UNITED PROPERTY HOLIDAY HOMES AND INVESTMENTS
United Property offers a unique portfolio of tailored international investment and lifestyle products in high-demand locations.
WHAT WE DO
Established in 2004, United Property is the world’s only exclusive master real estate agent and developer
As a cutting edge organisation, our aim is to transform the way business is done in the global real estate industry. By using the United Property model and purchasing directly from the developer, our investors are able to cut out the middle man and avoid the unnecessary hassle and fees associated with traditional real estate sales. Our sales and marketing team has decades of experience working for some of the
world’s most reputable property companies and has a proven track record of finding the highest yielding products in prime locations for investors around the globe. For lifestyle properties, we look to provide opportunities in prime vacation areas, close to airports and with excellent infrastructure. With our investment products, this means we look primarily at tier one world cities which are synonymous with capital appreciation.
Why choose United Property? hh Only exclusive global master agent hh Unique portfolio of market leading products hh Rigorous due diligence and accreditation procedure hh Tailor Made Trips offered to all our projects hh All projects sold at developerquoted price hh Sales and marketing team which have launched some of the biggest names in real estate hh Offices around the world cater to global clientele hh Offer a menu of international products in high demand locations hh No unnecessary hassle or fees
WHERE WE SELL At United Property we sell in a number of worldwide regions that we select based on a set criteria of whether the product is for holiday homes or investments. The majority of our products are in regions that offer strong ecomonic stability, good to excellent weather and offer strong returns on investment.
UNITED KINGDOM
SPAIN FRANCE UAE PORTUGAL
ST KITTS
USA
UNITED KINGDOM The UK’s property market has emerged strongly from the global economic downturn and is now one of the fastest growing in Europe. “Viewed in annual terms, price growth is continuing to run at a robust pace, with the price of a typical home 9.5% higher than in March 2013”, said Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s chief economist. “There is little doubt that the recovery in the housing market is now firmly established, with activity levels picking up and house prices recording their fifteenth successive monthly increase in March.” In addition to this, UK interest rates remain at 0.5%, the lowest figure ever. However investors are urged to act quickly to take advantage of the low rate as it is expected to rise in the early months of 2015, as soon as wages pick up. Within the UK there is significant regional variation in house price increases. Leading the way is London, which is enjoying a phenomenal boom, with prices rising 18.2% year-on-year rise in Q1 2014,
according to Nationwide. Other regions enjoying impressive growth include the South East at 10.1% and East Anglia at 9.5%. At the other end of the scale, the North (5.9%), Northern Ireland (5.4%) and Wales (5.2%) were the lowest gainers. Along with the growth in price, residential property transactions rose by 15.1% in 2013 from the previous year, according to UK HM Revenue and Customs and the number of units sold in the fourth quarter of 2013 - at 315,720 units - was the highest since the last quarter of 2007. In 2013 the number of mortgages in arrears (10% or more of outstanding balance) dropped by 1.7% to 28,700, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) while repossessions fell 14.7% year-onyear to 28,900, the lowest figure since 2007. “The upturn in the supply side of the market continues to lag far behind, with the number of new homes being built in England still around 40% below pre-crisis levels”, says Nationwide’s Gardner.
SPAIN After being among the hardest hit markets during the global economic crisis, with a total decline of 40% (46% inflation adjusted) in values since Q4 2007, Spanish house prices are finally beginning to recover. In Q2 2014, Spain enjoyed a 0.8% year-onyear rise in values. Meanwhile in Q1 2014 residential property transactions surged 48% from a year earlier, according to the Instituto Nacional de Estadistica (INE). The improvement in the Spanish property market is mainly due to the return of foreign investors, buying on the coast and in cities like Barcelona. “It’s crazy the number of investors coming in,” said Fernando Acuna of Aura real estate advisory firm. “I think 2014 is the year we will see a lot of transactions,” he added. Foreign investors now account for 13.03% of all purchases in Spain, the highest
proportion ever. Leading the way are Britons, who make up 15.77%% of all sales to overseas investors, followed by the French (10.11%), Russians (8.08%), Germans (7.53%) and Belgians (7.26%), according to Spain’s Association of Registrars. This is expected to increase again with Spain’s new Golden Visa policy offering residency for foreign buyers who spend over €500,000 on property. House prices have now stabilised nationally, but most regions are showing remarkable improvement. The Spanish economy expanded at its fastest pace for six years in Q1 2014, with a GDP growth of 0.4%, thanks to increased domestic demand. The economy is expected to grow by 1.2% in 2014, after contracting by 1.2% in 2013, and by 1.6% in 2012, and after meagre growth of 0.05% in 2011.
