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By month: June 2007
29-Jun-07
The number of Britons who own their own home has doubled in the past 50 years, new research has revealed.A study from Halifax found that 70 per cent of UK adults own their own homes, compared to 38 per cent in 1957.However, mortgage rates have largely rem
More homeowners move in summer
29-Jun-07
The summer months see more homeowners moving than any other time of the year, a new study has revealed.Research from Nationwide has found that 210,000 mortgage holders moved home last summer, compared to just 152,000 between January and March.Those moving
London prices still fuelling national price growth
29-Jun-07
House prices in London are continuing to boost price growth across the UK as a whole, it has been revealed, with the latest figures based on completed transactions showing a 0.7 per cent growth rate for May.The Land Registry data comes after Nationwide re
28-Jun-07
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has banned two estate agents from the profession following information provided by the Metropolitan Police, it has been advised.Residentiallandlord.co.uk has reported that Azad Azam and Sheena Khan have been banned by the
House price growth 'highest for two years'
28-Jun-07
Annual house price inflation now stands at its highest level since January 2005 following another surge in property market performance, new research has revealed.The latest Nationwide house price index has reported a 0.6 per cent jump in monthly price gro
Property auctions 'attracting more private buyers'
27-Jun-07
Private homebuyers are increasingly turning to property auctions in order to purchase their home, it has been advised, as the internet makes it easier for homeowners to conduct deals on their own terms.Private property sales in London have gained in promi
Parents 'fuelling buy to let boom'
26-Jun-07
Sharp increases in the level of property investment being experienced in the UK are being driven in part by parents eager to secure homes for their children, it has been advised.Research from Birmingham Midshires found that 31 per cent of those aged 55 an
Madonna purchases sixth London property
26-Jun-07
Madonna has cemented her position as one of London's leading high-profile property investors by purchasing her sixth development in the capital, it has been revealed.The singer has purchased a ten-bedroom townhouse in Marylebone, which was adjoining one o
Property investments 'have outstripped stock market'
26-Jun-07
Property market investors have experienced greater returns over the past ten years than those who opted for the stock market, it has been claimed, with poor share performance contrasting sharply with strong returns on property.In an article to mark ten ye
London tenancy demand 'at record levels'
25-Jun-07
Landlords with investment properties in London are experiencing some of the highest levels of demand yet seen, according to the most recent survey from the Association of Residential Lettings Agents (Arla).The study found that demand for properties in Pri
Russian investors 'flooding into London'
22-Jun-07
Wealthy Russians looking to invest in property around the world are heading for London in their droves, it has been revealed.Research from Knight Frank has found that 40 per cent of top end homes worth several million pounds are now being bought by Russia
Property sales 'at near-20 year high'
22-Jun-07
New figures have revealed that the number of properties sold across Britain rose to the highest level since 1988, it has been revealed.HM Revenue and Customs statistics have found that 1,859,000 properties were put up for sale in 2006 to 2007, recalling t
More Britons looking for property online
21-Jun-07
A new study has found that the next generation of home movers are far more likely to search for their new property online.Research from Halifax Estate Agency has revealed that almost a third of homeowners intend to begin their search for their next home o
Buy-to-let 'still driven by demand'
21-Jun-07
The buy-to-let market remains strong as investors continue to turn to the housing market as a means of making money, it has been advised.Despite recent interest rate rises and the prospect of further hikes before the end of the year, lender Bradford &
20-Jun-07
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has released figures that show mortgage lending is slowing.The total amount is still rising and hitting record levels, however, as £30.6 billion was lent in the month of May, a slight five per cent rise compared
Gardens bring up property value
20-Jun-07
A new garden might be just what your property needs, as new research shows that this feature much loved by British buyers puts a considerable premium on a home.The survey by Haart estate agents estimated that large, landscaped gardens add an average value
House repairs most expensive unexpected bill
19-Jun-07
Many property owners are failing to budget to take account of unexpected real estate repair bills, according to a new survey. Research from Abbey concluded that Brits spent a total of £48.7 billion over the past year on unanticipated bills – amount
CBI predicts interest rate rise
19-Jun-07
The CBI is forecasting that the rate of interest is set to rise over the coming months in order to ensure inflation remains under control. According to the CBI's latest quarterly forecast, interest rates could reach 5.75 per cent this autumn as the Bank o
London 'second most expensive city in the world'
18-Jun-07
London is now the second most expensive city in the world behind Moscow, a new study has revealed.The Mercer Cost of Living Survey found that the high cost of living in the capital had been fuelled to an extent by soaring property prices, with other costs
Alternative selling methods 'save time and money'
15-Jun-07
Selling a home using DIY methods such as internet selling or via word of mouth can be as much as a month faster than using an estate agent new research has found.DIY methods are growing in popularity, a study from Alliance & Leicester has found, with
Landlords 'remain confident' on investment prospects
15-Jun-07
More than half of all UK landlords are looking to increase their property portfolio in 2007, according to a new survey, with confidence in the property market remaining high.The Bradford & Bingley study found that using property as an investment was a
Fixed-rate deals continue to grow in popularity
14-Jun-07
Fixed-rate mortgages are continuing to become more popular as first time buyers and other homeowners look to limit potential effects of future rate rises, it has been advised.Interest rates have risen by an entire percentage point since last August, and a
Older Britons turning to property investments
14-Jun-07
The buy-to-let market is becoming increasingly attractive to the UK's older generations, it has been revealed, with many now more favourably inclined to view property as an investment.Research from Saga Home Insurance suggests that 24 per cent more people
