September – Market Update

September is normally a month when the housing market resumes to some normality following the summer holiday season and the return of the schools. This September has been slightly different with moderate levels of activity. It feels that many potential house movers are enquiring and looking but not actually committing.

Many potential house movers are concerned there could be some changes introduced in the budget on 30th October which could impact the housing market.  The Prime Minister has made it clear … Continue Reading…

Landlords: Top Tips for Buying a Fixer-Upper

When considering the purchase of a ‘doer-upper’ – a property that requires refurbishment – landlords are often faced with a Shakespearean (ish) question: “To buy, or not to buy?”

It’s an important decision where you must weigh up several important factors before choosing to invest or not.

Below are five key considerations to keep in mind:

Budget for refurbishment

Before purchasing a doer-upper, make sure you budget accurately for the refurbishment work. You must account for not only the obvious repairs but also any … Continue Reading…

Three Handy Hacks for a Healthier, Happier Home

Creating a home that nurtures you and your loved ones goes beyond décor, design and furniture layout.

A well-balanced living environment can greatly improve your physical, mental and emotional health.

Here are three tips to help you create a healthier, happier home.

Clear the clutter for mental clarity

A cluttered home often mirrors a cluttered mind. Research has shown that clutter can increase stress levels and negatively impact mental health. A study from the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that individuals with cluttered … Continue Reading…

What Online Dating Can Teach You about Selling Your Home

What do Tinder and Bumble have in common with Rightmove and Zoopla? If your answer is not a lot, then think again.

The digital dating and property worlds are not as different as you might think.

In fact, there are many similarities.

Let us explain why.

First impressions count

Users of the online dating app Tinder don’t mess around. On average, they spend less than seven seconds looking at a profile before deciding whether to swipe right.

Property sellers, too, have a few seconds to make … Continue Reading…

Avoid These Common Pitfalls as a First-Time Landlord

Despite overblown media reports of a wave of landlords selling up due to regulation changes and new government policies, property remains a viable long-term investment for many.

For first-time landlords, however, common pitfalls can turn a promising venture into a stressful experience.

Avoid these six mistakes to ensure your property investment journey gets off to a smooth start.

Underestimating costs

One of the biggest errors new landlords make is underestimating the ongoing property maintenance costs. Repairs, safety inspections and void periods (when your property … Continue Reading…

Three Helpful Apps for New Homeowners

There’s nothing quite like becoming a homeowner for the first time.

Stepping over the threshold into a place you can call your own is one of life’s memorable moments.

However, as well as coming with a host of benefits, home ownership also comes with responsibilities.

Unlike renting, where someone else handles the maintenance and most of the upkeep, these duties now fall to you as the owner.

Thankfully, many useful apps are available to make life easier and less stressful for homeowners. Here are … Continue Reading…

One Thing Parents Should Do before Helping Their Child Buy a Home

If you’re considering giving your child a helping hand to buy their first home, you’re not alone.

Figures show that 45% of twentysomethings who purchased a property last year did so with a cash boost from the Bank of Mum and Dad (Bomad).*

But just because something is common practice doesn’t mean it’s risk-free.

So, before you transfer any funds, it’s worth heeding the warning issued earlier this month by a law firm.

Is it a gift or a loan?

Coventry-based Brindley Twist Tafft … Continue Reading…

They’re Young, Ambitious and Becoming Landlords: The Changing Face of BTL

First-time buyers might be getting older, but when it comes to landlords, it’s a different story.

A new survey* has found that in the past nine years, there’s been a drop in the average age of landlords in the UK.

Back in 2014, the average age for a landlord purchasing a rental with a buy-to-let mortgage was 46.4.

By 2023, that figure was down to 42.9.

Age breakdown

Young adults are often presented as economic lightweights who fritter their cash away on avocado toast and … Continue Reading…

2024 House Price Trends Revealed

The UK housing market is experiencing a period of steady recovery, according to the latest data from leading property portal Zoopla.

The Zoopla House Price Index is a statistical tool used to measure changes in the price of residential properties.

Along with other indexes, including ones created by Rightmove, the Land Registry and several mortgage providers, it’s a helpful indicator of trends in the property market – and that’s why homeowners should take note of it.

Its latest headline stats were:

Buyer demand … Continue Reading…

Why Many Landlords Are Holding Firm – Despite the Doom-Mongers

Are landlords leaving the market in droves, as some experts claim? Or are reports of an exodus exaggerated? Let’s look beyond the hype to find out what’s going on.

You may have seen a flurry of headlines lately saying that landlords are leaving the rental sector en masse.

Is it true? Well, data released last month shows that some landlords are indeed selling up.

The number of outstanding buy-to-let (BTL) mortgages fell from 2.039 million in the first quarter of 2023 to 1.98 … Continue Reading…