The French Riviera (Côte d’Azur) the glamorous Mediterranean resort area, is mostly located in this region. Due to its overwhelming popularity the French Riviera becomes very crowded in the summer. English-speaking tourists are well-tolerated in the bars and restaurants. The world-famous Cannes Film Festival takes place in the French Riviera town of Cannes each year. The city of Avignon, in the Vaucluse department, holds the Avignon Festival in July. The festival focuses on traditional theatre but also includes other forms of performing arts, which are presented in the historic Palace of the Popes or in the streets of Avignon. The regional capital is Marseille, France’s second largest city. In the past it was an important Mediterranean port city, particularly due to its links with Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia. The city of Marseille is gaining a contemporary reputation as a fashionable and tourist-friendly place, with lively venues for entertainment and nightlife.
FRANCE
Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur is one of the most popular French regions for living and holidaying in, in part due to its pleasant Mediterranean-style climate that offers hot summers and mild winters. It is a wine-producing region, known particularly for the various Provençal rosés, Bandol, and Cassis.
uae
After two years of spectacular house price rises, Dubai’s housing market continues to grow stronger, while its neighboring Abu Dhabi, UAE’s capital, is also following suit.
In Dubai, the regional financial, transport and logistics hub, the all-residential property price index (RPPI) skyrocketed by a record 24.9% (23.16% in real terms) during the year to November 2013, according to Reidin.com. Apartment sales prices in Dubai soared by 24.5% y-o-y to November 2013. Villa sales prices surged by 14.9% over the same period. Apartment sales prices in the capital surged by 21% in November 2013 from the same period last year. Villa sales prices rose by 16.5% over the same period. Property demand continues to surge. In 2013, the total number of real estate transactions in Dubai jumped by 52% to 63,652 from a year earlier, according to Dubai Land Department (DLD).
“The transaction figures for 2013 reveal a high level of optimism currently prevailing in the real estate market. These can be attributed to the new regulations and procedures issued during the past year, which have contributed to the strengthening of trust and confidence between the various categories of investor,” said Sultan Butti Bin Merjen, Director General of DLD. “We are anticipating a further rise in the growth index this year, boosted by Dubai’s winning bid to host World Expo 2020,” he added. Dubai’s residential rental market remains strong. In November 2013, the Dubai allresidential property rental index surged 16.6% from the same period last year, according to Reidin.com. Asking rents for apartments soared by 17.6% while villa rents increased by 12.6% during the year to November 2013. To prevent another property bubble from emerging, the central bank recently issued circulars to banks introducing mortgage caps.
portugal
Like its larger Iberian neighbour Spain, Portugal’s housing market was hit hard by the global recession and sovereign debt crisis and endured three years of falls in prices. However, the Portuguese property market is now very much back on track with price growth of 1.22% (1.6% in real terms) during the year to the first quarter of 2014, to an average of €993 per square metre. Furthermore, the Portuguese Golden Visa has
been among Europe’s most successful, with 1,360 so far distributed to non-EU investors who have spent over €500,000 on Portuguese property. The bulk of the Golden Visas have so far gone to Chinese buyers, with over 1,100 recipients from the country. Within Portugal, there remains strong regional variation in housing market performance. Marinha Grande saw the biggest annual house price increase of 24.3% during the year to Q1 2014, followed by Figueira da Foz (15.9%), Tomar (15.6%). Other municipalities which registered double-digit annual house price increases were Bragança (14.2%), Penafiel (12.6%), Portimão (10.9%), Aveiro(10.7%), and Beja (10%), while Covilhã (9.2%), Castelo Branco (7.3%), Portalegre (7.2%), and Guimarães (5.8%) also enjoyed strong growth. The general rise in Portuguese house prices has occurred despite the fact residential construction has yet to recover. Licensed dwelling numbers fell 2.4% to 565 during the year to March 2014, according to Statistics Portugal, while completed dwelling numbers plunged 30% year-on-year to 14,151 units, during the first three quarters of 2013. There are no restrictions on foreign property ownership in Portugal and transaction costs are generally low.
