Collective investment funds will invest money in one of two ways: directly or indirectly. Both spread the risk, although direct investment in bricks and mortar is less vulnerable to the whims of the market than indirect investment.

With direct (‘bricks and mortar’) investment funds, the returns come from the increased value of the properties, plus rental income. In the UK, the average lease on a commercial property is 8 years, and rents will typically increase at the same rate as inflation. Furthermore, commercial property tends not to be linked to assets such as cash, fixed income and bonds, meaning that a hiccup on the stock market shouldn’t affect their value. Investors don’t have the hassle of sourcing and managing the properties, nor do they have to find tenants or negotiate leases. It can take months to buy or sell a commercial property, however, which makes it difficult to redeem your holding at short notice.

There are risks associated with direct property investment. In 2008, when America’s sub-prime mortgage crisis sent waves of panic around the world, the value of some commercial property funds in the UK fell by up to half.

Indirect investment funds, i.e. those that simply buy and sell shares, normally take the form of unit trusts and open-ended investment companies (OEICs). With unit trusts, the fund is split into units, rather than shares, the price of the unit having a direct correlation to the value of the assets held by the trust. OEICs are run as companies, so investors will buy and sell shares as opposed to units. Again, the share value will directly reflect the underlying value of the investment.

Property investment funds can be either open-ended or closed-ended. Open-ended investments may issue or redeem any number of units (in the case of unit trusts) or shares to their members at any time; the underlying assets are simply added to or sold off according to demand. This can lead to problems if someone wants to exit at a time when the value of assets is low.

The majority of open-ended funds are also real estate investment trusts. In essence, this means that they don’t pay corporation tax on assets, as long as they pay at least 90 per cent of profits to their shareholders. Dividends are taxed at either 20 or 40 per cent.

Closed-ended investment trusts differ in that a fixed number of shares are issued when they’re set up. These are subsequently bought and sold on the stock market. The fact that the fund manager doesn’t have to sell assets to buy back shares adds an element of stability that unit trusts and OEICs don’t enjoy. The tax on dividends is 10 per cent for basic rate payers and 32.5 per cent for those on a higher rate.

Commercial property prices are now recovering after the sub-prime mortgage crisis of 2008, and an increase in revenue from rents is expected as economic conditions improve. Furthermore, the recent lack of investment in property should increase the value of existing buildings.

If you are interested in knowing more about commercial property development, check out the site. house market blog has all the up-to-date info on commercial investment , public houses and property news.

Commercial Property Funds is a post from: WiredWriter

The streets of Little Venice are lined with trees and have small, secret gardens. The buildings are a mixture of Victorian and Edwardian period structures and some imposing stuccoed mansions. Along the river there are colourful house boats adorned with potted plants. The area is like an oasis in London and it attracts a diverse population of residents.

In the past, this area didn’t look so appealing. Paddington was once a village on the outskirts of London and the area now known as Little Venice was undeveloped. With the construction of the canals in 1801 came a few houses along the waterways. As the canals became more important, roads were added and the Church Commissioners built more homes. It was dirty and a bit rough around the edges in those days.

The area really came into its own after the Second World War because this part of London was mostly undamaged by the bombs. The potential of it didn’t go unnoticed and some updating and improvements were made. The area around Brownings’ Pond was changed at this time. Some impressive Italianate buildings and some of the water was lost, but there is still a huge area there today which looks an oasis in a crowded city.

Today Little Venice has many great features which attract visitors. The canals have good walkways that go up to London Zoo and through to Camden. Along the tow paths are nice spots to sit a while and people watch or feed the swans, ducks and geese. There is also a boat service which runs regularly from here.

Along the water are some small caf’es and bars which are lovely places to spend an evening. The Waterside Caf’e and the Warwick Castle Pub are two of the best-known spots to go to. There is also the Canal Caf’e Theatre which is a small venue specialising in comedy. The children also have a Puppet Theatre barge.

Little Venice is dotted with individual shops with a local feel. Not too far away Paddington and the Edgware Road offer a larger selection of the high-street favourites. Church Street Market is not too far away either.

The area known as Little Venice is very pretty and close to all the city of London has to offer. Tourism hasn’t reached here in big way so it remains a secret for the locals to keep. As it is a very desirable place to live for families, individuals and couples, the price of property has gone up considerably.

For properties to buy in Little Venice to browse, visit the website. The Paramount office are a friendly expert team.

Little Venice is a post from: WiredWriter

Short term let

Short term lets in London are primarily used by large businesses as a substitute to hotels as they provide homely touches that can be lost in large chains, in matter how plush. The apartments are kept in great condition, just as a hotel, but also give visitors to the capital their own front door and a place where they can feel more at ease. You can find properties in Belgravia, Pimlico and Victoria for short term let.

Holiday home

For a holiday many people decide upon short term accommodation for the same reasons as a large company would. Their home-from-home qualities give tenants access to amenities like a kitchen complete with crockery and a preparation area meaning all the renter needs do is buy the food. It is also not rare for a short term letting apartment to cost up to 30% less than a hotel room of similar criteria, so it can be a better budget substitute. The vast flexibility is also great as the tenant frequently has the option to lengthen their tenancy at the landlord’s discretion.

What you need

Before deciding upon rental accommodation it is necessary to work out exactly what you need from the property. Will you be mostly out at work or home during the day? If you are staying there for a longer amount of time you will want there to be space to unwind, eat, cook and possibly even work on a project. Think about how many rooms you need – are you there to chill out, work or do you simply need somewhere to crash?

