% in the average asking price for properties within England and Wales, which represents a rise of 6.8% when compared with prices this time last year. Across the wider UK, figures from Halifax reported an average property price of £179,872 in February – 7.9% higher than a year earlier.

While the figures mean that many buyers have been priced out of the market and decided to rent instead, savvy investors have stepped in as buy-to-let landlords, choosing prime city centre investment properties for their high yields and excellent potential for capital growth. Buy-to-let investment properties are increasingly popular with both domestic and foreign investors, despite Chancellor Osborne’s Autumn Statement commitment last year that foreign investors in the UK property market will be subject to capital gains tax.

A cautious budget
The Chancellor reconfirmed the capital gains tax levy in his March 2014 budget announcement, as part of a cautious raft of measures designed to create an environment conducive to steady long-term growth in the UK’s property sector. The emphasis was on preventing the formation of a housing bubble.

The budget announcement included a number of other elements designed to assure the stable future of Britain’s housing market. The equity loans part of the Help to Buy Scheme, which government figures suggest has been responsible for the purchase of homes by 15,000 buyers since April 2013, was extended to 2020.

The Chancellor stated that a further 120,000 new homes would be built as a result of the extension of the Help to Buy Scheme – in addition to the 74,000 already scheduled to be built by March 2016. The budget also provided £500 million of additional funding to address the 15,000 housing units that have been stalled due to financing issues, helping to unlock the projects and get them moving again.

Getting Britain Building
The push to Get Britain Building is certainly timely, as demand across the UK property market continues to outstrip supply. This is one of the main drivers behind this spring’s record price rises. Leading property investment specialists Property Frontiers have been at the forefront of the initiative to increase Britain’s housing stock for some years. Chief Executive Ray Withers comments,

“The UK’s cities desperately need new, high quality housing developments in order to cope with expanding urban populations. Thriving economic hubs such as  Liverpool,  Birmingham  and  Bradford  continue to attract increasing numbers of young professionals and their families, resulting in a keen shortage of appropriate accommodation. Property Frontiers is proud to be offering high-end, new-build apartments to investors in all three of these fantastic locations.”

Property Frontiers’ investment opportunity in Birmingham is exactly the kind of development that the budget’s measures have been designed to promote. The studio, one and two bedroom apartments will be available from £95,000, with a pre-launch discount of 10% for those purchasing before 1 April 2014. Projected realistic yields of 9%, with developer underwrites available, mean that the properties are already proving extremely popular. Withers continues,

“It’s an exciting time for the UK housing market and the cautionary measures in the Chancellor’s budget are extremely welcome. Nobody wants to return to a boom and bust cycle; a stable fiscal background that enables investors to achieve high yields is the perfect environment.”

For more information on high yielding buy-to-let opportunities in Birmingham, Bradford and Liverpool,contact Property Frontiers today on +44 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com.

Expat investors turn back to the UK, tempted by its buoyant buy-to-let market

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

The UK buy-to-let market has been attracting an increasing amount of attention from investors both within the UK and overseas of late. Now, new data released by Lloyds Bank has revealed that even those Brits who’ve left the UK for a new life overseas have a strong appetite for investing in their former home’s buoyant buy-to-let sector.

Huge demand
Britain’s well-documented accommodation shortage has led to rapidly rising house prices and the substantial growth of the private rented sector, which accounts for some 3.9 million households across England and Wales, according to the CBRE Regional Letting Outlook.

Combined with the latest figures from the Move with Us rental index which show rental rises in nine of 11 regions in the UK in the third quarter of 2012, the buy-to-let market in Britain has rarely seemed more attractive – a fact which has not been lost on British expats.

Expat excitement

Although happy to remain overseas themselves, the newly released Lloyds Bank data shows that 38% of British expats who plan to buy a property within the next two years will be looking to rent it out as a means of income generation.

