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.

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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

Saturday 16 July 2011

Stunning castle with very own island goes on the market for £750,000


Those contemplating purchasing a new holiday home are in luck as the ultimate holiday home, a Napoleonic castle on its own island, goes on the market for £750,000.

Currently, the only access to the property is by boat, but the stone fort has permission to link the island to the mainland by means of a cable car.

The fort, which is in need of some serious renovations, uses a generator to provide electricity and has three giant tanks underground to provide water.

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Friday 15 July 2011

British version of MTV 'Cribs' presented by Vernon Kay 'Through the Keyhole' returns...


This revival of a TV classic 'Through the Keyhole' (an earlier version of MTV's Cribs) in which the TV viewers re invited to 'snoop' around the homes of their favourite television stars, is set to make a return with Vernon Kay as the resident presenter.

The TV presenter, born in Bolton, will be taking on the role, previously filled by Lloyd Grossman’s, will be using his famous catchphrase: ‘Who would live in a house like this?’

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Thursday 14 July 2011

Childhood home of JK Rowling goes on the market....


The Grade II-listed Church Cottage, which inspired JK Rowling, author of the iconic Harry Potter series, has gone on the market for nearly £400,000. Rowling lived in the cottage from the age of nine to 18, with her father Peter, her mother Anne, and sister Diane from the age of nine to 18. 

The house is situated in the beautiful village of Tutshill, in Gloucestershire, (also the name of a Quidditch team in the novels) comes complete with cupboard under the stairs, trap door and even a secret scrawl written by the author at the age of 17. This 'graffiti' was carved into the paintwork in her, then, bedroom and reads 'Joanne Rowling slept here circa 1982'.

moving house?? need conveyancing? click here to compare quotes!

Wednesday 13 July 2011

Property remains at a stand-still...


The UK property market continues to remain at a "stand-still" as we have seen in the most recent survey taken in June, by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

While sales rose only "marginally" prices continued to fall back.

The Department for Communities and Local Government said that the average prices in the UK have dropped by 1.6% over the last year, and by 0.5% in May.

The only prices to have risen in the past year are those in London.

Reports by the Department for Communities and Local Government stated that "average prices decreased during the year in England (-1.3%) and also decreased in Wales (-6.1%), Scotland (-2.5%) and Northern Ireland (-13.2%),"

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Tuesday 12 July 2011

Buy-to-let has its downfalls but money can be made.....


In the past six years, the percentage of people deciding to rent privately owned property has gone up by 55%.

The number of people deciding to rent privately reached 3.35 million last year, from a mere 2.15 million as people house-hunting have been unable to save the mammoth deposits now required to buy a home, with most mortgage brokers asking for a 25% deposit or more.

The increased interest in people purchasing property as an investment which they can also make a reliable monthly income by means of rent has occurred due to increased yields in rent.

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Monday 11 July 2011

Merging of solicitors and law firm is a wise investment in difficult times...


The merger between Clarke & Son and an Old Basing law firm, finalised last Friday, is set to increase the range of expertise and services provided by both companies.
Quality Solicitors, Clarke & Son will be incorporating Kershaws Solicitors offices, owned by partners Ian Kershaw and Sandeep Lakhani, will now be based at in Winchester Road, Basingstoke.
“This is a great opportunity for both firms in what are challenging times for the legal profession... This merger will greatly strengthen the existing teams within QualitySolicitors Clarke and Son, in particular in the private client and residential conveyancing departments. It will also make available a wider range of expertise to Kershaws’ existing clients.”- Peter Turner, Senior Partner.
In February this year, Clarke & Son, which was established in 1862 and is one of the oldest law firms in Basingstoke, joined with QualitySolicitors in preparation for the implications of the Legal Services Act, in which providing legal services will be open to anyone within the market, as long as they adhere to certain requirements.
to COMPARE CONVEYANCING click here

Sunday 10 July 2011

Home owners contemplate renting to Olympics visitors for tidy profit.


With the 2012 Olympics just around the corner, Guardian Money has been investigating whether there is any money to be made as letting agents making reports of interest in renting accommodation through the duration of the games.

Many home owners re looking to 'cash in' with even the most basic of houses asking a whopping £5000 a WEEK in rent!! For £1500 a week you would me looking at a more modest one bedroom flat. All of these properties have the distinct advantage of being within walking distance of the Olympic Park in Stratford where the games are to be held.

However, experts in the temporary letting business are predicting disappointment for many, while a handful of people will be set to make a lot of money!!

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Survey on house prices leads to interesting result...


According to the latest survey by LSL Property Services/Acadametrics, In June 2011, the average house price in England and Wales fell by 0.8%, which brought down the annual price to 1.4%.

This significant drop in house prices is the largest drop since December 2010, with the average house in the UK worth around £219,365, a new low which hasn't been seen since January 2010. This therefore means that the marginal gains over the past 18 months have been obliterated, however house prices are far higher than those in April 2009, in which the average house price £200,234.

