UK rents hit new high in July

UK rents rose for the fourth month in a row in July, according to LSL Property Services, hitting an all-time high.

Average rents climbed by 1 per cent last month to reach £725, the LSL's latest Buy to Let index announced today, £5 above the peak recorded in October 2011.

The pace of annual rent inflation also increased climbing from 2.4 per cent to 2.9 per cent in June.

On a monthly basis, rents rose in eight out of ten regions in England and Wales. Rents in the South East climbed the fastest, increasing by 2.2%. The West Midlands saw the next largest increase, rising by 1.8%. Rents dropped by 0.4% in both the South West and the East of England. London's rents hit a new high for the third consecutive month, following a monthly 1% rise to £1,057.

Rents fell on an annual basis in two regions, decreasing by 1.2% in the South West, and 0.4% in the East Midlands. The steep monthly increase in rents in the South East increased annual rent inflation to 4% in July. However, rents are still rising fastest on an annual basis in London, with rents in the capital climbing by 4.8%, compared to 4% in June.

David Newnes, director of LSL Property Services comments: "The backlog of frustrated first‐time buyers in the private rented sector showed no sign of clearing in July - in fact, it is still growing. As lending to those without substantial deposits remains depressed, demand for rented accommodation can only go one way in the long‐term - providing further upwards momentum for rents. The rental market is also entering its summer peak, as recent graduates and those with new jobs begin to look for new accommodation. With more tenants on the move, alongside long‐term underlying demand, fierce competition for properties is enabling landlords to increase rental prices to new highs."

Landlords saw an average total annual return of 4.5% on a rental property in July. This represents an average return of £7,459 with rental income of £7,763 and a capital loss of £305. If property prices maintain the same trend as the last three months, an average investor in England and Wales could expect to make a total annual return of 8.3% per property over the next 12 months - equivalent to £13,647 per property. Following the rapid increase in rents, the average yield on a rental property increased to 5.3% in July, its highest level in 2012 and an increase from 5.2% in June.

Browse our UK Property Opportunities

New law helps Dominican Republic housing develop

A new law introduced to the Dominican Republic is helping the country's housing market to develop, according to one expert.

Writing in The Metropolitan Corporate Council, lawyer Luis Pellerano highlights the legislation as a key step for investors, boosting the mortgage market as well as housing stock.

The law defines several terms, such as settlor, trust and beneficiar, and allows the creation of trusts for both real estate investment and development. It also allows trusts to issue securities such as mortgage notes, bonds and certificates to raise funds for mortgage financing for Dominican housing.

"The new Dominican law also contains special provisions relating to the development of low-cost housing through public-private partnerships, which the Dominican government believes can help solve the country's housing problems," adds Pellerano.

It also introduces a foreclosure procedure for creditors in the country.

The legislation will "significantly enhance the country's housing and construction industries while offering institutional investors an important investment opportunity", concludes Pellerano. "This would appear to be a win-win for all involved."

Browse Our Dominican Property Opportunities

Turkey property prices still on the up

Turkish property prices are still on the up, according to the latest figures.

The average value of homes in Turkey increase by 2.33 per cent in July. On top of previous month's climbs, prices have now grown by 12.31 per cent in the past year - although some areas of the country have seen prices rise even higher.

Indeed, house prices in Izmir have jumped by 16.57 per cent compared to July 2011, adds Property Showrooms, with Istanbul and Antalya property values jumping by 13.72 per cent and 12.66 per cent respectively.

Rental rates have also continued to increase, posting an annual rise of 12.3 per cent, again led by the trio of Izmir, Istanbul and Antalya.

The rising prices follow the introduction of new legislations that have opened up Turkish real estate to buyers from an additional 94 countries, as the country's property market seems to go from strength to strength.

Browse our SIPP APPROVED Turkish Resort

Do You Have Equity In UK Property?

Well the Question is - Do You Have Equity In UK Property?..........

If You Do - Have you ever thought You would Like a Home in The Caribbean?

