tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41380154492217229112024-03-05T04:50:07.579-08:00Property - CompareUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-75043025075235834922012-11-05T10:00:00.000-08:002012-11-05T10:00:01.929-08:00Top 10 homes in Britain's best postcodes <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://www.motorscraft.com/" target="_blank"><b>1 Somerset </b></a><br />
<b>Location: </b>Bath, BA1 <br />
<b>Guide price: </b>£395,000<br />
<b>Agent: </b>Knight Frank <span class="skype_pnh_print_container_1352131001">01225 325999</span><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="skype_pnh_mark"> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting</span> <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr"><span class="skype_pnh_free_text_span">FREE </span><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">01225
325999</span></span> <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype</span></span><br />
Bath’s Royal Crescent, designed by John Wood the Younger, is one of the most
recognisable streets in Britain, if not the world. But you don’t have to be a
millionaire to set up in BA1. Formerly a dance studio, this architect-designed
apartment would be a perfect pied-à-terre for those wanting to explore the West
Country. Alternatively it would make a great buy-to-let.<br />
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<a href="http://www.motorscraft.com/services.aspx" target="_blank"><b>2 London</b></a><br />
<b>Location: </b>Victoria Road, W8 <br />
<b>Guide price: </b>£8.75m<br />
<b>Agent: </b>Henry and James <span class="skype_pnh_print_container_1352131001">020 7235 8861</span><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="skype_pnh_mark"> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting</span> <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr"><span class="skype_pnh_free_text_span">FREE </span><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">020
7235 8861</span></span> <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype</span></span><br />
W8, in Kensington, West London, is officially the most expensive postcode in
the country. The average home comes in at £1,873,866, with many going for far
more than that. This double-fronted period house has five bedrooms, parquet
floors and high ceilings, as well as a stunning kitchen with state of the art
fittings. One of the reception rooms is so large that it is known as “the
ballroom”. Perfect for showing off your swish new address to
guests.<br />
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<a href="http://www.motorscraft.com/aboutus.aspx#About%20MotorsCraft" target="_blank"><b>3 Edinburgh</b></a><br />
<b>Location: </b>Carlton Street, EH4<br />
<b>Guide price: </b>From £750,000<br />
<b>Agent: </b>CKD Galbraith <span class="skype_pnh_print_container_1352131001">0131 240 6960</span><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="skype_pnh_mark"> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting</span> <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr"><span class="skype_pnh_free_text_span">FREE </span><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">0131
240 6960</span></span> <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype</span></span><a href="http://www.ckdgalbraith.co.uk/"> </a><br />
On the green-leafed fringes of Edinburgh’s new town, Carlton Street is a
short walk from the shops of the city centre. It combines peace and quiet with
many nearby parks. This spacious apartment is on the ground and garden floors of
a Georgian terrace. It has three bedrooms, a garden and three cellars.<br />
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<a href="http://www.motorscraft.com/contactus.aspx" target="_blank"><b>4 London </b></a><br />
<b>Location: </b>Eaton Square, SW1W<br />
<b>Guide price: </b>£650,000<br />
<b>Agent: </b>Savills, <span class="skype_pnh_print_container_1352131001">020
7730 0822</span><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="skype_pnh_mark"> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting</span> <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr"><span class="skype_pnh_free_text_span">FREE </span><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">020
7730 0822</span></span> <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype</span></span><br />
The setting for <i>Upstairs Downstairs</i>, and sometime home of Sir Roger
Moore and Vivien Leigh, Eaton Square is synonymous with upmarket elegance.
Prices are high, but this one-bedroom flat, on the third floor of a Grade II
listed building, is more accessible than most. It needs some love, but when
finished it would make the ultimate bachelor address that every taxi driver
would know immediately.<br />
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<a href="http://www.eurosmedia.com/" target="_blank"><b>5 London </b></a><br />
<b>Location:</b> Lancaster Grove, NW3 <br />
<b>Guide price:</b> £8.5m <br />
<b>Agent: </b>Aston Chase <span class="skype_pnh_print_container_1352131001">020 7724 4724</span><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="skype_pnh_mark"> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting</span> <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr"><span class="skype_pnh_free_text_span">FREE </span><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">020 7724 4724</span></span> <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype</span></span><br />
Encompassing Hampstead, Belsize Park and parts of Primrose Hill, NW3 has
literary and artistic heritage to go with its eye-watering prices. This stunning
Arts and Crafts-style property, for which planning permission has been granted,
will have 7,880 sq ft of space and a swimming pool.<br />
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<a href="http://www.eurosmedia.com/aboutus.aspx#main_body" target="_blank"><b></b></a><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4138015449221722911">6 London</a> </b><br />
<b>Location: </b>Sloane Avenue, SW3 <br />
<b>Guide price: </b>£5.45m <br />
<b>Agent:</b> Beaney Pearce, <span class="skype_pnh_print_container_1352131001">020 7590 9500</span><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="skype_pnh_mark"> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting</span> <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr"><span class="skype_pnh_free_text_span">FREE </span><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">020
7590 9500</span></span> <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype</span></span><br />
Located between the King’s Road and Fulham Road, this four-bedroom house is
right in the heart of fashionable west London. Arranged over four floors, the
property includes a south-west facing patio garden, a private gym and
surround-sound entertainment system. There is also separate en-suite staff
accommodation, for putting up your chef and butler.<br />
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<a href="http://www.eurosmedia.com/branding.aspx#main_body" target="_blank"><b></b></a><b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4138015449221722911">7 Gloucestershire</a> </b><br />
<b>Location: </b>Ebrington, GL55<br />
<b>Guide price: </b>£895,000<br />
<b>Agent: </b>Knight Frank, <span class="skype_pnh_print_container_1352131001">01789 297735</span><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="skype_pnh_mark"> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting</span> <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr"><span class="skype_pnh_free_text_span">FREE </span><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">01789
297735</span></span> <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype</span></span><br />
This postcode includes some of the Cotswolds’ prettiest villages, including
Chipping Campden. The Old Farmhouse, in nearby Ebrington, comes with four
bedrooms, extensive storage and cellar. Outside is more than half an acre of
attractive gardens. Friends writing you letters will feel jealous addressing the
envelope.<br />
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<a href="http://www.eurosmedia.com/software.aspx#main_body" target="_blank"><b>8 Devon</b></a><br />
<b>Location:</b> Roche House, Salcombe, TQ8 <br />
<b>Guide price:</b> £575,000<br />
<b>Agent: </b>Marchand Petit, <span class="skype_pnh_print_container_1352131001">01548 844473</span><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="skype_pnh_mark"> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting</span> <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr"><span class="skype_pnh_free_text_span">FREE </span><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">01548
844473</span></span> <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype</span></span><br />
Though it might not have quite the outrageous prices of London, there is no
doubting the prestige of Salcombe, in the South Hams enclave of Devon. This
beautifully presented five-bedroom Edwardian terrace house has a snug and a
garden. It is also just two minutes’ walk from the waterfront. Ideal for
holidays – both for you and your friends, who will no doubt be desperate to come
and join you.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBheUwhizpVX6TjgG2N0v0IchPLsocyZkRSSwOBdV8ivYiSzfe-eUkWpiMUkHTllutpZIhbh4w5J73PJJdW8H-aoZjWuA4Do6Io6aW4g4bLi98N3Q2cDgtCcxUsSmTbSghRgxvXRuoLyk/s1600/9BuckinghamshireHP_2386199k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBheUwhizpVX6TjgG2N0v0IchPLsocyZkRSSwOBdV8ivYiSzfe-eUkWpiMUkHTllutpZIhbh4w5J73PJJdW8H-aoZjWuA4Do6Io6aW4g4bLi98N3Q2cDgtCcxUsSmTbSghRgxvXRuoLyk/s400/9BuckinghamshireHP_2386199k.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.eurosmedia.com/services.aspx#main_body" target="_blank"><b>9 Buckinghamshire </b></a><br />
<b>Location: </b>Chalfont St Giles, HP8<br />
<b>Guide price:</b> £1.85m<br />
<b>Agent: </b>The Frost Partnership <span class="skype_pnh_print_container_1352131001">01494 872233</span><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="skype_pnh_mark"> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting</span> <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr"><span class="skype_pnh_free_text_span">FREE </span><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">01494
872233</span></span> <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype</span></span><br />
Within easy commuting distance of London, but with all the charm of the
country, it’s easy to see why this Buckinghamshire address has become one of the
most sought after in the Home Counties. This six-bedroom house, the Old Mill,
could hardly be more picturesque. The River Misbourne runs through the pretty
gardens.<br />
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<a href="http://www.eurosmedia.com/" target="_blank"><b>10 Surrey </b></a><br />
<b>Location: </b>Gillespie House, Virginia Water, GU25<br />
<b>Guide price: </b>£405,000<br />
<b>Agent: </b>Barton Wyatt <span class="skype_pnh_print_container_1352131001">01344 843000</span><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"><span class="skype_pnh_mark"> begin_of_the_skype_highlighting</span> <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr"><span class="skype_pnh_free_text_span">FREE </span><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">01344
843000</span></span> <span class="skype_pnh_mark">end_of_the_skype</span></span><br />
In a recent survey, Virginia Water was the only postcode outside London to
make it into the top 10 most expensive in the country. This two-bedroom
apartment, with a private terrace overlooking gardens, lets you live in glorious
prime commuter-land, for the price of a one-bedroom shoebox in parts of central
London. Shared leisure facilities include a large indoor heated swimming pool.
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-77461738202181335082012-11-02T07:53:00.004-07:002012-11-02T07:53:34.694-07:00New flat for sale in Baltimore Wharf, London E14 - 3 bedrooms <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgRmB72IXtdbG1CUwFzfvPweLDjUkVnPWCwyyDerwge7YYPucxeS4Nzl7gFe8w64dlCOHaBjo9ylRCpTkhs0-sZJmDhgdsTf_8jsxuulq3kgajUO_C8dkgrBSEnEBF15ajACa2GWbY7Q/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgRmB72IXtdbG1CUwFzfvPweLDjUkVnPWCwyyDerwge7YYPucxeS4Nzl7gFe8w64dlCOHaBjo9ylRCpTkhs0-sZJmDhgdsTf_8jsxuulq3kgajUO_C8dkgrBSEnEBF15ajACa2GWbY7Q/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<h3>
<a href="http://www.motorscraft.com/" target="_blank">Property features</a></h3>
<ul>
<li>Open planned living area</li>
<li>Dual aspect apartment</li>
<li>En-suite bathrooms</li>
<li>Floor to ceiling windows</li>
<li>Leisure facilities and health club operated by Nuffield</li>
<li>New landscaped open space</li>
<li>An upgraded DLR station at Baltimore Wharf</li>
<li>Entry phone and CCTV systemsHigh specification finish</li>
<li>999 year lease</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOSUAGNomc6CsC6uxcHNh2m0JuO6935AuW9LsoX-drybpw6TJvtwuplzldkG-murW9jsVO6oDi6xipTXXz1EKyh3t2mHPiGc6ZnY5Xse8NsiuRZ9xnOJ4f0Y0TUZwHrLnt4KOT4CB-34/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOSUAGNomc6CsC6uxcHNh2m0JuO6935AuW9LsoX-drybpw6TJvtwuplzldkG-murW9jsVO6oDi6xipTXXz1EKyh3t2mHPiGc6ZnY5Xse8NsiuRZ9xnOJ4f0Y0TUZwHrLnt4KOT4CB-34/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<h3>
<a href="http://www.eurosmedia.com/" target="_blank">Property description</a></h3>
<div class="top">
<a href="http://www.eurosmedia.com/services.aspx#main_body" target="_blank"><b>Plot 1344</b></a> <br /><br />A 3 bedroom 4 bathroom penthouse
apartment of 3, 586 sq ft located on the 13th floor of this modern development
in the heart of Canary Wharf. <br /><br />Premier at Baltimore Wharf: A collection
of lateral penthouses and double height duplexes, sitting astride the
development that has come to define docklands living. <br /><br />Exclusive
waterside apartments, finished with an uncompromising eye to quality and detail.
Waterside properties that combine expansive space with elevated views of the
city and central London. Where peace meets tranquillity and wide-open space.
