Home is where the heart is. Celebrate St Valentine’s Day in style!

by Viv United Kingdom

As they say, home is where the heart is and so, in celebration of St Valentine’s Day we have selected the very best properties bound to make you feel the love:

 Pine Acre  with its very own Massage parlour on the lower ground floor, this property certainly sounds like it’ll be fun for 2!
 
Pine Acre extends to just less than 9,000 square feet. The well proportioned and spacious accommodation is laid out to suit a contemporary lifestyle with the principal reception rooms leading off the very spacious entrance hall. The large kitchen / breakfast / family room leads to a stunning garden room with an impressive vaulted ceiling with thermostatically operated roof lantern.
 
On the first floor there are four bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. A particularly impressive master suite stretches across the rear of the property with fabulous dressing room and balcony overlooking the mature landscaped gardens. 
 
The second floor includes a further bedroom suite and open plan games room, separate bathroom and gym. Approached from the rear entrance is a one bedroom staff apartment with lounge, bathroom and kitchenette.
 
Pine Acre priced at £4,975,000
 
Heather Ridge – This house boasts a master suite complete with four poster bed with a mirrored ceiling – naughty but nice!
 
Master suite with balcony, 5 further bedroom suites over 2 floors, second floor exercise/storage room, galleried reception hall, two cloakrooms, wine store, drawing room, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/family/breakfast room, study/library, study, utility room, garaging for 3 cars with a well appointed staff flat over, south facing landscaped gardens overlooking the 17th fairway and green of the championship west course.
 
Heather Ridge priced at £6,750,000
 
 
Birdsong – just the name alone sounds romantic. The house comprises: master bedroom suite, 3 further bedroom suites, 2 further bedrooms, family bathroom, entrance hall, drawing room, dining room, family room, study, kitchen/breakfast room, garage with room over, gardens
 
The master bedroom has a fabulous Juliet balcony opening onto the stunning landscaped gardens, perfect for your Romeo to woo you.
 
 
Birdsong priced at £2,150,000
 
 
If you’ve got that loving feeling and are in search of the perfect romantic home, contact the experts at Barton Wyatt on 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.
 
 

Return of corporate lets injects boost into sluggish Surrey property market

by Viv United Kingdom

 

After an achingly slow year in 2009, corporate lettings have finally returned and with great momentum injecting a welcomed boost to the sluggish property market in Surrey.
 
Sitting on the south-west border of London, the home county of Surrey is known for its green open spaces, affluent villages such as Virginia Water and celebrity residents let alone the direct road and rail links to the Capital, superb schools, having two international airports on its doorstep and being only one hour from the South Coast. 
 
Not only one of the most sought after destinations in which to live by Brits, Surrey is once again becoming a desirable property enclave for expats relocating to the UK for business reasons.
 
As James Wyatt, Partner of multi award-winning Virginia Water based estate agency, Barton Wyatt, explains,
 
“With the majority of international companies still having headquarters in and around the Capital, locations such as Virginia Water, Cobham, Esher and Weybridge in Surrey have become very popular alternatives to living in the city centre. Relocation agents vie for a slice of the Surrey action as many of their expats clients have families and the large homes, wide open spaces, wide range of facilities and top class schools such as The American Community School and Tasis as well as Eton, Harrow and Wellington nearby meet their needs perfectly.”
 
During the boom years, Surrey was awash with business expats and their families driving a very prosperous high end rental market but in line with the economic crash back in 2009, many international companies withdrew many of their expat workers leaving some homes without tenants. The last few months have seen a turnaround however with James Wyatt and his team seeing increasing numbers of expat business workers returning to the area, relocation agents searching for rental properties and more homes being let specifically to this market.
 
James Wyatt comments,
 
 “We really are back to 2008 when the market was saturated with tenants and a limited choice of properties to choose from. We are seeing some clients buying more property now, as they see bricks and mortar as a safer bet than other investments. Returns are somewhere between 5 and 6% which is an attractive proposition. Rents are rising too having risen about 5% during 2011, mainly due to the lack of supply, and we expect a busy summer this year as corporations head to the safe haven of the UK.”
 
Having operated in this market for many years, the lettings team at Barton Wyatt are highly trained to assist expats on what could be quite a daunting and stressful journey. Striving to make this as easy as possible for their clients, getting the location right, advising on the right school and making sure they are in a place where they will ‘fit in and feel at home quickly’ is paramount.
 
Jo Paris, Lettings Manager at Barton Wyatt talks of the challenges facing an expat and how her team help make the journey as painless as possible.
 
“When an expat family is due to fulfil a stint in the UK, the first we hear about it is often via a relocation agent. We have very strong links with dozens of relocation agents – it is important to them and their clients that we understand their needs and can deliver a selection of suitable houses quickly and efficiently.
 
