The Luxury Property Show is coming! London, Olympia 27-28 October

The Luxury Property Show is coming! London, Olympia 27-28 October

Once an investment niche, luxury property is now a rapidly growing market with recent data from Christies International Real Estate revealing the world’s top ten reported property sales were all priced above $100 million for the first time in the year to May 2017. Riding the wave of excitement surrounding this emerging market, the Luxury Property Show returns to London Olympia this Autumn – headed by ever-knowledgeable Director Eddie Sikora.

The show, now in its 11^th year, runs from Friday 27^th to Saturday 28^th October and will play host to more than 50 exhibitors from around the world presenting investors with opportunities ranging from Mediterranean villas to beachside apartments in Thailand via alpine retreats in Northern Europe to luxury lofts in New York.

The exhibitors and sponsors list is long and distinguished as usual, and includes St James Place Wealth Management, Remax, Almanzora, Baker Woods, Mansion Global, Yamaha Music, Corcoran Group, Prime Properties, the International Property Awards and many more.

Alongside a wide range of exhibitors and stands the show also includes an in-depth schedule of seminars offering real world investment advice for investors ranging from those exploring the market for the first time, to seasoned professionals with global portfolios. The seminars will tackle key questions around the market including where to find the next global property hotspot to how to mitigate political risk and uncertainty. Among those delivering seminars are key industry figures and property funds.

As one key sponsor explains: “We live in a globalised world and leading investors increasingly recognise this, and build investment strategies appropriately. By taking a big picture approach – and factoring in the political and economic trends that can impact property values – those willing to do their research can make some healthy returns.

“Events like the Luxury Property Show have an increasing role to play in sowing the seeds of this market, and are a great opportunity to bring together some of the sharpest investment minds under one roof.”

Commenting ahead of the show, Eddie Sikora, Director of the show said: “Investing in property has always been a good option and, over the long-term, property investments continue to outperform other asset classes.

“With many domestic markets saturated however, and housing becoming an increasingly political concern, investors now are looking globally and focusing attention on the more exclusive end of the market – which carries less risk and where returns can be greater. Our show at the Olympia has gone from strength to strength on the back of this trend and we expect this year to be our biggest yet, bring investors and opportunities together to explore the potential of this market.”

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The Luxury Property Show runs from 27^th – 28^th October at the London Olympia. For further information about the show and opportunities to either exhibit or visit, head to http://www.theluxurypropertyshow.com/ .

For Rapid Free Visitor Registration, please go here >> http://bit.ly/2tLhGWg

To arrange an interview or comment from Eddie Sikora, please contact Liam Thompson at lthompson@sksmediauk.com or on +44 (0) 203 290 6001, or via http://sks-of-london.com

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Luxury Property Show Key Sponsors:

FX:                           

Foremost Currency Group:

Currency Exchange specialists with over 12 years expertise in supporting property agents and clients with their overseas property purchase or sale.  https://www.foremostcurrencygroup.co.uk/

Platinum:                Archant. http://www.archant.co.uk/news/archant-launches-global-luxury-property-magazine/

Platinum:                The Resident. http://www.theresident.co.uk/

Registration:           Corcoran Group https://www.corcoran.com/

Delegates:               SKS Media http://sks-of-london.com

Silver:                     Mayfair International http://www.mayfairinternationalrealty.com/

Silver:                     Quinton International https://www.quintoninternational.com/

Silver:                     Andermatt Swiss Alps http://www.andermatt-swissalps.ch/en/

Media:                    International Property & Travel http://ipropertymedia.com/

Local Media:          Abode2 http://www.abode2.com/

Key Media:             London Property South http://londonpropertysouth.co.uk/

Featured Exhibitors:

Yamaha London	https://www.yamahamusiclondon.com/
RE/MAX Collection, Luxury Lake View	http://agenzie.remax.it/luxurylakeview
Baker & Woods	http://www.baker-woods.co.uk/
Andermatt	http://www.andermatt-swissalps.ch/
Allez Francais	https://www.allez-francais.com/
International Property Awards	https://propertyawards.net/
Diamond Casas	http://www.diamondcasas.com/
Sothebys International	http://www.sothebysrealty.co.za/
Mansion Global	http://www.mansionglobal.com/
Frank Salt Malta	https://franksalt.com.mt/
Costa del Sol Living	http://costadelsolliving.com/
The Good Estate Agency	http://www.thegea.co.uk/
Little House London	http://www.littlehouselondon.com/
Square Edge	http://squareedge.co.uk/
Remax Thailand	http://www.remax.co.th/
Cerro Novo	http://www.cerronovo.com/
The Black Truffle Company	http://www.theblacktrufflecompany.com/
Bastalar	http://www.bastaslar.com/
Desert Springs Almanzora	https://www.desertspringsresort.es/
Remax Portugal	http://www.remax.pt/
Remax Curacao	https://www.realestate-curacao.com/en/
Solis y Mare	https://www.solisymareproperty.com/
Landmass London	http://landmass.co.uk/
Cilo Marbella	http://www.cilomarbella.com/
Prime Property RU	https://www.prime-property.ru/
Schon Properties	http://schonproperties.ae/
Aristo Developers	http://www.aristodevelopers.com/
Fine & Country Interior Design	http://www.fineandcountry.com/interior-design
London Property South	http://www.londonpropertysouth.co.uk/
Aqua Hot Tubs	http://www.aquatubs.co.uk/
Lexus	http://www.twickenham.lexus.co.uk/
MJ Developpement	http://www.mj-developpement.com/
Mythic Grand Gaube	https://www.mythic-grandgaube.com/
Your Valley Home	https://www.yourvalleyhome.net/
Cogress	http://cogressltd.co.uk/lp-sks

Featured Special Guest Speakers:

Ian Stafford, Chairman of London Sporting Club http://londonsportingclub.com

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LONDON PROPERTY – GETTING ON THE LADDER

Over several decades, London has established itself firmly as a global city to rival any other. Reflecting this, London property has also become one of the go to places for investors from across the world. 2016 alone saw £4.6 billion worth of investment from Asia into the London property market according to Savills1, while Q3 2016 saw £685 million worth of investment from the US2.

Alongside investment in commercial property, interest in residential London property has also spiked across the globe. Fitzrovia, Belgravia, Mayfair – the names of these neighbourhoods are synonymous with elegance and class globally, and they are neighbourhoods where pockets are deep. Interest in being part of the luxury London brand has contributed to substantial growth in London property prices over the long-term, with the latest data showing 7.5% growth in the year to December 20173.

While this investment is great for the city, and is actively changing the face of London with destinations on what were once the peripheries such as Canary Wharf and the Greenwich Peninsula becoming ever more important, it also means the market has become increasingly competitive.

Whether investing in London to generate income, or simply to own and inhabit your own slice of the city, competing with investors in what has become a global market place can be challenging. As many of those new to the market have found, often a property has already sold by the time it appears in the estate agents window.

Surveying your investments

Once an investor has found the right property in the right location and at the right budget, a second challenge is to ensure the property is as good on the inside as it looks on the outside.

Arriving in London from certain directions could leave you with the impression that you’re entering a hypermodern city – full of glass towers and new build apartments. While this is true to an extent, what also makes London great are the countless historical buildings and neighbourhoods that give the city such character.

Buying these properties and in these neighbourhoods can deliver an investor a property full of style and historical features, but it also means detailed surveys will need to be undertaken. Historical buildings bring with them their own unique challenges. Listed buildings for example, may bring with them certain obligations to maintain the property to certain standards, or within certain parameters. Further to this, investors will need to consider any local planning restrictions or listings which may impact future plans for the property.

On the other side of the equation, investors should also remember that London is an incredibly dynamic and fluid city, with a skyline that is constantly growing. Investors need to consider the impact of potential future developments upon their property. Will the view of the river that can be enjoyed today, be a view of the back of another tower tomorrow?

While it’s hard to keep track, recent reports suggest in excess of 400 skyscrapers are currently being planned across London4. Investors need to find out how many, if any, of these will be being constructed in their neighbourhood and consider how comfortable they are with that.

Beating the competition?

So, how can investors beat the competition to find the right property, make the right offer and then ensure that the bricks and mortar they are investing in is built on solid foundations? Both foreign and domestic property investors are increasingly turning to buying agents to help them negotiate the challenges between them and their perfect investment.