Where a perfectly landscaped private boulevard meets personal concierge. And
where an impressive list of amenities is now joined by London’s most radical
residential urban gym and leisure facility. All just 5 minutes from Canary
Wharf. </div>
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<br /><br /><a href="http://www.eurosmedia.com/aboutus.aspx#main_body" target="_blank"><b>Baltimore Wharf</b> </a><br /><br />Baltimore Wharf is a luxury
lifestyle universe: From the ultimate pied à terre to a double-height duplex,
set around a perfectly landscaped boulevard of clean lines and reflections
within a sweeping curve of the Thames. <br /><br />The styles of apartment at
Baltimore make up a vivid, luminescent spectrum, from suites to penthouses. Each
apartment is defined by exquisite attention to detail, quality of materials and
a sense of light and function that has distinguished decades of Ballymore
developments. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRwaPfbB-m1f0G0-Yop5VZqu_gxU9g9fiefGqcdszyQZ3tkLgRPvfTyM_9LbtVuMJXfgYl-wPyku1qdfYNHZMW8zF8IixKtxG_kPzgiH64_R7uc2Nrx9jtcvZVXvG8y0mESEyqSQy7ag/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRwaPfbB-m1f0G0-Yop5VZqu_gxU9g9fiefGqcdszyQZ3tkLgRPvfTyM_9LbtVuMJXfgYl-wPyku1qdfYNHZMW8zF8IixKtxG_kPzgiH64_R7uc2Nrx9jtcvZVXvG8y0mESEyqSQy7ag/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />With the high gloss of retail, dining and the most stylish
and cutting edge leisure facilities in the capital all designed into the
development, an apartment at Baltimore is a destination in its own right. Few
homes in London have such a dynamic array of downtime possibilities, designed to
combine total peace and privacy with the buzz of fashion, food and night-life.
Go to work, work out, stay out, stay home, sleep tight – this is London life at
its most fantastic, thrilling and luxurious. <br /><br />The apartments at the
Baltimore development are amongst the largest of their kind in the city, with
generous balconies punctuating the smooth lines of Baltimore's striking
architecture. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-23760026131716545372012-10-23T11:29:00.000-07:002012-10-23T11:29:04.254-07:002-Bed Flat For Sale In FREEHOLD!!, Trafalgar Road, Moseley, Birmingham, B13 8BL<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.eurosmedia.com/aboutus.aspx#main_body" target="_blank">A Freehold 2nd Floor Two Bedroom Apartment</a> in a converted period Victorian
property located on Trafalgar Road within Moseley Village. Situated in a
fantastic location nearby to Cannon Hill Park and within close proximity of
Birmingham City Centre.<br />
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<div id="keyfeaturescontainer">
<h3>
<a href="http://www.motorscraft.com/" target="_blank">Key features:</a></h3>
<ul class="keyfeatures">
<li>Freehold 2nd Floor Two Bed Apartment</li>
<li>Hallway</li>
<li>Large Lounge</li>
<li>Fully Fitted Kitchen</li>
<li>Bathroom</li>
<li>Gas Central Heating and Intercom System</li>
<li>Large Communal Garden</li>
<li>Off Road Parking</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 class="subsequent">
<a href="http://www.eurosmedia.com/" target="_blank">Full description</a>:</h3>
<div class="propertyDetailDescription">
A Freehold 2nd Floor Two Bedroom Apartment in a converted period Victorian
property located on Trafalgar Road within Moseley Village. Situated in a
fantastic location nearby to Cannon Hill Park and within close proximity of
Birmingham City Centre.<br />This spacious apartment benefits from being Gas
Central Heating throughout and an Intercom System.<br />Comprises of; Hallway,
Large Lounge, Fully Fitted Kitchen, Bathroom, Two Double Bedrooms, Large
Communal Garden and Off Road Parking.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-48013592207946257632012-01-01T09:58:00.000-08:002012-01-01T09:58:12.781-08:00Affordable home ownership options explained<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>If you think owning a property is out of your price range, think again. There are several affordable home ownership schemes that could help you climb the property ladder</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdOoKmBC3WRP_iWpymVwnFrLShwn1H0C0LTNBHEdWT5fRJwx0FpTS1-ZHArwa-THuBxTuGm0cUeRV7lw_cIYiTFZHSzPrYbuijp7PmRSLzy7jEf4Bs3gcE0Rz7i-PTrSg8BoqXdZS9PA/s1600/affordablehousing_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdOoKmBC3WRP_iWpymVwnFrLShwn1H0C0LTNBHEdWT5fRJwx0FpTS1-ZHArwa-THuBxTuGm0cUeRV7lw_cIYiTFZHSzPrYbuijp7PmRSLzy7jEf4Bs3gcE0Rz7i-PTrSg8BoqXdZS9PA/s320/affordablehousing_300.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b> </b> <br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Affordable housing schemes exist to help people who are priced out of the open market buy a home of their own. There are a wide range of schemes that can help you do this. We've listed the main home ownership options below.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: black;">FirstBuy</span></strong></span><span style="font-size: small;">The Government’s new £250 million scheme is coming into force in September. FirstBuy unites the Government and housebuilders who will each provide a 10 per cent equity loan (interest free for five years) to 10,000 first-time buyers. <br />
<br />
The buyer must raise five per cent of the home price themselves, which is then added to the 20 per cent equity loan already provided by the Government and housebuilder. The buyer then organises a 75 per cent mortgage on the remaining cost of the property.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The scheme is open to first-time buyers who have a combined household income of £60,000 or under. It is also dependent on the buyer raising five per cent of the cost of the home, which must be new build.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: black;">Shared Ownership</span></strong></span><span style="font-size: small;">Shared ownership means buyers purchase a part share (between 25-75 per cent) of a new build property in a selected development, and pay a subsidised rent for the remaining part. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">After 12 months, they can then choose to purchase additional shares based on the market value of the home at the time, and their rent will be adjusted proportionately.<br />
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When the buyer wants to sell, they will receive the proportion of the proceeds according to the percentage of the property they own. For example, if they have a 75 per cent share, they’ll receive 75 per cent of the selling price.<br />
</span><span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: black;">Rent to Buy</span></strong></span><span style="font-size: small;">This scheme allows people to rent a newly-built housing association property at a reduced rate - typically 20 per cent less than the current market rental value. The subsidised rental period is designed to let people save a deposit which is then used to purchase a share of the home. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The rent is payable for a predefined period, usually either three or five years, after which the renter is expected to buy the property on shared ownership terms. </span></div><span style="color: #800040; font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: black;">Affordable housing – what's it for?</span></strong></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Jamie Ratcliff of the Homes and Communities Agency says these options aim to get buyers into the property market. “Affordable home ownership schemes are an excellent way to get a step on to the housing ladder in a sensible and affordable way, and with the potential to move on to full ownership at a time that suits the buyer.” <br />
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For details on eligibility and to apply for many of these schemes, you should contact your local HomeBuy agent. </span><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-77679519393398126672012-01-01T09:49:00.000-08:002012-01-01T09:50:00.733-08:00Star homes: the top ten UK celebrity villages<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Take a closer look at our most picturesque villages and you’ll see flocks of footballers, actors and models nestling in the undergrowth. With that in mind, we went in search of England’s top ten</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_dy9c_yUdT2CjGLk9UYvcBq1X3yqP81aAsAtE0yXxk_Gh5kGM3BxERGr0xj0842WMvH5QfRBkMn70fbXwLrlgBRiOvVKJPBJk3fdPs9ZtrhHds8nThqbxyiBnSUmE15wHczbbZG-exA/s1600/lizhurley_cotswolds_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_dy9c_yUdT2CjGLk9UYvcBq1X3yqP81aAsAtE0yXxk_Gh5kGM3BxERGr0xj0842WMvH5QfRBkMn70fbXwLrlgBRiOvVKJPBJk3fdPs9ZtrhHds8nThqbxyiBnSUmE15wHczbbZG-exA/s320/lizhurley_cotswolds_300.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Over and above the benefits of rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous over a pint at your local, having a celebrity neighbour in your village could actually increase the selling price of your home by five to ten per cent.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">That’s the estimate of Simon Ashwell, Head of Savills Weybridge who says the buzz created by celebrities drives his local market. “Does it add to the area? I would say, yes, it does,” he concludes. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s a view shared by Knight Frank’s Judith Archer, used to handling celebs buying north Cotswolds bolt-holes from her office in Stratford-upon-Avon. “It does make the areas more sought after, more fashionable…it adds that element of being a bit exclusive,” she says. “It’s amazing how word of someone living in an area can get around." </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Most celebrity villages are clustered around beautiful well-connected areas that would attract a high price tag, but both Archer and Ashwell note that in the current market, homes with celebrity appeal are easier to sell. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here’s out pick of England’s top celebrity villages in which to buy. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. <b>Kingham</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Voted England’s perfect village several times over, Kingham, near Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire, is home to former Blur guitarist-turned-cheese-maker Alex James. Called Notting-on-the-Hill by locals, this unspoilt spot, with two hotels, one shop, and an excellent village pub, The Plough, is unique among villages in the district because of its direct train link to London. Daylesford Organic, grocer to stars like Kate Moss, Jeremy Clarkson and Liz Hurley living in nearby Cotswolds villages, is on the outskirts. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. <b>Alderley Edge, Cheshire</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Alderley Edge in Cheshire, bristles with footballers and wags such as Rio Ferdinand and Gareth Barry. Named after The Edge, the National Trust owned cliffs that offer fantastic views across Cheshire and Manchester, it forms part of the Golden Triangle of villages that includes Knutsford and Hale popular with football stars like Mikael Sivestre, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, and Wes Brown. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. <b>Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, near High Wycombe and Rickmansworth, is close to Pinewood and Elstree Studios, Eton and Heathrow are a stone’s throw away and the train to London’s Marylebone is 30 minutes from nearby wealthy Gerrard’s Cross. The village takes in Chalfont St Giles and Little Chalfont, and is also the gateway to the Chiltern Hills. Noel Gallagher, Fern Britten, Cilla Black, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt and Ozzy Ozbourne all have homes close by. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. <b>Bucklebury, Berkshire</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bucklebury, Berkshire, leapt into the spotlight when Wills married Kate. It’s the home of Michael and Carole Middleton but its wooded country lanes are thick with secretive multi-millionaires who retreat to this beautiful country setting to ensure their anonymity. Other well-known figures who live close by include John Madjeski, Chris Tarrant, Kate Bush and Melinda Messenger. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">5. <b>Cobham, Surrey</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you visit Starbucks in Cobham, Surrey, on any given morning, you’re bound to see a Chelsea footballer – or a wag. Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourhino stipulated players should live no further than fifteen minutes from the club’s football practise ground and it’s a legacy that continues today. Dubbed England’s Beverly Hills, along with nearby Oxshott, the area is home to Frank Lampard and John Terry, as well as Eamonn Holmes, Andy Murray, Freddie Flintoff and Peter Andre. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">6. <b>St Georges Hill, Surrey</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Up the road, St Georges Hill, Surrey, attracts a different sort of set. In the 1960s it was a great escape for John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Cliff Richard, Elton John and Tom Jones. These days the 3.9km squared private estate is full of Russian oligarchs and Bollywood stars, not to mention City financiers – former HSBC boss Michael Geoghan lives there, as well various telecommunications chiefs. With excellent connections to London, Heathrow and the countryside, it’s an ideal hideout for a high-flyer. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">7. <b>Walberswick</b></span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Walberswick, a tiny, picturesque fishing village in out of the way Suffolk, is the ideal location for celebs escaping the limelight. Linked to neighbouring Southwold by a footbridge spanning the River Blyth, it’s been a bolthole for screenwriter Richard Curtis, (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually) and partner Emma Freud. Michael Palin started up Southwold Electric Picture Palace and Twiggy, Gary Lineker, Griff Rhys Jones, Alan Rickman and Bill Nighy have homes in the area. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">8. <b>West Wittering, West Sussex</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">With a beach hut fetching £60,000 from local resident Keith Richards a few years ago, West Wittering, West Sussex, is firmly on the celeb-friendly map. The beautiful seaside town 6.5 miles south of Chichester is loved for its long sandy beach and Nicholas Lyndhurst and Michael Ball also live in the village. Inland, nearby Midhurst and Pulborough are thick with polo ponies and sports cars, not to mention secretive celebs, who flock to these villages with views of the South Downs and good connections to London and Gatwick airport. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">9. <b>Salcombe, Devon</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Everyone loves a good beach house and there are few better places to be on the Devon coast than Salcombe. Be prepared to cough up £500,000, though. That’s the average house price in this quaint spot, beloved by Sir Michael Parkinson, Kate Bush and Sir Clive Woodward, making it one of the most expensive places to live in England outside London. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">10. <b>Ponteland, Northumberland</b></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Newcastle footballers head to Ponteland, Northumberland one of England’s wealthiest villages, just on the outskirts of Newscastle-upon-Tyne. Darrass Hall is the exclusive estate to which the likes of Alan Shearer, Chris Morgan and Steven Taylor flock. Meanwhile, further north, Pippa Middleton could be bringing along the Glosse Posse when she visits her old flame George Percy, son of the Duke of Northumberland, at Alnwick Castle. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-86847859093757732382012-01-01T09:41:00.000-08:002012-01-01T09:41:53.124-08:00Star homes: How a rock legend can make a property more valuable<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Fancy living down the road from The Beatles’ old flat? Turns out lots of people love to live in rock'n'roll localities and their music connections can add to an area's popularity and value, as Pierre De Villiers discovers</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSNUWyNXhfKwtAJW-i6YgLkBojFO0W4Sa_FUNvipMe2rP4HkLf6z-Uu3POZ3p8IIbPXiTCJ0LGXAyQH2oZixnt6ZfJW6gqfv8BCsxBwdWMguPvcZBAtDvKV0Pp7jSb9epQ0vjbp5TqtM/s1600/thebeatles_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSNUWyNXhfKwtAJW-i6YgLkBojFO0W4Sa_FUNvipMe2rP4HkLf6z-Uu3POZ3p8IIbPXiTCJ0LGXAyQH2oZixnt6ZfJW6gqfv8BCsxBwdWMguPvcZBAtDvKV0Pp7jSb9epQ0vjbp5TqtM/s320/thebeatles_300.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>They may have a reputation for wrecking rooms, but when it comes to making homes more desirable, rock stars are in a league of their own. <br />