“Knowing the nationality is the most important thing for us, different nationalities have different needs and desires. For instance an American is likely to want a house with spacious rooms, a utility with American sized appliances and a huge double fridge – this will not be important to a Japanese family – they will be looking for a house within a gated community and it is important to them that there are other Japanese families in their street.”
 
As experts in their field, Barton Wyatt is exhibiting at the 2012 Corporate Relocation Conference & Exhibition held at the Russell Hotel in London on February 6th. This one day event is in its 15th year and is a must for expatriates of all nationalities, International HR professionals and those advising the expatriate community. There are over 40 exhibitors with products and services that support the expatriate community, and there are also free seminars that you can attend.
 
For more information on the conference visit http://www.internationalhradviser.co.uk/?p=free.conference.exhibition.for.ihr.professionals and for more information on Barton Wyatt please contact 01344 834000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.
 

Home Counties Corporate Lettings Continue to Soar

by Viv United Kingdom

Despite the economic woes reverberating around Europe and elsewhere in the world, there are some areas where economic activity seems to be in good shape.

Barton Wyatt, the up-market niche estate agency in Virginia Water, Surrey is reporting increased profits and higher rents in their corporate letting department.
James Wyatt of Barton Wyatt comments:
“2011 has seen a return to excellent letting levels and increased rents of about 5% over last year. What is particularly noticeable is that overseas corporations are bringing in increasing numbers of their staff from overseas. This does indicate that these companies have a great deal of faith in the UK economy.”
In a recent survey, Barton Wyatt found the main reasons stated for renting outside London i.e. in the Home Counties were:
Ø      Excellent schooling
Ø      High quality housing,
Ø      Distance from work,
Ø      Proximity to excellent array of cultural activities
Ø      Proximity to international airports.
Wyatt further commented:
“We are currently very busy with Tenants looking to find houses to move into over the Christmas and New Year period, and what is so frustrating is that there is a severe lack of suitable property to let. After a few years in the doldrums, the buy-to-let market is very much back on the agenda. Property is being seen as a safe asset class in the medium to long term with attractive income levels and we are very keen to see more investment in property in our area”
Barton Wyatt is a multi award winning estate agency and has just been voted ‘Best Surrey Estate Agents 2011’ at the coveted UK property awards.
For further information contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit their website
 
———- Editors Note ————-
An example of a corporate let currently available:
Muirfield, Wentworth                     £7,500 pcm
A very large family house with extensive gardens, terrace area and a good sized heated outdoor swimming pool. Recently refurbished to include new kitchen, bathrooms, flooring and decoration.
The property comprises 4 reception rooms, kitchen/ breakfast room and laundry. There are 5 double bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. The property has garaging and lovely private gardens.
Available for £7,500 per calendar month. For more information contact Barton Wyatt on 0134 484 3000 or visit www.Bartonwyatt.co.uk.

The cheap suites

by Viv United Kingdom

 

Have you ever wondered what it would cost to rent a hotel suite in London, Paris or New York? What about how much your bedroom at home would fetch should it be transported into a luxury hotel? 
 
Pondering this question, we compared the price of a bedroom suite in a new build house in leafy Surrey with some of the finest, award winning hotels around the world. You’ll  be surprised at what we found!
 
So let’s consider what makes up a palatial suite. Firstly you need lots of room – perhaps in the region of 1,200 square feet. That sounds ample; to be fair you could find a 4 bedroom house with a similar square footage so that’s a good start.
 
The suite absolutely must have a huge bed and a fireplace would be rather nice. Then to feel super sumptuous there needs to be a large seating area with deliciously comfortable sofas in which to sink into. An ostentatiously large flat screen, wall mounted TV is a necessity of course and no suite would be complete without a surround sound system complete with speakers in the bathroom.
 
And on to the bathroom – an integral part of the suite. It should be fitted with the very latest in sophistication as far as hardware is concerned – not a corner should be cut, luxury taps, interesting plugs, a designer shaped spa tub and two enormous rain shower heads in the wet room. Obviously multiple nozzles in the shower to shoot water in every direction without soaking the rest of the bathroom, his and her sinks and a large window overlooking the lawn, trees, sky and definitely no other houses – that would be perfect.
 
The suite needs somewhere to store all your clothes too – and perhaps since we are going uber luxury here you need a dedicated dressing room to house your possessions. Beautiful wood panelled doors behind which hide designer suits and dresses and luscious drawers, hooks, shoe shelves and tie racks to ensure complete organisation and effortless attire selection. There needs to be some seating in here too, ample mirrors and flattering lighting. 
 
A truly spectacular suite would also have a balcony with a stunning view, a couple of chairs and a table. Somewhere you can drink your morning coffee and read the papers or share a bottle of wine with your loved one in the evening.
 
Yes that sums up a luxury suite. That would be just perfect. But what is the cost of this perfection?
 
