UK property investment high on the list of foreign investors

Investment interest in UK property is spreading out from London

International investors are an increasingly important piece of the UK property investment jigsaw. Not only in London but also in other major UK cities. In fact, news released in the last few days underscores the high regard in which international investors hold the UK for property investment. This doesn’t surprise us at Castlereach, where international investors make up a large part of our investor client base.

UK property investment – a safe haven for Chinese investors

As the Chinese economy is slowing, wealthy investors in China and Hong Kong are looking to foreign shores to invest more safely.

As reported in the South China Morning Post, wealthy investors from Hong Kong view the UK as one of the three top markets in the world for property investment, and in particular are targeting London, which has benefitted from ten years of property price growth that has outstripped the rest of the UK. In and around London, the property market is benefitting from a number factors, including strong population growth and the improving transport links into the city (for example, Crossrail is having a hugely positive effect on outlying commuter towns).

The government backed Northern Powerhouse scheme, and High Speed 2 are helping to spread this positivity surrounding UK property investment to regional cities including, Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool.

Middle East investors looking to the UK

Research led by YouGov has discovered that nearly two-thirds of the wealthiest investors from the UAE are expecting to buy property abroad this year, with London ranked as the joint top location with New York.

While a possible Brexit is a potential worry for foreign investors into the UK, with concerns over economic growth high on the investor’s agenda, a weakening pound is making UK property comparatively cheaper – it’s a two-edged sword that is overall positive for our bank of investors in the Far East and Middle East looking to benefit from the UK’s strong property investment fundamentals.

How we help property developers reach their targets quickly and more profitably

A property developer that works with us has the immediate benefit of an international reach, with marketing to target investors who are actively seeking UK property investment opportunities. We’ll handle tricky negotiations, too, saving the developer both time and money. The developer doesn’t have to take a crash course in the culture of the foreign investor, either: we’re well adjusted to our foreign investors’ cultural customs.

If you’d like to discuss a bespoke off-market strategy to reach a rapidly growing foreign investor bank with specific investment needs, give the team a call on +44 207 923 5680.

Live with Passion,

Brett Alegre-Wood

How property investment seminars benefit developers

The weapon to propel off-plan sales

When we work with a developer and take on a number of units, we’ll already have done a lot of work behind the scenes. Our property investors understand that we have already conducted several rounds of intensive research and due diligence before we agree to offer a developer’s properties to them. So when we run special property investor events, such as property investment seminars, we generally present to packed houses.

However, it’s not only the numbers of investors we attract that benefits developers looking to sell off-plan property. How seminars benefit property developers depends upon the strength of the company running them, and the presentation made to property investors – especially when selling off-plan properties.

Why educational seminars work best

Our educational seminars are specifically aimed at encouraging the property investor to make a purchase. We can combine seminars with our off-market strategy, guaranteeing that you won’t see your properties listed on online portals and sales channels. Our property investors know that when they attend a property investment seminar, they’ll be shown exclusive deals. But we give them so much more, which reflects on the property developer with whom we’re working.

Here’s how property investment seminars benefit developers:

·      We present the latest up-to-date research

Taking a top down approach, we help property investors understand the macroeconomic environment and then drill down into the fundamentals that make the location offering not only strongly viable, but also unique in the market place.

Our research teams cut through the data and noise surrounding the investment and produce in-depth analysis concerning the market today and going forward.

·      We offer help in the process of property investment

We’ll offer a helping hand by explaining the benefits of investing in off-plan property and how it differs to investing in previously owned homes. We talk about houses versus apartments and target tenants. We’ll also have experts on hand, with decades of experience in every facet of property investing.

·      We provide local knowledge second to none

As we drill down to local markets and issues, we’ll discuss the demographics and local fundamentals that make the area a strong buy and great long-term investment.

·      We offer the chance to network with other investors

One of the most important aspects of our seminars is the chance for new beginner investors to meet with other, more experienced investors, who have already benefitted from our approach. They know our incredible track record, and help our educational seminar sales by reinforcing this.

·      Finally, we provide the gateway to investment

By the end of the seminar, we get to the point where we really answer the question new investors will be asking: how property investment seminars benefit developers. We become the natural gateway for the property investor to buy off-plan property from the property developer.

To discuss marketing strategies that really sell, and to reach our rapidly growing investor base, contact Castlereach today or call the team on +44 207 923 5680.

Live with Passion,

Brett Alegre-Wood

6 steps to successfully launching off-plan property sales

Creating an off-plan property sales strategy that you can rinse and repeat

The success of a development project often depends on upon its off-plan property sales numbers. This gets the ball rolling, as it were, introduces real cash flow into the project, and helps to finance the ongoing work that needs to be done to see outcomes met and the project completed on time and within budget.

