Released on: January 24, 2008, 6:30 am

Press Release Author: Jim watson

Industry: Real Estate

Press Release Summary: Amid talk of downturns in the property market across Britain
recent attention has focused on specific locations where any slowdown nationally
will not be replicated. Publishing its figures for house price inflation by region
last week

Press Release Body: Amid talk of downturns in the property market across Britain
recent attention has focused on specific locations where any slowdown nationally
will not be replicated. Publishing its figures for house price inflation by region
last week, Halifax predicted there would be flat growth in 2008 overall, but with
significant regional variations.

In a fast-growing market, such as the UK has had the last few years, such variations
have been apparent, with London, Scotland and Northern Ireland all outstripping the
rest of the UK for house price growth. But in a cooling market, the locations where
local circumstances or a general defiance of national trends make a difference may
get extra attention as the number of locations where price increases are taking
place dwindles.

For this reason, while parts of the north and midlands are tipped to be flat or
negative in 2008, investors may be enticed to areas which may not have been on the
radar. While London with its Olympic preparations and Liverpool with its European
City of Culture status might enjoy the benefit of local circumstances, with all the
investment and profile that comes with it, Wales and Scotland are areas where the
normal cyclical conditions do not apply.

In the case of Scotland, it has often been said that the country does not go through
steep cycles to the same extent as the rest of Britain. In the case of Wales, the
prospects for 2008 are good because it is running behind the English market,
according to estate agency RE/MAX. Owner Mark Jones said: \"There is no downturn in
property prices here as yet. We generally find ourselves about five years behind the
London and England scene\".

This being the case, he added, there were plenty of good investment opportunities to
be had for buy-to-let, especially in the south. Mr Jones identified Neath, Swansea
and Cardiff as the best places to look, although he suggested the capital had now
become \"a bit overpriced\".

A key issue, he suggested, was for investors to look around for the best properties,
in which case there were undoubtedly healthy returns to be enjoyed from Welsh
investment: \"You can get good yields on property in Wales, but you have to be picky
and choosy and know what you are looking for\".

Mark Jones is not alone in tipping south Wales locations to shine this year. Last
week the Independent forecast that Wales would be one of the property hotspots of
2008, partly through offering cheaper second homes in locations such as
Monmouthshire than the Cotswolds across the border, but also because of some good
opportunities for commuters in towns within easy reach of Cardiff. In the latter
case Halifax chief economist Martin Ellis said Neath and Pontypool could offer the
best opportunities.

Affordability is certainly one advantage of Wales, Mr Jones noted, stating that:
\"First-time buyers can still get a three-bedroom terraced house for under £100,000.\"
With Halifax forecasting prices to rise by 0.6 per cent in Wales this year against
the overall flat picture across the UK, this affordability should not be dented
while at the same time the market west of Offa\'s Dyke performs better than that east
of it. With particular hotspots showing up in southern towns, 2008 could be the year
that the Welsh property dragon roars.


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investment in UK

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