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Rising numbers of expats and foreign buyers eye UK property market’s opportunities

Mortgage brokers, banks and property market professionals have reported rising interest from foreign buyers and expats looking to snap up homes here in the UK.

UK nationals living or working abroad and foreign investors from the US, Canada and East Asian countries are cashing on a weaker pound, a price slump in London’s new-build market and renewed confidence in the UK’s economy and vaccine programme.

Meanwhile political turbulence in China and the UK government’s new Visa scheme, open to holders of British National Overseas (BNO) passports in Hong Kong giving citizens the chance to relocate, has also driven up overseas interest in UK property.

Since the start of the year, bank’s say they have seen foreign income mortgage business rise.

Skipton International reported a trebling of mortgage completions from Hong Kong residents purchasing buy-to-let properties in the first quarter of 2021. Furthermore, between January to May the bank saw a 34 per cent increase in enquiries from residents in the EU compared to August to December 2020.

For Hong Kong buyers, both London and the South East of England were the most popular locations closely followed by the North West and Midlands.

Roger Hughes, Skipton International’s business development manager, said investors saw the UK as a “solid and stable jurisdiction”.

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Mortgage brokers have also reported more interest from overseas buyers.

Richard Campo said between March and April he saw a 137 per cent rise in enquiries about foreign income mortgages.

“We noticed a huge spike in enquiries from buyers living abroad wanting more information about getting a mortgage supported by foreign income, way above what we have seen elsewhere in the business,” he said.

“It’s logical as lockdown restrictions ease and pent up demand is released coupled with the vaccine roll-out going well. What’s interesting though is that they are not super-high-end buyers. We’re seeing a lot of expats and new buyers looking around the £500,000 mark.”

East Asian interest

New-build snagging and property management firm BuildScan said in May it saw an 18 per cent year-on-year rise in enquiries from East Asian buyers who had recently purchased new-build properties in London.

According to the firm’s analysis, the impact of a weaker pound and lower new-build property prices dampened by the pandemic offered opportunities for East Asian investors.

Between January 2020 and December, the health crisis caused new-build property prices in the Capital to fall by 3.4 per cent to £488,371.

But fluctuating exchange rates meant South Korean homebuyers would have benefitted from a 6.8 per cent fall in prices when compared to the average price at the start of the year. Chinese buyers saw a 6.2 per cent drop and Japanese buyers a decline of 5.6 per cent.

Homebuyers from Thailand, Malaysia and Hong Kong would have secured smaller discounts of between 0.9 per cent and 1.8 per cent.

Harry Yates, founder and managing director of BuildScan, said: “Despite the problems posed by the pandemic, we’ve continued to see a high degree of interest in the London market from East Asia.

“This has been driven, in part, by factors such as BNO visa availability for those relocating from Hong Kong, as well as the opportunity to cash in on a stamp duty saving.

“Fluctuating exchange rates have also boosted the affordability of London new-build homes which has also caused many savvy investors to act sooner rather than later. Although the pound has rallied of late, the London market remains an area of focus for many foreign buyers.”

Oxford estate agent Wallers has also reported a rise in enquiries in non-European overseas buyers over the past six to nine months, particularly from the Far East. He also noted a significant proportion of the enquiries were from families from Hong Kong who want to relocate to a different part of the world because of political troubles.

He added: “We have also seen more enquiries than normal from buyers in the USA and Canada, and there has been a sense that they are seeing the UK in more attractive terms now that it is out of the EU, which has been contrary to my own preconceived ideas about what Brexit might do to our property market.”

Safe bet

David Baker said his firm was being contacted by UK nationals who work or live overseas in the US and Dubai and they want to buy in the UK either for a family member or to rent it out. He is also seeing interest around the £500,000 price point. They have also had enquiries from British citizens working in Paris and Germany.

“We’re seeing lots of business from people not paid in sterling who want to buy in the UK,” said Baker. “I’m doing more of this type of business than ever before.

“The feeling is that the UK is a good place to have your money, and London is a safe bet.”

