Swedish buyers double as European demand for Spanish holiday homes soars

by Charly Spain Taylor Wimpey Espana

Swedish buyers up 100% since September last year (Taylor Wimpey España)
Belgian buyers account for over 1 in 10 sales in 2016 (Taylor Wimpey España)
“European buyers enjoy the friendly atmosphere on our Costa Blanca developments” (Taylor Wimpey España)

The number of Swedish buyers looking to Spain as a second home destination has now doubled according to the latest statistics from leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España.

Overall, the total year to date sales to Swedish nationals, as of September 2016, has increased by 100% in comparison to last year’s figures.

With the Swedish Finance Minister painting a bright future for the Scandinavian nation only last week stating that the “Swedish economy is very strong”, many Swedes have found themselves able to purchase that dream second home abroad with Spain’s sunny and easily accessible shores a top choice.

Another European nation with a growing interest in Spanish property is Belgium. Over 220,000 Belgians visited Spanish shores in July this year alone (INE) and according to Taylor Wimpey España’s latest data, from January to September 2016, 22% of their sales were from either Swedish or Belgian nationals.

Over 1 in 10 of the total sales made by Taylor Wimpey España so far in 2016 have been to Belgian buyers with particular interest in homes on the Costa Blanca, with 50% of Belgians buying in the area.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director of Taylor Wimpey España, which has operated successfully in Spain since 1958, has observed firsthand the rise in demand from both Swedish and Belgian buyers. He comments,

“The past twelve months have seen a real boost in sales to North Europeans, especially Belgian and Swedish buyers. Easily accessible, with regular, direct, low cost flights from both nations, the Costa Blanca on Spain’s southeastern coast has become a hotspot for buyers in 2016.

“European buyers in particular enjoy the friendly atmosphere on our Costa Blanca developments; a great example being Panorama Mar, where there is a strong sense of family and community with three shared swimming pools and a children’s playground. The stunning and enjoyable site encourages international buyers to socialise and appreciate the gorgeous weather in the favourable communal areas.”

Taylor Wimpey España’s complex, Panorama Mar, is situated on Punta Prima Beach in Torrevieja. This private residential complex offers an array of 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, all designed for both comfort and convenience, with 2 bathrooms and an underground parking space. Each apartment in the first phase is south facing and therefore blessed with spacious terraces and stunning views over the Mediterranean Sea.

With prices starting from just €234,000 +VAT, every resident is granted direct access to the beach promenade. Whilst being an area of natural beauty right on the waterfront, Punta Prima is also blessed with excellent transport links. The San Javier Airport in Murcia is only a 30-minute drive and Alicante’s International Airport is just 45 minutes away.

For more information, please contact Taylor Wimpey España today on 08000 121 020 or visit http://taylorwimpeyspain.com for more information. If you reside outside of the UK you will need to call 00 34 971 706 972.

UK property market braced for influx of Chinese buyers as Golden Week approaches

by Charly World Investorist

Golden Week ‘most exciting time of the year’ for working with Chinese property buyers (Investorist)
Chinese passenger numbers during 2015 Golden Week rose by a record 10% (Chinese state media)
Manchester and London earmarked as top spots for Chinese Golden Week buyers (Investorist)

China’s National Day Golden Week, a week-long national holiday that starts on 1 October, is known for being the most active week of the year when it comes to buying and selling property.

Held to celebrate the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the National Day Golden Week holiday sees many citizens taking the opportunity to travel around China: in 2015, according to Chinese state media, 100 million people crowded onto the train network over the course of National Day Golden Week, an increase of 10% over the previous year.

Golden Week is also an opportunity to travel overseas and many wealthy Chinese combine business and pleasure by taking a holiday that enables them to investigate overseas’ property markets first hand.

Jon Ellis, Founder and CEO of revolutionary trading platform Investorist, comments,

“The second Golden Week of the year, held at the start of October, is the ideal time for Chinese investors to visit the countries they plan to purchase properties in. It’s an incredibly busy time for all those with Chinese buyers – demand rises sharply and companies need to have plans in place to respond to a surge of enquiries over the course of Golden Week and the weeks that follow.

