020 7538 0102
13th February 2015
Lenders are predicting that mortgage rates look set to fall below 1% for the first time. This week, HSBC unveiled a new record low rate of 1.19% for those with a 40% deposit, and First Direct launched a 2.28% five-year deal with a 35% deposit. Brokers say falling fees could follow, as lenders with low rates compete. "It's going to be hard for some lenders to move much further on rates, so it may be that they drop fees instead", said Ray Boulger, of mortgage broker John Charcol.
The Times (09/02/15)
13th February 2015
Halifax has published a “light hearted look at house prices” which ranks the cost of residential property in a number of areas home to TV soaps.. The average price of a home in Albert Square, home to EastEnders, is up 923% since the show began 30 years ago.
The Sun (13/02/15)
6th February 2015
The second phase of the Royal Wharf residential development has just gone on sale, with 760 new properties bordered by the riverfront and a local park now on the market. The Ballymore-designed properties comprise 1, 2, 3 & 4 bed apartments and suites, 2, 3 & 4 bed duplexes, and town houses, ranging in price from £250,000 to upwards of £1,050,000.
The Wharf (03/02/15)
6th February 2015
The latest Land Registry data reveals the average cost of buying a London home has risen by 16.3% in the past year to £464,936. Waltham Forest is the London borough with the largest annual price growth of 25.1%, while Barking and Dagenham has emerged as the most affordable borough to buy a home, with an average price of £265,912.
Evening Standard (04/02/15
6th February 2015
House prices "bounced back" in January, with the Halifax reporting a quarterly rise of 1.9% across the UK. The comparison was with prices in the three months to the end of January with the previous quarter. According to the Halifax prices in January alone increased by 2%, compared with December - the largest January rise for six years. When measured on an annual basis, house price inflation increased to 8.5% - up from 7.8% in December. Halifax said that the average UK house price was now £193,130.
The Times (06/02/14)
6th February 2015
Figures from the Bank of England have revealed that the number of new mortgages approved to house buyers in December rose slightly to 60,275. This is the first rise in approvals since June 2014, but the number is still 17% down on December 2013. Lenders have granted fewer approvals over the last few months following the introduction of tougher borrowing checks and limits on high-risk loans in April 2014. However, the recent rise may now see activity in the property market pick up. Howard Archer of IHS Global Insight warned that too much should not be read into one month’s data, but added that it may suggest “the weakening in housing market activity may be drawing to a close".
The Times (31/01/15)