Financial limit

Prices for rental accommodation, especially in the centre of London, can fluctuate massively. Before even looking for a property it is advisable to work out how much you have to spend, and stick to it. It is easy to get swayed into spending more when you see attractive accommodation or perks to living in certain areas but ensure you have worked out a maximum you can afford.

Location

The capital is a big place with many different districts presenting diverse cultures and opportunities. If you’re not familiar with the capital spend some time reading online articles and blogs to find out what community perception is of each area.

Leisure or work

Business trips tend to focus around the EC postcode where as holiday makers may wish to reside in a more W1 or SW area. Take a look around and get your bearings before settling on a location.

Amenities

Each short term let will vary, however, it is not unreasonable to expect all white goods and wi-fi, but you may also find unfurnished properties. It is very usual to have to pay for building maintenance costs too.

If you are looking for state agents visit the website. At Best Gapp estate agents in Belgravia we have a range of high-end houses and flats to buy or let.

Lettings In Central London is a post from: WiredWriter

The ‘Artisans and Labourers’ General Dwelling Company built Queens Park Estate between 1850 and 1900, building 2000 homes in the Gothic style. These dwellings feature distinctive brickwork, turrets and pinnacles being a major feature. The estate was originally based around six avenues, which survive to the present day. Originally, the streets were named A through to P, but these have now been given full names beginning with each letter, such as Alperton, Bartlett and Caird street. This particular area stretches from Harrow Road to Kilburn Lane.

The modern day Queen’s Park Rangers had its first players domiciled in this estate, and owes its existence to Queen’s Park Gardens, where the first matches took place. The Gardens were named in honour of Queen Victoria who was the monarch at the time, and were opened in 1888, one year before the Golden Jubilee.

Local schools such as Salusbury Primary School and Queen’s Park Community School rank highly in national league tables. Some parents still choose to send their children to private schools further afield, however, in areas such as Highgate, Notting Hill and Hampstead. However, the local schools are mainly thought of as satisfactory by local residents.

Queen’s Park area has two major shopping thoroughfares, Salisbury Road, and Kilburn High Road. The former has more independent stores, as well as having the most restaurants, deli’s and caf’es. Fresh produce can be also be bought here at the Sunday farmers’ market at the local primary school. The cheaper and busier latter street is predominantly filled with chain stores.

The City of London Corporation own and run Queen’s Park, which is an important community hub. It has been awarded a Green Flag award due to the quality of the facilities, which boast a children’s playground and paddling pool, an animal farm, caf’e, and even a petanque pitch.

Kensal Green Cemetery has 72 acres and two conservation areas, partly adjoining the Grand Union Canal. It is one of the oldest burial places in London, as well as a beautiful haven for wildlife. Tours of its catacombs and historical memorials are available.

The trendy venue of Kilburn Tricycle Theatre and Cinema has tackled issues such as the murder of Steven Lawrence and the suicides at Deepcut Barracks in its productions. It is located just off Kilburn High Road.

We are a renowned letting agent with unmatched local awareness and a large choice of 2 bedroom houses for rent in Queens Park. If you are thinking about moving into a new flat or would like to learn more about renting properties in Queens Park we can help. Our contact details are on our website.

Origins Of London’s Queens Park is a post from: WiredWriter

Part of an ancient Roman highway linking Hampshire with Colchester, and London with Oxford to the west, Oxford Street was created in a land surrounded by fields, where the River Tyburn flowed to the south. This new street would go on to serve as the border between Westminster and the Parish of Marylebone.

The Earl of Oxford decided that this land could best be developed as a retail and entertainment region, so he began transforming it in the late 1700s. Local landowners also participated in improving the region by constructing residential communities on the land adjacent to the street.

Regent Street has a distinctive architectural style, which made it renowned throughout Europe soon after its construction. The Prince Regent wanted a route between the recently-built Regent Park and his residence in St. James, London, so he had John Nash design and build the road, which was completed in 1825. Roughly a century later, its architecture underwent a major renovation, being upgraded to Beaux-Arts styling.

Oxford Circus is a cherished historical landmark, because it reflects the earliest urban enhancements of London, although its earliest history includes multiple public hangings which occurred on the Tyburn Gallows until the mid-1750s. It is a road junction which encircles the Portland, Mayfair and Soho estates.

It became a part of the Nash urban development scheme of 1813-20 and was developed according to the Nash design. Although this design is no longer featured in the area because it was changed to the Tanner design from 1911, you can still see a piece of the region’s Nash design history, the Marble Arch. This arch was initially built as the western entrance for the Buckingham Palace estate, but it was moved to its new home to be the gateway to Oxford Circus from the west.

Old Bond Street is one of the earlier developments, originally built in 1686, but which is no longer on the surface map. It is named after Sir Thomas Bond, who purchased the region from the Duke of Albemarle by pooling funds with various other wealthy entrepreneurs.

New Bond Street was built in 1721, to link Old Bond Street with Oxford Street. Both Old Bond Street and New Bond Street were lined with small shops to support the nearby residential communities, but by the early 18th century they were attracting so many fashion tourists from around London that many luxurious retail shops appeared on them. Even today, New Bond Street still hosts the original auction house for the famous auction company, Sotheby’s.

Today, you won’t find many of the quaint, domestically-scaled shops that were so common during the Georgian period. The West End was almost exclusively comprised of ground-level, single-width shopfronts during this era. Retailers like Asprey, on New Bond Street, have combined several smaller shops into larger shops, which has helped preserve a bit of London’s West End architectural heritage.

We are prominent commercial estate agents who are devoted to helping you discover your ideal office space for rent in Central London. If your business is looking for a commercial property or you would like further information on Central London office to let we can help. Our contact information is available on our website.

London’s West End: Centuries Of Urban Development is a post from: WiredWriter