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June 30, 2009

NLA updates MPs on “dearth” of buy-to-let finance

Permalink: NLA updates MPs on “dearth” of buy-to-let finance
by Gill Montia

NLA updates MPs on
The National Landlords' Association (NLA) has been called to appear before the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee. The body, which has over 17,000 private landlord members, is assisting the Committee in its inquiry into mortgage arrears and access to ...


Belvoir Lettings franchise expands in East London

Permalink: Belvoir Lettings franchise expands in East London
by Gill Montia

Belvoir Lettings franchise expands in East London
Lettings franchise, Belvoir, is opening a Leyton office in East London on 6th July. Proprietor, Zain Mahal, already runs Belvoir's Stratford office which was launched in 2000. According to Mr Mahal, the East London lettings market is still booming, although competition ...


Nationwide: House prices up 0.9% in June

Permalink: Nationwide: House prices up 0.9% in June
by Kay Murchie

Nationwide: House prices up 0.9% in June
For the third time in the last four months, UK house prices have risen according to the latest survey from the Nationwide building society. According to the building society, house prices crept up by 0.9% in June and take the ...

June 29, 2009

Hometrack: House prices ‘hold steady’

Permalink: Hometrack: House prices ‘hold steady’
by Kay Murchie

Hometrack: House prices ‘hold steady’
Housing intelligence group, Hometrack, has today reported that house prices in England and Wales held steady for the second consecutive month in June. According to the group, strong demand from buyers is continuing to outstrip the shortage of houses on the market. The group ...


Bryant Homes tempts West Bromwich tenants

Permalink: Bryant Homes tempts West Bromwich tenants
by Gill Montia

Bryant Homes tempts West Bromwich tenants
Bryant Homes is urging tenants in West Bromwich to consider getting a foot on the property ladder at its Central Square development on Dartmouth Street. The housebuilder has allocated two "Dudley" apartments for purchasers who meet the criteria of the Government's HomeBuy ...


Mixed signals as BoE reports rise in mortgage approvals

Permalink: Mixed signals as BoE reports rise in mortgage approvals
by Kay Murchie

Mixed signals as BoE reports rise in mortgage approvals
The housing market continues to bring mixed signals as figures from the Bank of England (BoE) today revealed a rise in mortgage approvals for the month of May - it is the fourth consecutive month that approvals have ...

June 28, 2009

Rent arrears put 133,000 tenants at risk

Permalink: Rent arrears put 133,000 tenants at risk
by Gill Montia

Rent arrears put 133,000 tenants at risk
LSL Property Services estimates that at the end of May, around 133,000 (or one-in-twenty-five) tenants in England and Wales had rent arrears that could potentially leave them facing eviction. The property services group, which is behind the Your Move estate agency ...

June 26, 2009

Land Registry reveals further dip in house prices in May

Permalink: Land Registry reveals further dip in house prices in May
by Kay Murchie

Land Registry reveals further dip in house prices in May
According to figures from the Land Registry, house prices dipped by 0.2% in May in England and Wales and follows the slight fall of 0.3% in April. The Land Registry puts the average home at £152,497 and puts ...

June 25, 2009

Tenants warned on deposit scam

Permalink: Tenants warned on deposit scam
by Gill Montia

Tenants warned on deposit scam
The Deposit Protection Service (DPS) is alerting tenants to a new scam involving property advertised for rent over the Internet. According to the firm, people looking on rental websites such as Gumtree and Craig’s List have come across advertisements asking them to ...

June 24, 2009

HMRC: House sales up in May

Permalink: HMRC: House sales up in May
by Kay Murchie

HMRC: House sales up in May
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has today revealed a rise in the number of homes sold in May in the UK. According to HMRC, 62,000 homes worth at least £40,000 were sold in May - a rise of 7% when compared with ...


Strong sales at George Wimpey’s Eastcote development

Permalink: Strong sales at George Wimpey’s Eastcote development
by Gill Montia

Strong sales at George Wimpey's Eastcote development
George Wimpey has reported strong sales at its Sandringham development in Eastcote, where 12 houses and apartments have been snapped up since Easter. Properties available include one and two-bedroom apartments; coach houses; three-bedroom terraced homes and four-bedroom houses. Prices range between £204,995 ...

June 23, 2009

BBA report rise in mortgage approvals

Permalink: BBA report rise in mortgage approvals
by Kay Murchie

BBA report rise in mortgage approvals
The British Bankers' Association (BBA) has today reported that the number of mortgage approvals by the UK's major banks hit a 13-month high in May. According to the BBA, 31,162 home loans were approved in May which was a 7% rise compared ...


Rents continue to decline but outlook brightens

Permalink: Rents continue to decline but outlook brightens
by Gill Montia

Rents continue to decline but outlook brightens
In its latest lettings market survey, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) found that growth in demand for rental property slowed in the three months to April, as did new landlord instructions. During the first quarter of 2009, 55% more ...

June 22, 2009

Barratt offering sports fans a new home near the Olympics zone

Permalink: Barratt offering sports fans a new home near the Olympics zone
by Kay Murchie

Barratt offering sports fans a new home near the Olympics zone
Fans of the Olympics or those wanting to be in the heart of the excitement in 2012 will be pleased to hear of Barratt’s new housing development, which is close to the Olympics zone in Bromley-by-Bow, ...


Taylor Wimpey offers Deposit Match scheme for first-time buyers

Permalink: Taylor Wimpey offers Deposit Match scheme for first-time buyers
by Kay Murchie

Taylor Wimpey offers Deposit Match scheme for first-time buyers
Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey is offering first-time buyers an incentive by matching their deposit. Taylor Wimpey will match the deposit put down by buyers, up to 10% of the property’s value, giving a prospective buyer access to a broader range ...


CML revises repossession forecast downwards

Permalink: CML revises repossession forecast downwards
by Kay Murchie

CML revises repossession forecast downwards
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has revised its forecast for the number of homes expected to be repossessed in 2009 from 75,000 to 65,000. The figure is still the highest since 1992 and almost two-thirds higher than the 40,000 people who lost ...


Rightmove: Homeowners becoming more realistic with selling prices

Permalink: Rightmove: Homeowners becoming more realistic with selling prices
by Kay Murchie

Rightmove: Homeowners becoming more realistic with selling prices
Property website Rightmove has today revealed that asking prices dropped by 0.4% in June bringing an end to the four consecutive monthly rises. The asking price for the average home fell by over £1,000 to £226,436 but the group highlighted ...

June 19, 2009

16,000 applicants refused a mortgage each month

Permalink: 16,000 applicants refused a mortgage each month
by Kay Murchie

16,000 applicants refused a mortgage each month
Bank of England figures have revealed that over 16,000 mortgage applicants are being turned down each month. The figure stood at 12,000 last December but has risen since March. It is the first time these types of figures have been released by ...


Taylor Wimpey encouraged by stability in UK housing market

Permalink: Taylor Wimpey encouraged by stability in UK housing market
by Kay Murchie

Taylor Wimpey encouraged by stability in UK housing market
In the last six weeks, housebuilder Taylor Wimpey said it has noted stability in the housing market and that a "severe" downturn should now be avoided. As a result, the group is hoping to increase the number of ...

June 18, 2009

George Wimpey’s Millgate development offers Cashback Initiative

Permalink: George Wimpey’s Millgate development offers Cashback Initiative
by Kay Murchie

George Wimpey’s Millgate development offers Cashback Initiative
George Wimpey Manchester is trialling a new scheme called the Community Cashback Initiative at its Millgate development in Bolton. Charities and community groups in the area could receive thousands of pounds from the housebuilder, should the scheme prove successful. Official community ...