London towers vs low-rise living: Westminster is luring investors seeking modern quality homes in a historical part of town February 26, 2015 It’s out with the old and in with the new in one of London’s most historic boroughs. Westminster, home to such venerable and enduring institutions as Westminster Abbey, Whitehall and the Houses of Parliament, is well known for its period housing stock. Small streets are generally lined with Georgian townhouses and bookended by 18th century [...]
Taylor Wimpey upbeat on UK housing market as buyers shake off General Election jitters April 23, 2015 The figures Taylor Wimpey has made an upbeat start to 2015, with an average private net reservation rate of 0.76 sales per outlet per week for the year to date – suggesting house buyers aren't worried about the impact of the general election (and given housebuilding is one of the few sectors that stands to benefit, [...]
London barometer: How General Election uncertainty is influencing home buyers and sellers March 26, 2015 Politics continues to shape the property market as demand falls and supply increases ahead of one of the most divisive elections in generations. The outcome is causing uncertainty in the sales market and a general mood of caution, with some buyers and vendors hedging their bets before committing to selling or buying. Valuations remain consistent [...]
Forget Shoreditch: How to turn an industrial relic into a home in shabby chic Archway April 9, 2015 As residential values in London have sky-rocketed, more disused commercial buildings are being converted into homes. A few years ago, it would have been unheard of for apartments to be more profitable than office space but there are a few boroughs in London where this is increasingly true. And there are no spaces more suited [...]
Low mortgage rates and booming UK economy lifts housebuilder Cala Group March 24, 2015 Upmarket housebuilder Cala Group said it was on track to deliver another year of record profits as low mortgage rates, the strength of the UK economy and the ongoing housing shortage continued to boost demand. The Edinburgh-based group, which develops upmarket properties in Scotland, the Midlands and the Home Counties, said yesterday it had already [...]
Cineworld predicts Star Wars and James Bond to deliver further box office growth May 26, 2015 The figures Online streaming may be on the rise, but the lure of the silver screen is still strong if Cineworld's last 19 weeks are anything to go by. The UK cinema operator saw total group revenue rise 26.8 per cent for the 19 weeks ended May 14, with the biggest growth enjoyed in central [...]
Focus on Bermondsey: Take a walk on the south side April 9, 2015 Affordable housing in Zone One is becoming something of a rarity in London, but look just south of the river and you’ll find one area in particular that’s still a decent prospect for first-time buyers looking for a good investment. Paul Bent, sales manager at Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward’s London Bridge branch says young professionals [...]
Don’t get burned by the buy-to-let boom: Funding retirement with rental income could turn into a disaster April 7, 2015 The new pensions freedoms are finally here and many savers will be considering taking a lump sum from their savings. Investing in a buy-to-let property to fund retirement may seem like a good idea, but pensions experts are warning of the risks. Eighteen years after the creation of the first buy-to-let mortgage, this form of [...]
Mike Ashley funds purchase of Chelsea development worth £900m April 19, 2015 Mike Ashley has financed a deal for a lucrative development in Chelsea that could be worth around £900m according to reports. The Newcastle United owner and Sports Direct founder is said to have provided the £200m paid by Citygrove and McLaren Properties for a development site from John Lewis. According to The Sunday Times, the money [...]
UK house prices: Sutton, Cambridge and Watford top the list of the UK’s property hotspots April 2, 2015 It's home to Channel 4 series PhoneShop. And, er, other things. Alright, so Sutton might not be the most glamorous place in the commuter belt – but it turns out that when it comes to the race up the housing ladder, the town is heavily in-demand. That's according to online estate agent Emoov, whose latest Property [...]