The research also showed that Britain topped the list of favoured countries when it came to where British expats are buying, with 25.8% choosing the UK. Richard Musty, Director, Lloyds Bank International Banking, explains,

“Confidence in the UK property market is very strong. Our recent Investor Sentiment Index in March showed that consumer sentiment for UK property had grown by 50 percentage points since March 2013, so it´s not a surprise that Brits abroad are looking back home.”

City focus
Within the UK, it is the cities that are attracting the most attention from buy-to-let investors, with urban areas such as Birmingham, Liverpool and Bradford leading the charge. Ray Withers, sector expert and Chief Executive of award-winning property investment company Property Frontiers, comments,

“There’s a huge amount of regeneration activity underway in some of Britain’s leading cities currently, which is having a significant increase on property prices and which will continue to do so over the coming years. Thus we are seeing cities such as Birmingham and Liverpool attracting buy-to-let investors – including a high number of expat investors – due to their strong rental potential and the longer-term attractions of capital growth.”

Investors’ choice
From off-plan buy-to-let opportunities such as Property Frontiers’ prime waterfront apartments in Liverpool (from £82,500 with 8.5% gross rental yield guaranteed in year one), to city centre dwellings such as their apartments in Birmingham (£104,500 with 7% NET annual return guaranteed), the range of buy-to-let investments available in the UK is impressive.

Since the Barker Review of Housing Supply report was issued over a decade ago, Britain has been building houses at an average rate of 95,000 homes per year fewer than projected need demanded. The result is that many young professionals and families have been priced out of the market, turning instead to the private rented sector to fulfil their accommodation requirements. With supply seemingly set to lag behind demand for years to come, it looks like the strength of the UK buy-to-let property asset class is unlikely to fade anytime soon.

Investors wishing to take advantage of a range of buy-to-let opportunities in the UK’s leading cities are invited to contact Property Frontiers or call +44 1865 202 700 for further details.

At a Glance: Demand soars for property across Portugal

At a Glance: Demand soars for property across Portugal

by Charlotte Ashton Portugal

Demand has soared for property across Portugal, according to new research from TheMoveChannel.com. The portal´s latest infographic compares Portugal´s property market now to two years ago and reveals that enquiries have surged by one-third on a national level, as interest returns outside of the Algarve.

Lisbon is now the most-searched property hotspot in Portugal, according to TheMoveChannel.com, accounting for 4.33 per cent of all Portugal searches on the site in the 12 months to February 2014, up from 3.61 per cent in the 12 months to February 2012. The Portuguese capital knocked Albufeira off the top search spot. The Faro town was the subject of 9.63 per cent searches in 2012´s At a Glance report, but its share has now dropped to 3.26 per cent, as buyers begin to look all over Portugal for real estate investments.

Indeed, the Algarve accounts for five of the 10 most searched-for Portuguese locations on TheMoveChannel.com, down from six two years ago. Leiria and Lisbon made up the remaining four locations in 2012, but Lisbon now makes up three of the remaining five, alongside Setubal and Braga – an indicator of how varied and widespread interest has become.

The Algarve still receives the majority (60 per cent) of enquiries, but its share has fallen from 62.59 per cent in 2012. Leiria also saw its number of enquiries dip 44 per cent and Viana do Castelo saw enquiries slide 20 per cent. Apart from these three, though, every district in Portugal saw enquiries increase in 2014 compared to 2012.
Lisbon led the way with a rise of 55 per cent in enquiries, taking its share to the third highest in the country. The district of Madeira has the second highest share of enquiries, attracting 12.49 per cent, up from third place.

Overall, enquiries for Portuguese real estate have soared 33 per cent across the last two years.

The At a Glance infographic also analyses the number of searches on Google for property in Portugal. Demand there has surged too. 39,000 searches for “property in Portugal” were logged between March and May 2013, 10 times the 3,600 recorded across the same period in 2011.

Portugal-related keywords that previously appeared in no Google searches also began to be used by online house-hunters. “Portuguese properties”, for example, was not searched for at all between March and May 2011 but appeared in 60 searches between March and May 2013.

