Birmingham

As the UK’s second city, Birmingham has long been an attractive proposition for those looking for a life in a big city without the eye-watering costs associated with living in London. In fact, it is roughly 40% cheaper to live in Birmingham rather than in the nation’s capital, which makes it a very appealing city to live in and work in.

The success and global coverage of the 2022 Commonwealth games also did little to harm Birmingham’s already desirable image with property investors worldwide putting it firmly in the forefront of their thoughts.

This means it also makes Birmingham a very attractive option for property investors looking for that ideal property investment. With olid and steady capital growth, much like London, yields that outstrip that of London at a significantly lower entry-level and all the of the fundamentals you would look for when analysing a city for its future growth prospects, Birmingham really does have it all.

Birmingham has huge infrastructural regeneration projects, the impending HS2 high-speed rail line which massively reduces travel times to London, and a young, growing population which makes it ripe for continued future growth.

If you are a property investor looking for an investment property that ticks all the boxes, Birmingham is definitely a city to consider.

Outlined below are three of the primary reasons that property investors should consider Birmingham when looking for a UK-based property investment that will cover nearly all of the bases.

The UK's Second City

Birmingham buy-to-let property is seen as a top choice due to a huge, growing rental demand and huge infrastructural regeneration projects. With world-renowned companies such as HSBC and Deutsche Bank headquartered in the city, there’s no surprise that this demand is driven by a thriving business scene.

What makes property investment in Birmingham such a good option is that prices are still at an attractive level with plenty of room still to grow, coupled with strong yields. Ultimately, there is plenty of buyers to enjoy great rental incomes, alongside the massive potential for serious profits from capital growth over the coming years.

Due to an acute housing shortage and an economy that has doubled in size, Birmingham’s house prices have increased 42% in the past 10 years.

House prices today, however, are still 34% below the national average with half the affordability ratio of London.

Regeneration in Birmingham is plain to see due to a 20-year plan to transform the city centre.

Birmingham, the host of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, remains a key asset for investors across the world.

Leading the way for regional hotspots up and down the country, Birmingham property remains a must-have asset for any property portfolio. As the fastest growing city core in the last four years, it’s a prime example of a market built for long-term investment.

This has meant that a number of key Birmingham areas are now exceptional investment hotspots, providing an array of value depending on your chosen strategy.

With no end in sight to the housing shortage and a booming economy, Birmingham is anticipated to see a 24% house price growth by 2025. A figure not to be overlooked. This really is the time to consider property investment in Birmingham

Ranked 2nd in the UK for new business start-ups in 2020 by Forbes it’s no surprise Birmingham’s young and well-educated talent pool combined with a broad economic base provides a solid foundation for the future growth of the city.

Reinforced by strong career prospects and a vibrant, young atmosphere, it’s no surprise that the working-age population has grown 20% in the last 20 years – almost double the UK average.

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House price growth in Birmingham in the last 5 years (Knight Frank)

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Growth expected in Birmingham’s economy by 2035 (Oxford Economics)

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Birmingham’s expected House price growth between 2021 and 2025 (Savills)

Huge Infrastructural Regeneration

Fuelled by an £8bn 20-year Regeneration Masterplan for Birmingham City Centre, Birmingham is in the midst of a series of huge investments which are changing the face of the city and inspiring major economic and population growth.

This is a city that thinks big and for the long-term – the perfect environment for property investors to consider. The following are just some of the major investments ongoing in Birmingham.

Providing over 50,000 new jobs and 5,000 new homes alongside improved infrastructure to meet the needs of new residents, Birmingham’s ‘Big City Plan’ is dubbed by the city’s council as the ‘most ambitious, far-reaching development project ever undertaken in the UK’.

‘Paradise Birmingham’ will be a world-class urban village which will bring a vibrant new life into Birmingham and reaffirm the city’s intention to keep reinventing itself and growing.

This £700m city centre development will bring 1.74m sq. ft. of office space and 120,000 sq. ft. of retail and leisure space into Birmingham, including three brand new public squares.

Described as Birmingham’s most important development in a generation, Paradise is a mixed-use neighbourhood where commerce and culture meet to create something unique.

Another massive investment is the £1.9bn ‘Birmingham Smithfield Masterplan’. New retail markets, exciting family leisure opportunities, cultural buildings, public squares and transport facilities will drive growth in the burgeoning city centre.

As one of the largest and most attractive city centre development sites in the country, it will play a key part in the city’s vision to deliver 21st-century architecture whilst building upon its rich industrial history.

Whilst build work continues across the city, billions are also being spent on improving the city’s connectivity.

The HS2 high-speed rail line is under construction and will cut journey times to London and Manchester in half when it arrives in Birmingham. It is also expected to increase economic output by £14bn.

The new rail line is the most significant infrastructure development the UK has seen in decades and will boost Birmingham’s appeal to business even more so thanks to tighter links with the capital and other regional centres like Manchester.

West Midlands Combined Authority’s HS2 Growth Strategy contains £1.2bn of transport improvements to be delivered by 2028, that will improve the wider transport network, expand the economic area and increase productivity.

