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The one question that determines your future wealth

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Inflation is an inherently personal thing. We quantify it in general terms with headline figures, but don't be fooled. Inflation isn't the same for everyone.

In Ireland, the inflation rate has fallen over the past few months from 9.6% in July to 7.7% in December, but this doesn't mean that everyone's life is now 7.7% more expensive.

How inflation affects you will differ depending on your age, location, job, savings and investments.

There will be winners and losers: net buyers and net sellers.

Let's take an example.

You bought a house before 2020 vs. you're looking to buy a home in 2023.

For those who bought pre-2020:

Initial fixed rate at 3% or lower (many of these will be approaching their fixed rate cliff)
Up to 40% increase in home value since purchase
Your mortgage repayments have remained constant while the value of your home has increased dramatically.

Yes, you're paying more for eggs, but your debt as a percentage of household net worth is considerably lower.

You're wealthier now than you were before the pandemic, in both absolute and relative terms, due to the inflation tied to your most significant asset.

Over two thirds of the Irish population have a mortgage or own their home outright.

For many of these, inflation has been a net positive due to the housing effect - a wealth-creation event.

For those looking to buy a home now, the past three years have created a very different scenario.

Wealth destruction

According to the Central Statistics Office, the average house price index has gone from €293,000 to €359,000 since 2019, an increase of €66k. Mortgage rates are now starting to increase. This is set to continue as the ECB looks to raise its deposit rate to 3.5%. (ECB rates were negative in 2019). As such, recent inflation has had a materially negative impact on both the purchasing power of the savings accumulated to buy a house and the future debt burden that the mortgage represents. The same inflation. Two very different outcomes.

The property divide

This is the very essence of how wealth gaps materialise, playing out in real time at an accelerated pace.

Many factors drive wealth inequality in Ireland, but it's bizarre to think that the side of the wealth divide you find yourself on may be determined by simply asking the question.

Did you own a home before the pandemic started or not?

With 70% of Irish wealth tied up in housing, the wealth effect of rising house prices is particularly strong relative to the rest of the world.

Remedies

Don't just listen to the headline numbers. Figure out how inflation is affecting you personally.

Are you being crushed by rising prices, or are you a net benefactor as prices increase?

Everyone isn't on the same boat here. The sooner you realise this, the sooner you can do something about it.

Want investment advice and personal finance tips that won't bore you to death?

Join the one thousand plus subscribers by scanning the QR code or go to www.theislandinvestor.com.

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Paralympic legend Jason Smyth visits St Brendan’s

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Paralympic legend Jason Smyth visits St Brendan’s


World renowned Paralympian and world record holder Jason Smyth paid a visit to St Brendan’s College on Wednesday afternoon as part of a high profile visit to Killarney.


The six time Paralympic gold medallist spoke to second year students from St Brendan’s College, alongside students from neighbouring schools St Brigid’s Presentation Secondary School and Killarney Community College.
The interactive talk and interview took place ahead of World Sight Day, with the legendary sprinter sharing his personal journey with Stargardt disease, a genetic eye condition that left him legally blind at eight years old.
The Derry native, who holds the world record as the fastest Paralympian on earth over 100 metres, offered inspiring insights into overcoming physical adversity and achieving success at the highest level of world sport.
The school visit formed the opening leg of his Killarney schedule before he took centre stage later on Wednesday evening at The Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa.
Smyth headlined An Evening with Paralympian Jason Smyth, an event organised by the Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce as part of its winter schedule, sponsored by AIB.

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Deerpark Retail Park placed on market for fifteen million euro

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Deerpark Retail Park in Killarney has officially been placed on the market with a guide price in excess of 15.4 million euro, excluding VAT.

International real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield has been appointed as the sole sales agent to handle the high-profile commercial property sale on behalf of its current owner, Investcorp.

Investcorp, a global investment management firm headquartered in Bahrain, had previously acquired the prominent shopping complex.


The sale represents one of the largest commercial property offerings to launch in County Kerry this year.

Located roughly 1.3 kilometres west of Killarney town centre, the scheme enjoys strong regional connectivity and sits adjacent to independently owned operations including a Tesco Extra store, a Tesco petrol filling station, JYSK, and Aldi.


Constructed in 2006, the development extends across approximately 10,482 square metres, or 112,835 square feet.

The scheme comprises a mix of modern retail warehouse units and a complementary neighbourhood centre, offering 13 individual units in total with Part Open and Part Bulky Use planning permission.

The units range in size from 94.6 square metres up to 1,994.9 square metres. Visitors have access to approximately 248 customer parking spaces across the commercial grounds.

The park is currently 100 per cent occupied by a strong line-up of established national and international brands.

Key retail tenants include Marks & Spencer, Boots, DID Electrical, Maxi Zoo, and Mountain Warehouse.

The neighbourhood centre element accommodates service and convenience operators such as Costa Coffee, Card Factory, and Salon B.

The first-floor accommodation is fully let to Peak Performance Academy, which provides additional rental diversification.

Additionally, the scheme benefits from an agreement with Tesla to operate eight electric vehicle charging bays within the customer car park.


Commercial figures show that the property generates a total current rental income of 1,326,458 euro per annum, with a weighted average unexpired lease term of 4.45 years to break options and 6.46 years to lease expiry.

Cushman & Wakefield noted that the quoted guide price of 15.4 million euro reflects a net initial yield of 7.83 per cent, assuming standard purchaser costs of 9.96 per cent.

The selling agents highlighted that the fully occupied asset offers investors an attractive income profile alongside scope for additional income generation through parking commercialisation.

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