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Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama and is one of the biggest commercial banking centers in the USA. Birmingham is seen as having one of the best higher education systems in the whole of the South, it is home to numerous colleges such as University of Alabama, Cumberland Law School Miles College and the world famous Samford University The University of Alabama at Birmingham is the state of Alabama’s largest employer, with some 23,000 employees, and has an annual economic impact exceeding $7.15 billion. Thirteen UAB graduate programs were ranked in the top 25 in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate School” list, and 10 UAB specialties were ranked among the nation’s top 50 programs of their kind in the U.S. Another great University in Birmingham is Samford University which is among the one hundred oldest higher education institutions in the United States and today it is considered among the top-ranked private universities in the nation. The university offers 30 undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as 158 undergraduate majors, minors and concentrations. The university is made up of ten academic schools, all of which are located on the scenic 200-acre campus just outside Birmingham. Among the notable former students are Cordell Hull, the longest-serving Secretary of State in US history, world-leading soprano Elizabeth Futral, Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper editor Harold E. Martin as well as renowned American football coach, Bobby Bowden. You also have Birmingham-Southern College which covers 192 acres south of downtown Birmingham and houses 45 traditional red brick university buildings in green, leafy open spaces. The university currently offers around 25 undergraduate majors, 25 minors and 10 special programs. BSC is often rated highly for the quality of its teaching staff and its graduates.  Birmingham-Southern is in the top tier liberal arts school receiving accolades from U.S.& World news and Forbes magazine. You also have Miles College in Birmingham which is a premier liberal arts institution located in metropolitan Birmingham within the corporate limits of the City of Fairfield. Miles, which is fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and accredited by Commission on Colleges for the awarding of Baccalaureate Degrees, is the only four-year institution in historic Birmingham, Alabama designated as a member of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Just 35 miles north of Birmingham you will find the University of Montevallo which is the top-ranked public regional university in Alabamba for the last 12 years. University of Montevallo was named the best value out of all regional universities in Alabama, and ranked in the top 20 in its category in the Southeast. You have 73 campus buildings (including 4 antebellum structures) 9 residence halls and the National Historic District at the center of campus, it was was the first Alabama institution of higher learning to guarantee its teacher-education graduates. The great education system in Birmingham is seen as a major attraction for families who want to reside there and also fuels a strong workforce. Birmingham is the hub of 550 technology companies, is the 12th largest banking center in the USA and was voted number 1 best city for Millennial Entrepreneurs. If you would like to see some of our great properties in Birmingham please email invest@globalinvestmentsincorporated.com

Over the last 12 months we have seen a dramatic increase in demand for “rehabbed” or “Turnkey” properties, this is not just unique to Global Investments but seems to be a general trend with US real estate properties. One may ask why is this happening now and would it not be better to buy a tenanted property without all of this extra hassle ? The reasoning behind this trend is because some investors are seeing the added benefits of buying a refurbished property as compared to an older tenanted property. The first big advantage is your yearly maintenance bills, with refurbished and updated properties you tend to have lower yearly maintenance bills due to the fact that most things items are upgraded or replacing, you tens to find new plumbing and electrics and well as updated kitchens and bathrooms, with some refurbished properties they even go as far as replacing the roof. With non refurbished properties we generally see that some things will need to be fixed or replaced due to general wear and tear. Another reason is that you tend to find that refurbished properties offer better value for money and are generally available in the better parts of the cities. Buying a refurbished property gives you the opportunity to buy a run down property have it refurbished and therefor add value to the property. Looking at some of our recent refurbishment’s we can see that houses in the same areas that have already been refurbished are generally 20-30% higher in price. A rehabbed home, by definition, makes the home move-in ready. This immediate usability makes it attractive to investors, having real estate ready to go means you can start earning income instantly and get your new tenants placed. Once the property is ready your management company can then start the process of placing your tenants which can be either private tenants or Section 8 tenants given your preference. Again people may ask surely it makes sense to buy properties with tenants already in place, well not really, with a vacant property you are starting with a clean slate and not inheriting tenants. The management companies will screen your tenants make sure they are fully vetted and take a security deposit from them, you are therefore confident that you are getting good tenants placed. Management companies love receiving refurbished properties as they know tenants are constantly looking for these, especially in the good areas, what tenant would not prefer new carpets and paint and updated bathrooms and kitchens. Buying refurbished properties can help you transform your property portfolio and opens up different avenues as an investor. Maximising a property’s capital and rental value is clearly a key motivator for investors, but the most important factor is ensuring that the property is in good shape for tenants and have your tenants placed as quickly as possible. With a refurbished property you also have the option of putting your own stamp on the property, maybe choose the colour of the kitchen cabinets or decide on the colour of the paint, some investors love this part of the process or you could just leave it to the contractor. Every refurbished property we offer for sale will have a full inspection report carried out once the contractor has completed their work, a sang list will be drafted and each item will be fixed before you close on the property, you will also receive pictures and videos throughout the whole process. As a company we use some of the best building contractors in the US who have competed on 100’s of properties, we have a solid team both in house and on site and always deliver on time. Here is an example of a large property in Cleveland that has recently been refurbished by one of our contractors, tenants are now in place and the property is under management by a great company. Before rehab After rehab If you would like more information on any of our new refurbishment properties please email invest@globalinvestmentsincorporated.com.