Baker said while there was a lot of interest in houses with gardens, he was seeing a gradual shift towards flats, which fell out of favour during the height of the pandemic.

He added: “Buyers are seeing the potential for deals to be had because they are not as popular as they once were. And those who are buying to rent out aren’t as concerned about garden space.”

By Samantha Partington

Source: Mortgage Solutions

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Chinese investment in UK assets estimated to be £135bn

Chinese investment in UK assets like businesses, infrastructure and property has reached an estimated £135bn – almost double what was previously thought.

About £44bn of this investment has come from state-owned firms, with many of the purchases happening over the past two years.

An investigation from the Sunday Times found that Chinese and Hong Kong investors own stakes in vital UK infrastructure providers like Thames Water and Heathrow Airport, along with £57bn worth of shares in blue chip FTSE100 firms.

The estimated £135bn value of Chinese ownership in the UK trumps the previous £71bn estimate by the Washington D.C.-based American Enterprise Institute.

Tory MP, and prominent China critic, told the Times: “This demonstrates that successive governments have been asleep on the watch. This evidence today shows how dangerously we are sailing towards Chinese control of key aspects of our business.

“China poses the single greatest strategic threat to the UK and the free world and we must make sure that we understand exactly how they set about essentially controlling key areas of economies, not only in the UK but also abroad.”

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The UK’s relationship with China has become increasingly frosty over the past year and a half, with foreign secretary Dominic Raab levelling sanctions on Beijing for its ethnic cleansing campaign against the country’s Uyghur Muslims and for its freedom of speech clampdown in Hong Kong.

Boris Johnson also moved to ban Chinese telecoms giant Huawei from helping build the UK’s 5G infrastructure based on fears that Beijing may use the network for espionage purposes – a charge Huawei denies.

However, the government’s integrated review of foreign and defence policy this year appeared to extend an olive branch to the Chinese government.

The review said the UK would “invest in enhanced China facing capabilities”, while adding that “open, trading economies like the UK will need to engage with China and remain open to Chinese trade and investment”.

Read more: UK sanctions Chinese officials over Uighur human rights abuses

China was also labelled as a “systemic challenge” in the review and not a threat to security, such a countries like Russia, Iran and North Korea.

Intelligence and Security committee chair, and Tory MP, Julian Lewis at the time criticised Johnson for displaying “the grasping naivety of the Cameron-Osborne years” when it came to China.

By Stefan Boscia

Source: City AM

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London should be the first to welcome those from Hong Kong

On 31st January, millions of Hong Kong residents were offered a new route to move to Britain. Already 5,000 have signed up for a visa that allows them to settle in the UK, with some estimating as many as two million may eventually move here. For London’s property market, which has had a tough few years between Brexit, stamp duty changes and covid-19, Hongkongers could provide a welcome shot in the arm.

They have already been making their mark. According to immigration advisers Astons, citizens of the Asian city-state invested over £300m in London housing in the first nine months of 2020. Meanwhile, recent research by Hamptons International revealed buyers from Hong Kong were behind almost ten percent of all sales last year in the capital’s wealthiest boroughs.

Many Hongkonger families had already bought investment properties in London before the Chinese government’s crackdown, while Hong Kong-headquartered firms such as C C Land and Far East Consortium have been major players in London real estate for years now.

C C Land acquired the Cheesegrater for £1.15bn in 2017 – the single largest purchase by a Chinese investment company in British property – and is one of the joint venture partners behind the £1bn revamp of the former Whiteleys department store.

The arrival of thousands of Hongkongers in the UK capital will likely drive further activity. Indeed, the chief executive of Far East Consortium told Bloomberg last year the developer hoped to capitalise on the potential exodus.

Given anxieties about immigration undeniably contributed to the Brexit vote, the government’s decision to open the doors to potentially millions of Hongkongers may seem surprising.

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But unlike in the Nineties, when there was firm opposition to giving Hongkongers a route to UK residency, there is now clear support across all party lines to give residents of this former British colony a chance to start a new life here.

This shouldn’t be too surprising. Attitudes have undeniably changed for the better over the past three decades. Hongkongers are also well educated, share our language and have a deep understanding of British institutions and traditions.

