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By month: March 2007
London buy-to-let market is 'buoyant'
30-Mar-07
The buy-to-let market in London is continuing to flourish despite non-stop house price rises, it has been claimed.The Association of Residential Letting Agents (Arla) has said that while yields appear to be lower on buy-to-let properties, it remains very
House price growth "more than doubles"
30-Mar-07
House price growth in February was more than twice the rate of that experienced in February 2006, it has been revealed.New figures from the Land Registry put annual house price growth at 8.5 per cent last month, a rise of 4.9 per cent on the figure from F
Mortgage lending shows surprise increase
29-Mar-07
Both mortgage lending growth and home loan approval rates exceeded expectations during February, it has been advised.The Bank of England has said that lending rose by £10.2 billion during February – the second highest level since records began in 1
Young landlords 'taking responsibilities seriously'
29-Mar-07
Young landlords entering the buy-to-let market have an unfair reputation, with a significant number retaining a strong sense of professionalism, it has been claimed.Growth in house prices over the past months and years has resulted in a rise in buy-to-let
Estate agents urged to get up to speed on Hips
28-Mar-07
Estate agents are being warned to ensure their staff are not caught out by not being prepared for the government's implementation of Home information packs (Hips). The government's campaign on Hips is set to be launched this weekend and will undoubtedly b
Home ownership falls for first time since 1950s
27-Mar-07
Home ownership in England declined for the first time since the 1950s during 2006, figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government have shown.There were 14.62 million owner-occupied homes in England in 2006, 25,000 fewer than the year bef
Price inflation hits 4-year high on London boom
27-Mar-07
House price inflation has hit its highest point in four years as demand for property in London boosted the market across the UK, research for Hometrack has claimed. The annual rate of inflation is now at 6.7 per cent, the highest rate since June 2003, fol
26-Mar-07
The cost of moving home has more than tripled in the past decade, according to new figures. Research from Propertyfinder.com found that moving home costs have gone up to £9,486 from £2,925 in 1996. The cost of removals has gone up from £376
Fixed-rate mortgages 'more popular'
26-Mar-07
Shaken by the Bank of England's recent spate of interest rate rises, British homeowners are shunning variable mortgages for fixed-rate products, according to a new report.Research from Fool.co.uk found that there has been a significant increase in the num
Downsizing cash buyers on the rise
23-Mar-07
A growing number of people are choosing to downsize to a cheaper property and not take out a mortgage, a lender has revealed.Around three million people are expected to buy a property between February and July this year, 13 per cent of whom claim they wil
Third of movers plan to make green improvements
23-Mar-07
The environment is becoming increasingly important to British homeowners, with a third claiming that they will make green home improvements when they move into their new property.Nearly a fifth say that they would be prepared to pay extra for an eco-frien
Property industry responds to Budget
22-Mar-07
Chancellor Gordon Brown delivered his 11th Budget statement yesterday, in which he announced stamp duty exemption for carbon-neutral homes and an increase in the inheritance tax (IHT) threshold from £285,000 to £350,000 by 2010.While the propert
Property market downturn 'extremely unlikely'
22-Mar-07
Despite murmurings that the property market could be due for a downturn in the near future, the Wriglesworth Consultancy has agreed that a major economic decline would be required for this to happen and insists that this is highly unlikely.At the PR firm'
Green mortgages to become 'the norm'
22-Mar-07
Mortgages with 'eco' features built into them are likely to become the most common form of home loan, the Co-operative Bank has claimed.The bank, which claims to have pioneered green mortgages, has welcomed chancellor Gordon Brown's recognition of the opp
Buyers exceed budgets to get perfect home
21-Mar-07
Nine out of ten British homebuyers go over their budget by at least £20,000 when purchasing their dream home, according to the latest research.A fifth push their finances by £50,000 over budget, with 46 per cent of Britons putting their overstre
Insurance advice for homeowners with gardens
21-Mar-07
The promise of warmer weather on the horizon is leading many homebuyers to look for properties with gardens, prompting Halifax to issue an insurance warning.The insurer is concerned that, although many people make efforts to protect their home itself, too
Britons call for stamp duty reform
20-Mar-07
Over 70 per cent of Britons feel that the government needs to do something about stamp duty, with the majority believing that the exclusion band should be fixed at regional house prices, new research has shown.Nearly a third - 32 per cent - think that the
Buy-to-let 'not just for older investors'
20-Mar-07
Buy-to-let may have been seen as an investment for experienced property owners in the past, but it seems that a growing number of young people are getting in on the act.Over a quarter of new investors who own one buy-to-let property are now aged between 2
First-time buyers seek out best deals
20-Mar-07
