With the property news full of tales of woe in the banking world and the related slump in the housing market, it is easy to overlook some of the better news that the falling price trend has influenced. In an intriguing twist it has emerged from recent research that trading up to a bigger property is now financially less problematic than only a year ago, depending on the size of house one needs to buy.
Upsizing your home – easier for some
February 26th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Energy Saving, Mortgages, Property Market 1 Comment »
Agents report increased interest in property market
February 23rd, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Property Market 2 Comments »
Recent reports of increased interest in the property market and the Halifax index indicating a surprise increase in prices of almost 2%; while estate agents are reporting an increase in interest this is not immediately being converted into sales.
Brokers advise on a low fixed rate mortgage deal
February 9th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Mortgages, Property Market 1 Comment »
The recent move by the Bank of England to cut interest rates to an all but unprecedented one percent has been followed by the less typical action of several lenders who chose to pass the cuts on to their customers. The Skipton Building Society, along with the Halifax and the Nationwide, immediately slashed their rates, and with further interest rate cuts forecast by industry analysts it remains to be seen just how low the Bank of England can go.
Buying a house – how to make the right decision
January 30th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Property Market Comments Off on Buying a house – how to make the right decision
It would appear that guides on selling a property abound both on the internet and in other literature; yet to find advice on how to buy a house is seemingly difficult. Often buyers found they made decisions for the wrong reason, so here we take a look at some important points to be considered when looking for that dream home.
The Mortgage Myth – You can secure one
January 27th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Mortgages, Property Market Comments Off on The Mortgage Myth – You can secure one
A look at a newspaper or a listen to the daily news may give the impression that mortgages are as rare as hens’ teeth, but the truth is somewhat different. It is possible to get a mortgage, even in these days of financial crisis and house price gloom, but it remains to be said that certain criteria need to be met.
Latest housing market trends show no signs of recovery
January 21st, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Mortgages, Property Market 3 Comments »
The most recent comments to emerge from the government has been that of Margaret Beckett, Housing Minister, who implied that there were signs of recovery in the market and advised first time buyers to snap up bargains.
Energy saving on a budget
January 19th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Energy Saving, Home Improvements, Property Portals 1 Comment »
The winter months are when ones attention is turned to keeping homes warm yet many homeowners will be turning on dormant heating systems that could be operating far more efficiently with the help of a few affordable maintenance tips.
Householder’s should keep a close eye on the efficiency of the insulation that is present in the property as a great proportion of heat is lost through poorly insulated walls, windows and heating systems.
In a typical British home, around one-third of the heat produced by a central heating system is rapidly lost through the roof, ceiling and walls. This means that for a poorly insulated property up to £1 out of every £3 spent on heating is being wasted.
So what can the average homeowner do without spending a fortune?
Extending your home? – points to consider
January 13th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Home Improvements, Property Market Comments Off on Extending your home? – points to consider
At present the housing market is undergoing a period of stagnation and the result has been a marked increase in the number of homeowners considering extending their homes rather than moving.
Extensions require careful consideration; however the following are some of the more important aspects to be investigated when considering an extension.
Home improvements – which add the most value?
January 9th, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Home Improvements, Property Market 3 Comments »
The prevailing climate in the housing world has led to falling prices and difficulty in selling. For those who need to sell, there are a number of improvements that can aid the chances of success as well as those that are simply a waste of time and money.
Keeping things to economical levels is paramount in these difficult times, and the following ideas are not ones that will cost tens of thousands of pounds.
How to deal with the mortgage minefield – 10 top tips
January 2nd, 2009 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Mortgages, Property Market, Top Tips Comments Off on How to deal with the mortgage minefield – 10 top tips
The hopes and dreams of millions of home-owners and first-time buyers have received a number of positive announcements from the Government recently. We have seen dramatic cuts in interest rates, an announcement of a stamp duty amnesty on properties worth £175,000 or less, a new shared equity scheme for families earning less than £60,000 and earlier financial support for people struggling with their mortgage repayments.
But the lack of readily available mortgages seems to be little sign of ending and lenders remain very cautious, whether they are assessing re-mortgages at the end of a fixed rate deals or when looking at new applications.
The good news is that it is possible to improve your chances of securing the mortgage you want. These steps could help improve your chances.
House price forecasts for 2009 – how far can they fall?
December 28th, 2008 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Property Market 2 Comments »
A good amount of conflicting information has followed the recent worldwide economic crisis with regard to house prices, so here we have a look at what the industry sees for the year to come.
Will house prices continue to fall in 2009?
Undoubtedly they will; it bears remembering that the current trend of falling house prices did not begin this year, as the first signs of an impending crash were seen in many quarters in the latter part of 2007.