They will of course need some assistance settling in. Jobs and housing will be the key areas they need most help in according to community group Hong Kongers in Britain.

One obvious action the government could take would be to exempt Hongkongers from the incoming additional stamp duty on overseas buyers.

The levy should be abolished completely given international investors are a crucial source of development finance, especially in the major cities where homes are most needed. But at the very least Hongkongers should be excluded from paying.

The Greater London Authority and Mayor, working with London boroughs, should also be proactive in welcoming and supporting Hongkongers. This is all the more pressing given some 700,000 non-UK born workers left the capital during the pandemic. While many will no doubt return, London should be making sure it is the number one destination for those leaving the city-state.

Source: Property Wire

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International Demand For UK Property Expected to Surge This Summer

Industry experts are predicting that overseas buyers will be rushing to invest in UK property in summer 2021, once international restrictions are eased.

Summary:

  • International buyers have still got a strong appetite for investment properties in the UK. Buyers from the Middle East and Hong Kong are leading the pack.
  • UK property market remains buoyant despite the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating the resilience of this historically strong market.
  • Areas outside of London are being touted as the best investment and cities in the North and Midlands like Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds are attracting keen interest.

International travel restrictions look set to be eased this summer, with overseas buyers expected to be waiting eagerly to be able to scout out new UK property investment opportunities.

The British property market has emerged from the gloom of COVID-19 intact and as strong as ever. While demand slowed considerably at the start of the pandemic, pent-up demand was unleashed in the summer of 2020 and another surge is anticipated in summer 2021.

Every region in the UK recorded an increase in house prices in 2020 and estate agent Savills is predicting that house prices will rise by another 4% this year. Lucian Cook of Savills commented that: “By extending both the stamp duty holiday and the furlough scheme in last week’s Budget, the Chancellor has significantly reduced the downside risks in the mid-year, while a recovering economy should support price growth towards the year end.”

Buyers from overseas – especially the Middle East and Hong Kong – are particularly keen to capitalise on the strength of the market. While properties in London were previously highly sought-after, many of these buyers are now looking to seek better investments in regional cities.

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The Stamp Duty holiday gave many of these buyers a push in 2020, but global optimism is set to cause another surge in Middle Eastern and Hong Kong purchase rates in 2021 as well.

Investment property in the North West and Midlands is being highlighted as having much stronger rental yields and better opportunities for long-term capital appreciation.

Middle Eastern property buyers have long been leading the way in the race to get on the UK property ladder, but there has recently been an influx of buyers from Hong Kong as well. This is due to the new path to UK citizenship being granted to them in 2020.

Where are overseas investors looking?

Developers and estate agents across the North West and Midlands are reporting strong interest from overseas buyers, and this trend looks only set to increase in the summer.

Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham are all featuring as some of the most desirable locations for investment-savvy overseas property buyers.

Global real estate agent Jones Lang LaSalle forecast in January that Manchester will see the highest sales price growth (17.1%) and rental price growth (16.5%) in the UK over the next five years.

Manchester has been known as an investment hotspot for some years, but the city continues to grow – both in terms of industry and population – and is highly desirable by both young professionals and families alike.

The bustling city of Birmingham also continues to be a strong contender on the international property investment scene. In global real estate services company JLL’s recent residential housing report, Birmingham was reported to be the ‘standout performer’. House prices and the rental market are both expected to perform strongly over the next few years due to business and transport investment in the city.

Source: Select Property

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The number of overseas landlords reaches a five year high

The number of overseas landlords owning property in the UK has hit a five-year high of 184,000, marking an increase of 19% over five years.

Ludlowthompson says that the rise in the number of overseas landlords shows that Brexit has not been a deterrent for those looking to invest in UK property, as many overseas investors have capitalised on the drop in the value of pound sterling between the EU referendum and the Brexit deal to add to their portfolios.

Favourable exchange rates meant that foreign buyers were able to get more for their money, opening the market up to a wider pool of investors, says the estate agent.

