Helping Innovate Property (HIP) – Blog, Housing Market News and Articles

Recently it was reported that industry professionals are recognising the benefits of Home Information Packs (HIP). This is against the general negative slant the main stream media seem to want to promote.

HIP-Consultant.co.uk have been providing Home Information Packs for over 18 months and have witnessed numerous situations where Home Information Packs have benefitted the home buyer, home seller and the process itself. Without Home Information Packs; sales would have quite likely fallen through and at best would have held up proceedings to an extent the majority of people would be very unhappy with.

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BoKloK is a new concept of housing, first pioneered in Scandinavia by furniture giant IKEA and construction firm Skanska. In the UK, property company Live Smart @ Home has the exclusive licence to build BoKlok properties and its first development is at St James Village in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear.

This is the first development in the UK of the BoKlok concept which is also currently active in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. The arrival and development of these exciting properties in Gateshead further enhances the constant improvement and regeneration of the area. The state-of-the-art, Scandinavian-style timber framed properties are aimed at households earning between £15,000 and £35,000 a year and are being sold on a rented, outright sale or shared ownership basis.

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There are a rising number of landlords in the UK today, with reports of considerable numbers of first time landlords entering the market. With interests rates at an all time low, those with savings are now looking at the rental market as a way of generating an income. The rental market is showing good resilience at present as some first time buyers struggle to access a suitable mortgage and look for accomodation.

If you are one of these ‘unplanned’ landlords and are considering this option for the first time, you must be both eager to take advantage of the opportunity and considerate to the possible risks involved. We have produced some handy tips that will help you take this step boldly and confidently.

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Lloyds TSB’s (LON:LLOY) have announced a new 95% LTV mortgage product which requires a 5% deposit. By doing so it has claimed the distinction of being one of the few High Street lenders to offer such a high LTV home loans in these difficult times.

In these hard economic times, with virtually no banks offering a 95% loan to value mortgage, Lloyds TSB’s Lend A Hand mortgage scheme is a crucial step in encouraging other lenders to come out of their shells and will help attract first time buyers back into the marketplace.

For approval of Lloyds TSB’s Lend A Hand mortgage, a pre-requisite is to the holding of 20% of the mortgage value in a fixed savings account with Lloyds TSB. This feature benefits young buyers who can make use of their parent’s or other relatives’ savings to augment their deposit. While the savings will have to remain fixed for three years, Lloyds will maintain a hold on the amount until the homeowner has made enough payments to earn 10% in equity.

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In the last year the economic downturn has changed the face of the mortgage industry some claim for good. Banks and other lenders have cut mortgage lending severely and finding a mortgage is no longer an easy task.

Buying a house is one of the biggest purchases we make in our lives and picking the right mortgage is essential. Here is the conundrum: fewer lenders mean lesser choices, so in these tough economic times how do you still get the best mortgage deal. Below we will provide you with 10 valuable tips that will help guide you to your dream home and help find you a suitable mortgage.

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Home information Packs have received a positive response from associated industry professionals who are utilising and seeing the benefits of the legislation.

A recent poll which comprised of over 150 housing industry professionals, ranging from estate agents to mortgage lenders and property investors voted in favour of the Home Information Pack legislation and continued development at the Land Data Great Housing Market Debate.

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Buy to let was once the king of the investment portfolio, quite often a sure fire solid investment. As we have all seen the property market has changed, some say never to return to what we have seen in days gone by.

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With a move clearly designed to inject some life into the housing market, state owned bank Northern Rock has announced that it will resume lending 90% mortgages.

Currently the chances of getting a mortgage of more the 75% are very slim and this move could be seen as a government approved display of intent. Quite how relevant it is remains questionable and many have pondered whether the announcement is more publicity stunt designed to bring back consumer confidence rather than a definite assurance of impending lending.

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The state of the UK housing market is constantly in the news at present and the latest figures on home repossessions make more depressing reading.

In the year 2008 repossessions reached the highest levels for 12 years. A staggering 54% rise in instances of homeowners losing their homes equates to 40,000 houses being repossessed.

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Land Registry figures released at the end of February show that house prices in the UK have fallen to the same levels they were at in March, 2005. With the average property now valued at just under £157,000, this represents a drop of 15.1% over the last year.

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The Bank of England has reduced interest rates to 0.5% in order to put a halt to the housing crash, in the latest reduction we have witnessed over recent months.

With interest rates being cut at such a speed over the past few months it begs the question ‘Will we see interest rates reach zero perecent?‘

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