I have been watching with interest the volatility of the Stock Market over the last few days. With Stock Markets around the world plummeting this is bound to have an impact on the property market, both in a bad and good way. I am hopeful that Central Governments will come up with a plan to reassure investors and get the Stock Market moving in the right direction, however, there is a danger that the volatility of the Stock Market may have an impact on the economic recovery of the UK and the world and this may also have an impact on the liquidity of Banks thus affecting their ability to lend. Where I think it will have a positive impact is that the volatility of the Stock Market shows firstly the importance of having a balanced portfolio and secondly the important role that property can have in that balanced portfolio. I have noticed over the last few weeks an increase in the institutional investors coming into the market and I have always been a great believer that where institutional investors go smaller investors will follow. With low asking prices, great potential for capital growth and extremely good yields currently there has never been a better time to invest in property and when we see the volatility of the Stock Market it is perhaps no bad thing to have some bricks and mortar investment – could property be the new gold? I shall keep you advised of developments.
Lindsay Darroch Head of Property