Ludlowthompson adds that despite tax changes, property in the UK will remain an attractive long-term investment prospect for investors from many overseas jurisdictions.

Research shows that in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of Hong Kong buyers of UK property. This is expected to rise following the launch of the new visa for Hong Kong British National Overseas passport holders.

The reputation of schools and universities in the UK has also benefitted the property market. Ludlowthompson says that many overseas landlords who have purchased property have done so to provide accommodation for their children who were studying in the UK.

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Overseas landlords have been benefitting from the stamp duty holiday, which has enabled buyers to save as much as £15,000 on properties worth up to £500,000. The holiday is set to run until 30 June after which point stamp duty will be reintroduced on properties worth £250,000, and will apply to properties over the £125,000 threshold from 30 September. From 1 April, overseas landlords will be liable to pay a 2% stamp duty surcharge on property investments.

Stephen Ludlow, chairman at ludlowthompson, said: “Fears that Brexit might dampen the appeal of UK property amongst overseas investors have been unfounded, with the number of overseas landlords reaching a record high.

“Many canny investors took advantage of the temporary drop in Sterling’s value to purchase properties in the UK and benefited from both an increase in property prices and a recovery in sterling.

“Investments by overseas landlords into UK buy-to-let properties has ensured that there has been a steady stream of capital into that sector, which has kept the quality of rental stock far higher than would have been the case with these investors.”

Source: Property Wire

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Hong Kong Buyers Rush For Properties In The UK

There has been a significant increase in the number of people from Hong Kong buying property in the UK, estate agents report.

Research shows that Hong Kongers became the fifth largest foreign investors in central London as of last August and have been driving up prices in some popular districts outside the capital.

Some people are investing in the UK’s buy-to-let market, while others are making preparations to move to the UK to live.

A visa scheme to allow Hong Kong residents to come to the UK opened almost four weeks ago, with some 300,000 people expected to apply.

The visa, which is open to holders of a British National (Overseas) passport and their immediate dependents, will offer a fast track to UK citizenship.

The UK launched the new visa after China imposed a new security law.

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Those who apply and secure the visa will be able to apply for settlement after five years and then British citizenship after a further 12 months.

About 7,000 people from Hong Kong have already been allowed to settle in the UK since July, the Home Office said.

“It’s become much more of a trend in the past six months or so,” Guy Bradshaw, head of London Residential at Sotheby’s International Realty told Reuters. “I’ve certainly been involved in a lot more conversations and Zoom calls with people in Hong Kong and funds in Hong Kong.”

Marc von Grundherr, director at Benham and Reeves, said he has seen the same trend.

“I’ve had a few clients come to us and say, ‘Look, my son or my friend is wanting to invest in property because they’re thinking about coming [to the UK], but they can’t afford to do it on their own or they want to buy something slightly different – is it okay with two or three or four of them buying together?”

“That’s a change. Obviously, you always had larger investment companies who bought large amounts of stock, but we’re talking not the very, very, very wealthy,” von Grundherr said.

By MARC DA SILVA

Source: Property Industry Eye

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Hong Kong Residents Are Buying More Houses To Rent

Hong Kong residents are buying more houses and apartments to lease out for income in Britain, property agents say, a trend that coincides with what many expect to be a wave of emigration after China passed a national security law last year.

Hong Kongers became the fifth largest foreign investors in central London as of last August and have been driving up prices in some popular districts outside the UK capital.

But the new wave of buying also includes some Hong Kong residents who are pooling money to invest, a trend property agents expect to continue as more middle-class Hong Kong residents consider leaving for Britain and look to establish a source of revenue in advance.

“It’s become much more of a trend in the past six months or so,” Guy Bradshaw, head of London Residential at Sotheby’s International Realty told Reuters. “I’ve certainly been involved in a lot more conversations and Zoom calls with people in Hong Kong and funds in Hong Kong.”

The UK government is offering a new visa to Hong Kong holders of British National Overseas (BNO) passports that gives them a chance to become British citizens – a change it made after China’s national security law for Hong Kong.

A steady rental income would be useful in applying for the citizenship, as the BNO holders need to prove they can provide financial support for themselves for at least six months.

