Is Now the Right Time to Invest in Property During Covid-19?
- May 21, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 18, 2025
Table of Contents
Hello property lovers!
The UK housing market was closed for 52 days...then 1 week ago on 13th May, it reopened again (in England at least). With buyers, sellers and agents trepidly going back to work, how long will it be until we're back to 'normal'?
Picture: Manchester skyline - one of our 'hotspot' investment areas
First of all, what happened in those 52 days?
Well, the UK housing market more or less ground to a halt: according to Zoopla, around 373,000 property transactions with a value of £82bn were paused due to lockdown restrictions. A 70% drop in buyer demand was recorded in the first few weeks, 1 in 7 people with mortgages are taking mortgage holidays and on 7th May the Bank of England said its latest scenario was a 16% drop in house prices. Wow, we weren't expecting this just a few months ago, were we?
Recovery in 9 months?
As we know, there is no crystal ball. And as usual, forecasters and commentators are predicting everything from the worst recession ever seen to a bounce back in a few months. Savills is predicting a drop of between 5% - 10% this year but is sticking with its forecast that prices will increase by 15% over the next five years. It believes property sales will be down by 20% to 40% compared with the five-year average.
Knight Frank expects a 3% reduction in prices this year and a 38% fall in transactions, costing HM Revenue and Customs £4.4bn in lost stamp duty. According to a survey of 467 mortgage brokers, respondents came up with the ‘magic number nine’ as the number of months until recovery. Around 77% of brokers are confident lending levels will return to pre-COVID-19 levels within nine months. A more optimistic 51% said this could happen within six months. By the way, lenders ARE still lending today: a recent article from Mortgage Solutions says that 85% of buy to let lenders remain in the market (albeit some terms have been pared back for now).
Buy now? Are you crazy?!
Yes...we just said prices are likely to fall. Yes, if you were to buy at pre-lockdown values, you are likely to be in negative equity pretty soon, if not already. Some sellers are currently offloading immediately before prices plunge further. Some will be holding fast, waiting until things 'get back to normal' so they can sell at the pre-lockdown value they were hoping for. The key thing to take away here is that whether there is a recession or not, we are currently in a HUGE period of uncertainty with less activity and demand than ever before.
This means that now is a very good time to find people who are motivated to sell right now and negotiate with them! They are as worried as you that prices are falling, and they are more than likely to be willing to take significant reductions to get the sale done. If you don't leverage too high and plan to hold your investment, there are some great deals out there, and we are seeing them every week here at Property Brother.
This is our first blog so you may not be familiar with who we are. We are buyer's agents. We specialise in sourcing high-yielding property investments in the North West of England. If you are looking to buy, or even just thinking about it, we can help! Feel free to get in touch for a friendly chat.
Happy investing,
Ready to Start Your Property Investment Journey?
Ready to take your property investment journey to the next level? I've been where you are, facing the same challenges and uncertainties. But with the right guidance, you can navigate the property market with confidence.
At Total Property Group, we're not just property sourcers - we're your partners in building wealth. We understand the hurdles you face because we've overcome them ourselves. From finding the best deals to managing refurbishments, we handle it all.
Why struggle alone when you can tap into our years of experience? We've sourced over £7,000,000 worth of properties in Liverpool and the North West. Our expertise can help you avoid costly mistakes and maximise your returns.
Curious about how we can tailor our approach to your specific goals? Book a free investment discovery call with us today. We'll discuss your challenges, create a plan to achieve your goals, and even share a FREE investment tool.
Don't let this opportunity slip away. Take the first step towards financial freedom through property investment. Let's work together to turn your investment dreams into reality. Schedule your call now and start your journey to successful property investing in Liverpool.
About the Author
Pat Harper
Pat Harper is a respected buy-to-let property investment writer and market analyst based in Liverpool. As founder of Total Property Group and a regular industry commentator, he brings real-world expertise and data-driven insights to property investors.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. The content is based on our opinions and experiences, but we make no representations or warranties regarding its accuracy or completeness. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking advice from qualified professionals. Investments carry risks, and past performance does not guarantee future results. The author and publisher are not liable for any losses or damages resulting from the use of this information. Always conduct your own research before making any decisions.
Comments