We compared the price of the totally amazing master bedroom suite in a newly built house on the Wentworth Estate in salubrious Surrey with the cost of staying in a comparative suite in some of the top hotels around the world.
 
The master bedroom suite at September House on the Wentworth Estate has the exact specifications described above. It has been hand crafted so that every detail will tantalise your senses. This suite comprises nearly 10% of the overall house square footage and divided into the cost of the house the master bedroom suite comes at a price of £650,000.
 
To translate this into a nightly rate, the average UK home owner lives in his or her home for 7 years which translates to a mere £246 per night (NO VAT!) in the luxury September House suite.
 
In comparison a suite in some of the most luxurious hotels around the world will set you back:
 
In New York – The Carlyle Premier suite which is 330 square feet smaller than our house on Wentworth will cost £1,040 per night. Now you need to remember that these suites are fashioned in a contemporary Louis XVI décor and you might get a pantry. 
 
In Paris, the Four Seasons George V – a One-Bedroom Deluxe Suite graced with antiques and fine art and offering a variety of views will set you back £2,089 per night.
 
In London – at The Savoy, the River View Deluxe Suites go for £1,295 + VAT. Granted you do get a view of the River Thames and a really natty feature writing desk that converts into a dining table. 
 
The Lindley Suite in Claridges, London will set you back £1,305 + VAT for 1,066 square feet – almost identical in size to September House in Surrey. Admittedly this suite does come with a butler, a complementary bottle of fizz and does showcase the British designer – Lindley.
 
With beautiful views of the Arabian Gulf, the Deluxe Suite features a handsome spiral staircase that leads you from one floor to the next; perfectly separating the entertainment and living spaces, the Berj Al Arab in Dubai will cost you £1,418 per night.
 
Then to Moscowand the Ritz Carlton, where you can stay in the Carlton Suite for £1,670 per night. Curiously you can take up to 10kg of pets with you – which, if you had that many does equate to 100 hamsters. And it quite clearly is a fabulous suite with access to the club lounge.
 
Moving south to Italy you might consider The Westin Excelsior Rome. A grandluxe suite which is a rather disappointing 700 square feet will set you back £1,808 per night.
 
Now if you were doing a cost for cost comparison these figures might appear slightly harsh – obviously if you were going to ‘rent’ a suite in a top international hotel for 7 years you are going to get an incredible deal – and there is the small matter of cleaning, laundry and a fruit basket which does not come included in your luxury mansion in Wentworth.
 
However these figures do make the cost of the Surrey mansion seem incredibly good value. September House is already furnished to the standard, if not better, than many of these suites and surely investing in your home is every bit as important as investing in your holidays?
 
James Wyatt, the owner of Barton Wyatt, the multi award-winning estate agent selling September House gave his view on the pricing of suites:
 
“Huge master suites have been fashionable in the US for some years now and now the trend is coming over the pond to luxury homes in UK. The appeal is being able to shut yourself away from the children or indeed staff and to enjoy, not only a sumptuous bedroom area but also a living space – rather like an apartment – a home within a home.”
 
“Buyers in the market for a multi million pound home want something as palatial as the luxurious hotel suite they’ve just stayed in whilst travelling overseas.  Why settle for less?”
 
For more information on the Barton Wyatt – who were very recently awarded ‘Best Estate Agency in Surrey please call 01344 834000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk
 
 
 
Editors Notes:
 
September House, Wentworth,                                               £6,500,000 Freehold
                                                                                                     Includes a one year free
                 family membership to
                 Wentworth sports club*
 
Situated on the renowned Wentworth Estate, September House is a magnificent stately residence that combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary style.
 
The developer shows a passionate desire for exclusivity, individuality and hand built craftsmanship. All this has ensured that September House has been painstakingly designed and specified to create the finest possible living environment.
 
This is a 21st century home built with quality materials and time honored construction methods for buyers who seek the ultimate home.
 
The kitchen is equipped with a comprehensive bespoke range of hand painted floor and wall shaker style cupboards with stone work surfaces. The kitchen features Miele ovens, warming drawers, a Miele coffee machines, two dishwashers and a sub zero wine chiller. The launder room also has Miele appliances.
 
All the bathrooms and en-suites are equipped with white Villeroy & Boch sanitary ware and contemporary chrome furnishings. The chrome finish towel ladder radiators are connected to the primary hot water system to enable towel drying throughout the year.
 
September House has CAT 5 cabling throughout, pre-selected rooms are wired to allow purchasers to link audio and video with full infrared remote control. The house has approved security system and wiring for externally mounted CCTV cameras. Electric gates with video entry system are provided. The central heating system is under floor throughout most of the house and there is a pressurized hot and cold water system.
 
