The Guardian this week reported that Britain’s housing market has reached a turning point with price growth expected to turn negative next year – but the market will avoid a crash, according to the latest forecasts.
Average house prices across the UK will dip by 0.8% in 2015, after growing by an estimated 7.8% this year, the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) predicted on Monday.
Inquiries from new buyers are already declining and properties are staying on the market for longer before they sell, leading to price declines in some parts of the UK. Affordability has become a real
Three quarters of London properties which would fall into the so-called “mansion tax” bracket are flats or terraced houses, according to Knight Frank figures.
The property consultants analysed sales data to see what type of “mansions” would fall into the £2m plus category Labour leader Ed Miliband would target if his party came to power.
Knight Frank said London – and in particular the prime areas of Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea – would be hit harder than other parts of the country by the tax. The two boroughs alone account for 46 per cent of the £2m-plus properties in England and
Property agents CPBigwood have for the second year running been shortlisted for Residential Auction House of The Year in The Negotiator Awards.
Winners will be announced at a glittering prize giving ceremony on Tuesday, November 4, at the London Hilton on Park Lane and hosted by Alexander Armstrong, comedian, actor and presenter of TV's Pointless programme.
CPBigwood has one of the largest property auction houses outside London and is firmly established in the top ten national auction houses in the UK.
Last year the cumulative figure for 2013 came in at £51,082,200, with 604 lots offered
The annual rate of house price growth slowed in September to 9.4% from 11% the month before, the Nationwide says.
On a monthly basis, prices were down by 0.2% - the first time that figure has fallen since April 2013. It said strong regional variations remained, with London and the South continuing to lead the market.
Prices in London are 31% above those reached at the last peak of the market in 2007. Elsewhere, prices are just 1% above pre-crisis levels, with average house prices across the UK shown to have fallen to £188,374. The average price of a house in London is £401,072.
It was reported at the weekend by the BBC that first-time buyers in England under the age of 40 could buy a house at 20% below the market rate - if the Conservatives are re-elected.
David Cameron, the Conservative leader said a future government led by him would build 100,000 new homes for such people. They would be built on brownfield land already identified for development and exempt from some taxes, he said.
Unveiling the pledge - an extension of the Help to Buy mortgage scheme - Mr Cameron said the Conservatives wanted more young people to "achieve the dream" of owning their own home.
It's important that you view a property before you bid for it at auction. There are so many things to consider and often the most important questions are forgotten.
Ask the relevant questions by taking our helpful checklist with you on your viewing. It may also be useful to take along the property details supplied by the auctioneer to ensure that their information is accurate.
Also check the property for signs of subsidence and confirm that the exterior is in good condition especially the roof and drainage. Double check the boiler, electrics and plumbing in the property and make sure they are
If you're a resident of Antrim, Fermanagh, Omagh and Dungannon in Northern Ireland, or Babergh in Suffolk, congratulations: you live in one of the five happiest places in the UK.
That's the verdict of a new report that measures the wellbeing of people across the country.
People in the UK are more satisfied with their lives than at any time since 2011, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said.
The twice-yearly survey of wellbeing shows life satisfaction and happiness indicators are up on last year's figures. Anxiety has also fallen, according to the survey of 165,000 people.
Auction houses often focus their attentions on unusual, hard-to-value premises such as churches and village halls. You’ll also find pockets of land, repossession properties, properties in need of renovation and commercial lots with potential for change to residential use.
However, there has been an upsurge in residential properties that don’t necessarily require renovation or development, as vendors turn to auctions to achieve a faster and more efficient sale of their home. That means an auction could be a great place for first time buyers to snap up a bargain.
Remember, if you've decided on the property that you want to bid on, and have everything in place in order to attend the auction, then the final piece of advice, in the run-up to the auction, is to keep an eye on the 'guide price' (this is the price listed in the catalogue). Before the auction, contact the auction house just to make sure the property is still available.
Also make sure you have made a decision on what your maximum bid will be. This will be based on your view of the property's value (having carried out viewings and local searches) rather than the guide price, and on the money
A property auction can be a thrilling way to buy property, and snap up a bargain. They aren’t just good for buying repossessed homes, it’s now possible to buy all kinds of properties at auction. However it is essential that you do your homework before trying to buy a property at auction, and you need to put a number of important things in place before you go. It does't matter what your reason for buying at auction is, the key to success is preparation.
Before you go to auction to buy a property there's a lot of groundwork that needs to be done. A good place to start is by making a list of
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