Tag Archives: property market

Crossrail: London Reborn?

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£14.8bn is the expected cost of construction for Crossrail, with 73 miles of extra track length to be added to existing London’s transport systems, 200 million more journeys each year and 24 extra journeys to run at peak times of the day per hour. It is Europe’s largest and most ambitious infrastructure project to date and the largest scheme in London for more than 20 years since the extension of London’s underground system with the Jubilee Line in the late 1990’s. Until now, London’s transport system has generated a land value of £9billion. The Crossrail will no doubt take precedence […]

The Rise of the Super Flat

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Turn on ITV at 9pm and you’ll most likely be greeted by the latest period drama boasting stately homes, acres upon acres of gardens and the richest Brits around. Back then the only way to make an exhibition of your wealth was by owning the biggest, tallest house on the manor. Drawing rooms, libraries and sweeping staircases have always been as much a tangible representation of wealth as champagne and lobster dinners. Well, not anymore. The newest generation of millionaire house hunters are ditching traditional London townhouses and stately homes for something more modern, uber-cool and altogether trendier – introducing London’s […]

Interest-only mortgages threaten homeowners

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It’s all well and good buying the house of your dreams and finally claiming a spot on the property ladder, but the minute you own the keys and contract to your new property, you are in charge of paying off your mortgage which has enabled you to make your house a home. The latest figures from Citizens Advice has shown that nearly one million homeowners cannot afford to pay off their mortgages because in order to afford a property in the first place, they have opted for interest-only loans. These estimates are a lot higher than previous years as estimated […]

Investing in Student Properties

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The news is flooded lately with the rise in student numbers and the following massive demand for student accommodation. It’s been fantastic to see how so many young driven individuals are now moving up in their lives and moving forward with their education. Just to recap in case you haven’t noticed the news; Record numbers of students are heading to university this year, with more than 400,000 already accepted onto degree courses. UCAS has said this is the highest number of acceptances recorded for A-level results! Representing a 3% increase and equating to around 13,000 extra students compared to the […]

New Home Building is up by 15 per cent

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To build or not to build is not exactly a choice for the British population. Many areas of the UK have been promised new housing developments to accommodate a growing population. The latest statistics from ONS has reported that new home building is up by 15 per cent year on year. There were 131,000 new homes completed in the UK in the last 12 months and the highest annual total since June 2009. The new rate of housing built is expected to rise to meet the government’s target of 275,000 per year by 2020. Housing Minister Brandon Lewis welcomed the latest […]

How many Brits own second homes?

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Getting onto the property ladder is a difficult transition in itself and with it comes a huge financial responsibility. In our generation, first time buyers are narrowing significantly and it is far more difficult to own one property, let alone own another. However, the Department for Communities and Local Government as part of the English Housing Survey has compiled data on ownership, mortgages and second homes for owner occupiers and first time buyers in England. Having written about the process of buying a house through an estate agent, it is interesting to note the patterns 2012-2014. So, how many Brits […]

12 House Buying Considerations

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There are a lot of things to think about when considering to buy a new house. It is a BIG decision, a big investment and, considered by many to be an even bigger commitment than marriage. Here at Sell House Fast we buy any house, but as a private buyer, you can afford to be (and should be!) a lot more fussy. You can relocate if you really are not happy with your choice. But the buying process is invariably long and can be highly expensive if you choose to sell through an estate agent; so you must think carefully. Here is your house buying […]

Islands are Cheaper Than a London Flat

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We all tend to dream of laying by the beach, gazing into crystal blue waters and taking that diving trip you have always planned around the coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea. Owning your own private island is as flamboyant as it comes and in the world of luxury homes, it’s the best you can get! The likes of Johnny Depp, Richard Branson and Julia Roberts have snatched up a patch of greenery in a getaway destination, with some islands bought without accommodation on the island itself. The property market is a fluctuating business and with the current situation in […]

House Prices are Up by 5.7%, ONS Stats Show

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The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today released the latest House Price Index, showing house prices are going up by 5.7% in the year to May 2015, a natural increase from 5.5% in the year to April 2015. The monthly release of data by the ONS is calculated using mortgage financed transactions that are collected via the regulated mortgage survey by the Council of Mortgage Lenders, covering the majority of mortgage lenders in the UK. Throughout the month of May, house prices in England were driven by an annual increase in the east of 9.3% and the south east […]

Game of Homes: Guide to Joining the Property Ladder

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Any homeowners will know that buying a house is one of the most difficult, exciting and financially tiring processes anyone will endure in their lifetime. Purchasing a home of your own, whether it’s your first or tenth, is never an easy task. Over the years, the world has become obsessed with the oh-so popular television series Game of Thrones. Whether or not “winter is coming” – as Jon Snow would say – buying a house represents a similar game when approaching the property market! Therefore, it is fitting to call the process Game of Homes. In games such as ‘Snakes […]