Six bedroom suites, reception hall, three reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast/family room, utility room, boot room, indoor swimming pool complex, staff accommodation, triple garage, beautifully maintained gardens.
 
This property is price at £6,500,000. For more information contact Barton Wyatt on 0134 484 3000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.
 

All I want for Christmas is September House

by Viv United Kingdom

 

In 1946 when Don Gardner first published the song ‘All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth’ he could never have guessed that almost 70 years later this harmless little jingle would become a festive anthem.
 
Now there isn’t a child alive in the UK who actually wants front teeth for Christmas – they want Modern Warfare Call of Duty 3, a new Blackberry and an iPad. But what about the grown ups? It becomes somewhat futile buying presents for many of this generation. A new woolly jumper does not have the same excitement level that it did in the 70’s and although Cath Kidston is working hard to make oven gloves sexy, we don’t really want them wrapped up and under the tree on Christmas day.
 
So what do adults really want? We actually secretly aspire to a very sleek Aston Martin, a Tiffany diamond bracelet or perhaps a new house, ready to move into?
 
Well let us introduce you to September House – built, furnished and ready to move into for Christmas Day. And as an extra special gift a free membership to the world famous Wentworth Golf Club is being included in the price! *
 
This really is the most incredible house, built on the Wentworth Estate, in Surrey. It has been decorated and furnished by the fabulous designer Alexander James Interiors who worked with the construction team to ensure that September House would stand out above all others. 
 
From the moment you pass through the electric gates there is a feeling of superior quality about this house. The initial budget of £60,000 for the garden was completely blown and the developer decided that the garden needed to be as fabulous as the inside. 
 
The impressive front double door has a fabulously welcoming feel, opening onto a spacious entrance hall with a sweeping staircase fit for a royal. This triple height hall could house the ubiquitous Christmas Norwegian spruce and there is plenty of space for an awful lot of presents. The main electric controls are operated from the hall, giving you the option of turning on lights around the house and perhaps loading the internal sound system with some Christmas carols from the moment you walk in the door.
 
The four receptions rooms lead off from the grand hall giving a serene feeling of openness about the property.  From here you can head into the dining room, sitting room, study or, like most families just head straight into the kitchen.
 
This room is guaranteed to be the focal hub of this family home and on Christmas Day there would be hours of fun and entertainment in this part of the house alone.
 
The architect has designed this house so that the indoor swimming pool is fully integrated off from the kitchen. Although accessed separately, any parent can be in the kitchen stirring the bread sauce whilst keeping an eye on their children playing in this fabulous 10 metre pool. 
 
The kitchen itself has been superbly hand crafted and has beautiful hand-painted shaker style units. This kitchen is definitely a cook’s dream; all the appliances are top of the range and incorporate the very latest in modern technology – a sub zero wine chiller, integrated coffee machine and two dishwashers to say the least. With equipment like this in the kitchen, cooking the Turkey is going to be a breeze – 4 ovens ensure that you will have room for all your trimmings without having to worry about keeping food hot.
 
The dining room is already laid up and ready for your Christmas dinner. Candles are waiting to be lit and napkins ready for laps. The dining room has a feature gas fire to make your lunch extra cosy.
 
Finding somewhere to relax after lunch could be tricky, there are so many places to rest in this sumptuous house! The sofas in the kitchen area invite you to put your feet up and watch a movie on the 50” flatscreen TV or play on the Wii or Xbox? Or perhaps relaxing on a lounger in the pool area would be a treat to get away from the chaos for a while and enjoy a real change of scenery. 
 
But the sitting room will also be calling you – this room is really rather large and boasts a wonderful fireplace. Fitted out with luxury sofas which you will just melt into might be hard to resist. This room has double doors out to the rear garden and patio. Beyond which is a wooded area giving you complete exclusion from the outside world.
 
September House has a few other aspects that could make your Christmas even more surprising than ever. The music system has in-built ceiling speakers through out the house so whether it is Christmas carols, Lady Gaga or Bach that is your fancy, this is going to be perfect for any party. 
 
If you wanted to make it an alfresco Christmas this year then you could chance your hand at cooking your turkey in the outside kitchen which has been very nattily incorporated into the garden. If not for the winter this outdoor kitchen is going to be the place to be seen in the summer in Wentworth.
 
The property has fabulous guest and/or staff facilities – depending on what suits you best. If having mum-in-law for a week or two has been a challenge then the quarters over the triple garage will come in mighty handy. With their own stairs to and from the back entrance this will give your guests or employees a wonderful sense of independence. These quarters have their own kitchen area including washing machine and dishwasher to keep your workload down to a minimum.
 
Every bedroom in the main house – of which there are 6 – comes with its own en-suite bathroom. All decked out with the very latest in luxury bathroom equipment – it might be difficult not to spend an inordinate amount of time enjoying this living space in your home.
 
