Frequently Asked Questions

---

Q. Why should I invest in property?

Ans:  If you invest in the right types of property for the medium to long term there is sound historical evidence to suggest that your property should increase in value over the medium to long term.

Property values may decrease in value in the short term and we always see this as an ideal opportunity for clients to enter the property market at the bottom or close to the bottom of any property cycle.

Please remember with investment property you should always be able to derive a rental income from your investment and if property prices should fall in value your rental yields normally increase in value.

Some more property facts

Q. Should I be looking at commercial or residential property investments?

Ans:  This would depend on the individual's personal circumstances and investment appetite. We go to great lengths to explain clearly to investors the advantages and disadvantages of both commercial and residential property investments. However, provided the property is acquired at the right price, both residential and commercial property would make a solid investment alternative. We at McEwan Fraser work closely with our clients to identify specific investment opportunities and then set out to proactively secure both residential and commercial investment opportunities which satisfy our clients'specific requirements and objectives.

Q. Why should I use the services of McEwan Fraser?

Ans: McEwan Fraser endeavour to make the property investment marketplace a simple, enjoyable and profitable environment for our clients. Our long-standing relationships with many organisations and proffesional property introducers in the Scottish property marketplace puts our company in a unique position to source "off market" property investment opportunities on behalf of our clients.

         Our strategic partnerships with a variety of lenders, surveyors, solicitors, estate agents and letting agents allow us to present a complete package to the investor, thus reducing, to a minimum, the stress involved in property investment.

        The fact that we can offer both commercial and residential properties 'off market' and that most of our properties tend to be traditional builds (which are more difficult to acquire ''off market') rather than new builds has great appeal to our ever growing client base.

back to the top

Q. Can I invest in property via my pension?

Ans: Yes. The current regulations allow individuals to set up a Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) that can currently only be invested in commercial property. The government recently took a u-turn on draft legislation that would allow residential property to be put in a SIPP. Consequently, McEwan Fraser, are one of only a few companies that specialise in sourcing commercial properties for individual SIPPs. This is a complex marketplace and we at McEwan Fraser, along with our F.S.A. authorised partner organisations, are in an ideal position to cover every aspect of SIPP investments.

For more property SIPP information click here

Q. Why should I talk to McEwan Fraser about SIPP's?

Ans: Firstly, we must stress that McEwan Fraser are not authorised to provide investment advice on SIPP's however, we have a number of excellent strategic partnerships with experienced authorised financial advisors. The fact that we have already sourced a number of commercial properties for clients via a SIPP purchase has given us valuable experience and expertise in this market place.

          Our extensive knowledge of the new SIPP legislation has resulted in a number of major companies, including the Clydesdale Bank, inviting McEwan Fraser to run property seminars on the subject to their client base.

back to the top

Q. Is a SIPP suitable for all investors?

Ans: SIPP's are definitely not suitable for all investors and investors should be careful about property companies promoting SIPP's to them as a means of selling their properties. We have some excellent legitimate tax planning strategies by buying property through a SIPP vehicle which are not common knowledge in the property market place.

back to the top

Q. Why should property investors consider a Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP)?

Ans:

• No more income tax on your rental income
• No capital gains tax when you come to sell your property
• You can buy property at up to a 40% discount
• Cut the income tax on your salary to zero

back to the top

Q. What makes McEwan Fraser different from other property investment companies?

Ans: Some property investment companies simply want to offer properties to clients that they have acquired, normally new builds, and bombard investors with emails promoting them - whether these properties are right for the client or not. Some property companies will only sell properties to clients if they agree to pay for the refurbishment costs. At McEwan Fraser clients who are looking for properties in need of refurbishment have the opportunity to renovate the properties themselves and consequently make the profit rather than the investment property company. It may sound attractive to investors that the investment company takes care of the refurbishment but you the client are paying dearly for the privilege. These companies will struggle with their business model in a falling market or when their clients find it difficult to obtain investment finance for refurbishment projects.

          McEwan Fraser does things entirely differently. First, our clients will enjoy the services of a designated experienced property consultant. Our consultants will discuss clients' investment objectives and only then offer targeted advice and commence a search for suitable residential and commercial property opportunities that meet our clients' property objectives. Our clients have the opportunity to invest in residential, commercial, syndicate investments and land which truly provides them with a unique investment proposition.

          McEwan Fraser only operates in selected areas of Scotland, where we have excellent local knowledge and strategic business partners to help us provide 'off market' opportunities to our clients. We do however provide commercial and land acquisition opportunities throughout the United Kingdom.

back to the top

Q. I am interested in the services of McEwan Fraser, what should I do next?

Ans: We would like to invite you to our Edinburgh head office for a short presentation on McEwan Fraser's services and answer any questions that you may have. Our FAQs may answer some of your queries, but feel free to contact us.