London estimates that over 300,000 Hong Kong residents could emigrate over the next five years, and Bank of America expects Hong Kong residents moving to Britain could trigger capital outflows of $36 billion in 2021.

While Hong Kong residents have long been active buyers of homes in Britain, real estate agents say more recently there has been increasing interest in older apartments and houses as rental assets.

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Hong Kongers have an affinity for real estate investment, with property prices in the Asian financial hub among the most expensive in the world.

Alan Wan, 38, who owns 13 residential properties in Britain, launched classes in Hong Kong two years ago – at the height of anti-government protests in Hong Kong – aimed at potential investors in properties in and around Manchester.

So far, his “UK Property Owner Association” class has attracted around 1,500 students. Enrolment spiked in the second half of last year after Beijing imposed the national security law.

One of Wan’s students, 30-year old Isla Kwok, who moved to Manchester in late January waiting to start a degree, is using the rental income she receives from a terraced house bought in 2019 to finance the cost of renting a smaller flat and mortgage payments.

She plans to re-mortgage her first property to buy a second one this year after getting a residence permit, as mortgage interest rates will be much lower.

“Once you’ve started your first property, it’s much easier to create more income to ease the financial pressure of living here,” Kwok said.

Wan said most of his students bought their properties individually, but he also had some who pooled money to buy in London.

Marc von Grundherr, director at realtor Benham and Reeves in London, said he has seen the same trend.

“I’ve had a few clients come to us and say, ‘Look, my son or my friend is wanting to invest in property because they’re thinking about coming (to Britain), but they can’t afford to do it on their own or they want to buy something slightly different – is it okay with two or three or four of them buying together?”

“That’s a change. Obviously you always had larger investment companies who bought large amounts of stock, but we’re talking not the very, very, very wealthy,” von Grundherr said.

Reporting by Clare Jim in Hong Kong and William James in London

Source: Reuters

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UK Property Market Still a Great Prospect for UK Expats

Many UK expats and foreign nationals are still looking to invest in UK property. And this is not surprising with the UK rental market predicted to keep growing.

Despite the turbulent times and the impending closure of the UK’s stamp duty holiday, UK expat mortgages and foreign national mortgages are still available for those looking to invest in UK property. And investing in UK property is one of the best financial decisions you could make.

An Appetite to Invest Amongst UK Expats and Foreign Nationals.

The extremely busy UK property market in 2020 has continued throughout the start of 2021. According to Rightmove, the UK’s number one property portal, 2021 saw the busiest ever start to a year in the property market (30% up from the start of 2020). Rightmove also predicts that the 2021 housing market will continue to perform strongly, with the number of prospective buyers contacting estate agents 53% higher than the same point in 2020.

There is a particular appetite to invest amongst UK expat and foreign national investors. According to a survey conducted by multinational law firm DLA Piper, 75% of investors are planning to invest in European residential properties in 2021. The respondents also ranked the UK as the number one spot for investment, indicating that the strong uptake of UK mortgages from UK expats and foreign nationals will continue through 2021. And overseas investors are particularly excited by the current conditions in the UK where there is a high demand for rental properties, property prices remain enticing, and the rental yields from properties are strong.

Years ago, major lenders had a monopoly on international property buyers. This meant that purchasing a UK property from overseas involved navigating extensive paperwork, salaries paid in a foreign currency and the lack of a UK credit history. However, nowadays expert mortgage brokers have access to a much wider range of products than those presented by mainstream lenders. This means that many of the difficulties involved in getting a UK mortgage as a UK expat or foreign national are now a thing of the past.

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The Strength of the Rental.

Traditionally, the UK rental market is very resilient. While the housing market remains steadfast, the rental market has also performed at consistently high levels. For example, in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, house prices fell 18% compared to only a 2% fall in rental prices (as reported by Savills, one of the world’s leading property advisers). This is a promising sign for UK expat and foreign national investors who are looking to invest, as even in the most turbulent circumstances, rental prices remain relatively resilient. And the outlook remains strong for the future too, with Oxford Economics predicting a 13.6% rise in UK rents by 2024.

