Property investments

On this page, we discuss investing in property using a lump sum. Scroll down to get started.

If you do not have a lump sum available, you can also invest in property via a regular savings plan. Click the button below to learn more.

Lump Sum Property Investments

Why Invest in Property?

A prudent investment strategy has exposure to all the major asset classes, and one of these is property. Investing in property brings many advantages:

  • Property markets have shown steady and reliable capital appreciation over time
  • You can generate a reliable rental income from the property (our clients have an average 6% yield from their property investments)
  • Property markets are not closely correlated to equity markets, making a property investment a good diversification tool.
  • Owning a tangible asset (one that you can touch) is often reassuring for those getting started in the world of investments.

Buying property, however, does come with some additional considerations. Your investment is far less liquid – when market dips occur, it is easy to cash out a fund and share portfolio, but this is not the case for property investments. For this reason, property should always be viewed as a long term investment before you commit to any purchase.

If you are thinking of investing in property, but are not sure where to start, then book in a free, no-obligation call with us today. We’ll look at your options, whether property is the right investment for you, and show you how to get started.

How Does Property Investment Work?

Reservation

 

After selecting your ideal buy-to-let property, a reservation fee is required to take it off the market. This will typically be £2,000 – £5,000. This fee will be refunded to you if you are unable to complete the purchase for reasons outside your control.

Mortgage & Legals

 

Our in-house mortgage brokers will secure you the best expat financing available. Our exclusive lawyers will then oversee the exchange of contracts and conveyancing. Let our team take care of the heavy lifting for you.

Tenant Management

 

Our tenant management partners will put high-quality tenants in the property and ensure it is maintained. We currently work to a 98.5% occupancy rate, so you can relax and let your investment generate the return.

Selecting a property

A top-down approach for maximum returns

If you have decided that a property investment is right for you, then the next step is identifying the right opportunity. To do this, we recommend taking a top-down approach.

Please note that the approach outlined below is for investment property only (its purpose is to generate wealth for you, the investor). Buying second homes or lifestyle properties requires a different process.

 

Step One: Selecting the Country

Many investors instinctively look for property either in their home country or in the area local to them. This brings a feeling of security and is often a valid approach for investors that like to feel an emotional attachment to their holdings. However, this often leads to reduced yields from the investment.

That said, any property investment should be denominated in a strong currency (USD, GBP, EUR or similar) to ensure the asset holds value over time. Buying property in minor currencies or in unstable economies can be a risky decision that ends in an unpleasant surprise when it comes to sell it on. Local legislation and the impact on your tax position are also factors to consider.

 

Step Two: Selecting the City

The most stable investment property opportunities are often located in urban areas. By buying here you can ensure a more reliable supply of tenants for your investment property, and protect against the risk of local housing market crashes.

When selecting property investment opportunities, our team analyses several factors at the local level. These include the state and growth prospects of the local economy, major employers/universities, construction laws and several others. This approach has been key to securing outstanding levels of capital growth for many of our clients.

 

Step Three: Selecting the Neighbourhood

With the country and city identified, it’s time to assess the neighbourhoods that represent the highest level of opportunity. Again, there are many factors to consider – transport links, proximity to key services, urban regeneration projects etc.

 

Step Four: Selecting the Developer

When investing in property, working with an established and vetted developer can ensure quality standards and avoid nasty surprises further down the line. New-build property can also be attractive when looking to attract your first tenants and build your income stream.

We work with selected development partners that have an outstanding track record and reputation for quality. We continually run due diligence checks on these partners to ensure we only work with the best, and that our clients are getting a fair deal.

What’s more, by taking this approach we can offer all our investment properties with a price guarantee.

You will not find these properties cheaper elsewhere.

 

It you would like to know more about our approach, or begin your own property search, then feel free to book a call using the button below.

Our property investment service is 100% end-to-end.

This means that we will take care of the purchase process, renting the property out, maintaining it, and even selling it on when the time comes.

All we need from you is the purchase deposit (from as little as 10%, according to your circumstances and the location).

Have a question that isn’t answered here? Get in touch!

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Financial Planning Essentials for UK Expats in Spain (webinar)