With research showing that a greater range of appealing properties are available now in comparison to five years ago, increasing numbers of fledgling investors are now getting involved in the market.
Richard Reed, head of property at John Pye Property, says that the idea of a “stereotypical” property investor is no longer accurate, with innovations in technology opening up the market to an entirely new audience.
He said: “The image of the middle-aged man in a suit with a medium-sized portfolio is giving way to a new breed of investor.
With the emergence of the online property market and an ever-growing variety of properties that are suitable for buy-to-let, investors in 2018 are having to become digitally savvy and prepared to think outside the box when it comes to making their purchase.”
One such investor is Ashley Dawn of Starling Investors, who started her investment journey in 2017 and focuses on properties in South Yorkshire.
She said: “Property investors welcome as many different ways of buying houses as possible. Online auctions are certainly a step in the right direction and help keep property investing up to date with modern technologies.”
Ashley has used a mixed property strategy and took to investing as a way to give her the passive income to be more financially free and spend more time on her other passions, such as travelling and farming.
She says: “There used to be such a thing as a 'typical property investor', but there doesn't appear to be that demographic anymore. At networking events, I meet families, couples, single parents and teenagers straight out of college, so it really is varied.
I believe property will always be a sound investment and I think people have started to realise that property is a far safer pension pot and offers more security and greater returns than a lot of other trade or investment options available.”
A recent survey conducted by John Pye Property found that the majority those at the heart of the UK’s property scene see a positive picture of the current market, with 62% of the respondents noting an increase in the number of affordable properties available.
Reed said: “There is no doubt that the industry is changing and the growth of the online property market is playing a huge part in this. Our monthly online property auctions have generated millions of pounds in sales since they began in 2013, with successful bidders from across the UK and around the globe.
We anticipate that the online property trade will continue to grow going forward, and in doing so will usher in a new generation of property investors.”
