London offers good buy-to-let property investment opportunities, expert claims

A leading South African property investment company believes the UK is one of the best places to buy property at the moment.

The current global economic environment has left investors wary about where to put their money due to lingering subprime concerns and high inflation, according to Scott Picken, chief executive of the International Property Solutions company.

'I think the most important thing with the UK is there's a lot of uncertainty at the moment. Mortgages have come down 70% in the last 12 months, and they expect transaction values are going to decrease from 2007 to 2008 to as little as 17%. The most important thing with the UK market is the fundamentals are in place and demand outstrips supply. I'd say if someone is taking a medium to long-term view they can make good and wise and studious investment for the future,' he added.

Picken, who heads up the company's London office, said that speaking to others in the industry it is clear that a lot of foreign investors are talking advantage of the uncertainty in the UK. 'A third of the property transactions in the last quarter in London have actually been foreign internationals investing in London,' he said.

Pubs for Sale in England and Wales

Licensed property agent, Paramount Investments, which in the past has bought and sold pubs for the likes of Punch Taverns and Admiral Taverns, has revealed it has slashed the asking prices of around 130 pubs, some by up to 50 per cent.

The agent said it had also taken around 100 pubs from an unnamed seller – though it is believed to be Admiral Taverns – with many being sold at “massively reduced prices”.

The 100 new pubs came on to the market last week.

Thirteen of them carry freehold price-tags of £115,000 or less - with one Caerffili (Caerphilly) pub on offer at a staggeringly low £50,000 (freehold).

They are located all over England and Wales.