Friday 30 December 2011

Kensington and Chelsea are UK's MOST expensive areas!!!

New research published today revealed that within the London boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea are 7 streets that are homes to the most expensive real estate in the UK. Just the corner from the soon to be the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Kensington Palace, lies Hill Square which is in in the heart of fashionable Holland Park. This street has been hailed as Britain's MOST expensive residential street, with an average price of £4,863,000!!!! Seven streets within the Royal Borough are in the list of the ten most expensive in the country. These include Drayton Gardens with an average price of £4,428,000, Dawson Place at £3,891,000, Duchess of Bedfords Walk at £3,862,000 and Cadogan Square at £3,678,000. The research released by Lloyds TSB stated that the most expensive street in last year's survey, is the second most expensive this year with an average price of £4,826,000. Parkside is one of two streets in Merton in South West London amongst the ten priciest. The other is Cedar Park Gardens at £3,596,000. If you are moving home and in need of conveyancing, visit us for the best prices for the highest quality conveyancing!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Thursday 29 December 2011

Future of private lettings in 2012 looks uncertain with mixed outlook....

According to the Association of Residential Lettings Agents, the challenging conditions that the private rented property sector faces in 2012 could spark a drastic improvement in standards. With the current imbalance in supply and demand set to continue in 2012, the prediction by the Association states that there is likely to be a rise in arrears and repossessions as things are going to get worse before they can improve. Operations manager at ARLA, Ian Potter has said that ‘The package of measures unveiled in the government's Housing Strategy could go some way to helping get the wider housing market moving. However it will take time for the measures to have an impact, and in the meantime the issue of a severe lack of stock will continue to affect the PRS well into 2012, particularly in London and the South East.' He added that ‘Almost three quarters of ARLA members, 74%, already report that there are more tenants than available properties, and this is a story we're likely to see worsen. However, there is some anecdotal evidence in parts of the country that stock levels of rental property could be increasing.' To compare conveyancing quotes and find the best solicitor for YOU, visit US!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Field at Kensington Palace up for rent for 2012 Olympics....

As part of a new fund-raising drive, the Queen is renting out a playing field at Kensington Palace for the duration of the Olympics to a Russian millionaire businessman. The area will be used during the Olympics to promote the 2014 Winter Olympics as well as host VIP events. It is currently known as Perks Field, and at the moment is used by the royal household for landing the royal helicopter and as a football pitch. It is situated to the north of the palace where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have their London base as well as Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. For the BEST conveyancing in your area visit us!!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk for your conveyancing solutions!!

Monday 19 December 2011

Big renovations for big boss of Selfridges!!

Galen Weston, Canadian billionaire owner of Selfridges is to stranger to being praised for stylishness. However, he may be in for his first bout of criticism with a programme of renovations that he has in the running for his historic property in Windsor Great Park, Fort Belvedere. Weston and his Irish wife Hilary, who are also friends with the Duke of Edinburgh, have submitted a series of applications to improve the Bombardier’s Cottage at the property, which is where Edward VIII lived with Wallis Simpson. The plans include removing the floorboards, erecting a first floor and joists and installing new underfloor heating. Are you planning on moving home in the New Year?? Compare conveyancing with us at www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Friday 16 December 2011

Licenses too expensive for Oxford landlady...

Due to new city council rules that com into play as of January 31st 2012, a local landlady from Oxford who has been renting out a three-bedroom house for the past five years, s worried that she may be forced to sell it, thus losing significant monthly income. The process which involves having the property inspected, will incur a cost to the landlady of £362. The new rules cover houses in which anyone letting a property to three or more sharers, who are not members of the same family. Those who are inhabiting a property, not in keeping these rules must obtain a licence from the council. Moving home? Need conveyancing? Compare conveyancing with us!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Monday 12 December 2011

Mortgage Market deserted by first-time buyers....

With further signs of the housing Market slowing down to a snail's pace in October this year, first-time buyers began to desert the mortgage market, in spite of the fact that mortgage rates hadnt actually been that low for nearly 8 years!! According to figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the total number of loan approvals for house purchases were worth £6.5bn in October and reached 44,500, although this was down 8% on the previous month and 5% on October 2010. However the number of first-time buyer loans with an average deposit of 20%, fell to just 16,400(by 10%) although the Council of Mortgage Lenders said this was only down by 1% on October 2010. The total value of first-time buyer loans also fell in October 2011, by 9% to £2bn. Need conveyancing? Visit us to compare conveyancing deals TODAY!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Friday 9 December 2011

Coalition government consider mortgage interest scheme.....

The government is contemplating a benefit which it's purpose would be to assist those who are unemployed to meet the commitments os their mortgages, but many fear that this could have a "disastrous consequences" for Families. The Support for Mortgage Interest scheme would entail a benefit that pays mortgage interest on behalf of jobless homeowners. The matter of whether people should be receiving financial help indefinitely without the tax payer having the chance to recoup some of the costs is being looked into by Lord Freud. Proposals include the suggestion that new claimants who want to continue receiving support after a fixed period of time should receive this help in exchange for a charge on their homes, which can be recouped when the properties are sold. For your conveyancing solutions visit us today!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Euro crisis causes mortgage rates to soar!!

For anyone intending to move home or remortgage, there may be some bad news in that mortgage rates this week have been seen to continue to rise. The primary reason behind this rise is the crisis in the eurozone which has meant that the costs of wholesale funding for banks has been forced up. This means that for a large number of homeowners who are intending to take out a mortgage will now have to pay an extra £16 per month (a fee that they would not have had to pay, had they applied over a week ago). ING Direct’s two-year fixed-rate for those with a 40 pc deposit increased to 2.85% from 2.65 % with a fee of £1,945. Need conveyancing? Compare conveyancing with us!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Monday 5 December 2011

Thousands remain homeless while over 900,000 empty homes are left to rot...

