UK property buyers will be hoping to cash in on the weakened residential market over the course of the coming year, new figures have suggested.
City AM reported that specialist bank and asset manager Investec has found housing to be the most attractive buy for property investors during 2011. The firm said that the residential market will see the majority of investment, with retail and leisure the next most popular option.
Just 13 per cent of the property professionals questioned by the company forecast that residential property values will climb in the next 12 months. Meanwhile, almost half (49 per cent) said that they expected average prices to decline, with one in eight predicting a fall of between six and ten per cent during 2011.
Gary Dobson of Investec’s Structured Property Finance division said: "Residential property values in the UK remain depressed compared to their peak. "This should create some great opportunities for investors as they take advantage of low valuations and higher yields."
One in three investors surveyed expects yields to increase this year, while 14 per cent predict a drop.