June 29, 2007
Massive mortgages are making us workaholics
Permalink: Massive mortgages are making us workaholics
by Kay Murchie
The continued increase in property prices means that parents with young families and first-time buyers are becoming wage slaves.
Parents worrying about debt are working long hours to meet payments.
Consequently, no time is left for family life, let alone ...
Amateur buy-to-let investors suffer
Permalink: Amateur buy-to-let investors suffer
by Kay Murchie
Buy-to-let lenders are very sure about the market and this is probably due to the fact that the majority of their customers are professional landlords with large portfolios and small mortgages – they also know exactly what they are doing.
It’s the ...
Valuations costing up to £1,000
Permalink: Valuations costing up to £1,000
by Kay Murchie
Borrowers are being forced to pay for expensive property valuations by their mortgage broker. In some instances, valuations cost the lender just £20.
Those purchasing a property are content with paying for full valuations if they feel that their home ...
Europe’s capital cities are in demand
Permalink: Europe’s capital cities are in demand
by Kay Murchie
Profits only come in during high season in holiday homes so many investors are looking at moving to capital cities. Capital cities have established lettings market with a large group of potential tenants who are willing to stay for long ...
Property prices continue to grow
Permalink: Property prices continue to grow
by Kay Murchie
Property prices surprisingly jumped in June – the biggest increase since December. This lifted the annual pace of increase to 11.1% - the strongest rate in over 2 years. Despite concerns of a slowdown, the figures show that the growth ...
Stricter flooding controls on new properties
Permalink: Stricter flooding controls on new properties
by Kay Murchie
Flood risk is becoming a significant factor in the UK property construction sector so tighter controls on drainage designs will be introduced over the next few years.
A new legislation was introduced at the end of 2006 called PPS25 (Planning ...
June 28, 2007
Timmins, Canada is attracting new investors
Permalink: Timmins, Canada is attracting new investors
by Kay Murchie
Timmins, located in north-eastern Ontario, is attracting new investment. The price of gold has rocketed making mining profitable and the opening of a diamond mine has helped make this area interesting.
The mining sector is moving from the exploration phase ...
North Devon’s housing market is booming
Permalink: North Devon’s housing market is booming
by Kay Murchie
A vast regeneration scheme is underway in North Devon with 2-3 bedroom holiday homes demanding half a million pounds.
Artist, Damien Hirst, opened a restaurant in the town of Ilfracombe back in the spring of 2004. Many locals believe ...
Housebuilders warn that housing market will slow
Permalink: Housebuilders warn that housing market will slow
by Kay Murchie
George Wimpey and Taylor Woodrow are due to merge next week and will produce Britain’s largest housebuilder. Both companies expect the UK housing market to slow over the next few months.
The companies said recent interest rate increases ...
Parents fuelling the buy-to-let sector
Permalink: Parents fuelling the buy-to-let sector
by Kay Murchie
A survey has found that a quarter of parents are investing in property to let out within 6 months to assist their children financially.
Young people are finding it increasingly difficult to get onto the property ladder due to unaffordable housing. ...
Green housing must be addressed
Permalink: Green housing must be addressed
by Kay Murchie
In addition to issues such as affordable housing and stamp duty, the government needs to actively encourage green housing measures in the UK property market.
The National Insulation Association (NIA) has been in favour of some of the new schemes that the government ...
Ski resorts are a good investment
Permalink: Ski resorts are a good investment
by Kay Murchie
Over the last few years, skiing destinations such as Slovenia and Bulgaria have grown in status resulting in British investors purchasing rental accommodation. These are the less traditional skiing resorts but demand is rising.
Prices in Bulgaria are expected to ...
Fixed-rate mortgage deals come to an end
Permalink: Fixed-rate mortgage deals come to an end
by Kay Murchie
Many homeowners will experience a significant payment increase as their fixed rate mortgage deal comes to an end. Many signed up for these deals 2 years ago, when interest rates were much lower. An increase of £250 per ...
Philippines Condotels are popular with Britons
Permalink: Philippines Condotels are popular with Britons
by Kay Murchie
UK tax payers are making the most of their tax incentives by investing their Self-Invested Pension Plan (SIPP) in Philippine Condotel Investment Real Estate for retirement and rental income. Many people in the UK were unaware that they could invest their ...
June 27, 2007
A new development in Turkey
Permalink: A new development in Turkey
by Kay Murchie
Recently, Turkey's property market has been poor, terrorism and bird flu have restricted sales and the country may not be renowned for its extravagance but a new development called LaVanta is now underway.
LaVanta will comprise 158 homes overlooking the scenic, ...
Home sales at 4-year low in the USA
Permalink: Home sales at 4-year low in the USA
by Kay Murchie
In Washington, condominiums and single-family homes fell by 0.3% to 5.99 million units in May 2006 – the slowest rate since summer 2003. The average house price also dropped for the 10th consecutive month.
Sales declined by 3.4% ...
Global Property Investment at £300 Billion
Permalink: Global Property Investment at £300 Billion
by Kay Murchie
Worldwide property investments in 2006 were valued at £300 billion and it is estimated that even more money will be invested into property during 2007. Property adviser, DTZ, have established that investors are looking to invest around $2.4 trillion globally. ...
Rundown properties not an option for first-time buyers
Permalink: Rundown properties not an option for first-time buyers
by Kay Murchie
A growing number of Britons are buying rundown properties in search of the idyllic country retreat, forcing first-time buyers out of the property market.
A few years ago, converting a derelict property was a way of getting a ...
Stamp duty issue must be tackled
Permalink: Stamp duty issue must be tackled
by Kay Murchie
As Gordon Brown prepares to become the new prime minister, one of his priorities must be to address the matter of stamp duty. UK property is becoming unaffordable due to increasing prices and stamp duty thresholds.
Over the past ...
Dubai is in demand
Permalink: Dubai is in demand
by Kay Murchie
The majority of people living in Dubai will have noticed the changes. The increase in residents and tourists is evident, infrastructure, leisure facilities and the overall growth of business has progressed.
The number of visitors was 2 million in 1999 but ...
The continued increase in property prices means that parents with young families and first-time buyers are becoming wage slaves.
Parents worrying about debt are working long hours to meet payments.
Consequently, no time is left for family life, let alone ...
