As UK house prices soar, first-time buyers struggle much more than mum and dad did June 12, 2018 A third of UK residents preparing to buy their first house are struggling to save enough money for a deposit – six times the proportion of people who bought their first house 20-30 years ago. That’s according to a 2,000-person survey carried out by self-storage company, Space Station, which asked 1,000 Brits who are currently [...]
Alton Towers owner and multi-millionaire Nick Leslau on the “constipated” property market and that rollercoaster tragedy June 12, 2018 Nick Leslau, one of Britain’s wealthiest property entrepreneurs, loves buildings other people would find ugly. “I have a thing for unfashionable buildings that people generally hate,” says the multi-millionaire who turned two sixties office blocks in London into the St Martins Lane and Sanderson hotels. “I like them because of the opportunity they represent and [...]
Ranked: London boroughs with the biggest increase in new property listings June 6, 2018 New property listings were up 7.4 per cent in May, with London seeing a 5.9 per cent increase in the number of new properties on the market. May therefore saw the the highest number of new sellers list their properties in any single month since before 2017, according to online estate agents HouseSimple. The figures [...]
The worst is over? Pent-up demand helps stabilise London’s super prime property market after double-digit declines May 29, 2018 Pent-up demand has helped stabilise London's super-prime property market – but that still hasn't stopped parts of the capital experiencing double-digit declines. Chelsea has endured the steepest drops in prices of £10m-plus homes according to Knight Frank, down 15.5 per cent between August 2015, when the market peaked, and March this year. But there are [...]
Is it cheaper to live in the Home Counties than London? May 25, 2018 Buyers are often surprised when they discover how much more affordable the council taxes in London are in comparison to what they are paying to live within commuting distance of the Capital. Last month saw these costs increase across the country. On top of this, rail fare rises continue to outstrip wage growth, so the [...]
Focus On Balham: What’s the property market like in SW12, the historically less cool neighbour to Battersea and Clapham? May 25, 2018 No one wants to be the runt of the litter, but that is exactly what Balham was historically, sandwiched as it is between the Chelsea-aspirant hordes of Battersea and Clapham. “In the past Balham could have been described as the ugly sister of Battersea and Clapham,” says Hamish Scott, branch manager of Hamptons International estate [...]
Property prices in Croydon, who is buy and more May 25, 2018 There was a time when Croydon was famous for three things; Kate Moss, trams and Mark and Jez’s dingy flat in Peep Show. Thankfully, its reputation – and its housing stock – have improved since then and it’s now notable for a whole host of other reasons. “In recent years, Croydon has seen a reversal [...]
London house prices see biggest annual drop in the whole of the UK May 24, 2018 London house prices were the worst performing in the UK over the last year, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS House Price Index, compiled in conjunction with the Land Registry, showed that house prices in the capital decreased by 0.7 per cent over the last year. This [...]
A rising dollar is positive for US small capitalisation shares May 21, 2018 The dollar has started to rise following a period of weakness. This is positive for dollar dividend payers and US smaller companies. Movements in the dollar can have a significant impact on your investments. This is especially true for investors based in the UK, as many of Britain’s largest companies are significant foreign currency earners [...]
City analysts say there’s more M&A activity on the horizon May 21, 2018 Equity markets nearing all-time record highs, interest rates still low and a weak pound have created a cauldron for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) that analysts anticipate continuing while current market conditions persist. Two FTSE 100 companies have already been acquired this year, a third looks set to go and with two more facing bids, 2018 [...]