First-time buyers are determined not to pay more than they have to and are seeking out the best deals from housebuilders, according to Linden Homes.The residential builder, which focuses on brownfield sites in the south-east, south and west of the UK, con
Industry groups unite against Hips
19-Mar-07
Critics of the impending introduction of Home information packs (Hips) are refusing to give up their campaign against the scheme, which is due to come into force on June 1st.A number of housing industry groups have spoken out against the packs, which are
88% of London properties hit by inheritance tax
19-Mar-07
Calls for the inheritance tax threshold to be raised have been renewed following reports that nearly one in three detached properties is now affected.Research by Halifax has revealed that 29 per cent of detached house prices now exceed the 2007/08 thresho
Householders improving homes to boost value
16-Mar-07
Making home improvements with borrowed money can allow homeowners to increase the value of their home, according to one consumer credit agency.The Financial and Leasing Organisation (FLO) said that many people who take out loans for home improvements make
Database reveals new London property opportunities
16-Mar-07
The London Development Agency (LDA) has published a database of development opportunities in the London Thames Gateway Area.This database will aid developers searching for potential development locations in the vicinity of the 2012 Olympics Park.Each entr
Eight property buyers for every seller
15-Mar-07
The UK property market currently has eight buyers for every single seller, figures have revealed.The situation for buyers in London is particularly tight, with Hamptons International revealing that there has been a 38 per cent rise in registered buyer num
London prime markets fuelled by bonuses
15-Mar-07
The London property price boom is showing no signs of slowing down, industry members have claimed.London and the south-east were the strongest markets in the UK last year, particularly the prime central London markets, where prices grew by an average of 2
Ahipp: Energy assessors 'ready to meet demand'
14-Mar-07
There will be enough qualified assessors to deliver energy performance certificates (EPCs) in time for the introduction of Home information packs (Hips), providers have insisted.According to Mike Ockenden, director general of the Association of Home Infor
Cameron proposes council tax cuts for green homes
14-Mar-07
The Conservative party would consider introducing stamp duty rebates or 'green discounts' on homeowners' council tax bills if they make their homes more energy-efficient, it has emerged.David Cameron and Chancellor Gordon Brown are locked in a head-to-hea
Homeowners reveal unorthodox viewing experiences
13-Mar-07
Looking for a new home can be an exciting and interesting time, but a new survey has revealed that the experience can at times be strange and somewhat eye-opening.A survey by Smile Mortgages, part of the Co-operative Bank, learnt that aspiring homeowners
FTBs unaware of finance options
13-Mar-07
The vast majority of potential first-time buyers are becoming keener to purchase their first property, but a survey has revealed that many are still in the dark about the range of financing options available to new buyers.Research from FirstRungNow.com ha
Low seller numbers reinforce tight market
13-Mar-07
The housing market is slowing down, according to figures contained in the latest housing survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics).House prices rose at the slowest pace since May last month, with 24 per cent more chartered surveyors
Brits worry about status of homes
12-Mar-07
Two thirds of British homeowners in their 30s and 40s worry about how much their home says about their social status, research has revealed.A third of those who claimed to suffer from 'status anxiety' told researchers from Standard Life Bank that the main
Britons hope to pay off mortgage with inheritance
12-Mar-07
Many British homeowners are relying on an inheritance from their parents to help pay off their mortgage, a new survey has revealed.Research from portfolio manager Brewin Dolphin has revealed that 39 per cent of those expecting an inheritance - 7.7 million
London has "large impact" on national property figures
12-Mar-07
House prices rose by 0.9 per cent on average in England and Wales in February, but the London property market was an important contributing factor, a study has revealed.Peter Williams, chairman of Acadametrics, which conducted the research on behalf of th
One in ten Londoners plan to buy new home
9-Mar-07
Soaring property prices and the affordability constraints created by recent interest rate rises have failed to dampen the intentions of potential homebuyers, new figures have shown.Ten per cent of London's adult population - 959,000 people - are planning
More homeowners reduce costs through lodgers
9-Mar-07
A growing number of British homeowners are welcoming lodgers into their own home as a way of reducing the monthly mortgage burden.Listings website Gumtree.com has noticed a 38 per cent increase in the number of people advertising rooms to let on their sit
8-Mar-07
House prices rose by 1.8 per cent in February, bringing the value of the average home up to £192,223, according to research from Halifax.The figures maintain house price inflation at 9.9 per cent for the third month in a row, with the tightening in s
Relief for homeowners as BoE holds interest rates
8-Mar-07
The Bank of England is to hold interest rates at 5.25 per cent in March, a decision which is bound to provide relief for homeowners.Although a further rise is widely expected over the coming months, recent falls in share prices, commodity prices and infla
