It’s great news for potential investors in student accommodation as new data identifying the best places in the UK to be a student has just been released. Accommodationforstudents.com, the UK’s No 1 student accommodation website, conducted 46,000 student reviews across 62 university towns around the UK and found that 62% voted the city of Liverpool the best place to study.

Students were asked to rank the location of their university (out of 10) based on five different criteria – shops (supermarkets, corner shops, book shops, video shops), facilities (gyms, libraries, parks), transport links (buses, trams, trains, underground),  going out (restaurants, pubs, clubs) and  community (safety, student population, surroundings).

The findings obtained from the criteria show that although Newcastle took the title with an overall rating of 64% locations including Liverpool and Manchester weren’t too far behind, taking joint second place at 62%.

Ray Withers, Director of leading property investment agency, Property Frontiers which has successfully marketed numerous student accommodation projects in the city of Liverpool, comments,

“We are delighted that Liverpool, home to three of the country’s leading universities and around 53,000 students scored extremely well in the review. It’s not surprising that students enjoy Liverpool life. Voted European Capital of Culture in 2008, Liverpool has a huge selection of cultural and leisure activities to enjoy from music and the arts to the UNESCO listed waterfront and the all-important A-grade nightlife. It’s just a great place to study all round and we at Property Frontiers have certainly noted its potential.”

He continues,

“As demand for academic courses reaches record highs according to UCAS with nearly 700,000 university applications in 2010 alone, investors are quickly beginning to appreciate that the UK’s latest buy to let sector, student accommodation, is big business and can no longer be ignored.

“Data provided by Knight Frank 2010 indicate that rents in Liverpool in the last academic year, 2008/9 – 2009/10, increased by 13%, vastly exceeding the average 5% growth per annum seen nationally in the six years to 2008/9. And as Liverpool’s universities are expecting to attract even higher numbers of applicants for the next academic year, creating strong demand for student accommodation, shrewd buy-to-let investors will certainly not want to miss out.”

Many more young people are realising the value of higher education than ever before and Liverpool universities in particular have seen significant increases in applications between 2008 and 2010. According to statistics from UCAS, in 2008 The University of Liverpool had 27,465 applications which rose to 32,022 in 2010 while Liverpool John Moores University received 28,123 applicants in 2008 rising to 34,182 by 2010. In addition, Liverpool Hope University received 8,314 applications compared to 7,627 back in 2008 clearly indicating that more and more students are seeking degree courses year on year, pushing up the need for accommodation and increasing opportunities for buy-to-let investors.

Currently only 50% of all students in the UK have access to high quality purpose-built student accommodation according to the Knight Frank Student Report 2011 however more effort is being made to change this with The University of Liverpool planning to invest £600 million pounds in its facilities, including a £250 million pound redevelopment of the university’s student accommodation with the construction of a 710 bedroom development in the city centre campus already underway.

However, in spite of the university’s attempt to increase the level of available student accommodation the stock of new student housing will nevertheless remain limited with demand continuing to outstrip supply as increasing numbers of students from both home and overseas seek to attend universities in Liverpool and the UK placing increasing pressure on the housing supply. 

The emphasis has therefore now shifted to building new high quality private student housing developments such as Hatton Garden, the latest and most prestigious student project available through Property Frontiers.

The 98 private en-suite student rooms with flat screen TV and internet connection have excellent on-site facilities and will include sufficient kitchen space, communal lounges with 42 inch flat screen TVs on each floor, an on-site gymnasium, computer/media service centre, management office and laundry facilities.

Located in the heart of the city, minutes from John Moores University, Lime Street station and popular shops, restaurants and nightlife, Hatton Garden is everything a student could ever dream of and with rooms costing only £48,000, investors can expect weighty returns of 10.03% NET with the first year assured. Monthly rental income is to be paid from 1st March 2012.

For more information on this lucrative investment opportunity in Liverpool please call Property Frontiers today on +44 (0) 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com

A key asset class of the past decade, savvy investors are fast realising the double-digit attractions of the UK’s newest buy to let sector – student accommodation. It is however, according to the expert authors of the new Knight Frank Student Report 2011, the regional cities of England and Wales which are seeing the greatest rental growth, 4.1%, compared to historical leader, London, which recorded a 3.6% fall in 2010.

Ray Withers, Director of leading property investment agency, Property Frontiers which has successfully marketed numerous student accommodation projects in the city of Liverpool, comments,

“The returns that purpose built student accommodation can yield do vary geographically and the Knight Frank Student Report 2011 confirms this. In Liverpool, home to three of the country’s leading universities and some 53,000 students, rents in the last academic year, 2008/9 – 2009/10, increased by 13%, vastly exceeding the average 5% growth per annum seen nationally in the six years to 2008/9 (Knight Frank 2010).

