Why this year is a great time to buy property to let -from Lettingfocus.com.

If I had a pound for every time in the last two weeks some journalist or other contact said to me “Ooh dear, buy to let looks in for a bit of a fall now,” I’d have, er…. about £21Well, sorry folks but actually this year is the best time for the last 6 years to buy property to let.Every experienced residential property investor knows that you make a lot of the money in property when you buy. So when you buy, you have to buy cheaply. When property prices are booming like they were in 2004 to 2006, vendors will not listen to offers and it will be a struggle to get value.However, in the current market, with vendors struggling financially, you CAN buy cheaply because vendors will listen to offers.And this scenario is made all the more attractive to property buyers because the credit crunch means there is a real dearth of buyers, especially first time buyers. This is because of two things. Either buyers believe all the guff in the press about a huge imminent house price fall and choose to stay on the sidelines or they simply don’t have access to mortgages.The smart investors have built up cash piles which mean they can access at least 20% of a property’s value – and they can get good mortgages deals too. They also know that the tenant pool has just got bigger and will continue to do so because all those buyers who are too scared to enter the market and all those who can’t get a mortgage will have to live somewhere. So, they are going to have to rent! This will further push up rents which have been increasing by almost 19% over the last year.It’s tough and I feel sorry for the first time buyers, but that’s the economy folks. And it’s brutal.Now, I have to say, here that I don’t think the property crash will be that severe (though in the Me-too-Identikit Buy-to-Let-Ghetto-Flats which were flogged years ago to hapless novice investors it will be hard – very hard indeed)In most other places, I don’t think prices will fall far or for too long because interest on mortgages expressed as a % of average incomes (the affordability argument) is not that stretched.Yes really!Right now mortgage interest payments are gobbling up about 18.5% of peoples’ incomes. This is above - but not much above - the long run average according to the council of mortgage lender’s stats.And even though they are a shade above the long run mean, with earnings still going up at over 4%, this figure will soon come down to about 15% and buying a property will start to look very cheap again.And finally, as we get wealthier, surely it should not be a surprise that people choose to spend a higher % of their income on property.
Why not? After all, clothes, CDs, computers, cars are all cheaper today than they have ever been -leaving more to spend on property.So, whatever the stats say, I think it is perfectly possible for a wealthier economy to live with spending more of its income on property. If by 2010, we look back and the year of 2008 did not turn out to be a belter of a time to buy property to let, then I’ll buy a big round of drinks and cook a great meal at my house for all the journalists who say otherwise.
I’m David Lawrenson from property investment mentors lettingfocus.com.
I’m the author of the buy to let book “Successful Property Letting - How to Make Money in Buy to Let” the UK’s top selling property title.
It is fully up to date with all the recent changes to tenancy deposit schemes, HMOs, licensing, capital gains taxes and it has new sections on buying below market value. I’m an expert on the UK property market and a well known property investment blogger and I contribute to newspapers and a host of property websites, write a property investment blog, a number of columns in the press and run a landlords advice service.
I also work as a consultant helping banks, building societies, housing associations and web portals with their buy to let and property products and services.You can read more of my property investment blog and details of my networking, advice, buy to let networking programme at my website.My next London meeting is coming soon. Click here for details: Property Investment Advice
What’s unique about lettingfocus.com is that we offer independent property mentoring because unlike most people in the buy to let and property “advice” business we are not linked to a property company, a developer, an agent or bridging loan financier and do not receive commissions from any of these sources.If a property investment is lousy – We’ll tell you straight and we will tell you all about buy to let and property investment - the good and the bad and we won’t make silly promises that you’ll become a millionaire overnight.Copyright: David Lawrenson 2008. This blog is updated once a week. Permission must be sought before using the material in the blog.