The master suite in September House is lavish on a scale that most homes will never be privy too. The walk in dressing area in this house is an example of the very finest craftsmanship. No expense has been spared to create something that is functional whilst being beautiful and designed to keep your clothes and shoes in perfect order. 
 
The bedroom itself has a wonderful fitted gas fire for Father Christmas to visit and the furniture that has been selected for this room is totally luxurious. You could be sitting in a 7* hotel in Dubai or New York with the finery in this awe-inspiring master suite.
 
September House is priced at £6,500,000 and is ready to move into today. The furniture within the house is there to keep if desired and since the house was designed with this furniture in mind – you would be mad not to have it.
 
So if moving into September House is your Christmas present sorted then just call the delightful team at Barton Wyatt for a viewing. 01344 834000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.
 
For a birds eye view of the property please do click on the following link as Rupert Wyatt show cases September House:
 
 
 

* Property owners, Millgate Homes, are offering a one year free membership to Wentworth Golf Club for you and your family once you have moved in. It is subject to terms & conditions and also subject to the rules of Wentworth.

Barton Wyatt named ‘Best Surrey Estate Agent’ for the 6th time in 2011 UK Property Awards

by Viv Spain

For the 6th time family run estate agent Barton Wyatt took home the ‘Best Surrey Estate Agent’ title at the prestigious 2011 UK Property Awards late last month.

In association with Bloomberg TV and Google, the UK Property Awards is open to residential and commercial property professionals working throughout the UK, celebrating the very best in the industry.

Now in its 17th year, the awards ceremony has become recognised as the highest standard of excellence throughout the property world  and receiving one of these coveted awards is proof that Barton Wyatt are capable of outshining some very tough players within the highly competitive UK property arena.

James Wyatt, Partner of the multi award-winning estate agent located in leafy Surrey comments,

“We are overjoyed to have once again won this fabulous award. It is wonderful for the firm and everyone that works so hard at Barton Wyatt to be recognised in this way for what we do. We feel very fortunate to have been given this acknowledgment from such a respected event and we will look forward to adding it to the already growing list of accolades we’ve been given.”

Having been awarded overall UK Best Estate Agent, Best International Estate Agent and World Top 5 Real Estate Agent in the past, Barton Wyatt who has experience an impressive 116% increase in sales this year affords the very best estate agency experience, offering an exceptional first class service and jaw-droppingly beautiful properties.

For those looking to buy a slice of Surrey heaven from the award winning Barton Wyatt family why not take a look at how you can splash your cash:

September House, Wentworth Estate

Situated on the renowned Wentworth Estate, September House is a magnificent stately residence that combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary style costing £6,500,000.

This grand house affords six bedroom suites, three reception rooms, and a kitchen, breakfast and family room as well as an indoor swimming pool complex, staff accommodation, triple garage and beautifully maintained gardens.

Pine Acre, Wentworth

For £4,950,000, Pine Acre, also located on the respectable Wentworth Estate has been finished to the highest specification and build quality throughout, extending to just less than 9,000 square feet.
 

On the first floor there are four bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms with a particularly impressive master suite which stretches across the rear of the property, with the fabulous dressing room and balcony overlooking the mature landscaped gardens while the second floor includes a further bedroom suite and open plan games room, separate bathroom and gym. 

Lantern House, Virginia Water

A beautifully presented and spacious home adjacent to the highly regarded Wentworth Golf Course for £1,795,000.

This property affords a stunning master bedroom which has great views over the rear gardens. The fully racked out dressing area leads to a luxury en-suite bathroom while there is also a guest bedroom and three further bedrooms, as well as a hobby and cinema room; perfect for family entertaining.

For more information please contact the Surrey experts Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

 

NEW VIDEO TOUR | See what £6.5 million buys you on the exclusive Wentworth Estate, UK

by Viv United Kingdom

 

Join Rupert Wyatt, Partner at the award-winning estate agency, Barton Wyatt to see how the other half live.
 
This short video tour of September House, the brand new 6 bedroom mansion by boutique developer, Millgate Homes, will show you the very best in detached family living.
 
With meticulous attention to design, detail and construction and outstanding features including indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi, 6 bedroom suites including the vast American-style master suite, staff accommodation and a triple garage, September House really must be seen to be believed.
 
CLICK BELOW to join Rupert on your private tour…
 
 
 
 
For more information on September House or to arrange a viewing contact Rupert at Barton Wyatt today on 01344 843 000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.
 

Forget Flats, Houses are the best Buy-to-Let bet!

by Viv United Kingdom

 

Much has been reported in the press recently about the flight to safe havens for investments with bricks and mortar extremely high on many savvy investor lists.
 
With a booming lettings market in the UK, the residential sector is once again attracting investors’ cash. This is particularly prominent with foreign investors who see the UK’s AAA credit rating as being especially attractive and the UK Government’s policies seen as more robust and safer in the long term than many other developed economies.
 