A £1.3bn West Midland Metro expansion which will triple the network size by adding 50 additional trams by 2026 is expected to increase passenger numbers by 30m a year and improve links to both of Birmingham’s HS2 stations.

This, alongside the £300m which has been invested in Birmingham International Airport over the last decade really elevates the fact that Birmingham is a city that is really taking off and prime for property investment.

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Journey time to London upon completion of the high-speed HS2 rail line (HS2)

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The cost in GBP of the Regeneration Masterplan in Birmingham city centre (Birmingham City Council)

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The size of Greater Birmingham’s population (World Population Review)

POPULATION GROWTH

Alongside its economic growth, Birmingham has a population of approximately 1.149m people that is growing rapidly. With a population of just over 1.14 million at present, the Office for National Statistics forecasts that Birmingham’s population will increase to just over 1.25 million by 2043.

According to Visit Birmingham, the job opportunities and lifestyle on offer make Birmingham the number one destination in the UK for people who leave London. Thousands arrive every year to make the West Midlands city their new home.

Additionally, research from JLL shows that almost a third of the city’s population is aged 15-34. This youthful population not only gives the city real energy but also puts major stress on the housing stock which is only pushing prices in one direction.

Birmingham’s growth has long overtaken its capacity to build new homes. JLL showed in a recent study that at least 4,000 new homes are needed each year. With only 900 new homes being delivered each year, on average, this growth shows no signs of abating.

This means that the most desirable homes are more in demand than ever, and Birmingham’s growing population will continue to push both house prices and rents higher in the years to come.

This large rise will undoubtedly increase demand for high-quality rental accommodation and – as supply appears unable to keep up with demand – raise property values, meaning property investors who buy early stand to reap the rewards.

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Birmingham is the top city in the UK for relocations from London (Visit Birmingham)

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The annual housing shortfall in Birmingham (JLL)

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The population increase expected in Birmingham between 2000 and 2035 (ONS)

Birmingham investment hotspots.

Are you wondering where the best place to invest in Birmingham is? 

Well, there are many options available across the city. Here we’ve highlighted a few popular choices with excellent prospects which should be considered by any serious property investor looking to invest in Birmingham.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please feel free to get in touch with us today to speak with one of our senior property consultants who will be happy to assist with your enquiry.

Birmingham City Centre
Over the last year, Birmingham city-centre has seen massive progress across many of its main regeneration projects. Both Paradise and Arena Central draw closer to completion, while work has begun on the HS2 terminus station at Curzon Street.

Looking across the wider landscape, the Midlands Metro Expansion has made huge progress and is now operational from Grand Central to the Jewellery Quarter and beyond. It’s expected the work on the Broad Street line will complete by this time next year.

This level of redevelopment is just one contributor to Birmingham’s rising property prices. Prices have risen by 41% over the last decade but Birmingham remains relatively affordable, providing investors with a lower initial entry point and above-average rental yields.

Birmingham city-centre continues to be a bustling hub of business and as new brands move into the city centre; they bring with them a new wave of demand from ambitious professionals in the sector.
Digbeth
Digbeth is widely recognised as Birmingham’s most ‘up-and-coming’ area. Just five minutes from the Bullring and the city-centre. A vibrant melting pot of arts, culture, digital business and exciting independent retail, Digbeth is one of the key winners in the best places to invest in Birmingham.

Home to Birmingham Coach Station and the future HS2 interchange hub at Curzon Street, as well as many of the city’s leading art, digital and media companies, Digbeth is establishing itself as a thriving area for young professionals to work and live. With strong transport connections, it’ll receive a huge boost in foot traffic upon completion of both the HS2 and Birmingham Smithfield projects complete.

In terms of past performance, Digbeth has seen property price growth of 40.1% over the last 20 years and, according to JLL, is likely to experience 16.5% over the next four years. With the local skyline transforming on an almost monthly basis, this demonstrates the potential that the area holds, largely due to massive regeneration and infrastructure projects.
Jewellery Quarter
The Jewellery Quarter remains one of the top investment locations in the city-centre. Offering a ‘village feel’ without sacrificing any of the connectivity or nearby amenities, the Jewellery Quarter continues to be a hub of young professionals looking for rental accommodation.

Property prices have risen by 28% over the last three years and properties near the Jewellery Quarter Station have seen some of the biggest rises. As a key transport link for this side of the city, it’s a major driver of demand for the area and Nationwide predicts that any properties within 500m of a station could draw a premium of 9.4%.

With a selection of luxury-conversion and loft-style apartments, as well as plush townhouses, the stock available in the Jewellery Quarter continues to be some of the best in the city. With many more digital businesses moving into the area, expect a larger wave of demand from professionals in the city looking to live within walking distance of the office.
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Get in touch today to see how we can help.

By submitting your details via this online form you agree to be contacted via email/phone/SMS by Mobibi Invest in relation to its property investment brands. We do not share your personal details with third parties.

For further information, please see our Terms of Use.