London homeowners 'will sell now to avoid Hips'
7-Mar-07
With the introduction of Home information packs (Hips) just around the corner, experts believe that sellers in London will put their properties on the market now to avoid the additional cost.Although buyers have been reticent in recent weeks, largely in r
Construction must be 'simple but sophisticated'
7-Mar-07
The UK's construction industry needs to continue to innovate, according to the chairman of Laing O'Rourke.Ray O'Rourke told guests at the Chartered Institute of Building's (CIOB) annual dinner that innovation required "radical thinking", althoug
Campaigners back 'brownfield first' policy
7-Mar-07
The targets contained in the government's 'brownfield first' policy need to be revised upwards in order to boost urban regeneration, the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has claimed.Although the group has welcomed a new Royal Commission report whi
UK to 'miss green housing targets'
6-Mar-07
The UK does not appear to be on course to meet its environmental housing targets, according to a new survey. Research from mortgage broker UCB Home Loans revealed that 67 per cent of mortgage brokers do not believe that the government target of making all
Buy-to-let mortgage growth to continue for a decade
6-Mar-07
The UK buy-to-let market could expand by 41 per cent over the next ten years, according to new research from Alliance & Leicester.Increases in the number of students and young people renting homes being set to boost the buy-to-let market for the fores
First time buyers look to increase in salary to get on the ladder
5-Mar-07
People planning to step on to the property ladder are hoping that salary increases will help fund their first home, according to a new survey. The Homebuyer Show reveals that many first-time buyers are hoping that above inflation salary increases this Apr
A 'fifth' hit by higher rate stamp duty
5-Mar-07
The higher rate of stamp duty now applies to one in five homes, according to new research.Halifax estimates that one fifth of homes in England and Wales are now worth in excess of the £250,000 stamp duty threshold, with some areas of the country show
Crime and bad neighbours send Britons packing
5-Mar-07
Raised levels of criminal activity and poor neighbourly relations have been the main reasons behind nearly ten million people moving home in the past five years, according to a new study.Research from Abbey concluded that a total of 5.3 million moved prop
More sellers coming onto the market
2-Mar-07
There has been a noticeable increase in the number of properties coming onto the market, independent estate agents have revealed.In contrast to the slowdown at the end of 2006, property supply in January increased by 215 per cent, with sellers clearly rec
Insulating houses 'improves health'
2-Mar-07
Improving the insulation in a house is not only good for the environment and your wallet - researchers now believe it can also be good for your health.According to a study in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), the energy-saving measure can lead to a signi
More sellers coming onto the market
2-Mar-07
There has been a noticeable increase in the number of properties coming onto the market, independent estate agents have revealed.In contrast to the slowdown at the end of 2006, property supply in January increased by 215 per cent, with sellers clearly rec
Insulating houses 'improves health'
2-Mar-07
Improving the insulation in a house is not only good for the environment and your wallet - researchers now believe it can also be good for your health.According to a study in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), the energy-saving measure can lead to a signi
Fewer first-time buyers turn to parents
1-Mar-07
The number of first-time buyers who rely on their parents for financial assistance has decreased, new figures have shown.Less than one in ten - 9.7 per cent - of potential first-time buyers expect to ask their parents for help, compared to 23 per cent six
First-time buyers advised not to buy overseas
1-Mar-07
With house prices in the UK continuing to rise, many first-time buyers have been considering purchasing an overseas property.Figures from investment group Cretan Life show that four out of ten British enquiries now come from first-time buyers, compared to
Land Registry: House prices up 0.9%
1-Mar-07
House prices increased by 0.9 per cent in January, government figures have revealed.The average home in England and Wales now costs £174,827, although there are notable regional variations.The Land Registry revealed: "As with last month, the Lon
Fewer first-time buyers turn to parents
1-Mar-07
The number of first-time buyers who rely on their parents for financial assistance has decreased, new figures have shown.Less than one in ten - 9.7 per cent - of potential first-time buyers expect to ask their parents for help, compared to 23 per cent six
First-time buyers advised not to buy overseas
1-Mar-07
With house prices in the UK continuing to rise, many first-time buyers have been considering purchasing an overseas property.Figures from investment group Cretan Life show that four out of ten British enquiries now come from first-time buyers, compared to
Land Registry: House prices up 0.9%
1-Mar-07
House prices increased by 0.9 per cent in January, government figures have revealed.The average home in England and Wales now costs £174,827, although there are notable regional variations.The Land Registry revealed: "As with last month, the Lon
