London house prices: Property prices in Hackney are 17 times the average wage May 12, 2017 How do your local house prices compare with your salary? Unpleasantly? The residents of one London borough are particularly badly affected, new research has shown – and it’s not one of the obvious ones. Yes, it is the trendy borough of Hackney which has the dubious accolade of being the part of the UK with [...]
Lloyd’s of London moving EU business to Brussels after Article 50 triggered, according to reports March 29, 2017 As the UK waits for Theresa May to trigger Article 50 and kick off the Brexit process, Lloyd’s of London has reportedly come to a decision on where to move its EU business. The insurance giant will locate its new EU subsidiary in Brussels, according to a report by The Insurance Insider, which revealed the [...]
Holiday Homes: The property market in Lisbon is so hot right now, it’s being called ‘the California of Europe’ March 17, 2017 One of Europe’s most beautiful cities is also now one of its most vibrant and dynamic. For decades Lisbon’s development and historic architecture was neglected, but things are looking better for the city, tourism is up, unemployment down, and foreign money is bringing in new investment. One of the drivers of this surge in vitality [...]
Moving clearing from London to Europe is no piece of cake March 17, 2017 "Britain cannot have its cake and eat it over Brexit negotiations.” Comments such as this from the Prime Minister of Luxembourg at the height of political tensions following the EU referendum have, perhaps unsurprisingly, become synonymous with the Brexit debate since 23 June. But with the triggering of Article 50 just around the corner, it [...]
Move over, suits – the new kids on the block are coming to the Square Mile March 16, 2017 Imagine you are the founder of the latest, cutting-edge tech startup. Perhaps you’ve been backed by a private equity firm, or an angel investor. You might have even got a good old-fashioned bank loan. Either way, you’ve graduated out of your parent’s basement and are on the hunt for an office you can call home. [...]
Holiday Homes: Finding a property investment at Courchevel 1850 on the slopes in the Rhone-Alpes that will pay off March 14, 2017 In the rarefied air of Courchevel 1850, known as France’s ski playground for the wealthy, the word “only” quickly takes on a new meaning. A burger, for example, is “only” €30 on the slopes, and a duplex apartment is “only” €9.65m. But in the Rhone-Alpes prime real estate hotspot, where high-end chalets up to 3000sqm [...]
Budget 2017 UK predictions: What you can expect from the chancellor’s Spring Budget March 7, 2017 It's that time of year again: the chancellor is getting set to dust off his little red box and deliver the Spring Budget. It's the last one we'll see at this time of year, as Philip Hammond decided to move the major announcements to an Autumn Statement schedule. It's likely to be a more staid [...]
These are the three London areas where house prices fell in January March 3, 2017 House prices are steadily climbing in most parts of the capital – but tax changes on high-end homes have been pushing down values in the city's most central locations. According to data from Hometrack, there were three local authority areas in London where house prices fell year-on-year in January: London local authority House price change [...]
Buy a house worth worshipping like one of these ultra-ambitious and clever church conversions February 24, 2017 British buyers in particular want to tick three boxes when they go house-hunting; location, space and character. Church conversions offer all three. They’re often in the centre of town, where they would have been convenient for parishioners; have high ceilings and a generous footprint; and are often packed with historical details and period features. Here [...]
Focus On Paddington: With Crossrail, a £775m glass cube and new homes, W2 is about to become one of London’s next property hotspots February 24, 2017 Believe it or not, Paddington, synonymous for so long with its eponymous cartoon bear and its fantastic transport links, is one of the most undervalued places in Prime Central London. Within walking distance to Hyde Park, Oxford Circus and smart neighbourhoods like Mayfair and Knightsbridge, it’s nevertheless not traditionally seen as a great residential location. [...]