“It’s the most exciting time of the year for working with Chinese property buyers – large numbers of deals are set up and deals done in this single week. In fact our statistics show a 46% increase in enquiry rates for properties listed on the Investorist site in the lead up to Golden Week”

Shopping for everything from shoes to chalets has become a traditional part of the holiday festivities and travelling overseas in pursuit of designer bargains is becoming increasingly common. Chinese spending in Oxfordshire, for example, rose from £8 million to £20 million in the decade to 2015, according to Visit Britain, thanks largely to the huge popularity of Bicester Village as a retail destination.

UK property stock is also on many Chinese visitors’ shopping lists at this time of year. According to figures from Visit Britain, Chinese visitors to the UK have risen from 89,187 in 2009 to 269,631 in 2015. Of those who visited in 2015, 178,770 (66%) did so during the latter half of the year.

Investorist’s Jon Ellis observes,

“This time of year is definitely when we see increasing numbers of Chinese investors investigating the UK’s property sector for themselves. Appetite for real estate is very seasonal when it comes to Chinese buyers and National Day Golden Week brings a serious boom each year, both from investors online in China and those here in the UK in person.”

Investorist is well prepared for the annual surge. The company’s recent China Connection event enabled developers a real-time dialogue with Chinese agents, just ahead of Golden Week, to discover the most sought-after areas of the UK right now. Manchester took the top spot, with London coming a close second, allowing the Investorist team to be fully prepared for the October increase in enquiries for these locations.

For more information, contact Investorist by visiting www.investorist.co.uk or calling the team on +44 (0)203 761 7380.

Collegiate AC and Shuman Capital launch €300 million European Student Living Fund

by Charly United Kingdom Collegiate AC

Student accommodation market worth US$200 billion globally (JLL)
New European Student Living Fund to support accommodation development in European centres of academic excellence
Best in class UK accommodation model to be rolled out across Europe (Collegiate)

Within just a few short years, the student accommodation market has gone from a niche investment opportunity to a mainstream asset class worth around US$200 billion globally, according to estimates by JLL.

In Europe, the UK has been leading the way in terms of how to approach this market, with pioneers such as Collegiate AC rapidly raising standards and expectations when it comes to best in class student housing.

Now, Collegiate AC has joined forces with Shuman Capital in order to launch the €300 million European Student Living Fund, which will support countries across Europe with strong academic credentials to be at the forefront of developing state of the art student accommodation.

Shuman Capital, a division of Stam Europe, will work in partnership with specialist operator Collegiate to exploit the under-supply of appropriate student accommodation in Europe on a sophisticated basis. Stam Europe is a Paris based investment manager operating both funds and separate accounts with Assets under Management of €1, 5 billion.

The €300 million professional investor fund will be invested in procuring assets developed to Collegiate’s product and brand specification, leveraging on Collegiate’s international marketing reach.

Collegiate CEO Heriberto Cuanalo comments,

“Collegiate’s partnership with Shuman Capital marks the dawning of a new era for student accommodation in Europe. The European Student Living Fund will focus on cities known for their academic excellence, working to introduce a step-change to the student accommodation on offer.”

The accommodation assets will typically be a minimum of 350 beds, which will benefit from the full service offering of the Collegiate Prestige five star plus product and service specification. That specification includes a host of luxury features, from on-site cinema rooms and gyms to VIP bars, club rooms and gaming centres, as well as outstanding facilities for studying and superb individual apartments. Hotel-style concierge arrangements will ensure that the quality of the facilities is matched by that of the service available.

Shuman Capital Chairman Michiel Olland comments,

“We are thrilled by the strategic partnership with Collegiate. Their excellent operating skills are matching with our views on managing student accommodation and in line with our investment strategy. This collaboration will clearly add value for the partner investors in the fund.”

As a long-established provider of sophisticated student accommodation, Collegiate is well positioned to take forward the new partnership with Shuman Capital. Collegiate is already a strategic operating partner to a select number of investors and developers on a long term basis, including Fusion Students and other UK, USA and European clients.

