Welcome to 2021 – It is going to be a very busy year ahead!
We say goodbye to (well I am sure in a way that involves a lot of blasphemies too) the year of 2020 and we look forward to, with much expectation on, 2021… It is a year of the Ox and will certainly require from us some bold shoulder action in order to turn things around from a disaster (for many) in 2020 to what we hope is a much more prosperous 2021.
Let us look at some key up and coming events that could effect the UK economy and housing.
Big decisions have been made and are being made between 2020 and in to 2021. The most notable, and many will say ‘at long last’ sees Brexit happen in full (well as best as can be hoped for following 4.5 years of negotiations). What some will see as positive, others will be fearful of the negatives – Will it be full steam ahead for the UK and its economy, or will being away from EU membership see the country dip both in confidence and finance. Much depends on each country and their vanity mostly within Europe, but it is sure going to be a testing time to see how on going negotiations, especially trade deals, move forward. So far, the UK has agreed many world trade deals globally which appear most lucrative and proving of the benefits of leaving the EU…
The USA Presidency still hangs in the balance. Biden many have won by reading and watching the MSN channels, but fact is that no decision is yet made with legal challenges across the country to voter fraud as well as further allegations of criminal activity within the Biden family in negotiations with China. Currently the country remains very much in the dark with who will be the next President of the USA. Biden is not President Elect and we await a head or tails flip of a coin to see if the White House holds Donald Trump or Joe Biden for 2020-24.
Covid-19 remains the main topic of conversation both in our day to day lives as well as in business and again, a topic that is heavily political with varied view points. Within the estate agency business, though appearing to have dodged the bullet of this pandemic by being allowed to remain open along with services supporting it (for example removal firms, surveyors etc), the industry has still been effected. Day to day activities of carrying out the role of an estate / letting agent has changed immensely in order to comply with government requirements and recommendations, no longer is it grabbing the keys quickly and showing someone around a property… The housing market though remains robust like an ox, demand is still strong and prices march ever onwards and upwards. What happens though once furloughs dry up and rentals / mortgages default?
It is time, many will hope, that London will welcome in a new Mayor. The current mayor has had much negative press with regards to promises made on new homes for London and especially those which are affordable. The already delayed election takes place 6th May with a long list of candidates all promising new ideas and action for the capital – Brian Rose is one of the leading names who has a vision for tackling the housing situation of London with modular homes.