August 2011 from Gateway Homes
Councils could be given more freedom to improve housing
31/08/2011New proposal announced by Housing Minister Grant Shapps could see councils receiving more flexibility when it comes to providing housing for local communities. Under the suggestions published for consultation, councils would be allowed more financial freedom to trade their assets … Read more →
Big six lenders dominate mortgage market
29/08/2011The big six high street lenders continued to be the driving force behind mortgage lending, according to new figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). Lending collectively by Santander, Barclays, Lloyds, Royal Bank of Scotland, Nationwide and HSBC is … Read more →
Persimmon see sunny outlook for summer
26/08/2011Following a slowdown at the start of the year, Persimmon homes have reported a dramatic rise in sales. Stating that they believe the UK property market “remains stable”, the UK’s second biggest housebuilder indicated weekly sales were up four per … Read more →
Money can make us happy, survey finds
26/08/2011They say that money can’t buy you happiness, but a new survey from the Money Advice Service reveals that good feelings about money results in contentment for 76 per cent of us. The research also stated that 44 per cent … Read more →
Kensington: More borrowers seeking professional advice for the first time
25/08/2011An increased number of borrowers are now seeking out professional advice for the first time on the subject of mortgages, according to research by Kensington. A survey of 617 mortgage intermediaries by the group revealed that almost one in five … Read more →
School catchment area is ‘top concern’ for property buyers
23/08/2011Finding a home nestled within the catchment area of a good school has long been a concern of potential property buyers, and it remains the top priority of one in three prospective buyers with children aged ten or under. These … Read more →
Low Cost Home Ownership schemes ‘vital’ to housing market, says Halifax
22/08/2011Low Cost Home Ownership schemes (LCHO) are vital in helping to create an affordable housing market, according to a review of official data by Halifax. LCHO covers shared equity and ownership programmes that have been promoted by past and present … Read more →
Zoopla: Two in five homeowners forced to slash property price
22/08/2011Two in five sellers with homes currently for sale in Britain have had to reduce their asking prices at least once since bringing the property to market, a property website has reported. According to Zoopla.co.uk research, property owners looking to … Read more →
June House Price Index brings good news for property buyers
22/08/2011The latest edition of the UK House Price Index compiled by the Department for Communities and Local Government shows that prices paid by first-time property buyers and former property owners across the UK have fallen over the past year. According … Read more →
Property buyers registering interest over holiday period
22/08/2011There was a rise in the number of potential property buyers registering their interest in buying a home in July, according to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA). A report released today (August 18th) found there to be as … Read more →
RICS: NPPF is significant step forward
16/08/2011The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has issued a statement welcoming the government’s draft of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Calling the plans a “significant step forward in enabling the growth the UK requires”, the group has affirmed … Read more →
Personal finances dominate consumer concerns, says BRC/Nielsen
15/08/2011Consumers’ top concerns for the rest of the year are likely to be personal finances and household budget problems, according to new data. The latest Consumer Confidence Survey released on August 11th shows that consumer intentions to spend are at … Read more →
Grant Shapps: Struggling homeowners should act quick to protect property
12/08/2011Following the release of figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) that show the level or repossessions this year remains unchanged, Housing Minister Grant Shapps has called on anyone who is struggling with their mortgage to take action. The … Read more →
Two thirds of credit card users don’t consider impact, says moneysupermarket.com
12/08/2011Spending on credit has become second-nature to many consumers to such an extent that 29 per cent would only consider the impact if spending £100 or more, new research suggests. A survey by moneysupermarket.com reveals that only a third of … Read more →
RICS: Housing prices slip further in July
10/08/2011Over one fifth of chartered surveyors reported a fall in house prices over the month of July, indicating that people who want to sell their homes fast may struggle. According to the latest RICS UK Housing Market survey (August 9th), … Read more →
More towns ‘becoming affordable to first-time buyers’
09/08/2011There’s some good news for homeowners looking to sell their home fast, as a new report from the Halifax claims more towns are becoming available to first-time buyers. According to the Halifax First Time Buyer Review released this week, the … Read more →
Pay freezes impacting Brits
08/08/2011Household budgets in the UK are being pushed even further, thanks to the combination of stagnant pay levels and the rising cost of living. According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), research conducted for their report for … Read more →
Jason Statham grabs himself a property bargain
05/08/2011Action man Jason Statham has started a whole new adventure in his life by buying himself a new home. The Expendables and Transporter star is to move in with his model-come-actress girlfriend Rosie Huntington-Whitely after buying fellow actor Ben Stiller’s … Read more →
NLA: Mortgage rates could affect buy-to-let mortgages
04/08/2011The rise in buy-to-let mortgage rates could make current and potential landlords reconsider being property buyers in the future, according to the National Landlords Association (NLA). Research by the organisation has shown that a rise in rates will impact the … Read more →
One quarter of Brits don’t expect to ever start saving again
03/08/2011A weighty 40 per cent of consumers are currently not saving due to financial pressure and one quarter believes they will not start saving again, a survey by moneysupermarket.com has found. The poll also reveals that of those who are … Read more →
NAEA: Don’t forget the unpredictable British weather
02/08/2011Summer is a traditionally good season for selling a home fast because the period is a popular time for property buyers to go house-hunting. With this in mind, the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has issued some advice urging … Read more →
Land Registry: ‘Property prices remain static’
01/08/2011The average cost of a house for sale in the UK remained static in June, according to official figures from the Land Registry. Data from the Land Registry’s flagship House Price Index, published July 27th , shows that the average … Read more →
