Tag: rental yield

16th October 2015

2 bed apartment, Three Bridges, Crawley

Another flat in Commonwealth Drive, Three Bridges, Crawley has just come up for sale. Marketed by Cubitt & West at £220000, this property is £5000 cheaper than a similar apartment we featured a days ago. Apparently there’s an open day tomorrow (17th October) …..so if you’re interested, you’d better get your skates on and give Cubitt’s a call. Here’s their number 01293 263037 ! For more information about the property check out the details on Rightmove at http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-36990450.html

Commonwealth DrLike the property featured recently, rents have been pushing upwards and we’re starting to see these flats let for between £1025 to £1100pcm. Based on the quoted asking price of £220000, this would give a gross yield ranging from 5.6% to 6%. These yield figures are pretty good and we’ve certainly seen them creeping up over the last few months, as demand outstrips supply. You may well see things ease off a bit, however, towards Christmas and further into Jan 2016. Makes you shiver just thinking about it !

If you’d like some advice about property investment in Crawley, then do please get in touch with us. Our advice is free and we’d be more than happy to have a chat with you about our favourite subject ! Whether you’re an experienced landlord or completely new to buy-to-let, give us a call on 01293 515588 or e-mail us on crawley@northwooduk.com

13th October 2015

2 Bedroom Flat, Pembroke Pk, Three Bridges, Crawley

This 2 bedroom flat has just come on to the market today with estate agents, Mansell McTaggart. With a guide price range of £225000 to £235000, the property includes a balcony & allocated underground parking. Here’s the Rightmove link for further details http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55362476.html

Pembroke Pk13-10-15There are two key aspects to this property that should appeal to potential investors. Firstly, there is an en-suite shower to the main bedroom & a shower over the bath in the family bathroom. Secondly, both bedrooms are doubles. The apartment should therefore appeal to both couples and sharers alike, which is certainly an investor plus point in helping to reduce void periods between lets.

Properties like this rent for £1000pcm to £1050pcm in the current market. Assuming you were to buy at the bottom end of the guide price range, you’d expect a gross yield of between 5.3% to 5.6%. Not too bad at all !

If you’re new to buy-to-let investments or are an experienced landlord contemplating adding to your existing portfolio, why not give a call on 01293 515588 for a chat. Alternatively, you can send us an e-mail to crawley@northwooduk.com.

10th October 2015

2 Bedroom, Split Level Maisonette, Ifield, Crawley

Take at look at this 2 bed, split level maisonette in Ifield, Crawley, that has just come on to the market. The property is a “Commission property” i.e. built as part of the Crawley New Town development, post 2nd World War. As such, although it is not new, it has the advantage of much larger all round accommodation, compared with its contemporary counterparts. Add to that a large private garden and we think it would make a good long-term investment.

The property is being marketed by Martin & Co with a Guide Price of £210 000. Here’s the Rightmove link for further details: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51870907.html

Ifield - Warren DrProperty like this one in Ifield, Crawley, will appeal particularly to couples with young children because of the private garden. Based on the guide price, to get a 5% gross annual return, you would need to achieve a rent of £875pcm. We would estimate that a property like this should achieve £875pcm to £950pcm.

If you’re looking for property investment in and around Crawley, or know someone who is, give us a call on 01293 515588 to discuss what options are available in the area. Alternatively, e-mail us on crawley@northwooduk.com.

8th October 2015

3 Bed Semi, Three Bridges, Crawley 

This property has just popped up today in St Richard’s Mews, Broomdashers Road, Three Bridges, Crawley. On the market with King & Chasemore for offers in the region of £290 000, the property was previously marketed for £299 950 from April this year. The drop in price is probably an indication that the vendors are motivated and would really like to sell in the current “selling season”. For more details here’s the Rightmove link: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-54703412.html

Broomdashers 8-10-15As an investment, this property would appeal to a family with children. In our opinion it is has a number of things going for it. These include: 2 allocated parking spaces and proximity to local schools, the town centre & Three Bridges station for fast trains to London – good for commuters. Decoratively, at least from the pictures, it also appears to be in good condition.

The other feature we like about this property is that it is Halls Adjoining with next door. So, if the next door neighbours are overly sensitive to noise from TV’s etc….. the doors to the lounge/diner can be closed providing a sound barrier. Less hassle for tenants, neighbours & landlords alike !

Looking at houses in the area from a rental perspective, this type of property should achieve between £1200pcm & £1250pcm (and may be more). Based on these rental figures and assuming you could secure the property for £290 000, you would expect to get a gross yield of between around 4.9% to 5.2%. Of course, as an investor with (presumably) no dependent sale, you might be in a strong position to negotiate the price even lower, particularly if you are willing to do the deal quickly !

