It has recently been reported that buy-to-let investors are set to make a rather handsome return on their investments during the course of the next 13 years. This has come as a result of increasing rental prices and the fact that house prices are beginning to recover; this has enabled a further boost to the property market.
The Future of Rental and Property Markets
August 15th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Landlords, Property Market 2 Comments »
Building a new home? The do’s and don’ts.
August 15th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Property Developers, Property Market 3 Comments »
This has become an increasingly popular way of achieving your dream home; gone are the days of stripping wallpaper and painting walls, people are just building new ones! And why not? Building a new home is, in a lot of cases, better for the environment, cheaper and will save you more money in the long run.
First-Time Buyers guide to HomeBuy Schemes
August 6th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Financial Products, Mortgages, Property Market Comments Off on First-Time Buyers guide to HomeBuy Schemes
Looking to buy your first home can be one of the most exciting but most daunting experiences so far in your life. All this talk of deposits, mortgages and insurance can leave you feeling unsure, concerned and a bit like a fish out of water. That’s why it is vital that you understand each and every part of the house buying procedure so you don’t find yourself in financial difficulty further down the line.
Rising Rents for Tenants for Third Consecutive Month
July 30th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Landlords, Property Market 2 Comments »
According to Buy-to-Let Index figures released by LSL Property Services plc, tenants have seen a rise in rent for the third month in a row. In June, rent averages rose to £718 per month in England and Wales, up 0.9% on May’s figures. With the figure almost reaching that record high of a £720 monthly rate that was reached in October 2011, concerns are being raised within the rental market.
Time to convert your attic space and create a loft room?
July 26th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Home Improvements, Property Market 2 Comments »
In the current economic climate, it’s easy to feel disheartened and fed up with your current home; but moving, in many cases, is simply not an option. That’s why many people have turned to loft conversions, an effective way of not only creating much needed additional space within your home but adding value to your property as a whole.
Understanding Money Laundering Requirements in Conveyancing Transactions
July 18th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Legal, Property Conveyancing, Property Market 5 Comments »
Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 solicitors, along with other professionals, are under a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to ensure that their firms’ client accounts are not used by criminals for the purpose of laundering money earned through illegal activities.
Lender Assisted Sales to Avoid Repossession
July 9th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Mortgages, Property Market Comments Off on Lender Assisted Sales to Avoid Repossession
With a combination of falling house prices and rising unemployment, conditions are ripe for another sharp spike in repossessions. Only low interest rates are keeping repossessions in check at the moment but a rise of even a couple of percentage points, which is surely inevitable in order to control inflation, and a large number of families will begin to default on mortgage repayments. When they do, many will find they can’t sell their way out due to negative equity (they owe more on the property than it is worth).
The 7 Steps to Buying Your Next Home
June 27th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Mortgages, Property Market 7 Comments »
The 7 steps to home buying infographic, brought to you by Halifax, features useful home buying hints and tips.
The infographic works well with their new free app which makes finding a home easier.
Are Deposit Protection Schemes Essential ?
June 21st, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Insurance, Landlords Comments Off on Are Deposit Protection Schemes Essential ?
Housing charity, Shelter, have revealed that complaints from tenants about problems with rental deposits have soared by 86% in the past couple of years. Shelter have explained that one out of every 20 calls to their helpline in 2011 were concerning tenants’ deposits. This comes despite the introduction of compulsory tenancy protection schemes in April 2007.
Dealing with Negative Equity – What to do?
June 11th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Financial Products, Mortgages, Property Market 2 Comments »
The spectre of negative equity first appeared on a significant scale during the housing market crash in 1990s when interest went up so high that no one could afford to pay or take out a mortgage. The problem is now back and is worse than ever.
Are Estate Agents Fees Excessive ?
June 7th, 2012 HIP-Consultant.co.uk Posted in Estate Agents, Property Market 4 Comments »
I will always be in favour of a free market economy and therefore I would never advocate only one approach to business. Competition and alternative methods are a healthy way of ensuring optimum performance and client focus. However, I do feel that the estate agency profession is ripe for review, reassessment and even stricter regulation.