Now if the Answer is Yes to Both Questions, what would you say if You could use some of that Equity To Buy your Property, BUT get the Developer to pay the interest on the Loan, till your property was complete. So cost to you nothing. INTERESTED?

What if that property could give you an income of £20,000+ per Annum, each Year For Life. Would that interest you even more? 

CLICK HERE watch the Video and lets see If we can get your Dream Property Tomorrow

Back to school: Top student housing tips as A-Levels arrive

A-Level results arrived around the UK last week, deciding for many young people whether they will face a tough jobs market now or the excitement of university.

The latter brings with it its own challenges, though, as student housing supply struggles to meet increasing numbers of applicants from both the UK and overseas. Costs are increasing, too, with rents up by as much as 25 per cent in some towns compared to last year.

With occupancy rates for university accommodation at all-time highs, what can students do to find housing without breaking the bank? Simon Thompson, co-founder of AccommodationforStudents.com talks to About Property, and offers some top tips, many of which apply to both school leavers and student property investors:

Landlords are your friends

"There is plenty of good quality private rented accommodation available in the form of house shares, rooms in private houses, flats and even private sector halls of residence," says Thompson. Indeed, with buy-to-let lending increasing in the UK and landlord optimism high, private housing for students is popular with both tenants and investors.

Set your budget

"The cost of private rented accommodation varies considerably between university towns," explains Thompson - an important point for both students and landlords. "This year, Pontypridd is the cheapest at £46," he adds. London is the most expensive with a weekly average of £107.29.

It's a point worth bearing in mind for landlords looking for large yields, too, with many regional towns, such as Leeds and Sunderland, offering stronger returns on investment than the UK capital.

Take your time

"Take a couple of days to go and view different types of properties," advises Thompson. "Even though it's a fast moving market, don't be pressured into making a decision immediately, get a good feel for what's about first."

Make an inventory

"You will be required to pay an upfront deposit of one month. Ensure that your landlord or agent has a thorough inventory detailing all household contents and condition. This will avoid any disputes over the returning of your deposit at the end of the tenancy."

Enjoy

"University is a great experience and one that shouldn't be clouded with disappointed that you didn't get your first choice. It's an opportunity to learn, meet new people and later, find employment, so get as much out of it as you can," he concludes.

Ready to go back to school?

Browse our listings of UK student accommodation:

"Don't count out Detroit"

Don't count out Detroit, agents are advising investors, as new figures show the city's property market is slowly racing its way to recovery.

The US housing market won't start turning the corner for another year, claimed one report last week, predicting that while American property was "finding its footing", prices would drop another 1 per cent between March 2012 and March 2013.

But two new reports out this week tell a different story: Fiserv claims recovery is not yet a firm reality, but US property prices keep on climbing, according to the National Association of Realtors. Indeed, single family homes in America saw prices rise by 7.2 per cent in the second quarter of 2012, their biggest annual increase since the beginning of 2006.

And Detroit is near the front of the pack.

Headlines may paint a negative picture of Motor City, but the housing market is quietly accelerating ahead. Property prices soared by 12.2 per cent last month compared to July 2011, reports the Detroit Free Press. Sales across the city also shifted gear, surging by 11.2 per cent as demand from overseas investors gets stronger.

As a result, homes are selling nine days faster than last year, pushing the city's housing supply down - exactly the conditions needed for recovery.

And buyers are queuing up to join the Motor City race, explains Property Investment House.

"Client enquiries and sales for our Detroit Turnkey properties have increased over 30% in the last 3 months," Director Dean Darby told TheMoveChannel.com. "Investors have told us they believe the timing is perfect and that they will not get a better opportunity to invest in Detroit."

Indeed, with inventory decreasing, prices are going to rise even further, predicts Darby:

"Right now there is an opportunity to still get homes at a 70% discount to their peak value and high net rental yields of up to 20% pa but this will not last. As demand increases and prices become more expensive the yields will come down so this we see as a limited window of opportunity for the investors who are sitting with cash."

