“Janine Stone invited leading property consultant Simon Barnes to share his views and predictions on the prime central London property market and what may lie ahead for 2015…”
The Janine Stone Journal offers “an insight into the world of Janine Stone with a spotlights on the things that inspire and pique her curiosity from the world of art, culture, design, travel, people and places…”
Please click on extract (below) to read the full article:
عدم استقرار حتى الانتخابات العامة.. ثم مرحلة نمو
يقول بارنز إنه لم يشهد أي تغيير جذري في سوق لندن منذ الصيف الماضي. ولكنه لاحظ تراجع الأسعار في قمة السوق لسبب واضح هو أن
بعض العقارات صارت مقيّمة بأكثر من قيمتها الحقيقية. وهو يؤكد وجود الكثير من النشاط في قمة السوق ويعتقد أن نشاط الشراء سوف يستمر في العام المقبل بلا تراجع. أما عن مخاوف الانتخابات العامة في بريطانيا ونتائجها، يقول بارنز إن هؤلاء المترددين في الشراء الآن بسبب
احتمال فرض ضرائب عقارية بعد الانتخابات لم يكن في نيتهم الشراء في كل الأحوال.
From Aawsat.com: 23 November by Adel Murad
“Simon Barnes says he has not seen any radical change in the London market since last summer, but noted the decline in the market price summit for the obvious reason is that some real estate has become a resident for more than their true value. It confirms the existence of a lot of activity in the market summit believe that buying activity will continue in the next year without a decline. As for the general election in Britain and results concerns, Barnes says that those hesitant to buy now because of the possibility of imposing real estate taxes after the election did not intend to buy it in any case”
Super-yachts (usually defined as any luxury yacht – sail or motor – over 24 metres) are seen in luxury locations throughout the world; in the Mediterranean and in the Caribbean, and from Sydney to Miami. For many ‘ultra-rich’ people owning, entertaining and being seen in your private yacht is the the ultimate goal and symbol of your success.
While some of the best known super-yachts are owned by royalty and the wizards of Silicon Valley, most people who own their own super-yacht are captains of industry; hedge fund managers, entrepreneurs and industrialists from old and emerging markets.
But most of the super-yachts you will see in Abu Dhabi or Monaco for the Grands Prix, in Cannes for the Film Festival or for the cruising season in St Barts, St Thomas or Antigua are not owned but chartered for anything from a week to a season. Many people who could afford to own and run a super-yacht choose to charter because they do not need the yacht all year round and it is enormously expensive to run and to maintain, whether you are actually using the yacht or not.
Typically it will cost up to half a million Euros to fill the tank of a chartered super-yacht with diesel; and that is likely to last you for a month or so. Even when the yacht is not being used it will cost unbelievable large sums to moor and to maintain. In addition most super-yachts must be removed from the water every two or three years for a major overhaul which will include essential repairs and the installation of new equipment and systems.
From The London Magazine, November 2014 by Caroline Kamp
“… branded appliances are a shorthand for quality in the rest of the build. People who pay as much attention to the type of oven as the speakers, stereo and lighting system,”says property developer Simon Barnes. “It sets the precedent positively or negatively for the rest of the house. Most people have their mind made up by the time they get to the first floor, generally speaking. If you haven’t got the kitchen right then you’ve lost their interest in the rest of the house….”
To view a pdf of the London Magazine article please click here
A third of my clients in recent years have been looking to acquire property in London for investment purposes, and as such, knowledge of the intricacies involved in finding the right property, in the right location, at the right price, has never been more important.
Traditionally in a buoyant market, investors have taken all kinds of risks, buying unseen property in secondary locations and previously untested markets. Since the beginning of the recession, the London market has become incredibly challenging, and it is now crucial that investors ‘buy right’ and resist the temptation to take risks.
The choice of the London postcode is arguably the single most important consideration in the buying process. If budget allows, the appeal of fringe areas pegged as ‘up and coming’ should be resisted in favour of the more established addresses such as Mayfair, Belgravia, Knightsbridge, Notting Hill and Kensington. Although it is true that these prime locations come with a higher price tag than their lesser-known neighbours, it will always be money well spent.
In a strong market, properties in fringe locations will sell, but may take longer to do so than their counterparts in established addresses. However, in a weaker market these kinds of property will quickly become less appealing as serious buyers are inclined to wait for something with a stronger investment guarantee. [Read more…]