Tracy from East London repeatedly walks past a whole block of flats that have remained empty ever since they were built. She said; "the block backs on to the Lee Navigation and has views directly over the Olympic Stadium, but sadly no one is getting to enjoy the view."


Despite a high demand for housing in the Oxfordshire ares, Bill's home looks onto a house that has been un-lived in for at least 10 years. "It seems such a waste on so many levels," he says.

John has been the neighbour to an empty home in York for a number of years. "It has become derelict, attracts criminals … has broken windows and has damaged my walls," he says.

These are just a handful of an estimated 300,000 homes in England alone that have remained empty for six months at the very least and among numerous of stories were reported to The Observer when asking readers to get in touch about disused properties in your neighbourhoods.



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Sunday 4 December 2011

The British property scandal: broke, young and homeless!!!!

“It was frightening and unbelievably lonely." “I couldn’t sleep at night. All I could think about was how to survive.” It was December, the season of goodwill and shivering in his sleeping on a park bench, student Leon Rossi felt helpless after being turned away from every hostel in King's Cross. He was only 26 years old and in good health, therefore putting him at the bottom of the priority list for getting a bed for the night. Seven years later, Leon who has recently featured in forthcoming Channel 4 documentary The Great British Property Scandal, now lives in a spacious, one-bedroom flat in Finsbury Park. It’s rented to him by Real Lettings, a social enterprise that takes on abandoned or empty properties and lets them out to vulnerable people who are ineligible for social housing. For your conveyancing solutions visit us! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Saturday 3 December 2011

Beyonce and Jay-Z look into buying Miami mansion formerly owned by Ricky Martin....

Beyonce and Jay-Z are searching for a new home in which to raise their baby, and they may have just stumbled upon the ideal place. The super-famous power couple went on the hunt for their new home in Miami Beach the other week and checked out a super-expensive mansion whose current owner happens to be Ricky Martin. For your conveyancing solutions visit us today! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

London's ULTIMATE LUXURY flats on sale for up to £136million!!! So exclusive, there are no residents!!

When the 86 flats at London’s One Hyde Park went on the market for up to £136million four years ago, they were billed as the ‘ultimate luxury’ for the super-rich, however at their retail price, who is actually living in these luxury apartments? The flats are situated opposite the famously upmarket department store Harvey Nichols, and could easily mislead people into thinking that they are the home of an anonymous multinational corporation with their imposing glass exterior. There are few clues on the outside that this is reputedly the world’s most exclusive apartment block. Planning to move home? Compare conveyancing with us today!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Thursday 1 December 2011

Rental crisis for families living in Oxford!!!

Due to recent surveys, experts fear that due to benefit cuts in Oxford a housing crisis may be on the horizon,  meaning that people will no longer be able to afford their rented homes.

Oxford City Council has admitted to struggling to handle the new caps on the Local Housing Allowance, which is provided to 12,670 people in order to help pay their rent to private landlords as they are either currently on benefits or have low incomes and need the extra support.


Local Housing Allowance rates have been based on the average rent up until April this year where the rates for new claimants have been based on the lowest 30% of local rents. 


As of the coming January, the new rates will begin to be applied to those already receiving housing benefits.



moving house? need conveyancing? compare conveyancing with us today for your free quote!! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

House prices are withstanding the current state of the economy...

Nationwide has announced that UK house prices have continued to be "surprisingly resilient" in the past few months, with values rising yet again in November.

The figures have been based upon Nationwide's own mortgage data and have shown that the average home rose in value by 0.4% in November to £165,798, which demonstrates a 1.6% year on year increase.

The number of mortgages approved for house purchase, but not yet completed, has also increased marginly to its highest level for nearly two years.



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Wednesday 30 November 2011

"Housing turnover hits lowest in 40 years!!!"


"Hometrack says 840,000 sales are expected this year – almost 50% lower than the figure for 2007. Its latest housing survey showed prices fell by 0.2% in November from the previous month, following another 0.2% tumble in October.
Prices are down by 2.3% year on year and have fallen every month since July 2010, apart from April this year when the market was flat with no change recorded.
Hometrack said prices were being propped up by people's reluctance to put their homes up for sale, creating a scarcity of supply."


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from oxfordhomesdirect.blogspot.com by Simon Bayliss

Monday 28 November 2011

Will our soon to be nation of renters be prevented by a £400million cash injection??

In a bid to stimulate a housing market which David Cameron summed up as one in which "lenders won't lend, builders can't build and buyers can't buy", the Government is looking to inject £400million into house-building in order to try and free up mortgage finance for first-time buyers.

The plans haven't had the warmest response, with critics arguing that it simply isn't enough to jump-start the market and prevent us from becoming a nation of renters.

"The only winners in this new initiative are the insurance industry, mortgage lenders, estate agents and sellers," says Angus Hanton, the co-founder of think tank Intergenerational Foundation. "Younger generations will still have to prop up an overpriced market where prices should be falling, an overpriced mortgage industry where charges should be falling while underwriting the debt. The fact remains the older generation is over-consuming housing."



planning to move home? need conveyancing? why not compare conveyancing with us?! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Sunday 27 November 2011

Who is charging $75,000 a month for their luxury beach house?

Pamela Anderson's luxury Malibu beach pad has just hit the rental market in the US, but sadly not at a cheap price!!
The mother of two has set the price for her 'Romantic Malibu Beach House' for an eye-watering $75,000 per month.
The former Baywatch beauty says she is listing the three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom home because she no longer spends that much time in California.



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Friday 11 November 2011

Lending reaches its peak since 2008 as buy-to-let loans increase by 16%...

Over the past few months, buy-to-let lending has increased by 16% between July and September, after the sudden pick-up of buy-to-let lending over the three months prior to that.

The data was released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and revealed that in the three months leading up to September, 34,500 buy-to-let loans were advanced – a vast increase from the 29,700 that was recorded in the quarter prior to this one.
 
