House price growth falls to 14-month low February 1, 2017 UK house annual price growth fell to 4.3 per cent in January, down from a year-on-year growth of 4.5 per cent in December. As compared to the month before, house price growth edged up 0.2 per cent, according to figures from Nationwide. But it is thought that overall this year the housing market will be cooler [...]
Zoopla is splurging £120m on this property data company January 31, 2017 Online property giant Zoopla has unveiled plans to buy property data company Hometrack for £120m. In a statement after the market closed today, Zoopla Property Group, which also owns the likes of USwitch and PrimeLocation, said the transaction will take place on a cash-free, debt-free basis. Zoopla will pay £108m when the deal completes, and £6m [...]
Mortgage approvals hit a nine-month high in December January 31, 2017 The Bank of England's mortgage borrowing hit a nine-month high in December as the housing market recovered from the lull it experienced in the months after the Brexit vote. At 67,898, the number of mortgage approvals for house purchases increased 10.7 per cent from the low (61,335) it hit in August. Read more: I can't help but [...]
It’s time we saw some real planning reforms in the upcoming housing white paper January 31, 2017 Much like a typical planning application, the housing white paper has already become mired in delay. The policy document, a central plank of Theresa May’s government, was originally due out last year and then put back until January. The smart money is now on publication on 6 February although that date remains unconfirmed. The white [...]
UK commercial construction hit a rough patch in 2016, falling nearly 15 per cent January 31, 2017 Commercial construction activity for the 2016 calendar year fell to £16.7bn, down 14.1 per cent on the previous period, according a new report by JLL, the property services company. The reduced work is a result of lower numbers of new build developments, which are down 18.1 per cent quarter-on-quarter, while refurbishments are 6.8 per cent lower [...]
Purplebricks share price climbs after 11 per cent tumble last week January 30, 2017 Purplebricks' share price has climbed over five per cent this morning after a tweet sent it tumbling last week. Last Thursday, the online estate agent's share price jumped 11.5 per cent when the company sent a tweet boasting about its "record-breaking" valuations and instructions in January. January has been a record-breaking month for valuations & instructions, [...]
Opinion: Considering buying a place above a shop? Don’t do it unless you’ve thought about these factors first January 27, 2017 Whether high street or side street, look up above any shop-lined street in the capital and you are bound to see apartments. Accessed by narrow doors tucked between the various operators, these spaces are proving an increasingly tempting living proposition. More and more, we are seeing developers turning the ground floor of their new schemes [...]
New Builds: New homes are on sale in Finchley, Woolwich, Golders Green, Kew and Croydon January 27, 2017 Mantle Developments, Croydon From £430,000 and £875,000 (Help to Buy available) Buy a home and get a Michelin-starred meal cooked in it by chef Jean-Christophe Novelli. Buyers who snap up a property in one of two schemes in Croydon by the end of January through Countrywide will be able to take up the tasty offer. [...]
Bonus season: If you’re thinking of spending it on property, here are the top London hotspots you should be looking at January 27, 2017 It’s bonus season in the City and now you’ve got the enviable task of deciding what to spend it on. Historically low interest rates means putting the whole lot into an ISA isn’t quite as appealing as it once was. But house price growth particularly in the outer boroughs – Newham, Havering, Brent and Croydon [...]
Tory infighting might be holding back the housing white paper January 26, 2017 The government's housing white paper has been repeatedly delayed – and infighting within the Tory party might be to blame. Prime Minister Theresa May has reportedly turned the policy document away because it wasn't substantial enough, and it is now thought it will be released on 6 February. Tories in safe seats, who are likely to [...]