Shares V Property

Another key difference obvious from the example above is that property investments lend themselves to gearing (i.e. borrowing to invest and only having to put up a fraction of the initial investment cost up front) moreso that most equity based investments. Of itself this is neither necessarily a good or a bad thing but brings with it its own advantages and disadvantages/potential rewards and risks etc.

Clubman,

I think your point about gearing raises an interesting question - why are credit institutions more likely to lend someone money to invest in property but not in shares / equities?

Would there be a perception amongst lenders that property is a "safer" asset for investment? If so, is this just a perception or is it based on any actual facts?

Would banks be more amenable to someone looking to borrow for investment in a property fund?

Do these actions by the lending institutions feed into peoples general (mis)perception? that property is a better and / or safer bet ?

Apologies to all if I am taking this off topic

efm