Is Buying Hotel Rooms Right for You? Five Reasons Why it Might be

From traditional holiday apartments to off-plan villas, there are plenty of options available to the overseas property investor. Of course they all have their advantages but one investment is holding up better than most - buying hotel rooms.

Buy to let hotel rooms, apart-hotels or condo-hotels, call them what you will but the concept is incredibly simple. Hotel and resort developers offer individual investors the chance to buy hotel rooms within a high-end development. The investor sees an annual income from room rentals, benefits from capital growth and can even make use of the hotel room as a perfect holiday destination complete with all the benefits of a top-class hotel.

So if you're considering a property investment, overseas or closer to home, could a buy to let hotel room be the right option for you? Well, here are five good reasons why it might be:

Buy to let hotel rooms can help reduce your exposure to risk

When you invest in a buy to let hotel room, your investment is less in the room but in the success of the hotel as a whole. Generally, buy to let suites and hotel rooms are pooled together so that you earn a percentage of the room rates across the hotel, not just on your own room. A single investment property may lie empty for months at a time, meaning lost revenues, but hotel rooms attract guests all year round.

Buy to let hotel rooms offer a low initial investment - and a decent return

When it comes to investing in any property, current markets can make it incredibly difficult to access the finance you need. These problems are only compounded when the property you want to invest in is overseas. When it comes to buying a hotel room, the developers and agents will likely have negotiated with a bank in advance to help prospective buyers along - the banks are often more willing to invest in the security of these types of developments run by experienced developers and management teams.

Indeed, the current troubles in the housing markets can actually be an advantage to savvy investors considering whether or not to buy hotel rooms. A buyers market often means help from the developer with fees and other out of pocket expenses. For example, the high-end hotel and spa development in the Portuguese resort of Sesimbra is attracting huge interest with investment levels starting from as little as 3% - with the developer paying all closing fees (which is around 10% of purchase price in Portugal). They are even offering 7% cash back to investors who's deposits are received before the 15th of November, 2008.

When you buy hotel rooms, you benefit from capital appreciation and a regular income

Like any buy to let property investment, buy to let hotel rooms offer both a regular income and the potential for capital growth. Unlike buying a single, one-off property, buying hotel rooms can generally provide a greater degree of security. Whereas your property might lie vacant while you search for tenants or holidaymakers, high-end hotel rooms will always be popular with everything from overseas tourists to 'locals' on a weekend break. Traditionally, high-end hotel rooms will also generate a higher rental per night than stand-alone holiday lets or buy to let options. That means returns in the region of 10% or more can be achieved at even 50% occupancy rates. How much would you earn if your buy to let property were vacant 26 weeks of the year?

When you buy hotel rooms, someone else manages all the day-to-day hassle

Perhaps the biggest attraction of buy to let hotel rooms is the fact that an experienced and professional team is in charge of everything from the finish and furnishings of the rooms to fixing the broken toilets. Buy to let owners will happily pay management companies a hefty percentage to look after the day to day needs of their properties - when you buy hotel rooms, that service is built in. Experienced management means existing contacts with travel agents and tour operators, it means tried and tested marketing methods and extensive marketing budgets. It also means as an investor you'll never get a call from an irate neighbour or disgruntled tenant. If fact, it's the perfect option for hands off investors who'd prefer to enjoy the benefits and leave the hard work to someone else.

When you buy hotel rooms you enjoy the benefits of a beautiful holiday home - if you need it

And perhaps the most enjoyable of those benefits is being able to access your buy to let hotel room for your own private use throughout the year. Whether it's a short weekend break to escape the stresses of the working week or the annual family holiday, buying a hotel room delivers more tangible benefits than any savings account could.

And If you don't require personal use of your room? Then buy to let hotel rooms are ideal for purchase via SIPPs - giving you tax-free capital growth and earnings.