Mention that a flat or house on the market was once occupied by a music icon, and potential buyers happily queue around the block. “Buyers are often attracted to the idea of living somewhere connected to a celebrity – particularly if it has been their home,” explains Peter Bevan of Sotheby’s International Realty. “Having a famous owner is certainly an immense benefit when promoting it.”<br />
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In 2008 Sotheby’s had the opportunity to promote one of the most famous flats in the world. Located on the fourth floor at 57 Green Street in Mayfair, Flat L was occupied by The Beatles in 1963 – the only time the Fab Four all lived together. While the home was sold for a large sum in 2009, the building’s status as an important part of Beatles history has made other flats at 57 Green Street hot property.<br />
“The fact that The Beatles lived in the building is such an interesting piece of history,” says Charles Lloyd of Savills Mayfair who is looking after the sale of a two-bedroom flat at 57 Green Street. “It’s a bonus and a point of interest that buyers can tell their friends about.”<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiApeODCUJEZq_E1eF3AtfP0z7vbtlmKjf8q6iwZPeBYLYiF2c52eDu4vuuS3ZJQjJKExYRYcZOMuDqIyPJblZWvDlKnmB8QlRc7_8O9SSDaLrr0kCu2yrG18hCy078dGh4UcNFhCVlgY/s1600/beegees2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiApeODCUJEZq_E1eF3AtfP0z7vbtlmKjf8q6iwZPeBYLYiF2c52eDu4vuuS3ZJQjJKExYRYcZOMuDqIyPJblZWvDlKnmB8QlRc7_8O9SSDaLrr0kCu2yrG18hCy078dGh4UcNFhCVlgY/s1600/beegees2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
A property made famous by musicians not only boosts sales in the building but gives the surrounding area a lift as well. For rock and pop fans, purchasing property in Mayfair is like buying a stairway to heaven with Jimi Hendrix having lived at 23 Brook Street and the Bee Gees at 67 Brook Street.<br />
“If a rock or pop star is connected to an area it can enhance its prestige,” says Bevan. “Locations such as Mayfair have long lasting star appeal that supports its intrinsic desirability.”<br />
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The fact that Freddie Mercury lived at 1 Logan Place in Kensington has certainly had a positive knock-on effect on other properties in the area. “We recently sold the property right next to 1 Logan Place and we had a lot of potential buyers asking about the Freddie Mercury house,” says David Terrar of Bective Leslie Marsh. “People found it fascinating that such a big star lived next door and would certainly pay top dollar for a place nearby.”<br />
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With so many people enamoured with star musician homes, many estate agents are happy to tell potential buyers where a property fits into London’s rich music history. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HVjWp7KQCeQ/TwCatnrsExI/AAAAAAAAHIY/dzGw04Ikgkc/s1600/mickjagger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HVjWp7KQCeQ/TwCatnrsExI/AAAAAAAAHIY/dzGw04Ikgkc/s1600/mickjagger.jpg" /></a></div>Frank Harris estate agents highlight the fact that Bob Marley lived at 34 Ridgmount Gardens in Bloomsbury, where they are overseeing the sale of a four-bedroom flat, while the link between Cheyne Walk in Chelsea and The Rolling Stones is played up by Chasemore Property. “I’m really keen to tell people about the role that Cheyne Walk played in the lives of The Rolling Stones,” says Suja Thomas of Chasemore Property, who promotes properties in a street nicknamed ‘Rolling Stone Row’ after Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood all lived there at some stage. “It’s nice to think you can own a property in a place that was so liked by a famous rock band. It makes the area seem even more special than it already is.”</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-47036193515427648242011-12-29T10:57:00.000-08:002011-12-29T10:57:50.402-08:00Wood-burning Stoves in 2011: A Beginner's Guide<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>High oil prices and eco concerns have led to a surge in demand for wood-burning stoves…</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uD5JZW8_z9nWB45J9hkC26UhYmZPVaAl5uln9PLql0ICkOMrytoQOpB_iqoZweTCiRnBFjA7gmwuI7-MSGGqFgqLpSmRyA1QMwrdD4uf89IYgcmTos2KeMkkkkBWSf4C72_BCcE8bE0/s1600/stove3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uD5JZW8_z9nWB45J9hkC26UhYmZPVaAl5uln9PLql0ICkOMrytoQOpB_iqoZweTCiRnBFjA7gmwuI7-MSGGqFgqLpSmRyA1QMwrdD4uf89IYgcmTos2KeMkkkkBWSf4C72_BCcE8bE0/s400/stove3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wood-burning stoves are hot property at the moment. From traditional use in country cottages to cutting edge architecture, they are the latest word in green heat.</span></div><div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Suzie Nightingale from <b>Stovesonline </b></span><span style="font-size: small;">says that demand has become overwhelming: "We’ve probably sold three to four times the number of stoves in the last two years. We didn’t even have time for a break last year."</span></div><div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">So who wants one? "It’s a whole range, from people interested in saving the planet to people who want to save money.</span></div><div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">"But we also deal with a lot of architects who are building them into their plans because they know having a secondary green heating source will be looked on favourably by planners."</span><br />
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<div class="storyHeaderNormal"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Hit With Buyers</span></b></div><div class="storyHeaderNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-PGdt0f3uGopVdMwzAXdCfgLBoi9RvpjqQud83aRhOBg0ILqBmTDmuHEpBbo44aF3JOG1HKyBtIsoCtAkZppR5Bl2RBVFR5r9-zHUPBA41k9Np5cX6XVfbG78Z2VRZPH42Oo3KyAkO0/s1600/stove2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-PGdt0f3uGopVdMwzAXdCfgLBoi9RvpjqQud83aRhOBg0ILqBmTDmuHEpBbo44aF3JOG1HKyBtIsoCtAkZppR5Bl2RBVFR5r9-zHUPBA41k9Np5cX6XVfbG78Z2VRZPH42Oo3KyAkO0/s1600/stove2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="storyHeaderNormal"></div><div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Estate agent Tom Deville at <b>Savills in Nottingham</b> says that wood-burning stoves are increasingly popular with potential buyers.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">"People love them, they make a nice homely feel, and buyers are often aware that they’re cost effective and better for the environment. </span><span style="font-size: small;">They probably don’t add anything to the value of a property, but they make it more desirable and saleable."</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Although most of the wood burners Tom sees are very traditional, he is encountering more and more contemporary designs. </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">"People like them if it suits the property. We sold a converted barn recently with a chimney breast in the middle of the room and a double glass-sided log burner. It made the room complete."</span></div><div align="center" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">So what is all the fuss about? </span>Why are stoves so popular? There are four main reasons:<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>1. They’re very energy efficient</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBvjFvnEJPzq8G_fdDHs_eUH-Sg3nxWus-wgqjY61hcNx5PVJtfLMuSNzDDKlC8ndDiDJZocvG5kGcRP0noUWJsGcgbAU9E4urta0LUe2Jjvh6SRqU0AciX9cM42RpHrx9amed4OSYD4/s1600/stove5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBvjFvnEJPzq8G_fdDHs_eUH-Sg3nxWus-wgqjY61hcNx5PVJtfLMuSNzDDKlC8ndDiDJZocvG5kGcRP0noUWJsGcgbAU9E4urta0LUe2Jjvh6SRqU0AciX9cM42RpHrx9amed4OSYD4/s1600/stove5.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b>Everyone likes an open fire, but the efficiency of burning logs in a grate is very low. An open fire has to suck a lot of the (warm) air out of the room, and it is replaced by cold air from outside.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;">An open fire is estimated to be only about 20-25 per cent efficient, but it can be much lower, even falling into negative efficiency, potentially making your room colder than before you started!</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">But a modern wood-burning stove can run at over 80 per cent efficiency. So if you put your logs in a stove instead of on a fire you will benefit from at least three times the amount of heat.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="bodyText"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">In addition, you may be able to use the top of the stove to boil a kettle or make toast, and some models even have ovens built in, so you can bake a cake while you’re warming your home.</span></div><div class="storyHeaderNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="storyHeaderNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">2. They’re carbon neutral</span></b></div><div class="storyHeaderNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuEZugbXWHU/Tvyy505rhsI/AAAAAAAAG38/WiV03xecteM/s1600/stove6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuEZugbXWHU/Tvyy505rhsI/AAAAAAAAG38/WiV03xecteM/s1600/stove6.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;">Wood is the original carbon-neutral fuel. True, it releases carbon dioxide when it’s burnt, but the amount given off is the same as was stored by the tree when it was growing.</span></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">And, if the tree were left to rot in the woods it would produce the same amount of carbon emissions as are released by burning it.</span></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Most firewood in this country comes from sustainable sources, so for every tree cut down another is planted, and the carbon released from the felled tree will be absorbed by another tree. </span></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">And, with the aid of new technology, a wood-burning stove can be even greener.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">With the cleanburn or cleanheat system the gases created when the wood is burnt are circulated back into the stove and burnt off. This increases heat and reduces emissions. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="bodyText" style="color: black; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>3. They're Clean</b></span></div><div class="bodyText" style="color: black; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xwpsYC79kc0/TvyzNGdiLVI/AAAAAAAAG4I/NZ1Ermnmzq0/s1600/charnwood1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xwpsYC79kc0/TvyzNGdiLVI/AAAAAAAAG4I/NZ1Ermnmzq0/s1600/charnwood1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="bodyText" style="color: black; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span> </div><div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Both in terms of smoke and the amount of ash produced for the owner to clean up, modern wood burners are very impressive.</span></div><div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even in daily use the stove should not need cleaning out more than every few weeks. In fact, a bed of ashes helps the wood to burn.</span></div><div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">And if the stove has self-cleaning airwash glass a clear view of flickering flames is guaranteed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">As for the emissions, many stoves are now clean enough to be legally used in urban smoke-free zones. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>4. They look great</b></span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JmYzc0eBa7k/Tvyz2JZVIdI/AAAAAAAAG4U/e7DmHhyHXtY/s1600/stoves8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JmYzc0eBa7k/Tvyz2JZVIdI/AAAAAAAAG4U/e7DmHhyHXtY/s1600/stoves8.jpg" /></a></div><div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are many manufacturers, both here and abroad producing the comforting traditional-style wood burners that look fantastic in period properties.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">But if you fancy something a little more adventurous, the ultra modern freestanding stoves with big glass windows certainly make a statement.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">In traditional black iron, shining steel, or even a white ceramic finish, there is something to suit every décor.</span></div><div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: black; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">THE PRACTICALITIES</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What do you burn?</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="bodyText" style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dnR0IoALTSQ/Tvy0Mx5rFMI/AAAAAAAAG4g/JxdpYmXysDQ/s1600/acharnwood_country_6_room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dnR0IoALTSQ/Tvy0Mx5rFMI/AAAAAAAAG4g/JxdpYmXysDQ/s1600/acharnwood_country_6_room.jpg" /></a></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">It depends on your stove. You can have a wood only, a multi-fuel, or a pellet stove, which burns small pieces of compressed sawdust that are automatically fed into the fire.