2009 has been an odd year for anyone involved in property. At the start of the year there were some fantastic bargains to be had as the media sophiazimmermann told ‘doom and gloom’ stories on a daily basis. However, all this ‘end of the world’ news meant that most sellers who didn’t have to move took their properties off the market and have stayed put.

Meanwhile, retroconsolas the dramatic drop in interest rates and the government’s tightening of regulations on lenders repossessing property has meant that the amount of stock on the market has fallen almost, if not more than, demand fell last year!

So we are now in a situation whereby in the auction houses, according to the EI Group data there are less repossessions going through than there were before hugsy the credit crunch!

Investors are also hampered by the lack of finance available as well as tightening criteria, which means only cash rich buyers can really take part in what bargains can be found at the moment.

So is there any good news for current or wannabe investors? Of course there is, optoki and here are our top 10 good news stories for investors:-

1. Property prices are 20% less than they were at their peak in 2007. Woohoo!

2. Property prices are expected to randygoodwin return to their 2007 levels from 2013 so, for the right property, in the right area, there is potentially 20% capital growth or more available in the next 4-5 years.

3. Although deposits have increased from 15 to 25%, if you can bag a bargain, this might mean you don’t need any more actual cash. For example, if a property was selling for £200,000 in 2007, you’d need 15% x £200k = £30k deposit. If you can get the same property for £120,000, then the deposit is the same.

4. There are less investors, buyers and developers around to compete with you on price.

5. If you are into Buy to Let, rents are forecast to grow between 5-10% in 2010, now the accidental landlord stock has virtually disappeared.

6. If you want to self build or build to let, plot prices are down by 20%, you typically only need a 10% deposit AND if you get your sums right, you’ll earn a 30% uplift in value PLUS any market increase.

7. The new HMO legislation has given investors that get this property strategy right, a great barrier to entry, so less competition.

8. The economic hardship has lead to more people needing to rent than buy – some local authorities and charities will take properties off your hands for three years and sign a contract to maintain and return it in exactly the same condition at their cost.

9. The number of ‘accidental landlords’ has now decreased to such a level that rental income, in the main, is starting to increase which will result in less voids for 2010.

10. Some areas and property types will be in very short supply over the next five years (some won’t though!) so careful property investors will be able to make some exceptional returns!

Excited about property investment – don’t make a move until you’ve read our ‘bad news’ article for property investors!

I am one of the UK’s top property experts being regularly quoted in the press including the Telegraph, Independent, Times, Daily Mail and Express and have appeared on BBC2, featured on BBC Radio 4, Channel 4 and a number of local BBC Radio stations.

I have been a consultant to the property sector for a number of years and renovating properties for over 20 years. I have also written a number of books, including four for Which? – Buy, Sell, Move House, Renting and Letting, Develop your Property and the Property Investment Handbook.