Collegiate is also an operating partner of Empiric Student Property plc for part of its portfolio and supported Empiric through its IPO. Collegiate is a long way from the traditional operating companies in the student accommodation sector thanks to its development management support function and strong brand, marketing and product standards.

It is a name already recognised by students internationally and the new European Student Living Fund will support the expansion of the company’s unique brand of excellence to many more cities across Europe over the coming years.

Collegiate CEO Heriberto Cuanalo and Managing Partners Michiel Olland, Knut Riesmeier and Guy Remans of Shuman Capital Shuman Capital will be attending the Expo Real International Trade Fair for Property & Investment held in Munich, Germany on 4-6 October 2016 and are available to meet with the media and / or other interested parties.

For more information or to arrange a meeting at the Expo Real event, contact Collegiate on +44 1235 250 140 or visit www.services.collegiate-ac.com.

Influx of ‘one-time’ investors swapping stocks for bricks and mortar reports agency

by Charly United Kingdom Surrenden Invest

Investors abandon institutional investment products for more favourable returns on capital (Surrenden Invest)
We have seen an influx of inexperienced investors who have never considered property for investment before, one time investors (Surrenden Invest)
Buy in the best areas and don’t compromise on location, especially when buying outside of the Capital (Surrenden Invest)

This summer, savers across the country witnessed the Bank of England cut UK interest rates to a record low of 0.25%. Will this cause a shift in how people are planning to invest in the near future?

Jonathan Stephens, Managing Director of property consultancy Surrenden Invest, believes the move towards alternative investment opportunities has already begun. He explains,

“With interest rates at their lowest since the Bank of England was founded in 1964, investors are abandoning institutional investment products for others that offer more favourable returns on capital. Just last week I received a letter from my bank informing me that my personal current account would no longer attract interest, the letter then when on to say that my savings accounts would also be subject to review next month. So the big question savers face is where to invest their hard earned cash?”

However, for many this change will mean venturing into unknown territory which can be unnerving for those wanting to make the best decision for their future finances. With the property market not faltering as predicted post Brexit, investors are looking to the buy-to-let landscape for a chance to make to most of their money.

Jonathan continues,

“We have seen a huge influx of relatively inexperienced investors who in most cases have never considered property for investment before. These clients are what we call ‘one time’ investors who, in contrast to our large portfolio clients, are unlikely to be in a position to invest the same levels of capital again. These investors are looking for a one-time opportunity to get into property to secure their financial future.

“My advice is to tread very carefully as there are companies currently exploiting market conditions, promising colossal returns over a relatively short period of time and these are mainly what we refer to as alternative forms of property investment.

“In my experience the best property investments are the simplest ones, if it isn’t broken don’t fix it. So why invest in something which is trying to re-invent the wheel? Our advice is to buy in the best areas and don’t compromise on location, especially when buying outside the Capital.”

Surrenden Invest offer traditional forms of buy-to-let investment across the UK, with stock in the key markets of London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. They are committed to providing realistic levels of return on their projects.

Jonathan concludes,

“If an investor called us today we would set their expectation at around 6% net rental income and 3%-5% capital growth, with an annualised yield over 5 years upwards of 10% net. Surrenden Invest aims to under promise and over perform; our projections are effectively a worst-case scenario.

“One of the great things about traditional buy-to-lets is their simplicity, therefore it is possible to request all the fixed costs, for example the ground rent, service charge and management fees, and off set those against equivalent apartments currently available to rent on Rightmove or Zoopla. This is a very easy way to find out how realistic the projected returns are.”

For more information, visit www.surrendeninvest.com or contact Surrenden Invest on 0203 3726 499.

Student finances exposed: How do they really spend their money?

by Charly United Kingdom Collegiate AC

More than half of students find managing money stressful, yet 39% still don’t create a budget (Natwest Student Living Index)
Collegiate AC accommodation offers inclusive billing and luxury communal facilities to ease budgeting (Collegiate AC)
Student spending prioritises groceries, utility bills and eating out (Natwest Student Living Index)

As the new academic year begins, many students are leaving home for the first time and one of the key lessons they will quickly learn is how to budget. Mastering this particular skill can take some time as students acquire new spending habits in fitting with their university life.

