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Should I invest in property right now or wait? After two years rife with uncertainty, you may now be asking yourself this question.
At the time of writing, fresh concerns have arisen with the new Omicron Covid-19 variant beginning to spread across the globe.
With such rising issues, you might now be hesitant to take the plunge and put your money on the line.
So, is property a good investment in UK 2021 and 2022, is now a good time to invest in property, should you invest in property UK, is it the right time to invest in real estate?
Let’s find out the answers to all these questions and more in this simple beginner’s guide.
Here, you’ll learn:
So, whether you’re making a first-time investment in the UK or are already a seasoned investor, the following guide is perfect for you.
To help determine if now is a good time to buy an investment property, let’s start our guide by looking at how the UK property market has performed over the last 12 months.
We’ll take a look at average UK house prices, the rental market, and the UK student sector to see what growth the industry has seen in 2021.
One of the biggest indicators of a healthy property investment is rising property prices, which will allow real estate investors to sell their buy to let or real estate investment for a profit.
Thankfully for prospective investors, the UK market has seen massive growth over the last two years.
According to official Land Registry data on the UK House Price Index, the current average UK property price is valued at £269,945 – a record-high.
This means over the last 12 months, the average UK property value has increased by 11.76%.
A report from the Guardian in August 2021 found that UK property prices were increasing at the fastest rate since 2004, with Rightmove finding that buyer demand was twice as high as pre-pandemic levels in September 2021 as a result of pent up demand caused by three UK national lockdowns.
The strength of UK residential properties has been mirrored in the student investment market, too.
A report released by Savills in Q1 2021 found that over £5.77 billion was spent on purpose-built student accommodation in 2020. This is while UCAS applications increased by 8.1% in 2021.
The massive level of investment, Savills says, is a sign that investors remain confident in the return potential of PBSA.
This is good news for investors, particularly those looking to diversify their portfolio, with both student rental properties and traditional residential rental property offering significant returns.
You can learn more about the UK student market by reading our guide to student property investment.
The UK rental market suffered through most of 2020 but experienced a significant resurgence in 2021.
A report from the National Residential Landlords Association in March 2021 analysed the market and found that over 7% of tenants – roughly 840,000 people – had built up arrears due to Covid. 18% of those arrears were priced at over £1,000.
This had an impact on landlord profits, with 60% of NRLA members losing income from the pandemic.
However, the rental market proved resilient throughout the remainder of 2021. A report from estate agents Hamptons found that it took just 8.9 days to rent out a property in April 2021, down from 31.9 days in April 2019.
Rental demand has been so high, in fact, that popular cities like Manchester now have fewer than 500 rental properties available according to Urban bubble – the lowest ever-amount.
This has led to an increase in monthly rent, with HomeLet finding that the average UK rent reached a record-high of £1,061 PCM.
Now that we’ve looked at what happened to the UK housing market in 2021, it’s time to assess if now is a good to invest to invest in property and if you should invest in property now or wait.
Below you will find reasons why it is a good time to invest in property and why it may not be the best idea for you in 2022.
Thanks to the huge capital growth potential in the UK, real estate investors can earn some serious landlord profits in 2022.
Over the past year, UK prices have increased by over 8.1%, and this can get even higher depending on where you buy the property.
For instance, in Liverpool, property prices increased by over 15.42%.
This is why research is vital for a property investor, as you can find a seriously profitable investment in 2022 depending on what city you buy your property.
Alongside the huge capital growth, buy to let property is also thriving in 2021 and 2022.
Over the last 12 months, rental income reached a record-high of £1,061 PCM, thanks to high demand seen across the UK rental market.
Rental demand has been high in the UK for several years, particularly in areas popular with students and young professionals.
In 2021, however, the housing market saw a surge in demand for rental accommodation due to changing attitudes during the pandemic.
Renters are now more focused on finding apartments and homes that they’re comfortable in, allowing them to efficiently work from home.
This has meant that properties with qualities like high-speed internet and desk space have risen in popularity.
Due to this higher annual rental income and affordable prices, the average UK rental yield has exploded, with cities like Manchester offering almost 9% gross rental yields.
The future of the rental market seems safe, too, with research estimating that by 2039, the number of UK renters will exceed the number of homeowners.
The housing market has proved time and time again how resilient it can be.
While one of the risks of investing in rental property is that property prices can fluctuate with changing real estate market trends, the property market has repeatedly shown its resilience.
With the likes of Brexit and Covid-19 decimating the stock market and causing the worst crash since 1987 in 2020, property has remained strong, providing a welcome boost of certainty in the face of Covid variants like Omicron.
Thanks to this resilience, property investors can feel confident that their rental property will remain an income-generating investment for many years to come.
