The Manchester property investment market has been a hot topic in recent years, as the city has experienced significant growth and development. With its thriving economy, strong job market, and diverse population, Manchester has become an attractive location for investors seeking high returns.

Manchester’s property market has seen steady growth over the past decade, with property prices rising by an average of 3% per year. In 2021, the average property price in Manchester was around £200,000, which is significantly lower than other major UK cities such as London and Edinburgh.

One of the main drivers of the Manchester property market is the city’s strong job market. Manchester is home to several large corporations, including the BBC, ITV, and the Co-operative Group, as well as a number of thriving startups and tech firms. The city’s diverse economy means that there are job opportunities in a wide range of industries, including finance, healthcare, and education.

Another factor contributing to Manchester’s property market growth is the city’s booming population. Manchester is one of the fastest-growing cities in the UK, with a population of over 2.8 million people. This growth has led to an increasing demand for housing, which has pushed up property prices and rental rates.

Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Manchester property market has remained resilient. According to recent data from Zoopla, house prices in the city rose by 5.5% in 2020, outpacing the national average. Rental demand has also remained strong, with average rental yields of around 5% in 2020.

One of the key areas of growth in the Manchester property market is the city center. Manchester has undergone significant redevelopment in recent years, with a number of new residential and commercial developments springing up in the heart of the city. These developments are attracting young professionals and students, who are drawn to the city’s vibrant nightlife, cultural attractions, and convenient transport links.

Investors looking to enter the Manchester property market have a range of options to choose from. One popular strategy is buy-to-let investing, which involves purchasing a property with the intention of renting it out to tenants. With rental yields of around 5%, buy-to-let properties can be a lucrative investment in Manchester’s growing rental market.

Another option for investors is off-plan property investment. This involves purchasing a property before it is built, often at a discounted price, and then selling it for a profit once it is completed. Manchester’s growing population and strong demand for housing make it an attractive market for off-plan investors.

In conclusion, the Manchester property investment market is a dynamic and growing sector that offers a range of opportunities for investors. With a strong economy, booming population, and vibrant city center, Manchester is well positioned for continued growth in the years to come. Whether you’re a first-time investor or an experienced property developer, the Manchester market is one to watch.

The numbers don’t tell the full story – Return on investment in city property and the human factor

City property investment strategies are one of the best options for your money as many of our multiple investors recognise. It never does any harm to review and remind ourselves of why though, so let’s take a coffee break sized run through of why city property is such a big draw for investors.

The rental property market is growing and likely to continue to grow

There is no doubt about how attractive the property market is for investors. While other potential places to put your money such as playing the markets or a low yield savings accounts have their charms, property remains a top destination for the professional investor. There are a lot of reasons why this is the case, but the bottom line is that property increases in value. That has been the situation for hundreds of years. Putting money in bricks and mortar has always been safe and paid well.

Despite what the world looks like or the gloom on the news there is still demand for homes and there always will be. We could probably end this article here because that seems reason enough. Read on though. The property market, and in particular the city property market, is really interesting at the moment.

This could be an incredible time to invest in city property

We have been in property investment for quite some time, and we specialise in finding the right opportunities in the most interesting places. Honestly, we love the space we work in because it’s such a fascinating market. Right now, we think the city property world is poised to leap forward.

Here’s why…

In purely business terms buying a property for rent is a simple enough transaction at heart. You pay X amount for a property you get Y amount in return for that investment. The better the ratio of X to Y and some other factors that we discuss below, indicate how shrewd that initial purchase was in terms of your return on investment. For something like our St Annes Gardens development in Liverpool, you can look to your investment returning 8 – 9% pa. That’s a pretty good return. As the buy price is very attractive as well, it’s clearly a good deal. As I said that calculation is not exactly rocket science good price and good return mean a solid proposition.

However, there are other factors to consider and top of the list is the question ‘will it rent’?

‘Will it rent’ as a measure of likely ROI

The problem with X = Y style measurements is that they are economically sound, but they don’t always reflect the real world. In the middle of all the maths is a variable that often isn’t accounted for. For the money to be there to create that return on investment, people will need to be in the property paying rent. People though, as we all know, are not quite as reliable as X =Y economics yet the success of your investment relies on them..

So, if we accept (and we really should) that human beings are directly linked to the return on your investment, we need to assess what will motivate them to make an informed decision. When you look at some of the factors that are motivating people at the moment and extrapolate out to the mid long term, the city rental world gets very interesting indeed.

