In search of community

Released on: May 2, 2008, 8:25 pm

Press Release Author: Jim watson

Industry: Real Estate

Press Release Summary: Many people who look to rent property are by nature slightly
nomadic; individuals whose work may involve short contracts before they move on to
where the next job is. Others, such as students, may also not put roots down due to
the ephemeral nature of their stay in a town or city.

Press Release Body: Many people who look to rent property are by nature slightly
nomadic; individuals whose work may involve short contracts before they move on to
where the next job is. Others, such as students, may also not put roots down due to
the ephemeral nature of their stay in a town or city.

However, the rental sector is more diverse than that, particularly now when people
are increasingly staying off the housing ladder due to the issues of affordability
and mortgage availability. Such people may not own the four walls between which they
live, but they may still want to feel they belong to that community.

In that sense, it may be unwise for investors in property to think that the desire
to belong in a locality only applies to those who become owner-occupiers there. As a
result, what is relevant to those choosing to buy their own homes in an area may be
no less true of those in buy-to-let rented accommodation.

What is relevant to buyers is undoubtedly a sense of \"community\" according to Miles
Shipman, commercial director at property website Rightmove. Stating that the desire
for a sense of community has \"always been there\", he specified this in terms of a
number of areas.

A key one is crime, he noted, with the community spirit in this case manifesting
itself in crime-reduction schemes such as Neighbourhood Watch, he stated: \"Areas
with a neighbourhood watch and areas with a better track record on crime are also
one of the key factors [that people look for].\"

Mr Shipside said that such measures had a positive impact on home insurance costs,
but the appeal also lay in the area being \"more traditional\" in community terms.

Other factors listed by Mr Shipside are also ones that may attract tenants as much
as buyers, such as the proximity to schools and public transport links. For those
renting out family homes, the first would be particularly pertinent.

These advantages of location have also been emphasised in recent research. A poll by
Yorkshire Bank last month found that 74 per cent of people value a neighbourhood
watch scheme and 54 per cent of first-time buyers said a strong sense of community
would be worth paying more for.

Of course, questions about the definition of \"community\" and how such entities can
be sustained and nurtured is a wider, sociological issue. But the sense that such a
thing still exists and is available in the right area is clearly a matter which will
carry a lot of weight. Those who buy into the bricks and mortar of a community for
themselves may be best placed to immerse themselves in it, but this strong appeal
could nonetheless be a useful selling point for those investors who buy in such
places to provide a residential service to others.

In today\'s world Property investment is an excellent investment option especially
investment in UK

Web Site: http://www.assetz.co.uk

Contact Details: Address:Assetz House, Newby Road, Stockport,Cheshire

zip:SK7 5DA

ph:0845 400 7000

fax:0845 400 6010

email:linkexchangeseo@gmail.com

  • Printer Friendly Format
  • Back to previous page...
  • Back to home page...
  • Submit your press releases...
  •