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International investors clambering for UK property amidst global uncertainty

COVID-19 cases might be steadily decreasing, though this does not mean we have overcome all of the fundamental challenges posed by this global pandemic. Market uncertainty has made it difficult for investors to plan for the future. While it looks as though we are on the path to recovery, there is nothing to suggest a second spike in infections is completely off the table.

What’s more, we are only beginning to realise the economic ramifications of the coronavirus.

It seems as though the majority of the world’s major economies will stay in a recession for at least the rest of 2020. GDP levels in advanced economies are expected to remain around 3-4% lower than their pre-pandemic projections until at least 2025, according to a Fitch Ratings report.

As such, investors are seeking ways to hedge against this forecast by gravitating towards assets which have historically been able to deliver stable returns and quick recoveries from sudden downturns. In the UK, this has translated into an incredible spike in overseas demand for UK property.

Overseas interest in UK property

While housing in the UK has long-attracted international demand, previously it had mainly been concentrated in the capital; specifically, Prime Central London (PCL) property. However, recently, estate agencies are reporting a surge in interest from Hong Kong buyers in buy-to-let properties in the North of England.

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This is not to say that COVID-19 has damped international demand for London property. To the contrary, Beauchamp Estates recently reported that they had assisted with $374 million worth of investment into PCL housing from Chinese and Hong Kong residents between December 2019 and June 2020; representing 20% of all property transactions worth above £10 million in the capital.

Additionally, estate agent Dexters revealed that PCL sales for properties worth over £2 million between mid-June and mid-August were 85% higher than during the same period a year prior. This incredible uptick in demand demonstrates how UK property is seen as a safe and secure asset in times of uncertainty across the globe. Dexters also reported that the majority of these transactions were by cash buyers in Hong Kong, Singapore, the UAE, the US, Italy and India.

Why are overseas investors clambering for UK property?

As well as UK property’s historical positive performance, there are three additional benefits for international investors at present.

Firstly, the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday on the first £500,000 on all property sales across England and Northern Ireland provides substantial discounts compared to previous years. Non-UK-resident buyers can now save as much as £15,000 in SDLT through this tax holiday.

Already, the tax break is having a noticeable impact on the housing market. The first national House Price Index to be released after the introduction of the SDLT holiday revealed an annual price growth of 1.5%.

Secondly, the SDLT overseas-buyer 2% surcharge is due to be implemented from April 2021. Acting now, before the above holiday ends and this additional added cost is introduced, allows for substantial SDLT savings.

Finally, the economic and financial stability of the UK provides many an escape from market volatility they may be experiencing in their own jurisdiction. London in particular is recognised as a global financial capital and bustling cosmopolitan centre, allowing buyers easy access to both further investment opportunities and the luxury lifestyle benefits the capital city can provide.

Property in a time of uncertainty

As 2020 continues and the COVID-19 pandemic plays out, it’s likely that the level of foreign buyer interest in UK property will continue to steadily increase. Overseas investors are becoming more aware of the prime property investment opportunities across the UK.

From a recovery standpoint, this influx of foreign capital is helping to reignite the property market, encouraging buyers and sellers who initially retreated following the introduction of lockdown measures to make a steady return. Supported by the SDLT holiday, this will be vital in supporting the UK’s post-pandemic economic recovery.

BY RYAN BEMBRIDGE

Source: Property Wire

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London is still calling to international investors

With flights grounded and uncertainty hanging over the global economy, it would be easy to think that foreign buyers have paused their activities in London’s property market.

Yet despite the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, deals are still being done. As a buying agent for overseas investors, we’ve exchanged on several prime residential properties and a commercial unit in the capital since the lockdown was introduced.

Like many businesses, my team at PSS London – a property consultancy firm dedicated to securing both residential and commercial opportunities – has had to close its offices in London and Istanbul during this period. But we have made the most out of a tricky situation by attending industry webinars and running Zoom meetings between clients, solicitors and bankers.