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Most people use logs, but they should be dried under cover for a year to reduce the moisture content. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">And, if you want to save money, your fuel doesn’t have to cost you a penny.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Eco consultant <b>Donnachadh McCarthy</b>, whose new book Easy Eco-auditing is coming out in the new year, uses his wood burner, combined with an ingenious <b>Ecofan</b>, that distributes the warm air around the house, as the sole heat source for his terraced home. </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">So far Donnachadh not spent a penny on fueling his wood-burning stove.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46obTsb0sLg4JZTTR5A5KT7h1HXW-846Q0qTqm_H_VGd2hF7nCmlFX5tLpt0qvtjm7d70ckJNJ-8QVTWRU0lw7hGAGWP6K1vU7s9TJik-i5lbfYb2PhmNPFhaB0Ob6Oeg3eOsYuxfo1I/s1600/stove4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46obTsb0sLg4JZTTR5A5KT7h1HXW-846Q0qTqm_H_VGd2hF7nCmlFX5tLpt0qvtjm7d70ckJNJ-8QVTWRU0lw7hGAGWP6K1vU7s9TJik-i5lbfYb2PhmNPFhaB0Ob6Oeg3eOsYuxfo1I/s1600/stove4.jpg" /></a></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">"I get all my wood between my house and the corner shop. You’ll be amazed how much wood people throw away. I get untreated wood pallets from a local plumbers merchant who used to pay a guy to take them away.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">"And a lot of people doing up houses throw away good wood. You can use it all, as long as it’s not painted or treated."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Geoff Hogan from the <b>Biomass Energy Centre </b>approves of using waste wood, but advises caution: "You have to be particularly careful with wood that has been treated for outdoor use, such as fence posts," says Hogan.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">"In the past CCA, which contains arsenic was commonly used. And you have to avoid wood treated with halogens, chlorine, fluorine and bromine, or treated with heavy metals."</span></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="storyHeaderNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Smoke-free zone?</span></b></div><div class="storyHeaderNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="storyHeaderNormal" style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1J13QhxjJmuhjkjF0-J1BURQj7frHL-NGVKmCYJmzaQEMWqadIrM_Yo78PvKYVM44XIeTiw-gp-imr5WOcF01i80hJoNM4I_caNtFh_jtIQyOrHxxtjrIu7TSjoMgiWm3nIySegT5krU/s1600/charnwood_cove_2_orla_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1J13QhxjJmuhjkjF0-J1BURQj7frHL-NGVKmCYJmzaQEMWqadIrM_Yo78PvKYVM44XIeTiw-gp-imr5WOcF01i80hJoNM4I_caNtFh_jtIQyOrHxxtjrIu7TSjoMgiWm3nIySegT5krU/s1600/charnwood_cove_2_orla_l.jpg" /></a></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">There’s no fire without smoke. And, particularly in America, people are starting to be concerned about the levels of particulate pollution produced by burning wood.</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Geoff Hogan doesn’t believe that we should be overly concerned. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">"It is a potential problem, particularly in built-up areas, but the particulate emissions are three to four times less than with an open fire."</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">And, says Hogan, if you’re planning to use a wood-burning stove in an urban environment, you will have to use one that complies with the Clean Air Act, and will have been designed to have even lower particulate emissions.</span> </div></div><br />
<div class="bodyText" style="color: black; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>How much?</b></span></div><div class="bodyText" style="color: black; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqxPVz903KTZRDvyA07qysMGjn2qQgY8pG1z5bsXIrci0oXeUQLtvgRNfRlbTA2LHppfqjUh5T1-WzJhZykQG3pIoe2x-mb7GEc_7_EbEfd2xH6di8_Q89euZzBy_4I7BRzk7JMOPIAM/s1600/stove9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqxPVz903KTZRDvyA07qysMGjn2qQgY8pG1z5bsXIrci0oXeUQLtvgRNfRlbTA2LHppfqjUh5T1-WzJhZykQG3pIoe2x-mb7GEc_7_EbEfd2xH6di8_Q89euZzBy_4I7BRzk7JMOPIAM/s1600/stove9.jpg" /></a></div><div class="bodyText" style="color: black; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span> </div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wood-burning stoves usually cost between around £400 and £2,000, but you could spend up to £6,000 for something very special. </span></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stoves suitable for use in smokeless zones are more expensive, starting at around £750.</span></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">But installation is costly. For a standard Victorian house budget for £800 for materials alone. </span></div><div class="bodyText" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Donnachadh McCarthy‘s 5 Kw Clearview Pioneer burner cost £800, but installation, including a new chimney flue, added another £2,000. </span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <br />
</span></div></div></div></div><div class="bodyText" style="color: black; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Moving Story</b></span></div><div class="bodyText" style="color: black; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5AQ8Fr1riiO7uVNfpxYMgat5GHaIUijO5ux8qcnyIU_vjlcu1oU2OEOF0Q3vLSCyOUXRvAYqxfnEUlTMkgC80pMeaRx4uhUHecWoJsUsKLJRAxj_rMY1fe4QlI2vTeRQqAMQdcXZM2s/s1600/stoves10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5AQ8Fr1riiO7uVNfpxYMgat5GHaIUijO5ux8qcnyIU_vjlcu1oU2OEOF0Q3vLSCyOUXRvAYqxfnEUlTMkgC80pMeaRx4uhUHecWoJsUsKLJRAxj_rMY1fe4QlI2vTeRQqAMQdcXZM2s/s1600/stoves10.jpg" /></a></div><div class="bodyText"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b>Anna Travers and her family are selling their Tenterton home, which comes with a wood-burning stove in an inglenook fireplace.</span></div><div class="bodyText"><span style="font-size: small;">"Having lived with open fires before I definitely prefer the wood-burning stove," says Anna. </span><span style="font-size: small;">"I don’t use it every day, so I just clean out the cinders when they become too bulky, about twice a year.</span></div><div class="bodyText"><span style="font-size: small;">"It’s far more efficient than an open fire, you can forget the central heating when it’s on because the heat filters through the house. </span><span style="font-size: small;">"We’re downsizing, and I’ll be sorry to see it go."</span><br />
<div style="color: black; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Can I have one?</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEl6sGMqpjEg3iG1PeOuwVyC-V4QUKISHNkkR_t27m5DaBi9-6QF13V2jnPnqEmDH2vAQId_ia1RE5dYKBWwtlFzddhJki6b6cFrHUlI-AFM3j6rzdhfnb42-qpoAUC7X7BibrW0kkF4/s1600/stoves10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWEl6sGMqpjEg3iG1PeOuwVyC-V4QUKISHNkkR_t27m5DaBi9-6QF13V2jnPnqEmDH2vAQId_ia1RE5dYKBWwtlFzddhJki6b6cFrHUlI-AFM3j6rzdhfnb42-qpoAUC7X7BibrW0kkF4/s1600/stoves10.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><b></b></span><b>1.</b> You need a chimney with a large enough flue to cope with the output you’ll need for your room. If you haven’t got a chimney can you use a twin wall flue system. Ask your supplier for advice. </span><br />
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<div class="bodyText"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2.</b> Check the prevailing wind. If it blows back down the chimney you’ll may need to fit a vent to the top of the chimney. </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>3.</b> If you live in a smoke-control area (check on <b>Smoke Control Areas </b>)</span><span style="font-size: small;"> look for an approved wood-burning stove. </span><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-41269685488357219372011-12-29T10:17:00.000-08:002011-12-29T10:24:29.364-08:00Room for improvement: Is it time to buy a student home?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>With more than a quarter of a million students about to start university, buy-to-let investors are turning their gaze to student housing. Graham Norwood investigates if now is the time to invest</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3xIyfLHI-kdIHHEbRGzYDurdAOWGvmLHh9RPnmrXmtjEP3DbuxzxjrmaDsCGjCxdetLwOlUpGUUWrih1U9fQjcxQ1lSg6odt2hgMbROlBanS3dLGBxREhxCl7jmJVK6b9u1whz28OSM/s1600/student_lead_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3xIyfLHI-kdIHHEbRGzYDurdAOWGvmLHh9RPnmrXmtjEP3DbuxzxjrmaDsCGjCxdetLwOlUpGUUWrih1U9fQjcxQ1lSg6odt2hgMbROlBanS3dLGBxREhxCl7jmJVK6b9u1whz28OSM/s1600/student_lead_300.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">It may be holiday season for most of us but many teenagers and parents are working hard to find digs, a hall of residence or even a home to buy for the duration of a college course.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some 240,000 young people will start university this autumn, bringing the total of students in the UK to 1.7m. The sector is growing, too, despite controversy over fees and loans. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Student accommodation has outstripped the mainstream housebuilding market by every measure since the downturn - by its growth, rises in value, rent increases, and the number of people it houses,” says Marcus Roberts of Savills’ student accommodation division.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">He negotiates with developers and university chiefs to create joint ventures, constructing sophisticated new-build students’ flats on campuses of the major colleges. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">But the number of students far outweighs the number of these purpose-built units. “We're not talking about a demand of just two students to every bed - we're talking five, six or seven” says Savills’ researcher Jacqui Daly. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Therefore many colleges are thankful for buy-to-let landlords and parents who buy houses and turn them into student lodging.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The usual route is purchase a terraced house with three to five bedrooms, replace at least one reception room with another bedroom, and let out to students. A lettings agent costs 15% to 20% of the rental income - this sounds a lot but it is tax-deductible and means the agent finds and vets students, collects rent and deals with problems on your behalf.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">But owners must be aware of red tape. If you let to five or more students, not in the same family and in a home of three storeys or higher, you may need a local authority licence as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), costing £1,250 or more.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is wear and tear, too - higher with students than other tenants. Your house should include paving instead of a lawn, and easy-to-replace floors, worktops and cupboard doors. A bike shed prevents unsightly (and decor-damaging) bikes in the hallway. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">This sounds like hard work but if you get it right the rewards are high. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mike and Susie Randall from Exeter have a son, Andrew, finishing his second year at Loughborough University. They converted a Victorian terraced house in the East Midlands town in 2009 and are delighted with the result.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">"It's clean and safe for Andy and allows peace of mind for us. We're amazed at the rent - £400 a week in term time after the agents' fee is deducted. Loughborough prices are pretty depressed so there's been no capital appreciation, but we intend to keep the house on after Andy leaves next year" explains Mike, a wedding shop owner.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Houses ripe for student conversion:</b></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HJFSoVMoqoE/TvyuXvD81QI/AAAAAAAAG3A/BJnlJD1ygt4/s1600/student_lampeter_wales_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HJFSoVMoqoE/TvyuXvD81QI/AAAAAAAAG3A/BJnlJD1ygt4/s1600/student_lampeter_wales_300.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lampeter has become one of the most popular colleges in the University of Wales. This five bedroom house could accommodate six or seven students. It costs £215,000 from John Francis</span></div><a href="http://www.findaproperty.com/agentdetails.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&agentid=16889" target="_blank"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_AxUMy9frqSpAwBYi-j2Jsr3FQX7BZboU-xm5pyGUc_e7ZNnQyYZ2rrdrJAuA9DLF3TlLWdUQPLX5V7nFU0iZIL2wFauiCRYNaMTVYT2zGcHUkz-6j9RwFeGBEMbYFSx3QaNWfB4U4g/s1600/student_brynmill_fap_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_AxUMy9frqSpAwBYi-j2Jsr3FQX7BZboU-xm5pyGUc_e7ZNnQyYZ2rrdrJAuA9DLF3TlLWdUQPLX5V7nFU0iZIL2wFauiCRYNaMTVYT2zGcHUkz-6j9RwFeGBEMbYFSx3QaNWfB4U4g/s1600/student_brynmill_fap_300.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Swansea is a popular university: perhaps because its campus is next to the water and a beach. This house at Brynmill, near the city centre, has five bedrooms and is up for auction with a guide price of just £90,000 with John Francis</span><br />
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<b>Useful websites: </b> <br />
Get rough ideas of student rents on: <a href="http://www.accommodationforstudents.com/">http://www.accommodationforstudents.com/</a>; <a href="http://www.studentaccommodation.org/">http://www.studentaccommodation.org/</a>; <a href="http://www.homesforstudents.co.uk/">http://www.homesforstudents.co.uk/</a>.<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-68600668819953038352011-12-29T10:04:00.000-08:002011-12-29T10:04:56.147-08:00Why Phil Spencer’s on a mission to help first-time buyers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Phil Spencer’s new book is a toolkit for first-time buyers. He talks to Samantha Baden about his own attempts to get on the property ladder, his children’s home-owning chances and why he’s switched to presenting a holiday show</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik83dq0vSyVY7TvOPPP9t8kEQoh7JUrPbUu74f7wWfC7RMBM9nHiMjXcmQIgqruBbIbI7FYBuIdlnmT_EYTfilF-tARjJNpssL6Xsu_b6M72oUQRBRDyCQgL_cSySfPdkrIas9uXaC5JI/s1600/philspencer_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik83dq0vSyVY7TvOPPP9t8kEQoh7JUrPbUu74f7wWfC7RMBM9nHiMjXcmQIgqruBbIbI7FYBuIdlnmT_EYTfilF-tARjJNpssL6Xsu_b6M72oUQRBRDyCQgL_cSySfPdkrIas9uXaC5JI/s1600/philspencer_300.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Phil Spencer is on a mission to help first time buyers. One-half of the UK’s most famous TV property couples, Spencer this week published his second book and it’s aimed at first-time buyers - the group struggling the most to buy a home.<br />
