Aequita Financial Services News

Off Plan Overseas Investments

Alexis — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:01:33 +0000

Investment in Off Plan properties is increasingly being seen as a way to reap very favourable returns in a fluctuating market.

Off Plan is the term used to refer to buying into a property during the state of pre-construction. The process benefits both the developer ( as they are able to finance the construction via this method ) and the investor ( as they benefit from developer’s incentivisation via discounts ). In many occasions the early purchase of such a property means that the investor buys at a stage where the property is already worth considerable more when complete due to the trends in world property prices.

The UK property market is no longer offering the prospects for returns to investors that it once was and many are now looking for Off Plan opportunities abroad.

An example of this is the massive increase in house prices currently occurring in a country such as Morocco where prices are rocketing - having increased by up to 30% in the last two years in many areas. The country is seeing a rapid rise in tourism, ( a deserved one as it has a superb climate, landscape, people and cuisine - a legacy of Berber and French influences).
Further to this there is a huge internal redevelopment scheme in progress where the infrastructure of the country is being brought up to scratch in many areas. Interest in Off Plan investments in Morocco have been further boosted by the large number of celebrities who have been purchasing property there. There is a high perceived rental income on properties also, guaranteeing increased returns for the investor.

Morocco is one of many places overseas offering tangible returns on investment via off plan property purchase. There are many other areas which merit consideration for off plan investment such as South America, the Middle East or former Soviet Block Countries such as Romania or Albania. Even traditional ‘houses abroad’ destinations are still offering viable opportunities for off plan purchases such as France and Italy.

All in all Off Plan Property Investment is an extremely attractive means by which to increase your property portfolio or to make that initial start in owning a property abroad.

An extremely useful resource for those considering overseas off plan investment can be found here : Off Plan Investments

Investing in a Property Abroad

Alexis — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:09:59 +0000

There are many people considering investing in a property abroad these days. We have an entire generation who consider themselves rich. In a way they are. Property prices in the UK have risen to such an extent that large sums of equity based cash have quite accessible to many home owners.

The UK investor has traditionally gone for bricks and mortar as an assured return on investment. Nowadays the housing bubble has slowed in the UK so people have increasingly looked abroad for such investments. Many countries are currently seeing massive economic growth (such as the newly europeanised E European countries and Morocco) and, hence, offer higher perceived returns than putting your money into the UK market.

Moving house in the recession

Alexis — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:46:14 +0000

I keep hearing about people cancelling their plans to move or buy a new home because of the recession.

I dont understand.

I mean, yes, house prices are dropping at long last but that shouldnt make ‘upgrading’ your abode any harder. Surely the drop in house price involved with your current property will be the same ( if not less due to percentage of property value decrease ) so neither party in the property chain is actually any the worse off.

People say : I cant sell as noone is buying, everyone, it appears, is deciding that now is not a good time to move house.

Generally speaking if noone is doing something then it is a good time for you to do it

That is a philiosophy which is either that of fools or geniuses, or both. I firmly believe however that staying with the crowd during a storm increases the likelihood of a dire lightning strike.

Now is the time for those with cojones to take chances.

Through creative investments and daring industry we can turn the economy around.

Debt is a Slippery Slope

Alexis — Fri, 30 May 2008 15:06:50 +0000

The vast increase in the cost of living which is being both subtly ( via the local council and the treasury) and unsubtly ( prices on everything from fuel to condoms on the up) passed on to the working classes - by that I mean those who work - is starting to have an huge impact on society here in the UK.

The dangerous trend of late has been to build up large debts, with the average salaried worker in the UK having to pay some 60% of their wage packet out on debts, council tax and mortgage payments.

Increases in interest rates, house price falls and the actions of the lenders to mitigate their potential losses in the face of recession by withdrawing credit are all conspiring to cause great problems to many people.

Is there a solution one must ask oneself in the face of such outrageous fortune?

Well, just make sure that you are not overstretching yourself, that is all. Try to be a bit frugal and more than anything else try to reduce your obligations. Seek out the very best rates on all your borrowing. Remortage or look to go interest only for the near future and try to pay off your cards, then tear up the evil temptors that they are.

But, above all else. Enjoy yourself, its later than you think.

Eligibility

Alexis — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:04:45 +0000

Pension Regulators have recently changed the way in which pension release applications will be handled, In particular the eligibility for pension unlocking. From April 2010 ( that is under two years away), the age at which you can apply for pension release will go up to 55, from 50.

