Reita launches online property investment guide

Reita, the education and awareness campaign for property investment and REITs, has launched a new online, interactive guide aimed at helping anyone considering investing in property.

As part of its consumer research preparation for the new Guide, Reita invited a panel of 60 private investors to answer a series of questions relating to key financial issues. The results of these showed:

Two thirds of private investors (67%) said the Conservatives would be the political party most likely to help property prices over the next 3-5 years - 18% said Labour, 8% Liberal Democrat and 7% ‘other'

43% of investors said their main financial asset was currently capital in their home, with 22% saying ‘investments'; 13% cash; 13% pensions and 8% ‘other property'

45% said changes in their job or employment income had made the most major impact on their current financial position with 30% citing ‘inflation'; 17% ‘changes in mortgage rates' and 8% ‘debt repayments'

When asked what would be most likely to encourage them to consider property investment, 63% of the consumer panel said ‘general economic upturn'; 17% said ‘continued low mortgage rates'; 13% cited ‘better availability of loans with small deposits' and 7% said a ‘change of government in the UK'

Finally, when asked what would encourage them to consider property investment this year, 40% of investors said ‘better lending availability and lower deposits'; 30% opted for a ‘change of government'; 21% said ‘base rates staying below 2%' and 8% ‘an increase in stamp duty allowance'
Reita's new guide was developed with support from the Investment Property Forum Educational Trust (IPFET) to provide expert, independent information on UK and global property investment. It includes simple explanations of how markets work, what drives performance and the different types of investment products that are available.

Important topics such as regulation, risk and tax matters are comprehensively covered within the Reita guide, whilst help to find an independent financial adviser is provided via links to an online search engine from IFA Promotion.

Phil Fry, programme director of Reita, explains: "With some green shoots now showing in the property market, many private investors are understandably keen to find alternative investment opportunities which can improve their chances for real long-term growth, particularly as base rates remain low. Our new online guide is designed to provide prospective investors a source of completely independent help on all the main issues surrounding property investment, from the very basic to the more complex. Armed with all this extra help, investors can then be far more confident and well equipped to discuss the options with their IFA and choose the best possible course of action for them."

Reita's new online interactive property guide is now live at property-guide.reita.org