‘The current conditions for investment remain solid, with Oxford Economics also predicting that the Bank of England’s base interest rate will remain at the low of 0.1% until Q2 of 2022. Consistently low interest rates also mean that there is a strong potential to make money from good capital growth on your property too.’ So, where should you invest?

Where to Invest.

‘The picture is clear on where to invest. The North West leads the pack with a projected growth of 24.1% over the next five years. This is followed by Yorkshire and the Humber, with a predicted 21.1% growth and Scotland which is predicted to grow 20.1% over the next five years. The rental growth picture is also strong in these areas. For example, according to JLL’s research, Manchester is predicted to have a rental growth of 7% by the end of 2022.’

Manchester is England’s fastest growing city with its population predicted to reach 600,000 by the middle of the 2020s. The surrounding area of Greater Manchester has a further population of almost 3 million people who support the economic and social infrastructure of the city. With a £7 billion investment from the government as part of their Northern Powerhouse scheme, Manchester’s infrastructure is bound to keep on growing and attracting more young professionals looking to both live and work in the city.

‘For UK expats and foreign nationals, Manchester presents such a strong investment opportunity. All the factors mentioned above are sure to stimulate demand and make sure that supply is kept low – thereby driving continued capital and rental growth. The city and surrounding suburbs are currently undergoing a rapid period of growth and change. The availability of UK Expat and foreign national mortgages, coupled with the incredibly low base interest rate from the bank of England, means a great range of mortgage products to choose from and, as such, it’s an excellent time to invest.’

Source: EIN News

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What Do The UK’s High House Prices Mean for UK Expats?

With UK house prices at their highest since 2017, we look at where this growth is most concentrated and what it means for UK expats looking to invest.

According to Zoopla, one of the world’s leading property portals, UK house prices are nearing their highest levels in four years – an average of £223,700. As of the end of January, house price growth reached its highest since April 2017 – 4.3%. But what does this mean for UK expats and overseas buyers looking to invest in buy-to-let UK property and are mortgages as readily available as before to UK expats and overseas buyers?

House Prices Across the UK.

As predicted, the start of 2021 has seen the UK housing market continue its strong performance. This is no doubt due, at least in part, to the imminent closure of the UK’s stamp duty holiday as people rush to complete on transactions and take advantage of the potential savings. Another factor stimulating the continued upward growth of the housing market is a lack of supply coming onto the market. As an expat looking to invest in a UK buy-to-let property, there are a few things to be aware of in the current marketplace.

“Over the last few years, much of the growth in house prices is being driven by the North. In particular, Liverpool and Manchester – two cities which are really head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to investment prospects” says Stuart Marshall. “Liverpool is currently experiencing the fastest rate of house price growth in 15 years with prices up 6.3% compared to the same point last year. Unsurprisingly, Manchester is also delivering fast price growth, up 6% from this time last year.”

“Wales continues to improve as an investment prospect with its countrywide growth rate up 5.4% from January 2020. This is no doubt driven by the massive growth of major cities like Cardiff, which continue to perform well for buy-to-let purposes and are increasingly popular for expat buy-to-let investors. The improved popularity of the ‘staycation’ is also partly to thank for Wales’ promising growth as more people have started to explore living in coastal and more rural areas, and Wales has many features which really suits their wish list.”

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Where are the Hottest Regions for Investment?

“The North. The North. The North. This is what we see day in, day out at Liquid Expat Mortgages. We’ve been really singing the praises of Northern investment for a number of years now and, more and more, the figures are really showing this to be sound advice.”

In the North East, North West and Yorkshire and Humber, price growth is at a 10-year high – the highest rate since before the global financial crash (an annual rise between 3.8% and 5.4%). This rapid rise in prices is increasingly encouraged by the affordability of property in these areas – a factor that is hindering growth in Southern regions. Though London is also seeing growth – 2.9% compared to January 2020 – it pales in comparison to other investment hotspots across the country, plus entry prices are a lot higher and so can be prohibitive for a lot of investors.

The Picture for Expats Looking to Invest.

