Women leading the NI property investment surge

Women in Business member, Eimear Gourley, Director at Keego Investments shares her thoughts on why more women than ever in Northern Ireland are turning to property investment as their new source of income or pension plan.

Wednesday 26 January 2022

Women leading the NI property investment surge

Women in Business member, Eimear Gourley, Director at Keego Investments shares her thoughts on why more women than ever in Northern Ireland are turning to property investment as their new source of income or pension plan.

Perhaps now more than ever, as we hopefully emerge from the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, times really are changing. More of us are deciding to leave secure, full-time, permanent employment and venture towards the great unknowns of owning our own business. It was something I did myself at the very beginning of lockdown, and I for one haven’t looked back as Keego Investments goes from strength to strength.

Over the last three months, Keego Investments has seen a 200% increase in the amount of women making enquiries for buy-to-let properties. So why the sudden spike?

Working from home or furlough was an excellent opportunity for many of us to reconsider what we want from life. 40 hours a week in the office or more time spent at home? Long hours and overnight stays or a new office in the old ‘computer room’?

Many women, now in their 40s, 50s or 60s once upon a time made the decision to raise a family instead of going into full time work, or were once already in work but left to start a family. Now, when they look at going back to work or starting a career from scratch, they realise there simply isn’t enough time to build up a pension pot large enough to sustain them throughout retirement.

So, instead, these entrepreneurial women are taking the money they’ve saved up over the years and looking to investment. That modest amount of cash that purchases a two-bed terrace is providing enough of a top-up on their state pension to carry them through.

For a lot of mums, investing in property is also an alternative way to leave something behind for their children once they’re gone. It’s secured long term income and the property will appreciate in value as the capital value increases – it’s win win.

A lot of female investors who come to me are also new mums who want to stay on maternity leave for longer (full pay only lasts for six weeks) or so they can take a long-term career break to raise their children in the first few years at home. Finally, it could be that they’re looking to leave traditional employment forever.

Whatever the reason, more women are seeking to work with me with me than ever – in fact, 80% of the investors currently working with Keego are women. Long gone are the days of older, more traditional property investment principles where investors are guided by their parents. Property investment used to be daunting. Now, younger, and indeed less wealthy people are realising they too can get in the game, working with experts like me to secure the best returns.

Covid has changed the world, and that includes the world of property investment. More women are asking now more than ever; if not today, then when?

To find out more about potential investment opportunities throughout Northern Ireland and beyond, visit www.keegoinvestments.co.uk - follow @ni_propertygirl on Instagram or search Eimear Gourley on LinkedIn.

Wednesday 26 January 2022