Buying agents can save an investor time and money by ensuring they find the best deals and by bringing local, specialised expertise into the search and acquisition process.

Henry Sherwood, CEO of the Buying Agents says, “London is at present one of the world’s great property hotspots alongside other great global cities such as New York, Paris and Singapore. It is an exciting place for any investor, whether the individual looking to build a successful property rental business in one of the world’s most in-demand cities, or the family looking for a convenient home close to the offices of the Square Mile.

“The very things that make London such an attractive proposition for would-be investors however, also ensure that investing in the city can be a huge challenge. Not only do investors need to negotiate the fierce competition in the market, they also need to consider the neighbourhood they are investing in, the historical fabric of the city and the impact of future growth.

“It is imperative that investors also find the right professionals to manage their investment, the surveyors and lawyers, even the choice of removal firm needs to be considered carefully! This is where a buying agent can save an investor time, money and a great deal of stress. The detailed knowledge of, and love for, London’s property market which an agent can bring to the table is priceless and a must for anybody thinking of making a serious investment into the capital.”

The Buying Agents, based in London, is an award winning property search and acquisition company covering London, the UK and popular destinations in Europe. It provides a personal one to one service to home buyers and investors, active in the prime property market for nearly 15 years with a focus on London but also covering other exclusive parts of the UK, France and Monaco. With a wide range of properties available (which you won’t find in the estate agent windows), The Buying Agents offers a full, bespoke service, taking investors from initial searches, to managing the move, exchanging contracts and opening the door to London property.

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For more information on The Buying Agents please visit http://www.thebuyingagents.com/

To arrange an interview or comment from Henry Sherwood, CEO, The Buying Agents, please contact Liam Thompson at lthompson@sks-london.co.uk , http://sks-of-london.com, or on +44 (0) 20 3290 6001

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References:

1. http://www.savills.co.uk/blog/article/212156/commercial-property/asian-money-keeps-pouring-into-london.aspx
2. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/10/06/foreign-investors-race-to-snap-up-london-commercial-property-aft/
3. https://www.ft.com/content/e3717408-f2a3-11e6-95ee-f14e55513608
4. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/03/07/what-londons-future-skyline-will-look-like—all-436-skyscrapers/

Looking to purchase a Yacht or Boat?

Looking to purchase a Yacht or Boat?

Buying boats is a complex business, but with the right advice you won’t be left all at sea.

Purchasing your first yacht, or upgrading to your next one, is a significant investment decision. And while the perks of a yacht owning lifestyle are many, it is important to understand and deal with any challenges involved.

The first thing you’ll need to consider is finance. What is your budget? You need to set a budget that is realistic for both your aspirations and your pocket. Take into account buying costs and depreciation. Most people understand that once you have driven a new car off the forecourt, the vehicle becomes immediately second hand and loses value. The same principle applies to purchasing a new yacht. Although the depreciation won’t necessarily be as dramatic as with a new car, it is certainly a factor that needs to be considered.

With finance secured, then comes the second challenge – finding the yacht that works for you and your budget! The yacht market is a truly global one and you could find yourself working with buyers and sellers all over the world in what is often a fast moving environment.

Your search will also need to be informed by questions about how you intend to use your yacht. This will determine the specifics you need – everything from engine power, to space and size, to what finishes you would like to see in terms of upholstering and on-board facilities!

So, how to navigate these choppy waters and find the yacht that’s right for you?

Yacht sellers have for a long time employed agents to help them achieve the best possible price for the vendor. Increasingly, buyers are taking the same approach. You need a professional on your side. A well informed and well connected agent can save you time and uncertainty, as well as potentially saving you tens of thousands of pounds (or more) in up-front costs.

At Go Earth we support your aspirations to yacht ownership with a bespoke service that begins with answering your initial questions with a free – no obligation – consultation, through the whole process including arranging transport of your yacht to your chosen marina. Our expert team scans the market to identify the right product for you, including a wide-range of non-advertised yachts, and can provide advice on finance, surveys and basic seamanship. In particular, we can act as your negotiation agent in the all important procurement and purchase process.

So, don't set sail until you've spoken to Go Earth, and ensure that your yacht investment is watertight, and gives you years of pleasure and luxury!