ST KITTS The global real estate crisis did not hit St Kitts and Nevis until early 2010, when there was an average 20% decline in the price of homes worth between $600,000 and $1.2 million, according to Nevis Style Realty’s proprietor Wayne Tyson. The year before the crisis, St. Kitts and Nevis had enjoyed an increase of 5% to 10% in home values. Nowadays vacation home prices tend to range from (US$ 550,000) to US$ 850,000, placing St. Kitts and Nevis in the middle rank of Caribbean countries. What helped the housing market remain buoyant was the Citizenship-by-
Investment Programme, which allows foreigners to acquire citizenship, the right to live and work in the Federation, visa-free access to Schengen countries, and a large range of other benefits, through house purchase under these conditions: The foreigner should purchase a property unit worth not less than XC$ 1,078,744 (US$ 400,000) in an approved real estate development in St. Kitts and Nevis (increased from US$350,000 in January 2012). Additional cash payments of XC$ 134,843 (US$ 50,000) for the head of the household, and payments of US$ 25,000 for adult dependents aged 18 to 25, for the spouse, and for each child below 18 years.
usa The U.S. housing market continues to grow stronger, amidst modest economic growth. Demand is surging, construction activity is rising, and foreclosures and delinquency rates are falling. Having enjoyed 13.88% (12.49% inflation-adjusted) growth in the year to November 2013, the biggest year-onyear increase since March 2006, prices in the US are now beginning to show more regular growth of 6.2% in the year to June 2014, based on the latest S&P/ Case-Shiller Home Price Index report. Meanwhile the home price index covering ten major US cities increased 8.1% in the year to June. Tier 1 cities New York (18.4%), Los Angeles (17.8%), Miami (17.2%) and San Francisco (12.5%) all enjoyed prime property price
increases of over ten percent during this period, according to Knight Frank. During 2013, the median sales price of new homes sold in the U.S. increased by 8.4% year-on-year to US$265,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. As of June 2014, average US home prices are back to the pre-crash levels of Spring 2005. Meanwhile as of August 2014, new home sales in the West of the country soared 50% to their highest level since January 2008. In the South, sales rose 7.8% to their highest level in ten months. In August 2014, foreclosures were down 9% from the previous year but have slipped up since July, with Florida having the highest foreclosure rate, followed by Nevada, Maryland, New Jersey and Georgia.
Buying into Property Here at United Property we offer both pure investment products as well as our core range of real estate. Having one of the industries most highly experienced teams, we source the best product and focus our efforts on ensuring our clients get the best deals when choosing them. Explained in this section are the options for purchase as well as the buying process when choosing to buy through United Property.
PRODUCT OPTIONS
THE BUYING PROCESS
TAILOR MADE TRIPS
GOLDEN VISAS
buying into property
PRODUCT OPTIONS
Holiday Home Investment
Pure Investment
Lifestyle investment products offer all the features of pure investment products but are more orientated towards investors wishing to reside for part of the year in the property they acquire. Typically lifestyle properties are focused in holiday locations close to beaches. United Property’s lifestyle products focus on prime vacation areas close to airports and with excellent infrastructure. All these products also offer high yields and levels of security, as well as guaranteed and flexible rental packages making them an ideal option for both pure investors as well as lifestyle investors.
