House prices: UK outpaced London as prime central property prices dropped last year January 14, 2016 House prices in central London fell by 8.7 per cent last year as higher stamp duty bills hit demand for £1.5m-plus homes, new research shows. Estate agents Your Move and Reeds Rains said prices dropped sharply in the capital’s five most expensive boroughs, dragging the annual rate of growth in London to 5.6 per cent, [...]
London property: Four in five Londoners think house prices are too expensive, ING says October 14, 2015 More than 80 per cent of Londoners think house prices are too expensive and overwhelming majority believe it is becoming increasingly difficult for first-time buyers to get a foot onto the property ladder, according to new research released today. The Dutch banking giant ING’s house price optimism index, which surveys over 15,000 people, found that the [...]
This is how the third runway at Heathrow will hit London house prices October 25, 2016 The government has given the go-ahead for the third runway, and if there's one group of people who won't be happy about it, it's the people living nearby. Estate agents eMoov think the decision could lead to a 20 per cent drop in house prices in the area due the noise and air pollution that the [...]
Opinion: Rightmove’s housing index shows that London may have fallen, but it’s sunny in the Shires August 18, 2016 The latest housing index from Rightmove has caused a stir, revealing that prices have hit their lowest point since November and have dropped 1.2 per cent nationwide. Londoners in particular seem hardest hit with the average price falling 2.6 per cent. It’s very easy to put the entire blame on Brexit and increases in Stamp Duty, but [...]
Blame Brexit: International investors shun prime London property May 23, 2016 The proportion of international buyers and sellers in London property fell in the first quarter of 2016, according to research released today, despite a fall in sterling making UK property relatively attractive. The effect was strongest in central London, but there has also been reduced activity in overseas nationals across the whole of London. The research [...]
HgCapital investment trust’s share price soars on rising revenue and earnings September 12, 2016 HgCapital Trust’s share price jumped five per cent today after reporting revenue and earnings growth. The figures The company, which gives investors exposure to private equity firm HgCapital's portfolio, reported revenue growth of 12 per cent in the first six months of the year. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda), meanwhile, were up 22 [...]
Less than 10 per cent of savings providers are offering the Help to Buy Isa – with just 12 on board so far December 2, 2015 The Help to Buy Isa launched without much ceremony yesterday – so no wonder the number of savings providers offering the scheme, which provides a government bonus for first-time buyers, is being seen as a bit of a let-down. Research from Savings Champion suggests just 12 lenders have so far go on board with the government scheme, [...]
Labour plans to double number of first-time buyers October 16, 2014 The Labour party will set out plans to give first-time buyers top priority by handing more powers to local communities in England for new house building. The party will pledge to double the number of first-time buyers over the next 10 years should it be returned to office. Furthermore, Labour wants 200,0000 homes a year [...]
Proptech: Technology is poised to transform the UK housing market February 19, 2016 The phrase “fintech” has long since entered mainstream use, while buzzwords like adtech, edtech and medtech are becoming increasingly familiar too. Now a newish category is entering the technology startup lexicon: “proptech”. The UK’s property industry has remained stubbornly resistant to change, even as innovation reshapes entire verticals across the wider economy. Compared with, say, [...]
London’s housing problem doesn’t need another government scheme: It’s time to slaughter sacred green belt cow – The City View October 7, 2015 During his time at 10 Downing Street, David Cameron has presided over a number of deeply complex attempts at helping Generation Rent climb the first rung of the housing ladder. NewBuy came first, guaranteeing 95 per cent mortgages for first-time buyers on new-build properties. That was followed by Help-to-Buys one and two: respectively, equity loans [...]