With this in mind, Natwest, in partnership with an independent research company, have produced the Student Living Index report to unearth the true realities of student expenditure, from what is considered essential spending, to the real financial impact of socialising and the true cost of students’ hobbies and interests.

Based on data from 2,500 students living in 25 popular university cities across the UK, the enlightening research reveals that 52% of students admit to finding money management stressful. However, a substantial 39% are still not using any form of planning or budget when it comes to managing their money.

Heriberto Cuanalo, CEO of the leading provider of luxury student accommodation in the UK, Collegiate AC, explains the importance of budgeting and how a modern student property can help,

“A key aspect of planning for university life is understanding your finances and creating a budget by which to stick to on a week by week basis. Every student budget will vary depending on individual circumstances and it is advisable to create your own to include personal requirements, estimating weekly expenses as you go.

“Whilst an important skill to learn, financial planning when you have left home for the first time can be challenging and this is where modern purpose built student accommodation can help. At Collegiate AC, not only are our properties close to university ensuring that money is saved on travel, we also provide extra amenities included in our billing. This can help reduce day-to-day expenses whilst enhancing the living and studying experience: this is the future of university living.”

According to this year’s Student Living Index report, students still spend more per week on groceries than anything else, with utility bills and eating out ranking second and third, swapping places in comparison with 2015’s results.

Monthly utility bills can fluctuate and allowing for this within a weekly student budget can become difficult, especially when unexpected costs occur. In order to eradicate this monetary concern for residents, Collegiate AC properties have utility bills and unlimited Wi-Fi included in the rental price as standard, meaning that students know where they stand with their finances in advance.

As Cuanalo indicates, alongside inclusive billing, Collegiate AC properties also boast a variety of additional facilities available to residents at no additional cost, again assisting with budgeting and in turn reassuring parents and guardians from afar.

With eating out remaining in the top three of student expenditures, Collegiate AC’s Water Lane Apartments in Bristol benefits from a private dining room that provides residents with the ideal venue to throw their very own dinner parties, eliminating the need to eat out so frequently.

Leeds’ premier student residences, Pennine House, also boasts an array of excellent inclusive facilities. These range from an on-site cinema to provide the ultimate in home entertainment, to the on-site private gym, exclusive to residents and stocked with the latest exercise equipment to allow students to save on expensive gym memberships, a key advantage when calculating a weekly budget.

With Natwest’s latest report also highlighting that, contrary to popular belief, the majority of students’ time is spent studying – approximately 30 hours a week compared to just 8.9 hours spent socialising – Collegiate AC understand the importance of effective study areas in their properties.

With reading and work rooms available for individual study or in a group, Collegiate AC’s high-specification and beautifully designed Saxon Court Apartments, set in Reading, are equipped with study and common rooms, ideal for just this purpose.

For more information, visit www.collegiate-ac.com or contact Collegiate AC on 01235 250 140.

Why this Aussie entrepreneur is still bullish about British bricks & mortar post Brexit

by Charly United Kingdom Investorist

Investorist Founder launches B Round Capital Raising to fund continued global expansion
B2B trading platform eyes new office in Northern Powerhouse city of Manchester
Investorist takes advantage of FX rates buying Pounds ahead of UK cash flow requirements

It’s been almost three months since Britain decided and the property industry is still trying to interpret the impact that Brexit is going to have, both the short and more long-term effects.

However, amongst the array of predictions, both positive and negative, Investorist Founder and CEO, Jon Ellis, is optimistic regarding the UK’s post Brexit off plan property market.

Launched in 2013 in Jon’s home city of Melbourne, Australia, Investorist specialise in off plan property providing an online, global B2B marketplace. With projects all over the world, and offices in Australia, China, Singapore, United States, Vietnam and the UK, Investorist is the leading property network and management tool connecting thousands of property professionals globally.

Indeed, so confident is Founder Jon Ellis in the potential held within UK property, that he has just launched a B Round Capital Raising to fund Investorist’s continued global expansion with an emphasis on further growth in the UK market, an office in Manchester and continued expansion of the London team.