Another reason why you should invest in property now is the considerable property price growth anticipated in the coming years.
Industry experts Savills recently updated their renowned long-term huge growth predictions up to 2026, with the UK expected to see a 13.1% rise in property prices by 2026.
This gets even higher in certain locations, with the North West and Yorkshire and The Humber expected to see an 18.8% rise in prices.
Rent is also set to rise, with the same report finding that rent will increase by 19.9% by 2026.
Again, this is why research is important in UK property to maximise your investment and choose areas with high growth potential.
Maybe you’re a first-time buyer in the UK property investment market. Or, you could just be an investor who usually invests solely in the stock market but is looking for a way to build a diversified portfolio.
Whatever your reason to explore investments in the UK property market, the time to start investing in UK property is now.
As Warren Buffet once said:
‘Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.’
When others who would normally be buying and selling their own investments are behaving cautiously, the most successful investors act fast and take advantage of every opportunity to build wealth.
There’s a lot of evidence to suggest that right now is the best time to buy property for investment purposes. Property prices are set to continue rising massively, and many UK developers have started offering temporary deals for their properties.
Savvy investors who are prepared to negotiate will find that they’re able to get the most for their money on top of the already below-market rates that come with off-plan properties.
7% Assured Rental Yields
North West Regeneration Hotspot
High Assured Rental Income
Exclusive deals of the week
Up to 6.5% Projected Rental Return
Secure a Unit With as Little as £62,732
7% Assured Rental Yields
North West Regeneration Hotspot
High Assured Rental Income
Exclusive deals of the week
Up to 6.5% Projected Rental Return
Secure a Unit With as Little as £62,732
Buy to let is one of the most popular investment strategies for beginner investors due to property investments being a lot more achievable than some other types of venture.
First-time buyers of investment properties will often have lower budgets available than those who are more experienced.
Compared to the process of buying a home to live in, purchasing buy to let properties, particularly those that are off-plan, can be a lot more affordable due to below-market rates offered by developers.
For those who can’t afford to pay for their investment in cash, buy to let mortgages are available.
Investors can use part of their rental income to meet their monthly mortgage payments, which often still allows for a significant rental income depending on rental yields.
Payment plans also allow buyers to split payments into smaller chunks to make the payment process more manageable and straightforward.
With landlord profits getting bigger, huge capital growth predicted for the future, and some excellent investment opportunities available in 2022, it seems that now is the perfect time to invest in property.
However, it should be said that property isn’t for everyone, and it may not be the perfect investment for you.
With this in mind, here are three reasons why now may not be a good time to invest for you.
Landlords are becoming more widespread in the UK, with more and more investors looking to make a safe and strong investment for retirement.
For this reason, the stock of available property has been gradually decreasing throughout the years, leaving a huge supply and demand imbalance.
As such, the government has been doing more to clamp down on investors by increasing taxes and minimising the amount of tax relief available.
For starters, investors now pay a 3% additional charge on base stamp duty rates when buying real estate.
Another substantial addition to the tax bill is when investors are borrowing money with a buy to let mortgage.
Previously, if you had a buy to let mortgage, you could get mortgage interest relief that allowed investors to deduct mortgage interest before paying income tax. This meant that higher rate taxpayers got a 40% tax relief on their mortgage payments.
Now, though, investors get a flat 20% tax credit for both basic rate taxpayers and higher rate taxpayers.
This essentially means a higher tax bill for investors borrowing money to buy rental property.
To learn more about buy to let mortgages, be sure to speak to a mortgage broker to see the best mortgage lenders for you. Alternatively, check out our buy to let mortgage guide, updated for 2022.
While rising property prices are good news for those who already own property, they can be prohibitive for new buyers.
The latest house price report from Rightmove in November 2021 found that the price of new properties coming to market are valued at £342,401 on average.
Although you can find property far cheaper than that, it can still be difficult to afford.
In our guide to how much money you need to invest in property, we found that you’ll need around £30k to afford a £100k property if you choose to get a buy to let mortgage.
If you don’t have £30k available, you may struggle to find the right property for you and secure your own home. If you do have this money now, the answer to the question, “should I invest in property now?”, is yes, as prices are only going to get higher over the coming years.
You can learn more about minimising the costs of buying rental property further down this page.
Unlike stocks and shares that can net you a sizeable return in the short-term, property can take several years to grow in value enough to demonstrate a worthwhile return.
While you will still be earning regular rental income, the true success rate from a buy to let investment is the capital growth you earn over 10 or more years.
This makes property perfect for those planning ahead for retirement, but is less suited to those looking for faster returns.
As such, if you’re asking, “is it the right time to invest in property?” this will depend on your own investment goals and if you’re willing to wait for 10 or more years before your property may double in price.