United Property offers a range of investment products for investors who are on the lookout for the best value in global real estate. Typically our pure investment products are spread across a range of property asset classes and based in tier one and two global cities which are proven to be robust in the face of fluctuating economic trends. When offering properties for pure investment, our priority is always to offer market-leading yields along with comprehensive guarantees of investor security.
Bonds Effectively a loan from an investor to an entity over a set period of time, this is our only investment product which is not strictly focused on property. Rather than investing in a tangible asset our bond investors invest in a process and
are paid back at a fixed interest rate over a set period of time. Typically the bond investments provided by United Property Direct are fully regulated and provide the highest yields of any of the products we offer.
buying into property
THE BUYING PROCESS
If you plan on buying a holiday home in a country such as Spain, this would be your typical buying process when choosing United Property.
Enquiry We receive your enquiry and return contact within 24 working hours.
Discussion We discuss in detail your requirements and
The Tailor Made Trip Your Tailor Made Trip takes place and you discover the perfect property for you!
select the best options available for your criteria.
Securing the Property At this point we introduce you to well
Reserved! The Property is taken off the market via a signed reservation agreement and typical reservation fee
established and independent legal and financial advisers to secure the property.
Paperwork You enter the conveyancing period whereby your lawyer will conduct the relevant title searches to ensure rigid security is in place for
Mortgage
your purchase. Private Purchase Contracts are drawn up in preparation for exchange.
If a mortgage is required it is at this stage the application is submitted. We recommend our highly experienced and established suppliers to obtain the best rates available.
Deposit The deposit is now secured on the property,
The Signing
typically 10% of the purchase price, and a completion date is provided.
The most exciting step, signing of the deeds at the local public notary, accompanied by your lawyer and the sellers lawyer.
Completion After signing, your lawyer will contact the land
Aftersales
registry for change of ownership and utility companies to switch on water and electricity.
We follow up with each purchase to ensure our clients have a smooth and hassle free experience.
The Extras If you wish to rent out your holiday home while you are away, we introduce our Rental Management partners who can also offer high quality furniture packs to give you a completely hands-off rental income.
buying into property
TAILOR MADE TRIPS
United Property offers ‘Tailor Made Trips’ for you to view properties which match your desired criteria, location and budget. This trip will be organised by one of our investment/holiday home specialists who have indepth knowledge of the best priced and highest quality real estate opportunities in your area of interest.
Choosing the Dates The first step is to pick dates. Usually we hold trips on Thursday to Sunday or Sunday to Wednesday although this is flexible. Our in-house flight desk will search for the best flight times and most convenient connections in order for you to maximise your time on the ground. Once you are happy with the flights they will be booked by one of our team and a confirmation sent out to you outlining the flight details, reference numbers and private airport transfers.
The Hotel The hotels we use are very well appointed and chosen due to past customer satisfaction, quality and comfort. These hotels are logistically practical in regards to viewing properties in your preferred area of interest.
The Process On a typical 3-night trip a majority of the days are spent visiting the recommended properties based on your original criteria. A typical day looking at properties with a break for lunch would not run any longer than a normal business day, leaving you free in the evenings to discover the sights
and sounds of the area. If you decide to reserve a property, some of the last day would be spent arranging the purchase. We assist in every stage of the process, including assisting you in obtaining any documentation, such as the NIE (fiscal number) required to purchase a property in Spain as an example, and opening of a bank account in your name so that you can receive rental income and/or to set up direct debits to pay utility bills.
Recommended Services We have selected highly experienced, established companies to deal with the property completion process. If you choose a property, we introduce you to the following list of of completely independent, professional organisations: • Legal Advisers • Financial Brokers • Currency Exchange corporations • Property Management & Rental Teams • Furniture Suppliers
No Obligation There is no obligation to buy on your trip, we only ask that you are in a position to buy if you are shown a property that is right for you.
buying into property
GOLDEN VISAS
We recognise the substantial rise in global demand for ‘Visa by Investment’ programs, such as the commonly referred to Golden Visa offered throughout Europe, and others such as the Citizen by Investment program in St Kitts and Nevis. Using the popular Spanish version we outline the general overview. In compliance with Spanish law, non-EU investors who spend over €500,000 with United Property will be able to obtain a Golden Visa offering residency in Spain. The Golden Visa initially gives permission for holders to live in Spain for one year, after which investors can qualify for the Residence Authorisation, which will be valid for 2 years with the option of another 2 if the investor meets established requirements.