James Wyatt, Partner of Surrey based letting agents, Barton Wyatt, comments:
 
“As we see the lettings market continuing to expand in the Home Counties the demand for more family sized properties is rapidly increasing. The UK is a safe place to invest and with the continuing uncertainty in global stock markets, bricks and mortar are seen as a simple and reassuring investment”.
 
However, as with all investments, detailed knowledge of the market you are investing in is essential. The lettings market in the so called ‘golden commuter belt’ to the West of London in areas such as Virginia Water, Wentworth, Sunningdale, Weybridge, Esher and Cobham are unusual in that they offer expensive and good quality housing in attractive areas which are serviced by several international schools including The American Community School (ACS) in Egham and Cobham, TASIS in Thorpe and ISL in Woking.
 
This environment has led to demand for lettings properties being skewed very much in favour of four and five bedroom family houses. Typically in London and most cities around the country, it is one or two bedroom flats that are the main stay of the lettings market but in these ‘international’ areas, it is definitely family homes which are in very short supply.
 
Lettings in the North Surrey area are at record levels, enjoying a boom after a quiet period when many foreign expats were called back to their countries of origin. They are now back with vengeance however, competing with UK tenants who might be waiting for the right homes to buy.
 
Wyatt suggests that the best price range to invest in is between £600,000 and £2,000,000 per property where returns of about 5-6% gross are achievable. This income return together with extremely good prospects for capital growth, make Buy-to-Let homes a very attractive proposition. And for overseas investors, these properties can be sold free of any capital gains tax making them even more desirable.
 
So forget about flats – here are some facts that Houses are the best Buy-to-Let bet:
 
Ø      Fact – houses offer better returns. 
 
Ø      Fact – flats have a double management charge – one for your letting agent and another for the block management. 
 
Ø      Fact – flats have longer voids and shorter lets. 
 
Ø      Fact – flats have more neighbour issues, particularly over noise.
 
Ø      Fact – flats are leasehold, houses are generally freehold – a preferred form of investment.
 
Ø      Fact – flats often have onerous covenants reducing the number of possible Tenants. For instance, pets are often not allowed.
 
Wyatt concludes:
 
“And to make a house even more attractive – they are all let unfurnished with very few exceptions (in our portfolio, just 1-2% of family sized houses are furnished). As opposed to flats where 50% are furnished, often giving rise to landlord confusion about whether to furnish or not. You can always guarantee to be wrong whichever way you turn! Needless to say that the inventory cost on an empty house will be cheaper than a property packed full of daily living necessities.” 
 
Sally Batchelor, who currently resides with her family in France but owns a Buy-to-Let property in Virginia Water, Surrey, had this to say:
 
“I was recommended to buy an investment property by Barton Wyatt several years ago. I bought a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom family home on a gated development in Virginia Water. The sales team at Barton Wyatt recommended this area as highly desirable for expats with its security guards and shared amenities such as pool and gym.
 
“To be honest I have never looked back to the point that I have just purchased another similar property from Barton Wyatt. Their lettings team is second to none and I am completely looked after professionally as are my tenants.
 
“It is the perfect answer for my investment portfolio and having long company lets gives me complete peace of mind while I get on with my life in France”
 
For further information on Barton Wyatt please call 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk
 
 
———— Editors Note —————-
 
Two examples of property available to purchase which would make perfect rental homes are:
 
Lantern House,Virginia Water                           £1,795,000
A beautifully presented and deceptively spacious executive home situated within a southerly facing plot on this highly regarded private lane adjacent to Wentworth Golf Course.
Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, guest bedroom with en-suite bathroom, three further bedrooms, family bathroom, cloakroom, drawing room, dining room, study, large kitchen/breakfast/family room, ground floor shower/cloakroom, Au-Pair room/hobby room, cinema room, double garage, first floor balcony overlooking rear garden, gardens to front and rear.
Priced at £1,795,000, for more information, please contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.
Pinel Close, Virginia Water                                  £815,000
A superb end of terrace town house situated in Octagon’s stunning Virginia Park development, having been the subject of major refurbishment by the current owners.  The property now boasts a magnificent full width extension/orangery across the back of the house giving superb space and enjoying panoramic views over the adjoining countryside.
Master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, guest suite with en-suite bathroom, two further bedrooms, family bathroom, drawing room, kitchen/breakfast room, orangery, utility room, integral double garage, open aspect rear garden.
Priced at £1,795,000, for more information, please contact Barton Wyatt on 01344 843000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.
 

The Generation Game

by Viv United Kingdom

 

They know all about the Generation Game in Virginia Water – Sir Bruce Forsyth has owned property for much of his working career. For a keen golfer looking for some privacy such as Brucie, the Wentworth Estate in Virginia Water is the obvious choice.
 