The value of mortgages was also recorded over the same three month period and the results showed that mortgages have grown from £3.2billion to £3.8billion, totalling a 19% increase.
 
need conveyancing? visit us at http://www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk/ TODAY for your free quote!!

Thursday 10 November 2011

Up for auction: Michael Jackson's mansion including his deathbead......


In a world where celebrity gossip is thrown around carelessly and personal space and privacy seem like a distant memory to many who fall under the category of being 'famous', Michael Jackson's death bed is one item among many belong to the singer to go up for auction.

The items for sale are from the California mansion where Jackson spent his final days that are to go up for auction in the coming months.

The items include antique furnishings, bespoke and unique paintings as well as lavish items that surrounded the King of Pop. 

The auction is to take place in Los Angeles on December 17th.

for your conveyancing solutions look no further! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Tuesday 8 November 2011

Jennifer Aniston buys a new luxury home in New York worth $9million!!


Ever since she sold her Los Angeles mansion for $38million Jennifer Aniston has been on some what of a buying spree. 

Her most recent purchase will of course spark pregnancy rumours as photos of the amazing apartment reveal that it has two nurseries.

Earlier in the year Aniston had purchased two homes in the West Villiage in New York. 

In April, the Horrible Bosses actress purchased both the 17th and 18th floors of an apartment building in Manhattan for over $7m.
Following that, in August, Jennifer and boyfriend Justin Theroux moved into a two-bedroom home that cost $2.1m.

are you planning on moving home? to compare conveyancing visit us!! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Monday 7 November 2011

Stress of buying and selling can age you!!



A recent study, commissioned by online conveyancing service In-Deed has revealed that over two-thirds of those surveyed by psychologists reported feelings of premature ageing of between 2-4 years over the average 15-week period to complete a housing transaction.

The report also revealed that one in five people went off sex, while other common side effects include hair loss (10%) and short-term memory failure (14%) which lasted until the house was signed off.

to take away some of the stress of buying and selling, compare conveyancing with us at www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

House prices RISE by 1.2%!!!!


A recent report by Halifax has revealed that house prices soared by 1.2 per cent last month to continue a highly mixed pattern of price movements this year.
In its October housing market report, it shows that house prices in October 2011 are slightly higher than they were in October of last year, with the average price of a property in the UK is now £163,311.
The average price in October was 0.3% higher (approximately £508) than in December 2010.

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Sunday 6 November 2011

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to move into Kensington Palace!!!


After a personal intervention from the Queen to ensure that they were able to move into Princess Margaret's former apartment, Prince William and Princess Catherine are to make Kensington Palace their family home.

An estimated £1 million is said to being spent on renovating the luxurious four-story apartment which consists of 20-room complete with its own private walled garden. However the couple are not expected to move in officially until the work is complete in 2013.

In order to be able to get on with redecorating, as many of the rooms remain pink and turquoise (Princess Margaret’s favourite colours) extensive work will be carried out to rewire the electrics install new plumbing and remove asbestos.

The cost of the renovations will be met by a mix of contributions from the Royal Family’s own fortune as well as public grants.

are you moving into your own luxury apartment? need conveyancing before you make the big move? for top quality conveyancing visit us at www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

40% of people with a mortgage do not have life insurance...



According to a recent study carried out by Sainsbury's Life Insurance, four out of ten people living in the UK who possess a mortgage have no life insurance protection for their mortgage.

The research showed that one in three people aged between 35 and 44 years old do not have cover. This age range represents the age group which are most likely to have dependents, and arguably are possibly most in need of life insurance due to their dependents.

Helen Williams, head of Sainsbury's Life Insurance, said: "Mortgage repayments are one of the biggest financial commitments in many peoples' lives but, as our research shows, unfortunately it is not something that enough mortgage holders have taken steps to protect."

Are you planning on moving home? are you searching for conveyancing? visit us for your free quote TODAY!! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Lord Lloyd-Webber fears for the loss of heritage and English countryside....

Lord Lloyd-Webber has expressed his fears for our beautiful British countryside suffering a similar fate to the countryside in Southern Ireland and becoming a victim of uncontrolled planning.

He stated that, “The English Countryside is pretty much at saturation point now in development terms. If you want a reasonable tourism you have to have something for tourists to see – to attract them. They are not going to want to to see a whole load of semi-detached buildings or bungalows – which is what you get in Ireland,”

The new plans that are currently being considered by the Government involve reforms to the current planning system which could make it easier to build on the countryside.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) would introduce a presumption in favour of “sustainable development” and remove the presumption that ‘brown field sites’ should be built on first.



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Friday 4 November 2011

Shelter estimates 35,000 could lose their homes in run up to Christmas!!!

According to the homelessness charity Shelter, in the run up to Christmas one Briton every two minutes (roughly 35,000) faces losing their home due rent being in arrears or to falling behind on mortgage repayments.

Shelter has stated that between now and the Christmas Day, 630 people per day will receive a letter that will treaten the loss of their home, either due to repossession, landlords selling their properties, sun-standard housing conditions or rent increases.

This research implies that of the stress caused by threat of homelessness is directly related to stress related illness. Of those who have experiences a threat of homelessness, 61% endured a stress related illness, while 70% claimed that it was a constant worry and was always at the forefront of their mind.

Not only that, but those when asked to rank their primary stress-causing worries in a graduating order, they placed the stress caused by a threat of homelessness as higher than being assulted, burgles and even a battle of custody for their children!!

 

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Taxman comes down hard on overseas property-owners!!!

A new HM Revenue & Customs unit has been set up to tackle 'affluent' people who have been avoiding the taxman for a number of years. The Britons who are wealthy enough to possess land or properties abrouad are among the first to be hit by this new unit.

The unit is made up of a team of over 200 specialists and investigators who have been given the task of locating wealthy individuals who have been and continue to evade and avoid duties and taxes.