Investors Those who invest through a company are also eligible for a Golden Visa provided that the company is not domiciled in a tax
haven and the applicant holds the majority of the voting rights and has the capability to appoint or dismiss members of the board.
The Requirements Investors looking to acquire a Golden Visa will need to present their property title/ Land Registry Certificate to the Spanish authorities and meet the following conditions: • Have entered Spain legally • Be at least 18 years old • Have no criminal records in Spain or the countries in which they have resided for the past 5 years. • Have a public or private health insurance policy providing for treatment in Spain. • Have sufficient economic resources to support themselves and their families (where applicable) throughout their time in Spain
THE ONE STOP SHOP When buying property or investments with United Property we ensure our clients have all the services required at their disposal. We only work with very well established suppliers who have long standing relationships with, that offer the same level of professionalism and efficiency as ourselves so our clients enjoy a stress-free buying process.
FINANCE & LEGAL
CURRENCY & RENTALS
YOUR ONE STOP SHOP
FINANCE & LEGAL
Finance Our affiliates in the financial sector are by far the broadest of our partner services. The main reason for this is due to the demands for international investors and holiday home buyers to get the best possible deal when looking to leverage their purchase, no matter in which country the property is located or the nationality of the buyer. This of course means we have to give our clients a wide range of choice. This has led us to arrange financing from the leading banks and brokers in the industry. Once you have informed us of the region and type of investment you wish to purchase with finance, we will put you in direct contact with the most suitable lenders in that particular market. One of the many advantages of this service is that the company that contacts you will be by your approval, and will already know your specific requirements. They can offer exclusive mortgage arrangements with special terms and conditions - such as
developer finance, extra long terms, interest rates from as low as 1.25% and possible non-status lending on some of our United Property Construction products.
Legal Your legal representation is paramount to any real estate purchase, at United Property we endeavour to make sure whichever asset class or region you are looking to buy into is supported by a well established and local legal firm that specialises in that particular field. Once you have decided on an area and the type of property you wish to purchase, we will then put you in direct contact with recommended legal firms that we have worked with for many years. Please do take into account that all of our legal recommendations are completely independent and they do not work for us or vice versa. We are also very happy to correspond with legal firms that you as a potential buyer may have already appointed.
YOUR ONE STOP SHOP
CURRENCY & RENTALS
Currency Exchange
Property Rental
As most buyers may know, this industry has changed considerably in the last few years due to new and established companies moving in to the market that was once dominated by the high street banks. The advantages of using a currency exchange company over going through your personal bank are simple and clear. A bank will charge you a transfer fee, and in some instances the receiving bank will charge a holding fee, but the most important part of the transfer is of course the exchange rate. The bank will only offer you a slightly more attractive offer than the tourist rate on that day. However, an FX company will not charge you any fees related to the transfer and also give you a rate that is much closer to the IB (inter banking rate) - the rate that banks and large financial institutions purchase large sums of money. The companies that we partner with have been trading in this sector for over 10 years and will be sure to save you thousands in comparison to using a high street bank.
A majority of ours clients seek to gain rental income from their overseas property purchases. As such we work with various fully independent property rental management firms that we choose based on first hand experience, positive feedback and the ability to ensure your property is rented out for as long as available and for the highest rates possible.
Furniture Packs For those looking for rental income from their holiday homes, pictures say a thousand words, and as such we always recommend purchasing what we call a ‘furniture pack’ to ensure your property stands out from the crowd. The companies we work with offer a range of high quality packs - from basic one bedrooms to luxurious 5 bedroom villas, and offer a complete hands-off install. They come with everything from furniture to cutlery and gets your property ready to rent.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why should I search for a property with United Property? United Property is the master agency on all property it sells, meaning if you buy with us you will not have to deal with a middle man. As part of this arrangement, the affiliates that we work with offer exclusive packages to our clients, which results in money saved on financial products, currency exchange, legal fees, furniture packages and much more. We also offer ‘Tailor Made Trips’ in which our team on the ground show you around properties which match your specifically selected location, criteria and budget.
How is my investment secured? All United Property investments have either been regulated by the FCA or have been through stringent due diligence to make sure all legal titles, proof of ownership and planning are in place.
Buying overseas is an important decision, where should I purchase for investment? United Property promotes real estate investments in established regions with a proven track record for rental returns, steady capital appreciation and a robust economy that is resilient to recession. For pure investments, we typically offer tier one and two cities, which are established and stable commercial centres, while
for lifestyle investments we look to leading vacation destinations with strong reputations close to infrastructure, airports and key amenities.
I have been told to always use independent lawyers, why should I use the services you advise? Rather than using in-house lawyers, United Property recommends the services of several independent legal advisers who have a long standing record in representing clients from all corners of the earth. We do not pay our legal firms and they do not pay us. You are their client and they are legally obligated to act in your best interests.
Why should we use your ‘Tailor Made Trip’ to view properties and areas where we are considering buying? Each and every individual client has a specific set of requirements when purchasing a property overseas for pure investment, lifestyle or a mix of both. Our client profiling and property portfolio build is second to none in the industry and will ensure that, as a priority, you see properties that match your specific requirements on our 3/4 day tours of investment hotspots. Your ‘Tailor Made Trip’ will be put together by one of our investment specialists, all of whom have lived in the area of interest for a minimum of ten years and have in-depth knowledge of real estate opportunities.
What do I need to consider when
buying a property overseas?
property overseas will go smoothly?
Important considerations to make before buying an overseas property are ability to resell and rent, how accessible the property is throughout the year, whether or not tourism is growing and what government schemes are in place to improve the area via cash investment and/or infrastructure upgrades.
Seamless communication between the developer, legal representative, currency exchange, land registry and client are all embedded into United Property’s bespoke Client Management System. This system tracks every stage of a property purchase from the initial enquiry right through to the completion of the property.
Who am I dealing with when I consider using United Property to find my property?
I have no capital available but I have equity in my property, can you help?
From receptionist to CEO, all United Property staff have extensive experience in the real estate sector and are naturally hugely passionate about property. We also hold staff training programs regularly to ensure that all staff members are up to date with new property laws in each of the regions we promote.
How do I know that my purchase of a
We have financial partners in the UK and across Europe that can assist you in releasing equity to purchase a property overseas.
Who are the team being United Property? The directors of United Property have decades of of experience in buying and
selling real estate projects across multiple asset classes on an institutional and retail level. Between them, they have handled over 27,000 property transactions in 27 regions across 14 countries.
What is the difference between United Property and its competitors?
property once a reservation has been made. The result of this is that your property has a proven title prior to purchase and there will be no unwanted surprises after completion.
Can I find a property without travelling to the location to buy?
At United Property, we build our own developments, we are the master agency for the developments that we do not build and we do not list properties that are not direct to the vendor. Therefore, you will never be dealing with a middle man.
Yes, all of our properties can be purchased remotely without having to view in person. However, if the purchase is not for pure investment and you wish to use the property yourself, we highly recommend that you take advantage of one of our “Tailor Made Trips�
What is the process of buying in a safe and secure way?
Can I obtain a mortgage on the purchase of my property?
Prior to offering a development or individual property to the public domain the listing will have passed our strict due-diligence tests. This is followed up by an independent lawyer carrying out full conveyance on the
Yes, the LTV % will be determined by the product, the buyer’s financial stability and nationality. All of this is looked after by the financial broker dealing with the purchase.
UNITED PROPERTY
www.unitedpropertydirect.com Telephone: +44 (0) 330 223 1114 Email: info@unitedpropertydirect.com Headquarters Av. Julio Inglesias, Edif. Manual Salvador Local 3, Puerto Banus, Marbella 29660. Malaga. Spain.