An off-plan property sales strategy that is designed specifically for launching off-plan property sales is the key to a strong, solid opening and seeing further sales follow through. When you plan your launch with an experienced partner, the sales numbers will increase accordingly. Having executed successfully, embed the process into your sales regime and you’ll find it is easy to rinse and repeat and stay within marketing budgets.

The secret formula for launching off-plan property sales

In reality, marketing starts before even laying the first brick. A successful off-plan property sales strategy begins in the very early stages of the development process. From there, the off-plan property sales launch has a known lifecycle:

1.     Meet the needs of the local market

Imagine how NASA approaches a rocket launch. It doesn’t simply build the rocket, load it with a few astronauts and press the red button. The first thing that happens comes way before the rocket is designed: NASA assesses the need for the launch and how it can best meet that need.

Think about marketing before you develop. This necessitates knowing the local market, what housing needs there are, and the likely demand for each type of home built. This is the first step in ensuring that there will be strong investor demand and that off-plan property sales are received positively by awaiting property investors.

2.     Send the right marketing message

By linking the marketing message to local market needs, you’ll remove confusion. Off-plan property sales need to be positioned correctly so that the property investor knows what is being bought and that the property he or she is buying meets the needs of the local market – in other words, it is rentable.

A strong, clear marketing message communicates the very real value of the development to property investors with a strategy that takes advantage of off-plan property sales.

3.     Set goals for off-plan property sales

Have a clear target for sales numbers, and build the off-plan property sales strategy around these objectives. This will help to develop marketing methods and keep your campaign on track. Don’t forget that a sales partner should have the capability to capture details of prospects and then onward market to them post-sales events.

4.     Leverage the power of sales partners

Choose your strategic partners carefully, selecting those with a great track record and active base of property investor clients. These are assets that can be leveraged to provide maximum value added to off-plan property sales. Ideally, your partners will also demonstrate the ability to reach out further, with their own strategic partnerships that multiply the power of the direct leverage.

5.     Pre-market selectively and subtly

By this stage of your off-plan property sales strategy, you will have almost everything in place to ensure objectives are at least met. This penultimate step is about creating buzz. Involve sales teams, partners and press to begin the process of subtle marketing. Place strategic and discreet publicity, and be selective in what details you digress and to whom. The idea is to create just enough interest to whet appetites and maintain curiosity.

6.     Time the off-plan property sales launch

Timing is important. Take care to avoid big events that may divert interest, public and religious holidays, and customary holiday periods. Consider your target market, and ensure that the launch will create only good feedback.

As an example of an event that might form part of your off-plan property sales strategy, you might decide to launch at an educational property investment seminar, presented to a select audience of property investors. This can provide the feeling of elitism, which will guarantee positive public promotion of the development: and that is advertising that money can’t buy.

The off-plan property sales strategy is a process, not an event

Setting goals for off-plan property sales and achieving them is a process, not a single event. While the outside world may believe the launch to be the fanfare of publicity, the truth is that a successful off-plan property sales strategy is a carefully orchestrated process, building steadily to the crescendo that guarantees sales.

To discuss marketing strategies that sell, and to reach our rapidly growing investor base, give the team a call on +44 207 923 5680.

Live with Passion,

Brett Alegre-Wood

Asian Exhibitions are too Hit and Miss now!

We are hearing it all the time now “Asian Exhibitions are too Hit and Miss now! They are too costly and provide no certainty of sales!”

If you’re looking to market into the main Asian marketplaces you could be in for a hefty bill will little result.

The Asian exhibition market used to be a certainty and sales could almost be counted on as the UK was still in the grips of recession. However with Asian markets and investors becoming more cautious the certainty has waned.

Singapore has been hit particularly hard from the TDSR (Total Debt Service Ratio) which limits the amount of debt allowed on both Singapore and overseas property. Add to this the currency fluctuations and the uncertainty of the UK election and you can understand why things have been shaky.

Hong Kong (with its mainland Chinese investors) has also slowed in part due to the looming threat of interest rate increases and Chinese Government Anti-graft measures.

However despite all this the market remains strong and as always good property, priced well will sell.

The most important thing to note is that investors in Asia now know what to expect, many own multiple properties and they will very quickly pick up on potential problems with a development being marketed at exhibition.

So how do Castlereach ensure that you get the sales you want from your exhibition?

1. The answer is that we already have the buyers lined up, through our existing database of over 50,000 active investors.
2. Our dedicated telesales teams are already in relationship with those very investors who will be buying your property.
3. We continuously follow up and nurture well past the exhibition.

Whether you choose to use Castlereach for your exhibition or not we can piggyback either before or after your exhibition, securing off-market sales that won’t compete with your efforts.

Give the team a call on +44 207 923 5680 and we can explain in detail how we can help you get Guaranteed sales for your New Build Developments.