Some of the first to be 'put under the microscope' are those who own properties abroad, following those will be the UK-based comodity traders who have come under scrutiny for helping to drive up food prices by anti-poverty campaigners. Next in the firing line will be those living in the UK who hold offshore bank accounts.
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Wednesday 2 November 2011

"The murky world of estate agent fees"


The partners will share a bonus pot of £73m after the firm reported profits up by 10% in the year to March. Knight Frank no longer discloses how many partners it has, although in 2010 the bonuses were reported to be worth £600,000 a head.
It comes at a time when the number of properties sold in the UK is running at less than half the peak level in 2007; when properties are taking longer and longer to sell; and when first timers are being squeezed out of the market by landlords. The average flat in London now goes for £237,000 in a city where average wages are a fraction of that. As campaigners at PricedOut point out, that means a deposit in the region of £25,000 and a mortgage of about six times a typical London salary. Little wonder so few young adults are getting on the property ladder.
But Knight Frank doesn't sell the type of property you and I live in. Along with Savills it is an agent to the rich, marketing the likes of this £75m 12-bed pad in Holland Park. Property experts are fond of saying there are thousands of mini-property markets across the UK, but in reality there now seem to be just two: London, and the rest of the country.
One of the odder features of the capital's property market is that some agents have been raising their fees since the onset of the financial crisis. Foxtons won't negotiate below 2.5%. The likes of Knight Frank and Savills don't disclose their fees, but it is likely to be close to that, or more. ....."
Posted by Simon Bayliss. at Thursday, October 27, 2011 at oxfordhomesdirect.blogspot.com

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Increasing debt is decreasing younger generations chances of owning their own home!!!


According to one of the leading debt counseling charities, debt problems at a young age, such as the debt incurred by University fees, are becoming increasingly likely to inhibit the younger generations of Britons to be able to purchase their own homes, as well as other assets like their parents and grandparents were able to do at the same respective age.

The report by the Consumer Counselling Credit Service has predicted a less than bright future a large percentage of those under the age of forty as real incomes decline, debts continue to increase and saving for retirement turns into more of a dream than a reality.

However, while the research for the charity showed that debt levels tend to peak when people are aged around 35-45years old, they found that over 1m households in the UK where those inhabiting the property are aged between 18 and 39 are already struggling financially. This research then indicates that another 893,000 are at risk of struggling with financial issues..

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Thursday 20 October 2011

Former 'Friend' on real estate cut down!!!

It appers as though former Friends star is shaking things up in his real estate portfolio as he has recently sold his home On Sunset Strip for a whopping $5.7million. This is Perry's third real estate asset to have been put up for sale in recent months. The most recent property listing was announced just two weeks after putting his majestic mansion in Malibu for an incredible $13.5 million!! Are you moving home? Need conveyancing? Visit us for your free quote TODAY!!! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Wednesday 19 October 2011

25% increase in financial product complaints!!!

According to the Financial Ombudsman Service, between the months of July 2011 and September 2011 the number of complaints regarding financial products has increased by nearly 25%. In the second quarter of 2011-12, the ombudsman has received a 24% increase in complaints, taking the total from 25,276 (the number of complaints received in the same time period in 2010-11) to 31,386, excluding the service of payment protection insurance. However the total number of complaints has decreased by 19,259 from the 56,025 cases between April and June 2011. Top of the list of reasons for complaints was credit card accounts (11.5%) closely followed by current accounts (8.5%), then mortgages (5.5%) and finally car and motorcycle insurance (4%). In search of conveyancing? Need to compare quotes? Visit us for your free quote today!!! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Tuesday 18 October 2011

"Katie Price at the Oxford Union: 'No one has an excuse not to try and earn a living'"

"Not since Albert Einstein stood on this spot, perhaps, has there been such a meeting of great minds. On one side of the oak-panelled chamber sat the academic cream of Britain – history-makers in waiting, future captains of industry, and almost certainly a smattering of aspiring politicians. On the other sat Katie Price. But the topless model turned self-made businesswoman may have posed an unspoken question to undergraduates when she followed in the footsteps of prime ministers, world leaders and international notables to address the Oxford Union." Need conveyancing? Compare conveyancing with us at www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Monday 17 October 2011

Popularity of renting causing shortage of properties to rent!!!

The recent high demand for rental properties Is generating a crisis in the British rental market according to a new survey. The Association of Residential Letting Agents fears that due to a record hi of new tenancies in the private rental sector signed this year, the sector is close to bursting!! The regulatory body, responsible for letting agents in the UK, surveyed over 6,000 members of whom 74% responded that the demand for rental properties far outweighs the supply within the sector since the record high was reached earlier this year. According to the survey, the increase was least drastic in London and the South-east, saying that some of the tenants were now staying in properties for over 18 months due to the worry of finding a similar or upgraded property in the hily competitive market that currently exists. Need conveyancing? Visit us today for your free quote at the most competitive rates around!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Sunday 16 October 2011

Property BOOM in East London as 2012 Olympics approach....

With the 2012 Olympics on the horizon the latest branch of London's BIGGEST estate agent threw open it's doors over the previous weekend with the intent of generating a business buzz on the doorstep of the Olympic stadium. Many businesses are seemingly on the same wavelength, as well as private property owners anticipating the influx of spectators wishing to stay in the area and fully experience the olympics with soaring rental prices. As night fell upon The Grove last weekend, in the centre of Stratford town, the streets were flooded with neon lighting casting a warm glow upon the pavements. The shop windows filled with brand new sparkly surfaces, swanky drinks cabinets and flat screen TVs to entertain and draw people in, interspersed with betting shops, fast food outlets and Money lenders for the punter's convenience, of course. Planning on moving home? Need to compare conveyancing?for the best deals around visit us for your free quote today!! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Saturday 15 October 2011

Families in UK struggle to afford soaring private rental prices...

