The Ultimate Guide to Investing in to Birmingham

Birmingham up until the 18th century was considered a small market town specialising in manufactured iron goods. Fast forward 200 years and the City is not a hotbed for property investment. This useful Report provides first time investors in to Birmingham with all the useful knowledge they need to make a wise investment.

The city grew dramatically during the industrial revolution to become one of the world’s foremost industrial powerhouses. Innovations within the city included Watts and Boulton’s industrial steam engine in 1776 which allowed the large-scale manufacturing of goods via machinery, arguably one of the most important moments of the entire industrial revolution. During this period there were three times as many patents by Birmingham residents than any other city symbolising the importance of the city for British and global innovation.

Some of these innovations included the birth of the modern chemical industry, plastics, the first cotton mill, the creation of the factory system, the postal system and the world’s first long distance railway line.

Further innovation within the city followed in the 20th century with research carried out at Birmingham University that made possible the microwave and atomic bomb. During the WWII the city was heavily bombed during a time known as the ‘Birmingham Blitz’. This led to a wide-scale regeneration program during the 1950’s and 60’s that saw a great amount of brutalist concrete development projects crop up around the city like the old Bullring shopping centre. As the city was at the centre for British car manufacturing, it was planning during this period to be car friendly with many underpasses, ring roads and double lane roads built throughout the city making it still an extremely accessible city.

KEY FACTS

• Birmingham’s metropolitan economy is the second highest in the UK with a GDP of over $121 billion workforce of over 484,000 people
• Birmingham airport has direct access to over 100 destinations world wide
• Expanding creative industries sector with over 3,400 registered business making up over 10% of the city’s total number of firms
• More jobs have ben created in the city through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) than any other UK region
• Designated Science and Digital city with a business revolution known as the ‘Silicon Canal’
• Has 5 universities with over 65,000 students. There are a further 20 universities within an hours drive
• 42% of the UK’s total conferencing trade using facilities like the NEC and the ICC
• Over 16,500 start-ups registered in 2013, the highest number outside of London
• 40% of the UK’s Jewellery is still made in The Jewellery Quarter
• Home to Jaguar Land Rover, the UK’s largest domestic car manufacture

HOUSING MARKET

Houses prices in the West Midlands have jumped dramatically over the past 3 years after a stagnant period during the recession. In 2017 house prices increased by 4% and were up by 17% on 2015 levels. The majority of sales in Birmingham during the last year were terraced properties, selling for an average price of £166,865. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £206,173, with apartments fetching £160,433.

When you look at prices within the city centre alone, the majority of properties sold were apartments due to a much higher density than the suburbs. These were sold for an average of £194,793. Terraced properties sold for an average price of £268,605, while semi-detached properties averaged £198,750. Birmingham City Centre, with an overall average price of £196,479, was similar in terms of sold prices to the wider Birmingham market (£195,360), but was more expensive than areas like Small Heath (£132,345) and much cheaper than areas like Edgbaston (£304,540). During the last year, prices in Birmingham City Centre were similar to the previous year and 11% up on 2006 when the average house price was £176,399.

For a consultation with one of our experts about your existing portfolio, or a portfolio you are thinking of creating from scratch get in touch with us now at www.opulentinvest.com, call us on: 020 7205 4345 or email us at: info@opulentinvest.com