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Spencer and on-air partner Kirstie Allsopp have spent the past ten years travelling around the UK helping people buy property. But as Spencer says, the challenges faced by first-time buyers are now having a trickle-down effect on all homeowners, who are finding it hard to move up the property ladder as those lower down struggle.<br />
<strong>What was your experience as a first-time buyer? Did you make a good investment?</strong>I did actually. I was very clear about my motivation at the time: I knew it was a first-time buy and wasn’t going to be my forever home. It was on a busy road in Battersea and I was 29 and it wasn’t even somewhere I even particularly wanted to live. But I bought the property purely for its ability to make money. I ended up living in it for five years. <br />
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I knew it was in an area that was changing and that was going to change during the time I lived in it. So I bought it purely to help me climb up the ladder and I was lucky enough to be able to take two steps up the ladder when I sold it because the market changed when I was there.<br />
<br />
<strong>You’ve got two sons aged five and seven. Do you worry about their ability to buy property?</strong>Yes, in actual fact I was very concerned about that. When they were born, I cast my mind forward and wondered if they would ever be able to buy a property and how much a home might cost them when they leave school? It could be a million quid. So I made quite serious efforts when they were born: I bought one property when Jake was born and then another one when Ben was born two years later. Those properties will never be for sale because they are Jake and Ben’s. They’re in the same street as each other in Brixton.<br />
<br />
If I can do nothing else for my children it will be to hang onto those and as and when they leave home they can either live in them or rent them out. I’d like to help with that.<br />
<br />
<strong>Why is you new book focused on first-time buyers?</strong>My first book was about adding value at a time when it was increasingly important to add value to a property because the market wasn’t doing anything to help you. But what is very important and crucial in the market at the moment is that first-time buyers are the sector that are struggling the most. They are massively important to the health of the market.<br />
<br />
<strong>Why are they so important?</strong>The market can be driven in two ways – by cash arriving at the top of the market and coming down through the market or by first time buyers joining the bottom end of the ladder and helping every body else shift upwards.<br />
<br />
Where we are today, there’s not much cash arriving at the top and there’s not many first time buyers managing to get onto the bottom. I wanted to write a book to help these people at the bottom of the market because they’re crucial to every homeowner in the country. <br />
<br />
<strong>As you say, it’s a difficult time for first-time buyers. What would improve the situation for them?</strong>What’s limiting their ability to get on the property ladder is access to finance. The Government has come up with their FirstBuy scheme, which will help 10,000 first-time buyers. It’s a step in the right direction, but 10,000 people is really a tiny number and it’s only being offered to those who are buying new builds, although I understand the reason for that.<br />
<br />
<strong>So what else can first-time buyers do to get help?</strong>Buy the book and be prepared for the decisions they’ll need to take! Being a first-time buyer is such a daunting experience: it’s the biggest financial decision of your life, but there is precious little help out there for you at all.<br />
<br />
For instance, too many first-time buyers go into an estate agent with the misapprehension that they’re about to be helped and provided with a service and with advice. But that’s not true. Estate agents are there to provide a service to the people who are paying their bills - the people who are selling their property. <br />
<br />
<strong>So would you like to see a similar situation to what happens in the US with the use of buying agents who are there to look after the interests of the buyer?</strong>I would actually. I’ve been a buying agent for 15-odd years. We have a rather biased method of buying and selling property in this country – all the help is for the seller and the person spending the money is left to fend for themselves. Buying a home is daunting and it’s never more daunting than when you’ve never done it before as a first time buyer.<br />
<br />
<strong>Given it’s so difficult to get on the market, are we in danger of becoming a nation of renters?</strong>I don’t actually. I think owning property is so deeply ingrained in our society and culture that I can’t see a day when that will change. I understand that’s not the case on parts of the continent and I can see that if a property isn’t going to rise in value then some of that motivation for owning is diluted. <br />
<br />
But the fact remains: An Englishman’s home is his castle. We like to own our own homes and feel that’s why we go out to work and make sacrifices. We want to own our own bit of England and do with it what we want, be there as long as we want and not have to move out when a landlord tells us or puts the rent up.<br />
<br />
<strong>You’ve diversified with your new television show Vacation Vacation Vacation. Is property still your first love?</strong>Yes of course, but who doesn’t love going on holiday? Kirstie and I spent the past ten years travelling around England and staying in hotels and exploring new areas and looking for deals for people. The Vacation idea came out of that, just on a bigger scale and with a focus on holidays. <br />
<br />
Holidays are of course another big financial decision. In the same was that a house doesn’t always suit all members of a family and there are compromises and decisions that have to be made, the same is true of a holiday when one family member wants to do lots of activity and one wants to lie still. <br />
<br />
<strong>So with all this travelling to exotic destinations, were you tempted to buy property overseas?</strong>Property is such a big investment and it’s difficult in any market to invest wisely. So I believe you should invest only in a market that you know and understand. I know a fair bit about the Australian property market and I have looked at property in Ibiza because I’ve been there a lot, but to answer your question no I wasn’t. <br />
<br />
I think some people fall foul of that when they are choosing a home, an investment or a holiday home. There are different motivations and you chose different properties for each option and these competing motivations in an unfamiliar market can muddy the water.<br />
<br />
<strong>What’s your top piece of advice for first-time buyers?</strong>Try to choose a property that will suit you for the longest possible period of time. First-time buyers tend to be at a stage in life when things can change quite quickly – where you work, where you live and who you live with. So buy a home that is flexible enough to suit as many of those options as possible.<br />
<br />
Also, try to chose a property that you can add value to during the time that you live there. And I say that because the market isn’t necessarily going to help you move in the future, certainly not in the same way as we’ve seen in the past ten years, so it’s now harder to generate equity to help you move and come up with a deposit for your next home. Chances are you’ll have to come up with that yourself.<br />
<strong><br />
But what about the push for first-time buyers to buy new build homes? It’s much harder to add value to a new build.</strong>Yes, it is much harder, nigh on impossible, to add value to a new build unless the area changes. However it can be easier to raise the money because there are more schemes out there to help you do that to buy a new build. On the other hand, an older property can be harder to buy because it might be in a chain and cost more money, but you do get the opportunity to add value to it. It's a tricky one.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-88289836574345600712011-12-29T09:59:00.000-08:002011-12-29T09:59:57.529-08:00Surveys and valuations: A beginner’s guide<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Surveys and valuations are crucial if you’re buying so it’s important you’ve got a grasp of what they mean and why you should bother</span></b></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-uNwHrM4aLLmaQqwDj-KZofRiPbhT0Iw5IWNb3BWS_vTnDzk6aEYc6lpo-I0MBASZRWRBSW6tR81X4d_OKwqIvSFFirm_XiFHLvpB2NeL1AY7l59j7gi6qfQxVlJImz4cPvIJ4kJDzA/s1600/surveyhouse_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-uNwHrM4aLLmaQqwDj-KZofRiPbhT0Iw5IWNb3BWS_vTnDzk6aEYc6lpo-I0MBASZRWRBSW6tR81X4d_OKwqIvSFFirm_XiFHLvpB2NeL1AY7l59j7gi6qfQxVlJImz4cPvIJ4kJDzA/s400/surveyhouse_300.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b> </div>Getting the home you want to buy surveyed is an important step in the journey toward buying a property, but for those who’re unfamiliar with the property market it can be a confusing time. If you're getting a mortgage then your lender will do a survey for valuation purposes, but you may also be asked whether you'd like an additional survey. While it doesn't always make sense (for example if you're buying a new build from a reputable developer), a survey could turn out saving you a fortune in the long term.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: black;">What is a survey?</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: black;"> </span> </strong></span>Richard Sexton of e.surv chartered surveyors says mortgage valuations are not the same as surveys. <br />
"It’s a common misconception that many buyers have a ‘survey’ as part of their mortgage application," he says. "This isn’t the case, as mortgage lenders will only instruction a 'mortgage valuation' for their own lending purposes." <br />
<br />
Unfortunately many people are under the impression that the valuation their mortgage lender organises will highlight any underlying problems there may be with a property, but that’s just not the case. Sexton says this leaves customers who do not instruct their own survey report with incomplete information about the true condition of the house they are purchasing. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: black;">Why is it important to get a survey? </span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: black;"> </span></strong></span>It’s simple really. When making any purchase, the more you know about the product the more easily you can decide if it’s worth buying. The same goes for buying property except the consequences of making a wrong decision, perhaps due to lack of information, can be far more damaging. <br />
<br />
Sexton says those who have not obtained a survey frequently uncover issues when they move into a new home. Getting a survey completed on a property, as early as possible, allows for any problems to be identified and action taken sooner rather than later. "Ultimately it can avoid delays, late price negotiations and even the heartache of a sale falling through or missing out on another property that may have been more suitable," he says.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: black;">What are the different kinds of survey report? </span></strong></span>Sexton says there are three main survey report types available: <br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>RICS Condition Report </strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong>The report is a survey which includes an inspection of the property and there is also a section which provides advice for solicitors and a clear summary of the key risks associated with the purchase. It does not include a valuation. <br />
<br />
<strong>RICS HomeBuyer Report </strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong>This is a more detailed report where a chartered surveyor will undertake a thorough inspection of the property so that any defects that might not be identified in a mortgage valuation report will be noted. This survey format does include a valuation within the report. <br />
<br />
<strong>Building Surveys </strong><br />
<strong><br />
</strong>This is a very detailed report. The surveyor will examine closely the structure and condition of the building and in some cases may recommend specialist reports for drainage, electrical systems, central heating and timber infestations. The inspection may take several hours and involve some limited disturbance of the building itself. A building survey is considerably more expensive than any other type of report in recognition of the work involved. A building survey will not normally include a valuation but this should be requested at the time of instruction if required.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: black;">How much can I expect to pay for a survey? </span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><strong><span style="color: black;"> </span></strong></span>Private surveys are an additional expense but they often cost less than 0.5% of the property’s value, says Sexton. Typically, a basic survey can cost from £200, however most survey costs are tiered depending on the cost of the home you are buying and the level of detailed information you opt for. <br />
"The average repair costs identified by private surveys is £1800, making them a great way to offer real value for money and help you understand the true costs associated with your purchase," Sexton says. "It is possible that many prospective purchasers will be able to successfully renegotiate the purchase price based on the information contained in their survey report." </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-11737679208212188992011-12-29T09:55:00.000-08:002011-12-29T09:55:22.508-08:00How to: work out if you're better renting or buying<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>We talk to people who have tried (and succeded) to get on to the property ladder aided by a decent deposit. How much would you need?</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_dpi54-arY1hV5_E1iGzSyEk2c2GnhfP3O1MyaKjf2kD_iR5i_HJ3ucFWF9JSh4yvhIcuHcxjvSAfH89tAHqhsT8ciCiQDfAvQ_4MVfcunJ1e3EUnFok2i-SZv0-Osw92F-PqumTmk0/s1600/bibury_couple_300_-_copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_dpi54-arY1hV5_E1iGzSyEk2c2GnhfP3O1MyaKjf2kD_iR5i_HJ3ucFWF9JSh4yvhIcuHcxjvSAfH89tAHqhsT8ciCiQDfAvQ_4MVfcunJ1e3EUnFok2i-SZv0-Osw92F-PqumTmk0/s1600/bibury_couple_300_-_copy.jpg" /></a></div><b> </b> <br />
<div class="content" id="article_content"> Caroline Smith and partner Dan Goodwin, both 27, have been renting together for 18 months, but have now seized the moment to get on the housing ladder, buying a one-bedroom flat in Guildford, Surrey. <br />
They join the ranks of rising numbers of people applying for a mortgage – with more of us on the move now the impact of recession is easing.<br />