And confidence is starting to return too, he adds, thanks to the quality of properties on the market matching the yields: "Rather than purchase timber frame properties that are more available in other parts of the USA, investors like the fact that they can get a solid, brick, detached three-bedroom home in Detroit. All our homes are fully inspected by the City Council and come with Certificate of Approval. Knowing that their property has been fully inspected from top to bottom has also certainly given investors the peace of mind that the work has been done to an extremely high standar.

"Even though getting the homes to this standard does cost much more our prices still only start from £19,950 for our 3 bedroom properties. Prices also include qualified tenants and 24 month leases."

Looking to drive up your property income?

Browse our listings of tenanted homes in Detroit:

Germany's property boom is bubble-free, say experts

Germany's house prices have been rising for a long time. With the Euro debt crisis continuing, people have flocked to the country's comparatively stable economy as a safe haven for investment - and swooped on its most secure asset: property.

Indeed, since 2010, prices have seen an average annual increase of 4.5 per cent, according to the Cologne Institute for Economic Research - far above inflation rates. In Berlin, prices have climbed consistently by 31 per cent between 2003 and 2011, while Munich, Germany's most expensive real estate market, has seen prices climb by 23 per cent in the same period.

But while some fear the latest surge in values could lead to a housing crash, Cologne's institute insists the boom is bubble-free.

"Despite extremely low interest rates, there is neither an expansive money-lending tendency, nor a very high rate of purchase and re-sale," it said.

Conservative lending from banks and Germany's habit of renting property are helping to reduce the risk of a bubble. "Only if huge amounts of foreign money were to pour into the German property market would [there] be a danger," adds The Local.de.

To Browse our German Property Opportunities simply CLICK HERE

Buy-to-let boom beats Olympics blues

The UK may be suffering from Olympic blues now the London 2012 Games have ended, but one group of people are still smiling: landlords. While much was made of the short-term profits they could make from the Olympics rush, the long-term buy-to-let market is where the real medals are, with rents rising by over 4 per cent in the last year.

Indeed, as first time buyers continue to struggle to get onto the housing ladder, an increasing number are choosing to rent property instead. This demand pushed rents up by 4.3 per cent in the last 12 months, according to the latest RICS lettings survey.

The figures follow reports from property group LSL that monthly rents in London rose for three months in a row in June, hitting a record of £1,047, while UK rates were just £2 below the all-time high of £720 recorded last October.

As rents continue to rise, gross rental yields have climbed even higher, adds BM Solutions. Buy-to-let investors have seen yields edge up by 0.2 per cent in the last year, reaching an average 6.2 per cent in June. The capital's rents may be the highest, but outside of London, overall returns are even stronger, with the North of Britain offering yields of 7 per cent - another reason for landlords not to feel the Olympic blues.

It is no surprise, then, that buy-to-let investors are elbowing their way to the front of the queue.  Buy-to-let lending increased by 5 per cent in the second quarter of 2012, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders, with the volume of loans up by 14 per cent since last year.

Ten years ago, there were just 89,000 buy-to-let mortgages taken out in the UK. Now, the CML adds, that figure has ballooned to 1.42 million, worth a total of more than £160 billion.

But it does not stop there. According to RICS, rents are set to keep on growing as tenant demand continues to increase.  In fact, the increase in demand has outpaced the change in supply in every quarter since the first half of 2009. That gap "does now appear to be narrowing", adds RICS, but it is still big enough to see rents increase by another 4 per cent in the next year.

Peter Bolton King, RICS Global Residential Director, commented: "It is interesting to see that the huge growth we have seen in demand in recent years has started to gradually slow. While tenant interest is still riding high, what remains to be seen is whether many are willing to meet the increasing rents being demanded by landlords.

"However, it is clear that we have seen rents grow steadily right across the UK for some time. This is partly down to the problem of the scarcity of mortgage finance and the large deposits required by lenders. These barriers to home ownership need to be addressed alongside the shortage of new stock coming to the market."

Looking to beat the Olympic blues?

Browse our listings of buy-to-let property:

The Best Global Property & Alternative Investments Sent Direct To Your Desk Top

Deal Searcher is one of the Worlds leading international property investment agents specialising in luxury 5 star spa resorts in some of the best locations in the Caribbean and around the World. 