“Furthermore with Liverpool’s universities expecting to attract high numbers of applicants for the next academic year, 2011/12, many from overseas, this regional city presents strong demand for student accommodation and in turn an attractive opportunity for buy-to-let investors.”

The Government’s radical reforms in university funding and student finance which will come into force in Q3 2012 will undeniably change the landscape of higher education in the UK in the coming years however the fact remains that more and more people from both home and overseas are seeking to attend university in the UK placing increasing pressure on both the number of places available and student housing stock. 

According to data from the Universities & Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) demand for academic courses is at an all time high with nearly 700,000 university applications in 2010, some 210,000 more than the undergraduate places available with a “significant” rise in demand from the EU, the Far East and Hong Kong between 2010 and 2011 reports Knight Frank (2011).

With ever increasing numbers attending university the pressure on existing student housing stock has never been greater. In their 2010 report Knight Frank states that the supply of new student accommodation remains limited with the vast majority not having access to private rooms. And it is this discrepancy between the supply of accommodation and demand for bed spaces which, as James Pullan, Head of Student Property at Knight Frank says, is “at the heart of the student market’s appeal”.

For those considering investing in student accommodation double-digit returns can be expected but it is essential to select only the finest opportunities available – accommodation which meets the ever increasing expectations of today’s student population, namely location, facilities and privacy.

The latest, most prestigious student accommodation project available through Property Frontiers, Hatton Garden, meets all of these key criteria being located in the heart of the city, only minutes from John Moores University, Lime Street station and all the shops, restaurants and nightlife students desire. 

The 98 private en-suite student rooms with flat screen TV and internet connection are more spacious than others in the city, housed within a refurbished early 19th century building. On-site facilities will be first class with ample kitchen space, communal lounges with 42 inch flat screen TVs on each floor, an on-site gymnasium, computer/media service centre, management office and laundry facilities.

Rooms are available at £48,000 and investors can expect double-digit returns of 10.03% NET, the first year assured. Monthly rental income is guaranteed to be paid from 1st March 2012. With units already selling fast contact Property Frontiers today on +44 (0) 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com for more information about investing in student accommodation in Liverpool – a key asset class in 2011.

Grenada, the Caribbean ‘Island of Spice’, is set to experience a tourism boom in the coming months due to the launch of the new Virgin Atlantic direct service from the UK.

As of 31st October 2011, transatlantic carrier, Virgin Atlantic, will be operating a new Monday and Thursday direct flight (already available to book) which will create a total of five UK departures from London Gatwick to Grenada each week with BA flights on Sunday and Tuesday and Monarch Airlines on Wednesday.

Grenada Board of Tourism General Manager UK & Ireland, Sharon Bernstein states,

“Gone are the days of rigid seven or fourteen night holidays, and the addition of another Virgin flight means Grenada provides UK travellers with greater flexibility such as ten night packages.”

Leading property investment agency, Property Frontiers, which markets one of the most popular residential developments on the island, the 5* Bacolet Bay Resort & Spa, comments,

“We are very pleased that these new flights have been launched and that even more Brits will have the opportunity to visit this jewel of the Caribbean. Grenada’s tourism industry continues to develop rapidly with visitors attracted to the white sandy beaches, year round superb climate and relaxed pace of life that the ‘spice island’ offers.

“The new flights will also offer more flexibility for those with second homes on the island allowing them and potential renters to visit at their leisure.”

Caribbean Residences at Bacolet Bay Resort & Spa is offering a unique opportunity to invest in one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious resorts from a total price of just £26,700. This low cost investment in a 5 star resort will generate a guaranteed 10% net income and offers excellent capital appreciation as well as the perfect tropical paradise for your own leisurely use.

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

If you are interested in alternative, ethical and environmentally friendly investments the Directors of Property Frontiers, David Cox and Ray Withers, would like to invite you to the exclusive Bamboo Investment Seminar on Tuesday 10th May 2011, 6.30pm at the Hilton Metropole, London.

In these uncertain economic times, alternative investments have proved extremely popular with Property Frontiers’ clients investing over $1 million in the fastest growing commodity on earth, Bamboo, over the past few weeks alone.

Property Frontiers have undertaken through research and due diligence to find the best value forestry investment available on the market today with returns of up to 895%.

In addition the projected earnings from this investment in Central American bamboo are based on conservative assumptions provided independently by Yale University.

“Bamboo plantation projects will be as profitable as those involving timber tree crops. In fact, there are clear indications that bamboo plantations can be more profitable”
Dr Montagnini, Yale University School of Forestry

Join us and other investors on Tuesday 10th May at the Hilton Metropole, W2 at 6.30pm to find out:

• Why savvy investors should consider bamboo?
• Why Yale University has verified the investment figures?
• How the returns, guaranteed for the first 3 years, are assured?
• Who the management team behind the project are?
• How the investment is SIPP eligible?
• How one hectare will make investors carbon neutral?

