It takes a lot to bring the UK’s housing market to a halt, but COVID19 managed it. With lockdown in place, mortgage approvals slowed to a trickle. May was the worst-hit month with just over 9,000 approvals. Fortunately, the housing market has been picking up since then with just under 40,000 approvals in June and […]
Mortgage
Are You a Manager in the Bank of Mum and Dad?
If you’re a manager in the Bank of Mum and Dad, then you may have some serious thinking to do if one (or more) of your children wants to buy a property and needs your help. Harsh as it may sound, it may be in everyone’s best interests for you to consider the situation in […]
Capital Gains Tax Comes under Review
It probably comes as a surprise to nobody that taxes are under review. While the Coronavirus-relief measures were often welcomed, it was clear, even at the time, that they were almost certainly going to work out to be very expensive. Now, the physical effects of the virus are, broadly, under control. That means it’s time […]
Is now a good time to be a first-time buyer?
If you’re a (potential) first-time buyer, you might be feeling rather confused about your place in the housing market right now. Here is a quick rundown of the key housing-market news for first-time buyers and what it might mean. The Stamp Duty holiday Whether or not the Stamp Duty holiday is good news for first-time […]
Moving calmly through troubled waters
It’s perfectly understandable if you just want 2020 to be over already. The fact is that there are still five months of it left to go. What’s more, some of those months cover what is traditionally peak home-buying season. The good news is that the housing market has now adjusted to the COVID19 situation and […]
Buying a home after lockdown
Estate agents are now open for business and able to conduct home viewings. Property professionals are also able to visit homes for “non-essential work” (such as building surveys). In short, the housing market is now, officially, open for business. Unofficially, it remains to be seen how long it will take to find its feet (or […]