We would like to invite you to Join our Property & Investment Alert Newsletter which will send you, direct to your Desk Top, PC, and Mobile, The Latest Deals as they are released - Never miss an opportunity again. More than a 1,000 people each week are joining!!

YES I DID SAY A 1,000 - NOW ITS YOUR TURN - AND ITS FREE!!

Just Look At These Recent Offers!!

• BAHAMAS - 38% BMV with 70% Non Status Funding
• FRANCE - A Suite in A Chateau from only £28,000
• CAPE VERDE - 100% Packaged Deal
• BELIZE - Marina with 70% Funding available
• FLORIDA - $56,995 with 10.5% Guaranteed Returns
• NORTH DAKOTA OIL FIELDS - Returning 45% Per Annum
• PORTUGAL - Complete Resort Village with 6% Returns
• UK - Student Investments from £5,000 with 7.5% Guarantees
• UK - Hotel Suites 10% Guaranteed for 15 Years
• US PROPERTY BONDS - From £10,000 with 18% Guarantees

And Don't Forget These

• ST LUCIA - 100% Packaged Deal
• CAPE VERDE - Suites on the Beach From only £28,000
• ST LUCIA - Fractions From £17,500 - Guaranteed 8% Yields
• TURKEY - From £48,000 with Guaranteed 10% Yields
• DETROIT - From $30,000 with 20%+ Yields
• SAMOS - Beach Front From £19,500
• ST LUCIA - From £25,000 with 10% Guaranteed Returns
• UK - Student Pods with 10% Yields From £20,000
• UK - Hotel Suites with 25% Guaranteed Returns
• UK STORAGE PODS - From £3,750 - 8% Guarantees

Or what about investing a £1,000 that Could buy you an apartment or Private Villa  at any of our Resorts in BARBADOS, ST LUCIA, DOMINICAN and at completed Resort in ST Vincent.

THEN SIMPLY - Join Our Newsletter and get a 

Free Ebook Showing You How You Can Buy Using only a £1,000

US house prices up for fourth month in a row

US house prices rose for the fourth month in a row in June, according to the latest CoreLogic report.

The firm's June index found that the average price of property in America increased by 1.3 per cent from May 2012, leaving values 2.5 per cent higher than last year. The jump marked the fourth consecutive month in which prices increased both on an annually and monthly basis, as the US market recovery fully gathers momentum.

And that recovery is expected to keep going, according to CoreLogic, with prices predicted to rise by at least 0.4 per cent in July - and 2 per cent on a year-on-year basis.

"Home prices are responding positively to reductions in both visible and shadow inventory over the past year," commented Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic. "This trend is a bright spot because the decline in shadow inventory translates to fewer distressed sales, which helps sustain price appreciation."

Anand Nallathambi, president and chief executive officer of CoreLogic added: "While first half gains have given way to second half declines over the past three years, we see encouraging signs that modest price gains are supportable across the country in the second half of 2012."

Why Not Browse our US Property

Turkey on the boil as new law heats up demand

Turkey's property market began to heat up in May, when a new law was announced allowing 52 new countries to buy Turkish real estate. Five months later and a long-awaited cabinet decree has outlined final details on who will be able to freely purchase property - a move that has turned Turkey's property up to boiling point.

Indeed, the Turkish government's plans to allow a total of 129 nationalities to enter its emerging market will see 52 new countries given new rights to purchase real estate.

The latest cabinet decree comes shortly after the Turkish Central Bank revealed an immediate buying boom in the first month following the law's enactment in May. In those four weeks alone, approximately 1.1 billion US dollars' worth of real estate was snapped up by foreign investors - four times the total purchased by non-Turkish nationals in the whole of 2011.

Where is the money coming from? The Arabian Gulf.

Gulf investors are queuing up for a taste of Turkey, according to a recent report from Jones Lang LaSalle. The Turkish presence at the Gulf's major real estate exhibition Cityscape is expected to soar in October, adds the Khaleej Times, as developers target their hunger new customers.