Two other local gents playing the Generation Game are James and Rupert Wyatt, joint co-owners of award-winning estate agent Barton Wyatt. Born and bred in this discreet and extremely tasteful Surrey village, the boys first home was the top floor flat over the family estate agency and they have early memories of helping out with some of the more menial daily tasks.
 
Barton Wyatt Estate agency started life in 1927, with the first offices opened in Teddington and Twickenham by Rupert and James’ grandfather Stanley Wyatt and his Partner Clifford Barton. In 1964 Barton retired but the agency maintained the name for what had become a strong local brand. It was during the late 70’s that Wyatt senior retired making way for his sons Paul and Hugh Wyatt, father of James and Rupert who in turn has left his sons to it for the past 12 years. These charming and forward thinking Brothers continue to take this stand alone agency from strength to strength.
 
With this type of early breeding it is hardly surprising that this independent agency is bucking the trend of the big chains with year to date sales figures up by 116% there is much to be pleased about at Barton Wyatt.
 
Younger brother Rupert Wyatt comments on why he feels there is confidence returning to the market and in particular to his family run business.
 
“Surrey and the Home Counties have benefited from the ongoing property boom in London more recently led by overseas buyers and a weak pound. In relation to our own success at Barton Wyatt we are confident that this is driven by being an independent agency.” 
 
“In larger agencies there is almost always a long chain of command so very often the actual person selling the property will not know what their peers are doing or saying and getting answers can be a long process. That is not the case at Barton Wyatt. We have a complete open door policy and any of our staff are normally only seconds away from having a decision or able to chat ideas through in a very open forum.
 
“Both James and I are dedicated 100% to our agency and to our staff. This feeling rubs off on the staff and they feel empowered being part of such a close team. We are confident that they are proud of who they work for and keen to support the team around them.”
 
 Messrs James and Rupert Wyatt are extremely well known in the area, both living on the Wentworth Estate and being members of the Club. Both have their ear to the ground when it comes to property. This local knowledge has proved to be extremely useful for prospective buyers. The Wyatt brothers are often able to pull another property out the woodwork when a local owner might have just mentioned they ‘might’ be thinking of selling. Before they know it another sale is made and more happy customers are moving house.
 
Connecting with Barton Wyatt couldn’t be easier.
 
                                                                     
Or for a more traditional form of contact please feel free to telephone them on 01344 843000 or visit their website on www.bartonwyatt.co.uk. You can also read their blog on http://www.bartonwyatt.co.uk/blog/.

England vs France. Who will emerge not only as rugby champions but winners in the lucrative property field?

by Viv United Kingdom

 

This Saturday, the deeply competitive relationship between England and France will be on full display at the Rugby World Cup quarter final in New Zealand. But whilst we deliberate over who will emerge triumphant from the rugby pitch, we also might like to consider who is currently winning in today’s property field.

On home turf, Britain has displayed its fighting spirit, battling against the waves of economic hardship felt across global property markets. Based on the latest data from The Halifax, house prices in cities across the UK are, in general, 7% higher than their county average with the average house price across the tracked UK cities rising 65% over 10 years from £104,681 in August 2001 to £172,917 in August 2011.

Meanwhile, demand for rental property in London has sky rocketed with some properties achieving a record £55,000 per week. Enticed by an average income of £713 a month in the UK and strong rental demand, Buy-to-Let investors have been snapping up properties across the country favouring London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool locations. Lucrative opportunities are rife with investment agencies such as Property Frontiers offering a 10% net rental income (assured for 3 years) at Candia Tower just north of Liverpool city centre for example.

Ray Withers Director of UK buy-to-let property investment experts, Property Frontiers, comments,

“The UK is still recognised as one of the most resilient and reliable markets in Europe. Although we have been hit hard, the UK is still a hub for opportunity with one of the best financial and economic institutions in the world. Indeed, we are one of the most visited nations on the planet and what we lack in sunshine we make up for in culture, history, entertainment and investment opportunities.

“Indeed, Britain’s B2L property market is in full bloom, offering higher rental yields than our French counterparts making the UK, in my opinion, investment property champions.”

When it comes to luxury dwellings, the Land of Hope and Glory evokes a genuine sense of prestige and sophistication above its other European counterparts with Forbes indicating that of the world’s 214 new billionaires, 32 are located in Britain.

Wealth has spread in the UK, particularly to rural enclaves with areas such as Buckinghamshire and Surrey booming in property sales of over £1 million. For sheer indulgence, family run estate agency Barton Wyatt located in popular Virginia Water, north Surrey who has recently experienced a 116% increase in sales is offering September House, a stunning 6 bedroom property on the renowned Wentworth Estate for £6,500,000.