With the current volatility in the stock and FX markets and in times of uncertainty it’s vital to ensure you are speaking with a specialist, not only to obtain the best guidance, but also the reassurance to know you are making the right choices when changing your currency.  Just like the stock markets, the currency markets have become increasingly volatile. The US Dollar, Japanese Yen and Swiss Franc have all benefited as investors look for safe-havens to park their money whilst riding out the crisis.  This week the GBP/USD exchange rate fell to a low not seen since 1985. GBP/EUR continues to remain suppressed, whilst EUR/USD to its weakest point since 2017. The situation is ever-changing, and continued volatility is to be expected.  For those sending money to the USA to buy property, make investments or to friends and family, the current exchange rates can be challenging, which is why we want to introduce you to our trusted partner The good news is that when you’re rents are brought back from the US you will see a gain as well. For the last 40 years, Moneycorp have been helping customers make the most out of their currency payments. Together with better exchange rates than most banks, offering you immediate savings, their expert traders are available to talk through current market conditions, giving you the confidence to transfer your money at the right time.    You can find out more about their service from any of the team at Global Investments, or to discuss an upcoming transfer or simply just have a chat about currency expectations, please email  michelle@globalinvestmentsincorporated.com and we can send you a direct introduction where you can speak to a specialist and set up your own account. 

Global Investments has been leading the way in the buy to let market in the USA for the last 8 years with more than 5000 sales completed. Now Global Investments are offering unique investment opportunities to our global investor database in the UK student buy to let market. We thought it best to explain in this blog the main reasons and the benefits we feel that makes the increasing market of Student accommodation here the UK an attractive proposition for the savvy investor. Today it is difficult to find investment assets that pay a decent income. There’s no value in putting your cash in the bank thats for sure. The dividend yield on the FTSE 100 is a measly 3.66%. One of the reasons for Global Investments success is that we reach out to the extremely wealthy investors but also the first time property investors who do not wish to gamble and spend huge amounts of capital but are equally looking for a good yield with relative safety. Our USA investment market continues to be popular due to the minimal financial input to purchase a property in certain states. Being a UK company many of our investors have tended to shy away from UK property in the past mainly due to the cost of UK property with low yields available. Most would require finance that would also ultimately eat away at the yield potential. Fortunately there is now a great alternative for these investors. Large developers in the UK are building dedicated luxury student accommodation projects. The result is a secure UK property investment with guaranteed rental income with attractive yields but more importantly at a low entry level of capital investment. The following are the top 5 reasons why we feel investing in student UK but to let property makes sense : 1.      Student numbers are soaring The UK is arguably the number 1 Country that many overseas students look at for the best in further education. Our Universities are second to none and students from all over the world, especially China and the Far East are increasing year after year. The UK is consistently increasing in popularity to international students, with thousands of ambitious students choosing to pursue their qualification in one of the many top-notch UK universities. With its world-recognised universities, culturally diverse environment, and highly-skilled academic staff, the UK is truly the epitome of academic success. There are more young people entering further education than ever. According to 2018/2019 statistics from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, there are currently 485,645 international students pursuing their degree in the UK. The number has experienced an increase from the previous year statistics which encompassed a total of 458,520. The trend indicates that numbers will continue to rise and all of whom need accommodation. 2.      Universities can’t keep up with the demand for accommodation Traditionally, students would stay in halls of residence at the university in which they studied. But with the soaring demand, there simply aren’t enough rooms available on campus. Many universities now only allow first-year students to stay in their halls of residence. Even so, many first-year students won’t get a room. Second-year students and beyond partner up with their friends and rent private accommodation. 