News - Archive for April 2013

American Attitudes Toward Home Ownership Changing - Again?

When commentators began to suggest that the US housing crisis had changed people's attitudes towards housing; turning the US into a nation of renters, many took the potential for this being a "possibly permanent" change with a large pinch of salt...

Monthly Rents Are Higher in 2013

The country's landlords are continuing to benefit from increasing rental yields, with prices in 2013 consistently higher than the average rents received in 2012. According to the latest HomeLet Rental Index...

There is a wealth of positive news on the US housing market at the moment, so much so that it is hard to ignore. But in another way it is hard not to ignore it when you are constantly hearing about metrics returning to 2008 levels, what was so great about 2008?

The student accommodation sector is filled with positivity at the moment, creating an attractive environment for property investment. Knight Frank forecasts an average blended UK return of 9.2 per cent over the next 12 months...

In an unexpected announcement, the Government has decided to explore with interested parties whether the conversion of unused space in commercial properties in high streets and town centres to residential use could be allowed within pension schemes...

It seems the UK is no longer a nation of homeowners, with new figures showing more and more people are being forced to rent. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) noted a slump in homeownership for the first time since 1918...

If the expenses scandal taught us anything, it's that politicians like their property and it seems the relationship between public servants and real estate is an historical one. You need only look at some of Britain's most famous prime ministers to see that the premiers like a home to impress...

According to the latest data, neither rising home-sales nor surging multifamily construction is impacting on the impressive vacancy rates in the US apartment market, with rates continuing to fall despite strong rents across the country...

Mortgage lending decreased in March year-on-year, but the figures may not be an accurate depiction of the health of the sector. The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) claims that while gross mortgage lending...

UK Hotel Investment Quadruples in Q1

2013 looks set to blow the hotel sector away. According to new data from Savills investment in the sector in Q1 this year quadrupled compared to last year...

Property prices have been increasing throughout April, thanks to a seller shortage. RightMove's House Price Index posted a fourth consecutive quarter of price rises...

During the financial crisis the reports were near constant of soaring Chinese home prices. Then the reports began to focus on the potential for a bubble and whether the government would intervene...

An unprecedented 32 million m² of shopping centre space is currently under construction across the world, representing a 15% increase year-on-year (28 million m² in 2012), according to the latest research from global property advisor CBRE...

Farmland continues to be seen as a preferred property investment option for many buyers, according to a new report...

The latest data from the California Association of Realtors shows average prices in the state at the highest level since May 2008, driven by continually high sales levels combined with shrinking availability after years of weak construction...

Micro-apartments are the new hot property investment project in New York and despite the fact the first building hasn't broken ground yet, there are plans for even more...

There is good news for first-time buyers, as figures suggest access to finance is improving. Data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders showed the number of people getting their foot on the property ladder increased...

Twenty twelve wasn't a bad year for international real estate, not as bad as we have seen in recent years anyway, and especially for equities. The MSCI World Index posted a local currency return of 15% and real estate securities came in at 20% across most major markets and indices...

A lack of knowledge among buyers about the home purchase process is causing them to accrue unnecessary costs, according to new research from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors...

Top 10 Cities for the Well-Heeled

When you've got money in your pocket the world is your oyster, but just where should you set your pin on the globe if you want to ensure you are seen in the hottest location?

Those considering property investment will have noticed a change in the US real estate market recently. The tide is turning and conditions are becoming favourable for buyers...

Commercial real estate investment in the CEE region has hit the second highest Q1 level since 2007 and the highest since Q1 2008 according to the latest data from CBRE...

Property is one of the primary tools we have at our disposal to see into the past and learn about our heritage. However, across the globe it seems we are letting this crumble away...

US Hotel Sales Up 41% this Year

According to the latest report from Real Capital Analytics US hotel sales in the first two months of this year were up 41% on the same period in 2012. According to the firm's hotel trends report the largest increases were in portfolio sales...

March 3 Year High for House Sales

A three-year high for house sales was recorded in March, thanks to growing market confidence. The latest Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) housing market survey revealed that activity is increasing...

Plans to create further student accommodation in Oxford have been submitted and could see additional housing built next to a controversial development...

Top 5 US Property "Boomtowns" to Watch

The US is the land of opportunity and the American Dream is still ingrained in national culture. With a bit of hard work, ingenuity and a spot of luck, those on the bottom of the pile can rise to the top, or so says the ethos...

Shakespeare asked what's in a name and according to research by Zoopla, it could be the difference of GBP 70,000. The study revealed that the first letter of your street's name can add a considerable amount of money onto your home...

Boris Johnson has being doing his best to deliver affordable housing in London and it seems as though his efforts have paid off. Figures show that the mayor has more than doubled the capital's affordable stock...

"The expanding residential rental property market, particularly in London and southern England, is gaining in appeal for institutional investors" The words of Alex Jeffrey, the chief executive of Prupim - one of the UK's biggest institutional investors Prudential insurance, via its asset management subsidiary M&G...