Stamp duty charges: The UK housing market needs more homes not more taxes April 1, 2016 Anyone waking up today who is planning or close to purchasing a second home may well feel as if an April fool's trick has been played on them. Whether helping a son or daughter get onto the housing ladder, investing in a buy-to-let property or buying a holiday residence, from today an additional three per [...]
Landlords make last minute dash to beat buy-to-let stamp duty hike deadline March 31, 2016 Landlords and agents were scrambling to complete last-minute purchases of second home and buy-to-let properties today ahead of stamp duty hike which comes into effect at midnight. George Osborne's clampdown on buy-to-let properties was announced in November's Autumn Statement as part of a raft measures designed to tackle the housing crisis and help more first-time buyers on the property [...]
Isa guide 2016: What first-time buyers need to know about the Lifetime Isa and the Personal Savings Allowance March 31, 2016 It only seems like yesterday that George Osborne was unveiling his Help to Buy Isa to let more aspiring homeowners get a foot on the property ladder. But the announcement of the Lifetime Isa in this year's Budget, and the introduction of the Personal Savings Allowance – which comes into effect on 6 April – is about to complicate [...]
UK house prices: Sales to first-time buyers pause in February despite year-on-year rise March 31, 2016 The number of first-time home buyers rose by seven per cent in the year to February despite a slight drop in activity since the start of the year, new data today shows. First time buyer sales stood at 21,000 last month, which was 6.6 per cent ahead of February 2015’s figure of 19,800, according to Your [...]
Buy to let investors scramble to secure home purchases before April stamp duty rise March 29, 2016 Buy to let investors are storming the housing market to beat higher taxes that will come into force in April. In February, 85 per cent of estate agents reported an increase in the number of buy to let investors looking to purchase properties, according to data released by the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) released [...]
Why Londoners should be wary about the Lifetime Isa March 29, 2016 Should you get a Lifetime Isa (Lisa) when they’re launched in April next year? On the face of it, definitely yes. Designed specifically for the under-40s, this new entrant to the growing Isa stable promises a government top-up of £1,000 if you contribute the maximum £4,000 in a tax year, no tax on capital growth [...]
George Osborne delivered a Budget that backs Britain’s Millennials March 23, 2016 They're nearly 14m strong and the largest cohort in our workforce. From the factory floor to the trading floor, the Millennial generation or “Generation Y” – those born between 1980 and 2000 – are at the heart of Britain’s economic success story. Among their ranks are Britain’s growing number of apprentices, young professionals, first-time buyers, [...]
Rightmove: Cheapest boroughs fuel 11 per cent rise in London house prices as one agent warns it now takes 46 years to save for a deposit March 21, 2016 London house prices have climbed 11 per cent over the last 12 months, with the cheapest boroughs rising at the most rapid rate. The fastest growth was in Barking and Dagenham, according to the data published today by property website Rightmove. Asking prices in the borough, the capital’s cheapest, are 23.5 per cent higher this [...]
Knight Frank and Markit: London house prices experienced the biggest increase this month March 18, 2016 London house price growth is expected to beat all other regions this month despite a slowdown in the top of the market, new research has shown. Londoners perceived the biggest increase, followed by those in the South East, East of England, Scotland and then the North West. It's slightly surprising given price growth among prime central London properties [...]
Budget 2016 might have done no favours for house buyers – now it’s time to look again at property funds March 17, 2016 The British have a long-standing love affair with residential property. This extends beyond owning their own homes to a faith in bricks and mortar as a solid investment. However, while investing in residential has meant owning one or more buy-to-let properties, the impending crackdown on buy to let by the chancellor means they should consider an alternative [...]