Preparing your home for viewings

As confidence grows among sellers, many homeowners are preparing to put their property up for sale. Here’s how you can get your home ready for viewings.

Longer sale time for properties

Despite an increase in buyer and seller demand, the home-buying process is still not plain sailing; on average, it currently takes more than seven months for a seller to move home once they have put their property up for sale.

Fewer young adults are homeowners

Over the last two decades, the number of young adults who own a home has dropped significantly.

Housing stock improves

It seems that 2024 is a popular year to sell, as housing supply has reached an eight-year high.

Home movers undeterred by elections

As the UK adjusts to the aftermath of the General Election, many will be wondering what this means for the housing market. However, analysis of previous election periods suggests that home movers are largely unfazed by changes in Parliament.

Buyers are settling for less space

Demand for smaller homes has increased, indicating that the high cost of borrowing has prompted many homeowners to readjust their expectations.

Get yourself mortgage-ready

If you are hoping to buy a new home soon, it’s never too early to start preparing – get yourself mortgage-ready this summer by following these steps.

Research has revealed the least and most expensive cities to be a first-time buyer (FTB) in the UK.

High LTV mortgages – are they a good idea?

Prior to the Spring Budget, there was speculation that the government may introduce a 1% mortgage deposit scheme. That did not come to fruition; however, a leading mortgage lender has recently introduced a new product which offers first-time buyers (FTBs) a £5k deposit on homes up to £500,000 – effectively a 99% loan to value (LTV) mortgage.

Housing market – a spring update

The first few months of 2024 showed some promise for a housing market which is stabilising following a challenging period for buyers and sellers alike. So, with spring well under way, how is the property market faring at the moment?

Sellers hit the ground running in 2024

Eager home sellers got the year off to a good start before it had even begun, with over 10,000 properties put up for sale on Boxing Day 2023 – the highest number of new listings in one day since 2011. This momentum carried over into the new year as estate agents received a record number of requests for in-person home valuations in January.

Plan ahead with a property survey

When buying a house, a property survey can seem like one more cost among many. But getting the right survey is more than a burden - it can be crucial to ensuring you are paying a fair price.

House prices expected to rise in 2024

Property experts anticipate an upturn in UK house prices this year, with Pantheon Macroeconomics estimating a 5% increase.

After prospective and existing mortgage borrowers had a tough year in 2023, there looks to be good news on the horizon.

When will the Bank Rate go down in 2024?

Sellers accept discounts in late 2023

Here for you in 2024 – come what may

As research1 reveals that 45% of UK adults are losing sleep over money, we’re here to remind you of the value of professional advice.

Counting cost-of-living sheep

The squeeze on people’s finances caused by the cost-of-living crisis is understandably a key reason why people are struggling to get enough shut-eye. If you’re awake with worry, you are not the only one struggling.

High mortgages may mean more equity released

It’s no secret that higher interest rates have caused mortgage repayments to increase significantly.

Should you fix or track your mortgage?

If your mortgage deal is coming to an end, you may be deciding whether to fix or get a tracker. With mortgage rates starting to drop and uncertainty whether Bank Rate has peaked, there is a lot to consider…

Mortgages won’t be paid off by age 65.

Research* has found that 32% of mortgage holders do not think they will pay off their home loan by 65.