Property news & advice

376 articles

DIY tips: The Best Way to Clean a Hardwood Floor

A high-quality hardwood floor can give you and your family many years of enjoyment. However, in order to preserve its allure and showroom sparkle, a comprehensive schedule of cleaning and maintenance is required. While h…
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Current trends in the London property market

With a well-known national newspaper reporting on possibly the world’s smallest but most expensive house in North London this week - where people visiting the house walk through the front door only to find themselves d…
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Guide To Renovations & Extensions

According to uktv.co.uk , around 25% of all home renovation projects end up going over budget. As a homeowner, you are obviously keen to add as much value as possible to your property when selling it but there are a numb…
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Choosing a flat for rental investment

Investment in Buy to Let properties has become a popular strategy in the UK for those developing a portfolio either for income or as a retirement investment.  Compared with other investments property is seen as relative…
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Tips for finding the best mortgage

Getting on the property ladder is not easy these days, especially for younger people and first-time buyers . There’s plenty to think about when looking for the right house, let alone finding the right mortgage with so …
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The top five UK retirement hotspots

After a long hard life of working and bringing up kids, all most of us want from our retirement is a little bit of the good life. Some nice views, friendly neighbours and plenty of opportunities for day trips and activit…
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Price trends for commercial property in 2013

The commercial property sector is showing signs of recovery in the UK, with the market witnessing its sixth consecutive increase in the month of October. According to Investment Property Databank Ltd, the average value o…
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Bringing an Empty Home Back to Life

With more 279,000 houses standing empty for over six months in the UK* and numerous district and county level strategy plans in place to handle the problem of vacant properties across the county, what would you do if you…
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Scotland Sees The Start of Help to Buy

A major initiative is underway to help first time buyers get their foot on the property ladder in Scotland. The Scottish Government began a three year investment program on September 30th 2013 with an allocation of £220…
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What to look for in a rental property

Moving into your own place is an exciting time for most of us. Then again, lots of us have heard (or experienced) the horror stories when it comes to renting - mouldy rooms, elusive landlords and broken furniture amongst…
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Choosing the right holiday home

If you're thinking about buying a holiday property, experience of buying your primary residence will help in a way, but there's a lot more to think about when buying a second home - especially if you plan on renting it o…
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Spotlight on Whitefield

From time to time we focus on a place – often as a result of a question or correspondence from a reader of our property blog – and today we’re visiting (virtually, of course) Whitefield in Bury, Greater Manchester.…
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7 Thrifty Ways to Protect Your Home

When it comes to home security you could end up spending a fortune on the latest high tech equipment or you could follow these seven simple tips and achieve much the same results at a fraction of the price. While it woul…
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Top tips for sprucing up your garden

Now it seems that spring has finally sprung in the UK, many of us are turning our attention to the possibility that it might be possible to get the barbeque out in the next few weeks. But this winter’s heavy snows, fro…
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The Rising Cost of Energy Bills

According to a recent statement made by Ian McCaig, chief exec of First Utility, the cost of energy bills could potentially overtake mortgage payments within the next five years. This news may sound dire, but it is anyth…
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Have we become a nation of renters?

More and more it seems people are renting accommodation instead of buying. For first time buyers the reason is simple, the initial outlay. The average property in the UK is valued at around £240,000, so with a 95% mortg…
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How to save up for a deposit for a house

In today's budget the Chancellor announced more support for people wishing to buy their own homes, but will it make things easier for you and how can you go about saving up a deposit of your own? The additional support f…
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The difference furniture can make

In a competitive rental market, every landlord will want to do the best they can to ensure an attractive rental rate. A key issue to consider is whether it’s worth furnishing a property – or not. It’s no small deci…
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Coffee tables are where you’ll find great books

Come winter, we go into hibernation. The majority of our days are spent indoors where we can huddle around a warm heater or blazing fireplace. We find ourselves lounging around on the couch much more often, slippers on a…
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Moving to a safe neighbourhood?

The winter months are traditionally a quiet time of year for house moves, but if you are planning to relocate in 2013 now’s the time to start your research. There are so many elements that factor into making a place a …
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Marks & Spencer launches Eco-store

The 2 Degrees Network today reported on Marks & Spencers' new 'eco-store' at Cheshire Oaks on the edge of Liverpool.  The new store is the biggest they have ever built and, according to M&S, one of the world's l…
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The Housing Bubble explained

This weekend's Independent on Sunday contained one of the clearest explanations of the 2000 - 2008 Housing bubble that I have read.  Two simple graphs: one showing the spike in 'House price to average earnings ratio' be…
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The Extras That Home Buyers Look For

When we’re looking to buy a property there are always going to be obvious factors that are more important than others. The number of bedrooms, the size of all rooms and the style and look of a house should be at the fo…
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Could Downsizing Push the Housing Market Forward?

A recent survey has revealed that downsizing has become the prime reason for moving house within the UK with one if five people moving to a smaller home sooner than they expected. The findings come from Lloyds TSB who cl…
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Rogue Landlord Complaints Underestimated?

A survey commissioned by the Housing Charity Shelter has found that complaints over rogue landlords have increased by 27% over the course of the last three years. The stories behind those figures are quite alarming but t…
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The Lowest Burglary Rates in the UK

If you’re thinking about moving to a city in the UK, you may be interested in finding out which areas have the lowest rates of crime. According to a survey conducted last year, the safest place to live in the UK is Eas…
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New Buy Scheme Slow To Take Off

The Government’s New Buy Scheme was launched in March amidst a great fanfare and hopes that the plans would give the property market a much needed boost. Six months on however, the first set of purchase figures have in…
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Private Sales Set To Be Made Easier

In recent months there has been a drive by some property vendors to move away from the traditional estate agents and to look to sell their property by other means. Previously, many private websites had to be treated as E…
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Government Answers Call for New Build Measures

Last week, the Home Builders Federation (HBF) announced a welcome to new housing minister Mark Prisk while urging the MP for Hertford and Stortford to act quickly to protect the interests of domestic property building fi…
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Shop Around to Beat the Base Rate Rise

There was more bad news for homeowners and potential property purchasers alike when Santander announced an increase to its Standard Variable Rate (SVR) last week. That increase was, in percentage terms, quite significant…
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Are House Prices Finally Being Slashed?

