Our property finance expert answers your questions
I have been involved in property investment for years by way of a buy-to-let which I purchased in 2004. It has done quite well despite everything, but at this stage it’s almost impossible for me to make any return on it with the restrictions on rental income and rent pressure zones, which it is in. I’ve decided to sell up before the market flattens, but my question is what to do with the gain.
I anticipate around €186,000 and would very much like to look for property-related investment, possibly commercial but I’m not really sure. What is available for me?
This is indeed a thorny topic. First things first, I assume your gain is net of Capital Gains Tax which will be payable on the uplift since 2004 and any sale price you achieve.
You also have obligations under the RTB toward tenants, and indeed, longer notice periods are being agreed through the agency at the moment, which will have to be cemented by the Oireachtas, but you should keep yourself abreast of these as they develop.
I know you remain interested in property as an investment vehicle, but wonder whether this is for sentimental or ‘gut instinct’ reasons, which can be an Irish nuance, or whether in fact you ought to be seeking the highest return across all asset classes, or a mix.
I asked Brendan Costello, of Galway-based Talk Financial about his recommendations for property investment. “Very few people still like property who don’t want to physically buy property,” he says. “Most just want out at this stage. The challenge for someone who wants to remain in the market but not in its current mix, is to access property funds on an insured basis. It’s a very slow market in recovery, with downward pressure on retail and commercial buildings as Covid put the market under serious pressure.”
He cites me the example of a pub which fetched €12.5m just before the pandemic hit, while the entire frontage of a nearby shopping centre with nearly 20 units, is currently pricing at €9.7m.
“If you don’t want to buy direct, and I would strongly dissuade from it at the moment given the heat in the market, what you’re buying into is a property fund in the likes of Irish Life or Zurich [insurance company] or buying into retail wholesale over the next four to six years as a passive investor, and there’s not much yield at all”.
Mr Costello adds that if ESG factors (environment, social and governance) are important to you, funding social housing, largely in the UK is also available through investment funds.
“A lack of government support has closed a number that were here such as Arena Capital partners which were identifying and financing secure long-term tenancies”.
As ever, this is an area where specific expert advice is strongly recommended from an independent financial broker, preferably.
First-time buyer here. I just want to ask if there’s a possibility of getting an approved joint mortgage for me and my husband if one of us has just been accepted to a job? Or do we need to wait six months to be approved?
I’m going to say it depends, because there’s no hard and fast rule laid down by lenders, or the Central Bank for this, however, good financial management along with the ‘prospects’ of applicants are all taken into account. I’ve seen people get over the line when they’re not yet permanent, because their qualifications and CV are such, that they’re bound to be a good risk.
Think of professionals like a doctor, or pharmacist, for instance. In addition, if they’re not looking for the full 90pc, and the property on which the loan is based is worth far more than the loan being requested, lenders aren’t so hard and fast on certain rules.
I don’t know your precise circumstances, but I’m going to assume that as first-time buyers you’re looking for the maximum loan available. Joey Sheehan, author of The Mortgage Coach agrees there is a ‘possibility and maybe a probability’ you won’t need to wait six months.
“If there is no probationary period then some banks would have no issue approving you once you can provide one payslip from the new employer on the basis that your husband has moved straight from a similar role with similar wages. If a probationary period applies, they may want him to complete it before they will advance funds, unless your husband is a higher earner and works as a professional or is state employed. Depending on your income it may determine if [the] bank would waive probation also, as if you are close enough to qualifying for the full loan on your own, they may waive completion of [the] probationary period.”
Source: https://www.independent.ie/life/home-garden/ask-the-expert-whats-the-best-way-to-reinvest-now-that-im-selling-my-buy-to-let-property-41840038.html