According to a survey by the homeless charity Shelter, a worryingly increasing number of families in the UK have been priced out of rental property in the majority of local authorities in England. The Shelter Rent Watch found that 55% of ordinary working families are unable to afford the average prices for private rents of local authorities in England. The accepted measure of affordability states that the average rent for a house should sit at one third of the families 'take home' pay, however typical rents charged by private landlords exceeded the standard third. The research showed that 38% of families with children were having to cut down on food in order to pay their rent. who were renting privately had cut down on food to pay their rent. Planning on moving house? Need conveyancing?? Visit us for your free quote today!!

Thursday 13 October 2011

Boston penthouse belonging to Gisele Bundchen goes on the Market for a whopping $10.5million!!!

Gisele Bundchen and husband Tom Brady are making a second attempt to sell their luxury Boston penthouse. The house which holds many memories for the couple, among them the fact that it was the birthplace of their first son, Benjamin, was put on the Market in 2009 but failed to sell. The couple have now lowered their asking price to $10.5million, which is $400,000lower than their original asking price. Feel like a change? Thinking of moving house? Why not come to us to compare conveyancing to find the best quality conveyancing at the lowest prices around!?

Cheryl Cole takes to the dark of night to view luxury LA home worth £3.4million

Despite already being the proud owner of a beautiful apartment in Beverly Hills, Cheryl Cole is appearing to make a serious commitment to breaking America, by upgrading her already A-grade apartment, for something a bit more upmarket. In the dark of night Cole was spotted with her estate agent and personal assistant viewing a mansion in Los Angeles mansion worth £3.4million ($5.5million). The luxury home covers a total area of 6,000 sq ft and boast stunning views over the city as well as six bedrooms and four bathrooms. Are you planning on moving home? Need to compare conveyancing prices to find the best deal for you? Visit us for your free conveyancing quote today!! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Tuesday 11 October 2011

Housing prices due to drop dramatically!!!

House prices decreasing by over 50%. Big-name companies dropping like flies. The FTSE Rapidly declining over a number of years, enduring a series of steep crashes, interspersed with smaller rallies. These are the apocalyptic visions predicted by investment manager and economist David Kauders, who has been uncannily correct to date in his predictions. Kauders who usually only recommends his clients invest in UK and US government bonds, has been warning clients about rapidly rising levels of debt for a great number of years now. For example, In the late nineties he warned that 'with growth in GDP less than growth in lending, the sensible conclusion is that America's boom is artificial.' Not only this, but he practically predicted the the recession and banking crisis that we experienced in 2008, which has given him a great deal more authority. Now he has outlined in detail what he thinks will happen next in his book The Greatest Crash. Do you need conveyancing? Visit us for your free quote today! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Saturday 8 October 2011

How to avoid losing your home to squatters!!!

Squatting has become a standard way of life for many as property prices and rent sky-rocket. The latest figures produced by the government indicate the estimated number of squatters in the UK lies at around 20,000, however the actual case is very likely to be much higher than that. Squatting is already a criminal offence in Scotland and is punishable by imprisonment or a hefty fine. However the government have closed a consultation on the criminalisation of squatting, which includes proposals ranging from creating an offence of "squatting in buildings", in which the activity illegal, to improving the enforcement available under the existing legal framework. Intending to move house? Need to compare conveyancing to find the best deal for you? Why not visit us at www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk for your free quote today!

Thursday 6 October 2011

Homelessness on the rise in Oxford!!!

New figures have shown that more and more people in Oxford than ever before have officially been made homeless. The statistics released by Oxford City Council have shown that since April this year over 163 households have been forced to live in temporary accommodation which is a massive increase in comparison to the 156 which representsthe figures over the whole of the 2010/11 financial year. A report put before the city executive board said: “There has been a massive downturn in the availability of the private rented market to us, with many landlords no longer willing to take housing benefit clients, and a very buoyant private rental market, with many households renting instead of joining the property market.” Need conveyancing? Why not compare conveyancing with us?! Visit us for your free quote TODAY!!!

Tuesday 4 October 2011

London is HOT property!!!

True to form, our capital city continues to stand out, obviously for many reasons, however it's property Market remains a hotspot in the industry. House prices in London are gradually on the rise due to a high demand and a low supply of properties, where as the rest of the UK faces continually decreasing house prices, as nervous buyers stay away from purchasing new properties, many choosing to rent instead. Andrew Montlake from mortgage broker Coreco has said that "London feels like a separate country at the moment. We used to think that London was always six months ahead of the rest of the UK but that has changed... If anything, I don't think London is ahead any more. I just think it's different." Need to compare conveyancing? Visit us TODAY for your free quote!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Saturday 1 October 2011

Downturn Abbey FOR SALE!!

"There isn't a grown-up child in the land who hasn't fantasised about living in a castle at one time or another. Yet the reality is the closest most of us come to owning a slice of history is in the form of a Victorian terrace with windows that allow a force-nine gale to whip through the lounge every winter. Thankfully, this may no longer be the case. One of the few advantages of the current economic climate is that the market for castles has stalled, meaning that whether you fancy yourself as a Scottish Laird or modern-day Emma Woodhouse, that dream is now more achievable than ever." Need conveyancing? Visit us for your free quote today!!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Thursday 29 September 2011

Ricky Gervais splashes out on Upper East Side apartment worth $3.75 million...


Ricky Gervais and and his producer partner Jane Fallon have recently splashed out £2.5million on their luxury home on the 12th floor of the exclusive Barbizon building in the Upper East Side. 

The Barbizon was originally biult as a residential hotel for women in the 1920s but is slowly, but surely, being taken over by Mr Gervais who already owns one apartment in the building.

Liza Minnelli and Joan Crawford reportedly called it home and Grace Kelly is said to have danced down the halls in just her underwear.

Are you planning on buying a property? Need to compare conveyancing prices? Get your free quote with us today!!! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk



"Google leases London property for start-up launchpad..."


Check out this article that i found at : http://oxfordhomesdirect.blogspot.com

"Web giant joins "Tech City" initiative by leasing seven-storey property "to provide a launchpad for new London-based start-ups and developers"
Web giant Google has announced that it is to lease a seven-storey property in London's Old Street area, in order to house a "launchpad" for technology start-ups.

