Is buy-to-let still a sound investment?
With little movement of interest rates and continuing drops in house prices will buy-to-let now be an investment vehicle of the past? With buy-to-let lenders tightening up their lending criteria, house prices continuing to fall and the general lack of confidence caused by the Northern Rock crisis I believe that experienced investors will still continue to buy rental stock, banking on long term capital gains. However first time landlords or landlords with smaller portfolios are finding it harder to fund new rental stock. For the well placed landlord that has the correct gearing on their portfolio it is still a time to hunt for the next opportunity! There will always be risks involved in any business or investment. For example your investment can rise or fall in value and property is clearly no different. You therefore just need to ensure that you minimise potential risks. In the past I’ve used several methods to minimise risk to my own investment portfolio. These include: Ensure the mortgage is between 80% - 85% of the property’s value. Every time your mortgage is due for renewal try to release equity. This ensures that your rent covers your operating payments and expenses. Start building a fund by putting this money to one side. Therefore if you have sudden repair bills or a vacant property you have money to fall back on. Always keep your property well maintained. If the rental market in your area suddenly changes pace the up together properties will rent much quicker. Always ensure you have a tenancy agreement in place, as this will protect you any your property. Widen the range of tenants you agree to let your property to. You may find that council tenants are able to top up rent monies by their own means, giving you the rent you have always achieved. Areas which attracts students also attracts higher rents. Wear and tear may be slightly higher, but at least the monthly repayments are being met. When increasing your portfolio look for properties that can add to the overall yield of your whole portfolio, ensuring your investments stay balanced. For example try to buy property in disrepair. Once renovated your equity should have increased, which in turn would increase your property portfolio’s yield. More recently overseas property investment has become a trend with investors searching for the next property hotspot to invest in. Things to consider when looking for your next investment whether here or abroad include: How easy is it to get to the property? Can you keep an eye on the property if it remains empty for a period of time? Will the property be let for the whole year or is the property’s location Summer or Winter orientated? Can you easily maintain the property yourself saving you the cost of employing trades people or does the rental income provide enough cash to pay for unforeseen repairs? Will the property’s location ever fall out of fashion with your intended tenants? Remember holiday hotspots change very quickly! Always ensure your investment has a steady stream of visitors. Even if the U.K buy-to-let is not as buoyant as it has been over the past decade the vehicle for investment is still sound. Ensure you put time into researching your potential investment and prepare yourself for long term capital gains. The online-lettings portal will soon allow for holiday lettings to be uploaded ensuring where ever you or your property is located tenants can always be found.Benjamin Perry CEO of online-lettings.co.uk The Specialist lettings website where you can <a href="http://www.online-lettings.co.uk">rent flats</a> or buy a <a href="http://www.online-lettings.co.uk">Tenancy Agreement</a>
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Real Estate Information on Website
Released on = May 20, 2006, 11:55 pm Industry = Real Estate & Property Knowledge is the key to success in any industry, but especially in the real estate field. If you know some simple techniques, you can buy all kinds of valuable homes and properties with no money down. While many Indian have experienced the thrill of selling a home for a large profit, few know they can buy and sell many homes every year without access to big investment funds. Understanding the methods for purchasing property without a down payment enables average people to buy and sell homes on a continuing basis. Life, property, etc., are both precious and fragile, which need to be protected as well as to be flourished. It is at such times that one realizes the necessity and value of property. Onlineghar.com is the first dedicated Indian property portal which has been set up to guide and regulate the national property industry, with the intention of setting standards and protecting consumers Onlineghar.com is the leading web site for connecting buyers and sellers of Indian property, featuring almost 75,000 properties throughout India from over 400 independent agents. Onlineghar.comis a privately owned company with offices in North India. Its web site consists of the largest single collection of properties and estate agents in India, with over 200,000 unique visitors every month. The company is not affiliated with any promoter, property developer or estate agent and receives no commission on property sales or rentals. As Mr. Mahajan, Managing Director commented, “Since its inception in 2005, onlineghar.com has differentiated itself by de-mystifying the property market in India and presenting factual, useful information to those interested in purchasing or renting there. To assist people when researching the Indian property market, onlineghar.com contains current and useful data about Indian property on their website. Their distinctive position as an impartial resource means that they are uniquely positioned to provide price trend information for different types of Indian property and to highlight up-and-coming towns throughout India.For listings of real estate auctions, please visit http://www.onlineghar.com/ (India Property Portal) <a href="http://www.onlineghar.com/">OnlineGhar.com - A complete Property Portal </a>
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