Wealthy Splurge 3.1B on Luxury London Homes as Demand Recovers After Pandemic
London’s prime property market appears to be shrugging off economic headwinds caused by Brexit and COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, analysts anticipate 2023 to turn into the strongest year for London’s upscale property market since the Brexit vote spooked international investors from investing in the UK’s super-prime market.
London’s Prime Property Market on Firm Ground
According to City ATM, the ultra rich are gobbling up properties across the most exclusive enclaves of London.
Around 161 luxury residences valued at 10m or more were transacted in London in the financial year ending this March.
The total sum invested on the 10m-plus houses came in at roughly 3.1 billion, which is just more than 19 million per transaction on average and was up from the 2.5 billion invested on 144 properties in the previous year.
Kensington leads this list with 26 property sales, followed by Belgravia and Mayfair at 25 and 22 respectively.
What’s Behind London’s Property Market Boom?
London’s most exclusive trophy homes are put on the market at hefty asking prices. For example, 2-8a Rutland Gate, a miniature private palace on Rutland Gate which overlooks Hyde Park, was listed for sale for an eye-watering asking price of 200m. Agents selling The Holme, a 205-year-old lavish property, could beat out the current most expensive property if sold at the asking price of 250M.
Most of these luxury properties are being snapped up by wealthy international buyers who want to maximise their property portfolio.
Plunging property prices and the undervalued British pound are the two key factors luring international buyers to invest in luxury London properties.
The London property market has long been considered an attractive long-term investment sector because of its liquidity and stability.
Investing in London properties offers high-end financial protection against stringent regulatory enforcement. The state’s attractive tax system further drives property demand among non-residents.
Half of the residences transferred hand in the plush localities in London this January were transacted without a mortgage–up from 42% in January 2022 and 38% in January 2021.
The demand for prime London properties among foreign investors, particularly those with dollar-pegged currencies, spiralled upward in the wake of the mini-budget last year. As a result, Britain’s pound tumbled to a record low, and foreign investors pounced on massive discounts.
Even though the pound sterling has recouped most of its losses since the mini-budget spurred a market meltdown, investors exchanging funds during the market downturn are now enjoying the benefits.
In addition, the soaring rents and high levels of tenant demand in London are further pushing foreign investment.
With ultra-rich buyers investing in the upscale property market in London, the demand for luxury property management services such as The London Management Company (TLMC) is also booming.
A high-end property management service ensures a client’s luxury residence is always ready for their homecoming.
Wrapping Up
Even though London’s luxury property market is radiating optimism, analysts unanimously agreed that the current geopolitical and economic uncertainties may cause volatility in the state’s property market, dropping the sales volume by 10% over the next year.
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COMTEX_432806202/2764/2023-05-16T17:06:36
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No News Postbox journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