Jon explains more,

“With our strong focus on the UK market, Investorist is buying Pounds ahead of its cash flow requirements in the country. We believe it is currently an excellent time to invest in the British currency and therefore in the country’s diverse property market.

“At Investorist, we still consider the UK to be at the centre of all things Europe and I believe it will remain as the HQ for all EMEA property happenings. We have certainly noticed a heightened interest in the UK market which is leading to new opportunities being uncovered. There are a range of property-related investment sectors strengthening in confidence, for example the serviced apartment model and the hotel market are both standing out as prime investment prospects.”

Jon is a successful property marketing expert, who has developed and executed marketing strategies for over 100 property developments in Australia and overseas markets. Jon led a bootstrapped team to build Investorist.com, the world’s first B2B off plan property portal and developed the sophisticated software that manages these complex transactions ahead of raising close to $4.5m from members to expand the platform globally.

Jon’s idea developed into a brilliant proptech solution to industry-wide problems globally: lack of transparency, sales duplication and geographical and language barriers. This success has enabled Investorist to become the go-to technology for those working in off plan property, constantly connecting people across the globe in order to achieve individual success.

To find out more about Investorist and the services they provide, please visit http://www.investorist.co.uk/

Fuster & Associates launch legal seminars for ripped-off Brits wanting to reclaim Spanish property deposits

by Charly Spain Fuster&Associates

Spanish legal experts Fuster & Associates open in the UK to help Brits recover off plan deposits
‘No Win, No Fee Off-Plan Deposit Reclaim’ seminars to be held in Cambridge, London, Birmingham & Manchester
‘If it wasn’t for them I have no doubt we’d still have not received the amount we have’ (Gillian Shackshaft, client of Fuster & Associates)

After the crash of 2008, many Brits who had put down a deposit for their dream Spanish property suddenly found themselves with no house and no help. And it wasn’t until December 2015, some 8 years later, that an element of hope was restored when the Spanish High Court ruled that Spain’s banks were liable to refund deposits placed on unfinished properties that were paid from their accounts.

Having now won over 100 cases, Spanish legal specialists Fuster & Associates provide international clients with a No Win, No Fee Off-Plan Deposit Reclaim service, managing their claim throughout the process. With 65 claim cases currently awaiting a verdict, it seems that Brits were among those most affected by the crash and are still determined to reclaim the money subsequently lost.

In order to provide a more personal service and hold face-to-face meetings with those wanting to recover their off-plan deposits, Fuster & Associates have opened in the UK. The experienced company are also preparing to host a selection of exclusive seminars that will allow Brits to meet the team of expert lawyers and ask any questions they have regarding the reclaim process.

Founder David Fuster explains more,

“With the majority of our clients based here in the UK, it was important for us to be able to offer advice and guidance in person throughout the legal procedure. Holding seminars in Cambridge, London, Birmingham and Manchester will provide people with the opportunity to ask any questions they may have about the service after having waited over 8 years for the chance to recover their lost funds.”

One couple who Fuster & Associates have successfully helped reclaim their deposit money are incredibly grateful and are now hoping to put the whole ordeal behind them. Gillian Shackshaft and her husband first bought their Spanish off-plan property in 2006 on their dream development in the Almeria region located in southern Spain.

Unfortunately their plans began to unravel quickly and in December 2006 their contract allowed them to claim back the deposit previously paid as the builders of the development were in breach of contract. However, after seeking the help of Fuster & Associates they discovered that they could only recover a portion of the deposit that was covered by the bank guarantee.

It was then that the long legal process began, with the expertise of Fuster & Associates, to reclaim the rest of their initial deposit. The stress of the experience caused Gillian’s husband to suffer a heart attack in 2009 and she is thankful to Fuster & Associates for their patience and understanding during this time.

She comments,

“It has taken 10 years to get all our money back and throughout this whole, long process they have been there with us, if it wasn’t for them I’d have no doubt we would still have not received the amount we have. I have to say a special thank you to Jose at Fuster & Associates who has been very patient with me as it’s been a stressful and extremely worrying period.

“I would definitely recommend Fuster & Associates to family, to friends and to anyone who is unfortunate enough to find themselves in the situation that we were in.”