"A lot of people think that it's a landmark event, but it just feels like we've entered into a more complex rental agreement," she explains.<br />
"We started off on comparison websites, but we also went to banks' sites and played around with their mortgage calculators.”<br />
Caroline explains that, after seeking help from mortgage advisors, she and Dan, both web analysts, opted for a repayment loan fixed at 5.74%. "We spoke to a loans advisor who said that our deposit fell at about 12%, and she recommended that we try to get 15% so that we could get the rates down a little bit.<br />
"We went with a three-year fix because two years didn't seem very long - but five years seemed a bit like 'whoah!'; a lot could happen in five years. We chose to fix because it was more important to us to have peace of mind; knowing what was going out of our account each month."<br />
But Adam Hassan, from Brighton, also recently stepped onto the housing ladder, has a different experience. "My partner had an inheritance so we had a good deposit. She paid 50% up-front, so that easily allowed us to get the best mortgage rates.<br />
"We got 2.2%, and opted for an interest-only tracker loan. In the current market I don't think the rate is going to go up too high. At this point there's no point trying to fix because lenders put an extra one or two % on it.<br />
"I chose interest-only because although I will make overpayments to repay the loan, if times get tough I can just pay less - the flexibility is fantastic."<br />
Shop around: Some lenders are more competitive than others and the rates on offer vary dramatically. Look at several lenders' rates, and consider a mortgage advisor if you're struggling to understand the details. <br />
Beware of hidden costs: Look beyond the interest rate and consider any setup and termination costs. For flexibility, check whether features such as payment holidays or overpayments are available. <br />
<strong>Moving home is expensive:</strong> Remember to budget for essential home improvements, home insurance, for legal fees and the cost of moving itself. The 2010 budget introduced Stamp Duty relief for first-time buyers choosing a property worth up to £250,000 – a welcome relief. <br />
Don't rush: It's easy to feel pressurised when buying a home, but a mortgage is one of the most important financial decisions you can make. It's essential that you understand what you're agreeing to and that you can afford it - now and in the future. </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-40046433140610041512011-12-29T09:47:00.000-08:002011-12-29T09:47:49.303-08:00Repossessed Property Auctions - A Buyer's Guide<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Auction houses are seeing a significant increase in the number of repossessed properties for sale at auction. But is a repo always the best buy?...</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kEevJ2v2TIPtADkWc12bQShIJv7FW4ls4cFGsjgY6xp1UXstM5m9-HbqD7JEkCYaAS25AFFlbTaOSdewjXgpdp-CMHny696WIkNzDOYsdFsciSgc2zTpWhawmaipeGnVbmqfGeHYvkY/s1600/repo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0kEevJ2v2TIPtADkWc12bQShIJv7FW4ls4cFGsjgY6xp1UXstM5m9-HbqD7JEkCYaAS25AFFlbTaOSdewjXgpdp-CMHny696WIkNzDOYsdFsciSgc2zTpWhawmaipeGnVbmqfGeHYvkY/s1600/repo1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">For some first-time buyers, would-be property investors, and professionals alike, the words "by order of receiver for mortgages" are enough to get their pulses racing.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The chance to buy a repossessed property for sale at auction at as little as 60 per cent of what the mortgagor originally paid is certainly hard to ignore.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">And, according to figures from Essential Information Group (EiG), the volume of <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Tony%20King" datetime="2009-06-15T13:01"></ins></span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="msoIns"><b>repossessed property</b></span></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> appearing at auction has risen by 100 per cent over the past 18 months, so it should be an ideal time to start bidding. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> But is it quite so simple?</span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bargain Bidding At Repossessed Property Auctions</b></span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oaEqQZ6mgxrFGx7XD_1xDLFWe1BrDJQ9VggtSswQcvxjhsXTjOoAl7mPc5vrT2wUgOG5dLEsEcy0lbhxupfMSzSVdmwoBeqseHKTb7Og5_RCIyruU7zQq6HIltkDlqnBscAbd0b31rk/s1600/repo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oaEqQZ6mgxrFGx7XD_1xDLFWe1BrDJQ9VggtSswQcvxjhsXTjOoAl7mPc5vrT2wUgOG5dLEsEcy0lbhxupfMSzSVdmwoBeqseHKTb7Og5_RCIyruU7zQq6HIltkDlqnBscAbd0b31rk/s1600/repo3.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: small;">David Sanderman, from Essential Information Group (EIG) which tracks every house that goes to auction in the country, says that you can’t assume you’re getting a bargain.</span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: small;">"A lot of people think if you <b>buy a repossessed property</b> it’ll be cheap. But if you have two flats, one of which is a repossession, one, not both could sell for the same money. A property will get what it’s going to get."</span><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">The obvious attraction in repossessed houses and flats is, of course, the temptingly low reserve, reflected in the guide price. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s low because although the lender has a duty to sell at the best price, time is money, and they will want to recoup their funds as quickly as possible.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1YMLSTAduj8/TvyleHC21wI/AAAAAAAAG1g/EGzbJsvKjGM/s1600/repo4a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1YMLSTAduj8/TvyleHC21wI/AAAAAAAAG1g/EGzbJsvKjGM/s1600/repo4a.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">The problem for a potential auction buyer is that a low guide price may </span><span style="font-size: small;">attract so many interested parties that it results in a higher sale price.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">I</span><span style="font-size: small;">n fact, it’s possible that you could find yourself paying over the market value because, according to David, there are many people who will be at an auction specifically with repossessions in mind.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, are repossessed properties likely to be bargains? Yes, but only if no one else has noticed them and is bidding against you! </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><b>Wot No Bidders?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VzyQmN4S-EQ/Tvyl2sYK8cI/AAAAAAAAG1s/DKemrD1UvxE/s1600/repo7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VzyQmN4S-EQ/Tvyl2sYK8cI/AAAAAAAAG1s/DKemrD1UvxE/s1600/repo7.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><b></b></span>The good news for bidders is that there are fewer people willing to part with their money at auction than a year ago.<br />
The EIG figures for August 2008 show that although the number of lots offered to auction was up slightly on last year, the number of sales achieved was only 55 per cent, down 14 per cent on August 2007.<br />
Simon Zutshi, founder of <b>Property Investors Network</b> says: "Someone I know who went to a property auction recently told me that out of 30 lots only one sold."<br />
But, says Simon, this is good news for serious investors. <br />
"Previously auctions haven’t been a great place to get bargains because there were lots of amateurs who were willing to pay too much.<br />
<br />
"But once again they’re a good place to find deals either before, during, or after the sale." <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iVt7L5ih9OE/TvymVdiNtEI/AAAAAAAAG14/Rr0PvAOa_1Y/s1600/repo5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iVt7L5ih9OE/TvymVdiNtEI/AAAAAAAAG14/Rr0PvAOa_1Y/s1600/repo5.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">The latest RAPID report from EIG and Allsops bears this out and suggests that more repossession bargains will emerge in the months ahead: </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Despite the rapid increase in numbers of distressed sale lots, a significant proportion of <b>repossessed properties</b> offered at many auction houses remains unsold. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">"This is largely due to overpricing in an increasingly weak market. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">"We anticipate that the success rate will improve as lenders face up to the need to price attractively to achieve results in the face of the inevitability of rising numbers of loan failures and increasing net monthly possessions over sales. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #800040;">Des Res or Repo Property Disaster?</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLe8xW5EqK6VYQt_krpal4hX-49Jrt40tXUIp6cMpsdNxWCG3VD4jRmF1C_cZluzZ0zA1pVg0L6Hv3TH4DU19dmFjdJRmsogvef2BEQ-bJtRsws3H87NJD5Ex4dePZhjd_a9bvukT0IM/s1600/repo6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLe8xW5EqK6VYQt_krpal4hX-49Jrt40tXUIp6cMpsdNxWCG3VD4jRmF1C_cZluzZ0zA1pVg0L6Hv3TH4DU19dmFjdJRmsogvef2BEQ-bJtRsws3H87NJD5Ex4dePZhjd_a9bvukT0IM/s1600/repo6.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you decide to try and bag an auction repo, what kind of properties can you expect to find? </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">According to Essential Information Group (EiG) the type of homes sold at <b>property auctions</b> has changed recently, with smaller lots, particularly flats, more prevalent.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">In terms of condition, David Lawrenson, who runs the property training and education company Letting Focus, says prepare yourself for the worst. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">"In general it would be most unlikely to find a repossessed home that’s spankingly clean and tidy! Repos may be in a bad state, but you can assess that when you go and view."</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-size: small;">But more importantly, as with any properties sold at auction, they may have serious structural or legal issues. "For the uninitiated, property prices at auctions seem low, but there is usually a good reason," warns David.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">"Many properties are in poor condition, have subsidence, are blighted by proposed road developments, have been occupied by squatters, have sitting tenants, or have defects in the legal title. Or they may just be unique and therefore hard to value."</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">That said, auction houses are also seeing a lot of new-build properties coming under the hammer, and these may well be in much better shape. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><b>How To Find Out About Repossessions?</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are over 200 <b>property auctioneers</b> in the UK, so registering with them all may be a little time consuming. By signing up with local auctioneers you will receive details of relevant properties.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">However, regional homes are sometimes auctioned in London or other large cities, where they will probably attract less interest and may achieve a lower price.</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">For the full picture, the excellent <b>EiG property auctions</b> website covers all UK auctions and allows you to search specifically for repossessions. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><b>Other Ways To Find A Repossession? </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">The thrill of auction day isn’t for everyone, but there are other, less blood-pressure-raising ways to find and buy repossessions.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>1. Ask your local estate agent</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Potential auctions properties are usually offered to <b>estate agents</b> first, so invest some time building a relationship with your local estate agents so they see you as a serious buyer if a property comes up in your area. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also, keep a lookout in the local papers for properties asking for ‘best offers’ by a certain closing date.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2. Buy before the sale</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many auction properties will be open to offers before the day of the sale. Look out for sales details that state ‘unless previously sold’. If you’re lucky you may be offered a repossessed property at little more than the reserve price.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>3. Buy after the sale</b></span> </div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">If a property doesn’t sell the auctioneer will often have the vendor’s authority to sell it at the reserve price for up to 24 hours after the auction. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><b>Caveat Emptor</b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">As with any property for sale at auction, it’s a case of buyer beware, so do your homework.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">The legal side of the sale should be straightforward when buying from a lender, but beyond that it’s down to you to check that you know exactly what you’re buying and that you’re ready to do business. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>1.</b> <b>Go and see the property:</b> You may have to go as part of a block viewing, but at least you’ll see your fellow bidders.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2.</b> <b>Paper Work:</b> Before the day, get the property surveyed and legal checks completed. Be on the lookout for special conditions in the memorandum of agreement.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>3.</b> <b>Finance In Place:</b> Have the mortgage and insurance ready. You’ll only have 28 days to complete, and delays could lose you the property and your deposit plus the cost of re-auctioning it.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>4.</b> <b>Deposit:</b> You’ll need to pay a ten per cent deposit when the gavel falls, so make sure you have it with you.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>5. Keep Your Head:</b> Decide how much you’re willing to pay and stick to it. </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #800040;">Advice for People Facing Repossession</span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you are having trouble paying your mortgage bills you shold act quickly to avoid repossession. For more information and advice, visit: </span></div><ul style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><li> <div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Consumer Credit Counselling Service</b></span></div></li>
