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Safe as houses?
Monday, October 17, 2016
As autumn fades and the clocks go back, the nights draw in. October is officially National Home Security Month (NHSM) and with a 20% increase in burglaries in darker months, it’s time to consider home security.
Landlords and investors return to market
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Enquiry levels indicate that landlords and buy-to-let investors are returning to the market after a lull following Stamp Duty changes in April, according to Rightmove. The portal’s Rental Trends Tracker for Q3 2016 shows buyer enquiries from potential landlords and investors are now back, up 30% on May figures, following a short-term dip caused by the additional Stamp Duty charges that came in on April 1st this year.
Just a minute!
Monday, October 10, 2016
Whilst a recent survey suggests that it takes homebuyers on average 38 minutes to decide whether a property is right for them, in reality most will know within the first minute whether it is “the one” or not. Remarkably fast given that buying your own home is likely to be the largest financial investment you will ever make, so it’s perhaps not surprising that a second, longer viewing is necessary to confirm their decision.
Spotlight on Windsor – our estate agent’s view
Thursday, October 6, 2016
From iconic landmarks, historic pageantry and world-class events to picturesque parkland, Windsor has it all. The jewel in the crown has to be Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world and HRH Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite weekend home! The castle is right in the centre of Windsor, itself packed with entertainment, shopping, bars and restaurants. The River Thames runs through the heart of town dividing Windsor from equally historic Eton and providing the opportunity to hire a boat for a leisurely cruise.
Thinking of moving? Countdown to Christmas
Monday, October 3, 2016
Autumn is a good time to think about moving with early evenings still light for viewings and no major holidays until Christmas. However, buyers, tenants and solicitors are loathe to finalise transactions over Christmas so it’s important to get on the market as early as possible. There are ways to streamline your move avoiding both stress and financial penalties and, by using the services of professionals with expert knowledge and legal protection, you minimise the risks and could be in by Christmas.
Rosy outlook for buy to let despite Brexit
Thursday, September 29, 2016
With the predicted shock of Brexit so far not having had the anticipated impact on the UK property market, the outlook for buy to let is rosy with the lowest ever interest rates a potential boost for investors. Most UK landlords still see letting property as a part time activity; most own just one property with rent making up less than half of their total income. But evidence suggests that rent is increasingly becoming a significant income stream for part time landlords, with an accompanying trend towards larger portfolios. Between 2010 and 2016, those managing only one property fell from 78% to 63%, while those with 2-4 properties rose from 17% to 30%.