"We are seeing interest in Turkey from a range of investors including sovereign wealth funds, investment funds and private equity funds which have all strongly revived in 2012," said Kivanc Erman, JLL's director of capital markets and advisory for Turkey.

With Turkey's economy set to grow by 4 per cent this year, according to a government report, following 3.2 per cent GDP growth in the first quarter of 2012, it is no surprise that the smell of warm Turkey is more appealing than the whiff of the Eurozone economic crisis.

Indeed, this surge in demand follows an already strong 2012, according to one agent, which saw enquiries increasing even in May, before the new law was defined.

Suleyman Akbay, Managing Director of Ocean Wide Properties, comments: "Turkey is making quite a name for itself on the property scene in lieu of Europe's troubles and the ongoing investments it is making to advance its economy.

"Our clients are constantly amazed at the value for money properties available in prime business and coastal spots - competitive to many ‘distressed' and heavily reduced property sales currently being seen in Spain, for example. But Turkey's upper hand is that its values and rental yields are increasing year-on-year where other markets are contracting. Affordable, good connections, lots of new homes, a burgeoning population and now an increasing market presence - Turkey certainly has a beacon to shine."

Looking for a taste of Turkey?

Browse our listings of  Turkish property:

Student housing investment doubles to £800m

£800 million was invested in student housing in the first half of 2012, more than double the first half of last year.  

Investors pumped £375 million into the thriving sector in the first six months of 2011, according to CBRE, capitalising on high student demand. Many feared that would drop this year thanks to rising UK tuition fees, but exactly the opposite has happened: applications from overseas students have increased, leaving housing supply across the country struggling to keep up.

The same thing is happening is across the continent.

Europe's economy may be struggling, but going back to school is bucking the recession for everyone. As Marcus Roberts at Savills notes, "student housing markets are traditionally counter-cyclical, with student numbers growing in times of economic downturn and weakening labour markets, and this is exactly what is happening in France both in terms of domestic and international students".

Indeed, French student housing has seen demand increase over recent years. With the number of students living with family or parents dropping by 10 per cent in the last decade, more are turning to their own places to rent, pushing up occupancy rates, rents and investment returns. Yields now range, depending on location, from 5.5 per cent to 7 per cent, according to Savills.

But even that pales in comparison to Spain.

The lack of Spanish development amid rising tenant numbers has led to strong imbalance between supply and demand in the student accommodation sector. Spanish universities have seen registrations rise by an annual average of 6.6% since 2008, marking the highest average annual rise in Europe. Occupancy rates were at 100 per cent between October 2011 and June 2012. Meanwhile, stock is set to increase by only 1.3 per cent in the current academic year, just as student registrations are expected to soar by another 10 per cent.

The result is a boom in the middle of Spain's bust, with yields estimated between 6.75 and 7 per cent.

But investors in the UK are still leading the student surge. With reported occupancy rates of 99 per cent or more and a lack of supply in the private rented sector, rents for purpose built accommodation are expected to grow annually in most university cities at least in line with inflation.

Jo Winchester, Head of Student Housing Advisory, CBRE, said: "The current lending market is dominated by large-scale loans against well-managed portfolios, but debt remains restricted for new entrants, single property deals and projects outside of London. Whilst they tend to prefer large transactions, insurance companies are able to fund direct let properties and still meet low risk criteria as their exposure is only based on a conservative percentage of valuation.

"There is no shortage of investor demand, but the market is hampered by a shortage of new high quality development opportunities. Proposed changes to the REIT regime, together with the significant increase in the number of new operators in the last four years could widen opportunities for indirect investors by creating a greater choice of investment funds, as well as creating an alternative exit position for established operators."

Looking to buck the recession? Go back to school

Browse our listings of student accommodation:

How To Buy Property In The Caribbean Using Only a £1,000"

Deal Searcher is one of the Worlds leading international property investment agents specialising in luxury 5 star spa resorts in some of the best locations in the Caribbean and around the World. We would like to invite you to take a look at a Video which shows you the Luxury at our current Resort in St Vincent. Then we would like to share with you the 3 Ways that you could buy one of our Properties in The Caribbean using only a £1,000 - 

YES I DID SAY A £1,000!! - TAKE A LOOK

Your £1,000 Could buy you an apartment or Private Villa at any of our Resorts in BARBADOS, ST LUCIA, DOMINICAN and at our completed Resort in ST Vincent.

