Property Market
Good time to buy a new home
Ben Stein, writing in The New York Times in 2005 said “Those worried times are the times when it is good to buy”. As evidence emerges that house prices are in limbo, faltering consumer confidence and uncertainty regarding future interest rates cuts, many people may be put off buying a new home.
New light through old windows
Volume house builders are not often associated with restoring heritage and preserving history, but award winning Redrow is one of the exceptions.
House prices up 0.6% in November
House prices in England and Wales increased 0.6 per cent in November with an annual increase of 8.1 per cent, according to figures from the Land Registry.
Zoomf.com launches ‘Visual Search’ for home hunters
Property search engine, Zoomf.com, has launched a brand new and revolutionary approach to finding property – Visual Search.
Helping soldiers into homes
Members of the Armed Forces will be given new support to help them buy an affordable home, announced Housing Minister Yvette Cooper.
St Albans most expensive town in the UK
St Albans remains the most expensive town in the UK with an average house price of almost £350,000, according to a survey by the Nationwide Building Society.
House prices fall 0.5% in December
UK house prices fell by a seasonally adjusted 0.5% in December, recording their second consecutive month-on-month fall, according to the Nationwide Building Society.
Montrose is the 2007 property hot spot
Montrose in Angus recorded the biggest house price increase (39%) in 2007, according to Halifax Estate Agents.
Gradual thawing of icy conditions for first time buyers in 2008
Commenting on the Halifax report on first time buyers, RICS chief economist, Simon Rubinsohn said: "While first time buyers continue to struggle to access the housing market, the conditions should start to gradually thaw throughout 2008.
Lowest number of first time buyers since 1980
The number of first time buyers (FTBs) is at its lowest since 1980. An estimated 300,000 first time buyers entered the market in 2007 – 44% less than in 2002 (532,000), according to research by the Halifax.
Buyers take advantage as homeowners rush to beat HIPS
The November survey from the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has revealed an increase in the number houses available and buyers on books as homeowners rushed to beat the 14th December HIPs deadline and potential purchasers took advantage of more favourable market conditions.
RICS UK Housing market forecast for 2008
RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) expects UK house prices to be broadly unchanged in 2008 but acknowledges that the market could experience some near term weakness.
Recognition for innovation at Miller Homes
Miller Homes has scooped another industry title – this time for Best Marketing Innovation, in the hotly contested national Housebuilding Innovation Awards. It was the company’s latest online innovation, mymillerstreet.co.uk, that stole the show for the panel of judges who said they were impressed by the way the company has used “modern technology to ease the housebuying process” for buyers.
NAEA again express amazement at government spin over HIPs
Last Friday, the Communities and Local Government (CLG) published its latest update on Home Information Packs (HIPs).
Co-habiting couples risk losing out without pre-hab agreement
Just one in four couples in the UK (24%) would consider getting an agreement drawn up before moving in together according to new research from AA Legal Services.