Throughout 2012, we’ve seen property prices fluctuate but the overall trend seems to be one of minor falls, depending on which set of figures you read. One point that many industry experts keep raising is the reluctanc…
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FTB Borrowing Recovering After 'See-Saw' Year

Figures relating to mortgage lending and the property market as a whole have been affected by a number of unusual factors this year. Firstly, there was a late rush to beat the stamp duty ‘holiday’ on properties price…
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Mortgage Price War takes an unexpected turn

Fixed rate mortgages had dominated market news in recent weeks as HSBC, Nationwide and Santander had slashed their rates and offered products under 3% for the very first time. In an unexpected twist however, one of those…
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Students Hit Hardest By Rent Increases

Recent reports have claimed that the cost of renting has increased across the board but there may be a nasty shock in store for those who have just got their A level results. While the private rental sector has shown inc…
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Concern Over Rise in Equity Release

Everyone has heard about the bank of Mum and Dad but there are fears that first time home buyers are skipping a generation and looking to their Grandparents for help with funding their purchase. These concerns have arise…
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What Do You Need to Get on the Property Ladder?

A recent survey carried out by RightMove on behalf of the Guardian has underlined just what First Time Buyers (FTB’s) currently need in order to take that vital first step onto the property ladder. Essentially, it’s …
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Who Takes the Blame for the Slow Mortgage Market

The property market as a whole was expected to slow down considerably this summer as the UK headed into a season of celebrations. With the Queen’s Jubilee followed quickly by the Olympics, it was predicted that sales a…
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UK Rank Third in Europe for Costly Housing

A recent survey has shown that families in Great Britain spend, on average, 40% of their annual income on housing costs and this means that those outgoings are the third highest in the whole of Europe. In fact, only Denm…
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Affordable Homes Scheme Set to Fall Short

The Governments Affordable Homes campaign, launched in 2011, was designed to get Britain’s home builders moving to provide the supply to meet a considerable demand. However, reports released by the National Audit Offic…
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Property Prices Back Down With a Bump

As the first week of July comes to an end, the usual sets of conflicting property price figures for the previous month are coming in. Among the falls currently being reported, the Nationwide claim that figures across the…
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The Vital Role of Parents in Property Buying

In recent weeks we’ve looked at many surveys in different parts of the property sector and one of the common themes is the difficulty young people face in buying a property. Organisations such as Shelter have called on…
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Scale of Rental Arrears Revealed

Recent reports have shown just how much of the UK are relying on renting their homes while many of those are facing the prospect of having such an arrangement on a permanent basis. As a financial comparative, it’s wide…
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How to Add Real Value to Your Home

In recent weeks we’ve looked at many easy and inexpensive ways in which you can encourage buyers for your home and increase its value. Tidying your garden, painting your front door and de-cluttering are all good ideas …
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Property Asking Prices On the Rise

A survey from property website Rightmove has shown that asking prices for homes across the UK rose for the third month in a row as buyers sought to choose from a fairly restricted availability. Additionally, Rightmove cl…
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Rental Trap or New Way of Life?

In previous weeks, studies and surveys have told us that many families are currently caught up in a rental trap. With the lack of available mortgages and the struggles for first time buyers to raise a deposit for a new p…
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3% Property Price Fall Predicted For 2012

As we’ve seen with previous months, conflicting sets of figures with regards to the property market are often released by various bodies but some of the more trusted statistics originate from the Land Registry. Overall…
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A Case of First Time Buyer Beware?

An economist from one of the country’s biggest mortgage lenders has spoken this week about the need for first time buyers (FTB’s) to think carefully about the location of their intended purchase. In particular, it ha…
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UK Mortgage Lenders Not Immune to Eurozone Crisis

UK financial analysts are warning that the crisis hitting many parts of Europe at present may filter through to Britain to the extent that mortgages may become even scarcer to track down than they are at the moment. Fina…
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Could mortgage market ‘seize up altogether’?

Advice coming from a proportion of mortgage experts suggests that potential buyers should be looking to arrange a mortgage before the market seizes up. The claims come in the wake of moves by Santander to drastically red…
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Could Your Garden Help Your House Sale?

In recent weeks we’ve looked at the many ways in which homeowners have undertaken work around their property with a view to achieving a higher sale price and hopefully, a quicker transaction when the time finally comes…
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Exchange of Views on the Housing Market

It’s that time of the month again where sets of figures and conflicting views are released in regards to the housing market and the Halifax have greeted their monthly statistics with the claim that prices are ‘fluctu…
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A Slow Down in Mortgage Rate Rises?

The theme for much of the latter half of April and the beginning of May was one of continued mortgage rate rises and the threat of an increased number of households faced with a significant increase in monthly payments. …
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Latest Which? Survey Reveals Mortgage Concern

In recent weeks there have been many reports of lenders increasing their mortgage rates and there has been plenty of additional discussion about the impact that this may have. Results of a survey from Which? have just be…
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DIY Tasks to Tackle This Bank Holiday Weekend

The Bank Holiday weekend is almost upon us and a survey carried out by HSBC suggests that over 50% of us will be staying at home to carry out some of those DIY jobs that we’ve been putting off since the beginning of th…
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Typical Spring Bounce But Mortgage Approvals Down

A significant rise in the number of homes sold in the UK was recorded by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in March and they claim that this is largely down to a seasonal ‘spring bounce’ that is evident in the housing ma…
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Lenders Succumb to Mortage Rate Rise

Some of the UK’s biggest lenders have announced fixed rate mortgage rate rises this week as they finally succumb to the pressures that funding costs provide. At least ten lenders will have announced their increases by …
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Interest in New Homes Soars

New homes have been firmly in the news of late with government schemes announced that attempt to encourage construction companies and local authorities to build the houses that will meet demand. Now, as we enter the seco…
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Thousands Trapped By Generation Rent

In recent weeks and months, much of the focus in the property market has been on rental properties and the constant argument between buying and renting. Recent surveys have indicated that in pure financial terms, renting…
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Rental Demand Continues to Outstrip Supply

Renting is back in the spotlight this week with the news that more and more homes are being put on the private rental market by owners who simply can’t sell their properties. However, it seems that despite this increas…
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Estate Agents Can Survive the Downturn

The housing market is unsettled at best and among the victims of the current property climate are Estate Agents. In March, the Times newspaper revealed that 80 agents had closed their doors in February of this year due t…
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Modest Fall in March Property Prices

The Nationwide have claimed that house prices in March have fallen by just 1% from the figures declared in February and the drop is in keeping with predictions that suggest sideways or slight downwards movement for the r…
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House Market Showing Bouyancy

While the underlying trend for the housing market is one of uncertainty, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) have suggested this week that there are some positive signs as property experts search for the merest hint of…
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Lettings Rise, But Agents Are in the Spotlight

As the uncertainty over the housing market looks set to grind on for much of 2012, the lettings industry as a whole has attracted some unwanted media attention this week with news of a significant rise in the number of c…
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Mortgage Lending Increases But Rates Do Too!

