Buy to Let Mortgages:  

There are numerous lenders that have mortgages specifically designed for the buy to let market.  They will normally lend up to 80% of the purchase price of the property.  Typically, they offer interest rates about half a percent higher than a normal standard variable rate mortgage.  Buy to Let  mortgages are usually available in Long, Short, Fixed & Capped Rate options.

Before taking out a Buy to Let Mortgage, it is sensible to assess your current and long-term situation to ensure you know exactly what financial commitments you have now - and may have a bit further down the line.  Make sure that you have enough money to cover the mortgage should you have no tenants in the property.  Make sure you can afford to lose money on the property should the property market take a down turn.  And finally, make sure that taking out a mortgage on this property won't have any negative affect on your ability to get a mortgage if you decide to move house at a later date.

Buy to Let Property:  Buying a property to let can be a good investment, or it can be a financial disaster. Making the wrong move can leave result in financial difficulties with mortgage payments if there is no rent coming in from the property. Also, taking on major renovations can result in unforeseen costs - resulting in a negative equity situation. But, making the right investment can mean a bit of extra income and a stable asset. 

Investing in property to let is not an instant road to riches scheme. Before you dive in, be prepared.  Remember, your deposit may be tied up for a lengthy period of time - and the deposit on a buy to let property is normally in the region of 15 - 20%.  Ensure that the property is to a high standard, which will increase its likelihood of being let.  Make sure you have a budget for any maintenance costs.

When purchasing a buy to let property there are a number of important factors to consider.  Foremost is Location.  Having a property in a desirable location will not only increase your monthly income, but will ensure that the property is let for the maximum amount of time.  Make sure there are adequate transport systems in place.  Local amenities, pubs, restaurants and schools are also important factors to consider.  Does the property have adequate parking facilities?  Prior to buying, consult with letting agents in the area - ascertain what rentals are achieved, and what sectors there is the greatest demand for.

UK Investment Property:  Most UK property owners have seen strong capital growth over the last 5 years, however, unless you plan to downsize the family home it's difficult to release the capital. With the massive surge in TV Investment Property programmes, thousands of people have been trying to get on the Property Investor ladder.  However, finding Investment Property in the ?UK is becoming increasingly difficult.

The UK Buy-to-Let market is extremely competitive making it increasingly difficult to find reasonably priced investment properties.  Capital growth rates have increased faster than rental incomes, meaning to cover mortgage costs you'll need a reasonable percentage of your own capital as a deposit to put in, unless you can negotiate a very good deal with a developer. If you have a lump of capital sitting around, and can find and move on a UK property investment, you can get a UK Buy-to-Let. Few new investors are in this position adding to the difficulty of getting into the UK market.