Landlords are becoming more widespread in the UK, with more and more investors looking to make a safe and strong investment for retirement.
For this reason, the stock of available property has been gradually decreasing throughout the years, leaving a huge supply and demand imbalance.
As such, the government has been doing more to clamp down on investors by increasing taxes and minimising the amount of tax relief available.
For starters, investors now pay a 3% additional charge on base stamp duty rates when buying real estate.
Another substantial addition to the tax bill is when investors are borrowing money with a buy to let mortgage.
Previously, if you had a buy to let mortgage, you could get mortgage interest relief that allowed investors to deduct mortgage interest before paying income tax. This meant that higher rate taxpayers got a 40% tax relief on their mortgage payments.
Now, though, investors get a flat 20% tax credit for both basic rate taxpayers and higher rate taxpayers.
This essentially means a higher tax bill for investors borrowing money to buy rental property.
To learn more about buy to let mortgages, be sure to speak to a mortgage broker to see the best mortgage lenders for you. Alternatively, check out our buy to let mortgage guide, updated for 2022.
While rising property prices are good news for those who already own property, they can be prohibitive for new buyers.
The latest house price report from Rightmove in November 2021 found that the price of new properties coming to market are valued at £342,401 on average.
Although you can find property far cheaper than that, it can still be difficult to afford.
In our guide to how much money you need to invest in property, we found that you’ll need around £30k to afford a £100k property if you choose to get a buy to let mortgage.
If you don’t have £30k available, you may struggle to find the right property for you and secure your own home. If you do have this money now, the answer to the question, “should I invest in property now?”, is yes, as prices are only going to get higher over the coming years.
You can learn more about minimising the costs of buying rental property further down this page.
Unlike stocks and shares that can net you a sizeable return in the short-term, property can take several years to grow in value enough to demonstrate a worthwhile return.
While you will still be earning regular rental income, the true success rate from a buy to let investment is the capital growth you earn over 10 or more years.
This makes property perfect for those planning ahead for retirement, but is less suited to those looking for faster returns.
As such, if you’re asking, “is it the right time to invest in property?” this will depend on your own investment goals and if you’re willing to wait for 10 or more years before your property may double in price.
While the answer to the questions “is property the best thing to invest in right now UK?” is yes, it may not be the perfect investment for you.
Now that we’ve looked at reasons why you might think now is the time to invest in real estate, let’s take a quick look at some alternatives to property investment to see if there are other strategies more suited to your goals.
Firstly, while most of this guide is aimed at those buying residential property to let, it should be said that there are plenty of other strategies to consider.
They include:
You can learn about all these strategies and more by reading our 2022 guide to the best property investment strategies.
For those looking further afield than property, then stocks, cryptocurrency, and even savings accounts may be more suited to your budgets.
Click the links to the guides below to find what strategies are available within your budget.
So, is property still a good investment right now, or should you look at investing in the stock market as an alternative?
The type of investment you choose to make largely depends on your risk tolerance and the type of returns you want.
Typically speaking, stock market investments are more high-risk than property. Since the stock market is highly volatile, the potential losses investors can experience tend to be higher than those seen through property investment.
So aside from the risk factor, why is property a good investment right now? Why invest in property at a time of such uncertainty rather than buying stocks?
As previously mentioned, when you look at property market predictions, all signs point towards a strong future for UK property investments.
For those looking to maximise capital growth through their property investment venture and benefit from high long-term returns, this future growth in house prices means that now is a great time to invest.
If you have the funds available, rather than simply leave your money untouched or dwindle away huge amounts on home improvements, getting started with investing could help you build wealth over time.
For high rental returns, enhanced capital growth, and the lowest possible rates, don’t hesitate to explore UK buy to let opportunities.
Should you invest in property now? Is it a good time to invest in property?
As always, the answer to this is it depends.
While property is undoubtedly a top investment to choose, with rental income, property prices, and rental demand all higher than ever before, the reality is it may not be suited to everyone.
If you want a top short-term investment or don’t have the money needed to buy property, there may be other strategies worth your time.
However, if you want to invest in property, then now is the perfect time to do it, with property prices only going to get more expensive over the next few years.
There are a few ways you can maximise the return potential of your real estate investment.
To finish up our guide to “should I invest in property?” we’re going to give you five topics to think about to help you invest in property in 2022.
Ask yourself are you ready to be a landlord and can you fulfil the landlord responsibilities legally required of you.
If you have a full-time job, this may be difficult, so you’ll need to hire a property management company that will cover all landlord responsibilities for a monthly fee.
With the price of buy to let property increasing across the UK, you may have to opt for a buy to let mortgage.
But keep in mind that buy to let mortgages work differently to traditional mortgages, as they charge higher mortgage interest and mortgage payments and you’ll typically need a 25% deposit.