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For more information about Go Earth and its extraordinary services visit https://www.boatsearch.earth/ . To arrange an interview or comment from Martin Berman, Director, please contact Liam Thompson at lthompson@sks-london.co.uk or on +44 (0) 20 3290 6001, or via ​http://sks-of-london.com .

For Go Earth sales enquiries, please register your interest here >> http://bit.ly/2kntRVq

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Writing Credit: Liam Thompson, Sierra Kilo PR & Millionaire Lifestyle Magazine, Feb 17

Private Banking - Alternative Investments

Private Banking - Alternative Investments

Private banking is an industry currently undergoing something of a renaissance. As the balance of economic and geopolitical power between East and West has shifted over recent years, there has been an explosion in demand for private banking services across the Asia Pacific region. The emerging markets of China, Malaysia and elsewhere pushed total global assets managed by the private banking industry in 2015 to $20.3 trillion, up from $18.5 trillion in 2013 and the growth of China into a global power has led to an explosion of wealth within its sphere of influence. Recent analysis by the World Wealth Report¹ for example, reveals that the number of individuals with investible assets worth $1 million plus in the Asia Pacific region increased by 17% in 2013, to 4.3 million people. The total wealth held by this group also increased correspondingly by nearly a fifth, to $14.2 trillion.

This growth in the market for private banking has been further assisted by tighter regulation in the post-crash world. Scrutiny and regulation have forced many mainstream and high-street banks out of investment banking, leaving the field open for more specialist and investment driven banks.

Regardless of these dynamics however, striking the right balance between return and risk remains key in the private banking sector.

Building investments…

In the wake of the 2008 crash, and the age of low interest rates and quantitative easing which it ushered in, property has remained the most attractive investment for those looking for significant returns. The reasons for this are clear. Recent research from Savills² revealed that the total value of property worldwide (currently around $217 trillion) is 36 times more valuable than all the gold ever mined (worth approximately $6tn), 2.3 times the value of outstanding securitised debt ($94tn), and 3.9 times the total value of equities ($55tn). The same report estimated the growth rate of this global asset class to be 1.77%, so there are returns to be made and growth rates in local markets often far exceed this. 

Recent data from MSCI shows that US commercial property funds in 2015 grew a staggering 15.6% according to the PREA/IPD US Quarterly Property Fund Index³. Even more impressive is the fact that investments in US commercial property have seen a cumulative return of 129% over the past six years.

There are downsides to property investment however. Property requires regular maintenance for example and while, on the whole, tenants can be relied upon to not mistreat a property and pay the rent on time, bad tenants can turn an investment into a full time job. Politics can also weigh large in the minds of property investors and housing and property is for many a significant political issue. This ensures that the market is often the subject to policy interventions, and property investors can need to be aware of the political contexts in which they make their investments. Investors in one development in London, for example, have been singled out in the media as being representative of rising property prices and the political frustrations which follow⁴.

As a result of this kind of rhetoric, rent caps are being considered or implemented in cities including Dublin, New York and Berlin – despite all the evidence against such market intervention.

At the other end of the scale, larger investments through Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), while generating decent returns, are not as high yielding as direct investment can be. The fact that these investments are managed by large corporations and investment houses also means that there is often a potential disconnect between returns, and the allocation of those returns to investors. Indeed, a recent report from a research team in Toronto found that, while REITs had the highest net returns amongst a sample of asset classes, investors in REITs saw the lowest allocations – just 0.6% of total asset value⁵.

…and making them work

Despite the politics property investments continue to outperform other asset classes and so remain popular. Looking again at the US for example, we see that commercial property as an asset class has outperformed US bonds (up 4.39% over the period 2011 to 2015), stocks (up 13.45%), corporate bonds (up 4.72%) and commodities (down 10.93%)⁶.

So what’s the best way to maximise returns, while minimising risk?

Rycal Group have developed a niche which is proving to be increasingly popular with investors. The opportunity is centred around the Carlton James Group, an investment portfolio with a focus on the US’s hospitality sector. Over the last five years this portfolio has seen average returns of 17% per annum. With a strategy based upon wide-ranging geographical and market intelligence, Carlton James look also for additional revenue generators – for example taking into account a development’s proximity to highways, malls and economic infrastructure – as well as local economics.