Figures released by the Buildings Societies Association (BSA) show a rise in gross mortgage lending of 32% in January and the report goes on to call this rise ‘significant’. However, any optimism felt as a result of …
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A Third of Rented Properties are Hazardous

Almost a third of all properties in the private rented sector have major safety hazards according to data released in a Government survey of housing stock in the UK. The annual English Housing Survey reveals that 28.2% o…
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Get Britain Building Fund Gets Positive Response

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has welcomed what he referred to as an overwhelming response to the government’s Get Britain Building Campaign amidst news that home building is on the increase and the new build market ha…
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Mortgage Lending Up Despite News of a Sales Slump

Figures released this week by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) show an increase in mortgage lending for January compared with the same month in 2011. However, the expected seasonal fall led to a dip in lending compa…
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Halifax Declares Rise in January House Prices

Earlier this month, the Nationwide revealed figures that claimed a small drop in house prices for January 2012 in comparison with the previous month. Overall, the society suggested that average prices had fallen by 0.9% …
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Buy to Let Mortgage Products Soar

Figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) this week reveal a huge spike in the number of Buy to Let Mortgages taken out in 2011 and although they have yet to reach the boom period of 2007, it’s clear th…
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First Time Buyers Held Back By Lack of Choice

Figures revealed earlier this month show that there has been a significant increase in mortgage products available to first time buyers in recent months. Those with a small deposit of 10% or even 5% can now take advantag…
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January Reveals Slight Fall in Property Prices

After the predictions for 2012’s property market begin to disappear, they are replaced by tangible figures and the Nationwide have indicated a minor drop in housing prices for January, in comparison with the previous m…
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To Rent or To Buy? The Debate Rages On!

It’s a question that will probably never be met with a definitive answer as many would be homeowners face up to the question of whether buying or renting is their best option. Naturally, as individuals, those in this p…
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Seesaw Mortgage Rates Predicted for 2012

So far, the first month of the New Year has seen many property experts predicting a sustained and consistent rise in mortgage rates with the general feeling being that they had reached the lowest point that they could po…
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Spotlight Shines on 2012 Rental Costs

Property lettings are put under the microscope this week as a survey released by one prominent agent suggests that the costs of renting your home may be dropping. Meanwhile, the survey goes on to suggest that Christmas s…
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First Positive Signs for 2012 Property

Now that the wave of predictions for the 2012 property market has died down, the first batch of actual figures are being released with some positive signs for the year ahead. Reports released this week indicate that the …
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New Figures Show Mortgage Lending Growth

Figures released this week show that mortgage lending grew in November 2011 and while the news tends to contradict some of the gloomy forecasts for the 2012 property market, it is being met with considerable and predicta…
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Vendors with Great Expectations

Figures released by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors indicate that there has been a further rise in the number of new properties released onto the market. December statistics show that new instructions rose f…
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Repossessions on the Rise

The national media continue to provide us with their predictions for 2012 and while there are mixed feelings about many areas of the property market, a general consensus hints at a gloomy twelve months for house reposses…
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Shapps Targets Housing Fraud

Housing minister Grant Shapps has been in the news this week with regard to a number of issues affecting the housing market and he has vowed to ‘build the homes that the country needs’ during his tenure. Shapps also …
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Nationwide Predicts Stagnation for 2012

House price figures for 2011 are currently being announced throughout the media and the Nationwide Building Society is one of the first to comment on the statistics and to offer their predictions for 2012. Over the cours…
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Snap Up a 2012 Property Bargain!

Any developments in the property sector will bring mixed news depending on your position in the market but some experts are predicting an influx of price reductions as vendors begin to lose patience. The prospect of list…
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Property Predictions for 2012

Property predictions for 2012 are being highlighted profusely in this week’s media but the main question for existing and prospective property owners alike is, ‘what will happen to house prices next year?’ In the n…
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What Does 2012 Have in Store for Property?

As another tough year for the housing market draws to a close, many experts are taking time to predict trends for the coming twelve months. While some will paint a predictably gloomy picture, others have provided a more …
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Moving to the City Putting Village Life At Risk

Recent property news has highlighted regional anomalies in the current housing market. Figures released last week indicate that while demand for new properties grew in London by around 0.4%, elsewhere in the country ther…
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Renting or Buying? The Debate Goes On...

It’s a seemingly never ending question and one which has been in the news once again this week as the property website Zoopla claim that there has been a recent, significant move back towards a buying preference. Zoopl…
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Giftwrap Your Home for That December Sale

Tis the season to be jolly, unless you are an estate agent or vendor maybe!  Traditionally, the festive period always means a drop in house sales and viewings. However, it doesn’t have to be a completely dry month.  …
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Surveyors Seeking Some Economic Cheer

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, (RICS) has issued a bleak forecast for the immediate future of the property market and claims that there will be no recovery in sight while the current economic uncertainty rem…
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A Good Time To Remortgage?

Is Remortgaging for You? It’s true that interest rates are at their lowest levels in years and this has led to many homeowners remortgaging in a bid to save on their monthly mortgage payments.  The good news is that m…
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Mortgages Being Repaid at Record Rates

It seems that Britain is becoming a nation of nervous homeowners if the latest figures are anything to go by.  A record £9bn was paid down between April and June as homeowners struggled to restore ailing finances. Thes…
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Stamp Duty Blow to First-Time Buyers

The Chancellor has been accused of failing to recognise the severity of the first-time buyer crisis, by not extending stamp duty relief beyond March 2012. Whilst the Government is trying to breathe new life into the aili…
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Record Number Reducing Property Asking Price

Those with a property on the market right now might find they have to bite the bullet and reduce the asking price to make a sale.  Before you start knocking thousands off of the price of your home, work out how much you…
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Landlords Warned of Winter Fire Risks

As the winter fast approaches more of us are switching on our heating and turning on the fire.  As a result, this time of year is often when the most fires occur in the UK.  As a result, Landlords are being advised to …
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Thousands of First-Time Buyers Trapped

If you bought your first property at the peak of the market you might be feeling a little trapped by the unstable situation right now.  Falling house prices have trapped upwards of 350,000 first-time buyers and that fig…
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More Mortgage Products Available Via Brokers

Precise Mortgages released a report this month that revealed the number of mortgages available to domestic customers rose to 2,784 in October.  That’s a 10% increase on August. A close study of the current mortgage ma…
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The Benefits of Choosing New-Build

Decreasing property prices and incentive driven schemes have left many feeling that new-build might be the answer when it comes to moving home.  More developers are now investing money in new-build properties and are gi…
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6 Credit Myths Busted

When it comes to credit, obtaining credit, bad credit and so on there are many misconceptions and myths.  We set out to bust some of these myths and give you some useful information that could help you to obtain and man…
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4 in 10 Don't Have Mortgage Protection

It’s an astounding fact, but almost 7 million mortgages in Britain are not protected by life insurance.  This equates to an unprotected value of about £245 billion according to research conducted by Sainsbury’s Fin…
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How to Avoid Mortgage Arrears