Google searches for “property in Portugal” slowed to 3,780 between December 2013 and February 2014, but even with the seasonal decline in interest remained significantly higher than the same three months two years ago.

Editor Ivan Radford comments: “What a difference two years makes! In 2011, Portugal´s property market was hanging on by the Algarve. The Faro region was driving the majority of interest and activity, with Portugal´s lifestyle appeal continuing to attract bargain holiday home hunters.

“Now, though, Portugal´s property market is coming back to life. The 2012 At a Glance infographic showed activity centred on the Faro district, but the updated 2014 infographic sees activity spread out evenly across the whole map.

“Alongside lifestyle buyers, encouraged by growing economic confidence in Europe, the rise in interest has been driven by investors taking advantage of the country´s Golden Visa residency scheme. For these buyers, cities such as Lisbon are a priority rather than the coastal towns of the Algarve. The surge in demand for property in the capital may not have ended the dominance of the Algarve, but shows how much the national market has improved in 24 months, with all but three districts enjoying a rise in enquiries.

“Growth is present at all stages of the buying process: initial interest on Google has increased, engaged buyers searching by location on TheMoveChannel.com have also risen, and that interest has converted into more enquiries. After years of struggling, 2014 looks to be a good year for Portugal´s property market.”
Click here to see the full infographic.

Notes to Editors
Founded in 1999, TheMoveChannel.com is the leading independent website for international property, with more than 800,000 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 24 Jack’s Place, Corbet Place, Spitalfields, London, E1 6NN. Contact Dan Johnson on 0207 952 7650 for further information.

Property buyers flock to Spain as number of home sales rockets by 39.8%

Property buyers flock to Spain as number of home sales rockets by 39.8%

by Charlotte Ashton Spain

It seems the Spanish housing market has finally turned the corner. According to the latest figures based on actual transactions from the General Council of Notaries, home sales in February 2014 were up by 39.8% (to 26,602 transactions) when compared with February 2013.

  • Spanish home sales in February 2014 rose by 39.8% (General Council of Notaries)
  • Sales of private apartments in new homes up by 24.1% (General Council of Notaries)
  • Asking prices for Spanish property increase by 8.9% throughout Jan and steadily on the up (General Council of Notaries)

This increase in transactions is reflected in all segments of the residential property market, including the sale of private apartments, with sales of those in new homes soaring by 24.1%.

The report also showed that the value of property sold so far this year has steadied, after an increase in prices of 8.9% in January. While in February there was a slight increase in the average selling price (which was up 0.6%), the figures corroborate reports that asking prices have finally stabilised over the  last three months.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey España comments,

“We’ve seen that sales are steadily increasing and prices are stabilising … could this be the much-anticipated beginning of a new chapter for the property market in Spain?

“Another indicator of confidence in the market came from the construction industry, where new build completions have also stabilised. Considering this sector took the biggest blow as a result of the economic crisis, it is now visibly on the up. Here at Taylor Wimpey España alone we have acquired 12 new plots and developments.”

The latest analysis from Spanish property portal Kyero has pinpointed exactly what buyers are looking for. The data shows that Alicante and the Costa Blanca continue to be the most attractive areas for foreign buyers, accounting for 31% of all enquiries generated, followed by Malaga in second place, which attracted almost 14% of enquiries.

The most popular properties by far were apartments, which generated 41% of enquiries. These were followed by villas (28%) and country houses (15%). In terms of accommodation size, 3-bed properties attracted the most interest (34%), though they were followed closely by 2-bed properties (30%).

In terms of cost, the most attractive price band when it came to foreign buyers was €50K to €150K, with 47% of all enquiries falling into this bracket.

So for those looking for their perfect place in the Spanish sunshine, it seems there is no time like the present. Prices are continuing to rise and the strength of the pound against the Euro is once again in the favour of British buyers, leading many to take a closer look at what Taylor Wimpey España has to offer.

