London’s richest houses are occupied by slim women… and overweight men July 11, 2016 There is a division in London's wealthiest households, and it's one of waistbands. In the capital's luxury homes, you're most likely to find slimmer women and overweight, unhealthy men (confirming more than a few stereotypes in the process), according to property company Rokstone. In luxury homes priced above £25m in the capital, 90 per cent women [...]
New homes on sale in London this weekend: riverside apartments from the Royal Docks to Chelsea Island July 8, 2016 Horizons, Canary Wharf From £995,000 Six two bedroom penthouses are on sale atop a 26-storey tower on Yabsley Street, close to Canary Wharf. Designed by RMA architects, they all come with underground car parking and private terraces kitted out with an outdoor kitchen and dining area, “the latest must-have feature in luxury residential living” according [...]
Focus On Croydon: Concrete jungle of Zone Five is increasingly popular with young professionals July 8, 2016 It’s a concrete jungle out there. At least, it is if you live in the London borough of Croydon. Despite birthing Kate Moss, Sir Philip Green and Tracey Emin, it’s not an area that’s known for glamour, largely due to a preponderance of outdated 1960s office blocks. Though there have been many attempts to revive [...]
Property of the Week: Agent Lurot Brand is listing this house in Boyne Terrace Mews in Holland Park under two prices – with their services or without July 8, 2016 Boyne Terrace Mews, Holland Park, £3.75m/£5.75m A rare opportunity has come onto the market in Holland Park to custom build an ideal five bedroom house with the help of an agent who’s already done all the tricky paperwork. Getting planning permission to turn this mews house in a cul-de-sac in Landsdowne Road would have been tricky [...]
Opinion: Buying agent Property Vision on the immediate winners and losers of Brexit in the London property market July 8, 2016 Following the referendum results, buyers are trying to work out what Brexit will mean for them – but I'm not sure anyone has a definitive answer to that yet. I have watched with interest the commentary from the selling agents and developers, promising a wall of dollar and euro-based cash heading for the London market. [...]
Buy to let tax changes knock London luxury rent prices July 8, 2016 London's luxury property market is suffering from oversupply this year after the government's stamp duty changes came into effect at the beginning of April. The capital's rental prices on luxury properties have fallen by one per cent year-on-year in the first quarter, according to research from Knight Frank. Read more: Rents edged down in May as [...]
Brexit threat: Property financiers must keep calm and carry on lending July 8, 2016 Before and since the result of the UK’s referendum on European Union membership, uncertainty has pervaded – not least in property markets. Weak construction PMI data, a spate of flagship property funds halting redemptions and downgrades from City analysts has further shaken confidence. Forecasts for companies in the sector have been reduced on the basis [...]
The infinite bookshop: How Chinese architects created a reflective space using mirrors July 7, 2016 With Amazon, ebooks and high street supermarkets pushing bookshops to the brink of extinction, the few independent sellers remaining have sought to reinvent themselves as shrines to literacy, intimate meeting places for authors and their readers, and serene reading grounds amidst the urban noise. One such spot is Zhongshuge-hangzhou, a newly- opened bookshop in Hong [...]
Property companies’ share prices climb again after a difficult three days July 7, 2016 After a difficult three days of trading for companies in the property market, things are looking slightly sunnier this morning. The increases today follow the news that house prices rose in June – but analysts are predicting house prices will fall in the second half of this year. Housebuilders Persimmon's share price climbed 6.9 per cent, Berkeley [...]
House prices increased in June, but the market is slowing – and some analysts are predicting price falls of five per cent this year July 7, 2016 House prices increased month-on-month in June – but there are signs that the growth is slowing, and some analysts think that they will fall by five per cent in the second half of 2016. Prices were up 1.3 per cent in June as compared to May, according to the Halifax House Price Index, which recorded data throughout [...]