If you feel you are about to fall out of the black and into the red, read our guide on how to avoid mortgage arrears. It can be quite tempting to ignore problems with finances and push them to the back of your mind, but …
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Golden Rules of Property Investment

People have been investing in buy-to-let property for years, nothing new there.  For centuries tenants have been renting from landlords, but it’s only been recently that the average ‘man on the street’ has had unp…
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Number of New Mortgage Products Soar

If you are looking for a new property , whether it’s your first or you are remortgaging, there are now more mortgage products being released onto the market than ever before.  In a drive to encourage more people to bu…
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The Ghost Streets of London Town

Halloween is the time for tales of ghosts, ghouls and things that go bump in the night.  Everybody loves a terrifying yarn about a haunted house and ghastly goings-on, but have you heard the one about the ghost streets …
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Green Deal green-lighted

The long-anticipated Green Deal has been green-lighted with the passing this week of The Energy Act into law. The enactment sets in stone the legal framework for the Green Deal, which will be launched in Autumn 2012. Th…
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Spotlight on Below Market Value (BMV) Property

Put simply, Below Market Value or BMV properties as those that are available to purchase below their market value.  Normally this is because the previous owners experienced financial difficulty or needed to dispose of t…
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UK Rental Market Nearing Capacity

According to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA), the private property rental sector in the UK is close to capacity. The number of new tenancies being released onto the rental market has been at record l…
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Top 10 Mortgage Tips for First Time Buyers

Finding your first house is an exciting time.  Opening the front door to your new home will be one of the happiest and most memorable times of your life, but there are lots of hurdles you need to jump before you reach t…
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Government on Track to Build 100,000 New Homes

If you are particularly after purchasing a new home then good news is on the horizon.  The Government is currently on track to build 100,000 new homes in the UK over the next 4 years, according to Housing Minister Grant…
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Know Your Locks or Invalidate Your Insurance

If you’re confused about your household locks then it could invalidate your insurance if you give your insurer the wrong information.  It’s important when moving into a new home or renewing your insurance that you g…
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Spotlight on The Party Wall Act 1996

If you are thinking about doing some major renovations in your home that require a sledgehammer and a party wall, then it might be wise to know a little bit about the Party Wall Act and the legislation that determines wh…
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Mortgage Approvals Continue to Rise

The number of successful mortgage applications peaked at its highest level for 15 months in the month of August according to figures released by the British Bankers’ Association. In August, the number of mortgages appr…
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Can I Rent Out My House in Secret?

If you are thinking about renting out your house then you could face an extra 1.5% of interest being added onto your mortgage rate and high administration charges.  That might make you wonder if you can get away with re…
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Invest in the Undiscovered Charm of Bequia

From the very moment you arrive in the Grenadines, you’ll know that you’re going to experience something a little bit special.  Perhaps it’s the sweet steel drum music that heralds your arrival or maybe the hospit…
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Mortgage Decisions in 20 Minutes, But Beware

Well, that’s a decision in principle in 20 minutes at least, but it still shaves a lot of time off the normal application process.  HSBC has rolled out its new ’20 minute’ system in a bid to meet growing consumer …
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Valuing Sustainability

A home’s sustainability characteristics should be considered within property valuations, according to a new information paper, entitled Sustainability and Residential Property, launched 20 Sepember by the Royal Institu…
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Architects Brand New Homes as 'Shameful'

The Royal Institute of British Architects has referred to many new-build homes in the UK as “shameful shoe boxes” that are too small for family life. RIBA has carried out its ‘Case for Space’ study of 3,418 three…
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Getting the Best Home Insurance Deals

Could you be saving money on your home insurance premiums?  The answer is usually, yes!  Home insurance premiums have risen over recent years, but with a little organisation and know-how you can reduce these premiums d…
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High Loan to Value Mortgage Approvals Peak

A report released by chartered surveyors e.surv revealed that mortgage approvals on deals of 85% LTV and higher reached peaked in the month of August.  These figures account for 10% of total approvals. However, e.surv s…
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Solar Panels for the Home - A Bright Idea?

I had a salesman call at my house on Monday trying to sell me solar PV panels.  I gave him short shrift as I do with most poor sales people that turn up at my door, but it got me thinking.  Over the past few months I h…
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The 100% Mortgage is Back!

The number of mortgage products featuring higher loan-to-values is starting to creep up.  Until now, these products haven’t risen above 95%, but Aldermore bank has just released a 100% mortgage allowing homeowners to …
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Quickie Guide to Stamp Duty

Stamp duty, or Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) to give it its full title, has a very long history.  This tax was first introduced in the UK in 1694 although its roots can be traced back as far back as the sixth century and t…
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A Typical Day in the Life of an Estate Agent

If you are just starting out in your career or thinking of a career change, becoming an estate agent could be for you.  It’s unfortunate that some individuals have given the profession a bad name, and indeed the large…
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Life is too short to do a job you don't love!

Last month the Guardian reported that the office for national statistics plans to measure wellbeing by asking people how happy they are, allowing government to craft their policies around our wellbeing. However, you don'…
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The UK Towns Forced to Drop Asking Prices

According to new research released by Zoopla, more and more house sellers are being forced to drop their asking prices by 7.1% or £18,500 on average. Good news for first-time buyers, not so good if you are selling a pro…
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Questions to Ask When Viewing Property

If you have moved home before then you probably have a good idea of what questions to ask.  For first-time buyers, it can be quite daunting viewing the first few properties and can take a few viewings to find your feet …
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The Difference Between Freehold and Leasehold

If you are considering owning a property in England and Wales you need to consider the two different types of property ownership that exist; freehold and leasehold. The majority of properties in England and Wales are fre…
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Build it Yourself? 1 in 3 Would!

You may have considered building your own home yourself or know somebody who has taken the plunge.  More and more people are starting to take up the challenge in a bid to build their dream home and a more efficient livi…
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Quickie Guide to Fixed Rate Mortgages

Following our recent article on the expected freeze on interest until 2014 , we thought we would give you a brief guide to fixed rate mortgages.  If you’re thinking of buying a new home now then a fixed rate mortgage …
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Home Insurance and Open Windows

Home Insurance and Open Windows Home insurance protects your home and contents against theft or loss. If you leave a window open, however, you could put your valuables at unnecessary risk, and your claim for theft or los…
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Couples Forgoing Weddings for First Property

Picture the scene. The champagne is on ice, you've planned everything to the finest detail and the moment is right. You get down on bended knee and ask that all important life-changing question “Darling, shall we take …
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No Interest Rate Rise Until 2014

If you’re looking for a mortgage now or considering starting the search in the near future, there’s a bit of good news to come out of the City.  The Bank of England has said that it is not likely to change its monet…
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Debt in the UK - Perception Versus Reality

You can’t open a newspaper these days without reading articles about debt and how the UK is drowning in it.  Of course dramatised stories and over-egged reports sell newspapers, but what do the general public think? …
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Unemployment increase and rise in repossessions

After a steady downturn in the number of repossessions recorded across the UK, the Financial Services Authority has reported that the number of homes lost in this way is up for the first time in over a year. According to…
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Google Gets in on the Mortgage Game

Do those clever people at Google ever sleep?  It’s been reported that Google is piloting a UK mortgage comparison website.  You may have already seen its online advice service called Google Advisor and Mortgage Strat…
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Can’t Move? Improve!

