All UK Houses For Sale

London’s Capital Gain

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:38:14 +0000

There’s no denying that London can be an expensive place to live, and for many home-hunters and property investors, buying somewhere in England’s capital can make a great deal of financial sense. If selected carefully, opportunities do exist to secure a property which will make a healthy profit in years to come.

With 2012 being London’s year, all eyes will be on the capital to watch the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games. Such attention, assuming everything runs like clockwork, will only help to endear London to the world once more, not just as a tourist destination but a great place to live. Increased demand pushes up prices so now would be a great time to buy.

With the Games expected to provide a much-needed boost to London’s economy too, its infrastructure will improve on all fronts with tired areas brought back to life and under-invested boroughs finally getting a much-needed shot-in-the-arm. The East End of London, in particular, being home to a large number of the Games’ events, will be physically transformed as improvements will help drive renewal and regeneration in the area.

Property development and investment companies such as Galliard Homes have all jumped on the opportunity to continue the development of the capital. Already, 740 acres of polluted, low-grade industrial land and premises have been replaced by new sports venues, a new waterside park, a new village of 2800 homes, an improved local rail network and over 100 acres of development land. This will be followed by the introduction of Crossrail in 2018 which will open up great business potential for Stratford in particular, as it will evolve into a hub for sport, shopping, leisure and tourism and for international, creative digital and media business.

Over 30,000 new homes are expected to be built in the area over the next 20 years, with more than 7,000 in the Olympic Park site itself. Residents will also have access to a spectacular urban park, new education and health facilities, vastly improved transport links and outstanding shopping and leisure facilities.

Across London as a whole, despite the recent recession, property prices are continuing to rise faster than in any other region in the UK, with asking prices some 79% higher, notwithstanding the volatility of the current housing market. This equates to an average asking price for a London property of £340,308 compared to £159,999 in the rest of the country.

Added to this, predictions suggest that London’s population will need to accommodate a further 810,000 people over the next decade, which in turn will lead to continued long-term housing growth. This all points to London still very much being a city on the up, certainly not in decline, so making an investment now may ultimately prove to be a canny bit of business.

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The South Bank Show

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 15:36:13 +0000

In 2012, countless London locations can claim to be the capital’s most ‘up-and-coming’ property hot spot, given the wide-scale redevelopment that is taking place throughout the capital. However, few can make the claim with as much conviction as the South Bank area, which is rapidly growing in popularity.

South Bank is located in SE1 on the south bank of the River Thames, as the name would suggest,

and is a beautiful and vibrant riverside stretch in the heart the boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark. It is also located directly opposite the Houses of Parliament and is within walking distance of Covent Garden.

There are a number of reasons why South Bank is proving to be really popular, but perhaps its main attraction is its positioning as one of London’s key cultural hubs, centred around The Southbank Centre, one of the largest arts centres in the world. In addition, the Southwark Playhouse hosts a wide variety of productions, the Globe Theatre is an impressive reconstruction of the original open-air playhouse, not forgetting The Old Vic and The National Theatre. There’s also the Bankside Gallery, home to a fine range of prints and watercolour paintings, the world-famous Tate Modern, The London Eye, the Royal Festival Hall, Vinopolis and BFI IMAX.

But the area has not always been so arts focused – due to its proximity to fresh water the area became popular with industry and subsequently led to a surge in its population. During the Second World War, however, the area was targeted by bombs, and has since been revived thanks to significant funding to aid regeneration and re-development.

As with any central London location, South Bank enjoys extensive transport links, with Waterloo and Waterloo East mainline stations and tube stops at Waterloo, Lambeth North, and Southwark. Situated just across the river are the Charing Cross mainline station and the tube stops of Westminster, Embankment and Charing Cross.

Paul Goodman works for Hastings International, a leading London estate agency specialising in the SE1 and South Bank areas of the City. He says, “It’s this winning combination of attractions, scenery and convenience which has led to South Bank becoming a highly popular place to live for young professionals. It also offers diverse architecture such as two-storey Georgian houses, period conversion apartments, modern riverside developments and purpose-built mansion apartment blocks. Luxury accommodation with river views is particularly sought-after with Westminster Bridge Road, the SACO Waterloo Apartments and The Whitehouse being prime examples. The area just offers so much for owner occupiers and for investors looking for a sound investment”

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Barrett Homes aiming to get first time buyers on the Torquay property ladder

Alan — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:38:29 +0000

Barrett Homes have been working to get people on the property ladder in Torquay by giving them incentives and organising events to show them how it is possible for them to buy their first home. Getting on the property ladder is something that first-time buyers are finding very difficult because of the cost of houses and also the financial recession.

The company have arranged different gimmicks in order to encourage people to save up the money they need to put a deposit down on a property and gain a mortgage. One such thing as a money box which has a number on top saying the amount of money they need to raise in order to afford a deposit. The idea behind these various schemes is that they are going to make people realise that it is easier to save up the money for a deposit then they might think.

The sales director of the company is Caroline Hill and she has stated that in some cases buyers will just need to raise just £5000 in order to be able to buy a property. This is often a much lower figure than people might think is necessary and it really makes saving up the money for a property much more achievable.