Medical City gives Orlando fresh injection of interest

America is still in the sick bay after years of economic disease, but Orlando is set to get a fresh injection of investment appeal with the arrival of a new science development.

Lake Nona's Medical City will be home to the largest concentration of medical services in the country, including the Nemours Children Hospital and University of Central Florida College of Medicine. This state-of-the-art complex is scheduled to open in autumn, according to the Orlando Sentinel, giving the area a significant shot in the arm.

Indeed, the completed labs, clinics and classrooms will create more than 30,000 jobs by 2017, not to mention a cash injection of almost eight billion dollars.

Those in need of medical care are expected to rush to the area, with Florida already popular among retiring home buyers, but while Medical City, and other new residential developments, are a much-needed booster jab for America's economy, Orlando's property market is already well on the way to recovery, according to recent reports.

The median price of Orlando homes was running a temperature in June, according to the Orlando Realtors Association, rising by 15.74 per cent from the beginning of the year. Compared to last year, the swelling is even more severe, growing by 31.72 per cent from January last year.

And the recovery is contagious: Florida as a whole has seen prices and sales increase this year, according to the Florida Association of Realtors. Values rose by 8.2 per cent in June compared to the year before as feverish investors drove single family home transactions up by 31 per cent.

The Medical City promises a fit future for Florida, but while America's housing market slowly recuperates, Orlando already appears in ruder health than ever.

Caught the US property bug?

Browse our listings of condos, houses and other Florida real estate

Germany is top performing European commercial real estate market

Germany and Russia as the top performing European real estate markets in the second quarter of 2012, according to the latest  commercial property surveys from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

However, RICS sees expectations for Germany improving at a more modest pace in comparison to previous quarters. Indeed, the crisis in the eurozone is now raising concerns as to whether the German economy and its real estate market can continue to buck the more gloomy picture pervading much of the rest of Europe.

The survey indicates that signs of stress are spreading from the periphery to other markets. Greece, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, France and Italy in particular showed signs of distress during this quarter of the year, with both sentiment and activity levels suffering on the back of elevated uncertainty.

Russia and France saw available space continue to rise whilst in Russia occupier demand continued to increase, albeit at a slower pace, in France occupier demand declined.

Poland’s absence from the top of the rankings is notable and comes on the back of sub-par economic growth performance. Available space continues to increase which the report says is contributing to a slightly softer rental picture.

Developments in Europe’s investment market also took a slight turn for the worse, with only six countries recording increases in investment demand and only Germany reporting positive capital value expectations compared to four previously.

The investment market in Poland, influenced by the weakness of its zloty, lost momentum with enquiries and capital value expectations easing a little following a couple of years of strong gains.

With respondents acting more cautiously in both the occupier and investment markets, expectations for the eurozone are even gloomier for the third quarter of the year.

In the rest of the world, following on from strong first quarter results, the commercial real estate market in North America and Canada has maintained its more positive mood in both occupier and investor markets despite the global economic slowdown. China and Hong Kong also appear to have relatively resilient occupier markets for the time being.

‘The re-emergence of the euro crisis allied to generally weaker economic numbers has clearly taken its toll on much of the real estate world. It remains to be seen whether they can continue to buck the more gloomy trend if the macro data remains disappointing,’ said Simon Rubinsohn, RICS chief economist.

‘Recent actions from central banks in Europe provide some reason for encouragement but more stimulus may be needed to ensure the global economy can steer a path through the increasingly choppy waters,’ he added.

Why not Browse our GERMAN PROPERTY

Stamp duty cut for certain property values in the Bahamas

The government in the Bahamas has reduced stamp duty for properties worth over $100,000 by 2%.

The moves comes two years after it increased the tax by 2% which many believe resulted in a slow down in sales.

