Investment property is big business, as
more and more people prefer to put their money in bricks and mortar. But what
to buy? Johnny Turner has some suggestions.
It’s said to be a buyer’s market, and the
combination of low interest rates and a halt to the crazy price rises that
characterised the late 90s and early naughties mean good news for those in the
market for property. In particular, investment buyers are seeing advantageous
market conditions: affordability is up, making it more possible to start or add
to a property portfolio; and with prices still high there is good demand for
rental property. The other consideration for those embarking on an investment
buy is capital growth, and while we’re not seeing the 20 per cent annual price
inflation that marked recent years, there is still very good scope for growth
in the medium- to long-term.
So the conditions are suitable – but what
and where to buy? As it happens, the prospective investor is spoilt for choice.
Starting in an area that has the double benefit of being near not only the City
of London but also the massive reinvention of King’s Cross, Telford Homes’
Estilo ticks all the boxes for the prospective investment buyer. With the
location just off City Road, between Old
Street and Angel tube
stations, residents will be close to everything. Estilo is perfect for those
who need to be at work – whether that work is in the City or elsewhere in the
capital or even beyond – in the quickest time possible.
Estilo is a selection of high-specification
one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as duplexes. Good-quality
tenants will be drawn to amenities such as Upper Street,
as well as to the high specification. Another important criterion for a
buy-to-let property, good capital growth in years to come, is also a good bet
at this development; after all, Islington has been among London’s most
popular locations for decades and only continues to improve.
Completions at Estilo are expected in
autumn 2006. Only a few one-bedrooms remain; overlooking the Wenlock Basin and
featuring a south-west facing balcony, these are priced between £265,000 and
£270,000. Meanwhile, two- and three- bedroom apartments and duplexes have just
been released for sale, priced between £347,500 and £380,000. To find out more
call 0870 872 0987 or visit the website telfordhomes.plc.uk.
Laing currently has a number of wonderful
apartment schemes on offer. In the Howlands area of Welwyn Garden City, just a
mile and a half from the town centre, Creswick Place
is a development of 109 one- and two-bedroom apartments over three and four
storeys. Some apartments have two bathrooms, and all have allocated parking as
well as visitors’ spaces.
Prices start from £154,500 for one-bedroom
apartments and £167,500 for two-bedroom apartments. A choice of incentives
includes stamp duty, legal fees paid up to £500, and fully fitted carpets.
Conditions apply. A two-bedroom show home is now open. Call 01707 351330.
In popular Cambridge, Laing
has launched The Gallery II, the
second phase of a very successful development of stylish one- and two-bedroom
apartments and penthouses. Located within two miles of the bustling city centre
and within a mile of the main railway station, these homes are convenient both
for those who work in Cambridge or surrounding towns and London commuters.
There are numerous deals available with
these designer apartments, one of which is Laing’s Easymover scheme, similar to
that described above. Alternatively, a unique Homestyle voucher is available,
enabling purchasers to upgrade the specification of their home to their particular
taste.
One-bedroom apartments are priced from
£179,950, while two-bedroom apartments start at £219,950. Call 01223 247669.
In leafy Enfield, Jerome Walk is a stylish collection of
one- and two-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom houses. Located close to
local amenities and with good transport links – and priced from just £155,000 –
these properties are ideal for first-time buyers looking for a contemporary new
home. Jerome Walk is also perfect for investors; prospective tenants will be
impressed by the easy commuter options, with Brimsdown station and the bus
terminus just two minutes’ walk away.
Prices for one-bedroom apartments start at
£156,950; two-bedroom apartments start at £179,950. To find out more about
Jerome Walk call 020 8804 1036.
Shires
Lodge in Hendon, located adjacent to the synagogue
in Brent Street, consists of 14 two- and three-bedroom luxury apartments in
landscaped grounds. Exterior features include gables, ornate brickwork and bay
widows. There is basement parking and gym facilities for the exclusive use of
residents and their guests.
