Investors set sights on spain
• Spain home to two of 10 most popular listings in April
• Student property drives UK investment
• Demand rises for Thailand
Photo: Enrique Freire
Investors are increasingly setting their sights on Spain, according to TheMoveChannel.com's latest Investment Watch report. The country was home to the most popular property listing on the portal in April 2015, as apartments in Murcia caught foreign buyers' attention.
Spain’s double appeal
Spain was responsible for two of the 10 most popular listings on TheMoveChannel.com last month. The Murcia flats, reduced from €425,000 to €123,000, received 15 per cent more enquiries than the second most popular listing. The properties are located 200 yards from the beach and near both Murcia's Corvera airport and Almeria airport. The 100 per cent mortgage and strong rental potential boosted its popularity, as the low price and possibility of income appealed to both investment and lifestyle buyers.
The La Manga resort, also in Murcia, received the ninth highest number of enquiries during April. The apartments, which start at the lower price of £8,648, are available at a 40 to 50 per cent discount from 2007 selling prices and over 23 per cent below current list prices. A rental scheme, as well as year round usage options, also offers potential for both investment and lifestyle buyers.
UK economy boosts returns
The only country to feature more frequently inside the Investment Watch Top 10 was the UK, which was home to four of April's most popular listings.
Britain's growing economy has helped to turned it into a safe haven hub for investors, as buyers prioritise affordable opportunities with strong returns. A car park in Glasgow provided an alternative source of 8 per cent yield (seventh place), just ahead of buy-to-let flats in Manchester (eighth place), offering 7 per cent per annum.
Student property remained the UK's strongest asset, accounting for two of the UK's Top 10 listings. Both listings were located in Leicester, offering 10 per cent NET returns for under £50,000.
Thailand was also responsible for two of the 10 most popular properties. The country has seen rising overseas interest in recent months, as condos in tourist hotspots continue to offer strong rental returns.
TheMoveChannel.com Director Dan Johnson comments: "Thailand and the UK are both promising markets for global investors, thanks to the consistently strong returns available from apartments and condos in each country. The UK's student property sector is also attractive because of its reliable nature: university accommodation has driven a large portion of activity on TheMoveChannel.com for the past 18 months, as attention shifts from London to regional cities, such as Leicester and Leeds.
"Spain, though, led buyer interest on TheMoveChannel.com in April 2015. The weak euro against the strong pound and dollar has boosted spending power significantly for British and American house-hunters this year."
The Murcia apartments were marketed by Property Repossessions Spain. The agents, who specialise in discounted, foreclosed and bank repossessed property, experienced a similar rush of interest at the A Place in the Sun Live exhibition in the UK. The event, which took place at London Olympia from 8th to 10th May, saw the team rushed off their feet.
"Everyone wants to buy now, not in a few months - not next year - but in the next few weeks," Peter Birkett Managing Director of PRS, tells TheMoveChannel.com.
“Bottoming out prices and rental opportunities in tourist hotspots mean that Spanish property is a win for both lifestyle buyers and investors alike," adds Johnson.
"This joint appeal makes it no surprise that the country accounted for one in 10 of all enquiries on the site, according to our latest Top of the Props report."
The full top 10 listings on TheMoveChannel.com in April 2015 are below:
Notes to Editors
About Lead Galaxy and TheMoveChannel.com
Founded in 1999, www.TheMoveChannel.com is the leading independent website for international property, with more than 800,000 listings in over 100 countries around the world, marketed on behalf of agents, developers and private owners.
TheMoveChannel.com is one of more than a dozen international property sites operated under the Lead Galaxy brand. Lead Galaxy provides online marketing solutions to thousands of property companies worldwide, focusing on portal listings, email marketing, qualified leads, paid search and social media advertising.
The business is headquartered at 24 Jack’s Place, Corbet Place, Shoreditch, London, E1 6NN.
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