Paresh Raja, CEO of Market Financial Solutions, says: “With Brexit scheduled to take place in March 2019, there is still much uncertainty surrounding the nature of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. However, such ambiguity has not dampened the spirits of prospective homebuyers and property investors.
Historically, real estate has proven itself to be a safe and secure asset by offering stable, long-term returns. As a result, demand for property remains high. Recent figures revealed that the average house prise in the UK rose by 3% in the 12 months to June 2018 and this positive trend has been met with enthusiasm from landlords, with new research saying that more than half feel positive about the current state of the market. Inspiring confidence throughout the sector, this development signifies a positive outlook for the future of the property market over the coming year, particularly in light of the fast approaching Brexit deadline.”
Mario Berti, CEO of Octopus Property, agrees, adding: “Despite wider market uncertainty, the returns available from owning, investing in and developing the right type of real estate continue to be favourable versus other asset classes, something that we expect to continue moving forward.
This is for a number of reasons including: the supply/demand imbalance (not enough houses being built), the continued availability of cheap credit and a healthy economy. Let’s not forget the fact that the UK remains a great place to do business.”
And this positive sentiment is reflected by James Bloom, Managing Director of Short Term Lending at Masthaven, who comments that while the UK has suffered a housing slowdown, with many investors choosing to hold until market conditions become clearer after Brexit, the market continues to be upbeat.
He says: “The short-term sector has remained buoyant and continues to perform well. We are seeing more new entrants coming into the market which is increasing competition and providing customers with an even wider choice of products. This has led to even more product innovation as lenders compete in this increasingly popular market. We have exciting updates as we further enhance our product range and look forward to sharing the news with the market in due course.”
Intermediaries can learn more about upcoming developments and the future of the market after March 2019 at The Finance Professional Show, which takes place at Olympia London on 7 November. The show features a CPD-certified multi-format conference programme, with an opportunity to quiz industry experts on their view foe the market, and almost 100 lenders and providers, including Market Financial Solutions, Octopus Property and Masthaven.
Speaking about the show, Masthaven’s Bloom says: “We have a long-standing relationship with The Finance Professional Show and are confident that the show this year will be another great success – it’s a great opportunity to have such a large part of the broker community all under one roof.”