Simon Calton, Co-Founder and CEO of the Carlton James Group, says: “Private banks and their clients define themselves by their willingness to consider alternative investments – finding the opportunities that others miss. Making alternative investments work for clients however requires depth of knowledge and understanding in any given market. A portfolio such as ours is a perfect partner for investors looking for opportunities in the US that others have yet to capitalise on.

“The secret of Carlton James’ success has been the ability to take a 360-degree view of any investment. We recognise that, to a large extent, the residential property market is saturated, and economists from many global cities are talking about local housing bubbles. Property used for hospitality however is a growth market, and will continue to be so in an economy geared ever more towards the service sector.

“Our expertise also extends to considering the local infrastructure around the properties we invest in. How near is closest freeway or shopping centre? What future developments are planned in the local vicinity? These questions and more are key to the long-term success of our portfolio and guide our decision making processes.”

Carlton James is proud to sponsor the Spear’s Private Banker of the Year Award at the Spear’s Wealth Management Awards (WMA) November 1^st at The Dorchester, London, UK.

For more information on the Rycal Group and Carlton James investments please visit http://www.rycalgroup.com/newinvestors. To arrange an interview or comment from Simon Calton, CEO, please contact Liam Thompson at lthompson@sks-london.co.uk , http://sks-of-london.com, or on +44 (0) 7890 315 537.

1.    https://www.worldwealthreport.com/

2.    http://www.savills.co.uk/_news/article/72418/198559-0/1/2016/world-real-estate-accounts-for-60--of-all-mainstream-assets

3.    https://www.msci.com/documents/10199/e667cc74-b4e2-4f72-8d8a-8b88e283b211

4.    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/may/24/revealed-foreign-buyers-own-two-thirds-of-tower-st-george-wharf-london

5.    http://www.pionline.com/article/20160627/PRINT/160629891/reit-returns-strong-allocations-remain-low-study-finds

6.    https://www.bullionvault.com/guide/gold/Annual-asset-performance-comparison

                                                     

HIGH NET WORTH MARKETING – WHAT AND WHY?

What’s an HNWI? Anyone know for sure?

This is the abbreviation used for ‘High Net Worth Individual’. Why is this important to your marketing? Most CMOs will tell you that the best way to blow away a target CPA number is to market to high net worth individuals, i.e. promote your wares in front of an audience who can instantly afford whatever it is your company does, not waiting for next pay check, not waiting for a business partner, just ‘I like it, so I’ll have it’. Not only this, but HNWIs have a habit of purchasing goods and services in multiples. This is usually music to the ears of most Sales Directors, ergo the Board.

HNWI definitions vary according to where in the world you happen to be. For example, Investopedia has it as:

“The most commonly quoted figure for membership in the high net worth “club” is $1 million in liquid financial assets.” 1

… whereas other countries have lower definitions, and some specialist agencies significantly higher.

In particular, one regulatory body defines high net worth for investment purposes as having an annual salary over £100,000.00 per annum, whereas an international high net worth agency may define this as high as £5M liquid assets, sterling.

To classic marketers the realm of high net worth marketing may seem like a mysterious target to reach. Many companies have tried and become disillusioned with trying to reach HNWs for a variety of reasons, not least of which is the size of the budgets necessary to achieve it as a standalone firm. Most approach it in the spirit of a customised B2C campaign, or even a B2B campaign if the targets also own significant businesses. However, these approaches have historically reaped minimal success if executed only once or twice.

Depending on your company’s offerings, most HNWs are highly likely to have an advisor, or even several advisors, with whom you must ‘pass muster’ before you will be allowed access directly to them. This can be frustrating for most sales forces, and, unsurprisingly, most sales forces give up due to the fact that they have more pressing targets to meet, thus contributing further to the HNW project challenges.

However, for those lucky to have good timing, or a well-known product and suitably attractive service, direct access can be gained and very quickly they discover what all HNWs have in common. They are all ‘time poor’. They will want to be convinced of your offering, although rarely have time to address it, and are much more likely to stack up a few good things with one of their trusted advisors and crash through them in an afternoon at the Dorchester. So we see also that knowing and cultivating their advisors is key.