Brisas de Alenda Golf is a beautiful residential development on the Costa Blanca that typifies the type of high specification, well-built property that Brits are looking for. The private complex offers 3 bedroom properties with generous private gardens, communal swimming pool and club house, as well as a gym, bar and restaurant all available from just €145,000 + VAT.

Designed to optimize the light and the space and with the best finishes and facilities, the Brisas de Alenda townhouses enjoy a peaceful location adjacent to the Alenda Golf Course, while the wonderful white sands of the Costa Blanca are a mere 15 minute drive away.

For more information please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit www.taylorwimpeyspain.com. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call 0034 971 70 69 72.

Charting new territory – Millgate’s latest country mansion does it with artistic flair

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

Luxury house builder Millgate is taking bold new steps with its latest stunning creation in Oxted, Surrey. This incredible contemporary home has been bedecked with art from around the world to create an even more striking expression than usual.

  • “Creativity takes courage” – Henri Matisee
  • Luxury house builder Millgate breaks Show Home boundaries with Trevereux
  • “The view at Trevereux is all the art you need.” says local buyer

With the newly completed Chart Ridge – a contemporary home perched on the edge of an escarpment on the Surrey/Kent border – Millgate have taken the concept of the Show Home to the next level by showcasing a variety of art and sculpture.

This 5 bedroom detached house appears to almost float in mid-air as the ground falls away below it, leaving one with an idyllic view across open farmland towards the south coast.  Indeed one purchaser was heard to say: “You don’t need to fill a house with lovely things, the view at Trevereux is all the art you need.”

As soon as you step through the front door of Chart Ridge, light floods into the double height entrance hall from every direction, with floor to ceiling windows giving the house an incredibly airy and impressive feel.

This concept of light and space is echoed throughout the house and formed part of Millgate’s choice to team up with artist Ian Humphries and the contemporary Third Sector Gallery to showcase two genres of art.

Ian Humphries is based in Ireland and describes his work as having its roots in abstract expressionism but he paints with a personal approach which responds to beauty of the coast of West Cork where he lives.  The Third Sector Gallery is displaying a collection of some exceptional modernist art.  Both displays bring a number of key rooms at Chart Ridge even more to life.

In Chart Ridge, the Millgate team has created a home that is truly unique. The fabulous interior is complemented by the unadulterated view, delightful terraced garden and 12 x 6 metre infinity pool with breath-taking views of the Surrey countryside.

As an added point of interest, Millgate have on loan a mint condition American Ironhorse motorbike, which stands in pride of place in the vast open plan living area.

Jonathan Cranley, Sales and Marketing Director for Millgate, provides a glimpse of how this interior splendour is achieved,

“Millgate boasts 25 years of experience in creating sublime Show Homes and the fact that 80% of our properties sell with these interiors in place is testament to their high buyer appeal.

“Our in-house design teams work closely with Alexander James, the fellow Berkshire-based interiors company we employ to dress our houses, often working with them from initial conception. Starting the process early allows us sufficient time to find fabrics and furnishings that will catch the eye of a buyer and keep them entranced as they journey through the rooms. We want potential buyers to experience an entire lifestyle when they walk into our houses – not just a sterile shell with a few token pieces of furniture.

“Bringing contemporary prints and oils into Chart Ridge is taking things one step further. We usually hang prints that are in keeping with each house, but the works of art that have been loaned to us by artist Ian Humphries and the Third Sector Gallery are really thrilling to see. They have helped to create a wonderfully unique, market-leading Show Home, the likes of which has certainly not been seen before in Oxted.”

In addition to the interior art, showcased in front of the main building at Trevereux is the work ofJames Doran-Webb – an artist with an invigorating twist. His incredibly life-like animal sculptures are created from driftwood gathered from the shores of the Philippines, where he resides. Gracing the luxury development at Trevereux is “Bay Stag”, which has been strategically placed in front of the luxury apartments that were converted from a convalescence home that was built by British journalist, newspaper owner and philanthropist, John Passmore Edwards for the Charing Cross Hospital.

