Property Market
Extend your thinking when extending your home
There’s an exciting new solution for people looking to extend their house or apartment following the launch of home extension company Mikano.
Personal searches for HIPs ‘not as good as official searches’
Savills has responded to the suggestion that some lenders will not advance loans on properties where personal – as opposed to official – searches have been obtained for a HIP and that buyers will then have to commission and pay for additional official searches.
Housing market pressure fuels snap purchases
The frenetic pace of the housing market means that Brits spend more time choosing the curtains for their new home than actually selecting the house itself.
Taylor Wimpey strengthens north Scotland operation
Taylor Wimpey, the UK’s largest homebuilder, has appointed Mike Naysmith as director and general manager for their George Wimpey North Scotland region. Mr Naysmith, who is based at the company’s Aberdeen office, will lead the company as it continues to grow within its newly-defined geographical territory of Dundee to Inverness.
Home is where the heart is for Brits
With the holiday season upon us, most of us are either thinking of jetting off to sunnier climes or have just returned from some far away sun-kissed destination. However, whilst we would rather be basking in the sunshine than battling with the rain, there is always something we look forward to coming back to after being away from home, whether it’s been a few days or weeks.
Lenders give Brown government’s housing policy the thumbs down
A majority of members of the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) lack confidence in the Brown Government’s future policy as regards the housing market, according to recent member research conducted by the Association.
Rate rises have sigificant impact on regional housing markets
Agents and homebuyers a like breathed a sigh of relief as news that inflation surprisingly dropped below the Bank of England’s 2 per cent target last month, meaning further interest rate rises are likely to be put on hold for the time being.
Housing market slows as consumers start to feel the pinch
The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) released figures from its latest housing market survey, revealing a slowdown in the housing market.
Kitchen table top of the wish list for homebuyers
Forget what the endless DIY shows tell you about what features will help you sell your house – the key factor for most homebuyers is whether the kitchen has enough space for a decent sized table, according to the latest Legal & General research.
First time buyers settle for less
First time buyers are now making more sacrifices to get on the property ladder than their counterparts 30 years ago, according to a new report by GE Money Home Lending & The Future Foundation.
Taylor Wimpey merger signals strong growth in Scotland
The completion of the merger last month of Taylor Woodrow and George Wimpey, created the single largest house builder, that will build more than 1 in every 10 of all new private houses built in the Scottish market. The new company, Taylor Wimpey, will retain both the Bryant Homes and the George Wimpey brands in Scotland.
Property prices respond to interest rate medicine
Five rounds of base interest rate increases are taking their toll on the housing market. The average property value of £218,033 in July was down by 4.65% on the month and up just 1.63% year-on-year.
Blinkered thinking hampers greener buildings
The British Property Federation has backed Government plans to scrap the Merton Rule because investing in inefficient onsite renewable energy sources is simply not the most best way to reduce carbon emissions.
The Government submits an application for EU flood funding
The Government has submitted an application to the European Commission for support from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to help recovery from the recent flooding in the UK.
Homeowners set to give HIPs the slip
Millions of homeowners plan to exploit a loophole to avoid purchasing the Home Information Packs (HIPs) that are now mandatory for anyone selling a home with four bedrooms or more - and will be required for three bedroom homes from 10 September 2007, according to research by Abbey Mortgages.