The company says it will open up the facility "to other organisations that support technology entrepreneurs, working together to provide a launchpad for new London-based start-ups and developers".

Google would not provide any more details on what kind of organisation this refers to, but said that it will "announce more details about the organisations we’ll work with and how they will use the space in the coming months".

The new site will also play host to "speaker series, hackathons, training workshops and product demonstrations for engineers who could benefit from Google’s knowledge of building large scale online services", Google said.

Google plans to open the facility next year, and has signed a lease that lasts until 2022"

need conveyancing? visit us for your free quote today!!

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Big deposits mean mortgage products are back-tracking to pre-banking crisis levels!!


Since the recession hit and the loans market was fragmented in 2008, the number of mortgage products available to prime residential borrowers has hit the highest since 2008, to over 3,000.

Research by moneyfacts.co.uk has revealed that there are currently a massive 3,035 mortgages on offer, not far off the 3,250 that were available in February 2008.

At the height of the banking crisis that we experienced in April 2009, the number of mortgage deals had dramatically fallen to just over 1,000 - a catastrophic drop to experience in a relaively short period of time,  only just over 12 months.

However, two years on and the number of mortgages available has over tripled in size.

are you in need of conveyancing? why not compare conveyancing with us? for the best quality conveyancing and cheapest prices out there!!

Monday 26 September 2011

First time house buyers are four years younger in the north than those in London...


The growing divide in house prices is seeming to affect the age of first time buyers, demonstrating a dramatic divide between the first time buyers in London, with an average age of 32, which is four years older than those in the north of England, Scotland and Wales.

The report, published on Saturday 24th September by Halifax found that the average age across the UK is 29, revealing wide regional variations. In Selby in Yorkshire, the average age of a first time buyer is just 25 where as in Harrow, in London, the average first-time buyer is 34.

Despite Land Registry figures showing property prices in England and Wales rose by 161% between January 1995 and July 2011, the national average first-time buyer age of 29 has only risen by one year since 1983. Halifax said a dramatic rise in parental support to help young people buy their first home had kept the average age down.

moving house? need conveyancing? visit us www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Sunday 25 September 2011

Purchase of holiday homes on the rise...

Contrary to popular belief regarding the state of the property market overseas, the number of houses abroad being purchased by Britons is on the increase. One of the largest ever surveys of holiday homeowners overseas has showed that despite decreases in house prices ranging from 50% in Spain to 10% in France, the number of Britons buying abroad has in fact increased during the property market crash. 

According to research by lettings website www.homeaway.co.uk and Savills, the figure representing the number of homeowners in Britain who posses holiday homes abroad has leapt to a record high of 430,000 in 2010, where as in 2006, only 385,000 Britons owned holiday homes overseas. 


The author of the report, Rebecca Gill from Savills has said that, “It’s even more surprising because some previous owners will have sold in the interim. The net increase means there has been a sizeable number of Britons buying abroad since 2006.”



are you planning on buying abroad? or thinking of selling your current home? compare conveyancing with us!! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Saturday 24 September 2011

What NOT to do when selling your house...


The draft guidance from the watchdog has revealed that many are risking heavy penalties dues to failing to comply with the consumer protection law. Actions that the OFT have announced warnings against, ranging from the simply "unfair" to the outright banned, include: 

"Giving misleading information to consumers

Estate agents are explicitly told not to boast about a “'secluded garden' when there is a public right of way through the garden, [a] 'peaceful area' when a bypass is planned close to the property, 'nice views of surrounding countryside' when there is a power plant next to the property, [or of] 'off street parking' when the parking is on a public highway”."

planning to sell your house? need to compare conveyancing? visit us www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Friday 9 September 2011

Negative equity to affect 1.7 million homeowners...


The current situation in the property market is seeing 7.3% of all house holds with a mortgage, which is over 800,000 people in the UK, are facing a situation in which the value of their mortgage exceeds the actual value of their property.

However, thanks to the tax lending which occurred during the credit boom, as well as several years of house prices decreasing rapidly, this number could be seen to double if property prices fall even by 10%. This would be the greatest count of negative equity since the property crash of the 1990s.

are you moving house? need conveyancing? visit us for your free quote today!! 

www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

London property owners desperate for a quick sale....

PPR Estates has reported that the number of home owners in London, searching for a quick sale far below the current asking prices has increased significantly. They have said that this has been due to a collapse in buyer interest, combined with an increase in liquidations of companies as well as rising unemployment, areas that are said to be most affected were the ones struck by the recent riots. The director of PPR Estates, Nick Hopkinson has said that there had been a rising number of "distressed" sellers over the past few years in other parts of the country aswell, however London had appeared to be immune as prices have continued to rise. Are you planning on buying or selling? Need conveyancing? Visit us for your free quote today!

Wednesday 7 September 2011

Majority of children in the UK on a mission to buy dream home...

New research has revealed that two thirds of children in the United Kingdom are aiming to, by the age of 35, own their dream house, while a further 19% are aiming to own their dream house by an even younger age. The research, carried out by Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks has revealed that a third of the children questioned maintain an optimistic outlook in life despite the economic crisis believing it will cost them over £500,000 Despite the fact that 33% of children predicted that their dream house would cost between £500,000 and £1 million, 19% are adamant Rabat they will own sed dream home by the age of 25. The research also indicates that children in Yorkshire are the most optimistic with 38% of primary school children are hoping to own their dream home by the age of 25 and 83% by the age of 35. They are also hopeful in Edinburgh and slightly more realistic with the majority of children, 89%, are expecting to own their dream home by the age of 35 while only 29% expect to be home owners by the age of 25. Where as in Wales 24% expect to do so by the age of 25 and 80% by the age of 35. Need conveyancing? Visit us for your free quote today! www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Monday 5 September 2011

Lists of 'approved' conveyancing solicitors is cut by mortgage lenders...