Doran-Webb comments,
“The level of quality and the attention to detail in Millgate homes are a perfect match for my sculpture, and the fine, clean lines of this contemporary development is a great backdrop to the organic, rutted look of the age old wood.”

For more information on this state of the art Show Home, contact Millgate on 01883 716404 or visit www.millgatehomes.co.uk. Alternatively talk to the Knight Frank sales team on 01483 564 660.

Editor’s Notes:
Chart Ridge, Trevereux Hill, Oxted
Chart Ridge is a striking contemporary house with breath-taking views. To optimise the uninterrupted scenery, sliding glass doors seamlessly blend the outdoors with the living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. The doors open onto the large, south-facing terrace and reveal a perfect space for outdoor entertaining in the warm summer months.

Every last detail has been considered, including an infinity pool, creative landscaping and an innovative wind sensor system that opens or closes the exterior awnings depending on the weather.

The flexible accommodation includes a living area that can be used as one vast room or divided with sliding doors to create a number of more intimate areas. Five bedroom suites and a spacious study offer great family living, as well as providing room for swarms of guests.  The first and second bedrooms benefit from the amazing views and both open on to the spacious terrace.

Guide price for Chart Ridge is £3,600,000.

Landlords and property investors bullish about Britain’s second city

Landlords and property investors bullish about Britain’s second city

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

Famous for being the second most populous city in the UK and for its commitment to leading architectural design, such as the iconic Bull Ring commercial centre, Birmingham is now making headlines for a new reason, having recently been identified as one of the highest yielding buy-to-let destinations in the UK.

  • UK house prices rise 2.1% in last 3 months to Feb 2014 (Halifax)
  • Population of Birmingham set to rise by 150,000 people by 2031
  • Over 80,000 new homes in the city required to meet demand

A huge market

Buy-to-let is increasingly being seen as one of the most exciting and dynamic investment markets available within the UK. With house prices rising by 2.1% (last 3 months to Feb 2014, Halifax) and a construction sector that is lagging hugely behind demand, many families are seeking rental properties rather than purchasing their own home.

The private rented sector has been growing steadily over the past decade, but has accelerated significantly within the last 12 months as the UK’s housing market has picked up, with the latest Sequence index showing a 15% year on year increase in new tenancies across the UK. At the same time, home ownership is falling, dropping from 71% of households in 2003 to just 65% currently, according to the latest English Housing Survey from the Department of Communities and Local Government.

Hand in hand with the increased demand for rented accommodation, monthly rental prices have been rising over the past year, with the Sequence index showing an increase of 8% over the period. The combination of factors has made the UK buy-to-let market an extremely attractive investment option – and nowhere more so than in Birmingham.

Big plans for a big city
As befits its status as England’s second city, Birmingham has some big plans in place to ensure it retains its reputation as one of the most exciting places in the UK to live and do business. The visionary 20 year Big City Plan is set to create a host of new business facilities, transportation links and public spaces in Birmingham during the plan’s life, adding 50,000 jobs and contributing £2.1 billion to the economy every year.

The planned High Speed Two (HS2) rail link, which will propel Britain’s Victorian railways into the 21st century and cut journey times between Birmingham and London, is scheduled to begin construction in 2017 and will further enhance Birmingham’s reputation as a leading commercial and business-oriented city. Once finished, HS2 should allow passengers to travel from London to Birmingham in just 48 minutes.

Beating the crowds
The ambitious regeneration and rail plans are set to create tens of thousands of jobs in Birmingham, attracting a host of new workers to the city. By 2031 an additional 150,000 people will call Birmingham home with some 80,000 new homes required to meet this growing demand.

Ray Withers, CEO of leading property investment firm Property Frontiers and a man from Birmingham himself, explains how this is creating the perfect buy-to-let environment within Birmingham,

“House prices in Birmingham are increasing, but remain consistently below the levels we are seeing in London and the South East. Concurrently, rental yields in Birmingham are higher than one can expect in London. With lower purchase prices and higher yields, it might well be the UK’s second city but it’s not second choice with smart investors avoiding the capital in favour of buy-to-let property in Birmingham.”

