• Care homes and hotel investments set to make their mark in the New Year (Properties of the World)
• Commodity trading will attract a host of new traders in 2017 (easyMarkets)
• Buy-to-let continues to entice virgin property investors (Surrenden Invest)
• Undiscovered areas of Spain tipped for growth in 2017 (Kyero.com)

New Year is almost upon us – time to turn over a new leaf. For investors, New Year can serve as the inspiration for broadening their portfolio and discovering the benefits of new asset classes. In that vein, let’s take a look at some of the most intriguing asset classes and investment models of 2017.

Jean Liggett, pioneering CEO of Properties of the World, is quick to promote the benefits of care home investment in 2017. She explains,

We’re going to see care home investment taking off in a big way in 2017. It’s an interesting asset class as it’s one of those rare investment models where absolutely everyone wins. The UK’s population is ageing and we need to build more care homes, providing superior accommodation that affords comfort and dignity to our citizens as they age.”

Investing in a care home can provide individuals with impressive returns. Wagon’s Way in Tyne and Wear, which is available for investment from £58,500, offers circa 8% NET rental returns for 25 years. The sustainable investment model carefully balances the needs of the investor, those living in care, their families, the community, care professionals and the Care Quality Commission (the UK’s regulatory body for care homes). This ethical balance makes care homes a particularly intriguing asset class for 2017.

Hotel investment is also coming into its own. At CaerRhun Hall Hotel in Conwy, North Wales (rooms available from £75,000), investors have the chance to pick up an asset that will not only generate strong returns (circa 10% per annum) but will also afford them personal usage. There’s also a 125% developer buy-back option for investors’ peace of mind. With a renewed focus on staycations in the UK, hotel investment in 2017 could be big news indeed.

Investing in commodities may also be an exciting option in 2017, according to Evdokia Pitsillidou, Director of Risk Management and pioneering forex and CFD broker easyMarkets. She comments,

“Trading is no longer something that’s only for fulltime traders working in the City. Increasing numbers of individuals are looking to trade for themselves and the appeal of commodities and metals is strong, particularly for those who are new to trading. Gold and wheat are two investments to watch in early 2017, though of course investors need to do their own analysis before they try their hand at trading.

Naturally, existing strong asset classes will continue to be popular in 2017. Despite the government tinkering with landlords’ incomes through changes to stamp duty and tax on second homes, UK buy-to-let remains a popular way for virgin investors to profit from property. Jonathan Stephens, Managing Director of Surrenden Invest, comments,

“The UK’s housing crisis is still far from resolved. The country has been working hard to increase the rate at which it has been building homes and the latest purchasing managers’ index shows that construction reached a nine-month high in November. Despite this, the Federation of Master Builders has reported that 87% of local authorities don’t believe they will hit the government’s house-building targets by 2020. This means that buy-to-let still presents a huge opportunity for those looking to invest in property for the first time.

Artillery House in Manchester city centre is an excellent example of the kind of property that is attracting virgin buy-to-let investors in large numbers. With 7.5% NET assured return, a comprehensive management programme and a Q4 2017 delivery target with apartments fully furnished and ready to rent, this kind of development allows investors to be truly hands-off.

Finally for 2017, there’s holiday homes as an intriguing asset class. While the concept of buying a holiday home predates even air travel, what’s exciting about 2017 is the range of destinations available. Richard Speigal, Head of Research at leading Spanish property portal Kyero.com has flagged Oliva as an interesting choice for 2017. He explains,

“In terms of broadening the story, I’d pick Oliva out right now. Alicante has long been the epicentre of British buyer activity, but Kyero saw a shift northwards in 2016 to the neighbouring province of Valencia. The reasons are nicely told in the small coastal village of Oliva.

We were alerted to something happening when the town appeared for 3 months running in our ‘trending destinations’ list, having attracted over 1,500 enquiries since July. For its size, Oliva is punching way above its weight and it seems post-Brexit buyers may have sensed an opportunity, as prices there have been slower to recover than in other areas of Spain. With six miles of beautiful coastline, a cosmopolitan vibe, two international airports an hour away (Valencia and Alicante) and the potential for capital growth, Oliva ticks all the boxes for investment potential in 2017.

Whether it’s an entirely new asset class or a new opportunity in an established investment model, there’s no doubt that 2017 is going to be an exciting year for investors.