Places are limited so please RSVP by Monday 9th May 2011 to Charlotte Ashton at c.ashton@abpropertymarketing.co.uk or 0845 054 7524 / 07968 779 663.

Complimentary refreshments will be provided along with expert comment from Director David Cox upon request.

 The news that national flag carrier, British Airways, is set to increase its frequency of transatlantic flights from London Gatwick to Tampa, Florida to a daily service spells good news for those thinking about investing in a holiday home in the sunshine state.

Responding to client demand British Airways, currently the only long-haul carrier flying direct to Tampa, will increase from five flights a week to a daily service making it even easier for Brits to reach the popular holiday hotspot.

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

“Florida remains one of the most sought after vacation destinations especially for families due to the guaranteed sunshine and wealth of activities and entertainment available. Over 16.6 million passengers passed through Tampa International Airport in 2010, over 1.2 million last month alone and therefore the news of BA’s increased flight frequency is certainly a positive sign for the future of the state’s tourism industry.”

And it’s not only Floridian tourism which is seeing signs of revival, the state’s property market, hard hit by the economic downturn, is widely believed to be at the bottom of the cycle with increases in the number of sales recorded in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same period last year.

Indeed it is savvy buy to let investors which are capitalising on this unique opportunity to purchase prime American real estate at up to 70% below peak prices. The latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed that investors represented 17% of home sales across the USA in 2010, the majority of whom are cash buyers. 

Ray Withers continues,

“It is the affordable entry level which makes the current stock available in places such as Davenport, just one hour’s drive from Tampa, so attractive. Median house prices in Florida are now at $121,900 (Metrostudy, Feb 2011), a significant fall of 53% from the $257,800 median in June 2006 at the height of the boom.”

One established resort development in Davenport, Regal Palms, is receiving serious interest from British buyers keen to snap up the 3 and 4 bedroom fully furnished townhouses available from just $99,000.

The just released high quality properties are located only 10 miles from Walt Disney World and 19 miles from SeaWorld and Regal Palms offers a two acre swimming pool complex complete with lazy river, waterslides and sundeck making them ideal family holiday homes. Furthermore with an experienced onsite rental management company in place and average occupancy rates of 64% forecast owners can be confident of receiving income when they are not using the property themselves.

A limited number of 3 and 4 bedroom townhouses are available at Regal Palms from $99,000 so contact Property Frontiers today on +44 (0) 1865 202 700 for more information or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com. 

Thursday 22nd April 2011 saw the official opening of Arena House, Liverpool´s latest luxury student accommodation project sold by Property Frontiers a leading property investment agency.

Located in a prime location on Duke Street, just minutes from the city centre complete with shops, entertainment and nightlife, Liverpool Lime Street station and the University of Liverpool campus, Arena House is a far cry from traditional student digs and shared houses.

The 58 student pods are modern luxury living at its very best with flat screen TVs, contemporary furniture and WiFi. Each floor affords two kitchen areas complete with Bosch appliances and cooking utensils as well as a large open plan lounge space with leather seating and 42 inch flat screen TV. There are ample bathroom facilities, a fully equipped gymnasium, CCTV and in response to demand, disability access and wheelchair friendly rooms on the lower ground floor.

Ray Withers, Director of Property Frontiers who have sold the majority of student pods at Arena House, comments,

"I am delighted to be here at the opening of Arena House; the project has come such a long way since my last site visit and it is reassuring to see, on behalf of our clients, that Arena House has been finished on time and to such a high standard."

Opening on 1st May, all the student pods at Arena House will be let to students of LILA (Liverpool International Language Academy) which serves overseas students studying languages in Liverpool. They have taken these pods due to their high specification which meets the needs of their international students.  

Fully managed by Penlake Limited with over 10 years experience, Arena House is the third student accommodation project in Liverpool to be completed by this particular developer. Investors at Streatlam Tower, the 36 unit fully refurbished building complete with original architectural features including stained glass windows, wooden beams and a four storey spiral staircase carved from a single piece of wood, have been receiving returns since its opening in February 2011 and those with pods in Beacon Building since Spring 2010.

Meeting the demand for quality accommodation from Liverpool´s 53,000 student population, pods at Property Frontiers’ latest development, Oliver House, located on Bold Street, are selling quickly with only a handful remaining.

Available from £41,000, the 38 student pods of Oliver House will be completed to the same high standard as those at Arena House with investors set to receive 10.11% net annual yield with the first year assured.

For more information about investing in student accommodation in Liverpool and indeed the last remaining units at Oliver House contact Property Frontiers today on +44 (0) 1865 202 700 or visit www.propertyfrontiers.com.