Merchants Walk in east London: Affordable house prices, yet very commutable October 30, 2014 As the fringes of the City soar in both popularity and price, first-time buyers and young professionals on modest incomes are looking to move a bit further afield. In this case “further afield” means 15 minutes away by Tube. Bow in Tower Hamlets, east London, has seen a spurt in popularity as a result, [...]
Luxury in the air at Earl’s Court’s Lillie Square October 20, 2014 The designers behind the north hall of Covent Garden Market and the Met Bar unveiled a new collection of luxury penthouses in Earl’s Court to bring it up to the standard of its illustrious west London neighbours. The penthouses are part of the Lillie Square development, a residential scheme that’s the centrepiece of the regeneration [...]
Focus On… Lewisham: find suburbia in Zone Two October 20, 2014 Property developers are constantly searching for the “next creative hub”, following those impoverished artists to underdeveloped places around London to find the smartest investment before the others do. South London has seen its fair share of this behaviour in recent years, with the meteoric rise of Brixton and Peckham as desirable, sociable places for young [...]
Why a fireplace could add serious value to your home October 20, 2014 It's universally acknowledged that art not only beautifies the home but is generally a good investment. And Owen Pacey, owner of Shoreditch’s Renaissance antique furniture specialist and restorer, thinks there’s no better way to keep your bank balance warm than buying a fireplace. “Look,” he starts matter-of-factly, “If I went to view two Georgian [...]
On the frontline: Does a slowing rate of growth mean lower house prices? October 20, 2014 One quarter is a long time in the property market. Our Investor View reports show Q1 growth across 18 offices at 6.5 per cent, Q2 2.1 per cent and Q3 0.1 per cent. So does a slowing rate of growth mean house prices will fall? Messrs Osborne and Cameron will be hoping not, and Douglas [...]
London’s first Four Seasons residences to open in the City October 20, 2014 Do you ever walk through certain parts of London and think that there’s just too much to look at? Between Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and the skyscrapers of the City of London, it’s easy to overlook a couple of astounding pieces of architecture in Tower Hill. Ten Trinity Square in Trinity Square Gardens [...]
How to ski your way to an investment in the French Alps October 20, 2014 As the ski season approaches, it’s perhaps time to consider where you’ll end up this December. Most good skiers are regular ones, so rather than give your money up to the same resorts every year, why not turn your winter holiday getaway into a foreign investment opportunity? That’s what Alpine property developers Sotarbat is hoping [...]
Lord Anderson’s old house up for sale in Westminster October 20, 2014 Stamped on the wall outside number four Lord North Street is a marking urging residents to proceed to their bomb shelters when the air raid sirens rang out. It’s an eternal allusion to the illustrious past behind one of Westminster’s largest homes currently on sale in one of the borough’s most famous roads. In her [...]
Why British homeowners are mad about mews October 20, 2014 It’s a common complaint that all the best properties in London are being bought up by foreign, cash-rich investors, looking to tie their money up in our constantly expanding property market. But there is one section of the market that, until now, has remained largely untapped by foreign investment, a last bastion of British buyers: [...]
Secrets of London part II: Our homebuyer’s guide reveals more hidden gems October 3, 2014 In the second part of our series on hidden London, we reveal the secrets and ancient artefacts living side-by-side with some London’s newest and most innovative residential architecture. Here are just some of the treasures future homeowners will be living alongside, including Ernest Hemingway’s favourite riverside pub in London, a tribute to the [...]