Global property watch: the week that was

From Indian rental yields to house names that sell, a round-up of world property news

4 years ago

*Kolkata is India’s most lucrative place for residential landlords*

Five property stories making global headlines this week:

Kolkata is India’s rental hotspot

Investors in India might consider turning to a ranking of the country’s cities by rental yield featured in The Times of India. The paper’s coverage of a report by Magicbricks, a property portal, named Kolkata as the most lucrative spot for residential landlords, followed by Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Poland predicts Brexit boost

Could Poland’s property market be set for a Brexit boost? Property analysts reckon so, reported the FT, following predictions by the country’s deputy prime minister that up to 200,000 Poles will return home from the UK after Britain’s impending exit from the EU. “If many people move from the UK to Poland, we can expect the bigger demand for flats. We have to remember that this group is usually well-to-do and even if they cannot afford a flat in the UK, they can in Poland,” said Wojciech Koczara, a property specialist at law firm CMS.

*Developers in Poland are hoping a forecast rise in demand materialises*

Home sweet home in Canada

Confectionery lovers will delight in news that the city that produces Nutella, Tic Tacs and Ferrero Rocher is the best place to buy a home in Canada. Brantford, Ontario, beat better known rivals, such as Toronto and Vancouver, to top the list compiled by MoneySense. The personal finance magazine noted Brantford’s “affordability and strong economy” and said buyers could expect a 4.48 per cent five-year annual return on investment.

*Returns in Brantford outstrip those in Toronto or Vancouver*

Rental potential in Mexico

A $300m deal to develop mid- and high-rise rental blocks in Mexican cities, including Monterrey, Mexico City and Guadalajara, is detailed in The Investor, published by JLL Capital Markets. Demographic change, tenancy law reforms and relaxed rent controls are listed as factors that might attract demand from investors.

*Mexico City is one of the country’s urban centres set for more rental blocks*

Winning in the name game

Struggling to sell? Perhaps it is time to rechristen your home. Charlie Wells, a UK buying agent, blogged that “upgrading” the first line of your address can help attract buyers. “There is definitely a pecking order,” he revealed. “The top house would be the Hall or The Manor, then the Grove, the Dower House and the Rectory.” But beware overdoing it, warned Wells. Labelling your 1950s semi-detached house “The Manor” is a route to inevitable disappointment — for seller and prospective buyer alike.