Daily Telegraph Offer on “Successful Property Letting”

Daily Telegraph Offer on “Successful Property Letting”
Sorry to interrupt the blog with some blatant advertising, but I thought I had to tell you of a great offer.
The Daily Telegraph is doing a super offer on the new edition of “Successful Property Letting” for Telegraph Property Club members. The new edition is fully up to date with all the recent changes to tenancy deposit schemes, HMOs, licensing, capital gains taxes and it has new sections on buying below market value.
To get the new edition at their specially negotiated 20pc discount and FREE postage and packing where you pay just £7.99, just call 01206-255800 and quote 'PROPERTY'.
Meanwhile, here is what the Telegraph said of the book…
“This fully revised and updated 2008 edition of David Lawrenson’s guide to making Buy-to-Let pay should be mandatory reading for all multi-property owners. Whether seasoned professional landlords or new reluctant landlords, Successful Property Letting has snippets of invaluable information for all.So confident in the value of his book, the author opens it with an explanation of why you need it: ‘I will tell you what you really need to know to make money in the Buy-to-Let market and talk you right through the residential letting business.’ He then proceeds to do so using his 21 years of experience as a landlord.Through layering the residential property market with context this book identifies the various types of property available and assesses their specific benefits against each other. It looks at the types of people that make successful landlords and also the amount of investment one should make in a Buy-to-Let property.It covers off the legal aspects of buying and letting as well as giving invaluable tips on dealing with builders and architects to make sure you are getting the best deal. Once you have the property in place the book gives guidance on how to secure a tenant, how to find a good tenant, letting to social housing association and how to screen tenants. And as all landlords know, managing the tenants can be a challenge. Lawrenson donates an entire chapter to managing difficult tenants covering subjects as broad as eviction to claiming money owed. He leaves no stone unturned and even deals with the sensitive issue of a tenant dying.
Within this 205 page book is a cradle-to-grave style of narration which takes landlords through scenarios that all hope will never happen to them, but invariably do. He even talks about when it is time to sell, the tax implications and how to maximise the value.His style of writing is to the point, and some of his resolutions are bold – but the overall information especially that contained in some of the bite-sized boxed stories, remains invaluable. Even if only to reinstate a landlords faith in his own sanity!”
To get the new edition at their specially negotiated 20pc discount and FREE postage and packing where you pay just £7.99, call 01206-255800 and quote 'PROPERTY'.
Why not take advantage of this great offer whilst it lasts.
If you need more advice on investment property or buy to let investments in general please ask me.
I’m David Lawrenson from property investment mentors www.lettingfocus.com
I’m the author of the buy to let book “Successful Property Letting - How to Make Money in Buy to Let” the UK’s top selling property title.
You can also buy the new edition here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Successful-Property-Letting-Right-Plus/dp/0716030195/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203933977&sr=1-1
Where the price is a bit less than the Telegraph offer (though postage is on top for smaller orders) It is fully up to date with all the recent changes to tenancy deposit schemes, HMOs, licensing, capital gains taxes and it has new sections on buying below market value. I’m an expert on the UK property market and a well known property investment blogger and I contribute to newspapers and a host of property websites, write a property investment blog, a number of columns in the press and run a landlords advice service.
I also work as a consultant helping banks, building societies, housing associations and web portals with their buy to let and property products and services.You can read more of my property investment blog and details of my networking, advice, buy to let networking programme at my website www.lettingfocus.com.My next London property investors networking meeting is coming soon. Click here for details: Property Investment Advice
I am also speaking at the Property Investor show in Birmingham in April http://www.propertyinvestor.co.uk/birmingham/
What’s unique about lettingfocus.com is that we offer independent property mentoring because unlike most people in the buy to let and property “advice” business we are not linked to a property company, developer, agent or bridging loan financier and do not receive commissions from any of these sources.If a property investment is lousy – We’ll tell you straight and we will tell you all about buy to let and property investment - the good and the bad and we won’t make silly promises that you’ll become a millionaire overnight.Copyright: David Lawrenson 2008. This blog is updated once a week. Permission must be sought before using the material in the blog.

