Many of you will, I trust, be reading this August edition while enjoying a well earned break with a summer holiday. Unfortunately the property marketplace does not take a break, albeit activity levels are more subdued.
Our lead article on page 15 looks at the prospects for investing in real estate investment trust (REITs), which do appear to be currently priced at levels that may appear attractive given the steep falls in value in the last year or so.
One could also apply the same logic when looking at buying commercial property to convert into residential use, given occupier demand pressures on many owners of both retail and office properties.
As you can read on page 22, David Kemp outlines the potential opportunities upcoming following the government’s recent announcement in reviewing what could in future be classed as permitted development. The consultation process will end in some six weeks but it’ll be a while before it is clear just what will be actually allowed. However, I have little doubt that some new opportunities will soon be out there for astute investors and developers, to turn unwanted commercial liabilities into valuable residential assets.
Elsewhere in this edition we have a focus on the realities of investing in the social housing sector on page 18, which should be noted by anyone who thinks the sector is a pathway to instant riches. Yes there are clearly opportunities, particularly with development in some of the sector’s niches, but it’s more complex to achieve success than some want to make out and there’s also lots of regulations to be aware of.
Our investor interview this month is on page 27, with two award winning entrepreneurs who are certainly not resting on their laurels. Having multiple strategies in place on a variety of projects seems a recipe for success for them, as they now take on larger properties.
We have not one but two excellent contributions this month on property development, as on page 30 Ritchie Clapson explains about ‘value engineering, whilst on page 40 Robert Wilson looks at the pros and cons to consider with challenging sites for development.
And finally on page 34, Adam Lawrence reminds us that despite the undoubted challenges in the current marketplace for landlords and developers, buying opportunities are now more favourable than in recent years. It is said that fortune favours the brave, so maybe it’s time to get off that sun lounger.
