Property Market

Trying to beat the school system

With the 2008/09 academic year upon us, children will be starting at new schools this week up and down the country. However, with nearly a fifth of kids (18 per cent) expected to miss-out on a place at their first choice school and a further seven per cent not even receiving an offer at one of their first three choices of schools, parents are having to go to extreme lengths to secure their child's first choice of school.

House prices in university towns trading at a premium

Nine university towns in the UK have an average house price premium in excess of £20,000 when compared to their county, according to the Halifax University Town House Price Review.

NBT prescribes breathable paint finish

Natural Building Technologies is working to raise awareness of the importance of specifying the most appropriate paint finish in an age where the highest levels of air-tightness and breathability are being achieved. Developers run the risk of reducing the breathability of the building fabric if a vapour-closed paint is applied either internally or externally.

Good Energy launches online low carbon shop

Good Energy, the UK’s only electricity supplier to source and supply 100% renewable energy, is launching its online store – goodenergyshop.co.uk - on Monday September 1st. The Good Energy shop will provide customers with everything they need to embark on a low carbon lifestyle at home and work.

Is the quality of new homes affected by the credit crunch?

Inspector Home, the UK's leading independent new home inspection service, is concerned that buyers of new homes are facing a serious reduction in quality and service as Developers force pay cuts of 15% on to many contractors.

Prime central London property prices drop 1.3% in August

Prices for prime central London residential property dropped by 1.3% in August, the fourth consecutive month of price falls, according to the Knight Frank Prime Central London Index.

HIPs - reduce stress and speed up the process

The Association of Home Information Pack Providers has responded to research published today by MyHomeMove, parent company of HIP provider MyHomeInformationPack.

RICS residential property proposals - Tackling the credit crunch

Dealing with the current housing market downturn requires significant and decisive action from the Government whose attempts to date to address the problems facing the market have been limited.

Home sellers resort to dirty tricks to hook buyers

Almost a quarter of sellers admit to having lied about, or hidden problems with their property in an attempt to make it more appealing to prospective buyers according to new research from Homeserve, the UK’s national home emergency service.

Tax burden for UK landlords halved by capital gains tax reform

Landlords who waited to sell their buy-to-let properties until Q2 this year halved the amount they had to pay in tax compared to those who sold prior to the April budget reform, according to research by The Mortgage Works, a leading buy-to-let mortgage lender.

Redrow - Stamping out the cost of stamp duty

Forget waiting for the chancellor to make up his mind - Redrow will knock the cost of your stamp duty off the price of your new home throughout September - making now a great time to buy.

Thinking of extending or remodelling? Read this first!

Making the most of your home is the sensible option in 2008 with a struggling housing market and rising prices to contend with. Extending or remodelling your home can give you the extra space you need but before you start, read the article below. The organisers of The London Homebuilding & Renovating Show, on at ExCeL London from 19 to 21 September, have come up with some great pointers that may save you time and money.