Breaking News
Halifax HPI for February
In it’s monthly House Price Index (HPI) report, the Halifax reported yesterday that house prices in the three months to February were 9.7% higher than in the same three months a year earlier. House prices in the latest three months (December-February) were 3.0% higher than in the preceding three months. Commenting, Martin Ellis, Halifax housing…
Allen Walkey
Housing market slowdown expected from April.
In just under 4 weeks time, starting the 1st April the new stamp duty rate for buy-to-let investors and second home buyers comes into force, many are trying to beat the deadline so as to make the saving of the extra 3% they would be paying after the cut off date. Agents and conveyancers alike…
Allen Walkey
Weaker pound on Brexit
A reported study by FXcompared this week showed that more than half of Britons are worried a vote to leave the European Union will cause the pound sterling to weaken, in a regional breakdown the poll showed 69% of Londoners were worried about the impact on the pound, with around 50% saying its performance before…
Allen Walkey
Nationwide HPI for February
In it’s monthly House Price Index (HPI) report, the Nationwide reported house prices increased by 0.3% in February, no change from the previous month, a slight acceleration in annual house price growth to 4.8%. Commenting on the figures, Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief Economist said: “UK house price growth remained steady in February, with prices increasing…
Allen Walkey
Mortgage approvals in January
UK mortgage approvals reached a 2 year high in January according to data recently released from The Bank of England, mortgage approvals for house purchases were numbered at 74,581 in January from 71,335 in December. Consumer credit is also on the rise, many households spend more as they see the value of their home rise…
Allen Walkey
Housing Market Bulletin February.
Housing Market Bulletin for February 2016 published yesterday by the Home and Communities Agency. House prices: Despite the seasonal price dip, the trend for average house price change continues to be steady growth. Housing market: Estimated gross mortgage lending for 2015 was 8.2% higher than in 2014, and the highest annual total since 2008. The…
Allen Walkey
Solutions to the housing crisis
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has today released a briefing whereby it identifies causes of Housing crisis and suggests solutions. The Institute headlines the briefing “Political leadership needed to solve housing crisis” This briefing explains how we have come to have such an extreme housing crisis and suggests how best the government can rectify…
Allen Walkey
Considering Property Investment? Now Is The Time, Says Mallorca’s Foremost Property Guru
With house prices steadily rising and an encouraging investment climate, Mallorca’s foremost property guru believes now is the perfect take for would-be investors to take the plunge into the holiday property market. Dominic Lechner, CEO of Mallorca Properties, believes the combination of rising house prices, growing investor confidence and demand from overseas buyers has turned…
Alex Evans
Homebuyers save hundreds of millions from stamp duty reform
A government announcement published at the beggining of this week states that over 780,000 homebuyers saved an estimated £657 million on Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) in the year since the tax was reformed. Transactions levels at the top end of the market remained constant under the new regime and stamp duty receipts from homes…
Allen Walkey
Various factors weighing on housing market activity
Interest rates are expected to remain at their record lows until 2019, according to recent forecasts, the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, was recently reported as saying “an unforgiving global environment was likely to keep rates at a record low of 0.5pc for longer than previously expected”. With the average mortgage loan-to-income…
Allen Walkey
Shelter & Quod take a look at London homes and brownfield site situation.
A recent analysis of London’s land shows that the majority of brownfield land is already being used for housing. A report carried out by Quod (Planning consultancy), viewable here, shows how the City of London is looking with brownfield plots and the distribution of this across housing, hospitals, schools, transportation etc. “Single solutions such as…
Christopher Walkey
New estate agents open in London every other day.
Statistics published by the online estate agent HouseSimple.com show that a new estate agent opens somewhere in the capital every 1.6 days, Ealing Broadway and Turnham Green are west London’s hot spots, there are 17 property vendors within a quarter of a mile of each station, more than anywhere in London except Walthamstow, Borough and…
Allen Walkey
New office for Fine and Country in East End of London
Estate Agent Fine and Country with offices in over 300 locations worldwide officially opens a new office in the East End of London on Thursday, March 3, this London office will add to their three existing one’s in Mayfair, Fulham and Sydenham. Along with a thriving jobs market in the area the urban regeneration of…
Allen Walkey
Effect of Brexit on Brits living in or moving to Europe
If Britain decides to do a Brexit they will have to form a set of new trading and institutional relationships with Europe, the concerns for many is what the uncertainty surrounding such changes may do to not only the UK but the wider community and how long these changes might take to negotiate. The Economist…
Allen Walkey
Mixed performance for Countrywide.
Yesterday saw the release of Countrywide PLC preliminary statement of annual results for the year ended 31 December 2015. They reported a mixed performance in line with expectations with momentum building in 2016. Some of the highlights are below. To see the statement in full click here. Market beating performance from financial services and surveying…
Allen Walkey