London Caters for International Tastes

Location, a sizeable garden, and good transport links: few British homebuyers are in any doubt over what they are looking for in their next property purchase, especially if they are buying in London. But according to Knight Frank owned buying service, the Buying Solution, the demands of international buyers in London are often very different to those of British purchasers, and varying needs often correspond with specific nationalities. While Americans are keen on spacious rooms and a sense of security, for example, the French are happy to live in smaller spaces, and prefer apartment living. In terms of location, buyers from South East Asia are likely to look for a new, high rise apartment in Knightsbridge or Kensington as opposed to Russians who tend to prefer grand, conspicuous houses in Hampstead or Belgravia. ?Without being stereotypical the various nationalities that we act for tend to want distinctly different properties in their favoured parts of London,? said a Buying Solution spokesman. ?If I receive a call from a businessman based in China or Korea the likelihood is that he would prefer to live in a new home, perhaps overlooking water and with some accommodation for staff. My Russian clients are sometimes keen to live in prominent stuccoed Belgravia and knowing something of their needs helps speed the process of finding them the right place to live,? he added.