From the point of view of a renter, a city apartment usually has one or both of two main motivators. It is near where people work and/or they like the lifestyle offered from being in a major city. The latter is not really in question. There is no doubting Manchester or Liverpool for their music or cultural scenes for example. The first motivator though about being nearer to work is where things are interesting. The investment and growth in many cities are phenomenal. Gentrification and high-tech developments are attracting major investment from the UK and Europe. With unemployment so low, businesses are also making city centre jobs more attractive in terms of salary and benefits. That means jobs now, but just as importantly, these are not going to vanish in the short term. As the employees perhaps move out of the city as their families grow, younger professionals are in the wings waiting to step in and take their place.

Which brings us to another motivator. The next generation of renters are accepting of the fact that they are not going to be early house owners. They are planning to save for their own property later in life, and that means renting now.

The convenience of renting close to where they work is a significant factor in how they approach their property needs. Where many used to consider renting outside the main city for a slightly lower rental, the cost of commuting, the need for a car and things like the hit from increased utilities spend in older buildings, often offsets this. Financially, being in the city centre makes sense.

Finally, and crucially, the need for property is growing and the available properties are not necessarily keeping pace. As with any commodity this is driving demand and price. Renters understand this very well and they are not looking to move around, they are looking to rent and stay.

So, to summarise, city centre property rentals are in demand, paying high returns, affordable as an investment and the market needs then. Most importantly, they have the ‘human factor’ that are meeting the financial and lifestyle needs of the very people who will provide the return on your investment.

Call us and we can run through the available properties to see what is going to work best for your money.

There is no lack of choice when it comes to buying an investment property. The question is not so much whether to invest but where to invest. We suggest you look north.

Why the north of England?

With what looks like difficult financial times ahead, there is going to be no shortage of offers, deals and dubious ‘grab it quick’ opportunities for investors. The bottom line though is that, while there is no such thing as a sure-fire investment, there are some that stand out as having more potential for growth and less risk than other. One of these is the north of England and in particular the city hot spots.

Northern England has been a development opportunity for some time now. Post-pandemic it is continuing to attract attention from investment at pretty much every level. Since, nowhere has quite the reputation for straight talking as the North, let’s be plain about the main reason why it is so popular. Compared to other parts of the country cities such as Liverpool, Sheffield, and Manchester provide excellent opportunities for existing business and start-ups, and therefore also property investment money. Outstanding properties can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of other metropolitan areas, and they are in demand. The relatively low prices seen for property also carry through to the more general cost of living and the cost of doing business, making the area attractive on every level. It seems logical then that If we see a continuing trend of rising costs, businesses looking to invest (and the potential renters that work for them) will continue to look at cities like Liverpool and Manchester.

The Northwest of the country really is a great example of the potential investment opportunities available in the UK. At the moment, the level of growth in the area is such that even if the economy stalls the local economic landscape could well provide a growth bubble and, if that doesn’t happen, there is already a steam roller of growth in progress that is unlikely to stop. In terms of property price growth alone for example, the region is one of the strongest in England.

Liverpool- A growing investment centre

As well as being one of the most distinctive cities in the world, Liverpool is growing and developing at a rate that is the envy of many other areas. Property price growth has been steady and impressive for years now. Liverpool achieved an incredible 10.6% increase in average house prices during the Summer of 2021 and, although this is naturally slowing a little now, it is still growing at a rate that should outstrip most, if not all, major UK cities.

Not that the phenomenal growth has impacted on the potential for investment as a lower cost option. If you look at our listing at St Annes Gardens as a guide you can clearly see the potential for the area. St Annes Gardens is located close to the city centre, less than a mile from some of England’s best shopping and dining, within walking distance from the rail link and similarly close to the knowledge quarter which is home to the science park and a major centre for UK innovation. Yet, the price of investment in an apartment in the extensively renovated area of St Annes Gardens, is only in the region £135,000.

Manchester – A heritage of innovation and growth

We have been singing the praises of Manchester for some time now. There is no doubt about the heritage and quality of life it represents. There has been an incredible amount of investment in the area both in terms of urban renewal and business and innovation. Again, our property at Botanical Gardens, Trafford shows just how cost effective an investment in the Northwest can be. Property prices has risen at near Liverpool benchmarks and the city itself has grown alongside them. Trafford is typical of a Manchester areas development. It is unique and yet invested in the heritage of Manchester with a remarkable 200 listed buildings, great schools and excellent transport links and public transport infrastructure. Again, as with Liverpool, the prices are low enough that investing in property here is one the best options in England.

If you are considering a property investment, then we do recommend you look to the North and the Northwest in particular right now. There is nowhere like it and there are few places that offer the same potential.

Call us if you want to know more. We are always, we are happy to talk.