The Bank of England has revealed plans to relax the current mortgage affordability rules, making it easier for first-time-buyers to secure lending. The Bank’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) has decided this affordability rule is no longer necessary. The current rule that means borrowers are required to prove that they can repay their mortgage each month […]
Home improvements can be time consuming and expensive so it’s important that you make changes that improve your quality of life in your home as well as adding value when the time comes to sell. Experts at the Luxury Property Show have outlined the six best home improvements that will help you to add value […]
According to the latest research, a garden office could boost the value of your property by as much as £12,000. A recent study from MyToolShed has revealed that paying extra for a good quality shed that can be used as an office – or even designing and building your own structure that can be used […]
Over the last year we have unprecedented market conditions – with upward pressure on prices, exceptionally high demand and a record number of transactions. According to Rightmove, in April 2021, 32% of properties sold for more than the original asking price. The portal also reported that housing market demand was 52% higher in April 2021 […]
According to Moneyfacts, mortgage lending is back to 75% of pre-pandemic levels following a rise for the seventh consecutive month in May. Lending is fast approaching the pre-pandemic levels with 3,927 mortgage products on the market compared to 5,222 in March 2020. Within the last few weeks, HSBC revealed that it had secured mortgage borrowers […]
According to recent figures, house prices in Scotland are up by nearly 11% in the year to March 2021. In Scotland, house prices rose by 10.6% over the year to March 2021, compared with a rise of 10.2 % in England, 11% in Wales and 6% in Northern Ireland. Figures released by the Office for […]
Following the announcement in the spring budget that the government was backing a mortgage guarantee scheme which will see home buyers being able to take out a mortgage with just a 5% deposit, applications are now open. The aim of the scheme is to help all buyers with small deposits. This means that it’s open […]
Being outside can make you healthy and happy! Recent studies have shown that being outdoors improves your mood, reduces stress, boosts the immune system and increases proteins that can fight off illness and disease. Getting some natural light and fresh air benefits both the mind and body whether you’re at the beach, in the woods, […]
The Furlough Scheme is due to end in a few months in the UK and over the last year many property owners have taken advantage of the 6 month mortgage holiday. Current guidelines for landlords March 2021 update The Tenant Hardship Loan Fund and the Private Rent Sector Landlord (non-business) COVID-19 Loan Scheme, both of […]
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the average Scottish house price has jumped during the course of the pandemic by 8.4% and the number of house sales rose by 31.9%. Over the past four years we have seen a general slowdown in house price growth across the UK but […]
