The Government has recently announced a new mortgage guarantee scheme. Here we’ll explain how it works and what it might mean for the property market. What is the new Mortgage Guarantee Scheme? The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is an official scheme where the government backs mortgages that are larger than a bank or building society may be willing to offer. In practical terms,...
Unattractive or poorly maintained neighbouring properties can slash the selling price of a home by an average of £42,880, according to Churchill Home Insurance. The biggest value losers are rubbish in the front garden (a possible 30% loss), too many garden ornaments or statues (28%) and broken/boarded up windows (27%). Losses range from almost £89,000 in expensive places like London to £25,000...
While some people only move a few times in their lives, for others it’s a very different story. When it comes to moving home, how typical are you? Are you the restless type who ups sticks every few years? Or have you been settled in the same property for decades and have no intention of moving again, ever? To find out how you compare with the rest of the country, take a look at the results of...
New housing market data indicates that buyer interest is increasing, while prices remain resilient. Industry analysts had plenty of numbers to crunch last month, with the Bank of England and property portal Zoopla releasing insights on the state of the economy and housing market. Let’s look at what the figures mean for buyers and sellers. Mortgage approvals Perhaps the best news came from the...
The financial watchdog is asking whether mortgage rules should be more flexible to help older buyers, the self-employed and reliable renters get on the property ladder. UK society has changed dramatically over the past decade. There have been huge shifts in the way Brits live and work and when they retire. Meanwhile, property prices have grown faster than wages, impacting affordability. But has...
Is your home taking longer to sell than you'd like? It's possible that your listing has gone stale. Here are some ideas for reviving a stale property listing. Give your home a lift Chances are that when you first listed your property you kept everything spick and span for viewings. But maybe, just maybe, you've let things slip since. So take an objective look at your...
New rules on preparing Energy Performance Certificates, or EPCs, have just come into operation. Here's what you need to know about EPCs going forward. What is an EPC? An EPC is an Energy Performance Certificate. EPCs show you how energy efficient a property is using a rating from A (most efficient, lower energy costs) to G (least efficient, higher energy running...
The Bank of England will announce its latest decision on interest rates later this week. But have you ever wondered who decides what your mortgage interest rate will be? Here we'll explain how it all works. The Bank Rate vs the mortgage rate The first important thing to know is the difference between the Bank Rate (also known as the base rate) and your mortgage rate. They're two different...
If you’re expecting a new baby, then big congrats from us. You certainly have lots to think about, including whether to move home or stay where you are. Here are our tips to help you decide. Do you have enough space? You might need an extra bedroom or two, and outdoor space really comes into its own when you have kids. Now could be the ideal time to upsize and look for that...
When you’re selling your property, material information is one of the many things you need to know about. Here’s an explanation of what material information is and how important new rules will affect you. What is material information in a property sale? Material information is basic information about a house or flat that prospective buyers need to know. Material...
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