
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