What’s best for your retirement, BTL or pension?

What’s best for your retirement, BTL or pension?

0:01 AM, 19th April 2024, About 8 months ago 19

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Hello, buy to let was seen as the ideal ‘pension’ investment for those who didn’t have the luxury of a gold-plated public sector or final salary pension. But with landlords now struggling to make a profit, and actually losing money on their BTL investments [despite record rents], many thousands have already exited the PRS, and many more are on the verge of doing so.

That was my plan to supplement my retirement, and while I’ve done OK over the past 25 years, I have more recently experienced a £20,000+ loss due a single feckless tenant, and a remaining BTL I cannot remortgage due to capital depreciation attributable to leasehold [I know, I shouldn’t have!], leaving me on a high variable which means I am currently subsidising my tenant.

We appear to have baked in a future Labour government, with an unassailable majority to do whatever it wants, and landlords have always been top of their list for Madame Guillotine ‘come the revolution’. So, where next for your pension investment?

This annual research has been published by Netwealth who, admittedly, have a vested interest. However, their reasoning is solid, especially for those not in the fortunate position of having achieved significant capital appreciation over the years, and those currently considering investing in the PRS for their pension. This Moneyweek article explains more.

Of course, there are alternative tax-efficient investment options e.g. ISAs, and if you still believe in the PRS as a long term investment but don’t want to invest direct in your own bricks and mortar, you could consider a REIT.

Now I’ve retired, the key for me is diversification, and I’m doing them all.

What do others think?

Thank you,

Lou


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geester24

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11:08 AM, 19th April 2024, About 8 months ago

Now I'm over 60 I have reconfigured my portfolio. In the last 4 years I have sold a few; the least productive, most hassle, least CGT or too far away ones. A lot of property people are not very liquid or non diversified so I have maxed out stocks and shares ISAs for me and the wife and invested in mostly global all share trackers ( a la Buffet and Bogle), premium bonds (tax free). No point in REITS as I have property already. Bitcoin not for me.
Not to be forgotten is enjoying life, having parties, eating well, exploring London, cycling a lot, holidays, small boat cruises to the Arctic, Antarctic and West Africa. I still like the buzz of refurbing a flat and the process but cutting out some of the rubbish bits.

Mr B2L

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11:39 AM, 19th April 2024, About 8 months ago

Hi Lou

I am in my mid-30s, but my parents are in their early 80s and benefitted from the extreme bull market of the 1980s to early 2000s. Whilst they have a strong net worth from the property value (unencumbered), their ROI based on rental income (post incidental costs and taxes) as a % of property value isnt high. Not to mention the hassle factor of property and having to deal with tenants (need I say more).

I know hindsight is always a wonderful thing, but I did some calcs for my parents and had they invested the same £££ in simple company stocks such as Coca Cola over the years, and set it all to dividend reinvestment pre-retirement, they'd have (i) a higher net worth today, (ii) stronger ROI and (iii) most importantly a better quality of life from recieving dividends into their bank account without having to deal with tenants, agents and workmen.

For myself, I am damn sure not investing in property for my retirement. Whilst it can provide a healthy return if leveraged correctly, I dont see it as the most optimal way of increasing net worth and ROI, especially with recent legistlative changes, higher stress tests and greater interest rates.

Judith Wordsworth

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11:47 AM, 19th April 2024, About 8 months ago

Buy property, tart up, sell

geester24

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12:16 PM, 19th April 2024, About 8 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Mr B2L at 19/04/2024 - 11:39
Depends on mortgages and location i would say. Getting a mortgage on a property in say Hackney or Walthamstow, London would have even out performed the S and P taking into consideration the original stake as people don't generally borrow 70% for stocks and shares. With the the new red tape and tax etc property is less attractive for sure.

NewYorkie

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13:25 PM, 19th April 2024, About 8 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Judith Wordsworth at 19/04/2024 - 11:47
Not so easy these days. First, find your property at the right price and in the right location, then try and find [quality] builders who can do the work in your timescales, then factor in the huge increase in materials and labour, then factor in selling and CGT. What have I missed?

Ed Regent

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16:48 PM, 19th April 2024, About 8 months ago

Good to diversify and for me this includes BTL property and stocks. Never sure why people don't mention GOLD as a long term investment. Beats the stock market, even the crazy valuations of the S&P, since 2000. Sleep easier at night with this in your portfolio!

geester24

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17:09 PM, 19th April 2024, About 8 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Ed Regent at 19/04/2024 - 16:48
Just checked and it doesn't beat the Dow or S and P. It beats the FTSE if not taking divis into account.

Mr B2L

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17:16 PM, 19th April 2024, About 8 months ago

Reply to the comment left by geester24 at 19/04/2024 - 17:09
Everything beats the FTSE 100 lol

Ed Regent

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17:59 PM, 19th April 2024, About 8 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Ed Regent at 19/04/2024 - 16:48
This must be wrong then. https://www.fxstreet.com/analysis/gold-has-outperformed-the-sp-500-in-the-21st-century-202401091710
Also S&P undergoing correction which will very likely continue. Just look at the geopolitics!!

NewYorkie

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18:35 PM, 19th April 2024, About 8 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Mr B2L at 19/04/2024 - 17:16
The FTSE 100 has been doing quite well these past months. I had a review with my wealth managers this week, and their view is the US is overpriced and most of the risk is in too few mega-tech stocks. Hence investors are looking to spread their risk and UK equities are in their sights.

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