Rightmove: London house prices beat the seasonal slump December 14, 2015 London asking prices have gone up 10 per cent in the last year, yet some experts are warning the market could run out of steam in 2016. Prices are down 0.5 per cent compared with last month, according to figures published by property website Rightmove this morning. The smallest December dip since 2008 took asking [...]
First-time housebuyers in a festive frenzy, as number of valuations for this purpose rocketed up 31 per cent compared to last year December 11, 2015 Christmas may have come early for some first-time buyers, as the number of valuations for homehunters in this category jumped up last month. According to a report out today by Connells Survey & Valuation, the number of valuations carried out for first-time buyers in November was 31 per cent higher than the same time last [...]
What’s going to happen to the tech industry in 2016? Fewer IPOs, compressed unicorn valuation and slowing M&A activity December 8, 2015 The year 2015 was packed with fintech unicorns, blockchain hype and tech bubble fears – but what’s in store for the tech industry in 2016? M&A advisers Magister Advisors have peered into their crystal ball and offered their top predictions. The TL;DR version? Expect 2015’s “reality distortion field” to dissolve next year. Gulp. 1. Don’t hold your breath for [...]
Bank warns looming credit boom risks housing bubble December 8, 2015 The noughties were not humanity’s greatest decade. It brought us boot cut jeans, velour tracksuits and 50 Cent – and now a report has warned that we could be heading back there, thanks in part to the Bank of England’s monetary policy committee (MPC). According to BNP Paribas Real Estate, if the MPC shies away [...]
More proof the Help to Buy Isa is pointless for first-time buyers in London? December 7, 2015 The Help to Buy Isa is the government's latest wizard wheeze to help first-time buyers onto the property ladder: under the scheme, they receive a £50 government "bonus" for every £200 they spend. But the launch of the scheme, at the beginning of this month, hasn't gone down quite as well as you might expect. [...]
Tesco’s getting into vinyl and will start selling records by Coldplay, George Ezra and classics from the Beatles, and Nirvana December 6, 2015 Music fans worried that the spectre of streaming is killing off the music industry, relax – here's one sign that vinyl still holds a place in people's hearts Now, along with supermarket staples such as bread and milk, shoppers can add the sounds of Coldplay, The Rolling Stones and Radiohead to there shopping basket, in LP format. [...]
UK housing crisis: Build to Rent investment to triple by 2020 December 5, 2015 Investment in Build to Rent will triple to £50bn by 2020, helping it swell from two to five per cent of the private rental sector, and providing minor relief to the UK's growing housing crisis. It's pertinent as the number of first time buyers and young homeowners are declining, at a time when private rental stock is [...]
Volkswagen UK market share plummets after emissions scandal as new UK car registrations rise December 4, 2015 Volkswagen sales in the UK fell 20 per cent in November, compared with last year, figures by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) have shown – while the number of new cars sold in the UK rose. The embattled carmaker, which has been hit after it emerged software installed in some of its diesel engines allowed [...]
Growing personal debt is a ticking time bomb and trouble will come when rates and inflation start to creep up December 3, 2015 It’s no surprise that we’re borrowing like there’s no tomorrow; prices are low, credit is cheap and coupled with wage growth you could say there’s a feeling of positivity in the air. Make the most of this sweet spot now; we’re watching a ticking time bomb and trouble is likely to be on the horizon. [...]
Less than 10 per cent of savings providers are offering the Help to Buy Isa – with just 12 on board so far December 2, 2015 The Help to Buy Isa launched without much ceremony yesterday – so no wonder the number of savings providers offering the scheme, which provides a government bonus for first-time buyers, is being seen as a bit of a let-down. Research from Savings Champion suggests just 12 lenders have so far go on board with the government scheme, [...]