China Video Tells Story of Far East Money Moving From Shanghai to Salford

MANCHESTER, England, October 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Hollywood-Style Movie Employed by Innovative Property Developer

From the streets of New York and the restaurants of Shanghai...to the key worker estates of  Salford.

Affordable housing specialist FreshStart Living has commissioned a glossy cinematic Internet film to woo property buyers in China and the US.

Being made available on FreshStart Living YouTube, Video News Agency and other online channels, the 2 minute film reflects the popularity among Chinese investors of the Salford-based firm's UK portfolio.

Filmed on location in New York, London and Manchester, it's a humorous take on the once-unlikely trend for Chinese investors to buy homes in Manchester, Liverpool and Salford as student rental investments.

In March this year, FreshStart became the only UK partner for Sou Fun, the $2bn NYSE-listed Chinese internet portal, and the 39^th most-used website in China with 20 million registered users. It has since signed a similar deal with Malaysian portal King Group and is exploring a partnership in Singapore.

In September, FreshStart Living appointed advisers Holland Bendelow Consulting Group for a potential flotation on the AIM (Alternative Investment Market), the London Stock Exchange's stock market for growing companies.

FreshStart, based in Swinton, Greater Manchester, started trading in February 2009 in response to the virtual standstill of residential development following the downturn of 2008 and the growing need for affordable homes. The business specialises in transforming empty or underperforming buildings into affordable homes for tenants and sells at below market prices or 'real prices' to investor landlords.

FreshStart is on target to sell 3,000 units in the financial year 2011-12 and has built a £40m asset base in the North of England. It has residential and student accommodation schemes in key locations such as Manchester, Liverpool, Salford, Bradford, Nottingham and Greenock, Scotland.

FreshStart Living employed just five staff in January 2011, but now has more than 40 employees at its head office in Swinton, Greater Manchester. Its business model has proved to be not only recession-proof but one which has thrived because of falling property values and stalled residential housing schemes.

FreshStart acquires sites at below market value - often bankrupt or distressed stock - and develops them efficiently and cost-effectively allowing savings to be passed onto the final purchasers.

Unlike much unrealistic pricing for property which was developed and funded during the credit boom, FreshStart's low selling prices offer future appreciation in value for investors.

The low prices also allow the business to let properties to tenants at competitive rents in what is a buoyant rental market.

The video was made by Video News Agency, which is making high-definition broadcast-quality downloads available to the media on http://www.videonewsagency.com

For interviews with Daniel Kennedy of Video News Agency or Stuart cook of Fresh Start Living, please contact Andrew Spinoza/Justin Strong/Lucy Gordon at SKV Communications on +44(0)161-838-7770 or e-mail at firstname.surname@skvcommunications.co.uk

http://www.freshstartliving.com

Editor's Notes:

In September 2011, FreshStart Living appointed advisers Holland Bendelow Consulting Group for a potential  flotation on the AIM (Alternative Investment Market), the London Stock Exchange's stock market for growing companies.

SOURCE FreshStart Living