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Surging demand and high returns for UK short-term holiday let investments

We’ve all experienced how the pandemic has changed the way we live, work and holiday. Did you know UK tourism and holiday accommodation is one of the key property sectors that has shown the greatest resilience to the economic challenges of Covid-19 and the post-Brexit landscape?  People have been buying residential buy-to-let properties for almost two decades and by 2019 disillusionment has set in with much of what was on offer. Economic uncertainty, delays to completions, higher stamp duty, less favourable tax breaks, rogue tenant issues and a lot of changes to UK landlord responsibilities in favour of the tenant,

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Finance

First-time buyers choose location over space

Unlike families in London who are dispersing into the suburbs for bigger space, Millennials are purchasing property within the capital, preferring location over space. According to Hamptons International, the number of inner London homes (Zones 1-3) sold to first-time buyers rose by seven per cent to 35 per cent from 28 per cent pre-lockdown. In contrast, the number of homes sold in outer London (Zones 4-6) fell by five per cent to 31 per cent from the previous 36 per cent sales. According to the latest data, the average age of first-time buyers in the UK is 34 years old which

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News

What will a post pandemic property market look like?

We look at post-Covid work habits, a return to normal in residential housing marketplaces, how the retail business is recuperating from the epidemic Economics on a Global Scale The ongoing growth of the Delta variant of Covid-19, as well as operational problems, is slowing economic expansion in major economies. Other new variants, such as the one found in South Africa, could be even more dangerous.  Parts, equipment, and labor shortages, as well as inefficient and difficult shipping, are causing concern about inflation. We assume that any increase will be temporary, and that financial institutions will not be pushed to raise

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Finance

UK’s 3 Top Holiday Destinations – Places to Keep an Eye on for Holiday Rental Purchases

London What better way to enjoy the United Kingdom if not to stay in its famed capital city – London. City slickers will find pleasure strolling the streets of the city along the River Thames. The historical enthusiast, on the other hand, will find himself marvelling at the mere sight of the Tower of London, or of the millennium-old White Tower, the Buckingham Palace, and the Natural History Museum. Architectural breakthrough is also seen in buildings such as the Parliament Buildings, the Big Ben, and Nelson’s Column, all to the amazement of an artist’s keen eye to details. Edinburgh Scotland’s

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News

Top 5 Australian cities foreign buyers are eyeing

Foreign buyers flock to Australian cities for its resilient economy and good trade relation Thanks to Australia’s resilient economy and good trade relations with other countries, it’s become a great destination for foreign investors and buyers. The country offers a wide variety of investment options in a large number of different industries. Some of the reasons why Australia is a popular choice among foreign investors include: Australia’s property market has shown consistent growth. Even during the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-2008, Australian property prices continued to increase, unlike the property prices in the UK and the USA which went down. Australia

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News

Science and technology’s crucial role in ‘Global Britain’

The UK is witnessing a moment of seminal change, charting a new course for its role as a global leader. While 10 Downing Street made the decision to leave the European Union, it was the pandemic that forced its citizens to snub globalisation and take a more regional approach. At the same time, the recent publication of the UK Integrated Review finds “Global Britain” in an advantageous position wherein it can reignite old relationships and strengthen new ones through one single sector—technology.  From an insider’s viewpoint, technology is seeing a phenomenal amount of changes. Among others, it is being used to connect

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News

COVID-19 and its effects on homebuying preferences in the UK

Close to the sea with a sprawling garden and a spacious garage—these are the kind of homes that UK homebuyers are currently looking for The COVID-19 situation has certainly changed the kind of properties Brits prefer, but with the easing of lockdown restrictions, former homebuying priorities seem to be making a comeback.  Rightmove, one of Britain’s top property websites, reported that Cornwall has become the most sought-after location on its portal, dethroning London from the top position. The shift in trends has also bumped Devon to third place, whereas Dorset moved all the way from the 20th to the 10th

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Finance

Asian cities dominate GFCI 29

New York, London, and Shanghai maintain the top 3 spots followed by Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo, and Shenzhen The world’s financial systems are starting to stabilise with vaccines being rolled out on a daily basis and things are going back to normal. The pandemic had a significant impact on financial markets and this is reflected in the latest Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) where Asian cities dominated the rankings. Of the top 10 financial centres, only Frankfurt’s rating improved by 12 points, while the other hubs dipped in ratings. Overall, the index scores are lower compared to 2019, but the average

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Hong Kong News

JLL: APAC commercial property transaction volumes to improve by 15-20% in 2021

The pandemic accelerated industry trends and revealed an exciting ‘opportunity in obsolescence’ in Asia’s commercial property sector As we enter the second year since the coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc in the world, we are now starting to see some positive light. Outlook for commercial property in Asia is improving as industries stabilise and growth areas prop up demand for office spaces. Traditional sectors like finance and service were hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, but this may not be fully attributed to the virus. Talking to Bloomberg Markets Asia, JLL APAC CEO Anthony Couse said that the pandemic only accelerated

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News

Why Penang still tops the Malaysian holiday home market

Next to Kuala Lumpur, Penang is probably the most highly urbanized island in all of Malaysia. It is home to more than 1.7 million Malaysians who enjoy high standards of living but with considerably minimal costs than that of KL. Although a haven of development, Penang still houses the charm of the old-world – breathtaking coastlines, lush greenery, nature parks, wild animals, to name a few. This is primarily the reason why both foreign nationals and locals are drawn to getting their prized properties in the region. Realty developments in Penang are mostly centred in its capital city, Georgetown. The

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