13-Jun-07
The average cost of moving home in the UK costs £16,000, with further expenses incurred via the thousands spent in renovating properties within the first 12 months of moving in, a new report has revealed.The study from Abbey Mortgages found that the
Neighbouring properties impacting on potential homeowners
13-Jun-07
The appearance of neighbouring homes is a major factor in homebuyers' decision as to whether or not they purchase a property, it has been revealed.A study from Legal & General Insurance has found that 89 per cent of respondents said they would reconsi
Government reveals Hips implementation plans
12-Jun-07
Secretary of state for communities and local government Ruth Kelly has outlined the new plans for the implementation of Home information packs (Hips) following their initial postponement last month.Hips will now be introduced for properties with at least
London house prices continue to rise
12-Jun-07
New research has once again confirmed that London house prices are pushing the market forward, with annual price inflation in the city standing at 14 per cent for April.The figures from the Department of Communities and Local Government found that overall
Rental returns increasing in London
11-Jun-07
Over two thirds of all lettings agents in London have reported rising rent levels in the three months up to May, new research has revealed.The Association of Residential Lettings Agents' (Arla) quarterly study has found that rents rose for the fourth quar
Government scheme 'helping London homeowners'
11-Jun-07
The Open Market Homebuy Scheme (OMHB) launched by the government in October has caught on in London and the surrounding areas, it has been revealed, with a 71 per cent take-up rate.The Yorkshire Building Society has said that the key worker scheme is also
Hips inspectors to meet government minister
8-Jun-07
Hips inspectors will meet communities and local government secretary Ruth Kelly on Monday amid fears that the now-jobless group will sue for lost income.The government's decision to delay Hips from June until August has resulted in thousands of home and e
'Always a good time to look for investments' says property expert
8-Jun-07
The buy-to-let property market in the UK remains a relatively small sector and consequently there are many investment opportunities waiting to be had, it has been suggested.Association of Residential Lettings Agents (Arla) spokesman Malcolm Harrison has s
London one bedroom flat priced at £3m
7-Jun-07
A one bedroom flat in Belgravia, London has gone onto the market for £3 million, it has been revealed. The most expensive one bedroom flat to have ever gone on sale in the capital shows that London is still showing strong potential for investors desp
Interest rates remain unchanged as house price increases slow
7-Jun-07
The Bank of England has held interest rates at 5.5 per cent on the day that the Halifax House Price Index showed that price growth was just 0.3 per cent in May.The Bank's move was widely expected, though many analysts are now predicting that rates will ri
Investors continue to move into London
7-Jun-07
Commercial and residential investors are continuing to move into the London property market due to the prospect of high rents and strong demand, recent developments indicate.Investor syndicate Oregan Financial has this week purchased a £70 million pr
London price growth 'levels off' in May
6-Jun-07
House price growth in London levelled off in May but is expected to accelerate again in the long term, it has been revealed.A study from haart found that the average price rose by just 0.1 per cent last month, up from £264,636 to £264,801, with
Rate rises 'not affecting house price confidence'
6-Jun-07
The Bank of England's recent interest rate hikes may have affected consumer spending but have yet to impact on optimism over house prices, the Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index has revealed.The monthly study found that expectations of house price infla
Potential homeowners 'find mortgage terms confusing'
6-Jun-07
Many buyers looking to purchase homes of their own for the first time are unable to correctly distinguish between basic property terminology, according to new research.More than two in five respondents to a study by AA Legal Services could not tell the di
Estate agents 'seen as wide boys'
6-Jun-07
Two thirds of recent sellers view estate agents as wide boys, with complaints over attitude, ability and ethics still widespread, according to a new survey.The study from Wow estate agents found that over £3.5 billion is spent every year on estate ag
Hips delay not leading to supply shortfall
5-Jun-07
The delay in the implementation of Home information packs (Hips) has not caused supply levels to ease off – rather it has had the opposite effect, according to a London estate agent.Barnard Marcus has reported a 69 per cent increase in the number of pro
New build homes 'can provide green housing solutions'
5-Jun-07
New build homes can be used to address issues of housing shortage as well as providing a sustainable way to develop local communities, it has been suggested.The Town and County Planning Association (TCPA), which campaigns for more sustainable developments
Deposits still focal point of renting disputes
4-Jun-07
Deposits are still the most common source of a dispute between a landlord and their tenants, with the introduction of a new Tenant Deposit scheme remaining widely unknown, it has been advised.Research from Alliance & Leicester Mortgages has revealed t
Householders 'making wrong home improvements'
4-Jun-07
Householders looking to add value to their property via home improvements should carry out loft conversions and room extensions ahead of more common DIY projects, a new study has found.A survey from GE Money Home Lending has found that converting a loft o
Mortgage lenders "meeting risks of customers"
1-Jun-07
Mortgage lenders are increasingly choosing to tailor their products to individual customers struggling to afford a mortgage and a property in the current financial climate, it has been suggested.The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has said that the vari
'Government action is needed' to help first time buyers
1-Jun-07
The government urgently needs to take action to help first time buyers looking for a house for sale before they are priced out of the market completely, the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has advised.The association has warned that a combina
£1m London property sales 'up 50%'
1-Jun-07
Sales of property worth £1 million or more have increased by almost 50 per cent over the past year, with sales seven-figure London properties also increasing by the same amount, it has been revealed.Statistics from the Land Registry have shown that 2
