Property investment has been a traditionally popular vehicle for investors to make both capital gains and receive an income upon their investment monies. It is possible for the investor to invest in freehold or leasehold land, with or without buildings or tenants in place.
Property investment has a number of features that make it unlike other investment classes. The American market refers to property investment as “real estate investment” – that gives light to the main difference between property investment and other forms of investment – it is based on something that is “real” and can be seen and touched, unlike, for most investors, stocks, shares, bonds or investment accounts. Throughout the World property is a commodity in limited supply – as the old saying goes, “it is the one thing they are not making anymore”. The finite supply of property should always assure a market for property investments. People put an emotional investment into property “an Englishman’s home is his castle” – the number of television programmes based upon property, property development, property investment, home improvement and design shows that this is a market, in the UK and farther a field, that many people can enjoy and understand in a way that would be alien to other sorts of investment.
In the UK, and all other countries where IPG advise clients upon property investment, there is an established legal system that seeks to control how property is owned, developed and otherwise regulated to ensure proper, safe and fair use of such property. This legal framework, although frequently complicated, provides further comfort for the property investor. Property is a real commodity that people will always have demand for, and proper legal control of property should be seen as a benefit to the investor, as opposed to any hindrance on investment opportunities. The trick is always to ensure that those who advise you understand the system, and understand when to call on whatever specialist advice is needed for specific issues.
Property is seen as a “liquid asset”. Investors, big and small should always have a mechanism for selling their property and realising the financial value of their asset.
There are many different forms of property investment, both in the UK and beyond. The first, and most simple, is simply acquiring property or land for long-term capital gain. Whilst no one can accurately predict how any type of asset may perform in the future based upon historical performance, property investment HAS been seen as a profitable vehicle for investment. We believe that for real success the property investor should take a far more sophisticated approach.
Where property is subject to a tenant paying rent (or “leased”) then that property will produce an income for the property investor. This income may be used to pay a mortgage or to provide and investment return. On residential properties in the UK tenants will frequently have “Assured Shorthold Tenancies” allowing the tenant certain rights, but also allowing the property-investing landlord the right to receive rent and recover possession with fairly straightforward legally defined processes. Where commercial properties such as shops, offices or factories are used as vehicles for property investment then the situation may appear more complicated and more specialist advice may be needed to manage the property, and as importantly to maximise investment returns.
We have experience of property investment in both residential property and commercial property throughout the UK and in markets others may regard as “foreign”. We manage the process, frequently a minefield, of acquiring all the property due diligence every investor NEEDS when considering such property investment. We can identify any opportunity that may be presented by the property and take that from inception to a profitable conclusion.
If you want to find out more about our service to property investors – or register for information on future opportunities, then please contact us for further information using the box on the left, or contact us for currently available property investment opportunities.