News & Press
New Builds vs. Older Properties: Why New Builds Make Better Investments for Global Investors
As property investment advisors, one of the most common questions we encounter is whether new builds or older properties offer better investment potential. While older properties may hold a certain charm and could be ideal for those seeking a holiday home or a...
How Strategic Investments and Innovation Unlock a World of Possibilities.
As global dynamics shift, savvy South Africans are leveraging global property investments and Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs as a powerful tool to optimize wealth, secure global mobility, minimize tax liabilities, and enhance their family’s potential. ...
Western Cape Dominates South Africa’s Property Market in Q2 2024
In the second quarter of 2024, the Western Cape stood out as the only province in South Africa experiencing real growth in house prices when adjusted for inflation. This is highlighted in the Q2 2024 Oobarometer report by Ooba Home Loans, which tracks the latest...
Malta’s Economy Shines in 2024: A Closer Look at Credit Ratings and Investment Opportunities
2024 has been a stellar year for the Maltese economy. Here at Hurst and Wills, we continually monitor financial landscapes, and Malta has caught our eye! Expert analyses from Fitch Ratings and Morningstar DBRS, among others, underscore Malta’s strong economic...
Crete Emerges as Top Greek Island for Real Estate Investment in 2024
Crete, one of Greece's standout real estate markets, is gaining significant attention as a premier investment destination in 2024. With substantial investments pouring into tourism and infrastructure, Crete is poised to become Greece's "next big thing." Boasting a...
Market to watch in Q3 of 2024; Spain
According to the IMF, Spain will end 2023 with a growth rate of 1.5%, which is promising. For 2024, the figure we're looking at is 2%. This steady growth might keep going since Spain's economy is expected to increase by 8.4% during the next 5 years, resulting in an...
UK Property Market May 2024
10th May 2024 UK rents have reached an all-time high, fueled by a growing demand for property that surpasses the supply of new homes available. According to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics, rents have surged by 9.2% year-on-year, marking the...
Greece Property Market 2024
10th May 2024 In 2024, Greece is set for a significant surge in investment, expected to rise by 15.1%, surpassing the 7.1% growth observed between 2022 and 2023, despite anticipated austerity measures in the state budget. This boost in investment is forecasted to...
Uk Budget; impact on our investors
24th March 2024 Capital Gains Tax (CGT) on residential property sales will see a reduction in the higher rate from 28% to 24% starting April 6, 2024, benefiting owners of second homes and investment portfolios. The lower rate remains at 18%, within an individual's...
Island life in Portugal
Invest in Portugal’s magnificent islands, and get your Golden Visa In recent years, Lisbon and Porto have been on our radars for our SA investors looking to capitalize on a booming property market and gain citizenship. This year the Portuguese government removed most...
Tips for managing your offshore investment property
The investment has been decided on, you're happy with the financials, but you don't want to be bothered at 3am to hear of a leaky toilet. With offshore property consistently offering the best returns in property investment, the one question that forever pops up is...
Time running out for Portugal Golden Visa………Plan B’s in Grenada & Montenegro
The countdown begins, with just weeks left for Portugal’s Golden visa as we know it. From January, most coastal property will be exempt from the program and the Private Equity Funds, which have proved most popular with remote applications, will go up by €150,000. ...
Questions to ask your property advisor
Most will agree the most important piece of the investing jigsaw is your trusted expert advisor. After all, you can't know all there is to know about every aspect of every investment. Putting your hard earned cash into offshore real estate is a big commitment, and...
What type of property is most in demand?
Should you invest in 1 or 2 bedroom properties? Most investors assume that the more rooms you have, the more people you can rent your property to. But this doesn’t always equate to the best yields or business model in buy-to-let investment. When deciding on what size...
UK Property up by 15%
House prices have risen sharply across the UK, driven by an increase of more than 15% in the year to May in the North West of England Official figures show property prices also rose at a rapid rate in Scotland, Wales and the North East of England. The Office for...
Do the properties that qualify for residency and Citizenship programs actually stack up?
CBI or Citizenship By Investments are increasingly popular, only made more so by the events that took place in SA last week. Golden Visa, EB5, EB2, Malta, Greece, and Montenegro are all being advertised as a way out, offering visa free travel and Plan Bs, as long as...
Which is the best Private Equity Fund for your Golden Visa?
The private Equity Fund is SA's favourite route to Golden Visa right now During covid times, the PEF (Private Equity Fund) is a popular option for those wanting to get a Golden Visa by year end, before the law changes, (removing most cities from the program...
High-Speed trains: Property Hotspots
Ashford in the UK has been turned into a property hotspot after the HS1 High-Speed train slashed journey time to London in half to just 40 mins. In 90 minutes, you can be in Paris or Brussels. Consequently, the local and regional economy is booming, with an influx...
PEFs V REITs: For investment & citizenship
Why PEF’s are taking over REITs In South Africa, owning and investing in tangible real estate has always been a solid go -to investment, and for good reason. However, over recent years REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) have become increasingly popular, due to...
What is your property investment strategy?
Property investment, especially offshore, is not a one size fits all approach. A wise investor would work out their personal strategy that considers the investor’s personal situation, their goals, risk tolerance and future income requirements. The most common...
Grenada; views, returns & passports
Grenada, the more unknown gem of the Caribbean is breathtakingly beautiful, and an emerging property market ideal for second home buyers and retirees, gaining popularity with South Afrticans' because of its affordable residency program. Known as the “Isle of Spice''...
Nervous to invest in Student Accommodation right now?
Historically the most resilient of all property asset classes, Student Accommodation is getting a bad rap during the recent and ongoing covid crisis. The sector has had a turbulent year following lockdowns that closed universities and prompted thousands of students...
How to Choose a Location for an Investment Property
How To Choose a Location for an Investment Property There are a number of factors that help make a city a good proposition for property investment. Those cities that have strong price growth and the best rental yields in the UK all have these 5 things in common: 1....
Commuter belts make excellent investment areas
The changing times of COVID-19 and rapidly increasing property prices in cities mean that commuter towns are firmly on investors’ radar. International property expert and founder of Hurst & Wills, Lisa Bathurst, says, “While, traditional property advice says that...