‘There was a significant outcry from the Bahamas real estate community as well as the general public who wondered how the government could take an already fragile economy and increase the cost of settling real estate transactions,’ said Zack Bonczek, of RE/MAX Bahamas Real Estate.

‘Although the increase was small and the upside of investing in a downward adjusted market big, it certainly didn't stimulate any positive movement in the Bahamas real estate sector,’ he added.

The Bahamas Real Estate Association has recommended that the property tax be reduced by 2% across the board. Now in an effort to resuscitate the Bahamas real estate sector and encourage more local and foreign buyers into the fold, the government has reduced the Stamp Duty by 2% for purchases over $100,000.

‘This is big news for the real estate sector and the economy in general. Buyers are now feeling that the dream of owning their own piece of paradise is within reach,’ said Bonczek.

He believes that the Bahamas real estate market is poised for steady growth in the next few years with the completion of the New Providence Road Development Project, the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA), and Bahamar, The New Riviera of The Caribbean, continuing in its quest to be the next mega resort in the region.

Why Not Browse our Property Opportunities in the Bahamas

France seen as a safe haven for property buyers

Property activity in France has risen slightly in the second quarter of 2012 according to the latest European Investment Market Update from globally integrated real estate research company DTZ.

The research highlighted that three quarters of real estate investment transactions took place across Europe's three largest markets, the UK, France and Germany, with volumes reaching €18.7 billion.

The biggest post in property volumes occurred in France with sales up 114% (including commercial property), rising to €4.2 billion, indicating that given sustained uncertainty surrounding the Eurozone crisis, investors are continuing to focus on the safety of large, well established property markets.

Paris based Danny Silver, expert in French real estate and managing director of The Villages Group, said that it is clear that France's perception of stability and being a 'safe haven' for property buyers still prevails.

‘Over the years French property has enjoyed practically constant success, and with the Euro plummeting to new lows against the pound and the lowest debt in Europe, it's no wonder that real estate investors still view that nation as a wise property move,’ he said.

‘Indeed, with a strong reputation and the opportunity to get more for your money, it seems many are making their dream of escaping to France a reality,’ he added.

His company is developing active living villages for the over 50's which provide services and amenities that encourage an active, happy and healthy lifestyle focussed around a strong community of like minded individuals.

‘For those entering their third age especially, France is often the ideal destination which is why we are developing this market,’ explained Silver.

The first is being built at the Canal du Midi, in the Languedoc region of France. Residents become a member of the entire village with ownership of a house of their choice, including all amenities.

‘One of the biggest advantages of the syndicate style programme is that it helps keep prices at least 30% lower than similar properties. As well as this, running costs are kept to a minimum as members own The Village, hotel, restaurants and sauna all of which are open to the public and all profits are set against maintenance fees helping to keep running costs at a minimum,’ added Silver.

Browse our French Property

Turkish property market more open to overseas buyers

New real estate laws in Turkey will allow buyers from countries that have previously been blocked from entering the property market.

Buyers from the UK, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Holland already have unrestricted buying rights but buyers from places such as Russia and the Ukraine faced restrictions buying on the Black Sea coastline as did Greeks.

Now a new decree will allow access to buyers from 129 countries including places such as the United Arab Emirates.

The new decree abolishes a reciprocity ruling that banned Turkish property purchases by citizens of countries where Turkish nationals couldn’t buy real estate.

The bill also increased the amount of land foreign nationals are able to buy in Turkey from 30 to 60 hectares.
The final details have still to be released and it is likely that there will be a limit on the number of properties that foreign buyers can own, according to Turkey property specialists Oceanwide Properties.

The news comes shortly after the Turkish Central Bank revealed there was a mini buying boom in the first month after the new property law was published in May. Approximately £706 million worth of real estate was snapped up by foreign investors, four times the total purchased by non-Turkish nationals in 2011.

Our experience in May alone, prior to who could buy without restrictions under the new law was defined, is testament to the upward swing overseas investors are rightly anticipating in the Turkish property market in light of the market extending to new entrants,’ said Suleyman Akbay, Oceanwide managing director.