You will also quickly discover the immense complexity of each HNWs set up in terms of tax, holding structures, estate planning, philanthropy and more. So be prepared. It might also be wise to have senior sales personnel assigned to these tasks, preferably from a background with which your target HNWs will be familiar. Likewise, it may be beneficial to have in your arsenal several possible offerings as during the cultivation phase of your fledgling relationships you will be uncovering actual needs from your HNW which you may be able to fulfil for them quickly and efficiently. Needless to say, personalised attention, and lots of it, is an absolute must, which leads us to the next challenge.

Time is money, and these approaches take up an inordinate amount of person-hours. If you are unable to commit these kinds of resources to your HNW project, you might consider also a high net worth marketing agency, of which there are surprisingly few, although one of two of them do actually deliver excellent results.

In addition, you may find that most HNWs are averse to risk, especially with the current global economic considerations. Once you have your first HNW client, it’s advisable to spend as much time on and with them as you are able. HNWs usually travel in the same circles, holiday in similar places, know a lot of the same people, and from this first account you may be able to segue others by way of referral. As we all know, word of mouth is the best marketing tool on the globe.

Furthermore, in the early stages of your new relationship with your first HNW you might want to consider taking every conceivable opportunity to demonstrate exclusivity, loyalty, and a willingness to always ‘go the extra mile’. Remember too that discretion is a big word in this space, so not the best of ideas to naturally assume your new HNW client might want to mingle with others, including other HNWs, for many reasons.

Ian Gordon, Head of Banks Research at Investec commented recently:

“In theory at least, your high net worth customer ought to be a source of new business account possibilities,”

“It is about making the whole worth more than the collective individual parts.”

That’s all very well you may think. But this still leaves most companies with the problem of how to start their active efforts in the high net worth marketing stakes. And how to get past the immense effort and number of person-hours required to get things moving properly.

John Winters, a Senior Director at SKS Media Singapore, a global high net worth marketing agency comments:

“We are familiar with the challenges facing most companies looking to enter or expand within the high net worth marketing space globally. It can indeed be daunting at first due to the immense efforts required, which is why many clients come to us to help get them started…..”

As an example, SKS Media have one of the largest high net worth databases on the globe which can be included in client campaigns for HNW attraction in a variety of sectors including luxury goods and services, asset and wealth management, private banking, real estate, and investor attraction for various top drawer offerings. Adding in to the digital efforts, SKS also have a sizeable ‘agent base’ globally who carry client offerings directly to their individual ‘black books’, thus generating interest through this direct one-on-one engagement, and various other channels designed to attract interest to a specific offerings. Digitally, these also include ‘Intellipost’, invented and invested by SKS in 2010 whereby client messaging is left if highly targeted areas of the web known to be fertile for a cause, often exploring new niches for which clients are unlikely to have resource e.g. polo, super yachts, golf, luxury cars, and certain types of financial instruments only ever used by HNWs and UHNWs. They also sport a sizeable HNW social network globally through which client messages can reach their HNW targets, and a HNW Partner Network to match. Interestingly, SKS also offer the PCN (‘Private Capital Network’), through which clients can receive direct referrals via ‘word of mouth’. Also offered are the TV, Radio, Outdoor, Events, PR and Partner Development areas as a full service advertising agency, albeit only in the HNW space.

But given the subject matter, what about the ‘personalised approach’?

Winters continues:

“Once significant interest is collected for a particular client, the strength at SKS is in the pre-qualification and individual ‘old school’ follow up we afford each potential new prospect for a client. In the HNW space this is both expected and prerequisite to any campaign. In this regard we are extremely ‘granular’, as this is proven to be a superior option for direct ROI to the client. Many clients prefer to use us as their ‘marketing/direct sales arm’ for the HNW space as we have been doing this so long now……”

So it may be of some reassurance that whether you are starting out in the HNW space, or looking for increased exposure and direct sales from this potentially lucrative area for your business, there is help at hand so that you don’t necessarily have to incur the enormous cost of doing it alone.

Either way, high net worth marketing is still extremely attractive for many reasons. In fact, it you are going to promote anything it is good common sense to put it in front of an audience who can instantly afford whatever it is, right?

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For more information on SKS Media or any of the commentary above please visit  http://sks-of-london.com

To arrange an interview or comment, please contact Alison Daff at skpr@sksoflondon.net or on +44 (0) 203 290 6001.

1 High Net Worth Individual (HNWI) Definition | Investopedia