Member Article

Middle East interest drives growth at fledgling Blaydon property company

Blaydon-based Homes or Houses is celebrating after recording its first centenary milestone announcing it now has 100 buy-to-let regional properties under management, a full 12 months ahead of their original forecast.

The property company reached its landmark goal with its unique business model of successfully converting overseas interest for property investment in the UK with an estate portfolio focused in the North East of England, rather than in the traditional South of the country.

With an ex-pat customer base sourced mainly from the Middle East, Homes or Houses’ achievement is a result of the the experiences of former Middle East ex-pat company founder, Jackie Fitzgerald.

Following years of personal frustration as an ex-pat property buyer, Jackie spotted a gap in the market on her return to Tyneside in 2012 to create a full service, hassle free, one stop property management shop capable of finding clients their initial purchase right through to mortgage arrangement, property maintenance and sourcing and managing tenants.

Originally from Gateshead, Jackie worked as a financial advisor and investment banker in both Bahrain and the UAE during her 12 year tenure in the Middle East. Today, Homes or Houses employs seven people to handle over 80 overseas clients and to service the 100-strong estate portfolio which now stretches from mid-Northumberland to Teesside.

Jackie said: “I spent over 12 years working in the Middle East and know only too well the many hurdles and challenges of buying property in the UK.

“I established Homes or Houses to help ease the process for others by offering a simple one-call contact point for all client needs.

“The response to date has been very encouraging and I’m delighted we have achieved our first 100 properties under management well within the original target timescale.

“We’ve enjoyed a great deal of positive feedback not only from our overseas clients but also from local tenants, who have welcomed the removal of extra moving-in costs typically imposed by local agents to cover letting fees.

“We’re ambitious to grow further and with up to 300,000 British ex-pats living and working in the Middle East, I’m confident we can maintain this momentum in the future.”

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