Research released by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors is showing that more and more homeowners are choosing to improve their homes rather than face the uncertainty of putting their home on the market.  The stu…
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Make Them an Offer They Can't Refuse

If you’ve found the house of your dreams and you’re sure you can afford the repayments on it, it’s time for some serious negotiation.  It can be very tempting to offer the full asking price, especially if you’re…
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More Women than Men Looking to Move Home

New research is showing that more women than men are currently looking to buy their first property.  Almost two million women are setting this trend and looking to get on the housing ladder in the immediate future. The …
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Another buy to let mortgage boom?

Last week at The Big Property List , we looked at the high number of mortgage applications that are currently being turned down and highlighted just how difficult it is to gain any foothold on the property ladder today. …
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Two Thirds of Mortgage Applications Turned Down

Here at The Big Property List we like to report on the latest goings on in the property and mortgage world and there has never been so much going on!  It’s an unfortunate situation that many of our articles give or pr…
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How to Sell Your Ex-Council Property

Last week we published an article on buying ex-council property and the savings that can be made, but what about selling your ex-council property? Selling ex-council property can be a little tricky for a number of reason…
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Ex-Council Property Could Save You 25%

If you’re desperate to get out of the rental game and onto the property ladder, there could be a way to save at least 25% on the house price in the process.  Rising numbers of local authority houses and flats are bein…
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How Much is my Property Worth, and Why?

Do you have an idea of how much your property is worth? It is an important and often misunderstood question. Many people assume that they can find the value of their property rather easily, by checking on the value of ho…
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How to Evict the Tenant from Hell

A couple of weeks ago we published an article on how to avoid the tenant from hell , but what if they have already infiltrated your defences?  They may have passed all the credit checks, ticked all the right boxes, paid…
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Take the Stress Out of Moving Day

Here’s a guide that will move you, quite literally!  If you’re soon to be moving house then it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to get all of your things from here to there.  The most sensible op…
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House Building Industry on the Rebound?

According to the Department of Communities and Local Government, the house-building industry has showed signs of recovery during the first quarter of 2011.  The number of new build properties in development has risen by…
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Property Prices In Yet Another Tumble

Once again the housing market has taken a tumble.  The average cost of a home fell 1.4% last month – a drop that hasn’t been seen since July 2009.  The Halifax house price index reports the latest plummet has led t…
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The Conveyancing Process Part II

In part 1 of our property conveyancing guide we looked at how to instruct a solicitor, the start of the process and the arduous task of completing many forms.  We’ll now take a look at the closing stages of the home b…
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10 Tips on How to Avoid the Tenants from Hell

There is often a lot said about rogue landlords and how to avoid renting from them, but what about the reverse side of the coin – the rogue tenant?   If you are a landlord and have had bad experiences with non-paying…
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Rogue Landlords No Laughing Matter

The housing charity Shelter has come up with a clever way to back up its campaign against rogue landlords.  They've created a dark comedy film starring Sean Lock as a less than honest private landlord. The five minute f…
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The Big Council Sell Off

St Giles Hospital in Camberwell is set to be sold by NHS Southwark.  With its imposing turrets, wrought iron gates and clock tower you would be forgiven for thinking this Georgian hospital was way outside the budget of …
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The Conveyancing Process - Part I

It’s only when you start the process of selling or buying a home that you realise what a long and drawn out process it all is.  Even if you are a first time buyer with no chain ahead of you the legal red tape can real…
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Demolition - do you need planning permission?

Q       I want to knock down a building on my property. Do I need planning permission? A Until recently demolition of a building or structure (other than a residential building) did not usually require planning per…
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A Hidden Boost for House Prices?

It’s Budget time and many of us will be frantically scouring the budget news for proposals, price hikes and changes that will affect the property business. House prices could be set for a boost by a multi-million pound…
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Going Going Gone!

If you are thinking of buying a property at auction it’s a great time to do so.  There are a huge amount of opportunities on the market right now and more and more people are turning to auctions in order to sell a pro…
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Advice for First Time Landlords

Buying a first buy to let property is exciting and can be a great investment.  It also means that you have to get some of the important legal and financial issues sorted out before you have tenants move into the propert…
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Record Rise in Complaints Against Estate Agents

The Property Ombudsman received a record number of complaints last year against estate agents.   The number of complaints raised in 2010 was the most the office has received since it was first established 20 years ago.…
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To Sell or Not to Sell

It may not seem like the best time to sell your home when the housing market seems so unstable, but people are selling their homes and in some cases very quickly.  Perhaps you need a bigger house to accommodate a growin…
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Could Broadband be a deal breaker?

The Telegraph has reported an interesting addition to property details that are held on the Rightmove website.  According to the Telegraph’s Telecoms Correspondent, Rightmove is to team up with BT to list the broadban…
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Adverse credit - Why it pays to be honest

It’s getting increasingly difficult to get a mortgage these days even if you are simply looking to switch existing borrowing to a new property. Due to the current economic climate, banks are quite sensibly revising the…
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Localisation - local knowledge moves online

As more of us start our home-buying search online there is a growing need for sources of local information. The last few years have given us instant access to objective information such as sold house prices, bus routes, …
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Barnet residents paint the town green

I've come across a couple of fantastic projects recently where people are doing their bit towards living more sustainable lives - that is, living in a way that recognises that our petroleum fuelled days are numbered.  B…
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Mortgages – be prepared

Plan for a mortgage as you would a holiday, with enthusiasm and precision. Mortgage lending criteria over the last couple of years has tightened up and this may continue through 2011. We recommend to give yourself the ve…
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When is the right time to sell your buy to let?

No so long ago, buy-to-let was viewed as a pretty sure bet by those with money to invest; with the potential to make big long term profits, and a good interim income, they presented an attractive way to invest your money…
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Buying property at auction

Buying property at a  house auction is not for the faint-hearted, ill-prepared or risk-adverse. That said, its a perfectly viable route to obtaining a house to live in or an investment property at a 'fair rate' if you d…
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Politicians have no idea about housing

Politicians have no idea about housing, so said the press yesterday morning . Why should they, it’s a market? No one has really got any idea, so disparate is our market, and with Labour admitting they got it wrong and …
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Mary Portas on Estate Agents

Mary wants to start a revolution in the world of estate agents begins the Channel Four introduction to Mary Portas' latest episode in her Secret Shopper series .  Good luck Mary is what I say, many have set out on that …
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Garage sales and gardens

Interestingly I’ve just been asked to dispose of a chunk of garden. It sounds simple and relatively inexpensive. A couple of years ago an agent in Knightsbridge was asked to dispose of a garage, and by the way this sto…
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The danger of cheesy property jingles

Last week we we spent some time putting together self-nominations for a couple of property awards taking place this year.  As a relatively new property portal we don't expect a major scoop but we do have credibility app…
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2011 property market...early signs?

