Property Investment 2009 Property Secrets en-uk http://www.propertysecrets.net Property Investment Information You Profit From http://www.propertysecrets.net/images/pslogolarge.png http://www.propertysecrets.net 100 72 http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/where_next_for_interest_rates_and_for_property_investment/2632.html At least one Property Secrets forum poster believes interest rates in the UK will rise to 10% at some point in the next three years - although he doesn't say how long they will remain at that level! So, what might the economic and interest rate landscape look like and what should property investors do? Should property investors plan for 10% interest rates? And if not, then what? At least one Property Secrets forum poster believes interest rates in the UK will rise to 10% at some point in the next three years - although he doesn't say how long they will remain at that level! http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/sales_taking_place_resales_in_polish_and_cee_property_market_update_june_09/2631.html So far in 2009 across Poland, Czech and Slovakia viewings by the local market looking to purchase our investors units slowed but did not freeze and working with a range of partners we have been able to close a number of successful sales. What were the results...? By Maria-Jose Morote+44 (0)1270 539 582www.i-PropertyAssets.comi-PA Asset Disposal Manager So far in 2009 across Poland, Czech and Slovakia viewings by the local market looking to purchase our investors units slowed but did not freeze and working with a range of partners we have been able to close a number of successful sales http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/uk_mortgage_update_whats_on_offer_now/2626.html In this economic climate, a month is a long time - that's why we constantly monitor and assess what mortgage products are on the market... By Tony Booth In this economic climate, a month is a long time - and since the last mortgage product review in May, things have certainly changed in the marketplace. If there is one single message to be gleaned from this month's product update, it's that rates for some of the most popular and most advantageous loans are heading upwards. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/uk_property_south_leading_recovery_in_2009_the_year_of_the_deal/2624.html The UK's economic success locations are where to invest - not just places where it seems dirt cheap... By Robin Bowman Latest data from Rightmove suggest UK house prices dropped back slightly in June after four months of rises. The fall is mainly attributable to the continuing dearth of mortgages and increased supply The figures show a 0.4 per cent fall in prices during the month, following a 2.4 per cent rise in asking prices the previous month. Housing stock for sale is up 10 per cent, but still remains tight with some areas having seen a 40 per cent drop in property for sale in the last year. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/5_reasons_why_uk_investors_should_consider_buying_now/2617.html Tony Booth outlines a fairly compelling case for jumping right back into the UK property market - whether it's bottomed or not... By Tony Booth The UK Gravy-Train may not have left the station yet, but recent statistics and most commentators believe the engines have started up and it's getting ready to move. The credit crunch and collapse of the housing market have caused property investors to become mulishly ultra-cautious. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/hmo_landlords_get_licensed_or_risk_getting_hit_for_thousands/2616.html There's no getting round the new rules on HMO licensing. If you don't, legal action from the local authority may be just the start of your costs. By Tony Booth As the credit-crunch continues, being a landlord has probably never been more challenging. Despite this, the buy-to-let market remains relatively stable. Even so, it's reasonable to assume that worries about finance and recession might cause some landlords to take their eye off the ball - and fall foul of the law as a direct result. Take the case of HMO (house in multiple occupation) licensing and the repercussions of failing to comply with this onerous slice of bureaucratic legislation. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/buy_to_let_round_up_a_must_read_for_all_landlords_and_property_investors/2613.html Big events are happening in the UK's Buy To Let sector - here's a rules and regulations round up from our expert... By Tony Booth With so much happening in the political and economic arenas, it's easy to miss some of the less dramatic, but nonetheless important developments occurring in the buy-to-let sector. The following pieces of information are pertinent to all landlords letting property in the UK. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/uk_property_market_more_evidence_of_a_recoverymaybe/2611.html The latest evidence that the property market may be bottoming out comes from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors... By Robin Bowman We've been cautious about calling a bottom to the UK property market, but the latest piece of evidence, this time from RICS, strongly supports those who think the market has reached its low point. