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Recent Articles in First Time Buyer Property Checklists

Good news: mortgage product availability has doubled in the last 12 months Oct 8, 2021: Buying a home has almost become a craze since the market opened in May 2020. However, it’s not been easy for everyone to get on the ladder during the pandemic. As well as first time buyers who had to stand back, so did other would be property buyers, including those on furlough that couldn’t necessarily go ahead with their planned purchase due to being on less income, and because of the level of economic uncertainty, those self-employed struggled too. However, latest research from the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) suggests for those that approach a mortgage broker for help, they are now much more likely to secure the help they need to get them on the ladder.

Developers don't 'hoard' land! Sep 29, 2021: I find it amazing that every year we hear and read the same news stories on new builds - developers land bank to secure higher prices and raise profits; local authorities are granting planning permission and it’s developers that aren’t building. Both of these stories I think have been going ever since I have been in the industry – and that’s decades! This week there has been some research published that does suggest that developers hoarding land after securing planning is unlikely to be correct. To find out more, read my article.

Kate Faulkner's comprehensive property price report - September 2021 Sep 22, 2021: Anyone trying to forecast the property market since it opened post the first lockdown must be scratching their heads! Trying to predict house price movements which are, to me, mostly based on consumer behaviour, is a tricky task. Most other markets I’ve worked in such as food, household goods, drink and the pet industry, have long term trends which are fairly similar year after year. That’s not the case in the property market and the last 12 months’ surprise changes in people’s attitude to property continues to confound the punters – including me!

How can the new property indices from OnTheMarket and reallymoving help us understand the market better? Sep 1, 2021: It’s great to see new indices with more information about moving home to come to market, and both OnTheMarket and reallymoving have come up with very different ways of adding to our understanding of what’s happening. Read more to find out how can these new property indices can help us understand the market better.

August 2021 property price report from Kate Faulkner Aug 25, 2021: The indices this month are still incredibly positive, despite the end of the Stamp Duty/Land Tax holiday. All are reporting the market is slowing versus the run up to the end of June, but versus previous years, demand is still incredibly strong, while the amount of stock coming onto the market is weak in most areas. Perhaps the most exciting thing from a property price/home moving index perspective is the launch of two new fascinating indices. One from OntheMarket and the other from reallymoving.com which compares costs for solicitors, surveyors and removals for home movers. Both of which give us a better understanding of the overall housing market with their different analysis.