Profits hit at Grainger but sales improve October 6, 2009 PROPERTY company Grainger said yesterday sales in the year to end-September had risen by 21.6 per cent, but trading profit would be hit by lower house prices and more sales to investors. The group, which is Britain’s largest quoted residential landlord, sold about £220m of property in the 12 months, with sales from its core [...]
Wolseley in grim outlook as profit falls November 18, 2009 SHARES in Wolseley took a hammering yesterday after the world’s biggest builders’ merchant and plumbing supplier said it saw no sign of recovery in its key construction and industrial markets. Group profit plunged 41 per cent in the three months to the end of October to £104m as revenues fell 13 per cent to £13.4bn. [...]
London and South East in homes boost September 27, 2009 HOUSE prices increased by 0.2 per cent in September, according to a survey published today. The survey, by the housing intelligence business Hometrack, records only the second monthly rise in house prices since July 2007. Hometrack’s director of research, Richard Donnell, warns however that “the headline growth marks what is essentially a London and South [...]
Unite seeks 150m for investment arm December 1, 2009 UNITE GROUP, the student housing developer and manager, said yesterday its investment arm USAF was raising £150m to expand its property portfolio, in the latest indication that the student property market is thriving despite the downturn. The group has already secured £133m of its target from investors, it said, and has also received applications for [...]
Topps Tiles says green shoots are in sight as sales show signs of stabilising September 23, 2009 TILE and wood flooring retailer Topps Tiles yesterday said its markets were stabilising with sales falling at a slower pace in its second half, adding to hopes the recession may be ending. Topps Tiles – which is seen as a bellwether for DIYspending – said it expected sales at stores open more than a year to [...]
Topps Tiles says green shoots are in sight as sales show signs of stabilising September 23, 2009 TILE and wood flooring retailer Topps Tiles yesterday said its markets were stabilising with sales falling at a slower pace in its second half, adding to hopes the recession may be ending. Topps Tiles – which is seen as a bellwether for DIYspending – said it expected sales at stores open more than a year to [...]
Bankers grab luxury homes October 22, 2009 IN a fresh sign that bankers are feeling comfortable enough to splash the cash, enquiries for prime properties in Kensington and Chelsea have jumped in recent weeks, according to estate agents Knight Frank. Goldman Sachs was recently under the spotlight for awarding its 30,000 staff £500,000 each in bonuses, with some top traders set to [...]
Bag yourself an apartment in the iconic Barbican October 29, 2009 WHEN it comes to residential property in the City, there is nowhere quite like the Barbican. Ever since it was built in the sixties, the brutalist masterpiece has been one of the most iconic buildings in the Square Mile. For those who work in the City there could hardly be a more convenient location – [...]
Bag yourself an apartment in the iconic Barbican October 29, 2009 WHEN it comes to residential property in the City, there is nowhere quite like the Barbican. Ever since it was built in the sixties, the brutalist masterpiece has been one of the most iconic buildings in the Square Mile. For those who work in the City there could hardly be a more convenient location – [...]
Tips for bagging yourself a new-build bargain in a difficult market November 19, 2009 POLLY COLDWELL, DEPUTY EDITOR OF FIRST TIME BUYER MAGAZINE:1) Ensure the property is big enough for your belongings. Check that there is somewhere to put your hoover, etc. Garages have shrunk as well: measure it to make sure your car fits. 2) New builds are rated for their energy, water and waste under the Code [...]