Recent Articles

A pre-Xmas price bounce for property?
Nov 13, 2019

It’s significant that both Rightmove and LSL are reporting prices falling in England and Wales, year on year, for this month, and albeit these are ‘tiny’ falls, they indicate a slowing market. With an election upon us, housing is going to be a key topic, but perhaps not as high as it would be without Brexit still ‘being on the list of ‘to dos’.  For all the latest on property prices, read Kate Faulkner's comprehensive report.

A return to a more sustainable pace of price growth?
Oct 17, 2019

Regionally, huge differences still remain with London, despite the recent falls still showing almost double the price growth since 2007. For those investors ‘leaving’ London for more ‘northern’ climes, they need to seriously think if this is the right decision. At the other end of the scale, affordability for those in the Midlands and North and even some in the South since the falls, has improved for many first time buyers – at least from a mortgage lending vs average wage front. Not something you’d think had happened with the constant ‘it’s impossible to afford a home’ headlines! Read my article to find out more.

The impact on the property market of elections, recessions and latest forecasts
Oct 10, 2019

At the recent Property Investor Show  I made two presentations, one covering the changes to the property market during elections and recessions, and another discussing the latest forecasts for both the next twelve months and the next few years.

Create your own Grand Design
Sep 24, 2019

Up until the credit crunch, in the main, agents could make a good living from just letting and selling property that came ‘through the door’ - even if it was a digital one. The market then crashed. Prices fell by 18-20% in most areas but worst still, transactions fell by 50%, with many property businesses and jobs being lost. Although we have seen a good recovery in many places, according to the RICS, the number of properties available for sale is still at an all-time low. With Brexit, talk of a recession and possible Stamp Duty changes, the likelihood of transactions recovering anytime soon is low. And, with the Nationwide reporting just 5% of existing homes coming onto the market, without access to new build properties, it’ll be tough for agents - and you - to secure the homes you and your family need to buy and let.

Why buyers' and sellers' decisions need to be based on local expert advice
Sep 18, 2019

Whether you are ‘up north’, ‘down south’, in Scotland or Northern Ireland the market is now completely different. Pre-credit crunch, property markets tended to move in a ‘ripple effect’ but this trend appears to have stopped for now so it’s vital buyers and sellers make their decisions based on local expert advice rather than national or regional headlines.  What we do know is that across the board, since 2005, property price growth has slowed dramatically versus previous years, and now moving in line with inflation as opposed to above, impacting on those looking at investing in property for a pension or living.