Interview: Louise Reynolds of Property Venture

What does it say on your business card? Louise Reynolds BA Hons MCIM, Director, Property Venture.
 
Where are you based? My office is based in Surrey in the UK, but I also travel and have been to all of the countries where I offer advice and support, so I can speak from first-hand experience.
 
What is your business? My business is helping overseas property buyers and investors to find what is suitable for them, more safely and easily than they can on their own. So for a first time overseas buyer that might be helping them understand the buying process in the country in which they are buying a holiday home, or for a busy company director introducing them to a sound European property investment.
 
Some people might know this better as an overseas property agent.
 
How many people do you employ? I work with teams on the ground in the countries I deal with and with business partners here in the UK too. My business model is lean, so I don’t have big overheads to pass onto clients.
 
What about buying trends? Property markets are inextricably linked with the availability of finance. As lenders have restricted the flow of money available to property buyers in recent years, so this has had an effect on how people buy overseas property. I am seeing more cash investors, buying property in sound city locations, rather than lifestyle buyers, reliant on equity release from homes in the UK. Krakow property and Istanbul property are stimulating interest right now, as well as the traditional lifestyle property markets like Spain where buyers are seeking bargains.
 
How interested are you in property? Property is a passion of mine. My interest has grown from a personal interest, to a business one. My business, Property Venture®, is about overseas property and I also have personal property investments abroad and in the UK.