This means that anyone currently between the ages of 50 and 53 who are considering releasing money from their pension, be it an occupational or personal pension, should think about finding out as much information as possible as soon as possible to prevent a delay should they wish to release their pension at a later date.

Pension release is a process not suitable for the majority of scheme holders as in most cases you will see a far smaller return on investment than had you waited until the policy’s maturation date.

However, should you have a stable financial base and wish to unlock some cash from your pension for a bit of fun, to help out a family member or to pay off debts it is an avenue worth exploring.

Further information is available at Grove FP Pension Release Information and what is more their website is one of the most beautifully designed sites ( Martin Taylor ) I have ever seen.

Pension Release Change

Alexis — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:22:36 +0000

If you are a UK resident aged between 50 and 55 considering releasing cash from your pension you would be well advised to initiate proceedings sooner rather than later.

New guidelines introduced recently have stipulated that the age at which you can apply for a Pension Release will increase to 55 in the year 2010.

In effect this means that is you are aged 50 now you are able to apply to unlock your pension, whereas after April 2010 if you remain under 55 this option will no longer be available to you.

It is not a Credit Crunch - it is a Recession

Alexis — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:07:06 +0000

It is not a Credit Crunch - it is a Recession

Home Security

Alexis — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:16:24 +0000

Home Security is an increasingly important issue for the householder or tenant.

In the wake ( good choice of word there ) of last year’s flood damage many of the major insurance companies were forced to pay out several hundred million pounds in flood damage insurance claims home insurance premiums have increased markedly. The credit crunch ( that is the euphemism being used by both politicians to describe the RECESSION which is upon us ), has hit all sectors of society in different ways; the big money men, like the banks and insurance companies are having to be a little more careful, increasing premiums and decreasing dividends; banks and lending institutions are acting with reluctance in passing on the cut in interest rates, recently implemented by the Bank of England, to their customers; Mortgage companies have taken the unprecedented step of not accepting mortgage applications and Credit Card companies have withdrawn cards and cut limits.

In this malignant economic climate there is also an increase in crime and personal security has become never more important.

You can avail yourself of many home security measures at Crime Prevention Products, an online retailer of Personal Security Devices and Products. Improved door security and the addition of door alarms, wedge restraints and the like can raise safety levels in the home as can the addition of strategically placed security lights, which offer a high level of dissuasion to would be criminals.

First Direct Stop Mortgage Applications

Alexis — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:37:27 +0000

First Direct, a major UK bank and lending institution, has taken the shocking step of withdrawing mortgages for new customers.

This was a direct self presevation move in direct reaction to a huge flood of applications the bank had received as a result of its favourable rates.

I could go on about it for ages. It appears that First Direct will only do this temporarily, but it is like man, this really is a sign, a portent of evil recession round the corner. high level meetings are considering options previously unthinkable - and implementing them,,,,, we are all doomed.

Releasing Pensions for Mortgages

Alexis — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:53:16 +0000

Getting on the housing ladder is more and more difficult these days, wages have not kept pace, not by a long way, with the rise in house prices and for first time buyers, in many areas, the cost of buying a first property has swept well beyond reach.

So there are nowadays more and more options being explored by first time buyers in order to get that first mortgage.

Some people, who cant borrow enough to buy a suitable property have been experimenting in the buy to let market, purchasing property - often buying a flat far too small for them to live in, but letting that out and living in rented accommodation, thus at least getting on the housing ladder.

Others are saving hard, living in private rented accommodation, in the hope that they will soon have a large enough deposit to allow that elusive first purchase, but they have found that house price rises over recent years have meant that they are moving no nearer as they save.

Recent small drops in the prices of houses still have meant that in many areas the average price of a 2 bedroom flat is between 7 and 10 times the average salary. Naturally with talk of recession and a drop in house prices there will be an initial surge of optimism, This should be well dampened by the banks reaction when they, in order to protect themselves, lower the amount available to lenders.

Increasingly the first time buyer generation is looking to its elders for help. Many children are asking their equity heavy parents to release a large sum to help them get a good mortgage deal. - Over 50’s are often looking to unlock money from their pensions ( in a process known as Pension Release ) to help with deposits.

Similarly there is an increasing trend for young families to look into other options such as property sharing/ moving abroad, housing cooperatives (AKA Jenny Coyte of Brighton) and many less traditional takes on the housing matter.