Latest News Articles

20 August, 2008:

New build buyers must reveal all

From the 1st of September this year, anyone purchasing a new build property will have to disclose full details of any incentives received to their lender or mortgage broker

We do like to be beside the seaside

Properties on the seafront are unlikely to be harmed by the credit crunch as owners tend not to need to borrow

Bank of England urged to cut rates asap

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has urged the Bank of England's monetary policy committee to lower the base rate as soon as they can, to avoid further housing market upheaval

Government stealth tax costs council thousands

Swindon Council has had to demolish buildings due to a Government stealth tax on empty shops, offices and warehouses

Back to school

A new report has shown that property prices are far higher in locations which are close to good state schools

Rochdale redevelopment shelved

European Union ruling forces £250 million town centre scheme to be postponed

Cold Turkey for Royle Family star

Best known for sitting on the sofa in the popular television programme The Royle Family, actor Ricky Tomlinson has gone further afield, buying two homes in the Turkish resort of Altinkum

Cambodia transformed to the tune of billions

Cambodian conglomerate Royal Group is raising over £1 billion from private investors, together with Hong Kong-based Millennium Group, to develop Koh Rong, an island off Sihanoukville

We're the kids in America

As sub prime problems force American house prices into a cul-de-sac, the USA becomes the most popular destination for Brits to buy abroad outside Europe

British building in Indonesia

Design plans for the new British Embassy in Jakarta have been finalised by The Foreign and Commonwealth Office

19 August, 2008:

Lettings boom sparked by weak property market

A record number of would-be property sellers are opting to let instead as the housing gloom continues, a new survey suggests

Country Life

Britain's country villages are facing the brunt of prices increases, making that rural dream more expensive than living in the city

Home isn't where the heart is

Mass exodus from UK: Brits typically look to buy in foreign climes following the peak holiday season

London house prices lagging behind south-east

While house prices in London were initially falling faster than the surrounding regions, the reverse is now the case

New build property:price cuts

Developers concerned at falling sales introduce price cuts which could help buyers get onto the property ladder

HIPs criticism rages on

The Conservative Party adds new fuel to the fire on their campaign against Home Information Packs (HIPs)

House price falls in Northern Ireland

Following years of unprecented growth, property prices in Northern Ireland have begun to stagnate, says the University of Ulster

World Cup to kick off new wave of interest in Brazil

News that the 2014 World Cup will be held in Brazil is set to entice a new wave of investors to the country, alongside infrastructure improvements

Car mad buyers look to Berlin

A team of Berlin architects has created a car lover's paradise pad; an apartment which you can drive right into

World's most expensive property finds a buyer

Russian businessman pays a record £397 million for 20-acre estate on the French Riviera

18 August, 2008:

US housing market could go either way

Trying to work out the short to medium term prospects for US house prices is a challenging task

Building land value falls by 20 per cent

The value of residential building land, one of the key assets for most housebuilders, plummeted by as much as 20 per cent in the first six months

Jerez set to gain in Spain

Whilst much of Spain is under a real estate cloud, property prices in the Andalusian city of Jerez are still rising steadily

Sluggish Singapore says goodbye to boom times

Singapore has been going construction crazy with new futuristic condominiums replacing old, worn out apartments

Global property chief shown the door

Simon Baker, the man who turned a simple Australian website into a multi-million dollar global property business, has been sacked

Lakeside log cabins luring Canadian city-dwellers

Soaring demand for easily accessible country property is driving up prices to record levels

Great Scot, the Irish are coming!

With universities in Scotland now attracting over 2,000 applications from teenagers from Ireland annually, property agents in Edinburgh are seeing an upsurge in enquiries from Irish parents

Australian auctions suffer despite hopes of rate cuts

The prospect of a reduction in official interest rates next month has failed to encourage Australia's property market with auction clearance rates at the weekend taking a hammering

UK holidaymakers seek adventure further afield

Holiday seekers join property investors at looking beyond the pastures of Europe for their desired destination

15 August, 2008:

UK inflation tipped to fall

Following weeks of scaremongering in the press and dire forecasts from industry experts, could this week's inflation figures hint at better times to come?

New eco-village planned for the north-east

Plans have been submitted for a £80-£100 million mixed-use eco-village in the at the former Paton & Baldwins Textile plant in Darlington

Stamp duty: delayed decision hindering market

Delaying the decision regarding stamp duty has had an adverse effect on the property market, says the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)

Sterling falls against US dollar for 11 straight days

Eleven days of consecutive falls is the longest run of losses for the British pound against the American dollar in 37 years

Landlords advised not to take deposits from tenants

A new statement by the Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has advised landlords to take two months' rent in advance from tenants rather than a deposit

Darling plans to extend new liquidity scheme

Alistair Darling is planning to extend the Bank of England's special liquidity scheme, which allows banks to swap certain assets temporarily

Scotland bucks the house price trend

House prices in Scotland are continuing to show good increases, unlike what is being seen in other parts of the UK, according to a survey by Lloyds TSB Scotland

Out of Africa

One of the most politically and economically stable countries in Africa, Botswana has seen a continued growth in tourism

Tasmanian property market a devil to get onto

Housing affordability in Tasmania's capital of Hobart remains low, making it increasingly difficult to enter the property market

Visa holders living in Dubai face new rules

The renewal of residency visas for families is now linked to the size of the family and the size of the accommodation they are staying in, so visa will be harder to get

14 August, 2008:

Public buildings must display energy efficiency

Schools, hospitals, police stations and other public venues could face prosecution if they do not display the energy efficiency of their buildings

New era for the private rental sector

The Law Commission recommends drastic reforms for the private rental sector in its latest report

Top five cities for rental investment

Leeds nudges Cambridge out of the top five cities in which landlords own rental property

Local consultation on housing launched

Plans to build nearly 600,000 new homes in the south-west will be opened to public consultation

HIP replacement?

The suspension of Home Information Packs is being touted as the simplest way to boost the UK's housing market

Demand for rental property on the up

Many people are adopting a wait and see policy when it comes to purchasing a property, so the demand from tenants requiring rental properties is higher than ever

Report highlights top emerging markets

Emergnig markets such as Slovakia and Poland could prove lucrative for international property investors

Brazilian land plots available for under £10k

UK buyers can pick up a bargain in the Brazilian state of Alagoas for under £10,000, thanks to E-Quity and TheMoveChannel.com

Azur Plan aims to boost tourist numbers in Morocco

A planned expansion of tourist numbers could send investor potential in Morocco through the roof

13 August, 2008:

Price drops on fixed rate mortgages

The cost of fixed rate mortgages is finally coming down, Bank of England figures have revealed