<li> <div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Citizens Advice Bureaux</b></span></div></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Michael O'Flynn</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Related stories: </b></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">A Guide to Buying at Auction</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">If picking up a bargain really gets your juices flowing, then buying a property at auction may be just the thing to send the adrenalin coursing through your veins...</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sealed Bids: A Buyer's Guide</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gone are the days when an asking-price offer secured the house of your dreams. Today you may have to compete in a nerve-wracking sealed bid auction...</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Estate Agent Fees: A Beginner's Guide</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Estate agents' fees - it's hard to avoid them, but understanding the lingo and reading the small print can save you serious cash...</span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-26214730296307537732011-12-29T09:24:00.000-08:002011-12-29T09:24:59.849-08:00Property shortage pushes rents up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">If you're one of the millions of people who currently rent their homes from a landlord, you may have noticed costs have been creeping up. Read on to find out what's going on in the market</span></b></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkIsU7_b5_TUHFw2Bpj_8cburscsWG8v1XK8fkwSPmiIX-lTvbjcCqNSF8kUkq5gUHB9Li0-gZFRqybuuPNkhidCHzO6wdqMTiP5fIBoUoJaqiinR87pOwNrB5OXMpkztSTOW-02Io88/s1600/rentalsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkIsU7_b5_TUHFw2Bpj_8cburscsWG8v1XK8fkwSPmiIX-lTvbjcCqNSF8kUkq5gUHB9Li0-gZFRqybuuPNkhidCHzO6wdqMTiP5fIBoUoJaqiinR87pOwNrB5OXMpkztSTOW-02Io88/s1600/rentalsign.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b> </div>The FindaProperty rental index last year showed that overall asking prices rose across the UK between June and September 2010 and that the average rent is now the highest it’s been since November 2008. <br />
Rental prices have been steadily rising since January with landlords now asking £47 more a month than at the start of the year – an increase of 5.8 per cent. <br />
There are also fewer rentals out there, with the FindaProperty rental index reporting that stock levels fell by 14.5 per cent between June and September 2010.<br />
Add to this the findings of the latest Lettings Survey from Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), which reveals that the supply of property to rent fell for the third consecutive quarter in the three months to August 2010, and things are looking, decidedly expensive for renters.<br />
So while it’s costing renters more per calendar month than at any time since November 2008, it’s good news for landlords whose rental yields are up on the previous quarter.<br />
The RICs report also found 26 per cent more chartered surveyors reported a fall rather than a rise in the number of new landlord instructions, up from 18 per cent in the first quarter of the year.<br />
Although the weather may have been a factor in this, it is more likely that the upturn in the housing market has tempted many of the accidental landlords away from the rental market, says RICS.<br />
So could this mean an end to the falling values that have been a feature of the rental market since autumn 2008? <br />
There were certainly fewer surveyors reporting declines in the latest quarter: the net balance of those reporting rising rather than falling rents was zero, an improvement on the five previous quarters of negative readings. <br />
And a net balance of 33 per cent of surveyors believed that rents would rise over the coming quarter, up from 22 per cent in the previous report.<br />
Surveyors were also positive about rental demand, with 16 per cent more respondents reporting a rise rather than a fall this quarter.<br />
RICS spokesperson Jeremy Leaf commented: "The RICS housing survey has seen a steady increase in the number of new instructions coming on to the market over the past few months, whilst simultaneously we see with this survey that the number of properties available to rent has decreased. <br />
"This is a clear sign that the accidental landlords are returning to the sales market. <br />
"If demand remains strong, which it is likely to as many first-time buyers are still finding themselves priced out of the housing market, then rents should continue to rise as would be tenants compete for fewer properties."</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-55684912682775085562011-12-28T05:42:00.000-08:002011-12-28T05:42:37.178-08:00Britain’s most persistent first-time buyers: Rebecca Trimble<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>First-time buyer Rebecca Trimble moved back in with her parents to help save, but it was a shared equity scheme that gave her and her partner the extra push they needed to get on the property ladder </b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbv5dEFjQDFX8yp0EeyVL9s1KtVMEsDxX0pTmFr5pb03KgJvDoI_c2c1HprWhPhIGWiPqyCg_C9A2uwswWP9bumpJc1akuexoBFALSQl_OHb80MTICQLElFUD-qXE2WbEyX0MK-mVstg/s1600/ftb_beckitrimble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbv5dEFjQDFX8yp0EeyVL9s1KtVMEsDxX0pTmFr5pb03KgJvDoI_c2c1HprWhPhIGWiPqyCg_C9A2uwswWP9bumpJc1akuexoBFALSQl_OHb80MTICQLElFUD-qXE2WbEyX0MK-mVstg/s320/ftb_beckitrimble.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>Rebecca Trimble may have moved into her first home just five weeks after first viewing it, but her battle to get on the property ladder was a much longer, more difficult, journey.<br />
So desperately did Trimble, 24 and her partner Kieren Travers, 24, want to buy their first home that that they moved in with Trimble’s parents so they could concentrate on saving a deposit. <br />
Despite these efforts, the couple, both sales administrators in Manchester, still couldn’t find any homes they could afford. <br />
“We’d been saving for ages,” Trimble said. “But everything we looked at was too expensive for us as first-time buyers. We just kept saving and put our plans on hold.” <br />
Still hopeful of one day realising their dream of home ownership, the couple last year viewed Arley’s Chanters Green development in Atherton, near Manchester, where they fell in love with a three bedroom home with a garden, which was on the market for £127,000.<br />
Trimble says she was thrilled when the developer later telephoned and told her about a shared equity scheme for which the couple were eligible and which required them to provide a five per cent deposit.<br />
<br />
Under the agreement, the couple purchased 80 per cent of the property, while the developer retained the final 20 per cent, which can be purchased over an arranged period or paid back upon sale of the property.<br />
“We really loved the house but we wouldn’t have been able to get a mortgage for the full amount or a deposit for the full amount, so the shared equity scheme worked well for us.” <br />
The couple found the sale process hassle-free and lightening fast. “We were so lucky because we were able to move in within five weeks of when we first came to look at the home. It all happened really quick,” she says.<br />
“From the first day when we came looking, we reserved the house, and then the developer put us in touch with a financial advisor and they looked after everything for us. They (the developer) even advised us of a solicitor we could deal with.”<br />
The couple are now settled into their new home and couldn’t be happier .“I can’t describe it, it’s just brilliant,” Trimble said. “We have been together quite a while so just to have our own place is amazing.” </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-24342407999604296652011-12-28T05:35:00.000-08:002011-12-28T05:35:29.279-08:00Star homes: Why the rich and famous move to the Cotswolds<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="intro_content" id="Content_ContentHeaderText" style="font-family: inherit;"><div id="Content_oneLiner"><h2><span style="font-size: small;">What do Kate Moss, Liz Hurley, Jeremy Clarkson and Harry Potter have in common? It’s the Cotswolds, of course, which has long been a magnet for those seeking a celebrity lifestyle with an English twist</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFymHvlI5QV7RKM4pG0Tt99G5ORakvlV-lDf4NKSrhC9l802tTmuy_1WAA_xZNa76swGN_2jyrTXLlNkw9nQBv4Tzj6vPWlasssXfeSyQzlgnvzdWdJNC7eknWOCfMIXIBGaezmvG6Kws/s1600/costwoldsceleb_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFymHvlI5QV7RKM4pG0Tt99G5ORakvlV-lDf4NKSrhC9l802tTmuy_1WAA_xZNa76swGN_2jyrTXLlNkw9nQBv4Tzj6vPWlasssXfeSyQzlgnvzdWdJNC7eknWOCfMIXIBGaezmvG6Kws/s1600/costwoldsceleb_300.jpg" /></a></div><h2><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </h2>It’s the Beverly Hills of the UK, where the rich and famous live within a 90-minute’s limo ride of central London but with enough countryside and privacy to shelter from the paparazzi when the inevitable scandal breaks. Yes, welcome to the Cotswolds.<br />
To those who don’t know Lily Allen from Lily Savage, the Cotswolds stretches 90 miles by 25 miles and is England’s largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. But to celebrity-spotters this area, from Cirencester and Cheltenham in the west to Oxford and Banbury in the east, has more stars than the Milky Way. <br />
<br />
So why do celebrities prefer green wellies to red carpets? <br />
“The Cotswolds is far enough away from London to be ‘proper’ country but close enough to be accessible,” explains George Barkes of Stacks Property Search, a buying agency helping stars find homes in the Cotswolds. “There’s plenty of appropriate property to be found and celebrities don’t feel their homes and wealth stand out”<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7SXYmseQENsrLEquUss63g67dvb_Wlgm9cxZDoKc0nm_haIG8WGoZVZ3JmNdjDoDz9PlCW8_kfP275VijSFSlTQR1wMe23-NVjfgyhmdX99j8xMZNgu0W5MccmdK_CvArxzGTZtL0xg/s1600/shiptonsollars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7SXYmseQENsrLEquUss63g67dvb_Wlgm9cxZDoKc0nm_haIG8WGoZVZ3JmNdjDoDz9PlCW8_kfP275VijSFSlTQR1wMe23-NVjfgyhmdX99j8xMZNgu0W5MccmdK_CvArxzGTZtL0xg/s1600/shiptonsollars.jpg" /></a></div>“There are gastro pubs, Daylesford organics, two polo grounds, and Cirencester has a good selection of one-off shops,” says Frank Speir of Prime Purchase, another buying agency. “Well known people are ten-a-penny which means local residents are unfazed by celebrities” <br />
The Cotswolds’ stardust doesn’t just fall outside celebrities’ front doors - the whole region has become a favourite with TV show and film makers. <br />
The <em>Harry Potter</em> movies were shot there, as was <em>The Other Boleyn Girl</em> with Scarlett Johansson, and <em>Bridget Jones’ Diary</em> and <em>Die Another Day</em>. Most of the <em>Inspector Morse</em> country scenes outside of Oxford feature the Cotswolds, too.<br />
Unsurprisingly, estate agents have plenty of celebrity-friendly homes on sale. <br />
There is Shipton Sollar, an eight bedroom 17th century mansion with a party barn (a celeb must) and 35 acres of land for £3.25m. Or try the five bedroom Wells Farmhouse for £2.5m with its separate two bedroom annexe, gym and games area - ideal for wrap parties after the film. <br />
<strong>Stars who call the Cotswolds home:</strong> <br />
• Dom Jolly - Quenington<br />
• Jemima Khan - Kiddington<br />
• Damian Hurst - Toddington<br />
• Liz Hurley - Barnsley<br />
• Kate Moss - Little Faringdon<br />
• Anne Robinson - Gloucestershire<br />
• Kate Winslet – Westcote<br />
• Jeremy Clarkson – Chipping Norton<br />
• Alex James - Kingham<br />
• Lily Allen - Overtown<br />
• Stella McCartney - Pershore<br />
• J K Rowling - Chipping Sodbury<br />
• Joanna Trollope - Minchinhampton<br />
• Jilly Cooper - Bisley<br />
• Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen - Cirencester<br />
<br />
Words: Graham Norwood<br />
</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-90446838616123250892011-12-22T11:21:00.000-08:002011-12-22T11:21:25.817-08:00That's unusual:Beach huts are the ultimate seaside property<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="intro_content" id="Content_ContentHeaderText"><div id="Content_oneLiner"><h2><span style="font-size: small;">Fancy a bit of sand between your toes this summer? The traditional English beach hut can be cheap, charming and buckets of fun </span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kdPi8ImIfVY/TvOCwkzhYzI/AAAAAAAAGHQ/zxsW75CTmho/s1600/beachhuts_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kdPi8ImIfVY/TvOCwkzhYzI/AAAAAAAAGHQ/zxsW75CTmho/s1600/beachhuts_300.jpg" /></a></div><h2> </h2>Sunshine, long weekends, picnics and sand between our toes - yes, the quintessential English holiday season is on us again. And so is the traditional beach hut story. But whereas the papers concentrate on the high cost of huts in a few parts of the country, the reality is that in most places they are cheap, charming and enormous fun.<br />
“Mine has been in my family for three generations and I intend to pass it on to my children and theirs” says Sylvia Jones, who lives in Cardiff but has her hut at Dunster Beach, Somerset. “There is no way we could afford a second home but this is a low-cost way of having a retreat with the best sea view in the world. We come down on bright days during the winter, then stay overnight for weekends in the spring and summer. Lovely.”<br />
Of course you can pay the earth. Back in 2001 artist Tracey Emin sold hers in Kent to advertising guru Charles Saatchi for £75,000 and at Mudeford Spit in Dorset some have changed hands for over £100,000. With celebrities like Suggs from Madness and the Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards having huts, ownership may carry a certain cache.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRf6XGuUhkc_Hym1Hm7rWwJfCUCkT5CO07F4svUnGh6vu72zSTRQyhxdCxpH_iZPoVcXjTPXyaCpHlJVyrae_jImaKq6ViRQE7xBNIOupf54jeq6SvBwKQNavcfgyvEAVtq7julFEaN0/s1600/beachhutpittis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZRf6XGuUhkc_Hym1Hm7rWwJfCUCkT5CO07F4svUnGh6vu72zSTRQyhxdCxpH_iZPoVcXjTPXyaCpHlJVyrae_jImaKq6ViRQE7xBNIOupf54jeq6SvBwKQNavcfgyvEAVtq7julFEaN0/s1600/beachhutpittis.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Yet beach huts began as simple changing rooms on beach edges where nothing else could be built and even today plenty are, in the best sense of the word, cheap. Scour the internet for private sales or try seaside estate agents (Pittis on the Isle of Wight is selling one on Appoley Beach for £14,000. <br />
Whatever your budget, follow these tips:<br />
• Check local council 'occupation rules'. Some forbid overnight stays;<br />
• Some huts have covenants that prohibit letting, although this is rare;<br />
• Find out management fees and costs of security measures like CCTV, security lighting, or occasional security guard visits;<br />