Frankly there wasn’t much appetite or excitement for predicting what might happen in 2011. It’s a mug’s game at the best of times and most of us in the business have been so worn down by the last few months of 2010…
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Rate or Hate your Landlord?

As a property undergraduate I recall sitting in damp digs smoking roll-ups wondering why I was reading about the the history of Landlord and Tenant Law when I could have been shooting pool in The Ship and sinking pints o…
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Be water-wise: Saving water in the home

Water, water everywhere, says the old idiom, but not a drop to spare.  The saying has never been more true, primarily because there’s more demand than ever before for the available water.  There are more mouths to qu…
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2011: A good time to buy a house?

With house prices continuing to dip and stagnate, you may be tempted to enter the market as a house-buyer. However, it seems that only a few potential buyers are taking the plunge. This leaves sellers frequently stuck be…
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Would a Rose by any other name smell so sweet?

It amused me a few weeks ago to read about an estate agent in Brighton who had sent his staff on a poetry course to inspire their descriptions and liven up particulars.  At the other end of the scale one estate agent ha…
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5 Money saving tips for moving into a new house

In this morning's Citywire Linton Chiswick rightfully points out that the rising cost of moving house in recent years has been inflated not only by the introduction of higher arrangement and exit fees on mortgages but wi…
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House Prices: London may continue to confound

For years it’s been said that what starts in London spreads out to the rest of the country.  Whether that’s been true in the past or not those of us who live in London recognize now perhaps that there’s a disconne…
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Do I Need Planning Permission to Work from Home?

In this series of articles, planning expert Ian Butter answers some of the most commonly asked planning questions.  This week concerning home working - with more and more of us working from home or starting home busines…
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Regular Contributors

At The Big Property List our aim is to empower and inform (and sometimes entertain) whether you are a home owner or seasoned property developer.  Our bloggers come from a range of disciplines but all have the experience…
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How much did Sarah Beeny pay for Rise Hall?

Everyone keeps asking me if I've seen Sarah Beeny's new TV show, Sarah Beeny's Restoration Nightmare , which I mentioned in the blog last week.  This tell me two things, 1. its very popular and 2. not many of my friends…
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First Time Buyers need the right mortgage advice

As a First Time Buyer, buying your new home should be one of life’s most exciting experiences, but without careful preparation, research and the right mortgage deal, it can quite easily turn into a nightmare. Your new …
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Have you Seen Sarah Beeny's new TV show?

If you haven't, you can catch Sarah Beeny 's Restoration Nightmare on channel four on thursdays at 8pm. In her new series Sarah tackles the 97 room Georgian Mansion she bought ten years ago with her husband, a property d…
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Buy a house without a survey - are you mad!?

Ian Cowie wrote a fantastic piece for The Telegraph recently entitled ' A nasty surprise for 'penny wise' homebuyers despite falling house prices which made a salient point that home buyers who opt to buy a house without…
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The advantage of sustainable homes

GREEN is the colour of choice for new homes.  Movie star Leonardo di Caprio is building an eco home on his own private Caribbean island.  Julia Roberts and George Clooney too are green devotees.  Brad Pitt has been in…
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The best Online Estate Agent?

Earlier in the year we published ' How to choose an Estate Agent ' advising home sellers what to look for in an Estate Agent, and it turned out to be a very popular article.   A large part of this decision inevitably c…
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Comparison of Online Estate Agents

Inspired by The Technology Studio’s work comparing Commercial Property Websites we conducted a similar evaluation and comparison of Online Estate Agents in the UK. The report looks at a number of factors such as the am…
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1 in 4 Brits fear base rate rises

A QUARTER of British homeowners are worried about Bank of England base rates going up, after an 18 month period of 0.5 per cent rates, according to research from Moneysupermarket.com The Bank of England's Monetary Policy…
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Government shake up of house price indices

The UK Government has just announced that it has asked the Office of National Statistics to  investigate the coherence and comparability of house price indices.. Tax payers are currently funding two indices, produced…
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Peek inside London's most Sustainable Homes

If you're interested in Sutainable Housing , architecture or design then you'll be very interested in Open House London this Autumn when 700 houses in London will be open to the public. The event is organised by the arch…
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Gross mortgage lending rose in July 2010

The Council of Mortgage Lenders has today announced that Gross mortgage lending in the UK rose by 5% in July 2010 compared with June.  This is still down 3% year on year but is on par with the CML's revised forecast for…
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The Big Property List officially launched today!

The Big Property List has been quietly online for some time and although the blog has been running for over a year (and has become quite popular) we only opened up the main property portal a few weeks ago. The initial fe…
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Bank of England maintains Bank Rate at 0.5%

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee today voted to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 0.5%. The Committee also voted to maintain the stock of asset purchases financed by the…
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Online Marketing for Estate Agents: Pay per Click

Estate Agency is changing.  The world is changing.  No matter what your stance or perspective you can't disagree with this basic premise. However for those at the forefront of the online migration the pace may seem fas…
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To fix or not to fix, that is the question

by Andy Golding, Chief Executive of Saffron Building Society The question that every borrower wants to know the answer to is whether to tie themselves into a fixed rate mortgage deal, and at least get certainty, or whet…
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House prices down 0.2% in May

According to the Land Registry the 7 month long run of house price increases has been broken by a marginal drop in May 2010. This puts the average house price in england and Wales at £165,314 with an overall annual rise…
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The Inside Edge receives a make-over!

Those of you who are regular readers will notice a big change in our design today as we've re-branded The Inside Edge property blog to match our corporate website design over at www.thebigpropertylist.co.uk Things may co…
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North-west faces possible hosepipe ban

BBC news this week reported that one water company, United Utilities, is already contemplating a hosepipe ban after 'an unprecedented period of dry weather since December 2009'. The company, which covers north-west engla…
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2010 Budget Implications for UK property

The UK government today announced their 2010 emergency budget to the house of commons and it makes significant changes to the taxation concerning income and capital gains from property. The Headlines: - Income tax thresh…
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How to choose an Estate Agent

Finding the right estate agent can be a daunting task.  After all you're entrusting them with the sale of your largest asset and the difference between a good one and a bad one could be weeks of stress and thousands of …
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Do you need planning permission for your shed?