To find out more about Fuster & Associates, their services and seminars they offer, please visit http://fuster-associates.com/lp/off-plan-reclaim/ or call directly on 01223 635 158.

Tourism’s flying in Alicante as highest number of international passengers recorded

by Charly Spain Taylor Wimpey Espana

International passengers to Alicante rose by 16.1% to record high in H1 2016 (ACI Europe)
7% increase in homes purchased in Alicante in Q2 2016 (School of Property Registrars)
Panorama Mar is the go-to holiday home just 45 mins from Alicante Airport (Taylor Wimpey España)

Alicante-Elche Airport has surpassed its own records this summer. The number of passengers handled by the airport on international flights rose by 16.1% during H1 2016 to a record high.

Known as the gateway to the Costa Blanca and a hub for all those travelling to the east and south east of Spain, the airport’s increase in passenger numbers is no surprise. The area has proved a highly popular destination this summer and not only by holiday makers but also holiday home buyers.

According to the School of Property Registrars, in Q2 2016 a total of 7,901 homes were purchased in the province of Alicante. This is a 20.7% increase from the same period last year with half of the sales consisting of foreign investors buying a holiday home.

Marc Pritchard, Sales and Marketing Director for leading Spanish homebuilder Taylor Wimpey España, which has operated successfully in Spain since 1958, has observed firsthand the rising demand for property in the Alicante region as tourists look for a more permanent holiday setting.

He comments,

“The Costa Blanca has been popular with tourists for over half a century however we have noticed a surge of interest in recent months. The area has much to offer from the stunning Mediterranean coastline to the charming interior but now also boasts new leisure activities such as caving, climbing, hiking and diving, which is broadening its appeal. Indeed the sight of the large Boeing-787 Dreamliners carrying 320+ passengers now arriving at Alicante-Elche Airport just goes to show what a popular destination the Costa Blanca has become.”

With ever more tourists arriving on the sandy shores of the “White Coast”, pressure on existing accommodation options is building. In response to this, Taylor Wimpey España has launched a number of new second home developments in the area.

The newest offering is Taylor Wimpey España’s frontline development, Panorama Mar, situated on Punta Prima beach in Torrevieja, just 45 minutes from Alicante-Elche airport. This private residential complex offers an array of 2 and 3 bedroom apartments, all designed for both comfort and convenience, with 2 bathrooms and an underground parking space. Each apartment in the first phase is south facing and therefore blessed with spacious terraces and stunning views over the Mediterranean Sea.

With prices starting from just €234,000 +VAT, residents will be able to use the three communal swimming pools and Jacuzzi facility, as well as being granted direct access to the beach promenade.

Buy a home built by a dragon at the Overseas Property Show in London this weekend!

by Charly Portugal Ideal Homes Portugal

This weekend, the popular Overseas Property Show will be presenting Londoners with a rare opportunity – to buy a home built by a dragon!

The Novotel London West Hotel & Convention Centre will host the free to attend Overseas Property Show, which runs on Saturday 10^th to Monday 12^th September 2016, from 10 am to 6 pm daily. Ideal Homes Portugal, the exhibitor at the show, is presenting an exclusive collection of properties that have been redeveloped by former Dragons’ Den star Duncan Bannatyne.

Bannatyne fell for Portugal back in 2014, when he purchased a gorgeous, secluded villa through Ideal Homes Portugal. Since then he has relocated to make Portugal his main home and is allowing his entrepreneurial streak to flourish in the Iberian sunshine. Although he planned to retire when making the move, Bannatyne has been feeling the pull of new business ventures while sitting by his swimming pool with fiancee Nigora Whitehorn. Now, the determined entrepreneur is building a new career in the property industry.

Working with the vibrant and expanding real estate company Ideal Homes Portugal Bannatyne has sourced five houses that had been partly developed when the Portuguese recession struck. Work on the properties was abandoned due to the financial crisis, but Bannatyne is now nurturing them back to life, with a view to turning them into dream holiday homes for buyers to use either for themselves or as a rental investment.