Office Tel. No. 0131 523 1540

Email: info@mcewanfraser.co.uk

back to the top

Q. I am unsure whether McEwan Fraser's services are right for me?

Ans: McEwan Fraser's clients range from the working man to professional sports people. Some of our clients are experienced property investors and some have absolutely no experience. However, we would suggest a meeting with one of our experienced property consultants to discuss your specific requirements. You may also find it beneficial to look at our client testimonial page:

Client Testimonials

Q. On your website, the residential and commercial property pages are password protected. Why?

Ans: The information found on these pages is for registered members of McEwan Fraser only. By becoming a member of McEwan Fraser you obtain access to this part of the site. We believe the information contained here is the best property advice and property tax saving information you will find anywhere in the United Kingdom. You can download Commercial Leases, Residential Leases, HMO Information and there is even a comprehensive property tax questions and answers section. Many of our clients have saved thousands of pounds by following some of the property strategies contained in the site. For more information on how to become a member, or to register for members website access, please contact McEwan Fraser administration on 0131 523 1540.

back to the top

Q. How do I get access to the passwords?

Ans: Registered members will automatically receive the current passwords in their introductory member's letter. Expired members will have the opportunity to re-register, or gain access to the website passwords for an annual fee. For security reasons the passwords may be changed from time to time, for help or advice please contact McEwan Fraser administration on 0131 523 1540.

back to the top

Q. Why does McEwan Fraser not buy all the excellent property deals they offer their clients?

Ans: Good question! Yes we sometimes do buy some of the properties we are offered particularly if we recommend a property to one of our clients and they then pulls out of the deal. McEwan Fraser's business model is to trade properties onto client's and not to invest in the properties also we don't have unlimited funds to buy every opportunity we are offered.

back to the top

Q. Where do you acquire all your properties from?

Ans: We have a number of excellent relationships set up with solicitors, estate agents, letting agents and a number of private developers and introducers who give our company first refusal on many of their properties before they are advertised on the open market. We also get many referrals from existing clients and people who simply want to sell their existing investments quickly without the time consuming process of putting the property on the market or disrupting existing tenants. Finally, we have a number of excellent methods of sourcing property which are unique to McEwan Fraser.

back to the top

Q. Why do landlords not sell their property portfolios on the open market?

Ans: The answer is simple... We specialise in this marketplace. Private and institutional landlords who already hold substantial portfolios cannot readily sell tenanted properties through the retail market, as tenants get nervous about landlords effectively selling their home. Also a large block of tenanted properties hitting the market at the one time normally depress prices.

           This is costly and time-consuming for both sides to each transaction. Instead, McEwan Fraser specialise in buying large portfolios and breaking them up to match the demands of their own clients. Prices are negotiated on the basis of reports and valuations from independent chartered surveyors. This means that purchasers and sellers avoid the often expensive and time-consuming 'offers over' system of blind bidding for property. We only sell these properties to registered members of McEwan Fraser.

back to the top

Q. Should I invest solely in property if it is such a good investment?

Ans: Like all investments there are always risks involved, particularly if you are not quite sure what you are doing. We try to minimise this risk for our clients and always suggest to clients to have a well-balanced investment strategy and not to over expose oneself in one particular area. We are also very relaxed about clients bringing any of their own professional advisers to any meetings with us.

back to the top

Q. I have lost money in the stock market, could property investing go the same way?

Ans: Yes, you could lose money in property investing, particularly if you are a short term speculator but it is unlikely property will ever have the same volatility as the stock market and properties don't go bust like some companies. Any temporary loss in property values are normally recovered, particularly if you buy the right type of investment properties and are in it for the medium to long term.

back to the top

Q. The press has recently reported that property prices have peaked or are falling in value?

Ans: We believe this is an excellent time to be investing in the property market for the medium to long term as you are now able to enter the property market at much more realistic pricing than a few years ago. When the property market begins to move upwards again you should be able to lock in bigger profits.

back to the top

Q. I am in full-time employment, will I have the time to invest in property?

Ans: Certainly if you are in full-time employment there are more demands on your time. However, this is where McEwan Fraser can help you. We work full-time in the property market and we can do all the hard work for you, searching for the right properties and recommending only the best properties in the right areas to protect your investment.

back to the top

Q. How can I be sure the properties you are sourcing will offer excellent returns?

Ans: No one can promise excellent returns, however the reputation of our business is extremely important and we only recommend properties where we genuinely believe our clients will make steady sustainable returns. See our testimonials page to see what our clients have to say.

Client Testimonials

back to the top

Q. Does it cost anything to meet with you to discuss your services?

Ans: No, we are delighted to meet with you at our Edinburgh head office to allow you to find out more about us. It also lets us find out more about you so we are in a much better position to be of help.

back to the top

Q. Why does McEwan Fraser not offer a letting service?

Ans: McEwan Fraser is a dedicated property investment company. This allows us to concentrate our efforts on what we do well. We do however have a number of strategic partnerships with the very best letting agents and professional tenant sourcers. Our clients are therefore able to use the services of a number of letting agents when looking to obtain tenants, greatly increasing their' prospects of a successful let.

back to the top

Q. Do you offer investment advice?

Ans: No, we are not authorised to provide investment advice, we only advise on property related matters.

back to the top

Q. How does McEwan Fraser make profit?

Ans: McEwan Fraser only makes a profit if we source our clients attractive below market value properties. Most of the properties we offer our investors earn us a fee or a trading profit for sourcing them "off market" properties they would be unlikely to find themselves.

          Remember all of our properties are offered at a fixed price and normally below an independent market valuation which you are free to obtain from any surveyor. If our properties did not offer excellent value for money, we would not be in business for long. There is never any obligation for our clients to purchase any of our properties. See our testimonials page and case studies.

Testimonials - Case Studies

back to the top

Q. What are your thoughts on these expensive property investment courses/seminars being promoted by certain property companies?

Ans: To be fair there is a lot of good advice that some of these companies provide however, almost all the information is available for a fraction of the cost through the internet or in good quality property investment books. Also a number of these companies only exist to sell you over inflated new builds off plan.

          If you need specialised advice on certain aspects of property investment then clients of McEwan Fraser can enjoy one-to-one property strategy meetings, from one of our experienced property consultants, on a subject of your choice.

back to the top