A friend recently asked me for advice about his neighbour's shed. When I say shed, I mean minature house in the back garden.  This building is red-brick, single storey with a pitched and tiled roof and double glazed.  …
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Looking for your council tax band?

Freedom of information, what a wonderful phrase...(now sing to the tune of The Lion King's Hakuna Matata ) - well it nearly works! I'm always going on about online sources of information, and if you know where to look yo…
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Co-op gives sound advice re: Private Selling

Whilst researching mortgage options this morning I was surprised to find a page on the Co-operative Bank's website discussing the pros and cons of selling your house without an estate agent. Two of the critical 'cons' we…
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To rent or sell? That is the question.

My longstanding tenants gave me notice this week and will leave in four weeks and so I'm going through the traditional 'shall I sell up?', 'shall I rent?' dilemma. I always start by looking at what's for sale and to rent…
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Private House Sales in the press again

A friend of mine drew my attention to an article in the Independant on Sunday last weekend about selling your house privately , if you want to read the article you can find it here . To be honest it doesn't say much that…
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Ten Tips for New Landlords

1. Take safety very seriously. Landlords have obligations under law to keep tenants safe in relation to gas (carbon monoxide), electricity and fire. By law you MUST have an annual, valid gas safety certificate at ALL TIM…
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Stamp duty concession for first time buyers

The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)  believe that the Chancellor's reform of stamp duty will benefit first time buyers and benefit the new home building market. Alistair Darling made homes worth up to £25…
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Thinking about buying overseas property?

In her insightful property blog facts not headlines Kate Faulkner, property consultant and owner of www.designsonproperty.co.uk says 'many people just ‘fall’ into buying property abroad' while on holiday or by the pa…
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House price rise has stalled says RICs

The latest RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) house price survey shows that house prices have stalled as increased supply has put pressure on prices. As prices rose in 2009 many commentators suggested this was…
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Bank of England Maintains Bank Rate at 0.5%

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee today voted to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 0.5%. The Committee also voted to maintain the stock of asset purchases financed by the…
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New rules for sale-and-rent-back market

The Council of Mortgage Lenders welcomed today's publication by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) of new rules and guidance to provide full protection for consumers in the sale-and-rent-back market. Lenders have for…
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Do 'Fast House Sale' deals work?

Being in the online property media industry you see a lot of coverage and advertising for 'quick sale' or Fast House Sale schemes but I realised recently I'd had no direct dealings with them and had always put them down …
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Can Sarah Beeny sell my house?

The property section of the saturday's Telegraph carried a raving review of Sarah Beeny's private property sales website Tepilo.com in which Sarah again set out her vision for the future of property sales. She believes t…
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New PropertyScout.com website launched today

Since researching the online property market for thebigpropertylist.co.uk we've come across a mixed bag of blogs and online property services, ranging from the home-made and popular to the very slick but relatively unkno…
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Bank of England Maintains Bank Rate at 0.5%

Bank of England Maintains Bank Rate at 0.5% and continues with £200 Billion Asset Purchase Programme The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee today voted to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial ba…
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Where does your inspiration come from?

When I talk to people about my new business, people invariably ask what inspired me.  Of course the question does not always come in that form - sometimes it's 'what made you think of that?' or a similar variation. In m…
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New Eco-town proposals ahead of Copenhagen

According to the website of Building magazine the Housing minister John Healey has unveiled a new list of second wave eco-town proposals and has set aside £5m for council funding. The Department for Communities and Loca…
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Two award winning Eco homes in Wales

The Welsh Passive House architectural competition has selected two winning eco-homes that will produce only 20% of the Carbon emissions produced by a standard new house. The formal press release claims that 'innovative d…
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Greenhomes: Are AGAs bad for the environment?

The Telegraph stoked up the so called 'Aga wars' today with an article continuing the debate started by environmentalist George Monbiot. Monbiot launched his (notional as far as I can tell) Campaign Against Agas in a Gua…
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UK interest rates stay at 0.5%

Bank of England Maintains Bank Rate at 0.5% and continues with £200 Billion Asset Purchase Programme The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee today voted to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial ba…
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Yes to Landlord Licensing!

In this first article from guest blogger Sharon Crossland, owner of property website Leasehold Life , she discusses the hot topic of the proposed licensing of residential landlords. Having set up my website Leasehold Lif…
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Trying to find a high LTV mortgage?

The Price comparison website Moneyfacts says that the availablility of high Loan-to-Value mortgages is increasing although still much lower than two years ago. According to Moneyfacts there were only 56 mortgages availab…
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New Media, marcomms and the interactive audience

My experience of blogging is that most blog readers are bloggers themselves and that unlike the traditional print media where a small number of writers push content out to the many, the blogging world is an interactive o…
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Ask yourself: Can I sell my house myself?

When people ask what you 'do', what do you say? It's easy if you've got one of those jobs with a title everyone understands, like doctor, fireman or teacher but when you run a web business you could say a million differe…
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CML chief says no going back to pre-2007 lending

The mortgage market will be constrained by the eventual increase in interest rates along with rising unemployment and taxes said Michael Coogan the CML director. In this interview at the CML annual conference he predicts…
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Bank of England maintain base rate at 0.5%

As expected by many the BoE's Monetary Policy Committee have voted to maintain the base rate at 0.5 % and to increase the Asset Purchase Programme by £25 Billion to £200 Billion. Good news for mortgage borrowers but no…
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Weekly property news round-up

Every week we give you a selection of the best property articles from the national newspapers, so you won’t miss a thing. FSA fines mortgage lender GMAC £2.8m The specialist home loan provider is the first to be fined…
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Halloween News: The FSA grew teeth

When the Financial Services Authority (FSA) recently published it's consultation paper on the proposed changes to it's approach to regulating the mortgage market outlining a 'more intrusive approach' we thought this howl…
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CML says housing market continues to strengthen

The September lending data from the Bank of England shows a continuation of recent trends in the mortgage market. Underlying levels of mortgage lending have edged a little higher driven by an increase in house purchase a…
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Gumtree says 'First signs of recovery since 2007'

Well if we need another housing market survey then why not one from Gumtree? Gumtree claim to be 'the only site to embrace listings from all types of property owners' (obviously no-one's told them about fish4homes which …
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Robbing the young to pay the old?

