Tag Archives: property investment

AAA: Alternative Real Estate Worth Considering

Reports that alternative property investment could become increasingly popular have been highlighted and welcomes by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

Boston, MA, December 19, 2011 – Reports that alternative property investment could become increasingly popular have been highlighted and welcomes by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

Many investors are still looking for safer places to put their cash aside from stock markets that are still feeling the pinch from continuing economic uncertainty. Alternative investment advocacy group, AAA, said that this has led more people to consider real estate as a possible asset class in which to invest.

Phil Clark of Kames Capital agrees, telling Property Wire: “My view is that 2012 will be every bit as challenging as 2011, however, there are still many good opportunities for property investors to make well informed decisions.” He is urging people to consider investing in property with an emphasis on lettings as the rental market continues to fly.

He explained, “In particular I believe investors should consider a greater exposure to alternative sectors such as residential property, student accommodation or healthcare property. One of the key attractions of these alternative sectors is they generally have a high income yield, an ability to track inflation and have low vacancy rates.”

The increase in rental demand is being particularly felt in the South East, where Clarke believes the need to own homes will reduce over the coming years. AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson agreed, adding, “There is no doubt that the scarcity of mortgages is contributing to an influx in young, wealthy people who are looking to rent smart homes instead of buying.”

AAA supports interest in alternative asset classes as a means of diversifying investment portfolios against risk. It also supports ethical investments, such as forestry schemes where investors can buy up sections of forests in Brazil and elsewhere and sell the mature trees for timber within ten years or so. “Schemes such as the one operated by Greenwood Management in Brazil offer investors good rates of return , tax breaks and the peace of mind that only an ethical investment can generate,“ claimed Mr Johnson.

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

FRA highlights Positive Forestry Report from UK

A new report highlighting the strength of the forestry market in the UK over the past year has been highlighted by Forestry Research Associates (FRA) as another reason to invest in timber.

Bainbridge Island, WA, December 06, 2011 – A new report highlighting the strength of the forestry market in the UK over the past year has been highlighted by Forestry Research Associates (FRA) as another reason to invest in timber.

The report from property firm Savills and UPM Tilhill, published earlier this week, claims that timber prices are expected to be largely unaffected by the wider economic crises taking place in the Eurozone and the UK. “This report adds weight to the argument for putting some cash into alternatives that are less likely to correlate with wider economic trends,” stated Peter Collins, an analyst with FRA, a research and analysis consultancy that has a special interest in forestry investment and sustainable forestry.

The report highlights the rise in value of forested land in the UK, showing that purchasing forest land is a good way to diversify an investment portfolio to protect it against risk. This is particularly relevant at a time when stocks and shares are so volatile and investors are looking for safe havens for their money over the long and medium term.

This is according to FRA, which supports various forms of forestry investment, from buying forested land in the UK as a property investment, to buying areas of plantation land in Brazil, through managed forestry firms like Greenwood Management.

George McRobbie the forestry operations director at UPM Tilhill said, “We recorded a surge in forest values with an average of £4,650 per stocked hectare being attained, the highest level since our survey started and 34 per cent, some £1,174, up on 2010.”

He added, “This is equivalent to an annualized increase of 13.7 per cent since 2003. Optimism is clearly strong and overall the market is rising, backed by clear investor confidence and strengthening timber prices.”

Savills added that these value increases, along with the tax advantages of investing in timber, will continue to attract people to timber as an asset class.

Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394
info@forestry-research.com
http://www.forestry-research.com