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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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