Brits are hungry again for a place in the sun December 3, 2009 MEET an overseas property agent these days and they’ll be chirpy, well slept and optimistic about the future – the exact opposite of how they would have been at the beginning of the year. The reason? After 18 months of its having no appeal whatsoever, the British love affair with buying a place in the [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING November 29, 2009 THE SUNDAYSThe Sunday TelegraphRATE HIKE THREATENS EXISTENCE OF RURAL PETROL STATIONSHundreds of rural petrol stations face closure if an “outrageous” increase in business rates is pushed through next April, forecourt owners have warned. Owners of the UK’s 6,000 independent petrol stations will this week launch a major MP-backed campaign to urge a government body to [...]
Emerson slips into the red November 29, 2009 EMERSON Group, one of the largest private housebuilders in the UK, halved the number of homes it built in the year to April due to depressed demand from first-time buyers. The company said it decided not to follow other industry players in offering discounts of up to 30 per cent on new properties, instead completing [...]
US consumer and jobs data fuel economic recovery hopes November 25, 2009 US consumer spending and home sales rose more than expected in October, while new claims for jobless benefits fell sharply last week, suggesting the economic recovery was gaining traction. A surprise decline in orders for long-lasting US-made goods and a second straight monthly drop in consumer confidence, however, offered a reminder that the recovery from [...]
THE TIPSTER November 24, 2009 THE dollar has been falling across the board, but against the Swiss franc it is now flirting with parity. The pair was seen at these levels in the first quarter of 2008, but the currency never managed to fall below SFr 0.9877, and a sustained break below parity would be moving towards uncharted territory. The [...]
Tories to axe house packs November 23, 2009 THE TORIES have pledged to scrap home information packs (HIPS) within weeks, if they are elected. Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps said yesterday it would be his first move, as the packs are stalling housing market recovery. Estate agents say sellers are put off by the £300 to £400 cost. And with the current shortage [...]
US existing homes sales pace is up 10 per cent to two-year high November 23, 2009 SALES numbers for previously owned homes in the US jumped more than 10 per cent in October to reach the highest rate since February 2007. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) said sales surged 10.1 per cent month-on-month to an annual rate of 6.1m sales, up from 5.54m in September. Analysts said the boom was [...]
Tips for bagging yourself a new-build bargain in a difficult market November 19, 2009 POLLY COLDWELL, DEPUTY EDITOR OF FIRST TIME BUYER MAGAZINE:1) Ensure the property is big enough for your belongings. Check that there is somewhere to put your hoover, etc. Garages have shrunk as well: measure it to make sure your car fits. 2) New builds are rated for their energy, water and waste under the Code [...]
Why bonds are a boon for investors November 18, 2009 FOLLOWING his appointment as the CEO of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) this summer, Xavier Rolet announced plans to open a retail bond market here in the UK. He said: “There is a clear need, particularly in the SME sector, for a lot of companies to be able to tap the bond market, particularly for [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING November 18, 2009 FINANCIAL TIMES LLOYDS OFFLOADS MALL FOR £300MHammerson, the UK real estate investment trust, has emerged as the preferred buyer of a £300m shopping mall near Glasgow being sold by Lloyds Banking Group after the original owner defaulted on the loan. The UK commercial property market has seen few sales by the larger lending banks, in [...]