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Eurostar brings French property closer to home |
Written by Jim Barnaby
Tuesday, 01 April 2008
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Over the last decade, investing in property overseas has entered the
mainstream. It is no longer the reserve of City bankers looking for
somewhere to spend their £1 million bonuses. Instead, an increasing
number of middle class Brits are using overseas property as a second
home or as a supplement for their pension. If they have owned property in Britain for more than a decade, they are likely to have a decent amount of equity. This frees them up a little when making investments and with transport links improving and high street banks now offering mortgages on foreign property, the opportunity is becoming easier to grasp. One of the key factors that have driven interest in overseas property has been the explosion of the no thrills airline sector. Cheap flights to Europe and beyond have made it easier for people to travel, which means they can experience foreign cultures and become comfortable enough to make a substantial investment. Once that investment is made, cheap flights enable buyers to visit their properties either to keep an eye on things or use of them as holiday homes. But it is not just aviation that has made the world, and especially Europe, smaller. The launch of the Eurostar has meant that travelling between London and Paris by train now takes a little over two hours. Customers using the service since the turn of the year will have experienced the revamped St Pancras International. After a multi-million pound facelift, the station now offers stunning architecture and a champagne bar for any French property investors with a new purchase to celebrate. Eurostar is expecting a bumper Easter, with 160,000 passengers expected to use the service over the Bank Holiday weekend, representing an increase of 20 per cent on last year. That figure could be set to rise still further, especially if air travel becomes more expensive. Pressure is growing on European governments to penalise airlines for their contribution to climate change and the next decade could see an increase in the tax burden faced by short-haul carriers especially. Such a move would be good news for Eurostar, which has faced significant financial difficulties in the past. If demand remains solid, the firm will be able to provide additional services securing closer ties between Britain and northern Europe. "Since Eurostar moved to St Pancras International, more and more people are realising Eurostar is easier, quicker and greener than flying," Eurostar's director of communications, Simon Montague, said. There has been speculation that further improvements in track and train design could further reduce journey times in the future, making homes France Belgium investment properties, but also principal residences. Commuting from the continent to jobs in London and the south-east of England would not be out of the question, especially with technology allowing people to work on the move and spend part of the week working from home. In today's world Property investment is an excellent investment option especially investment in UK Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com |
About The Author:
Jim Barnaby is a real estate investment broker and successful property investment adviser delivering research and selected UK and overseas property investment solutions with experience in spanish properties, french property investment, German property, Cyprus holiday homes, Property in Cape Verde, German property investment, cape verde property buy to let property
Jim Barnaby is a real estate investment broker and successful property investment adviser delivering research and selected UK and overseas property investment solutions with experience in spanish properties, french property investment, German property, Cyprus holiday homes, Property in Cape Verde, German property investment, cape verde property buy to let property
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