In his Morning Line article today, property market commentator for Citywire, Tony Bonsinore, says: '...relying on rising house prices as a way of stimulating economic recovery is robbing the young to pay the old - and ly…
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CML Market Commentary

MARKET COMMENTARY from the Council of Mortgage Lenders While housing and mortgage market activity has proceeded largely as expected in the last month, there have been some rather more positive signs for the future. We ha…
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CML says gross mortgage lending rose again

SEPTEMBER GROSS MORTGAGE LENDING Gross mortgage lending totalled an estimated £12.5 billion in September, a 2% rise from the £12.3 billion in August. Read the press release Subscribe to The Inside Edge - UK Property Ne…
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Knight Frank forecast 3% house price dip for 2010

Knight Frank have concluded that house prices will finish this year strongly but dip again in 2011, adding weight to the recent report by economists Fitch. However they put this decline at 3% rather than the 17% forecast…
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PM says banks must provide affordable mortgages

In Prime Minister's questions yesterday in the house of commons the PM, Gordon Brown, was asked his view about the availablity of mortgages and the 'rural crisis' caused by a lack of affordable housing. The questioner,MP…
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Weekly UK property news round-up 12-10-09

Every week we give you a selection of the best property articles from the national newspapers, so you won’t miss a thing. Property: Hot tickets A growing number of us are being drawn away from the city to a new communt…
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Two speed mortgage market in August

The mortgage market is on two speed settings, as house purchase lending continues to recover but remortgaging continues to decline, according to the latest data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The number of …
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Interest Rates held at 0.5%

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee today voted to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 0.5%. Subscribe to The Inside Edge - UK Property News and Advice by Email Subscribe to …
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Confusing scenario for First Time Buyers

TBPL has been following with interest the recent debate on citywire.co.uk between those who believe the time is right for First Time Buyers and use expressions like 'a window of opportunity' and those who believe the mar…
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Daunted by the process of private selling?

One thing we are very clear about here at thebigpropertylist.co.uk is that people are very capable of selling their own house , but the process can seem daunting at first because you're not sure how much the estate agent…
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Weekly UK property news round-up 29-09-09

Every week we give you a selection of the best property articles from the national newspapers, so you won’t miss a thing. Return of the mortgage tricks Conditions for banks are back to pre-credit crunch levels but lend…
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Mortgage Lenders: the good, the bad, and the ugly

The annual Which? mortgage lender satisfaction survey results are out, revealing that on average we are 4% more satisfied with our homelender than we were last year. Actually, this equates to an overall Which? 'satisfact…
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Weekly property round-up 14/09/09

Every week we give you a selection of the best property articles from the national newspapers, so you won’t miss a thing. TBPL article of the week:- Green property: the eco peep show Heritage Open Days give us a chance…
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Bank of England Maintains Bank Rate at 0.5%

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee today voted to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 0.5%. The Committee also voted to continue with its programme of asset purchases totall…
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Government seeks to advise struggling homeowners

The British government yesterday launched an information campaign to urge struggling homeowners to 'get help' and 'take control' of their finances. Television adverts will raise awareness of the campaign with the message…
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Weekly property round-up - 7 September 09

Every week we give you a selection of the best property articles from the national newspapers, so you won’t miss a thing. Interest rates 'could rise sharply early next year' Interest rates could start to rise early nex…
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Private For Sale signs available!

We're very excited to announce that our professional Private For Sale signs are available to buy immediately! Visit online shop We guarantee you will not find these quality design heavyduty weatherproof signs anywhere ch…
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Mortagage approvals 50% up on August 2008

The latest approvals data from the Bank of England shows the number of loans for house purchase rose 5% from June to 50,123. This was a 50% increase from a year ago when the housing and mortgage market was in a sharp dow…
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House price rise red herring

The latest Nationwide house price review has shown a monthly increase of 1.6% in August 09, a fourth consecutive monthly increase, taking the average UK house price to £160, 224. It is widely believed that the increase …
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Buy-to-let Stabilising says CML

The buy-to-let market showed the first signs of stabilising in the second quarter as arrears improved significantly and the decline in new lending began to slow, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. There were 2…
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Sarah Beeny endorses private house sales

Celebrity property developer Sarah Beeny, best known for her channel 4 television show Property Ladder, has implicitly endorsed the private house sale route by launching her own For Sale By Owner website Tepilo. On the w…
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BoE maintains base rate at 0.5%

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee today voted to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 0.5%. Despite the continuance of low base rates, mortgage deals still do not reflect th…
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Gross Mortgage Lending up 17% from June 09

Gross mortgage lending in June was an estimated £12.3 billion, a 17% increase from £10.5 billion in May and a 48% decline from £23.8 billion in June 2008, according to new data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders. CM…
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Interest rates cut to 0.5%

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee today voted to reduce the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves by 0.5 percentage points to 0.5% This move was expected by most anaylsts who remain cautious…
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Bank of England cuts base rate to 1%

As expected the Bank of England today further reduced rates by 0.5% to a new record low of 1%. Citywire commentary says that 'Data on the housing market was...supportive of further cuts, with Halifax's house price survey…
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Its not all doom and gloom in the UK market

'Homeowners looking to trade up the property ladder can now do so at a much lower cost, as the recent price falls have knocked more off the value of larger houses than those further down the chain' says a recent article …
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Interest Rates cut to 2%

As expected the Bank of England yesterday moved to further reduce interest rates in an attempt to stimulate the UK economy. Most of the commentary in today's press questions whether Banks and Lenders will pass on the ful…
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Bank of England maintain base rate at 5%

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee today voted to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 5.0%. TBPL View: Don't expect any discounted mortgages this month, the MPC has to balan…
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PM launches £1 billion housing package

From the no.10 website : The Prime Minster has launched a major Government initiative aimed at making the housing market fairer for all. The £1 billion Homeowners Support Package includes a one-year holiday on stamp dut…
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Buying a new build?

The Council of Mortgage Lenders is today introducing new measures to help ensure that conveyancing and valuation processes capture the true value of newly-built properties. From today, lenders will ask builders or develo…
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Falling rents worrying Buy To Let Landlords

An article in the FT this week stated 'Buy-to-let property owners are becoming increasingly concerned about falling rents, just as many need to refinance to more expensive, less flexible mortgage deals'. The figures quot…
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Latest UK house price statistics (June 08)

The latest UK house price index statistics produced by Communities and Local Government were released on Tuesday 12 August 2008. The latest statistics release includes data based on mortgage completions during the month …
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Bank of England Maintains Rate at 5.0%

News Release 7 August 2008 The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee today voted to maintain the official Bank Rate paid on commercial bank reserves at 5.0%. It is the fourth consecutive month that the Bank has h…
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Tough time ahead for mortgage brokers

Yesterday (29th July 08) Sir James Crosby published his interim report to the Government: Mortgage Finance: Interim analysis . He warns that many mortgage intermediataries will be forced out of the market by the current …
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More help for First Time Buyers

The Minister for Housing (Caroline Flint) this week launched a document entitled “Facing the Housing Challenge: Action today, innovation for tomorrow”. Introducing the document to the House of Commons she said: 'We k…
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The Big Property List .co.uk

This is the first in a series of articles from the team at TheBigPropertyList.co.uk - the online marketing service that helps you sell your house - yourself. The current state of the UK property market is in slowdown/ de…
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