The latest nationwide date from Move with Us supports Mr Withers’ expert conclusions, showing Birmingham as the highest yielding rental area in the UK when considering rental income as a percentage of the property’s purchase price.

The news is indeed well timed as Property Frontiers has just released an exciting new off-market opportunity in Birmingham to landlords and investors. The prime city centre residential development will consist of studio, 1 and 2 bedroom luxury apartments with up to 9% yields and guaranteed rental options also available.

Available today from just £95,000, prices will rise by at least 10% on 1st April 2014 so contact the team on +44 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com.

Caribbean property investment opens up as EU Parliament votes for visa-free travel

by Charlotte Ashton Grenada

The EU Parliament has just voted visa-free travel for the nationals of 19 third world countries one step closer.

In a press release issued last week on 27th February 2014, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, revealed approval for 16 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, as well as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Colombia and Peru.

The decision, which includes business, tourism and family visit purposes, will also open up opportunities and advantages also for EU citizens, as any existing visa requirement for EU citizens to travel to these countries will be eliminated.

Island visa waivers set to enter into force in 2015
The move was initiated in November 2012, when the Commission proposed to add five Caribbean Island Nations (Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago), along with ten Pacific Island Nations (Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) and Timor-Leste to the list of third world countries and territories whose nationals are exempt from the visa obligation.

Following discussions with the European Parliament and the Council, it was agreed to add the UAE, Peru and Colombia to the original list. The visa waiver agreements look set to enter into force in 2015.

Fiscal incentives for business and investment
This is excellent news for the growing number of companies doing business and investment in the Caribbean. Grenada, in particular, is currently enjoying a business boom, with investors attracted by a number of fiscal incentives granted to qualifying business enterprises. These include: exemption from custom duties on plant, equipment and raw materials; no restrictions on foreign ownership; no restrictions on foreign currency transactions; no restrictions on the repatriation of profits, capital and dividends; and double taxation relief.

A Grenada Citizenship by Investment program also came out at the end of 2013. Unlike some similar residency and citizenship programs which are invitation only, this option is open to those investing in Grenadian government supported developments.

Hotel investments get 5 star treatment
Hotel and resort investments look set to remain top on the list for the next couple of years, with additional sector support from CARICOM Development Fund’s $5.83 million pact to Grenada to develop lines of credit for the tourism and hotel sector, along with SMEs and energy efficiency.

Ray Withers, CEO of Property Frontiers, comments: “We’ve been involved with Grenada hotel investments since 2005 and have sold more property here than any other agent. Hotel room investment is a perfect win-win investment in an emerging market such as Grenada, which is also experiencing a boom in tourism.”

He continues: “Now the EU Parliament has voted in favour of visa-free travel, we can see a whole new level of investment opportunity opening up. Bacolet Bay Beach Resort is selling like hot cakes right now and we’re already investigating more easily accessible, high yielding options in this gorgeous Isle of Spice.”

With investment from £248,500 for a luxury hotel suite including a 3 year rental guarantee and 4 weeks´ personal usage, get in touch on +44 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com for more information.

Higher prices and faster sales show the UK’s property market has truly bounced back

Higher prices and faster sales show the UK’s property market has truly bounced back

by Charlotte Ashton United Kingdom

The resurgence of the UK property market is something that has been welcomed by sellers and purchasers alike, as prices rise and transaction numbers increase. Now, the time taken to sell properties is falling too – a further sign of buoyancy in the UK’s recovering market.

Rising prices
Data from the December 2013 edition of the Land Registry’s House Price Index shows an average monthly rise in house prices across England and Wales of 1.1%. The positive figure means the annual price change has now reached 4.4%, as the market recovers across the UK.

