All Forum Posts by: Jennifer S.

@Amedeo M. I had a place in Boston that I sold and looking to reinvest in other markets. But at 6-7% interest rates and today's prices for houses, it's hard to make the numbers work in the markets I had been interested in. Maybe I will turn back to UK opportunities. I have another holding outside the US that cash flows ok because I bought it some years ago.

Hi @Daliz Colon, wow well done on your savings rate, that is great! 

I frequently compare value between the US and UK markets and while there are always opportunities in both places, I am currently focusing on trying to make something happen in the US until I can see how Brexit shakes out and based on my own mix of currency exposures long term.

One thing I am stuck on is finding affordable financing to make the numbers work. Interest rates of 6-7% when folks on the ground can get sub 4%, make the numbers trickier. In the past I got a good 30Y fixed rate loan from a big US bank off a UK income. I can't use that bank (I think) because of a tax related issue I have. But it may work for you. Happy to DM

I'm interested in talking to lenders too! Rates in the 6-7% region make many areas of interest quite cash flow negative. But if that is the typical interest rate available to people based outside the US, I will adjust my strategy.

@Michael Green, not sure if you mean gross yields or some kind of total return? Highest gross yields in the UK right now are in the 7 pc range and this includes some areas with high rental arrears. With that high level of capital you may be able to stretch to higher yields though. I've observed more traffic on some of the facebook sites for UK property vs bp (for the moment at least). I suggest contacting estate agents in Northern Ireland to at least get a sense of market rates to then find out how to possibly access off market deals. You may also want to subscribe to the auction houses to get a sense of pricing. Some names that cover England at least are Allsop, Barnard Marcus and Barnett Ross. Some people I speak to say that availability of mortgage finance isn't great right now but I haven't tried to buy here in a while so can't advise better. Best wishes

@Billy Dunning @Alex Uman, hi both, I'm looking at the UK market (albeit from the UK). Some items actually have less red tape in my opinion, than the US. For example we filed planning permission to do a home extension and from my understanding it's wayyyyy easier than what my friends have had to go through in Boston, USA. If one is in a conservation area that is not the case here.

It's quite hard to do much here without having a very well articulated view on Brexit. I have friends that bought 4-5 years ago and have had zero price appreciation (their opinion is it is mostly because of Brexit). These are quite expensive areas eg £1000 per square meter, and lucky them to be able to even afford that mortgage, but I seek price appreciation and there are other markets that have risen 50% over that period (Mountain cities in US). It depends on what you are seeking- income? Northern city rentals are very popular for that. But still jobs up there also depend on Brexit. I struggle to find good data to make a decision on this theme so I am waiting instead and will probably do something soon in the US instead (even if there is plenty of political risk there too). Happy to discuss further-I have struggled to get critical mass for a Zoom on these things but I can reply here at least. Maybe people just don't want to hear from me  ha ha!

I have no dog in this fight, but kind of nuts to see everyone simultaneously hating on California, but loving the stock price returns they got from their FAANG stocks and Tesla...it's the smart / creative tech people who create those gains. Let's not hate on them, they are creating export earnings for the USA...

@Rosalind Crawford
great! could you DM message me so I can send you the poll for your availability

@Dave Newgass after many months of searching I recently found a group that seems to be able to handle my US and UK tax requirements at the same firm. I am a dual citizen with recently acquired UK domicile so I kind of have a worst case complexity scenario and happy to share any insights I've gained along the way. 

BTW there are 2 Zoom groups (offshoots of bigger pockets) you may be interested in: 1) UK residents targeting the US market for investment 2) residents of anywhere targeting the UK for investment. I was invited to join #1 and I'm trying to schedule #2

Have a great day!

@Alexander Williams

now it worked! weird. See my reply above. Thanks!