“For expats looking to invest in buy-to-let property, eyes should be looking toward the regions mentioned above. Not only are properties in these areas far more affordable than other popular areas of the UK, but prices are projected to continue growing and rental yields are also high. For expats, buying now could mean strong profits from renting your property – as consumer demand is incredibly high in Northern hotspots like Manchester and Liverpool – and good financial gains when you come to sell the property as its likely to appreciate.”

“For those expats willing to wait to invest, the near future could hold even better investment prospects. Currently, market conditions created in 2020 look set to continue through the start of 2021. This means that the number of homes available is low and demand for them is high, resulting in higher prices. But, despite a strong start to 2021, prices are still projected to slow to 1% growth by the end of 2021. For those expats who are in no rush to buy, buying in a less competitive marketplace could make all the difference for the quality of your investment.”

In the aftermath of Brexit, expat buy-to-let investors were able to capitalise on a weak pound, low confidence from domestic consumers and political instability in the UK. It’s possible that we could again see a similar set of circumstances in the coming months, as initiatives like the UK’s furlough and self-employment income support schemes come to an end. As more homes come onto the market and new buyers become reluctant to buy or invest – or even pull out of proposed opportunities – the opportunity to pick up a great deal will become more common for discerning UK expat investors.

“It’s really important to adopt a holistic view of the situation – both of the UK housing market in general and of your specific circumstances as an investor. Often, prospective investors can be too close to the situation to really take stock of their needs and what they want out of their investment. This is where an expert broker comes in as we’re able to assess your overall objectives and marry them to the right type of expat mortgage product.”

Source: Ein News

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2021 UK Property Market Outlook for Overseas Investors

Generally, the UK is considered to be a very good place for Property Investors seeking buy to let properties, but changes to regulations and the property market can affect whether it is the right time to buy UK property. Covid-19 and Brexit have had a big impact on the UK economy and the property market, so if you are a British Expat or Foreign Investor looking to buy property in the UK, you should find this information useful.

Are UK Property Prices Good Value?

Following the outbreak of Covid-19 the UK property market has experienced a big shift in house prices, with the market bouncing back after the UK’s first lockdown and reaching a record high for house prices. Indeed, UK House Prices grew at their fastest rate since 2015 in November and indeed this trend is expected to continue with a very promising start expected for beginning of 2021.

Of course, high prices are not ideal for property investors, however property experts are predicting prices to reduce over coming months. One significant factor in this will be that the stamp duty holiday introduced by the UK government will expire in March 2021.

When compared to other countries, the UK has a very good rental market, with a lot of demand for renting property. Interestingly, one of the big trends that emerged from post-lockdown property searches was that more people were looking to move away from the city, to quieter areas with more space.

Investment Opportunities for Overseas Landlords

From a property investment perspective, if people are moving out of the city and looking to buy property in the suburbs, this will potentially mean that more properties close to the city centres will go up for sale. Usually, these are the areas that property investors are looking to rent out, either for students attending the local universities or young professionals who work in the city. So, this could mean that once the house prices settle, more houses in the types of areas that are perfect for landlords would be available at good value.

The other big factor that will affect the UK property market is that mortgage lending criteria has become stricter due to the economic situation, which means those people who might have been looking to buy their own property might have to rent until the economy becomes more stable again. This of course, means that there are further opportunities for landlords, with rental demand remaining high for the foreseeable future.

Unemployment rates have been increasing throughout 2020 due to the health pandemic and the job market is looking increasingly challenging, especially with the government’s furlough scheme due to end in March, at which time companies may be forced to make redundancies. So, it is going to be harder for a lot of people to get their own residential mortgage than it would have been a year ago, before the impact of Covid-19 took hold.

Is a UK Property Crash Likely?

Initially, a lot of property experts were expecting a significant crash after the mini boom after lockdown, when sales started to go through again. The introduction of the stamp duty holiday has helped the property market to stay buoyant, with lots of sales going through but when the stamp duty holiday ends, sales are likely to slow down at this point.