"In the current market, a monthly fall of 0.8% is relatively large. The greatest downward driver on national prices is the decrease in the price of high value homes due to a slump in demand following April's stamp duty rise for homes worth over £1m." - David Newnes, director of LSL Property Services, owner of estate agents Your Move and Reeds Rains.

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Friday 8 July 2011

New conveyancing measures in Asia to be implemented in August...

The Ministry of Law affirmed today that the law on conveyancing measures will come into play on the 1st August 2011.

These new measures have been implemented in order to protect the clients' money as well as preventing their lawyers from leaving with the clients' money from property transactions.

The new rules state that the money from each conveyancing transaction will not be allowed to be held in the lawyer's normal client bank accounts. Anyone in breach of the new rules will be forced to pay a fine of up to $50,000 and/or jail for up to three months.


Lawyers are able to hold the money in a Conveyancing Account which can only be opened in an appointed bank by the Minister for Law. 

The Singapore Land Authority has implemented an electronic payment option to enable the lawyers to initiate and counter-sign payment instructions.
This electronic system will help the banks to retrieve and process the payment instructions.


The money from the conveyancing transactions can also be held through the Singapore Academy of Law's new 
Conveyancing Money Service. For the more complicated transactions, lawyers are able to receive and hold money from the property transaction under escrow agreements between the lawyers of both the buyers and sellers involved in the transaction.




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Thursday 7 July 2011

Halifax admits mistake at pitching first-time buyer rates at £8.5%...


An "accidental" offer to first time buyers of a mortgage, charging above the base rate at interest of 8% above the base rate has appeared on the Halifax website.

The bank released the terms of the 95% loan-to-value loan on their website, offering a maximum loan of £7.5m and stating that the terms involve an early repayment fee of 6% of the outstanding loan.

While four lenders are known to offer 95% mortgages, their fixed interest rates span from 5.99% to 6.99%, these are fixed in order to protect the buyer against increasing monthly repayments if the base rate was to rise. 

Nationwide building society is currently offering a competitive five-year fix at 6.64% with a £400 application fee or 6.84% without.

CLICK HERE to compare conveyancing

Wednesday 6 July 2011

Consumers snap up great deals as mortgage wars commence...


After four years of banks declining applications to borrow money, there are emerging signs of a battle for market share.

With mortgage rates this quarter hitting their lowest for 23 years, the Bank of England are looking increasingly less likely to raise base rates with lenders all over the UK having to restrict lending. On average a two year tracker deal is currently priced at 3.37% while the average two-year deal comes in at a higher rate of 4.32%. 

On the market you can find even lower rates with Hinckley & Rugby offering a two-year deal at 2.99% if you can find a 25% deposit, with a fee of £990. 

CLICK HERE to compare conveyancing

Tuesday 5 July 2011

£5.8 billion reduction in mortgage debts.


In figures released yesterday, statistics have shown that in the first quarter of 2011, homeowners have managed to reduce their mortgage debt to the lowest level in a year.

According to the Bank of England, last year's record of £7.1 billion in the quarter prior to this one, has been greatly reduced with homeowners having paid off £5.8 billion of their mortgages this quarter.

Household owners for the past three consecutive years have been paying down their mortgage debt.

Where as previously in more prosperous economic times, people were more inclined to take out loans and mortgages when property prices were rapidly rising, there is now a tendency for people to be set on paying off their outstanding mortgages since the recession hit. 

looking to compare conveyancing?? check out www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk

Sunday 3 July 2011

Preston and Plymouth win quality of life vote...


Property search website Rightmove, has set up a brand new website which allows you to determine the places in the UK which provide the best quality of life to assit you in the decision of where to move house or purchase property.  
A survey was launched with more than 25,000 people in Britain who rated their towns and cities based on a set criteria. The trial version is available on rightmoveplaces.co.uk.
The site assists you in determining whether where you want to live is good value for money, and shows you the view of the local residents on that area.

looking to move house? need conveyancing? click the link to get your quote today!!

Saturday 2 July 2011

First-time buyers benefit from slashed mortgage rates.


Those buying housing for the first time, especially those with little savings, are to benefit from mortgage rates being cut by banks this week.

HSBC have offered those who can afford a 15 per cent deposit will be able to get a two-year fix with a £899 fee at 3.99 per cent. This would mean that the monthly payment would be £791 on a mortgage worth £150,000, and the total cost would end up at £19,883.

Although they have been offering the same rate for some time now, Norwich & Peterborough offer a fee of £995, resuting in a total cost of £19,979.

Friday 1 July 2011

'Moving Sideways'- Nationwide predicts the future for the property market.


In the property market in the past six months, Nationwide has described the trend as, 'moving sideways' due to the continually unchanging housing prices that have lasted through the whole of June.

Nationwide have stated that the typical value of a home in June 2010 was 1.1% higher than it is currently in 2011. Housing prices have remained the same in June as they were in May, hence the 'sideways' analogy.

Due to the current economic climate, housing prices are expected to change slightly over the course of the year, with the current average UK home costing £168,205.


for expert conveyancing advice and highly competitive rates visit www.helpfulconveyancing.co.uk