The overall growth and decline of individual world markets in the real estate sector during 2009 provided excellent insight for predicting the expansion of letting markets during the coming year. The strongest activity for increases was found in the lettings markets, where continued favourable outlooks are expected in the majority of world markets.

Countries that fared the worst during 2009 saw only slight declines, where the significance was low in comparison to the previous year’s decline. This factor alone offers a positive light with the knowledge that the worst of the crisis in the world real estate market appears to be entering the light of recovery.

Whether 2010 offers extensive overall improvements in comparison to 2009 still remains to be seen, yet investor confidence is growing as market rebounds offer positive expectations. Sustainable markets that were experiencing positive growth prior to 2007 have remained the favourite contenders for investors planning to enter buy-to-let markets in 2010. (more…)

Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) have gained an increasing amount of interest in real estate investments from pension holders over recent years. The concept of SIPP plans was originally introduced in 1989, creating a ‘hands-on’ approach for pension holders to make full decisions of how and where their pension is invested. For real estate to be eligible for SIPP approval, the properties are required to undergo strict criteria approval, ensuring greater security as an investment option.

Pension Benefits

The development of SIPP plans have enabled integration and flexibility for pension holders to determine how their funds are invested, enabling control over the resulting returns. Traditional pension plans have often been limited in diversification, where investment options were entirely controlled by the fund managers.

The introduction of SIPP plans has created the opportunity for under-performing investments to be changed at the request of the pension holder, maximising the return potential. The flexibility of a SIPP offers many distinctive investment advantages, avoiding the problems associated with traditional plans that may be trapped into financial losses during periods of economic downturn. (more…)

The most successful real estate investors never rush blindly into a purchase, instead full research is carried out to assess the realistic investment potential. Being well informed in both high and low risk investment locations will assist with devising aversion plans to avoid any potential issues that may arise.

Dedicated investment companies will carry out extensive research prior to offering properties to their clients. Comprehensive research will not only provide an insight to the property itself, but also the economic and political stability of its location.

Understanding the property and its location in detail provides further assurance that the property presents an optimum investment opportunity. Knowing what to search for when selecting an investment property will enable clients the ability to confirm facts and figures for peace of mind.

Return on Investment

The realistic return on investment is one of the main initial factors to consider. The return on investment is essentially the amount of money the property will make through capital appreciation and yield returns prior to selling. (more…)

As the month comes to a close, we have rounded up the viewing statistics to find the most popular articles for November. Because we are sure our readers will enjoy discovering the interests of other investors around the world, we have compiled the Property Investing Overseas Top 10 viewed Blog articles for the month. Each of the articles is listed with an excerpt and the full article can be read by clicking on each title.

1. 2010 Real estate Market Outlook

Investment approaches will evolve from excessive speculative buying into strategies with improved stability and market demand. Long term investments and buy-to-let ventures are expected to be the strongest growth areas, with fewer risks involved and excellent gains potential due to the exceptionally low priced investment options available in both emerging and established markets.

2. Turkish Real Estate Investor Guide

The growth and development of the Turkish real estate market amongst foreign investors has been largely attributed to the excellent realistic opportunities the market represents for pure investment, buy-to-let and lifestyle purchases.

3. Understanding Mexican Real Estate Trust Agreements

The processes involved in acquiring Mexican real estate are relatively straight forward, yet a little bit of initial knowledge can go a long way in comprehending the regulations relating to the purchasing processes.

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Following many years of real estate in both emerging and established markets around the world situated within a ‘seller’s market’ environment, the transition into a buyer’s market has offered a distinctive turn-around.

A buyer’s market is determined when there is an excess supply over demand, resulting in lower property prices and extensive advantages to those with the ability to enter the market as a buyer.

Due to the worldwide financial crisis, many owners have been forced into a position of necessity to sell their properties, creating an excess of units available. With an extensive number of properties for sale, the buyer’s market environment has evolved.

Many governments around the world have created additional benefits for those in a position to purchase. Reductions in associated purchasing costs, reduced interest rates on mortgage loans and tax rebates have all contributed to stimulus packages designed to attract buyers, assisting the growth of the market.

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Following the past 2 years of decline, a full market recovery is highly unlikely during 2010. The strongest developments towards recovery will be experienced in markets where controls existed for avoiding excessive lending, speculative buying and instability. Regions that have been hardest hit during the downfall of the real estate market have taken strong steps to avoid continued excessive decline. Control strategies will begin to show their results throughout 2010, with the hardest hit markets beginning to stabilise, while growth patterns emerge in the markets least affected by the downturn.

Investment approaches will evolve from excessive speculative buying into strategies with improved stability and market demand. Long term investments and buy-to-let ventures are expected to be the strongest growth areas, with fewer risks involved and excellent gains potential due to the exceptionally low priced investment options available in both emerging and established markets.

In order to fully understand the position of world real estate markets and the outlook for 2010, it is necessary to understand issues relating to the lead up to the world real estate market downturn. How these issues have affected the market will assist in understanding the coming year’s ideal investment strategies and selections most suitable for optimum returns. (more…)

The introduction of SIPP qualified overseas property investments has assisted in the encouragement of increased investment options, with tax advantages and the possibility of deciding upon your own investment options for your pension fund plan.

Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs) are regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and allow holders to manage their own investments from their pension funds rather than having their finances managed by a chosen fund in the more traditional sense. This is a great alternative to those who are experienced in overseas property investments and wish to manage their own futures.

While it is not only property investments that are legible for the SIPP portfolios, the potentially higher capital growth on property, especially in the long term and from emerging markets, the gains can be far greater than stocks and shares. (more…)

The past year has witnessed much speculation over the world economic downturn and the resulting greater consideration placed upon financial expenditure in every economic market.

While investing in overseas property has inevitably seen a decrease in figures, it has not been from lack of interest. There are various considerations, with some people convinced that prices will drop to bargain levels, although bargain-hunting is more likely to produce these results than a general all round drop of market prices. Others are simply waiting for their finances to be released from previous, not well thought out investments.

The closing down of many companies in the real estate sector during the past year has provided investors with a better position to seek out those companies who really do know what they are doing, from those who simply set up shop as it appeared as an easy way to make fast money. (more…)

Having faced its fair share of ups and downs over recent years, the international real estate market appears set to mature. Following excessive amounts of speculative buying from first time investors, buyers are becoming increasingly aware of realistic growth opportunities. Due to this, guaranteed buy-back offers on new developments have become harder to encounter, mostly due to the volatility of many emerging and established markets in recent times.

The idea of a guaranteed buy-back scheme is generally based on a contractual offer from a development company. The developers agree to re-purchase the property for a set percentage of the price, after a set period of time.

Guaranteed buy-back offers are most likely to be featured in strong emerging markets, where the chance for capital growth over the short to medium term is very high. If a developer is guaranteeing to re-purchase a property for a specific percentage within a certain time period, serious analysis of the market will have been carried out to ensure strong potential profitability for the developer. (more…)

The financial landscape in 2008 has been dominated by dramatic declines on stock markets and currency crashes; this has resulted in instability in many nations’ economies as the very fundamentals upon which stable economic practices are built have been undermined. In the UK we’re living in a state where inflation is rising, interest rates are falling, our currency is declining in value and property prices are stagnating. All in all this presents a pretty bleak backdrop for would-be real estate investors, as well as for those hoping to get on the property ladder. Conversely however, in certain specific corners of the world, there are positive predictions for key property markets in 2009. (more…)