Hong Kong developers Expat mortgage Hong Kong investors London's housing market SDLT UK property expats overseas buyers overseas investors
Marketing No Comments

Since the first UK national lockdown in March 2019, the presence of overseas buyers in the London market has been severely impacted, however, with the return of international travel, demand is returning to pre-pandemic levels, where two-bedroom apartments are proving most popular.

According to research by London buying agency Astute Property Search, overseas buyers are ‘hedging’ 2021 prices in anticipation of a stronger 2022 market.

Matt Turner, Founder of Astute Property Search, says: “Many of my clients are British expats, with plans to move back to the UK in 3-5 years’ time. They are mainly looking for homes that can double up as rental investments to cover themselves before they’re ready to move back but are essentially buying now to attempt to hedge 2021 prices before the market fully recovers in 2022. In the past few months we have seen a huge rise in enquires from expat couples that are coming over and block booking viewings for properties that fit their profile.

Contact us today to discuss Expat Mortgages and how we can assist you.

“One of our best transactions this year was secured in St John’s Wood, for a client based in Europe and looking for a city pied a terre. Due to travel restrictions, they were not able to physically be in the London and “their viewing” was undertaken through video calls. Close to 50 per cent of all apartments in prime central London were sold to international buyers pre-pandemic and it’s this inability to travel that has seen a lull in the market, so having us on hand to verify and negotiate allowed them to secure a fantastic deal.”

Astute Property Search predict that apartments will see a renaissance and an increase in demand will see prices rise sharply 2022, especially for two-bedroom apartments, so now is the time for investors to secure the best deal. Furthermore, the return to offices is predicted to recover the near pre-pandemic levels in 2022, which may lead to some finding their new commute to be too lengthy that will further increase demand for London flats.

Discover our Expat Mortgage Broker services.

One lasting impact of the recent lockdowns is the increased demand for space, which has seeped from the house market to flats, with overseas buyers seeking value in larger apartments.

Turner adds: “The studio and one-bedroom flat market has dropped significantly and will take the longest to recover, so currently we are encouraging our clients to purchase apartments with a minimum of two bedrooms in locations where value is still there to find.

“Space and square footage are key and I would go further to say that for now two bedroom apartments will be in higher demand from prospective tenants. Working from home has become the norm with tenants sleeping in one bedroom and then using the other as an office. Units with dedicated outside space such as balconies, communal gardens, terraces all carry a premium on the rental market, so are proving popular with international investors looking for strong yields.”

Source: Property Funds World

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.