Profits plunge at retirement housebuilder McCarthy & Stone April 10, 2019 Retirement housebuilder McCarthy & Stone’s profits decreased by two-thirds in the first half of 2019 as it undertook a strategic shift to deal with a weak second-hand housing market. Read more: UK house prices drop in March after shock rise, says Halifax The company said it had increasingly turned to discounting and other incentives as [...]
Cryptocurrency bitcoin jumps back above $5,000 after hitting yearly high April 3, 2019 Bitcoin is trading back above $5,000 this afternoon after hitting a 2019 high earlier this week. The cryptocurrency soared 20 per cent within an hour yesterday morning reaching a high of $5,087, breaking the $5,000 barrier for the first time since November last year. Read more: Bitcoin hits yearly high as it rises above $5,000 Bitcoin’s [...]
Generation Rent needs more help to buy property, not Help to Buy April 2, 2019 Britain is not yet a nation of renters – but it’s getting there. Half of children are now born in rented accommodation, versus a third back in 2003-4. The number of families renting with children has doubled in a decade, according to the insurance provider Royal London. Meanwhile, new analysis shows that the government’s Help [...]
Opinion: Too many people don’t carry out due diligence when buying a new build. Here are some tips so you get what you paid for April 1, 2019 While the new build industry has not been immune to the slowdown, there is no question that there are still activity hotspots in certain parts of the market. Savvy investors are busy snapping up properties at discounted rates and chain-free, first-time buyers are in a great position to negotiate. But there is another, darker side [...]
Focus On Camden: Camden Market turns 45 tomorrow, but how much have house prices changed in this cultural hotspot? March 29, 2019 Today, a London institution reaches proper middle-age. Camden Market – once home to punks and mods, now home to an awful lot of tourists looking for the punks and mods – turns 45 on 30 March 2019. It could be home to you, too, if you can afford it. The average second hand sales price, [...]
New homes: Our pick of the new builds going on sale in London this weekend March 29, 2019 New developments on the market this week The Refinery, Newham From £120,750 for a 35 per cent share of a one bedroom flat Live in the shadow of golden syrup factory Tate & Lyle in an up-and-coming part of east London. Part-buy, part-rent a one, two or three bedroom apartment through Shared Ownership. Sixty homes [...]
Worst London house price drop in 10 years drags down UK house prices growth March 29, 2019 UK house price growth stayed soft in March as London's worst house price drop in a decade dragged down the market. Prices rose 0.7 per cent in March compared to the year before, according to Nationwide’s latest house price index, a modest 0.2 per cent higher than February. Read more: UK house prices: Brexit means prices [...]
London house prices start to stabilise after three-year dip March 27, 2019 Signs that London’s house prices could be starting to stabilise emerged this morning, with a new study showing that values picked up slightly in February. According to Zoopla, househunters that have previously held off on deals are seeking out buying opportunities in the capital following weaker house price growth amid the Brexit uncertainty. Read more: [...]
Opinion divided on Next shares March 27, 2019 After a drop below £50 for the first time this month, buyers are back. Our head of markets explains why. As expected, full-year profits at Next (LSE:NXT) have dipped slightly although in line with previous guidance, whilst revenues are ahead of expectations. The difference between the fortunes of stores and online is becoming increasingly marked. [...]
UK mortgage approvals fall as Brexit uncertainty bites March 26, 2019 Mortgage approvals in the UK have fallen year-on-year as homebuyers put off their decisions amid political uncertainty, new data has revealed. The number of mortgages approved by the main high street banks in February was 2.2 per cent lower than the same month in 2018, the finance and business services body UK Finance said today. [...]