3.      Student accommodation is recession-proof People don’t stop going to university during a recession. In fact, the opposite is probably true. When fewer jobs are available, school leavers are more likely to consider a course of study. So, student accommodation is recession-proof, providing a greater certainty of income for the buy-to-let investor. 4.      Purpose-built student accommodation is attractive Purpose-built student accommodation provides all the benefits of living in halls of residence. For example, there are common rooms, Wi-Fi, and study areas. The best are only a few minutes’ walk from the university, and close to local nightlife, shops, and work opportunities. If you invest in purpose-built student accommodation, you eliminate many of the disadvantages of HMO v BTL investment while retaining the benefits of higher yield and shorter void periods. With a good track record to back up the yields going forward, purpose built student accommodation that is already up and running gives investors certainty they’re craving. 5.     Your property investment is managed Custom-built student accommodation usually includes property management. It may be provided by the university itself, or by the building administrators. You benefit from ‘boots-on-the ground’ investment management that is active and proactive. So to sum up, For a beginner property investor, the dynamics of student accommodation provide a greater certainty of income. The yield may be a little less than a more risky purchase but the current projects that Global Investments have acquired offer great yields of up to 10% with full management in the best locations, a truly worry free hands off investment. For more details contact us now…..

SPEAK TO YOUR LOCAL MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND ENSURE YOUR PROPERTY IS SAFE DURING THE WINTER MONTH. As the weather is starting to turn cool in Northeast Ohio, we at Global Investments Incorporated are advising all our clients to think about winterising you’re vacant property.    To help you out, we’ve put together a guide full of ways to winterise and prevent damage during the cold months.   INSPECT INSULATION   Most likely your house is already insulated, but have you looked closely at where and how much there is? Many times attics have minimal insulation as builders work only on meeting the minimum requirements. Since heat rises, improving the insulation in the attic can make your heating more efficient. Another area to consider is the basement. While most basement ceilings aren’t insulated, when the temperatures drop plenty of cold air can come in through the floor and ceilings. So make sure you take the time to consider your insulation!   FIX DRAFTS   We’ve all been next to a drafty window before, and felt just how much cold air can come through a poorly sealed opening. Keep the cold out and the heat in by checking your windows and doors. You can add weather stripping and caulk to areas that could use improvement. Door draft stoppers are another easy and inexpensive way to keep the cold out. Whether you buy a stopper at the store or use a rolled up towel, it’s easy to feel the difference when drafts are plugged up.   PREVENT FROZEN PIPES   There are a lot of ways that winter weather can make life difficult for property owners. But a frozen pipe bursting can cause an especially big headache. Preventing pipes from freezing is relatively simple though. First make sure outside faucets are shut off and covered. While you’re outside, you can also caulk any cracks or holes near the pipes. You can cheaply and quickly add insulation sleeves to exposed pipes or pipes in cooler areas. And if the cold temperatures get extreme, turn on an indoor faucet to a lukewarm drip. If the building is vacant, or has unused areas, it’s wise to drain the system completely and add an antifreeze.   CLEAN YOUR GUTTERS   The crisp autumn is the perfect time to clean out your property’s gutters. Dirt, leaves, acorns and other debris clogging your gutters isn’t just a problem when it rains. In the winter months, when roofs are covered in snow, the inner layer can melt and it needs somewhere to drain – and preferably not into your roof! Another wintertime gutter problem can be ice dams forming. Ice dams cause the same problem as debris, filling your gutter and leaving the water nowhere to go. The Insurance Institute for Home & Business Safety is a good source for more info on ice dams and how to prevent them.   Owning property is never risk free, and keeping up with maintenance comes with the territory. Hopefully this guide has been helpful and answered some of your winterizing questions. Feel free to contact us or your management company to find out more and also make sure that your house is getting the required service.

