Posted on 27th November 202011th March 2021Mortgages, Covid and FurloughLike all businesses, Mortgage lenders are having to adapt to new ways of working with Covid 19, and each has responded differently, altering the way in which they do business, or making changes to their product ranges and lending criteria.Lenders have a duty to ensure they lend responsibly, and many have changed the amount they will lend to customers.There are currently far fewer options when borrowing over 85% of the property value, and borrowing over 90% can be particularly challenging.Some lenders have introduced family assisted mortgages, which are designed to help first time buyers, and could be a great option for some.The threat of a further downturn in the economy, and borrowers potentially being unable to keep up repayments on their mortgage is obviously a concern for lenders, and this is a particular issue for customers who are applying for a mortgage and whilst on the furlough scheme. Continue reading » “Mortgages, Covid and Furlough”
Posted on 6th November 202011th March 2021Lockdown with a DifferenceAnother national lockdown is in place, but this time round there are some significant differences to earlier in the year, and we are all trying to fathom out exactly what it means for each of us, and more importantly how it will impact our lives!One of the big differences within the world of property is that, while we still had a small team in place throughout the first lockdown, looking after the hundreds of properties we manage for clients, we were unable to show people around the fabulous homes we have for sale and to rent, or indeed come out and give advice and guidance to those thinking about making a change, and wanting to buy, sell, rent or improve their home. Continue reading » “Lockdown with a Difference”
Posted on 21st September 2020What draws people to want to live here?Some are fortunate enough to be deemed locals – lucky them! Some are clever enough to have worked out why it’s one of the best places in Britain to live (and work!). Some have yet to make the decision to start to enjoying one of England’s finest areas and call it home for themselves and their family.So what can you do here that is so different? Continue reading » “What draws people to want to live here?”
Posted on 24th July 202024th July 2020New Office in Penrith Now Open!Well hello again!FIRSTLY…We have just, this week, opened our NEW OFFICE in the market town of PENRITH!This now gives Buyers and Sellers and Landlords and Tenants NINE places to pop in and see us, and obtain the very best agency service in the region. Continue reading » “New Office in Penrith Now Open!”
Posted on 10th July 2020Stamp Duty Holiday Part 2Stamp duty holiday for 265 days from today!Well we didn’t imagine that the esteemed Chancellor Rishi Sunak would this week, provide us with a really positive, helpful, and cost saving topic for the local and national property market – but he did bless him!As many of you will already know our local property market is generally buoyant, and in some areas extremely active. Those who follow these updates will have seen last week’s that referred to simply excellent activity and results in June (in several of our offices they were better than June 2019!). Continue reading » “Stamp Duty Holiday Part 2”
Posted on 8th July 20208th July 2020Stamp Duty HolidayBreaking News – Stamp Duty HolidayThe government have announced they are increasing the threshold at which you start paying Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) from £125,000 to £500,000 with immediate effect!This could save you thousands on your purchase.The stamp duty holiday applies from midnight last night, which means that anyone completing a purchase of a main residence today will still get the benefit. (Which could be worth nearly £15,000 for a property priced at just under the £500,000 top limit!).Those people buying a home over the £500,000 limit, will save on the SDLT due up to half a million pounds, but will still have to start paying the duty at 5% for the amount paid above £500,000, rising to 10% and 12% for the most expensive properties.It is estimated the tax break will cost the Treasury £3.8bn, and is due to last until March 2021.For further advice, please contact us today and see if we can help find you your next home.Contact Us
Posted on 3rd July 20207th July 2020The New NormalHere we are at the beginning of July – it seemed so far away back in March didn’t it?We have talked to you on many topics since the start of the pandemic, some of which we hope were useful!We have also been criticised by some who were of a mind to believe what they read in the papers, where doom and gloom were being preached, and we even lost a sale as a result of a buyer being given negative advice (as it turns out, it was from a professional advisor!). Continue reading » “The New Normal”
Posted on 26th June 20203rd July 2020Preparation… Part 4 (Tenants)Hello again!This week we have the final instalment of the four principle areas of property activity, Selling, Buying, Letting, and Renting a property.This week our thoughts and comments are aimed at those seeking to Rent a property and make their home. Continue reading » “Preparation… Part 4 (Tenants)”
Posted on 19th June 20203rd July 2020What a Week!It started with 15 offers on Monday alone, and has just carried on! (at the time of writing it currently stands at 60 – at this rate we are going to run out of property to sell!!).But we digress, and this week as promised, we continue with our thoughts, comments, and advice, to existing and would be Landlords of residential property, across this wonderful region. Continue reading » “What a Week!”
Posted on 13th June 202018th June 2020Preparation… Part 2 (Buyers)Hello again, and we do hope you have had a good and safe week.Following on from our comments for those selling their homes, we now move on to our thoughts for Home Buyers (Purchasers), and using our experience, hope to offer some comments and insight that will be both useful, and even interesting, to those seeking to buy a home, whether it be for the first time, a change to a bigger or smaller home, or as will be perhaps the case for many, that you have decided to move to a new location or area where you want to live – work – retire or holiday in!(Even the national press has started to comment on the changing agenda of some property seekers, who are now targeting areas to live in that they may not have done just a couple of months ago!). Continue reading » “Preparation… Part 2 (Buyers)”
