House sales have plummeted almost 40 per cent since the peak of the boom five years ago,1 while UK property prices dropped 0.6 per cent in July.2 But according to a leading South London estate agent, Wooster & Stock, there are small steps vendors can take to increase the chance of a quick, smooth and profitable sale.
Avoid the Downturn: Top Tips for Selling Your House
September 6th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Estate Agents, Press Releases, Top Tips 1 Comment »
Do you really have to move home on a Friday?
August 31st, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Property Conveyancing, Property Market Comments Off on Do you really have to move home on a Friday?
If you are moving home, you will probably want to complete your purchase or sale on a Friday. It is a perfectly reasonable desire, as it allows you the weekend to move in, so you have to take less time off work. This will generally fit in with what everyone else in the chain wants and probably 80% – 90% of conveyancing sale and purchase completions do take place on a Friday.
Service Charge Payments – Bankruptcy of Managing Agent
August 29th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Landlords, Legal Comments Off on Service Charge Payments – Bankruptcy of Managing Agent
When purchasing a flat in a block, particularly where there are communal areas such as stairwells and landings, there will usually be a liability to pay service charges (also called maintenance charges). This is an annual payment (though it is often paid in quarterly or monthly instalments) and it is a contribution toward the upkeep of the communal parts of the building and any shared services such as lifts or a concierge. It is paid to the landlord or management company, often via a managing agent.
Buying a House in a School Catchment Area
August 28th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Guest Articles, Home Improvements, Property Market Comments Off on Buying a House in a School Catchment Area
We all want the best for our children and their choice of schooling continues to be one of the biggest decisions that parents face – to the extent that families are prepared to buy a new home just to get within a particular school catchment area. In some respects the options available have always been more or less the same, do you send your child to the nearest comprehensive school or to the rather more expensive option of a private school?
Considering a Move to Kent?
August 23rd, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Guest Articles, Property Developers 2 Comments »
As Home Counties go, Kent is definitely one of the prettier ones and is often referred to as the Garden of England – with good reason. The coastline is absolutely stunning and it’s the ideal place to live if you and your family are fans of long walks in the countryside, cycling or horse riding. Wherever you live in the county, you’re never too far from a green field or some woodland where you can go tramping about at the weekend to get some fresh air and exercise.
Learn more about Shared Ownership Schemes
August 18th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Mortgages, Property Developers, Property Market 1 Comment »
The government’s shared ownership scheme is in place for those who want to buy a property of their own, but just can’t afford to. In these schemes, people are offered the chance to buy a share of their home, paying rent on the share that is leftover.
What’s the Olympic legacy for London’s property market?
August 16th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Guest Articles, Property Market 4 Comments »
Has the rental market superseded the property ladder?
The official London2012 website states that ‘the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been the catalyst for the physical transformation of East London’ raising the profile of the area and bringing it to the attention of the world.
The Future of Rental and Property Markets
August 15th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Landlords, Property Market 2 Comments »
It has recently been reported that buy-to-let investors are set to make a rather handsome return on their investments during the course of the next 13 years. This has come as a result of increasing rental prices and the fact that house prices are beginning to recover; this has enabled a further boost to the property market.
Building a new home? The do’s and don’ts.
August 15th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Property Developers, Property Market 3 Comments »
This has become an increasingly popular way of achieving your dream home; gone are the days of stripping wallpaper and painting walls, people are just building new ones! And why not? Building a new home is, in a lot of cases, better for the environment, cheaper and will save you more money in the long run.
First-Time Buyers guide to HomeBuy Schemes
August 6th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Financial Products, Mortgages, Property Market Comments Off on First-Time Buyers guide to HomeBuy Schemes
Looking to buy your first home can be one of the most exciting but most daunting experiences so far in your life. All this talk of deposits, mortgages and insurance can leave you feeling unsure, concerned and a bit like a fish out of water. That’s why it is vital that you understand each and every part of the house buying procedure so you don’t find yourself in financial difficulty further down the line.
Rising Rents for Tenants for Third Consecutive Month
July 30th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Landlords, Property Market 2 Comments »
According to Buy-to-Let Index figures released by LSL Property Services plc, tenants have seen a rise in rent for the third month in a row. In June, rent averages rose to £718 per month in England and Wales, up 0.9% on May’s figures. With the figure almost reaching that record high of a £720 monthly rate that was reached in October 2011, concerns are being raised within the rental market.