For sale news - March 2012

'Innovative ideas' can help FTBs

The nation's first-time buyers (FTBs) would benefit from the introduction of innovative new ideas that can help to boost the number of people taking their first steps onto the housing ladder, it has been claimed. Peter Bolton King, chief executive at the National Federation of Property Professionals (NFOPP), said it is a positive that some banks are offering to pay the ...

28th Mar 2012

Retirement villages 'a good option for downsizing'

Older citizens who are considering putting their property on sale so that they can downsize their living arrangements have been encouraged to think about moving to a retirement village. James Cobb, founder of Retirement Property Options, pointed out that many people who have moved to such facilities have done so because of the isolation they felt in a big home. "You ...

21st Mar 2012

Lending conditions 'improving' for FTBs

Lending conditions for first-time buyers (FTBs) are continuing to improve, which bodes well for people looking to take their first step onto the UK property ladder in 2012, it has been noted. Tim Lambert, head of investment property at Parallel Investment Management, said it "certainly seems to be the case" that lending conditions have improved for FTBs in the UK ...

15th Mar 2012

NewBuy scheme 'a positive move'

The government's NewBuy scheme is a positive one, but it is not yet known what impact it will have on the property market, one analyst has stated. Liam Bailey, head of residential research at Knight Frank, said it is a positive move in terms of underpinning house prices , but it is "negligible in its scale". Earlier this month, housing minister Grant Shapps ...

14th Mar 2012

UK housing market 'is stabilising'

The UK's housing market is continuing to stabilise as house prices level out, according to one analyst who has predicted that this trend may continue for the foreseeable future. Liam Bailey, head of residential research at Knight Frank, observed that UK house prices have dropped quite sharply over the last six months, but are now probably getting closer to being ...

14th Mar 2012

Prime London property rents 'set to fall'

There is likely to be a reduction in rents for prime London property in the coming weeks, according to one expert. Ed Mead, director at Douglas & Gordon, said that he does not expect to see rents going up over the short or medium term, by virtue of the fact that buy to let property has had a "resurgence" in recent times. This is because a mortgage on buy to ...

13th Mar 2012

95% mortgages 'will help thousands of buyers'

Thousand of first-time buyers around the UK are set to benefit from 95 per cent mortgages under a new loan guarantee scheme. The NewBuy Guarantee is vein backed by both the government and developers and is aimed at 100,000 prospective and existing homeowners who cannot currently afford the deposits required for 80 per cent mortgages. People will be able to purchase a newly ...

12th Mar 2012

'Appearance is everything' when selling a home

People thinking of selling their property in the months ahead should do all they can to ensure that it looks attractive to potential buyers and not simply rest on their laurels, it has been noted. Stuart Law, chief executive at Assetz, said that, when it comes to selling a home, the age-old adage of making sure the house is appealing and attractive still applies. He advised ...

7th Mar 2012

Lending by buildings societies and mutuals rises again

There was another rise in mortgage lending in the UK in January, according to the latest figures, with both building societies and other mutual lenders boosting approvals. Overall, mortgage lending was up 32 per cent on January 2011, while mortgage approvals rose by 54 per cent, meaning £1.7 billion of mortgages were approved throughout the month, the Building ...

2nd Mar 2012

For sale news (March 2012)

Latest For sale news