Buying property below market value -here is one good tip from lettingfocus.com

What is the best way to get a good deal when buying property?
Well there are many ways to get good deals.
However, in today’s blog, I just thought I’d highlight one particular technique that always works well when you are viewing a property and the vendor is showing you around.
As you go around, the key thing of course is not to give much away, whilst also trying to find out in a non pushy way as much as you can about the vendor’s circumstances in order to gauge if they will accept a hard offer. (It is also worth finding out what you can about the seller’s circumstances are in advance from the agent too.)
Then just as you are about to leave, you whip out the estate agents blurb on the property, pause for a few seconds and then just slowly say the price as if you were contemplating the meaning of life. Then allow the silence to hold for a few seconds. If the seller really wants to sell for less, they won’t be able to resist filling the gap by indicating what price they will accept.
It’s a great technique and it works most times. Try it.
Now, a quick word about flood risk.
The property I am in the process of buying is close to a flood risk area.
To find out the extent of flood risk, all you need to do is look at the environment agency maps (at their website) and put in the postcode of the property.
This will bring up a general map of the area showing the extent of the flood risk – but this can actually vary a lot depending exactly where in the road the property is.
To find out the risk for a specific house you then have to click on the spot on the map at exactly where the property is. This will then bring up another more detailed statement which will state if the flood risk is “significant”, “moderate” or “low”. It is this which is the thing you really need.
Also, use Norwich Union too. They have among the most sophisticated flood maps in the UK which use other data which are laid on top of the environment agency maps – so if you are buying in an area that could be at flood risk, always call them for an insurance quote.
If they won’t cover you or charge a very high premium then you need to think about buying that property very carefully.
Out in the mortgage market mortgages are being withdrawn almost as soon as they show up and lending by the building societies continues to be restricted to certain areas and types of property. I continue to enjoy your stories about how hopeless the banks and building societies are at mortgage lending.
My friend Andy in Lancashire told me that “Despite being approved for a further £500,000 from the Woolwich in March for refinancing/new purchases, it seems I am not solvent enough for a 4,000k limit on a new capital one Cash Back credit card.”
I have had similar experiences too and I am also finding that the processing of mortgage applications by the lenders is still painfully slow. In my case, after having been approved for a mortgage from a subsidiary of one of our biggest banks I am still waiting after 4 working days to receive the application form. So, no change there then!
The same correspondent also says he accepts tenants on benefits and has noted that the rates for the new Local Housing Allowance were published yesterday by his local council for his area and they are pretty much 15-20% extra to tenants here when compared to the current HB system. The only downside is of course, that the money is usually going to be paid direct to tenants, so we lose the guarantee that we had when it was paid direct. So, we will have to see how this all works out.
If you need more advice on investment property or buy to let investments in general please ask me.
I’m David Lawrenson from property investment mentors www.lettingfocus.com
I’m the author of the buy to let book “Successful Property Letting - How to Make Money in Buy to Let” the UK’s top selling property title.
Buy the new edition here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Successful-Property-Letting-Right-Plus/dp/0716030195/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1203933977&sr=1-1
It is fully up to date with all the recent changes to tenancy deposit schemes, HMOs, licensing, capital gains taxes and it has new sections on buying below market value. I’m an expert on the UK property market and a well known property investment blogger and I contribute to newspapers and a host of property websites, write a property investment blog, a number of columns in the press and run a landlords advice service.
I also work as a consultant helping banks, building societies, housing associations and web portals with their buy to let and property products and services.You can read more of my property investment blog and details of my networking, advice, buy to let networking programme at my website www.lettingfocus.com.My next London property investors networking meeting is coming soon. Click here for details: Property Investment Advice
I am also speaking at the Property Investor show in Birmingham in April http://www.propertyinvestor.co.uk/birmingham/
What’s unique about lettingfocus.com is that we offer independent property mentoring because unlike most people in the buy to let and property “advice” business we are not linked to a property company, developer, agent or bridging loan financier and do not receive commissions from any of these sources.If a property investment is lousy – We’ll tell you straight and we will tell you all about buy to let and property investment - the good and the bad and we won’t make silly promises that you’ll become a millionaire overnight.Copyright: David Lawrenson 2008. This blog is updated once a week. Permission must be sought before using the material in the blog.