This week Shemika gives you a tour of the Amazon facility and the famous Jack’s Casino.

Global Investments Incorporated is the No 1 USA buy to let property company. With almost 5000 sales in the last 6 years the young dynamic company is growing from strength to strength with great new products coming on in different States across the US. The company prides itself on its  “ one stop shop “ philosophy helping clients with everything from LLC company incorporation, bank account set up, insurance, construction etc CEO Mike Moodie believes the major factor behind their success and their clients success is the management companies that they use on the ground in the US. Mike was quoted in saying. “ The majority of our business is repeat and referral bushiness, which is clients either buying more properties or referring their friends or family, which is great. This would not happen if their initial investments were not working in the first place. In my opinion the management of your property is as important as the property that you buy, as the majority of our investors are overseas and thousands of miles away from their investment, so as a company we need to ensure that their interests are well looked after while they are on the ground. “ Global Investments only use one or two reputable companies in each State that they sell in.  Mike added. “ When we set out and started Global we wanted to make sure that our clients were looked after from start to finish and then after the sale as well. We decided to fly out to Detroit and meet as many management companies as possible and narrow it down to two companies which we felt gave our clients the kind of care and attention that they need to provide an excellent hands on service. We have been very lucky and for the past 5 years we have been dealing with the same two companies that are fantastic. There are other companies that sell in the same areas as Global investments offering 1 and 2 year rental guarantees.  We asked Mike for his opinion on this and why as a company they do not offer the same benefits to their clients,  Mike stated. “ Normally you will find that these type of companies are selling properties that are way above the market value, so they have the rent built into the price, which basically means that they are giving the client there own money back and creating a false return. I have been working in the property market now for coming up to 20 years and in my opinion if you want to guarantee your rental as much as possible make sure that you work with a great management company who will screen and vet your tenants and make sure the house is managed correctly on a day to day basis and for whatever reason the property is vacant the management company makes sure the house is secure and another tenant is placed as swiftly as possible. “ Global Investments now sell homes across 4 different regions of the United States and has on the ground support and management in each of the areas that they sell in making sure that there clients are kept updated on a constant basis once they take ownership of their investments properties. For more information on any of the properties that Global Investments Incorporated have to offer email Mike Directly at mike@globalinvestmentsincorportaed.com

“ As 2017 draws to an end I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our investors around the world who have chosen to invest with Global Investments Incorporated. 2017 has been our most successful year to date with over 500 USA property sales with Detroit leading the way taking up 63 percent of total sales for the year. Even with the higher prices and low supply of good tenanted homes investors are still choosing Detroit over other cities making it the number one investment city in the US for three consecutive years now. This year we have also seen a massive increase in demand for Ohio tenanted properties, in cities like Toledo and Cleveland. Toledo Ohio in particular seen a huge increase in sales as investors demand for Section 8 housing reached new levels, Section 8 Government backed rents were seen as a stable and consistent source of income for many investors. I have to say from a company perspective Toledo Ohio is our easiest product to manage and in my opinion the best option for any first time investor. Not only are the houses Section 8 approved and tenanted but the properties are refurbished and are very well located and offer net returns of up to 20% and above. Cleveland Ohio was only launched in the last quarter of 2017 and it has already shown to be a very popular choice for investors, most properties selling within hours of being put on the market. I really feel that Ohio in general could have a huge year in 2018 and could even match or overtake Detroit in sales. On top of Cleveland we will also be looking at launching in the surrounding cities including areas like Dayton and Youngstown which will compliment our current stock in Cleveland and Toledo. We will endeavour to bring the same standard of turn key property and on the ground management in all of these new exciting areas. Upstate New York also held its ground in 2017 where we seen a shift away from Buffalo towards Niagara Falls, this was due to the rising prices in the Buffalo housing market which reduced the CAP rates for our investors, Niagara was therefore seen as a more attractive option. 2017 was also a very important year for us from a management point of view, due to increased sales we had to expand our management base and develop new relationships in new cities across the US. We hand selected and interviewed the best management companies in each city in order for our investors properties to operate at the highest level. We are proud to announce our partnership with Keller Williams in Cleveland Ohio and expect a huge year in 2018 for the city. As a company 2017 was an exceptional year and we expect 2018 to be even better with some new exciting products planned including our new UK division. Due to high demand from our overseas investors Global Investments Incorporated will launch their new UK division in Jan 2018. Like in the US we will bringing you the best priced tenanted properties available in the UK today. All of our properties will come fully refurbished and will come with tenants in place. Our UK division will offer investors an all-encompassing service that incorporates sales, lettings and a range of property management services to maximise your UK buy to let investment. I have spent the last 3 months meeting some suppliers of residential tenanted properties in the UK. We will start in the North of England and then branch out into the North West and South but we would expect to have our first properties on line around mid Jan 2018. We are very excited about 2018 and we can not wait to start the new year at full speed but in the meantime I would like to wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year. “ See you next year. Mike Moodie CEO – Global Investments Incorporated.