They’re also mainly interest-only, which means you will only cover the mortgage interest each month without touching the overall debt.
Upon the end of your mortgage term, you’ll need to pay for the full debt.
As mentioned earlier, researching the right location is vital.
You’ll need to consider the affordability of an area, rental yields, rental income, and capital growth potential.
You can learn more about the best places to invest in property in 2022 by reading our guide.
Alternatively, you can read up on specific locations widely considered top property locations like:
To keep property costs to a minimum, buying off-plan property is an ideal solution.
Off-plan property is a property that is available to purchase but hasn’t yet been completed. The benefit of this is below market rates.
For instance, to get the best investment deals UK, you can buy off-plan property with RWinvest for up to 55% below market value.
While the cost of property can generally be around £30k upfront for a £100k property, there’s plenty of other costs you need to consider.
Not only do you need to factor in the upfront cost, but you should also consider maintenance costs, operating expenses like homeowners insurance, and any unexpected costs that can appear.
For a full breakdown, be sure to read our guide on how much money do you need to invest in property in 2022.
7% Assured Rental Yields
North West Regeneration Hotspot
High Assured Rental Income
Exclusive deals of the week
Up to 6.5% Projected Rental Return
Secure a Unit With as Little as £62,732
7% Assured Rental Yields
North West Regeneration Hotspot
High Assured Rental Income
Exclusive deals of the week
Up to 6.5% Projected Rental Return
Secure a Unit With as Little as £62,732
So, is buying property a good investment?
If you’re interested in maximising your income through investment, you should already know that property investments are one of the best and most popular ways to do this.
Rental income is currently higher than ever, with huge property price growth predictions of an 18.8% rise by 2025.
However, a good property investment can depend on the type of property they buy and the area they invest in.
Investors that search for the perfect property can make some significant rental returns if their property has high rental yields. They can also make long-term investment returns through capital appreciation if their property grows in value by the time they sell it.
But what is a good investment property? And what is a good investment property return?
A good investment property is an investment that brings in rental yields of over 5% and is based in an area that has a lot of potential for capital growth.
On the other hand, a great investment property offers rental yields of 7% or over. It is located in an area that boasts strong property price growth predictions and shows evidence of past housing market growth.
When you know where to look, it’s easy to find the best property deals on the market. You should spend time researching the UK housing market to determine the areas with the highest rental yields and fastest-growing house prices.
Depending on your goals, it is a good idea to invest in property. This is because property is a safer investment than cryptocurrency and stocks, and performs well during times of uncertainty. For instance, in the Covid-19 pandemic, property prices increased at their fastest rate since 2004 and reached a record-high of over £250k for the first time ever.
So, is buying property a good investment?
If you’re interested in maximising your income through investment, you should already know that property investments are one of the best and most popular ways to do this.
Rental income is currently higher than ever, with huge property price growth predictions of an 18.8% rise by 2025.
However, a good property investment can depend on the type of property they buy and the area they invest in.
Investors that search for the perfect property can make some significant rental returns if their property has high rental yields. They can also make long-term investment returns through capital appreciation if their property grows in value by the time they sell it.
But what is a good investment property? And what is a good investment property return?
A good investment property is an investment that brings in rental yields of over 5% and is based in an area that has a lot of potential for capital growth.
On the other hand, a great investment property offers rental yields of 7% or over. It is located in an area that boasts strong property price growth predictions and shows evidence of past housing market growth.
When you know where to look, it’s easy to find the best property deals on the market. You should spend time researching the UK housing market to determine the areas with the highest rental yields and fastest-growing house prices.
Depending on your goals, it is a good idea to invest in property. This is because property is a safer investment than cryptocurrency and stocks, and performs well during times of uncertainty. For instance, in the Covid-19 pandemic, property prices increased at their fastest rate since 2004 and reached a record-high of over £250k for the first time ever.
If you’re still wondering ‘should I invest in property now or later?’, asking ‘why invest in property right now?’, and feeling unsure about what to invest in when it comes to UK property opportunities, contact us today.
We’re happy to talk you through the fantastic offers currently available and help open your eyes to the fact that the time to start investing is now.
We are RWinvest, an award-winning property investment company with over 17 years of experience in residential and student property.
If you’re wondering about what to invest in right now, you can buy the best investment deals UK with us, starting from just £38,950 for the stunning Embankment Exchange – a residential riverside skyscraper in Manchester.
Contact us today and start your dream investment journey for up to 8% NET rental yields.
Act fast while stocks last.
Disclaimer: This guide was last updated in December 2021. The content in this guide is offered as guidance only and is not financial advice. For expert advice on making smarter financial decisions, seek out the financial services provided by a financial advisor.
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