Monthly Archives: March 2022


300322 How Sellers Can Make Their Next Move a Success

How Sellers Can Make Their Next Move a Success

Many people predicted that the robust demand seen in early 2021 would fizzle out when the Stamp Duty holiday ended – but they were wrong!

2022 kicked off with a bang. Over the New Year period, UK housing demand rose by 49% compared to the same period in the previous three years* and asking prices were up in January.

Pressure on stock
Running parallel to this strong demand has been a shortage in housing stock (in other words, there are not enough properties … Continue Reading…


250322 Why First-Time Buyers Are Banking on Mum and Dad

Banking on Mum and Dad

There’s one financial institution that never seems to go out of fashion, and that’s the dear old Bank of Mum and Dad (or BOMAD for people who like acronyms).

About half of all first-time buyers (FTBs) last year relied on BOMAD, with parents dishing out a record £9.8 billion to help their offspring get on the property ladder.1 The average contribution was £58,000.

And in the past ten years, BOMAD has coughed up £54 billion, assisting 1.4 million buyers.2

What’s driving the trend?
There’s … Continue Reading…


160322 Things to Consider If You’re Selling Your Home Due to Financial Trouble

Things to Consider If You’re Selling Your Home Due to Financial Reasons

If you’re experiencing financial difficulties, you may be considering selling your home. This is a very challenging decision and needs to be given some serious thought.

In this two-minute read, we look at some areas to think about before you decide whether to sell your property or not.

This piece is not meant to offer financial advice. We recommend speaking to a financial expert before making any big decisions.

Understand your debt

You probably have a mortgage and it’s important to understand whether selling … Continue Reading…


A few tips

It’s Going To Be a Busy Spring

Prepare Now for a Successful Property Sale

Rightmove, (righmove.co.uk) a leading UK property website, reports* that “the number of new listings coming to market is also historically at its highest in March, though the high levels of buyer demand seen in the month mean that March is still the strongest month to sell.”  Put simply, buyers are headed to the market.  If you are looking to sell your home this year, spring is the prime season for buyers.

The market is busy, … Continue Reading…


140322 What the Rise in Older Renters Means for Landlords

What the Rise in Older Renters Means for Landlords

Landlords looking to secure reliable, long-term tenants shouldn’t overlook a growing demographic in the rental sector – the older renter.

Recent statistics* show that the proportion of people aged 45 to 54 who rent is 16% (up 5% in ten years). During the same period, the proportion of renters aged 55 to 64 rose by 5% to 11%.

The benefits of older tenants
There’s no substitute for rigorous credit and reference checks when it comes to tenant selection. But it’s worth bearing in … Continue Reading…


090322 Job Relocation What you need to consider if you’re moving away

Things to Think about When You’re Relocating for Work

Landing the perfect job is a dream for most, but what if that opportunity is in a different part of the country? Or abroad?

If this is the case, relocation may be the only solution.

Selling your home when you need to move out of Northamptonshire isn’t easy. You’ve got the start date of your new job to consider, selling your property quickly, the general hassle of moving, finding somewhere new in an unfamiliar area… the list seems endless.

So, in this two-minute … Continue Reading…


070322 EPCs Are Changing. Landlords, Are You Ready (1)

EPCs Are Changing! Landlords Are You Ready?

Calling all landlords! Have you checked your buy-to-let property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating lately?

No?

Unfortunately, there have been some legal changes that might mean you’ve got some work to do (and money to spend), so you need to keep reading.

An EPC details how energy efficient a property is, recommends how to improve efficiency, and gives a general idea of associated costs.

At the moment, a rental’s EPC must be a rating of E or above as per the Minimum Energy Efficiency … Continue Reading…


040322 International Women’s Day Four Pioneers Who Blazed Their Own Trail

International Women’s Day: Four Trailblazers Who Changed Britain

To mark International Women’s Day next Tuesday, we look at four British women who made history in their respective fields. A three-minute, fantastic females-themed read.

They may not be household names, but these four pioneering British women deserve our admiration and respect.

Helen Sharman – Britain’s first astronaut
The Sheffield-born chemist was working at Mars (the makers of those chocolate bars) when she responded to an advert for volunteers to embark on a space mission.

After a rigorous selection process, Sharman was chosen from … Continue Reading…