| The United Kingdom And Property | | | | of the country continues to grow, a |
| | | | prosperous rental market has been created - |
| The United Kingdom of Great Britain and | | | | with particular emphasis on London which has |
| Northern Ireland (the UK) is a made up of | | | | led the way in Europe with regards to |
| four countries of immense diversity, | | | | financial markets in particular (The Stock |
| tradition and culture. Beautiful countryside, | | | | Exchange, Petroleum Exchange, Metals |
| islands, moors, craggy mountains and cliffs, | | | | Exchange, etc). |
| rolling hills, shorelines and beaches, it has | | | | |
| scenery as varied as its people. The UK | | | | There are a number on anomalies with regards |
| investment property may include any one of | | | | to property transactions in each of the four |
| the four individual countries that make up | | | | individual countries, and these should be |
| the United Kingdom: England; Scotland; Wales | | | | assessed at the time of any transaction. In |
| and Northern Ireland. There are also a number | | | | the main the differences relate to how bids |
| of islands, in particular the Scottish island | | | | are entered and how they are chosen. |
| groups of the Shetlands and the Orkneys, the | | | | |
| English Scilly Isles and Isle of Wight and | | | | As the financial institutions continue to |
| the Welsh island of Anglesey. The British | | | | increase their lending to the mortgage |
| Isles are to be found off the western | | | | industry, it is now possible to obtain |
| extremity of continental Europe, separated | | | | mortgages based upon up to five times your |
| from it by the English Channel and the North | | | | income. This recent increase in the basis has |
| Sea. The climate is temperate in nature, and | | | | further helped to fuel what was, and |
| in the words of William Blake, you see | | | | continues to be a buoyant area of investment. |
| Englands green and pleasant land. All of | | | | |
| these complicated factors make UK investment | | | | Buying Investment Property in the UK |
| property very lucrative. | | | | |
| | | | While the UK continues to retain a strong |
| Of the four countries England has the largest | | | | sense of tradition and history, there is no |
| population at 50 million of the total 60 | | | | doubt that London in particular is one of the |
| million people and consequently is the | | | | most multi-cultural cities in the world. It |
| busiest. | | | | is the employment hub of the UK, and has |
| | | | particular strengths in the financial arena, |
| The UK is steeped in history and tradition, | | | | e.g. The London Stock Exchange, etc. This |
| with a respected Monarchy and is the home of | | | | has, and continues to attract significant |
| democracy. Its is as much known for its | | | | overseas investment, which is in turn feeding |
| culture as for its music and festivals, | | | | a growing economy. As the economy grows, so |
| inventions, sport, art and literature, | | | | does the demand for housing and buying |
| fashion and films and television. It is | | | | investment property in the UK. |
| sometimes called Cool Britannia and many a | | | | |
| trend has started in the UK. | | | | While the weather in the UK can be |
| | | | unpredictable there is a massive influx of |
| Throughout the four countries there are many | | | | tourists from all around the world, although |
| cultural sights with stately homes, castles, | | | | a vast number of them arrive from Japan and |
| palaces and accompanying grounds in | | | | the US. Impressed with the tradition and |
| abundance. Many of these are run by different | | | | variety of the society, many have chosen to |
| organizations such as the National Trust, | | | | invest in holiday homes, second homes. It |
| Scottish Trust and the National Park Trust. | | | | also helps that London Heathrow is one of the |
| Wherever you are in the UK you are never far | | | | busiest airports in the world, and offers |
| from something of significance or of | | | | access to all major cities of the world. |
| historical value. | | | | |
| | | | The current climate of low interest rates, |
| Major cities, such as London, Glasgow, | | | | low inflation and increased infrastructure |
| Edinburgh, Cardiff, Birmingham, Liverpool, | | | | spend bodes well for the future of the UK. |
| Belfast, Newcastle and Manchester offer | | | | The UK has also been chosen to host the 2012 |
| impressive galleries, museums and theatres | | | | Olympic Games which will put the worldwide |
| giving the traveller a multitude of | | | | spot light on this beautiful, diverse group |
| activities to pursue. | | | | of countries. |
| | | | |
| Outside of these metropolitan areas there are | | | | The Future of UK Property Investment |
| still many towns and cities with historical | | | | |
| value such as Bath, Salisbury and Harrogate. | | | | While the release of further housing stock |
| Peaceful village life is also an option with | | | | over the last decade has helped to control |
| rural communities abounding across the | | | | the ongoing property boom, demand still far |
| majority of all of the countries. | | | | out weighs supply - especially in the more |
| | | | affluent south of England, where the majority |
| UK Property Investment Market | | | | of overseas investment is applied. |
| | | | |
| Prior to the election of the present Labour | | | | However, over the last few years we have seen |
| Government, the UK property market had tended | | | | areas such as Edinburgh and Glasgow in |
| to move in very cyclical patterns with | | | | Scotland; continue to increase their profile |
| significant (short term) boom and busts | | | | which has resulted in some fairly large |
| episodes. Over the last 10 years this | | | | property price rises in these areas. This |
| particular trait has faded and the UK | | | | pattern has been repeated in a number of the |
| property investment market has been on a | | | | more business central areas of England, |
| general upturn for some time. The release of | | | | Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. |
| significant numbers of social housing over | | | | |
| the last decade has helped to flatten the | | | | One of the main attractions to tourists to |
| natural boom and bust curve. | | | | the UK seems to be the great and varied |
| | | | history of the land, which has links as far |
| As the UK continues to attract significant | | | | afield as Pakistan and India who are members |
| overseas property investment the UK property | | | | of the ever expanding Commonwealth of the |
| investment market around the major cities | | | | United Kingdom. |
| have tended to lead the way with regards to | | | | |
| price rises (particularly London property and | | | | The UK also has a very thorough |
| the South East). Where the major cities lead, | | | | infrastructure, where it is possible to |
| the smaller cities and towns have followed - | | | | travel between the likes of London and |
| although there is often a time lag as the | | | | Glasgow (in Scotland) within a couple of |
| factors affecting the general market slowly | | | | hours - carrying you from the hustle and |
| spread far and wide. | | | | bustle of the big city, to the verges of the |
| | | | beautiful Scottish countryside complete with |
| While the UK market has been prone to short | | | | Lochs, Golf Courses and miles of National |
| term, often volatile, swings, there is no | | | | park. |
| doubt that the return on UK Property over any | | | | |
| significant period has been significantly | | | | Travel within the UK is very easy as there |
| higher than those of mainland Europe. The UK | | | | are no passport restrictions when moving |
| has always been a very much purchase driven | | | | between the four countries United Kingdom. |
| market, however as the international profile | | | | |