However, with the Covid-19 vaccine having started to be rolled out, there is a more positive expectation for the property market for 2021 and beyond, so investing now should not see any drastic house value crashes. Property investment is most successful for those looking for long-term investments, so as long as there is the demand to live in rented properties, buying investment property in the UK is still very attractive opportunity right now.

Student Housing Demand

Landlords, and potential landlords, have been wary about the impact of Covid-19 on students applying courses and living in student housing. Perhaps surprisingly, there was an increase in the number of UCAS applications for undergraduate courses for the academic year of 2020/21.

When universities re-opened in September and October, the UK news was filled with updates regarding the high numbers of Covid-19 infections throughout the student population. Many students also complained about paying course fees when much of their course had to be delivered online.

Universities have been worrying about the impact on applications for the next academic year but with the vaccine expected to be available for the majority of the UK population before the new term, this should give students confidence in the university experience they will receive in the next academic year.

Another interesting factor regarding student applications is that there was a 9% increase in international student applications in 2020, as announced by UCAS. So, student applications were actually at an all-time high, despite the UK lockdown and with so many foreign students looking to study at UK universities, demand for student accommodation should remain high.

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The impact of Brexit on students

There was a noticeable drop in EU undergraduates for 2020-21, which was largely attributed to the uncertainty of Brexit. As of 1 January 2021, students from the EU will require a study visa to attend a university in the UK, which could result in lower numbers of students coming from the EU this academic year. However, the numbers of students coming from China, India, the US, Hong Kong, Malaysia and many other non-EU countries has been rising in recent years.

This gives confidence to Overseas Landlords & Property Investors who are looking at renting property out to students and now that the vaccine has started to be rolled out to the UK population and also around the world, this should provide additional confidence that there will be a lot of demand for student accommodation for the foreseeable future. The UK remains a very attractive option for international students, with many UK universities having very good reputations around the world.

Demand for UK Rental Properties

We mentioned earlier that stricter lending criteria will be a barrier for many people who were hoping to get onto the property ladder in the near future. The UK mortgage industry had to adapt quickly to take into account the impact of furlough arrangements, where potential borrowers had their salary reduced by 20%.

Mortgage Lenders adjusted their criteria to manage the risks of furloughed workers not being able to afford their mortgage payments and also to try and mitigate the risk of many furloughed workers later being made redundant. 

Mortgage lenders have also had to provide payment holidays to their current mortgage holders, as directed to do by the government, so lenders have had a lot of new challenges to face in 2020 and are constantly working on setting out the best approach to lending criteria going forward.

The Bank of England revealed in August that the number of mortgage approvals in 2020 stood at 418,000 compared to 524,000 for the same period in the year previous. It is expected that the higher levels of unemployment and other economical factors in the UK will result in a reduction of approved mortgages in 2021.

This scenario can be advantageous for Expat & Foreign Property Investors because mortgage lenders will be looking to lend to applicants that are more likely to be able to afford to pay their mortgage. Unlike many industries such as hospitality that has been devasted by lockdown restrictions, property investors will often be deemed to be lower risk to lenders, as they have financial stability and different income streams.

UK Mortgages for Expat or Foreign Investors

While many mortgage lenders are tightening their lending criteria, using a Specialist Expat or Foreign Investor Mortgage Broker will help to find a good mortgage deal that will enable investors to expand their property portfolio in the UK.

Expat Mortgages UK are a whole-of-market broker that has access to every single mortgage deal on the market, which enables us to find our clients the best possible deal at the most attractive interest rate. Our experience and specialism in this sector also bring benefits such as working through the challenges of being a non-UK resident.

We work with a wide range of property investors from around the world and even if they have little or no UK credit history and their income is in foreign currency, we are still able to find the right mortgage solution to help them to succeed in buying UK investment or residential properties.

Foreign investors often struggle to obtain mortgages in the UK but at Expat Mortgages UK, we work with lenders who will take on this risk and we will help you to complete the application, so that it goes as smoothly as possible.

Our expertise will also help to ensure there are no unnecessary delays that can result in missing out on a property, so contact us today and we can get started on your foreign investor mortgage application.

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