If you’re an experienced landlord looking for new property investments, or perhaps you’re new to “Buy-to-Let” and would like some advice, why not call us on 01293 515588 for a chat about  the different options Crawley has to offer. You can also e-mail us on crawley@northwooduk.com

7th October 2015

Two bedroom flats in Maidenbower

Here are 2 two bed flats that, according to the agents, have been reduced in price today. The flats are in Greyrigg Rd, Maidenbower, Crawley, towards the “Audi” garage end.  The properties are on with Inspire & Zoom995, both with a guide price of £220000. The Rightmove links for further details are: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-36042066.html & http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-54342965.html.

GreyriggThe development is only just over 4 years old and the last flat to sell went for £220500 in June this year. So what about the flats as investments ?

Currently 2 bedroom flats in this development rent for around £950pcm to £975pcm. Based on the guide price of £220000, you are therefore looking at a gross yield of between 5.2% & 5.3%. So, on the face of it, not too bad an investment.

If you’re considering purchasing these flats for investment purposes, however, there are a couple of provisos to bear in mind. The first, is that both flats do not lend themselves particularly well to professional sharers. Check the Rightmove details and see if you can tell why this is so ! If you’re not sure, just drop us an e-mail (crawley@northwooduk.com) or call us 01293 515588 and we’ll let you into the secret ! The “issue” that I’m referring to can be remedied for no more than a few hundred pounds, but would give you a much wider range of potential tenants to choose from.

The other issue to consider is that these flats are a little bit further away from the mainline station at Three Bridges than those, for example, at Trafalgar Gardens. Again , this might mean a slightly reduced pool of potential tenants and therefore, slightly lower rents and / or longer void periods between rentals.  All that being said, however, the flats would in our opinion, be a good investment option to consider.

If you’re considering property investments in and around Crawley and would like some advice on what to buy (and more importantly, what not to buy !), don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’ve got plenty of experience of the lettings market in Crawley and would be more than happy to have a chat. Alternatively, just drop us an e-mail to crawley@ northwooduk.com.

1st October 2015

2 bedroom apartment, Pound Hill, Crawley

Another month bites the dust ! This 2 bed apartment in Pound Hill, Crawley has just been listed on Rightmove today. Marketed by Moore & Partners it has a Guide Price of £190000. However, the Rightmove details give a price ranging up to £220000, so it’s fairly clear that the vendors are looking for a bit more than £190k. Here’s the link for further details: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-54481715.html

Wakehams Green DrProperty in this area of Crawley usually rents for around the £900pcm to £950pcm mark. So based on these rental figures your maximum gross yield would be a healthy looking 5.7% to 6%. Putting the property on the market at this time of year might also indicate that the vendors would like the deal done before Christmas. So, if you’re an investor and can move quickly, an offer at the lower end of the price range might be just what they’re looking for.

If you’d like to discuss property investments in and around Crawley, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01293 515588. You can also e-mail us on crawley@northwooduk.com.

30th September 2015

2 bedroom flat in Broadfield, Crawley

Here’s an interesting flat that has just come on to the market, at least that’s what I thought when I checked for new properties listed on Rightmove. Apparently, however, it was first listed on 7th August, but I can’t find whether the asking price has changed or not. Well, not to worry too much. The property, in Broadfield, Crawley, is on for £179950 with King & Chasemore – here’s the Rightmove link if you want to look at further details – http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-53926175.html.

Hayling Court

One reason for my interest is that a property like this, although not in the most fashionable part of town, can let for around £875pcm. Based on this rent and an asking price of £179950, you would get a maximum gross annual yield of around 5.8%.

However, just before you get your cheque book out and sign on the dotted line, have a closer look at the area. In July of this year a similar property completed for £166000 i.e. £14k less than is being asked here. In addition, there are two other similar properties currently on the market for £170000. Although there are no internal photos to compare condition, a purchase price of £170000 with a rent of £875 pcm would give a max. gross yield just shy of 6.2% ! Even better !

If you’re looking to increase your lettings portfolio or are new to “Buy-to-Let”, don’t hesitate to give us a call for a chat about property investments in Crawley & surrounding areas. Our advice is free and we might be able to provide you with some insight that you hadn’t considered ! You can also e-mail us on crawley@northwooduk.com.

28th September 2015

Broadfield Outperforms Pound Hill !

One of our landlords popped into the office last week looking at another Buy-to-Let property deal. He was interested in a 3 bedroom house he had seen advertised in Broadfield with another agent. His other investment properties are in Pound Hill and he wanted our opinion as to the pros & cons of buying in Broadfield.