The busy, upscale town of Almancil is the location of Bannatyne’s new properties. Almancil is one of the most sought after destinations in the Algarve and forms part of the region’s ‘golden triangle,’ along with the prestigious golf resorts of Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago. Bannatyne comments,

“The recession hit Portugal pretty badly. However, all of us living here can see a marked upturn in the prosperity of the country. In my opinion property prices in the Algarve are selling below their true value and will rise quickly over the next few years.

“The recovery in the property market in southern Spain has been rapid and sustained. The effect is spreading to Portugal and the Algarve is at the beginning of a remarkable upturn. I have invested at a time when these properties are still within reach of those with an appetite for a place in the sun and an understanding of the need to buy at the right price and the right time.”

Several of the properties, which each feature two sun terraces, three en-suite bedrooms, private garden and access to a generously sized pool, have already attracted interest from potential buyers. Londoners looking to pick one up at the Overseas Property Show this weekend should be ready to move fast. Chris White, Founding Director of Ideal Homes Portugal, which is developing the properties in partnership with Duncan Bannatyne, comments,

“The Overseas Property Show is always a great place to connect would-be buyers with their dream Portuguese property, whether it’s a home built by a dragon or a unique local business with a rich history, like the fabulous Café des Ingles in Silves. Visitors to the show also get to grill the local experts who attend on everything from the state of the Portuguese property market to what the Algarve expat lifestyle really entails.”

A handful of free tickets for the Overseas Property Show in London this weekend are still available. See www.theoverseaspropertyshow.com for details and to get your free tickets.

In addition, one lucky ticket holder, attending the show, will win a holiday for two in the Algarve.

For further details visit www.theoverseaspropertyshow.com, call (0800) 133 7644 / +351 289 513 434 or email info@theoverseaspropertyshow.com.

Manchester better value than Melbourne and Miami for off-plan property

by Charly United Kingdom World Investorist

Post-Brexit Manchester offers better value than Melbourne and Miami (Investorist)
Manchester remains UK’s best city (Economist)
London Bureaux de Change selling Euros for 99 cents to £1 (Caxton FX)

Post-Brexit Manchester offers better value when it comes to residential off-plan property investment than either Melbourne or Miami, new data from revolutionary trading platform Investorist has revealed.

The company’s listings have shown that a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment of approximately 70 sqm can be purchased off-plan for £234,000. An equivalent apartment in central Melbourne would set an investor back about £256,000. Miami was the most expensive of the three, with a comparable property costing around £360,000.

Manchester has just been recognized by the Economist Intelligence Unit Global Liveability Survey as the UK’s best city and one of the top 50 cities globally. Not only is it an excellent investment choice due to its value, but the fall of sterling since the UK’s Brexit vote has opened the country up to investors who previously considered it too expensive.

Jon Ellis, Founder and CEO for Investorist, comments,

“The drop in sterling represents a huge opportunity for those looking to enter the UK market much more affordably than before the referendum. While prime central London is still considered expensive and many believe it is oversupplied in terms of residential stock, the northern powerhouses of Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham are all shining on the international investment stage right now.”

Investorist is the global marketplace for the off- plan property industry. The company’s UK branch (it also has offices in the US, Singapore, Vietnam, China and Australia, where it was founded) experienced an immediate increase in enquiries from foreign investors after the Brexit decision.

Buyers from China and the Middle East were particularly keen to take advantage of sterling’s decline and avail themselves of off plan investment properties that had effectively had their value slashed overnight.

“The decision to leave the EU created a number of opportunities for investors thanks to the reaction of currency markets,” continues Investorist’s Jon Ellis. “Interestingly, we’ve found that certain countries have shown a preference for particular UK cities. Liverpool, for example, is proving popular with investors from the United Arab Emirates. Brexit really has created some major opportunities for those looking to get in on the UK’s residential property market.”

The pound plummeted in the immediate aftermath of the Brexit decision and has declined further since, reaching its lowest level in three years on 15 August 2016. It has fallen 12% against the Euro and around 10% against the US dollar, with currency company Caxton FX reporting that two airport Bureaux de Change were selling Euros at 99 cents to the pound in mid-August.

This new economic era has highlighted the importance of the UK’s post Brexit property market, with Investorist standing at the forefront of those committing to the sector.