The report also demonstrates the resurgence in terms of transaction numbers. July to October 2013 saw a total of 72,507 transactions, up from 59,065 for the same period in 2012.

Reducing timescales
In addition to rising prices and the increased number of transactions, new research from Hamptons International has also shown that the time between advertising a home for sale to agreeing a price has fallen by nearly two weeks since 2012. The data shows that during the last quarter of 2013, the process took less than 8.5 weeks on average.

The figure is backed by the latest data released by Home.co.uk, which found that the average property is now on the market for three days fewer than it was in February 2013.

In practice
Property investment specialists Property Frontiers have certainly noticed the market picking up for their northern England buy-to-let investment opportunities. Their luxury city centre apartments in Bradford and prime waterfront apartments in Liverpool are now taking an average of just 13 days per sale, while their stunning completed apartments in Manchester are taking just 5 days on average. Chief Executive Ray Withers comments,

“We’ve seen a trend of the market picking up for some time in terms of transaction volumes increasing and sale times reducing. The north of England is the place for buy-to-let property investment at the moment and a growing number of investors are awakening t the potential of cities such as Liverpool, Manchester and Bradford.”

A market leader
With their thorough, investor-led approach to property investment, Property Frontiers has pledged to continue innovating in terms of the opportunities they offer as the UK market continues to recover. Their Bradford apartments, for example, which are offered through the company’s established partnership with Aspire Citygate, include a bond that is used to insure investors’ deposits.

The bond means that for the one bedroom apartments, which are priced at just £50,000 (25% below market value), a deposit of just £10,000 is required until completion, which is fully protected by the deposit bond. It is through such touches that Property Frontiers has ensured that it has remained a market leader throughout the UK’s recession and into its recovery.

If you would like to know more about Property Frontiers’ fantastic UK buy-to-let opportunities, get in touch today.

AB Property Marketing appointed to represent fastest growing Russian property portal, Idinaidi

AB Property Marketing appointed to represent fastest growing Russian property portal, Idinaidi

by Charlotte Ashton Russian Federation

Please find following press information for immediate release, you can also view the release in the ABPM Media Centre here: http://www.abpropertymarketing.co.uk/html/news_story.php?id=1325

If ever there is an opportunity for a nation to showcase its wealth on a global stage then the Olympic Games is it. And as hosts of the XXII Winter Olympic Games, Russia is doing just that.

The fact that these are the most expensive Olympic Games in history coming in at $50 billion, is reflective of the vast amounts of wealth held within this nation and the desirability of foreign companies to secure their serving of this ‘Russian caviar’.

International real estate developers and agents are particularly keen to tap into this highly lucrative market as the fondness of wealthy Russians to own a second home in Europe and further afield in the Middle East is well documented.

The latest data from Knight Frank in facts reveals that Russians bought 8.5% of properties in London worth more than £2million between March 2012 and March 2013 with appetites rising quickly for luxurious second homes in Spain, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Egypt.

This is a trend which Carlo Walther, former head of Rightmove Overseas and now COO of Idinaidi, the fastest growing property portal in Russia, is experiencing first hand. From his offices in Moscow he comments,


“Russian demand for overseas property is booming, and Russians are already well established as the number one buyers in Bulgaria where over 350,000 holiday homes have already been bought by Russian nationals.

“We’ve seen traffic to our overseas section grow by over 50% month on month since launch.  The top locations are Bulgaria, Turkey, and Spain. Owning a second property outside Russia is still deemed a sign of success and the demand shows no sign of abating.”

With that in mind and in order to supply these hungry Russian eyeballs with ever more global property choices, Idinaidi has appointed leading international property PR agency, AB Property Marketing to spread the word amongst agents and developers in the industry.


Charlotte Ashton, MD of ABPM, comments,

“The team and I are delighted to be working with Idinaidi; since the economic downturn began we have seen the rise of the Russian buyer both here in prime central London as well as further afield in top destinations such as Marbella, Paphos and the Black Sea. From speaking to developers and agents across the industry, successfully tapping into the Russian market is high on their agendas for 2014 and now with Carlo’s overseas property portal experience and expertise, Idinaidi presents the ideal lead generation solution.”