The company have also been providing experts in order to tell people how they can take advantage of government schemes which are enabling people to get on the housing market, such as FirstBuy and NewBuy.

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Welcome

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 23:22:33 +0000

Welcome to the allukhousesforsale.co.uk property blog.

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80% of properties worth more than that this time last year

Alan — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:35:27 +0000

It might just be that the confidence in the housing market is beginning to be restored as it seems that house prices this month are higher than the price they were this time last year. These figures have just come out of a survey that was recently conducted which showed that 80 percent of properties are at a higher price than a year ago.

The survey also looked at the confidence of people and it showed that around 35 percent of them felt that house prices would be higher in one year. This is a price forecast that is going to be welcomed by many in the industry and it shows that people will be looking to buy houses in the near future.

Right at the other end of the spectrum however there is a negative outlook. Around 20 percent of people said that they felt the property prices would decline. However, this group of people has shrunk significantly, and is at its lowest point since 2010.

The survey agrees with findings by the Halifax bank which showed that around 40 percent of people believed house prices were going to go up. Both studies have shown that the number of people believing house prices will increase is significantly higher than those who feel that it will fall.

However, when you ask the experts, it doesn’t seem like such a good picture. For example, the chief European economist of IHS Global Insight has stated that he thinks house prices will fall by around three percent by the end of this year. Also figures from Halifax showed that the price of houses did fall in April, although they have not fallen below the price of last year.

Other information has shown that the number of transactions occurring has fallen. In April it is estimated that the number of sales fell by around 20 percent, these figures are according to IHS Property Services. The study was conducted by Rightmove and it also showed that because of the increased confidence in the housing market, fewer people are lowering the price of their houses in order to make a sale.

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The Shard to sell ten apartments this summer

Alan — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:41:11 +0000

The Shard is the latest skyscraper in London and this summer ten apartments which are located in the building are going to be sold. They are going to be the highest apartments in the UK and because of their very high retail price, it is going to create the most unequal amounts of house prices in the neighbourhood in the whole of the country.

The apartments are located over 13 floors in the building which is over 1000 feet tall. The exact retail price of the flats is not yet known but it is expected they are going to sell for between £30 and £50 million. It is expected that several international buyers are going to be interested in the property including people from Hong Kong, Russia and the Middle East. The price of these apartments is only matched by similar upmarket property in Knightsbridge.

The Shard is a development worth £1 billion and the interior of the properties have been decorated by Candy and Candy. The retail price of the home’s works out at about £5000 per square foot, which is significantly more expensive than the £500 per square foot which can be found in building surrounding the shard.

The area where the shard has been reconstructed was once a slum, and it is still not the smartest area of London, but recent redevelopment efforts have meant it has become much more upmarket than it was in the past. The construction of the shard is something that has been met with some controversy, some people argue that it damages the enjoyment of people’s view of the Tower of London, which is a World Heritage Site as designated by UNESCO. People of also complains that it dwarfs another famous attraction on the riverfront, St Pauls Cathedral.

The extreme price difference between property in the Shard, and property in the surrounding area, has also caused people to comment about the extreme house price divide in London and how more foreign billionaires are being attracted to the city which can damage social mobility. Economists have said that the shard encourages an uneven distribution of wealth in the capital city and have highlighted that London has a more uneven distribution of wealth compared to countries such as Brazil or Nigeria.

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Mortgage lending jumps by 30% in March

Alan — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:24:16 +0000

In March this year the amount of mortgage lending occurring in the UK jumped by nearly 30 percent. This is largely because there is been a significant jump in the number of people buying homes. These figures come out of the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

Mortgage companies are also encouraging people to take out mortgages with them through special offers. For example, Halifax has started offering to pay half the stamp duty on any home that a person might buy, up to a value of £250,000. Stamp duty applies to properties that are sold under this value and it is charged at one percent, when talking about this amount of money, half of this amount is a significant amount.

In the first three months of this year it is estimated that around 50 percent of buyers have spent between £125,000 and £250,000 on a home. As you would expect, the price of properties purchased varies around the country with around 70 percent of homeowners in the south-west spending this amount of money.

Right at the other end of the spectrum is London, where only 40 percent of people spent this amount of money on a property, the other 60 percent spent over £250,000. For those who are purchasing a property that is less than £125,000, there is no stamp duty applicable.

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An Introduction to fitted bedrooms

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:23:01 +0000

Fitted bedrooms are very popular, one of the most common ways of improving your current bedroom. With minimal effort and stress, they can transform an old or dated room into a modern and lively bedroom tailored to you.

But why are they so popular, and what do you stand to gain from buying one? Well there are plenty of reasons, from the affordability and practicality to their range of styles and features.

Practical

First of all, having a bedroom fitted is a very practical choice. The alternative, measuring, fitting and designing every aspect yourself, is very stressful work for what will amount to the same results. With a cheap bespoke bedroom, you’re leaving the more difficult aspects to a professional.

This doesn’t mean, however, that you lose any control. It is, after all, your bedroom and you have the right to be comfortable with any decisions that are made. You are in complete control of your room; a fitted bedroom simply allows an easier process of making this happen.