A new issue has been introduced to the chaos that can be, buying a house. Not only do you have to worry about finding a property, saving for a deposit and passing credit and salary checks but you now have to worry about your chosen solicitor. Many lenders will now, not work with the law firms chosen by the borrower to to their conveyancing. This is a situation that is reducing consumer choice and can cause costs to build up, as well as causing hassle and delay to the homebuying process. And the problem is set to continue to increase. Mortgage lenders have always kept a list of law firms that they are willing to work with, however in recent months big names such as Santander, Nationwide and Lloyds Banking Group have all reviewed those lists and reduced the number of solicitors in those lists– in some cases removing solicitors who have worked with them for over 20 years.

Sunday 4 September 2011

BBC presenter Phillip Mould's Duck End house

Hey guys... Check out this article I found.... "The art expert, picture-dealer and BBC1’s Fake or Fortune? presenter Philip Mould talks about bringing an old house back to life as if it were a portrait in need of restoration. 'You have to peel back the layers till you get to the original,’ he says. 'The same question applies to a building as to a work of art – how far do you strip it back and what kind of repairs should you embark on?’ That was the dilemma facing Mould and his wife, Catherine, when they acquired the delightfully named Duck End in Oxfordshire eight years ago. (It means the watery end of a village – the sheep wash was done here.) " by Simon Bayliss Need conveyancing? Visit us today for your free quote!

Friday 2 September 2011

Housing market crises calls for action...

As house prices soar, home ownership tumbles leading us into a major crisis in the housing market a study released today warns. Over the next decade the National Housing Federation's forecast has said that house ownership in the UK is set to decrease by as much as 63.8%, hitting its lowest level since the mid-1980s. The combination of strict lemdimg criteria with huge deposits, on top of the high house prices have sent home ownership into a rapid decline, the Federation said. If you need conveyancing, simply visit www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk for your free quote today!

Thursday 1 September 2011

Homelessness is set to increase, spanning the middle class

According to a recent study due to the economic crisis of recent years and the welfare cuts, courtesy of the government, homelessness is set to soar over the next couple of years, increasing the spectrum of middle class people that are forced to live on the streets. The report was released by the homelessness charity Crisis, has said that there is a direct link between rising homelessness and the recession as cuts to services and drastic changes to benefit laws slowly erode the traditional welfare safety net that so many in the country rely upon. The study, carried out by both the academics of Heriot-Watt University and the University of York, consists of 120 pages highlighting recent figures released over the summer that show councils have reported an increase of 10% from last years study taking the overall figures for people accepted as homeless in the UK to 44,160 people. Need conveyancing? Visit us!!! Www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Wednesday 31 August 2011

Mortgage approvals are on a 14month high but the Market remains on it's knees...

According to new figures released today, the number of mortgages that have been approved for house purchases in July has risen to 49,239, an increase of 1.5%. The Bank of England stated that from a four month depression in April last year, the number of approved mortgages has continued to slowly increase over the past 14 months. However, this figure was not as high as the previous month, where the rate had an increase of 4%. Need conveyancing? Visit us at www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk for conveyancing of the highest quality at the most affordable prices!

Tuesday 30 August 2011

Ulrika Jonsson completes her bespoke ideal home.

After a fifteen month build, Ulrika Jonsson and her art director husband, Brian Monet, and their four children have finally completed and moved in to a bespoke, five bedroom house in Oxfordshire.

While for many, building and moving into their dream home is a plan that is often never fulfilled, but the stress of building your own home can often take its toll, with Ulrika battling with depression through a portion on the build.

Are you planning to build your dream home? Or are you moving to the house of your dreams? If you need conveyancing then give us a call or visit us at www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk for your free quote today!


Monday 29 August 2011

July's house prices rise by 1.3%...

According to the Land Registry, house prices in July have risen by 1.3%. This has taken the annual fall in prices to only 2.1% as well as taking the average price of properties in England and Wales to £163,049.

The results of the survey found that the south-west experienced the greatest monthly rise with an increase of 2.2%. Where as the north-east experienced both the greatest annual price fall with a decrease of 8.8%, and the most significant monthly price fall at -2.3%.

London was the only region in England and Wales to experience an increase in its average property value over the past 12 months with a rise of 1.3%.

Need conveyancing? Visit us at www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk for your free quote today!

Saturday 27 August 2011

Good Conveyancing is vital when buying or selling.

You will find many estate agents keen to recommend a conveyancing solicitor in return for a substantial referral fee upon completion. It is not unheard of referral fees in excel of £600.00 being paid for a simple 
introduction. Referral fees paid by the solicitor but added to your conveyancing costs.
Unfortunately estate agents do not recommend solicitors on their ability but on the size of their referral fee. Solicitors involved in these referrals are known to add fictitious disbursements to escalate their costs and can be ‘spotted a mile away’. Disbursements you need to watch out for are:
Completion of SDLT form: Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is generally payable on the purchase or transfer of property or land in the UK where the amount paid is above a certain threshold. The solicitors need to complete a simple form to inform the HM Revenue & Customs, however, solicitors have been known to add up to £85.00 for this service even when there is no stamp duty to be paid.
Acting on behalf of the lender: This applies when a mortgage lender is involved with a purchase, the solicitor has a legal obligation to act on behalf of a lender. Charging for this as and additional service is simply a way of inflating costs.
Professional Indemnity Insurance (PI): Solicitors have been known to charge up to £40.00 for this disbursement. PI is required by all solicitors to operate.
Receiving a quote with any of these disbursement listed is a clear sign that you need to obtain some quotes elsewhere. Some solicitors that specialise in property are turning to the internet to market their services. A simple search in Google for conveyancing will result in many firms promoting themselves. Again, watch out for the fictitious disbursements and check to see if the solicitor offers a “no completion no fee service”. You don’t want to be paying any fees for a failed transaction.
You can find the service from some of these solicitors’ very efficient and read reviews from past clients. Many will also offer the ability to log in and track the progress of your matter online. Using a solicitor you found on the internet is no different to finding one from the Yellow Pages. Conveyancing is now done remotely, you should not need to visit a solicitor’s office, if you do then you will be paying for the privilege.
Estate Agents will discourage you from using your own solicitor, whether it is one you found on the high street or via the internet. They will ‘pull out all the stops’ to encourage you to use theirs. Usual excuses are: Our solicitor will be much more efficient, Internet solicitors are slow and many result in the chain breaking down. Ignore these statements, this is a simple attempt to make a referral for a substantial fee to a solicitor they have an arrangement with.

