Buyers will go green for a better deal
Buyers will go green for a better deal
A study has found that prospective buyers would improve the energy efficiency of their property in order to get a better mortgage deal.
Don’t price your home too high
Don’t price your home too high
Recent data has highlighted the negative impact of pricing your home too high.
What are buyers looking for?
What are buyers looking for?
A survey of homebuyers and movers has offered an insight into what the nation wants from the new Labour government.
Will higher mortgage rates be the norm?
higher mortgage rates be the norm?
Market experts have predicted that mortgage rates of 4.5% will be the ‘new normal’ in the UK.
Labour’s changes to housing policy
Labour’s changes to housing policy
Following Labour’s landslide election win, much of the nation is waiting to find out what is in store for the UK housing market. Many major policy changes will be announced in the Autumn Budget on 30 October, but Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has already announced the new draft of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which is now out for consultation until September.
Preparing your home for viewings
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
The best city to be a first-time buyer
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?
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
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
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
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
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.
Good news for housing and mortgages
After prospective and existing mortgage borrowers had a tough year in 2023, there looks to be good news on the horizon.