While the UK affords superb Buy-to-Let opportunities and rural luxury for the wealthy does France have what it takes to drop kick Britain’s property market into the sin bin?

As a fabled land of good food and wine, France has topped the charts in the 2011 Quality of Life Index compiled by comparison website uSwitch for a third time in a row. Although the findings show that UK incomes are around £6,780 more a year than our French neighbours, France benefits from having the highest life expectancy (81.9 years), enjoys 2,124 hours of sunshine a year and spends the highest proportion of its GDP (14.1%) on health.

With this in mind, lifestyle has remained one of the key considerations for buying property so it is hardly surprising that France has become the top destination for UK buyers looking to buy a second home abroad according to research by Savills International.

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

“France quite simply has the best lifestyle in Europe, if not the world and is no surprise that buyers want to soak up the benefits of buying French property considering the World Travel Organisation in 2010 identified France as the most popular country for tourism, with 78.95 million visitors.

“The great thing about France is there are plenty of options for second-homes in a variety of living environments from peaceful rural surrounding to great ski locations as well as stunning coastal sites and trendy urban cities. However, according to a new survey commissioned for Knight Frank´s annual Private View magazine, a fifth of respondents asked desired a property in the snow for their picture-perfect second-home. This puts our new luxury ski property, Les Balcons de la Chapelle, in a favourable position and its prestigious location in Meribel, ranked one of the 50 most expensive locations for residential property in the world by the Knight Frank Prime Residential Index (2010) shows that France can compete in the ranks of luxury, class and sophistication as well as, if not better than the UK can.”

Buyers attracted to the French way of life continue to invest in the country’s stable economy and also the French leaseback programme where investors become the freehold owners and are guaranteed rental income averages between 3 to 5% for 18 years +, offering a veritable tax-friendly pension alternative. 

Indeed, having just been completely renovated to a very high standard Le Centaure in Belle Plagne from Terresens situated in the heart of the French Alps, affording stunning studios to 3 bedroom apartments and great views of Mont Blanc from the pistes, guarantees a rental income of up to 4.10%. In comparison to the 10% net rental income offered by the likes of UK experts Property Frontiers for example, this French offering may not seem as alluring. However, leaseback properties such as Le Centaure more than make up for this by not only having a management team handle the rental process, on-going upkeep and repairs (free of charge), but by allowing the buyer to utilise the property themselves at certain times of the year. Le Centaure in Belle Plagne offers a minimum 6 weeks personal usage which can be swapped with other developments in other resorts if a change of scenery is desired. These 6 weeks on their own hold significant value, highlighting an attractive benefit for potential property hunters.

So for those looking to score big in the property market why not consider the UK or France as a perfect property location, although who wins, you decide!
 

Editors Notes

 

Candia Tower Apartments, Liverpool

 

The perfect buy-to-let investment opportunity located just north of Liverpool city centre is a prestigious development comprised of 128 quality 3 bedroom apartments priced at £69,000.  Set within a private gated community, this buy-to-let development includes an on-site gymnasium, management office, on-site security, CCTV and dedicated parking space with each unit, all purpose-built and decorated to a high-quality standard.

 

For more information on this not to be missed but to let opportunity please contact Property Frontiers on +44 (0) 1865 202700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com.

 

September House, Wentworth,   

 

Situated on the renowned Wentworth Estate, September House is a magnificent stately residence that combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary style. Six bedroom suites, reception hall, three reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast/family room, utility room, boot room, indoor swimming pool complex, staff accommodation, triple garage, beautifully maintained gardens.

 

This property is price at £6,500,000.  For more information contact Barton Wyatt on 0134 484 3000 or visit www.bartonwyatt.co.uk.

 

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, just a short walk from the ski lifts, shops and restaurants and command 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.

 

To find out more about Les Balcons de la Chapelle in Meribel, contact the developer Terresens on + 44 (0) 203 101 110 or visit www.terresensproperties.com.

 

Le Centaure in Belle Plagne,  Savoie

 

Le Centaure Belle Plagne is a beautiful character resort situated in an ideal location in the heart of the French Alps in the Savoie, providing anything from studios to 3 bedroom apartments which are spacious and bright as well as offering a range of luxurious facilities dedicated to wellness and relaxation such as an indoor heated swimming pool, massage room and Turkish bath.

 

With two 3,000m peaks, Le Centaure Belle Plagne utilises the slopes of Les Arcs, Peisey-vallandry and La Plagne, offering more than 420km of slopes to cater to all levels of skier. For non-skiers and après ski there is a wide range of activities including snowmobiling, bobsleighing and paragliding.

 

A guaranteed rental income of up to 4.10 % and 6 weeks personal usage, prices start from €190,748 excl. VAT.

 

To find out more about Le Centaure in Belle Plagne contact the developer Terresens on + 44 (0) 203 101 110 or visit www.terresensproperties.com