‘Turkey is making quite a name for itself on the property scene in lieu of Europe’s troubles and the ongoing investments it is making to advance its economy. Our clients are constantly amazed at the value for money properties available in prime business and coastal spots,’ explained Akbay.

‘But Turkey’s upper hand is that its values and rental yields are increasing year on year where other markets are contracting. Affordable, good connections, lots of new homes, a burgeoning population and now an increasing market presence makes Turkey attractive,’ she added.

Browse of Opportunities in Turkey

Florida spearheads U.S. property buyers' market

Florida’s real estate industry is on the rise and savvy investors are snapping up properties.

So why Florida & why now?

Both investors and those looking to relocate are eyeing Florida at the moment for a number of reasons.

Pricing. Medium to lower income houses are still under priced and offer great value to investors.

Buyers’ Market. There is plenty of good value property on offer, meaning conditions are perfect for homebuyers to find their dream home. This won’t last forever as investors and buyers snap up these properties the supply will decrease. Solution: Buy now.

Mortgage rates. Mortgage rates are reasonable and buying power still high. Buyers get more for their money, allowing first time buyers to enter the market and many home owners to upsize.

Federal and state incentive packages. There are numerous Federal and state incentive packages offered to homebuyers, in particular first time buyers. Take advantage if you can.

Best place to retire in. Yes, Florida is the best place to retire in, once you move there you never leave. A fantastic climate and wide array of amenities make this a hugely desirable location for all, not just retirees.

No Income Tax. There is no personal income tax in Florida; that means more money in your pocket at the end of each month.

Leader in innovation. Florida was ranked as the 5^th largest cyberstate in the country employing the 5^th most employees in the hi-tech industry.

Well positioned. Florida is the strategic and economic centre of the Americas due to its geographic location, economic and political stability, and multi-cultural and multi-lingual.

Florida also has one of the world’s most extensive multi-model transportation systems, with international airports, deep-water shipping ports and an extensive highway and rail network. They also have two of only eight commercially licensed spaceports in the U.S.

Entrepreneurial EnvironmentThe state is home to a number of tech incubators, accelerators and university-based research hubs and ranks in the country’s top 10 on the Small Business Survival Index.

Business-Friendly Government. The state is pro-business and pro-technology and has definite agenda for policy-making and business climate improvement.

Why not Browse our FLORIDA PROPERTY Opportunities.

How to make money from student accommodation

Most people associate buy-to-let investment with the purchase of one to two-bedroom flats and trying to make single figure returns on the residential rental market. However savvy investors now associate UK property investment with the rapidly emerging student accommodation sector which is providing extremely healthy returns.

UK student accommodation has thrived over the past two years, rapidly outpacing the UK’s conventional property market. Its fast growth and investment strength has been so prolific that in January 2012 The Times ranked student accommodation as the top asset class in the UK’s property market.

In fact when compared with other residential and commercial property, student property stands out as consistently offering higher returns for investors. 2010 saw student property offering annual average returns of 13.5% in a market where commercial property grew by just 8% and standard residential property fell in value by 1.3%.

Recent research carried out by buy-to-let mortgage specialist Paragon Mortgages shows that students generated the highest yields for landlords in 2011. Using independent research from The Landlords Panel from BDRC Continental, the lender found that students generated an average yield, followed by young singles and retired people. At the other end of the scale, non-housing allowance benefit claimants generated the lowest yields, followed by young couples and manual workers.

Average returns across the UK were 11.5% in 2011 and Knight Frank expects total returns from student property to increase in 2012 to 12% with rental yields growing by 5%.

Commenting, Mark Stott from Select Property, said: “The popularity of student accommodation amongst investors is ultimately driven by consistent occupancy rates of 99% or higher and a structural undersupply, particularly for higher quality accommodation. And this is set to increase, potentially offering even greater returns for savvy investors.”


Knight Frank’s 2012 student property report added: “It [student accommodation] has outperformed every other commercial property class and delivered consistent returns throughout the economic downturn.”


Why not Browse our UK Student Property Investments