For those working within the media, Idinaidi too can offer a rare, impartial insight into the Russian market and buying trends. Boasting over 560,000 sales and rental listings not just in Moscow and St Petersburg but 120 cities across Russia and beyond from 7,000 registered professionals, their market data is second to none.

Combined with being the home of the most read real estate blog in Russia, as well as being the most followed real estate site on the country’s social networks, Idinaidi is an invaluable tool for journalists looking for the latest, on the ground information on the Russian market and its buyers.

To find out more visit Idinaidi today at http://www.idinaidi.ru/; you can also follow them on Twitter or Like them on Facebook.

At a Glance: Warsaw tops Polish property wish list

At a Glance: Warsaw tops Polish property wish list

by Charlotte Ashton World

Warsaw is top of buyers´ Polish property wish list,TheMoveChannel.com´s latest research reveals. The portal´s At a Glance infographic shows that real estate in Poland is a tale of three cities, but that activity is driven by the capital, which accounts for almost one-quarter of all buyers´ searches.

22.4 per cent of searches in the 12 months to January 2014 were directed towards Warsaw, making the capital city the second most sought-after location in the country. Krakow was the most looked-for property market, attracting 23.3 per cent of searches. While interest in the two was almost equal, though, that activity translated into twice as many enquiries in Warsaw´s district of Masovia.

Masovia, home to two of the 10 most popular cities (Warsaw and Konstancin-jeziorna), accounted for 37.7 per cent of all Polish real estate enquiries in the past year, far ahead of Malopolskie, which accounted for another two of the top 10 (Krakow and Zakopane) and 18.8 per cent of enquires. Together, the two districts are responsible for four of the most in-demand cities in Poland and make up 56.5 per cent of the country´s enquiries on TheMoveChannel.com.

The third most popular region was Wielkopolskie, responsible for the top 10´s Poznan and Lodz, as well as 17.4 per cent of enquiries. Dolnoslkaskie was the fourth most popular district, generating 9.6 per cent of enquiries. It is home to Wroclaw, the third most searched-for city on the site. All the other districts accounted for fewer than 5 per cent of enquiries.

The infographic also analyses activity on Google from the past year related to buying property in Poland. “Property in Poland” was the most commonly used phrase. “Houses for sale in Poland” are the most popular type of real estate; there were no searches for “villas for sale in Poland” on Google in the past year.

Searches featuring the general keywords “property for sale in Poland” have decreased in the past year, particularly during the winter months at the end of 2013. While interest in Polish property appears to be diminishing, though, demand for land appears to be growing. Indeed, the number of searches for “land in Poland” almost doubled in the 12 months to January 2014, with 140 searches recorded in the three months between February and April 2013 rising to 230 in past three months.

TheMoveChannel.com Editor Ivan Radford comments: “When laid out on paper, Poland´s property market is a tale of three cities: Krakow is top of the shopping list thanks to its historical and cultural appeal; Wroclaw´s beautiful riverside scenery and Gothic architecture attracts more than one in 10 searches; but Warsaw, a centre of both nightlife and commerce, appeals to investors and buyers, to the extent that the district of Masovia generated more than double the enquiries of Molopolskie, home to Krakow, in the last year.

“Poland´s economy has been strong in recent years. GDP grew 1.7 per cent in the third quarter of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012, according to Eurostat. That stability appears to have helped fuel a rise in interest in the country´s property on TheMoveChannel.com since November 2013. It is interesting to note that away from our portal, interest is also climbing in the country´s land opportunities.”

Notes to Editors
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Founded in 1999, TheMoveChannel.com is the leading independent website for international property, with more than 800,000 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 24 Jack´s Place, Corbet Place, Spitalfields, London, E1 6NN.
Contact Dan Johnson on 0207 952 7650 for further information.