When investing in the US Buy to Let market one of the biggest questions investors have is should I buy a Single family home or a Multi family home. We asked Global Investments Incorporated CEO Mike Moodie what his thoughts were on this subject and what advice he would give both new investors and his seasoned investors.  Mike was quoted in saying. “ Well its actually a very difficult subject as both in my opinion have their advantages and dis-advantages so the investor really needs to evaluate their long term goals along with the pros and cons of each and then make an informed decision.  Of course we can guide our investors in the right direction but ultimately the final choice is theirs. “  Mike and his team have outlined what they feel are the pros and cons of each.  Single Family Homes  1. Pros – These in our opinion are the safest options especially for the new investor. As markets fluctuate up or down there would always be a demand for this type of property. The other advantage is that of course you are only dealing with the one tenant and not multiple families. (This also means things like lawn up keep and snow removal would be the responsibility of the tenants and not the landlord, unlike multi family homes where the norm would be that the landlord is responsible for this) Also normally a Single family home would be smaller than most Multi family homes so when we discuss maintenance in future years this should be minimal and less than a large Multi family house.  2. Cons – When looking at capital appreciation normally you would expect a Multi family dwelling to appreciate more due to its size and sqft. Yes Single family homes are a lot easier to acquire but when it comes to growth this would be slower than the multi family homes. Also one of the disadvantages of a Single family homes is that if the property is vacant you would have zero income until the management company replace the tenants whereas with a multi family home they can loose a tenant but can still produce an income with the other occupied units. It is rare to see a Multi family home totally vacant. Multi Family Homes.  1. Pros – If you are looking to acquire a large number of properties and build a large or small portfolio then a multi family property would allow you to do this quicker than buying the Single family units allowing you to grow your investment portfolio quicker. Generally a Multi family home would be cheaper to manage as the income revenue is normally much higher than that of a Single family home. Also Capital Growth would be expected to be higher with a Multi family home than with Single family homes.  2. Cons – The purchase price of a multi family home would be more than a Single family so the initial outlay for investors could be substantially more. The biggest problem with the multi family house is availability of good stock. They can be very hard to find in good neighbourhoods like the Single family homes so from an investment point of view this is a riskier option. (Anyone buying a multi family home should look carefully at the area and the neighbourhoods that you are buying in, there are a lot of homes like this that are located in bad areas) Mike added. “ Like I said earlier, ultimately the decision is down to the investor but my advice is to run the numbers and do your homework on the area and the management. Obviously our clients rely on us for guidance but the long term goal is important along with the investors expectations. I think as a novice investor the SFH or Single family dwelling is the better choice and will let them understand the market for substantially less of an investment, whereas for a seasoned investor looking for higher returns and quicker growth maybe the Multi family would be the way to go. “  Global Investments incorporated provide both good Single and Multi family homes in all of the locations that they sell in. If you would like more information on any of these investments please email Mike or any of the team at Global at invest@globalinvestmentsincorporated.com