Thursday 25 August 2011

To rent? or to buy? THAT is the question...


The rapid decrease in housing prices that we have seen in the most part of 2011 is predicted to continue for at least the rest of the year, if not into the most part of 2012. 

In the short term, those investing in residential property is likely to lose the homeowner money. However, Citibusiness is questioning whether those lucky enough to have the choice between renting or buying, should be making the investment in property or taking out a more short-term contract and rent?

According to Absa’s senior property analyst, Jacques du Toit, since 2004 the year-on-year house prices have increased by around 30%.

However, it will shock no one that housing prices saw their greatest declines after the financial crisis of 2008/9 with housing price growth staying firmly in the red for the majority of 2009.

While in the far future, and following previous trending in house prices, things are set to improve, the near future predicts a long road to recovery.

Are you moving house? do you need conveyancing? visit us at www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Tuesday 23 August 2011

Mortgage lending by banks flat despite return of attractive deals | Mail Online


"Mortgage lending by banks was flat in July despite a return of better rates and the availability higher loan-to-value deals, according to British Bankers' Association figures.

Gross mortgage lending remained at £7.6billion last month, equal to the previous month's lending, according to the British Bankers' Association (BBA), after an 11% plunge between May and June.

Elsewhere, the number of mortgage approvals was up 4% month on month at 74,950, while remortgages increased 7% to 26,043. "

By Mail Online

are you moving house? need conveyancing? visit us at www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk for your free quote

Monday 22 August 2011

Women take over men in the battle of DIY....


Gone are the days where men were the ones in the home who were called upon for every DIY job!

A recent survey has revealed that nearly three quarters of British women are claiming to be just as good as – if not better than – their male counterparts at DIY.

The survey reveals that over half of the females questioned spent between one and five hours a week doing little DIY jobs around the house, many of these women rating themselves as better at it than the men in their lives.

for the best quality affordable conveyancing, visit us at www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Friday 29 July 2011

Gross mortgage lending up by 16%...


It seems apparent that a lot of people are still set on moving house or  purchasing their first home, despite the fluctuating prices and how difficult it is to get a mortgages as well as a lack of decent houses on the market. Analysts are continuing to predict a continuing fall in house prices, but with the number of people renting at record highs at the moment, many first-time buyers believe that now is just as good a time as any.

In June, gross mortgage lending was up by 16%, however any slight increase looks good against the low levels of lending that we have seen in recent months.

Are you planning to move house?? need conveyancing? click here to compare conveyancing and get your free quote TODAY!!

Thursday 28 July 2011

Bill Murray's country home goes on the market, complete with Ghostbusters props and all....


Anyone who has seen Ghostbusters will know the famous fireman's pole that features in the hit movie, well for a cool $2.795 million you could be the proud owner of the huge mansion, previously owned by Bill Murray, complete with that very pole.

The iconic pole from the 1984 comedy begins at the recording studio upstairs and runs all the way down to the New York home's garage.

Fancy moving home? need conveyancing? visit us at helpfulconveyancing.co.uk to compare conveyancing offers and get your free quote TODAY!!

Wednesday 27 July 2011

Mortgage lending in Britain drops by 11%....


Figures released today have shown that due to the lack of activity in the property market since the recession, Britains biggest banks have dropped mortgage lending by 11% in June to £7.6 billion.

The report, filed by the British Bankers' Association states that the annual decline in mortgage lending comes in spite of the encouraging signs in the buy-to-let sector as the demand for rental property increases significantly.

In May, the amount of house purchases in that were approved was slightly higher than those in June this year at 31,747, however this is 6% lower than the figures recorded in June 2010, with the average approval value of £149,700 being 0.6% lower than a year ago.

Planning to move house? need conveyancing?? click HERE to compare conveyancing and get the most competitive rates going!!!

Tuesday 26 July 2011

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge move into Kensington Palace after whirlwind tour...

At long last, after their whirlwind tour of the Canada and the USA, Prince William and Princess Kate have made Kensington Palace their first official royal home as a married couple.

The palace, where William once lived with his mother Lady Diana Spencer, are the chosen grounds on which their new 'modest' apartment is situated.

Despite their home boasting one of the most exclusive postcodes in the country, it is not nearly as extravagant as that of their new neighbors Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, whose five-bedroom, five-reception-room suite is situated nearby. 



thinking of moving house?? need conveyancing?? click here to compare conveyancing NOW!!

Wednesday 20 July 2011


Golf tournament to send house prices soaring....

Despite being three years away, housing agents are advising house hunters that the Open Championship, to be held in Scotland in 2014, is set to send house prices in East Lothian soaring.

Registers of Scotland have released figures which reveal that the prices of properties situated nearby championship golf courses have rocketed over the past six years.

to compare conveyancing click here NOW!!

Sunday 17 July 2011

Over half of homes in the UK are second homes....


Research reveals that over half of properties in the UK are second homes, research reveals.

The report states that the demand for second homes is rapidly increasing, despite the current economic climate. Since the recession, more and more people have been inclined to trade in their annual vacation abroad with a ‘staycation’, holidaying in a second property within the UK.

Families are opting into buying a second home for use as a weekend getaway and in the school holidays as a cheaper alternative to traveling abroad due to the recent increases in the cost of flights and poor exchange rates.

For those looking to purchase a second property and in need of conveyancing visit www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk