Investing in any commodity is likely to have a risk. We firmly believe that buying property is one of the safest ways to invest.

More individuals in the UK are buying property as a means of financial planning for the future than ever before. People are definitely thinking differently now about investment than in previous decades.

Although historical performance cannot be a guarantee for future performance and growth, since records began, property in the UK has risen consistently.

Property can provide many more options than other investments. Here are some of the reasons why:

• Housing - is a basic requirement. Everybody needs a home so generally there will always be demand for property
• Interest Rates - mortgage interest rates can vary as interest rates increase and decrease in time. Investors often have the options to fix mortgage interest rates to provide payment stability.
• Buy 2 Let Funding - for buyers investing with the need for finance, the buy to let mortgage product has been established for over 10 years making this type of mortgage a mainstream product with many lenders.
• Many factors are contributing towards a housing shortage, resulting in more people requiring rental property
• The UK population is growing - 370,000 per year, excluding immigration
• The Town & Country Planning act is restricting random new home development
• On Average only 160,000 new homes a year are being built - The Barker Review predicted 120,000 homes shortfall each year
• There is growing demand for smaller households through divorce and more single occupants.
• Due in part to affordability, more younger people going into further education and a general culture change where the younger generation are often putting life style choices before home ownership, the average age of a "first time buyer" is now 30 - 34 - these "want to be" home owners are now "our" tenants whilst aged in their 20"s
• Property can be an income earning asset
• The investor has financial control, when to hold, sell or even re-finance
• The investor can decide how much to invest - from buying the property out right to choosing to buy with a mortgage, subject to status
• There is potential for capital appreciation
• Property is the preferred asset of banks and other lenders for security if you choose to source financial support at a future date
  
  What are the alternatives?
  
  
• Pensions
• Commodities - stocks and shares
• Precious metals or liquids - Gold, Silver, Oil
• Bank accounts
• Overseas Property?

Whilst property values can go up as well as down, Property Circles firmly believe that UK property can make a positive contribution to an individual"s investment plan and property portfolio over a medium to long term period.

All reference to Mortgage and Finance should be regarded as subject to status.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any other debt secured on it. Please seek financial and legal advice if sourcing a mortgage product.