Furthermore, installation is just as easy. Instead of doing it yourself, you can rely on experienced and trained experts to do the job for you. Having an installation expert do this will make sure nothing goes wrong, whilst ensuring that everything is safe and attached properly. No doubt, this will further provide a huge relief on your part.

Choice

Fitted bedrooms don’t limit your options either. No matter what you’re looking for, it is always a possibility. From beds, to various different types of fitted wardrobes, a fully fitted bedroom strives to include anything that you want or need.

This approach also extends to colour and materials. Since it is your bedroom, you are in complete control in terms of what your bedroom is made out of, or what it looks like. If you like the natural look of wood, that’s an option. If you would instead prefer MDF, glass or another material, that’s also possible.

Affordable

Above all else, fitted bedrooms do not cost an arm and a leg. Having a bedroom fitted is a very reasonable and affordable option. Not only do you save money, but the whole process means that you can save a lot of stress and hassle that would occur otherwise. It’s hard to put a price on piece of mind, but it doesn’t need to be overtly expensive.

As with any project, there are extras if you wish to spend more. However, there is no necessary requirement for you to break the bank. There are plenty of budget bedrooms and cheap alternatives that sacrifice nothing to provide you with a modern, stylish designed bedroom.

To conclude, fitted bedrooms have a lot to offer. With their flexibility in styles and tastes, practicality, affordable prices and quick installations, it’s no wonder that they are making their way into bedrooms up and down the country. If it’s about time for your bedroom to receive a new look, then a personalised fitted bedroom is the way to go.

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Living in Bristol and Birmingham

admin — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:57:59 +0000

Not so long ago, the city of Bristol was considered to be a city of concrete that served a purpose but aesthetically was very unappealing. Its reputation very much belied its potential but thankfully, in recent years, it has been almost completely rejuvenated and is now one of the most vibrant and energetic cities in England. The city that was decimated by the World War II bombings is now a distant memory, and a new Bristol has been reborn.

Both professionals and investors have been attracted to this new and much improved Bristol and it is now one of the most populated cities with somewhere in the region of 465,000 people calling it home. Built on either side of the River Avon, there is a real eclectic choice of accommodation option and with the houses for sale in Bristol selling for less than the national average; they also give good value for money.

City centre living comprises mainly of converted listed buildings that now house loft conversions, studios and modern apartments. There is a large student presence in Bristol thanks to the university, and the rental market it particularly prevalent to economy as more and more students are seeking accommodation in the city and away from the halls of residence with their many restrictions.

Buy to let purchasers have certainly made a difference to the volume of houses being sold in Bristol, which is turn has seen the value of property start to rise again after the inevitable slump a couple of years ago due to the recession. There are many good reasons for buying a property in Bristol, and it seems that many are buying into this potential.

Another city that is finally shrugging off a far from complimentary reputation is Birmingham, once considered to be the black hole of the black country, and synonymous with concrete prefabs and low employment, England’s second city has had a second coming so to speak and the regeneration of Birmingham has many seeing it through a whole new perspective.

The significant investment that has been made in the city centre in particular has seen the grim, grey landscape transformed into an aesthetically pleasing location that is booming in both the business and tourism sectors. The infamous bullring, now completely redeveloped, the award winning Waters Edge development and others have brought this city bang up to date and it is now the modern and dynamic city as befits the second city.

Houses for sale in Birmingham were at one time some of the cheapest in the country, due to its reputation any many run down areas, but these too have seen a resurgence of interest and prices have risen. They still remain reasonable however, and both families, couples and professionals are choosing to buy instead of renting as they can see the long term benefits of the rebirth of Birmingham.

The university also provides a wealth of ready made tenants for those who have bought to let, and all in all, Birmingham is proving itself to be, finally, a very desirable place to live.

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How to avoid paying inheritance tax

Alan — Wed, 02 May 2012 13:19:23 +0000

When someone dies, their assets will typically pass on to another person, and this passing attracts something known as inheritance tax. There are many strategies which can be implemented in order to avoid the amount of inheritance tax that a person has to pay when they receive assets from someone who has died.

There is an initial allowance of £325,000 that can pass without attracting any tax and it is also possible to make gifts while alive in order to reduce the amount of money you pay when you die. It is important that people realise that these gifts can be given immediately before death. They must be given seven years before someone passes away in order for inheritance tax to be avoided.

Unfortunately, many people do not realise that they might be subject to certain inheritance tax issues, assuming that it is only something that affects the wealthy. In the last decade the number of people who will be subject to inheritance taxes increased significantly. It is estimated that the number of estates that would attract inheritance tax has risen from 20,000 to 50,000.

One of the main reasons for this increase is that the value of property has increased substantially. In 2000 the average home was worth £81,000, but today this figure is £167,000. This is a significant increase which means people are worth more, and are more likely to attract inheritance tax.

Many people think that inheritance tax is unfair as the money that has been used to accumulate this money that can be passed on, has already been taxed, often several times. Many people do not pay proper attention to how they are going to be taxed when they die, and those who they pass assets onto might find they are dramatically reduced by the government.

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