I hope you enjoyed reading our blogs during the year. We tried to cover and comment on the changing mood of the property market and the people who are involved. That would be mostly you! It has certainly been a memorable year and not all for good reasons. As soon as the...
The presidential election result in America reminded us – if we needed any reminding - that we live in a time of massive immediate and fundamental change. A point not lost on us here in the UK after Brexit. In the property industry even Budget tax changes can alter buying...
It is not surprising the property profession has reacted angrily to the Chancellor declining to change stamp duty despite pleas from agents, suppliers and property consultancies ahead of the Autumn Statement. There are very few activities in our economy that are as stimulating...
We know on-line agents present a challenge, but I do not shiver or shake in my shoes because my own office offers a better and a far more personal service every time. Local knowledge, qualifications face to face negotiations and much more. Our computer won’t say “no&...
Eagle-eyed property market watchers may have noticed a change. Certainly those in London will have seen a marked difference from a year ago. The market has done an about turn in favour of buyers. Fewer buyers and more properties available have changed the fortunes of purchasers...
New data from the Land Registry lays bare the extent to which the housing market across England and Wales was already suffering before the Brexit vote. The data relates to the second quarter of this year and shows a fall in sales volumes. In England and Wales 115,895 sales were...
The fabulous Rio Olympics remind us that dedication, natural talent, great coaching; relentless training, self-belief and a total focus on winning are the things that create a gold medalist. Now the Paralympics will do the same. Luck comes last on the list; Olympians can’t...
No fewer than 174,000 moved home in the first six months of 2016 - a rise of nine per cent on the same period last year and almost 50 per cent more than the post-2007 financial crash low. This is despite the Brexit uncertainty which, according to some observers crippled the...
Brexit can’t be used as an excuse for every problem in the property market: that is the consensus emerging among some commentators as yet more mixed data emerges on the property market in the wake of the EU referendum. They say Stamp Duty changes imposed by the...
A recent report stated that new property listing prices have remained in line with the typical run-up to the summer holiday season despite Brexit concerns. It claims the price of new property coming to market fell 0.9%, or £2,647, over the past few weeks to £307,824...
William Shakespeare, who died a little over 400 years ago, knew nothing about the EU, but he knew a thing or two about plots and not just plots for his plays; he also developed an eye for plots of land and the buildings on them. Part of Shakespeare’s genius was colourfully...
The decision is made, we’re going to leave the European Union and there may a brief period of uncertainty until the dust settles because that is what usually happens when “the public” and that means all of us, assess our own positions. BUT, we are a breed of...
Enough of the EU referendum for now. Let’s focus on garden thieves and how to reduce risk. Recent research has revealed that more than 2.5 million households in the UK have been the victim of green fingered thieves in their gardens at least once. Nowadays, it’s not...
The National Association of Estate Agents has issued a report forecasting that house prices will go up whether the vote is yes or no – but at a slightly lower rate if the vote is to leave. It estimates that if the UK votes to remain in the EU, by 2018 the average UK home...
Since the 1975 in-out referendum, where Britain decided to remain in Europe, the average price of property has outperformed shares and eclipsed the growth in value of gold. In fact, only 30 out of 164 quarters (18%) since Q2 1975 have seen negative house price growth. Recent...
According to a recent report, Brits are actually friendlier than you might think. 'Love thy neighbour’ is making a comeback across the UK as a larger than expected number of people are not just keeping up with the Jones’s, but are good friends with them too...
Even before Margaret Thatcher declared her belief in a ‘property-owning democracy’ and introduced Right to Buy in 1980, the UK was converted into a nation obsessed with residential properties. Let’s be honest, many of us are preoccupied with our homes and...
The property market is never static, but it is now at a unique juncture. It is hard to think of a time when the market was so politicised. Following on from last year's general election and the Scottish referendum in 2014 we now face the UK European referendum in June. No...
A vote to leave Europe would have very little effect on the UK housing market. An economic consultancy says a vote for Brexit is unlikely to trigger a collapse in the housing market or the general economy. However, it cautions that the period before the referendum it could cause...
I suppose the 2016 Budget was never going to be too contentious or radical in view of the upcoming European referendum in June. Certainly there was little mention of housing in the Budget. Perhaps the Chancellor felt he had done enough recently by attaching additional tax to buy-...
Should we stay or should we go? It is a very difficult question to answer. There are so many factors to take into account. What will happen if we stay where we are? What new opportunities might there be if we move, but if we stay put at least we know where we are. We have become...
A well known Insurance firm claims that there is effectively no premium in a home having a south-facing garden. It claims analysis of asking prices reveals homes with south facing gardens carry a mere 0.37 per cent premium compared to properties with north facing gardens...
The belief that roughly 20% of producers are responsible for 80% of production has been widely held for over a hundred years. It is called the Pareto Principle. It is just as valid when selling your home. Roughly 20% of estate agents handle 80% of the sales. So the first thing...
The large majority of people who have sold their home through a traditional estate agent were either satisfied or very satisfied with their experience according to a report at the end of last year. Out of 700 people asked, 82% expressed their satisfaction while just 4% of the...
Welcome to 2016 and a new era in property. It promises to be a packed and eventful year. The way has already been prepared for a change in April when higher stamp duty rates are applied to properties bought for buy-to-let or as second homes. So expect a busy time for the next few...