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/subsidence_how_to_spot_it_and_how_to_stop_it/2609.html The bane of any house owners life - subsidence. David Lawrenson explains what you can do about it... We've had a lot of hits to the Property Secrets website over the last few weeks from people searching for advice on subsidence, presumably because of the hot and dry spell we had all too briefly! With this in mind, we revisit a superb article on the subject. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/uk_property_prices_leap_26_in_may_so_is_the_market_on_the_turn/2606.html House price rises in a market downturn always come with a warning that they are only one month's figures - even so, all the indices are in agreement, so is it different this time? By Robin Bowman The first thing to point out is that these are only asking prices - not transaction prices. Even so, a rise of 2.4 per cent on the month, as revealed in the Halifax index today has to be significant, backed as it is by a rise - albeit a more modest one - recorded earlier by the Nationwide's index, plus Rightmove's, which matched the Nationwide's 2.4 per cent figure. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/finance_watch/enjoy_the_heatwave_black_clouds_are_gathering/post-346.html By Nigel Hodges of Currency Solutions As most of the UK bakes in the sun, the global economy has remained under a black cloud this week after the release of yet more negative economic data. Recovery in the wider economy seems as far off as ever with market confidence taking a knock this week. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/under_the_hammer/its_july_and_were_back_on_time_back_on_budget/post-345.html The pickings get increasingly thin at this time of year, as the property world slows down for the summer. However, there are still plenty of interesting lots around for your consideration and delectation. Today, we have... http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/finance_watch/is_the_recession_bottoming_out_hmmm_maybe_our_weekly_round_up_of_economic_and_currency_news/post-344.html While Wimbledon has dominated the sports pages, the Federal Reserve has held the financial pages to ransom this week as investors prepositioned themselves for, and digested results of the US interest rate decision. With the Fed failing to either raise rates or commit more funds to quantitative easing, currency exchange rates ended up little changed, as markets sighed a collective "hmmmm" and contemplated recovery prospects in the global economy. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/finance_watch/lending_leap_uk_mortgage_lending_jumps_in_may_to_13month_high_but_weakness_in_the_market_continues/post-343.html The number of mortgages approved in May hit a 13-month high, figures as buyers return to the market, figures from the British Bankers' Association reveal. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/finance_watch/is_sterlings_reign_as_king_of_the_currencies_coming_to_an_end/post-342.html This week has had something of a regal theme with the opening of Royal Ascot, Murray cementing himself as King of the Queen's tournament and even Bruno, the "world's most famous Austrian" donning Beefeater garb in London last night. However while the pound has had the reign of currency markets recently, this may be coming to an end with economists predicting a downturn in risk appetite. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/under_the_hammer/the_summer_is_usually_a_quiet_time_for_auctions_but_there_are_still_some_peach_investments_around/post-341.html We're entering into the quiet summer months for auctions, so there won't be a lot of activity from now until September (though this can be a great time to buy, as your competition melts away). http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/finance_watch/the_comeback_kids_the_pound_and_the_ozzie_dollar_become_the_currencies_of_choice_when_risk_appetite_rises/post-340.html This week Sir Alan Sugar has a new apprentice and a new role, appointed by Gordon Brown - who only narrowly avoided being fired himself - as the UK's new "enterprise tsar". The UK has triumphed over the euro, and not just Andorra either, with the pound surging to its best exchange rate in 2009 against the single currency. And while currency rates have climbed, so too have the value of Ronaldo and Kaka, with the two footballers reportedly signing to Real Madrid for GBP80 million and GBP59 million respectively this week. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/finance_watch/uk_lending_rises_strongly_again_in_april_but_firsttime_buyers_are_in_short_supply/post-339.html Take up of fixed-rate mortgages increased further as the interest rate cycle has now reached its floor, according to new data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/finance_watch/rays_of_hope_push_sterling_higher_before_politics_knock_it_back/post-338.html By Nigel Hodges of Currency Solutions As the UK moves into the first days of summer, this week has been one of extremities. While temperatures soared across Britain, so too did the pound against the US dollar, touching on a seven-month high against the greenback. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/psonproperty/where_the_uk_is_being_hit_hardest_by_recession_and_what_this_tells_the_property_investor/post-337.html There's been much talk about how this UK recession is different in that it is financial services and ancillary services that have been hit the hardest - consequently it is the south east that is taking the brunt of the economic pain.