Zoopla property news (April 2012)
Latest property news
UK buy to let market 'is booming'
The buy to let market in the UK is currently as strong as it has been for some time, and this is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, it has been claimed. Stuart Law, chief executive at Assetz, said the rental market is "extremely attractive" to investors at the moment, with eight per cent gross yields and net yields in excess of five per cent. "It ...
23rd Apr 2012
Well-designed kitchens 'boost home values'
New kitchens that are designed in the right way can help to significantly improve home values , one expert on the subject has pointed out. Alexi Sugden, founder of Egerton Designs, said that kitchens are likely to be the biggest single investment in any refurbishment, and range in cost from around £3,000 from a high street supplier to as much as £50,000 for a ...
23rd Apr 2012
Property news archive
UK house price sentiment remains positive
UK property owners remain optimistic about the future of the country's housing market, a new report has revealed. The Knight Frank/Markit's House Price Sentiment Index (HPSI) for April showed that, for the third consecutive month, households remain positive about what will happen to the value of their property over the next year, posting only just below March's ...
20th Apr 2012
Committing mortgage fraud 'is madness'
People who commit mortgage fraud are taking a big risk and are very unlikely to be successful, it has been noted. According to Catherine Hearnden, director at MyMortgageDirect, checks on mortgage applications are improving and so fraud is being discovered more. Her comments came after a report by Experian revealed that fraudulent applications for mortgages increased by ...
20th Apr 2012
FTB access 'is very important'
It is very important that young people are able to afford their own property in rural areas, according to the English Rural Housing Association. Martin Collett, operations director at the organisation, said that if first-time buyers (FTBs) cannot access the housing market, they move to urban areas where there may be more affordable accommodation and leave behind their ...
20th Apr 2012
UK house prices increase in 12 months to February
UK house prices increased by 0.3 per cent in the 12 months to February 2012, according to the latest report from the Office for National Statistics. The data shows that the UK mix-adjusted house price was £224,473, with the seasonally adjusted UK house prices increasing by 0.2 per cent over the month. In the 12 months to February 2012, average house prices increased ...
19th Apr 2012
'Balance taste and added value' with improvement projects
Property owners considering embarking on a DIY project have been advised to try and achieve balance while they are carrying out the work in order for it to be as successful as possible. Anna-Marie DeSouza, editor of Build It + Home Improvement magazine, said that people need to be "sensible" and work out what they can add to their home that will improve the price ...
19th Apr 2012
FTB numbers 'on the rise'
The number of first-time buyers (FTBs) entering the UK property market is on the rise, according to the latest report from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). Data published by the organisation shows that lending to first-time buyers and home movers increased in February, with first-time buyers taking the bigger increase. Some 14,100 loans worth £1.7 billion were ...
18th Apr 2012
Buy to let market 'very attractive' to many
The UK's buy to let market is currently very attractive as long as prospective landlords have the money for a deposit, one expert has noted. Lee Grandin, director at Landlord Mortgages, said that it is not currently a market where people who are not asset-rich can thrive, as they will need to have an average 20 per cent deposit and, in some cases, even more. However, ...
17th Apr 2012
Building an extension 'requires careful thought'
People thinking of adding an extension to their property have been advised to bear some things mind before embarking on the project. Andrew Leech, director at the National Home Improvement Council, said that property owners must first consider what their budget is going to be and then approach their local authority and ask them whether there are any space restrictions. ...
17th Apr 2012