In our private investor seminar, we discussed how best to play the property recovery. We looked at how unprecedented government intervention in the housing market is reshaping the world of buy-to-let, and asked whether it makes sense to buy high-street shops - a staple investment of the boom years now going cheap - even as the internet reduces retailers' space requirements. We also revealed stock tips for those who prefer a more liquid, passive approach to investment.
Please view the videos and presentations taken from our speakers at the seminar to see what was discussed on the day. Please note that our editorial speaker presentation is password protected so that our paying delegates have priority. All of the videos will be made available to everyone in one month's time.
Overview
Video coming soon.
■ Welcome: key trends, themes and opportunities
Investors Chronicle, John Hughman, Editor, Investors Chronicle
John Hughman joined Investors Chronicle in 2008 as Associate Editor, with a focus on technology and consumer stocks. Since then he's launched the magazine's award-winning blog, the Chronic Investor, and led the development of mobile products before becoming Editor in 2012.
■ Investing in residential property - the auction option
Gary Murphy, Residential Auction Partner, Allsop
Gary Murphy has been Head of the Allsop Residential Auction Team for over 22 years. His team is now the largest residential auction house in the UK, selling up 2000 lots each year to a value of around £400 million. He is Vice Chair of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Auctioneering Group, a member of the RICS Auction Legal Review Group and a former member of the RICS Estate Agency Group.
Mr Murphy is also a Director of Allsop Space, a joint auction venture with Space Property Consultancy in Dublin, Ireland and was the first auctioneer to conduct multi-lot auctions in the Republic.
Mr Murphy is the author of many articles in regular trade press, a frequent speaker at professional conferences and a regular charity auctioneer.
■ The commercial real-estate recovery
Philip Nell, Head of European Retail Funds, Real Estate and Manager of the Aviva Investors Property Trust, Aviva Investments
Philip Nell is Head of European Retail Funds, Real Estate, and Manager of the Aviva Investors Property Trust.
He joined the investment industry in February 1999 and since joining Aviva Investors he has undertaken various roles, including the management of several funds. Prior to joining Aviva Investors, Mr Nell worked for Jones Lang La Salle in the national investment team.
Mr Nell holds a degree in Estate Management and a diploma in Property Investment from the Investment Property Forum and is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He is also currently a member of the Investment Property Forum Academic Group and the Association of Real Estate Funds Regulations Committee.
■ Buy-to-let opportunities
Peter Grant, Chief Executive Officer, Grant Property Investment
A business management graduate from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland, Peter Grant has come a long way since embarking on his working life back in 1983. After spending his early career working for Scotland’s biggest newspapers as Circulation Director, he founded Grant Property, a UK residential property investment and management in 1997.
Now an award-winning business with approximately £0.5bn of assets under management, Grant Property employs 70 staff operating from 12 cities across the UK. The business also operates property funds for institutions and Fund Managers. Mr Grant and his team source, renovate, furnish and manage residential property for clients from 30 countries around the world.
With a steadfast focus on higher performing traditional residential property rather than new builds, the company has an unrivalled track record in providing letting and property management solutions to landlords based both in the UK and overseas targeting prime areas and securing occupancy rates in excess of 95 per cent.
Under Mr Grant's direction, Grant Property was awarded Professional Services Company of the Year in 2005. He was also awarded Entrepreneur of the Year status in 2004. He is a director of the Entrepreneurial Exchange and is involved with Enlight - the philanthropy arm of the organisation.
■ Opportunities in the US housing market
Stuart Johnson, Head of UK Operations, North Dakota Developments LLC
Stuart Johnson is the Head of UK Operations at North Dakota Developments LLC and is responsible for the UK Head Office. Over the last five years he has managed the acquisition of property developments for property investment companies. This included sourcing property developments worldwide, project managing them to sales launch and to a successful conclusion.
He has a background in property sales, marketing and operations and set-up his own successful property company selling investment properties worldwide.
Mr Johnson formerly ran an overseas property franchise following several years as a property investor himself. Prior to this he has 10 years' experience as a management consultant advising companies and large government departments.
■ Tips and mortar: picking winners as government intervention and technology revolutionise real estate
Stephen Wilmot, Associate Editor, Investors Chronicle
Stephen Wilmot is an Associate Editor at Investors Chronicle. He writes about all the ways in which private investors can make - or lose - money from property, including real-estate investment trusts and other shares, buy-to-let opportunities, high street shops and funds. He won the coveted Property Journalist of
the Year prize at this year's LSL Property Press awards.
In previous roles within the FT Group he covered the engineering, transport and industrial sectors for Investors Chronicle and open-ended funds for trade magazine Investment Adviser.
Prior to a Damascene conversion to journalism he worked as a Management Consultant in Paris. Mr Wilmot holds a first-class degree in French and German from Oxford University as well as a post-graduate diploma in Economics from Birkbeck.
Stephen's video will be available in one month's time.