Interiors feature superb décor,
contemporary lighting and elegant features such as French windows, terraces and
large balconies on selected plots. Specification is high, with designer
integrated fitted kitchens, luxury bathrooms with Hansgrohe taps, utility rooms
to many of the apartments, and en suites and showers to most master bedrooms.
The apartments are priced between £299,950 and £750,000. Call 020 8202 9458.
Also by Laing Homes is Quarles Park, located in Chadwell Heath, Essex, where only two
two-bedroom apartments remain, priced from £175,950. The location is great for
road and rail links; Chadwell Heath station offers a fast commute to Liverpool Street.
The two-bedroom apartments offer a spacious
master bedroom with an equally spacious second bedroom adjacent to it. The
open-plan living room and kitchen add to the sense of freedom and space. Call
020 8586 4091.
At Queen’s
Manor in Queensbury only three of the 24 spacious two-bedroom apartments
remain for sale. Located less than half a mile from Queensbury tube station,
this is the ideal location for commuting into central London, and both
first-time buyers and investors will be drawn to the specification and
convenience to be found. Prices start at £239,950. Call 020 8732 2596 for more
information.
Good news for investors, young
professionals and first-time buyers in Guildford: Rushmon New Homes has just launched Abbots Yard, a new scheme of 34 one- and two-bedroom apartments at
Walnut Tree Close, just 400 yards from the railway station.
When complete, the development will be a
sleek selection of contemporary apartments offering space, versatility and
freedom. Well placed to enjoy everything that the area has to offer, this is
the ideal home base for the busy professional who demands sleek London-style
living as well as quick access to the Surrey countryside.
The homes feature spacious open-plan
interiors, classic white bathrooms with chrome fittings, designer kitchens with
a wealth of integrated appliances, including a stainless steel oven, ceramic
hob, steel hood and chimney, plus a fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, dishwasher
and waste disposal. Some also have private balconies which allow the occupant
to bring the outside in. With the privacy of a landscaped courtyard and the
security of basement parking, these stylish new homes epitomise modern living.
Prices at Abbots Yard start at £209,950 for
a one-bedroom apartment and £247,500 for a two-bedroom apartment. For further
details and to register your interest call Savills on 01483 796807 or Rushmon
New Homes on 01932 586700.
Weston Homes offers a good buy-to-let
solution in the form of 41 Millharbour,
located on the Limehouse Cut in London’s Docklands. The development currently has 33 apartments and three
duplexes that are ready to move into, which means the investment can see a
return immediately after exchange.
From the exterior design, by leading
European architects Chantrey Davis, to the breathtaking interior spec, this
collection of apartments stands out, and busy professional tenants will be
drawn to these attributes as well as to the location.
Apartments at 41 Millharbour are priced
from £299,950. The amazing show penthouse is also for sale, priced at £1.6
million. For more information contact 020 7517 0808.
Westbury Homes offers attractive investor
packages at its developments in the South East, including Chapter House and
Greenfields in Reading, Weaver’s Place in Newbury, and Priory Gardens in
Addlestone.
The developer is aware that newly built
homes represent attractive properties for investors, with many snapped up on a
buy-to-let basis. Furnishing an investment purchase with one of the three
packages offered by Westbury – bronze, silver or platinum – allows the buyer to
tailor the home to the investor market.
Visit one of their developments to see what
each range has for the investment purchaser. For more details see
westbury-homes.co.uk or call 0800 083 3355 quoting reference LPGPX5.
A straightforward commute is what most
tenants want, so a canny investment buyer will be looking for that too. And
Antler Homes’ Christchurch House,
located just a short walk from Sutton town centre and station, certainly
fulfils the requirement for commutability.
Comprising three one-bedroom and six
two-bedroom apartments, Christchurch House is located in a prime area of south
Sutton. Each of the homes offers high-specification interiors including luxury
custom-built kitchens and designer bathroom suites – a further draw for
prospective tenants.
Griff Marshalsay, managing director of
Antler Homes South East, says, ‘This part of Surrey is very easily
commutable into the capital and as a result it is beginning to attract a number
of potential buyers.’
The apartments start at £199,950 for a
one-bedroom. For further details contact Antler Homes on 020 8642 6686.