Brexit could open up more opportunities for private investors

Tim Matthews, Chief Executive of Blue Marble Asset Management

The UK’s vote to leave the EU and the continuing market uncertainty could provide more opportunities for private investors to acquire commercial property investments at the right price, according to specialist real estate asset management company Blue Marble Asset Management.

Tim Matthews, Chief Executive of Birmingham- and Worcester-based Blue Marble Asset Management, says that they key question arising following the Brexit vote is whether there will be a loss of occupier confidence?

“Occupier demand has been driving the commercial property market for the past two to three years,” he says.  “Whether this will now drop off, with an on-going pause in business decision making as result of the continued uncertainty surrounding the two years of the exit negotiations, only time will tell.

“However, I suspect that claims on both sides of the referendum debate will prove to be exaggerated and that the impact on the commercial property market will ultimately be relatively limited.

“As a result at Blue Marble we are confident to continue to look for and acquire commercial property for our clients, with the upside that the on-going uncertainty may take some of the heat and froth out of the market, as well as making the institutions more reluctant to commit to purchases, opening up more opportunities for private investors.

“As ever, though, in the sophisticated commercial property market, any purchase needs to be carefully researched and considered and purchasers should not be tempted to chase yields.”

Blue Marble Asset Management is a real estate asset management specialist which presently has more than £60 million of property assets under management.  It works for a select range of clients including investment businesses, high net worth individuals, trusts and family offices.