Bottom Line: Bubble fears will always haunt Dubai floats December 3, 2013 PEOPLE have short memories. Except, that is, about situations where they’ve lost a lot of money. Since the financial crisis there are a lot more investors in the market who’ve been burnt before – and they’ll never forget that time Dubai property prices fell over 50 per cent between 2008 and 2010. So it’s no [...]
Capco’s Covent Garden scheme wins approval December 11, 2013 CAPITAL & Counties (Capco) was given the go-ahead by Westminster Council yesterday to build a leisure and residential scheme connecting two of Covent Garden’s busiest shopping areas. The developer wants to transform the space between King Street and Floral Street within its £1.1bn Covent Garden estate, creating a new public courtyard overlooked by eight shops, [...]
Building’s brisk growth driven by new houses December 3, 2013 BRITISH builders are recovering rapidly as the economy begins to turnaround, recording the fastest expansion in business for over six years in November. The latest purchasing managers’ index (PMI) from Markit and the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply hit its highest level since August 2007. On its own, residential construction surged at the quickest [...]
London house prices barely slowing in 2014 December 10, 2013 HOUSE prices in the capital will continue to soar next year, rising by up to seven per cent, estate agent Marsh and Parsons predicted yesterday. The agency has 18 buyers on its books for every prime London property, well up on the 13.5 a year ago and a level which will keep the market rising. [...]
Workspace sells biscuit factory October 24, 2013 Office space provider Workspace has sold a large chunk of its 11 acre Tower Bridge Business Complex – also known as the biscuit factory – to Grosvenor for £51m. The Aim-listed group said yesterday that Grosvenor will develop the seven acres it has bought into a residential scheme with 800 new homes. As part of [...]
WWII victory site converted into new flats December 5, 2013 The 18th century former RAF mansion goes on sale as four luxury apartments A MANSION that served as the RAF’s headquarters during the Battle of Britain has been converted into luxury family homes that pay homage to its illustrious past. Bentley Priory Mansion House in Stanmore, north west London, overlooks vast lawns where two replicas [...]
Position your portfolio for a cautiously optimistic 2014 January 6, 2014 Large cap success, a stronger dollar, risky bonds, and volatility should be key themes DESPITE troubles in emerging economies, 2013 proved to be a strong year for developed economy equity markets. And while remaining cautious about the coming months, investors also have reason to be optimistic about 2014. With economic data improving, corporate earnings better-than-expected, [...]
Kickstart institutional investment to build new homes for generation rent October 29, 2013 INVESTORS have long enjoyed a love/hate relationship with property. An asset class dominated by commercial real estate, it delivers diversification and a reasonable yield in the good times. But in difficult times, upward-only rent reviews vanish, and fund managers are left wrestling with high voids and bad debts. Residential real estate, meanwhile, has largely been [...]
Help to Buy assists 155 per cent boost in Nationwide profits November 15, 2013 British building society Nationwide has reported a whopping underlying profit increase of 155 per cent, for the six months to the end of September. Underlying profit was £332m compared to £130m during the same period in 2012. Nationwide attributed the dramatic growth to increased lending and a burst of new customers switching to the building [...]
Focus on… Pimlico: Live among Regency architecture in pretty Pimlico October 10, 2013 HANDSOME Pimlico sits to the south of its grander sister Belgravia in the heart of the City of Westminster. Separated by Victoria Station on the north side and the River Thames to the south, the small, mainly residential, area is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture. It’s home to over 350 [...]