As a letting agent we have property all over Crawley (and many further afield), including a number in both Pound Hill & Broadfield. To compare the two areas for the landlord we firstly looked at the gross rental yields he could expect in an area near to the Broadfield property being considered.  We then compared this to a similar sized area in Pound Hill, where he has his other investment properties. For the purpose of the comparison we just looked at 3 bedroom houses.

You might be surprised to learn, but our analysis showed that the area we considered in Broadfield out performed the area in Pound Hill, regarding gross rental yield ! The difference was just over 2.5%, which is not inconsiderable. The average Broadfield rental yield turned out to be just shy of 7% with average rental prices of £1140 pcm. In contrast, the Pound Hill rental yield was about 4.5%, with average rental prices of about £1290 pcm. So, Broadfield outperforms Pound Hill !

Of course, when buying a rental property, gross rental yield is not the only aspect to consider. Another key criteria to property investment is to look at capital growth. When investing in rental property, some people are mainly looking for yield. They might, for example, be relying on the income from their property investment to supplement their pension. On the other hand, others may be more interested in maximising long-term capital growth, with the intention of unlocking it at some point in the future, by selling.

To complete the picture, we also looked at the capital growth achieved by properties in the Broadfield area and found that over the last 16 or so years, the average 3 bedroom house had increased in value by around 210%, giving an absolute increase in capital of about £130000. However, when we did the same analysis on the Pound Hill area, the comparable capital growth was even more impressive at around 230% i.e. 20% more than in Broadfield ! In absolute money terms, a property purchased in this area about 16 years ago would have increased in capital value by just shy of £250000 !

So there you go. Although Broadfield outperforms Pound Hill as far as gross rental yield is concerned, Pound Hill gives a significantly higher level of capital growth. When thinking about property investments you need to consider whether yield, capital growth or perhaps a combination of the two, suits your circumstances.

Whether you’re an experienced landlord looking to invest in more properties or just tentatively considering taking a first step into Buy-to-Let, why not give us call on 01293 515588 to discuss the various options available to you. Alternatively, just send us an e-mail to crawley@northwooduk.com.

25th September 2015

3 bedroom house, Southgate, Crawley

Here’s another “doer upper” for you to consider. A 3 bedroom terraced house, in Southgate, Crawley.  On at £250000 with local Crawley agent, Taylor Robinson, the Rigtmove link for further details is http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51725176.html.

We’ve recently let a 3 bedroom house in the same area for £1150pcm. Based on this and the purchase price quoted above, you’d get a maximum gross annual yield of  5.5%.

SG25-9-15

However, realistically speaking if you buy this property you’ll have to spend money getting it into a lettable condition. From the picture above the curb appeal could certainly do with improving! Remember one of our lettings Mantras: Good / excellent condition gives higher rents and lower void periods.

In our opinion, the property would need a complete makeover with new bathroom and kitchen. Walls, ceilings, woodwork etc…should be repainted and then new flooring & kitchen appliances installed. If you spent £10k to £15k on the works required and then let the property for £1150pcm, your maximum gross annual yield would still be above 5%, ranging from 5.2% to 5.3%. Not too bad at all.

If you can negotiate the purchase price down, then so much the better. Don’t be frightened to ask for a price reduction and be prepared to walk away if your figures don’t add up. Another word of warning – keep a tight rein on the renovations costs !

If you’re looking for property investments in Crawley or would like a second opinion on a “doer upper” project, we’d be more than happy to have a chat. Give us a call on 01293 51558 or send an e-mail to crawley@northooduk.com.

24th September 2014

3 bedroom house, Gossops Green, Crawley

If you’re looking for a project with great rental potential, here’s a 3 bedroom house, just on today at £250000 with Blakemore & Sons. You’ll notice from the internal photos that the property could do with a makeover. Here’s the Rightmove link for a closer look http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51687262.html.

By renovating / re-decorating a property like this you’ll have a much better chance of reducing void periods and also attracting the best quality tenants. Not rocket science if you think about it.

GG 24-9-15

Assuming that the renovation did not set you back any more than say £5000, you would expect to achieve rent of between £1100 & £1200 pcm. Based on a purchase price of £250000 plus £5000 to renovate, you should expect to get a maximum gross annual yield of between 5.2% and 5.6%. Not bad at all. Of course if you can negotiate the price down a bit, so much the better !

If you’re a property investor looking for your next buy-to-let deal, or perhaps new to this business and making your first tentative enquiries about investing in property, why not give us a call to discuss the different options in the Crawley area. You can also e-mail us on crawley@northwooduk.com.