Housing crisis: Retired Brits twice as likely to fund their children’s home deposits May 12, 2016 RETIRED parents in Britain are twice as likely to fund their children’s home deposits than their counterparts in other English-speaking countries, with London pensioners even more likely to support their offspring. Putting the housing affordability gap into stark relief, research commissioned by payments provider UKForex showed that out of 1,135 British retirees surveyed, 27 per [...]
House sales forecast to stay flat as buyer interest drops for first time in over a year – RICS May 12, 2016 Interest from UK house buyers has dropped for the first time since March 2015, as uncertainty plagues the market, according to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Residential Market Survey. Following the buy-to-let rush that preceded the 1 April tax rise deadline, and with continued uncertainty caused by the EU Referendum, interest from [...]
London house prices broke the £600k barrier for the first time in April, according to the latest House Price Index from Your Move and Reed Rains May 12, 2016 London house prices broke through the £600,000 barrier for the first time in April, while the value of homes in the capital has almost doubled over the past seven years. Property prices in London have risen 11 per cent (£59,605) since this time last year, surpassing all other regions of England and Wales, according to the latest House [...]
New homes on sale in London this weekend: from Elephant Park to private gardens designed by Andy Sturgeon May 11, 2016 Elephant Park, Elephant & Castle From £540,000 Studio to three bedroom apartments and penthouses have been released in the Highwood Gardens building. The release of 222 properties for sale is the latest chapter in Lend Lease’s Elephant Park development, which will build almost 2,500 new homes on 22 acres of land and create a new [...]
O2 – Three merger blocked by European Commission May 11, 2016 The European Commission competition regulator has blocked the planned takeover of O2 by Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison. The deal would have seen Telefonica’s O2 merge with Hutchison's UK network Three in a deal valued at £10.25bn. The tie up would have reduced the mobile operators in the UK to three, leaving just Vodafone and BT’s EE to challenge the merged [...]
Dip in house price growth “caused by weak consumer confidence”, says Halifax – but others think it could be the Brexit effect May 9, 2016 UK house price growth actually dipped last month, with economists blaming weakening consumer sentiment for a slowing in annual increases. According to the Halifax House Price Index, average house prices fell 0.8 per cent in April to £212.321. This meant the annual change had slowed from 10.1 per cent recorded in the year to March to 9.2 per cent. [...]
Housebuilders have their doubts about government targets May 6, 2016 When the government revealed its target to build one million homes by 2020, plenty of those dreaming of stepping onto the property ladder must have rejoiced. However, a study out today warns that they might have celebrated too soon, as over half (51 per cent) housebuilders believe that the target will not be met, with lack of land, painfully [...]
Adidas tees up and prepares its golf brands for sale May 4, 2016 Adidas has confirmed plans to sell its loss-making golf business after putting it up for review last year. The German sportswear group said it will start seeking out buyers for its TaylorMade, Adams and Ashworth golf brands. However, it plans to keep Adidas-branded golf shoes and clothing, which account for about 40 per cent of the business. "TaylorMade [...]
Barclays has just started offering a 100 per cent mortgage (but bank of mum and dad is still required) May 4, 2016 We all know how well 100 per cent mortgages worked before the financial crisis – but now Barclays has become one of the first lenders since the crisis not to require a deposit from first-time buyers. Well, sort of. The lender said it has made changes to one of its first time buyer mortgages which means borrowers [...]
Top Cat advert might be the top dog for Halifax May 4, 2016 In its new campaign aimed at first time buyers, Halifax has incorporated the cartoon character Top Cat into its television, print and online push. The campaign has been ridiculed in some quarters, particularly on social media. Sharp-witted users have been quick to remind Halifax that Top Cat in fact resided in far less salubrious surroundings [...]