Regional Focus_ Spotlight on the North East

In our recent blog post, The Changing Nature of the Buy to Let Market, I made reference to the interesting opportunity the North East presents. The 2008 financial crisis hit the North East particularly hard and unlike large parts of the rest of the country, it has not yet recovered from it. For example, as part…

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The Changing Nature of the Buy to Let Market

There was a time when the buy to let market was the only sensible strategy for any property investor to follow. However, during the last year or two, there has been considerably more to take into consideration. The news of the demise of buy to let may be over exaggerated but as you can see,…

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Serviced Accommodation_ When Being Flexible Pays Off!

Recent and ongoing changes to taxation around buy to let properties have been well documented. In the light of these changes, our focus has been to identify opportunities where we can vastly improve our yield by moving away from a traditional buy to let to Serviced Accommodation. According to Savills, serviced accommodation comprises just 3.1% of…

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6 Month Property Update -Off to a flying start!

This is our first 6 month update; the first half of the year has proved to be both busy and challenging. We have successfully executed a number of projects that have contributed to our investors return on investment and despite the uncertainty in the economy, deals are still out there. 6 Month Property Deal Update…

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Buying at Auction

In the UK, TV programmes including Homes Under the Hammer have made buying property at auction seem very accessible to the general public. It is definitely a route that aspiring property investors should consider, but it is not without its pitfalls. For every investor that snags a bargain, there are probably four or five who make…

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How to add £2 of value for every £1 invested in home improvements

Which home improvement adds the most value to your property? Everyone always ask the same question. In my opinion, the best person to answer this question is your estate agent. Unsurprisingly, the following are considered the top 3 home improvements that add maximum value. How to Add Value 1. Additional Bedroom Through Loft Conversion Half…

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Now is an ideal time for property investors

According to the latest research from RICs , the national picture for the property market is one summarised by declining property sales and lower low levels of transactions overall. Compared to the Pre- Crash property market of 2008, we are at much lower levels of activity. As property investors, this is an ideal time because it…

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JCT

The Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT)  Minor Works Building Contract is designed for smaller, basic construction projects where the work is relatively straightforward. The current version is officially called The JCT Minor Works Building Contract 2016 and covers works up to £250,000 and is therefore appropriate for most refurbishment projects.  For larger renovation type projects, either the JCT…

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Buy to flip

From an investor’s perspective, the residential property market changed fundamentally when Stamp Duty  for second homes was increased in 2016.  The Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) took effect from 1st April 2016. Whilst property investors can build diverse portfolios and are free to use a range of investment approaches now there is more discussion around…

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