Since Britain entered lockdown, we have been hitting the phones every day to give our clients market updates and to keep them informed about the London property market, both in terms of its housing market and its commercial one. Given many of my clients are thousands of miles away and unable to travel to London any time soon, feeding them the right information and keeping their trust has been more important than ever before.

Even with all the current unknowns, if clients trust you and know you are bringing them a good deal, they are often happy to press ahead with their plans

Even with all the current unknowns, if clients trust you and know you are bringing them a good deal, then they are often happy to press ahead with their plans.

To find out more about how we can assist you with your Expat Mortgage requirements, please click here to get in touch

In fact, we think that this period is a great time to negotiate a deal. Buyers that we are advising now have the full attention of many developers that are bringing new-build homes to market. Before this crisis, many senior management teams were too busy to fit in meetings with clients, but we can often get them involved now as they have more time and everybody is desperate to do some deal-making.

Looking forward, in the residential market I think there will be a ‘discovery’ stage where both buyers and sellers will wait and collect more information before working out where they stand on pricing.

Blockbuster deals

In recent years, we’ve completed some blockbuster deals in London’s residential market, from units at One Tower Bridge to apartments at 199 The Knightsbridge.

I believe this fundamental demand we have seen in the past is not going away. Buyers remain financially buoyant and there will be a real eagerness to snatch up a great investment opportunity.

As an agency business that looks after overseas investors, our position will remain the same over the coming three to four months: we will continue to actively promote deals remotely until international flights operate as normal and the universities are fully open in the UK.

It is not just the residential markets where there are bargains to be found. One of the biggest opportunities coming out of this crisis will be in London’s commercial property sector. We are expecting investment volumes in this space to fall to the kind of levels that we have not seen since the financial crash of 2008.

However, there will be fewer corporate buyers on the market, and this will create good opportunities for individual buyers and family offices. Clients will not need to compete against as many pension funds when trying to buy assets and there will be more time to digest and analyse the commercial deals coming through the process.

Sectors that were under pressure prior to the current crisis will remain under pressure, and we do expect to see more bank-led sales of retail assets as distress on the high street continues to mount.

Having in-depth expertise in the UK’s commercial property market is crucial, especially as values at the moment are difficult to determine. We are regularly updating our clients with new listings that have the potential to generate high returns on investment, whether small retail units or larger mixed-use blocks.

Commercial prestige

In 2012, we acted for a private investor who snapped up a trophy virtual freehold retail unit at London’s exclusive One Hyde Park development (pictured). This was resold in 2019 with a healthy profit. We’ve also acted on two large commercial deals in nearby Mayfair, both for circa £40m, in 2017 and 2018 respectively. These sorts of deals don’t come around every day, but with London still viewed as one of the world’s safest and most popular cities, we’re expecting famed districts such as Knightsbridge to keep their commercial prestige in spite of the current volatility.

It has undoubtedly been a tough few months for real estate. But we should not forget that the lockdown was introduced shortly after the news that Britain was definitely leaving the EU following the government’s decisive election victory. The election result meant we were all hoping for and expecting a good recovery in the property sector.

Unfortunately, this pick-up didn’t really happen, and just as we hoped for activity to return to the market, the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted all parts of the global economy. But after almost four years of Brexit-related uncertainty, many buyers and sellers are fed up of sitting on the fence. Lots of them are already near to closing deals and securing opportunities. It is still going to be a time-consuming process, but the motivation is there.

Information is everything. As the UK government gradually starts to ease lockdown measures, overseas investors will need to be kept in the loop when it comes to mortgage consultation, legal guidance, immigration rules and the general market outlook. Buying agents such as myself will look to use our experience and insight as much as we can.

Despite all the difficulties of the past few months, we at PSS London are coming out of this period with a positive outlook. For overseas investors, London’s fundamentals are as strong as they always have been, whether it’s the education system, the rule of law or even the open green spaces across the capital. There has never been a better time for buyers and their agents to search for new opportunities.

By Emre Bilgin

Source: Property Week