Property Investment 2013 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/rental_market_booming_and_buy_to_let_buoyant_for_sought_after_edinburgh_flats_/3077.html Article a3077 1369210858 Wed, 22 May 2013 8:20:58 +0000 Demand remains high in the rentals market for Edinburgh flats, with average rental prices rising and vacant periods continuing to shrink both in frequency and length of individual lapse between vacancy and tenancy. This is especially the case in high-end Edinburgh flats in sought after neighbourhoods such as New Town and Stockbridge, with sustained demand indicating a more diversified source in high standard apartments and flats across the city. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/property_news_wrap/3076.html Article a3076 1369131885 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:24:45 +0000 Property Rent News According to the latest buy-to-let index from LSL Property Services, every region in England and Wales has seen annual rent rises; the first time it's happened since 2011. Average rents in England and Wales are up 3.9 per cent on a year ago. As such, 'the average landlord in England and Wales could expect to make a total annual return of £9,496 per property over the next 12 months'. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/hotspotting_for_capital_growth/3075.html Article a3075 1368694981 Thu, 16 May 2013 9:03:01 +0000 Affordability You can lock in some money by buying low anywhere - forced sales, repossessions etc - but you will probably still want the area to grow above and beyond its immediate neighbours over the next 10 to 15 years. So, for me, the first thing to look for is 'affordability'; an area that's relatively cheap now compared to its neighbours. You're looking for somewhere, to be blunt, that's a little rundown and unloved right now but has some upside that offers catch-up potential with its neighbours. We're currently taking a look at the less attractive parts of west London along the Crossrail route. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/foreign_buyers_helping_to_boost_spanish_property_market/3074.html Article a3074 1368530257 Tue, 14 May 2013 11:17:37 +0000 Some encouraging news about the Spanish property market - foreign investment was up by 17 per cent in 2012 to its highest level since 2004, according to the latest figures from the Bank of Spain. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/is_it_advisable_to_take_on_large_renovation_projects_yourself/3073.html Article a3073 1368454792 Mon, 13 May 2013 2:19:52 +0000 Large DIY projects can seem very tempting if you've done a bit of DIY before and enjoyed it. You get to have a pet project to look forward to working on, and you can have the satisfaction of letting your friends and family know that you were responsible for all the work. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/dubai_the_worlds_second_hottest_housing_market/3072.html Article a3072 1368446468 Mon, 13 May 2013 12:01:08 +0000 Dubai has been ranked the world's second hottest housing market. The emirate's real estate bounced back from financial crash last year, with prices shooting up by 19 per cent, the second highest rise in the world, according to Knight Frank. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/more_btl_borrowers_choosing_fixed_rate_mortgages_/3071.html Article a3071 1368437137 Mon, 13 May 2013 9:25:37 +0000 More buy-to-let landlords are choosing fixed-deal mortgages, says specialist firm TBMC. Landlord borrowers are also going for slightly higher-quantity loans, and their favourite properties are terrace houses and flats. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/maitland_wrap/3070.html Article a3070 1368199459 Fri, 10 May 2013 3:24:19 +0000 What Are You Paying? New TBMC research reveals that average fixed rates have fallen below average variable rates and, as a result, more and more BTL landlords are choosing to fix (41 per cent in Q4 2012 and 48 per cent in Q1 2013). The latest TBMC Landlord Profile Tracking Index puts the average fixed rate in Q1 2013 at 4.48 per cent, down from 4.67 per cent in Q4 2012. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/growing_confidence_in_the_buytolet_market/3069.html Article a3069 1368181233 Fri, 10 May 2013 10:20:33 +0000 Highest level of buy-to-let mortgages per quarter since financial crisisLandlord demand strengthened significantly over past three months'Substantial' increase in number who think availability of finance has improvedIntermediaries are seeing an upsurge in confidence among their buy-to-let landlord clients according to the latest research by Paragon Mortgages. http://www.propertysecrets.net/article/east_london_the_next_investment_hotbed/3068.html Article a3068 1368000981 Wed, 08 May 2013 8:16:21 +0000 Not only has the 2012 Olympics brought the regeneration forward by 20 years in East London, it has breathed new life into every aspect of the culture. Once a trendy place for budding artists, musicians and designers, blogging about how cool the underground art scene is here, with very little else to report other than derelict buildings and rising unemployment rates. Now, we see light at the end of this tunnel, and this light is the most lucrative investment opportunity to come to London for decades. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/currency_solutions/euro_shakey_as_the_eurozone_stays_in_recession/post-1063.html Blog b1063 1369127645 Tue, 21 May 2013 9:14:05 +0000 Last week, it was confirmed that the Eurozone has stayed in recession for another quarter. GDP figures from individual nations all fell short of target, with the overall contraction in the Eurozone economy registering at – 0.2 percent. What did this mean for the Euro? http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/currency_solutions/sterling_falls_short_as_us_dollar_takes_the_lead_/post-1060.html Blog b1060 1368433523 Mon, 13 May 2013 8:25:23 +0000 Overall, the Pound lost out to other major currencies last week. It fell victim to global currency shifts determined by economic news from other nations meaning that we start this week with Sterling on the back foot. Improving unemployment figures from nations as far reaching as the US, Australia and New Zealand wet investors appetites for these other major currencies which strengthened on the Pound. Should you happen to have a property to sell in one of these countries, now could be a great time to fix the rate for the currency exchange back into Sterling whilst these currencies are strong. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/brazil_investment_guide/the_brazilian_property_investment_illusion/post-1057.html Blog b1057 1368026661 Wed, 08 May 2013 3:24:21 +0000 Samy Dana has emerged as one of Brazil´s leading no nonsense consumer watchdog commentators – regularly exposing the real implications of finance mechanisms used by the country´s leading retailers, credit card debt and other unscrupulous practices. See below for his exploration of the countries current property market. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/currency_solutions/great_rates_against_the_us_dollar_as_it_takes_a_dive/post-1056.html Blog b1056 1367943588 Tue, 07 May 2013 4:19:48 +0000 The US Dollar stole headlines last week as it fell against other major currencies in response to the Federal Reserve’s decision to stick with it’s bond buying programme and keep interest rates low in as the US economy struggles to recover. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/czech_point/property_inspections_before_a_purchase/post-1050.html Blog b1050 1367308902 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 8:01:42 +0000 Most buyers of a used car would take it to an independent or trusted mechanic to get checked or at least buy from a dealership with a six month guarantee. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/currency_solutions/pound_finds_new_strength_and_surges_upwards/post-1049.html Blog b1049 1367227437 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 9:23:57 +0000 Following a bleak few weeks for the Pound, which has been losing strength recently in response to the uncertainty around the UK economy, the currency has found new strength. It moved upwards against most major currencies last week, including an impressive 1.61 percent on the US Dollar and 1.74 percent on the Euro. This has allowed it to re-gain recent losses and is great news for any of you who need to transfer Sterling into another currency for your property investments. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/brazil_investment_guide/my_house_my_misery_used_to_describe_low_income_housing_project/post-1047.html Blog b1047 1366880578 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 9:02:58 +0000 I recently came across an interesting post by Edilberto Sena published on the Quarto Poder blog which pointed to a relatively large scaled Minha Casa, Minha Vida project under construction in Santarém, Pará state.  Please see the translation below: http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/currency_solutions/sterling_suffers_in_response_to_downbeat_uk_economy_protect_your_property_investments_from_currency_volatility/post-1044.html Blog b1044 1366626504 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:28:24 +0000 Sterling suffered last week in response to a flow of poor data about the UK economy. It slipped by 0.27 percent against the Euro but lost most significantly against the US Dollar, dropping by 0.73 percent. If any of you have an upcoming transfer from Sterling into any major currency therefore over the next few months, now is an ideal time to get in touch as there is a fair amount of uncertainty ahead about how Sterling will perform. We can work with you to agree a target rate of exchange and let you know when that rate is achieved so that you can ‘fix’ the rate and pre-book your transfer. We can also help ensure that if Sterling continues to slide, you are alerted before it reaches its lowest point and can protect yourself from volatility by booking in a rate at a better time. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/currency_solutions/g20_policy_on_currency_devaluation/post-1041.html Blog b1041 1366371631 Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:40:31 +0000 In the midst of a lack of economic cues today, market attention has shifted to the second day of the highly anticipated G-20 meeting. Lawmakers are likely to affirm a commitment to avoid currency devaluation to gain trade advantage, but might withhold from targeting Japan for its current monetary policy stance. There appears no respite to the chaos in Italy, as the divided Parliament failed to elect a new President yesterday, thereby heading into a third vote later today. http://www.propertysecrets.net/blogs/overseas_mortgage_finder/overseas_mortgage_update_usa_spain_portugal/post-1040.html Blog b1040 1366199224 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:47:04 +0000 Overview this month: The news from Cyprus has been particularly concerning. Just as it seemed that the nations of the Eurozone had begun to feel that the worst was over, along comes the Cyprus problem. The inept way in which plans were put forward to meet the demands of an EU bailout demonstrated just how fragile confidence really is. There is also a lesson for would-be investors in Cypriot property, which could just as easily be transferable to any Eurozone member country. The willingness of the Eurozone leaders to effectively disregard guarantees on investor funds held by banks, comes at a time when their desire to prop up the single currency at any cost could threaten to destabilise European chances of real recovery, particularly if it spooks bank investors in other countries on the periphery of the crisis. A Cypriot bank informed us last week that they will now only consider lending mortgage finance to foreign nationals if they deposits an equal amount to what they want to borrow in account with them. This simply confirms what many of us might of already guessed that Cypriot banks don’t want to be lending any money right now.