CITY VIEWS: DO YOU THINK HOME OWNERSHIP IS DECLINING? August 30, 2011 MARCUS KUM | INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED SHIPBROKERS “People will always buy houses rather than rent because it’s a personal achievement: the only problem is the affordability. Renting is cheaper because of the deposit when buying, causing a decline in house ownership.” CHRIS COPPING | UNITED INSURANCE BROKERS “Yes, but I’m not sure how long it [...]
Rise in Taylor Wimpey sales lifts margins September 19, 2011 HOUSEBUILDER Taylor Wimpey said yesterday that sales rates in recent weeks have been encouraging, as the industry has benefited from a seasonal surge in home buying activity. The FTSE 250-listed firm added it is on track to deliver on margin targets this year. The country’s second largest builder by market value said net sales rates [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING August 29, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES WATCHDOG HITS OUT AT BANKS OVER GREEK DEBT Some European financial institutions should have taken bigger losses on their Greek government bond holdings in recent results announcements, according to the body that sets their accounting rules. the International Accounting Standards Board criticised the inconsistent way in which banks and insurers have been writing [...]
The appeal of a mature market March 15, 2012 THERE’S nothing emerging about Barbados. Barbados has arrived. It arrived a long time ago. But in a property environment where the hot new thing has lost some of its appeal over the past five years, tried and true is sometimes best. Like a Starbucks when you want to be sure of what you’re getting. But [...]
Mortgage lending rises in June August 10, 2011 Mortgage lending jumped in June according to figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). The total number of new home loans to house buyers jumped by 22 per cent from May, to 46,700. Loans to first-time buyers reached a 10-month high, up 24 per cent from May to 18,100. Although the level of lending [...]
Mortgage lending rises in June August 10, 2011 Mortgage lending jumped in June according to figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). The total number of new home loans to house buyers jumped by 22 per cent from May, to 46,700. Loans to first-time buyers reached a 10-month high, up 24 per cent from May to 18,100. Although the level of lending [...]
Why not to position for a gold crash February 20, 2012 GOLD has traded in a channel for the last month, but despite this, it remains at a price nigh on unimaginable 18 months ago. “Although the last month has been a quiet one for the price of gold, the metal is still up by around 10 per cent for the year and is still almost [...]
Redrow beats forecasts in profits surge September 8, 2011 HOUSEBUILDER Redrow has posted better than expected pre-tax profits, thanks to a 14 per cent rise in revenues, but warned of a tough outlook for the property market. The Wales-based company posted a pre-tax profit of £25.3m in the 12 months to the end of June, compared with £700,000 the year before, beating a consensus [...]
If it’s broke, then buy it and fix it up for a tidy return November 10, 2011 Q.Why should someone consider an unmodernised property? A.Unmodernised property provides the opportunity to buy at a lower price than a recently modernised equivalent, and the chance to create one’s own home to one’s own taste and standards. People also enjoy the experience of renovating a property; it’s creative and fun. Q.What are the biggest upsides? [...]
SELL January 12, 2012 MANAGING DIRECTOR OF KAY & CO, CENTRAL LONDON ESTATE AGENCY Q. Should I buy a one bedroom flat in a better location, or go for a larger flat in a less sought after location? Is square footage or location king for investment? A. Statistically, in the long run, properties in more sought after locations will [...]