Blogs of author

West Country auctioneer Symonds and Sampson has announced the results of its final auction of the year, which attracted 247 bids across 16 lots.

Taking place at a packed Digby Hall in Sherborne, the auction boasted a catalogue with an eclectic mix of properties including land with building potential, agricultural land, houses for improvement and investments.

The greatest excitement of the day was for Corner Ground at Hazelbury, a single storey cottage for renovation with outbuildings and gardens in a rural location. 

Symonds and Sampson said that in the run up to the event, it was

Grosvenor Crescent in London has been named as the most expensive street in Britain.

The sweeping Regency street tops a list compiled by Lloyds Bank: its Grade II-listed houses change hands for an average of £16.9m. In May 2013, a house there sold for £15.7m, and a three-bedroom flat is on the market for £11.75m.

House prices rose rapidly in the capital at the start of this year, and the cost of homes on the most desirable streets has risen sharply. Land Registry data shows that prices in Westminster, which includes Grosvenor Crescent, are 18% higher than a year ago.

For the first time

Multi-award winning property auctioneer Auction House has scooped yet another industry trophy – this time, the Silver Award for Best Franchise at the 2014 Estate Agency of the Year Awards.

This is the fourth consecutive year that the group has won an award at the prestigious event, including a total of two gold medals. This year’s ceremony was held on Friday 5 December at the Lancaster Hotel in London.

Commenting on the success, Auction House Founding Director Roger Lake said: “We’re delighted to have received yet another award in what is becoming a far more competitive arena, with the number

The UK’s new property tax rules are set to provide a boost to both the sales market and buy to let market, it is claimed.

The new rates will give the biggest savings to buyers at the lower and middle end of the market and according to Stephen Ludlow, chairman of lettings age Ludlow Thompson, as buy to let landlords usually invest in properties below £937,500 the changes will give almost all investors in this market a boost.

‘The changes in stamp duty will see the biggest increase in net returns for more modestly investments such as smaller properties in Zone three of London, city centre

The Government has announced on 3rd December 2014 that stamp duty reforms are to be implemented on residential property.

George Osborne has announced a radical overhaul of stamp duty to boost the housing market in this week's Autumn Statement.

The current system of a ‘slab’ single rate stamp duty tax on the entire property price will be replaced with a system of tax bands, like income tax. Osborne said the changes will cut stamp duty for 98% of people who pay it. There will be no stamp duty on the first £125,000 of property value.

This is good news for purchasers of most residential property

Landlords in the West Midlands who fail to check whether prospective tenants are in the country legally will face a £3,000 fine, under a new rule expected to be rolled out across the UK.

The Birmingham, Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Wolverhampton area is the first where the check must be made.

Landlords now must ask to see evidence of a person's identity and citizenship. In cases where a passport cannot be produced, landlords can request further checks via a government website.

The Home Office said following an evaluation of the implementation in the West Midlands next spring, it expected to

The number of mortgages being granted by Britain's banks has fallen by 16% over the last year - the latest sign of a slowdown in the housing market.

According to the banking industry body the BBA, in October home-buyers had 37,076 mortgages approved - the lowest figure for 17 months.

The value of those mortgages fell 13% over the year to just over £6bn.

Separately the Halifax predicted that house price inflation will moderate to as little as 3% next year.

The figures from the BBA show that mortgage approvals peaked at 48,649 in January this year.

"The BBA data adds to now pretty widespread and

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

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. 

As well as being a quick and relatively hassle free way to buy a home, the auction process is easy. You simply look through the auction catalogue, find a property you like, arrange a viewing and do some research, and show up prepared on auction day.

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