INVESTMENT ADVICE

Tailored to you

Whether you are a first time buy-to-let (BTL) investor or an experienced portfolio landlord, we at VIKINGS understand what is required for you to achieve a maximum potential for your investment.

VIKINGS offers you comprehensive advice every step of the way helping you decide which is the right type of property for you to purchase, what property provides the best yield/capital appreciation, and the level of professional management for your property. We aim to furnish you with a service that provides you with a rewarding and satisfying journey through the world of property investment.

VIKINGS has been managing landlords’ investments for over 37 years and during this time we have gained invaluable knowledge and experience in all matters relating to property investment. We aim to pass on our knowledge and expertise to ensure that you feel your investment is in safe hands with us for many years to come.

Whilst each individual’s needs are different, the basic guidelines for property investment advice remain the same.  In our informative guide (below) we outline the fundamental advice for investing in property.  However, if you would like to discuss your requirements on a more personal level please feel to contact us for either an initial informal chat, or to arrange a private investment advice meeting.  We are confident we will come up with the right tailormade package for you and your property.
It is likely you will require a buy-to-let mortgage to finance the purchase. You will need to speak to a financial advisor to find out how much you can borrow and how much deposit you will need to put down on the purchase. Typically, you will need a deposit of 20 – 25% of the loan to value of the property.  You may be in a fortunate position where you are cash buyer; however, it is worth considering not to use all of your cash to purchase one property.  By taking out a BTL mortgage you could split the money and buy multiple properties, taking advantage of the very favourable interest rates that BTL lenders have been offering in recent years. It may be that you currently have BTL mortgages; it is well worth having them reviewed to see if there are better deals available that will improve your rental return.  You may also be able to release equity from your existing property to help you invest in more properties.  Speak to our BTL specialist, Wolsey Mortgage Company, for in-depth advice.

As obvious as it sounds, you are not going to be living in the property; therefore, it is beneficial to make the purchase purely on a business basis. Market research is key when deciding on the right property for investment.  There are many things to consider, such as: what location has a good rental demand? Which are up-and-coming areas?  Which type of property is most suitable for renting? Will the property be easy to maintain initially and ongoing?  Is your tenant audience a young professional or a young family?

Remember, always be patient; it may take time choosing the right property but it will be time well spent. VIKINGS has been helping investors choose the right property for over 37 years and we would be happy to advise you based on our expert knowledge of the local market.

Rental yield is the most important factor in your decision to invest in property. Your rental yield is the annual return you will receive from your rental income, as a guide: a 5% return is considered a good return in the current marketplace.

A simple way to calculate the rental yield on your property is:

Divide the annual rental income (or expected rental income) by the property’s purchase price (or current market value) then multiply by 100 to get the percentage.

The other key factor in your decision to invest is your capital appreciation (gain) on the property.  This is viewed by many as long-term gain; it is important, therefore, for you to maintain and improve the property over your period of ownership. Typically, if you held onto the investment for 10 years you are likely to achieve a sizeable gain based on property value increases over the last 10 years.  We should add that a lot depends on economic and property market conditions at the time of sale, which will have an impact on what gain you actually achieve.

There are also tax implications for both rental income and capital gain, so please ensure you seek advice from a qualified accountant to ascertain your potential liabilities.

Stamp Duty is something that many investors forget to consider when factoring in purchasing costs.  Please use our stamp duty calculator to work out how much you will need pay.  The latest information can be found here.

Once you have purchased your property, it is vital that your investment is looked after on an ongoing basis. Property management can be time-consuming, not to mention a legal minefield if you are unsure of what is required. VIKINGS’ property management team has an unrivalled wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to looking after your investment.  We will find the right tenant for your property, carry out all required legislative checks and deal with the day-to-day running of the property on your behalf. Any maintenance issues that arise need to be dealt with promptly and effectively; our qualified team of tradespersons are on hand to deal with any maintenance issues on your behalf, along with an out-of-hours emergency callout service. The efficiency of a property management service is a key ingredient to maintaining a harmonious relationship between you (the landlord) and your tenant. VIKINGS aims to provide that service allowing you to relax and watch your invest grow over the coming years. Please feel free to contact us directly should you wish to further discuss any aspect of property investment.  We’re here to help.