Property

By Perry Power, property sales specialist at Perry Power Have you ever stopped to ask your estate agent exactly why they’ve decided to market your property at a particular price? Not the value itself necessarily (which should be based on the current market and sales prices for similar properties in your area), but the way they’ve presented the price. After all, when it comes to selling a property, setting the right price is crucial. There’s a fine line between listing...

By Nathan Lee, TLE Correspondent  Seven in ten Brits admit they aren’t happy with their home, new research has revealed, with size and location coming out as big factors but décor topping the list. The study found millions of Brits are living in homes we dislike, with more than 20 per cent saying they completely hate where they live. While many people dislike their home because it’s too small, or because they’re not happy with the location, half of us say...

By Perry Power, property sales specialist at Perry Power Has your home been languishing on the market for months? Many clients come to me exasperated, as not only have they not yet received an attractive offer on their property, but that viewing numbers have also dwindled. The harsh reality is that well presented homes marketed from day one receive the offers. The longer your property stays on the market, the less chance you have of receiving a suitable offer anytime...

By Dean Jones, managing director at SoSmart Money First-time buyers were set firmly within the sights of the majority of parties in the build up to the recent general election, and it appears that this target market may have been key to the outcome. During their last term in office – as part of the coalition government – the Conservative Party introduced various initiatives to help first-time buyers, including the Help to Buy Mortgage Scheme which was followed up fairly...

By Alan Oliver, Director of Compliance Division at Yorkshire and Essex-based Checkmate Fire solutions Under the Building Regulations in England and Wales, there is a requirement for main contractors to ensure that new or refurbished buildings are completed and handed over to the client in a fire-compliant state, in relation to means of escape and minimum life safety. However, there is significant evidence showing that increasing numbers of buildings are being constructed with badly installed passive fire protection, or more...

By Bea Patel, Property Editor and Director of Shop for an Agent, the estate agent comparison site Buying property abroad is tempting. With undervalued properties with long-term financial potential, many people spending more time in their favourite sunny destinations, and when the currency is stronger from the buyer’s country, the prospect for buying overseas is attractive. Jordan Tilley, head of UK and Europe at UKForex gives his five top tips for investing in property abroad: 1. Research the mortgage market...

By Rob Jarrett, CEO at The Resort Group PLC The main advantage of a buy-to-let investment is that you are purchasing an asset, which has the potential to grow in value as well as deliver a regular level of return. Property investment has always been popular for this reason, and is a main advantage over savings accounts. The buy-to-let model is a good idea because it is accessible to the new and experienced, especially when the property is managed for...

By Bea Patel, Property Editor and Director of Shop for an Agent, the estate agent comparison site A report by Armstrong International revealed results of 305 North American institutional investors surveyed this year. Investment bodies included public pension funds, public universities, private foundations and endowments in the US and Canada. The report showed they’re planning long-term investments in foreign infrastructure, pumping billions of pounds into Europe, their first target area on the shopping list, followed by Asia and sub-Saharan Africa....

By Jack Peat, TLE Editor  A historic ranch in Northern Texas is set to become the world's most expensive estate after it was put on the market for £460 million. The W.T. Waggoner Estate Ranch is the largest single ranch in the USA - with a staggering 510,000 acres of land. It is larger than Greater London and spans six counties across Northern Texas. The ranch, which is spread over more than 800 square miles, has 7,500 cows, 500 quarter horses, 20 cowboy camps and numerous huge...