Introduction In every industry, the Global health Crisis we are facing due to Covid-19 is creating huge unforeseen uncertainty, challenge and distress. The residential property market is no different. It’s clear that cash flow and liquidity will define both opportunities and challenges over the coming year, and that we collectively know less than we thought we did about these. One opportunity we must all take is the opportunity to reflect, review and adapt how we approach investing. Arguably, the most valuable commodity in property investment at the moment is not oil (an idea that seems rather old fashioned now!), or data, but certainty. If you’re not certain or confident that your strategy is going to work going forward then it’s vital to adapt in a way that is considered and strategic, rather than erratic or emotionally-driven. If you know you... [Read More]

An interview with Andrew Montlake, director at Coreco, a London-based mortgage brokerage and owner of Monty’s Mortgage Blog.  We’d also recommend checking out Andrew’s latest commentary for our 2020 forecast blog post… (1) For those that don’t know much about you, can you give us a little bit of background of your own experience and also what you do at Coreco? I started in the mortgage industry at John Charcol in 1994 where I worked my way up from an administrator to a senior broker. After 7 years I left to join a new company called Cobalt Capital, where as well as broking I developed the brand, marketing and PR. In the aftermath of the credit crisis, we all got made redundant and a few of us founded Coreco in 2009. Here I invented the brand and grew this as Head of PR... [Read More]

Are you looking to invest in purpose-built student accommodation? It can be an extremely lucrative venture as long as you choose the right property in a prime location. This will ensure that you generate a significant amount of interest from students, while also benefiting from high rental yields, generous rental returns, as well as the potential for capital appreciation. Take a look these top destinations, where you could find the most lucrative student real estate on the buy-to-let market. Durham The city of Durham is home to one of the most prestigious universities in the UK and is currently ranked 5th in the University league tables. Attending this academic institution is a dream for many young hopefuls and is the main reason why the area is exceptionally lucrative. Investors can also achieve their goals by investing in purpose-built student accommodation... [Read More]

There’s no doubt that Brexit has caused uncertainty across the UK property market. While some investors are happy to continue investing based on successful past performance, some have taken a more ‘wait-and-see’ approach. However, despite the warnings, the UK economy and the property market have continued to hit new heights. The national GDP grew by 1.8% in 2017 and regional property prices around the country have continued to flourish – Birmingham, for example, has risen by 16% since 2016 and is forecasting further growth by 2022. New-build property is becoming increasingly popular for investors compared to traditional existing stock, demonstrated by 75% of respondents to a recent survey, by FJP Investment, praising the modern features associated with new-builds. In the same way that new-build properties have always been a popular asset type, the UK market has historically been a popular... [Read More]

If you’re in the process of building or renovating a house, the topic on whether to incorporate energy-efficient aspects will surely come up. The added expense, however, will lead you to question whether the investment is worth it. There are numerous benefits in doing so but one of the most attractive reasons builders tell homeowners is that energy efficiency can increase the value of your home.  Of course, who wouldn’t want that? However, many people still question whether this is always the case, so here are some reasons that will explain why implementing energy-efficient methods can increase a home’s value.  The added value of green building features When you’re faced with a quotation of how much will it cost to add energy-efficient features like solar panels or cavity wall insulation, it may give you pause before deciding to go for... [Read More]

Investing in property has always been risky business, however, if done correctly, you can see returns on your property way above the figures you ever expected. The key is investing in low-cost properties in high demand areas, this cancels out most areas immediately surrounding London. The best places to invest in housing at the moment is the North-West, Yorkshire and Scotland, with areas such as Rochdale showing the highest return on investments with an almost 10% return on your investment per year. Invest in Rochdale Houses in Rochdale are not particularly in short supply, either, with over 1000 houses set to be completed in the next 2 years. Such developments include the Hill Top Park development planned by Gleeson. These houses are sold under freehold tenure, which allows you to buy the property outright with no strings attached, making it... [Read More]