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A UK new-build property Should you buy a UK new build property or an existing property already built? You often see news in the press moaning that not enough new homes are being built in the UK and that there’s a vast shortage of  housing. In fact, government figures show 162,180 were built last year (2018). That isn’t enough to fix the housing shortage but it does mean most of us will come across a brand-new property when we are out house hunting. Here are some pros and cons of buying a brand sparkly UK investment property new home straight from the developer against an existing home already built and for sale on the market. Pro’s of buying a new build property in the UK Unpack and go – A new home is a blank canvas with fresh tiling, paintwork, kitchens and bathrooms. This means there should be very little, if anything, you need to do to it. You can simply unpack your belongings and start enjoying your new home. A boost to buying – For many first-time buyers a new build home is the only way they can get onto the property ladder. That’s because schemes such as Help-to-Buy

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Getting A UK Mortgage With Foreign Income If you are a British expat living and working overseas and you are paid in a non sterling currency, you may experience difficulty securing a mortgage on a UK investment property property or remortgaging with an existing lender. The positive news is that there are lender options for UK expats and foreign nationals when it comes to remortgaging or purchasing property in the UK. It is possible to get a UK mortgage from abroad using foreign currency or a combination of Sterling and a foreign currency, typically US Dollar or Euro. Foreign currency mortgages are available Despite the seemingly overly restrictive regulations and the influence they have over traditional lenders’ appetite for lending to those with foreign currency income, it is still possible to access the funds you need to purchase a property in the UK. The lenders who are willing to provide mortgage of this type often work through specialist brokers (intermediaries). Therefore, if you require a UK expat mortgage or UK refinance, then it is advisable to contact a specialist expat and foreign national mortgage broker like Premier Expat Mortgages. Proof of income There are still lenders that are prepared to

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What is life insurance? Life insurance can pay your dependents money as a lump sum or as regular payments if you die early whilst you are working and in employment. It’s designed to provide you with the reassurance that your dependents will be looked after if you’re no longer there to provide for them. The amount of money paid out depends on the level of cover you buy. You decide how it is paid out and whether it will cover specific payments, such as mortgage or rent. You may need to think about whether receiving a payout will affect any means tested benefits your dependents might otherwise be eligible for. There are two main types of life insurance: Term life insurance policies: run for a fixed period of time (known as the ‘term’ of your policy) – such as 5, 10 or 25 years. Some policies can run longer upon request from your life insurance company. These kinds of policies only pay out if you die during the policy. There’s no lump sum payable at the end of the policy term. A whole-of-life insurance policy: will pay out no matter when you die, as long as you keep up with

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Why Invest in Property in the UK? Why Should Overseas Investors Invest In UK Property? Bricks and mortar have long been seen as a prudent way to invest with the phrase ‘an Englishman’s home is his castle’ revealing just how deeply entrenched in the British psyche investment property is. The UK investment property business is a financially rewarding and exciting business which can produce great rewards. It can produce a consistent income, even once you have retired. Historically, property prices have been on a strong upward trend since the 1970’s despite some volatility during the recession and credit crunch . New research has revealed that houses prices have grown faster in the UK than any other Europeans country. In fact, since 1988 house prices have gone up by a staggering 333%. This represents an average rise of 12.3% per year. Many home owners have benefited from the rising housing market and have seen their property increasing in value over the years. No wonder property investment is now seen by many as the best way to provide long term financial security. Why should you invest in property NOW? 1. House prices will carry on increasing The UK still has a serious

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What is a secured loan? A secured loan requires you to pledge an asset, such as your home, as collateral for the secured loan. In the event of missing a payment or defaulting on the loan, your bank or lender can then collect the collateral and repossess the property as a matter of last resort . This type of loan generally has a lower interest rate because the bank has less risk since it can easily collect the collateral if you default on payments. On the positive side, a secured loan can be a good way to build credit if you go through a reputable lender like a mainstream high street bank. Types of Secured Loans Mortgages are secured because your home acts as collateral for the loan. If you miss payments, you can go into forfeiture and lose your home. Car loans are also secured loans. Similar to a mortgage, the car itself is asset for the loan. If you default on payments, the car can then be repossessed. Secured credit cards are another type of secured loan. The bank will usually require you to make a deposit against the card’s limit, which guarantees the loan. Banks will do thisRead more →

Weak Pound Fuels Property Investment The continued weakening of the Sterling Pound is creating massive buying opportunities but most of these are from overseas property investors mainly based in Asia. Right after the Brexit vote, the value of the pound significantly plummeted and most overseas investors snatched this opportunity to secure properties in Britain to make significant investment savings. Since 2018, as much as 57 percent of homes located in the prime central London area were bought by foreign investors according to the data provided by Hamptons International. Similarly, EU investors were among the largest group of foreign buyers investing in the said area. EU investors bought as much as 19 percent of properties in the second half of 2018, up from 10 percent during the same period in 2017. Overseas investors now own as much as 36 percent of properties in the Greater London area. In the past year alone, foreign investors from India rose by 3 percent while international buyers from Hong Kong and Russia increased by one percent. This increase in the number of overseas investors was also due to a significant drop in buy-to-let investors. The weak value of the pound has made it much moreRead more →

Weak Pound Fuels Rich Foreign Investors’ Rush To Buy Student Flats Student numbers may be declining but foreign investors are lining up to buy Plymouth’s student flats with one block already being snapped up by a Middle Eastern consortium in a multi-million pound deal. The Coombestone House block, in Hastings Street, was bought by Qatari investors, according to industry insiders, earlier this year and other investors from the oil-rich nation are investigating opportunities in the city. Meanwhile a company from Singapore paid £180million for five huge Plymouth student apartment blocks which were offloaded by Unite. And two other blocks are said to have been gobbled up for “more than £1million” according to industry sources. Other properties are owned by businesses from Malaysia and South Africa, among others, and delegations from Kuwait, Israel, Spain and China are sniffing around the city. Nationally wealth funds and investors are snaffling property left, right and centre, despite Brexit uncertainty and global trade wars. But the reason for this activity is likely to be Brexit related – a huge decline in asset prices since the referendum vote. Sterling devaluation has made properties throughout the UK, including Plymouth, an attractive proposition. Henry Hutchins, chief executive ofRead more →

Attracting Investment For Property Oliver du Sautoy, head of research at LSH, believes what we have seen this year will be a tough act to follow, but is optimistic for future growth. “Healthy levels of active demand and an analysis of forthcoming lease events point to another year of above-trend activity and take-up across the region in 2018,” he said. “Investors and developers must therefore take heed of the rapidly changing dynamics within the Northern Powerhouse office markets if we are to continue to support home-grown businesses and attract greater inward investment. “Solid asset management strategies and refurbishment of poorer quality stock will be key to securing the best occupiers and boosting returns in the coming 12-18 months.” There is a lack of supply in the regions – total availability has shrunk by 12% since the start of this year – and this has encouraged “steep increases in rental levels for existing space in some markets”, according to the LSH report. This could result in more opportunities for developers looking to bridge the supply and demand gap, as well as higher yields for investors. There are almost four million British people live abroad according to the latest figures from the Office for NationalRead more →