• If you cannot visit frequently, hire a 'carer' - they exist in most resorts and will do a weekly check for a nominal fee.<br />
Annual costs include council tax or commercial rates, repainting and weather-protection. Insurance is about £100 per year and annual council licences are £125 to £1,500. You may also have to pay 20 per cent of your rental income to a lettings agent if you hire one.<br />
Have fun - and remember the sun tan lotion.</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-3686008121843122462011-12-22T11:15:00.000-08:002011-12-22T11:16:50.685-08:00Star homes: Ditch the dust with a ready made Grand Design<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="intro_content" id="Content_ContentHeaderText"><div id="Content_oneLiner"><h2><span style="font-size: small;">If you love the Grand Design life, but don't want the hassle of a huge building project then take a look at these homes which have all featured on Kevin McCloud's property programme and are now for sale or rent</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfhyphenhyphenZG72NfInmNZ56W4DevUvurR8G3SDyXz5y_CGCsJL2midz-bUVu7tdU_fuakIoHI0y2F2rC7176a4gIX-LJ0nokX7yoyGdkQdoeP_lI9uSAruYiGdmy9H0Y0cxbAXdmD94LFbN5Jw/s1600/granddesigns_longhouse_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkfhyphenhyphenZG72NfInmNZ56W4DevUvurR8G3SDyXz5y_CGCsJL2midz-bUVu7tdU_fuakIoHI0y2F2rC7176a4gIX-LJ0nokX7yoyGdkQdoeP_lI9uSAruYiGdmy9H0Y0cxbAXdmD94LFbN5Jw/s1600/granddesigns_longhouse_300.jpg" /></a></div><h2><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The homes on Grand Designs are definitely not for everyone –remember the Monmouth Gothic House? But even those who are looking for an unusual home might be put off by the prospect of spending buckets of cash and many months on their own renovation project. Good news then as many of the homes featured on the show are now on the market or availlable to rent. We pick our top Grand Designs.</span> </h2><span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><b>The Long House / The Oak Framed House </b></span><br />
Where: Barbour Road, Kilcreggan, Scotland <br />
When: Series 4, 7 (2004) <br />
What: It's a traditional timber-framed house fashioned from hefty oak beams, but it sure doesn't look one. That's because the medieval cruck-frame method is here combined with 21st century materials that are more typical of urban lofts: concrete, steel, zinc and glass. <br />
It shouldn’t really work, but the result of this improbable hybrid is a spectacularly light and spacious home with full-height windows that make the most of heart-stopping views of the Isle of Arran.<br />
How much: offers in the region of £395,000<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbI5WI7BhNJ63IHLdIM4Eq3oTjHLpFXjdG5gp_JbYWn_kVcYOPXe-7DGGf8ZarF6MIgoXciS-6fQbQ9PHmSJbWbgtCodumKjosafSXXR2VnHv8nHcKYbs0pr78-zEd8Bmw90DThNeRB94/s1600/granddesigns_cruciform.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbI5WI7BhNJ63IHLdIM4Eq3oTjHLpFXjdG5gp_JbYWn_kVcYOPXe-7DGGf8ZarF6MIgoXciS-6fQbQ9PHmSJbWbgtCodumKjosafSXXR2VnHv8nHcKYbs0pr78-zEd8Bmw90DThNeRB94/s1600/granddesigns_cruciform.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><b>The Cruciform House (Brock House)</b></span>Where: Lambourn Valley, Berkshire <br />
When: Series 2,5 (2001)<br />
What: Another magnificent oak-framed home that combines timber traditionalism with extensive glazing. <br />
The site, high on the Berkshire Downs, dictated the complex cruciform shape, which was intended to provide sheltered areas at different times of the day. <br />
It’s a huge and light filled home with soaring ceilings, a barn-like feel and sweeping views over the Lambourn Valley. We’re not surprised that it’s said to be one of Kevin McCloud’s all-time favourites. <br />
How much: £1,400,000 (guide price)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><b>Collage House, London</b></span>Where: London W10 <br />
When: 2007 Grand Designs award for best remodelled house<br />
What: A stunning piece of work acclaimed architect Jonathan Tuckey, a specialist in the alteration and remodelling of existing buildings. <br />
Originally a steel workshop, Tuckey, who previously worked with David Chipperfield, has set up a brilliantly executed contrast here between polished concrete, wood and glass and the more weather-beaten exposed brickwork of the old warehouse. <br />
He created this space as his own home, which is built to open out onto an enclosed secret garden with a relaxing pond. <br />
“What a piece of magic,” said Grand Designs’ judge Tom Dychoff. And so it is. <br />
How much: £5200 per month <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><b>Cecil House / The Bath Kit House </b></span>Where: Bath, Somerset <br />
When: Series 8,6 (2008) <br />
What: In a memorable episode, this luxurious home was built by Tiffany and Jonny Woods, who were dogged by a steeply sloping site, atrocious weather and collapsing walls. <br />
They spent a heart-stopping £300,000 clearing the site of tonnes of earth and then brought in German kit house manufacturers Baufritz to construct curvaceous and colourful eco-friendly home with top notch specifications - including a beautiful elliptical staircase. <br />
"A well-made healthy house that promotes well-being," mused an impressed Kevin McCloud, and who are we to disagree? <br />
How much: £2,195,000<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><b>The Regency Cottage</b></span>Where: Hove, Sussex <br />
When: Grand Designs Indoors 2001 1, 6<br />
What: Hayley and Pedro Castle redesigned the interior of their Regency cottage in Hove with the help of friend and architect Alan Philips – a hardcore modernist who had previously redesigned Bono’s house in the South of France. <br />
This project had a shoe string budget (£23,000) and threw up all sorts of problems (planning permission, damp, structural problems etc) but the result is a delight: a fun and funky home with light, space, plenty of colour and a quirky sense of humour. <br />
“If this project's taught me anything it is that miracles can be worked,” Kevin McCloud. Especially if you have a good mate who’s an amazing architect. <br />
How much: £1450 pcm<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGWLFHUfNCvNPZNNnvoEAMvu3FtpDmj5pNO8Bkzf5IIqaR8ohPSRHBHkqrvzWAcSj9qlIscM_7Re2YNlQS5HgU_z0QmRY6g_CdwAArqYD38nt6FJHevZeVHlmO9XwtvZ-REAZNNPNzvs/s1600/granddesigns_ecopod_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQGWLFHUfNCvNPZNNnvoEAMvu3FtpDmj5pNO8Bkzf5IIqaR8ohPSRHBHkqrvzWAcSj9qlIscM_7Re2YNlQS5HgU_z0QmRY6g_CdwAArqYD38nt6FJHevZeVHlmO9XwtvZ-REAZNNPNzvs/s1600/granddesigns_ecopod_300.jpg" /></a></div><span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><b>The Eco Pod </b></span>Where: Can be added to any garden <br />
When: Series 10, 8 (2010) and Grand Designs Live 2010 <br />
What: Funky little 500 sq ft pods that can be dropped into any garden – perfect if you’re looking for some extra living space, a cool home office or a personal retreat from the world. <br />
The low tech pods are made entirely from timber, including English chestnut shingles and Douglas Fir stilts, and are 75% recyclable. Very cool. <br />
They are designed by Robert and Milla Gaukroger, who also designed the impressive Dome House, Lake District House in Series 10. <br />
How much: £65,000<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<a href="http://www.profilehomes.com/module_files/00020-caerolau-details%5B1%5D.pdf" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #800040;">The Eco House</span></b> </a></span>Where: Carmarthen, Wales <br />
When: Series 5, 7 (2005) <br />
What: An experimental eco-friendly house in the Black Mountains in Wales that used a lime-based concrete screed the builders were unfamiliar with. Cue much wailing and gnashing of teeth. <br />
The clients had a major bust up with the architect, but in the end the house came through and wowed Kevin McCloud, who enthused: <br />
“This is an affordable, environmentally friendly house, and it's not hairy! It's cool and sharp and contemporary. That, I think, makes it pretty exemplary.”<br />
How much: Offers in the region of £455,000<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh99ii_mFt5QiIA7zYaL8Od7tUSWlraaN6c3cjttP3dGWw0VeqwXLVK6KT329t1jGHsSAqnUi3cGtuBjehqHdH7n81umIvfNJCprd64Ncdv-VnIKmWhbZRk4tBGuxx57xViK4PDHPJVYI/s1600/granddesignsstillwater_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh99ii_mFt5QiIA7zYaL8Od7tUSWlraaN6c3cjttP3dGWw0VeqwXLVK6KT329t1jGHsSAqnUi3cGtuBjehqHdH7n81umIvfNJCprd64Ncdv-VnIKmWhbZRk4tBGuxx57xViK4PDHPJVYI/s1600/granddesignsstillwater_300.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><b>Stillwater (The Loch House)</b></span>Where: Killearn, Scotland <br />
When: Series 6, 19 (2006) <br />
What: A stunning lakeside house that, like so many Grand Designs, cleverly marries the traditional and the contemporary. <br />
From the outside the slate pitch roof and stone cladding wouldn’t attract a second glance, but inside it’s a different matter: floor-to-ceiling windows, a floating glass staircase and a master bedroom up in the rafters with serene and far-reaching views over shimmering water. <br />
How much: £1,500,000<br />
<span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;"><b>Shoreditch Prototype House</b></span>Where: Shoreditch, London<br />
When: Best Eco House, Grand Designs awards 2009 <br />
What: A light-filled urban house designed as a live/work space by Cox Bulleid architects.<br />
Designed to make the most of its orientation, the front of the house is almost entirely glazed and looks out over a courtyard garden, while the remaining three sides are wrapped in a layer of thermally efficient insulating render – this is a very energy efficient house. <br />
Planted balconies create a green world in the heart of the city and also prevent overheating during the summer and allow direct solar heating during the winter.<br />
The house uses sustainable materials throughout, including floors finished with birch plywood panels and self-build furniture. “No eco bling here,” said Grand Designs, “just simplicity in its purest form.”<br />
How much: £1,300,000<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGsKjfZaM_UK9RnDUtlfPaGQ1aS8iYR529WtWueaVOcgg__Zd9LeGcBlOifseGJJs1Dzp6fBgJi_w4TtdoASFQsB5sz0VNvp8wf9R19sQwUDBW-HdZBALt5FFnZUS_yhOnoeKG0ziKFA/s1600/granddesignsbrighton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdGsKjfZaM_UK9RnDUtlfPaGQ1aS8iYR529WtWueaVOcgg__Zd9LeGcBlOifseGJJs1Dzp6fBgJi_w4TtdoASFQsB5sz0VNvp8wf9R19sQwUDBW-HdZBALt5FFnZUS_yhOnoeKG0ziKFA/s1600/granddesignsbrighton.jpg" /></a></div><b><span style="color: #800040; font-size: small;">The Brighton Modern Mansion</span></b>Where: Brighton, East Sussex <br />
When: Series 9, 2009<br />
What: This curved concrete and glass extravaganza was one of the most ambitious projects to ever feature on the show. It was also one of the most heart-rending builds as Grand Designer Barry Surtees collapsed with a heart attack mid way through the project and had to have a bypass. Then the credit crunch struck. And to round it all off, the house next door went up in flames. Barry carried on regardless with his design inspired by the sweep of an artist's brush and ended up with a home that really does put the Grand into design. The highlight of the four storey mansion is the 65’ master bedroom pod with panoramic views over half of Sussex. There's also a pool, gym, artist's studio, and Japanese roof garden. "A taste of Hollywood on the Brighton hillside," said Kevin McCloud. And then some.<br />
How much: £2.950,000 </div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-42515222362060217012011-12-22T11:08:00.000-08:002011-12-22T11:08:16.781-08:00Five minutes of fame: Is Anglesey having a royal resurgence?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br />
<div class="intro_content" id="Content_ContentHeaderText"> <div id="Content_oneLiner"><h2><span style="font-size: small;">William and Kate have put The Isle of Anglesey on the property map by making it their post-wedding home. Nikki Sheehan investigates what this means for house hunters </span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpVw3g5xjucXtAgusugvOXM1_FIltQQhIUtLcUfaS9vUZdL0YQwl7hvol-8YfLWcPZqucvGEaLuuBcTHRzyp8hFbbOfcDpW6Q2vyaqqx8_QxbGnJnNaDKBOVfKxGRSDkga5A9u64_RRg/s1600/wills%2526kateanglesey_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZpVw3g5xjucXtAgusugvOXM1_FIltQQhIUtLcUfaS9vUZdL0YQwl7hvol-8YfLWcPZqucvGEaLuuBcTHRzyp8hFbbOfcDpW6Q2vyaqqx8_QxbGnJnNaDKBOVfKxGRSDkga5A9u64_RRg/s1600/wills%2526kateanglesey_300.jpg" /></a></div><h2><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </h2>Fancy rubbing shoulders, or even fighting over the last steak in Waitrose with the nation’s favourite couple? Then move to Anglesey.<br />
It may be home to the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, but this little gem, situated just across the Menai Strait from North Wales, with 125 miles of rugged coastline, and beaches to die for, is definitely not just for the ruling classes.<br />
The couple reportedly pay £750 a month to rent their isolated four-bed farmhouse near William’s RAF Valley base. But if you want to buy, prices start at about £60,000 for a Victorian terrace.<br />
"The island has always been popular, but this has really put it on the map," says Chris Dibb, sales director at Fine & Country.<br />
"People are phoning and enquiring about the villages on the west coast, Trearddur Bay, Rhosneigr, and Rhoscolyn, because of the press coverages.<br />
<span style="color: #800040;"><strong>East of the island </strong></span><br />
But for those with deeper pockets, the Menai Strait, to the east, is perennially fashionable. "We’ve got a succession of million-pound properties along there, a lot of them at the water’s edge. <br />
"The town of Beaumaris is very historic, and very trendy. There’s the Royal Anglesey Yacht club and golf courses. And Menai Bridge is a lovely town. If you’re lucky you might bump into Kate in the Waitrose there."<br />
If you can’t stretch to the Menai Strait Dibb suggests searching on the east coast. <br />
<span style="color: #800040;"><strong>Beautiful beach </strong></span><br />
"Pentraeth has a beautiful beach. There are good pubs and some nice individual shops. We’re selling the Old Smithy there which overlooks Red Wharf Bay for £365k." <br />
<br />
With a gulfstream-warmed climate, good surfing, and even locally-produced cheese, chocolate and wine, the attractions of Anglesey are obvious.<br />
But do you need to speak Welsh? Kate Middleton singing the Welsh national anthem endeared her to locals, "but it’s not absolutely necessary", says Dibb. "Anglesey’s actually very cosmopolitan."</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-71080379101043384542011-12-22T11:04:00.000-08:002011-12-22T11:04:55.185-08:00Britain’s most persistent first-time buyers: Loretta Carr<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br />
<div class="intro_content" id="Content_ContentHeaderText"> <div id="Content_oneLiner"><h2><span style="font-size: small;">Loretta Carr went the extra mile – all 100 of them – after she and her partner decided to live far apart for three years so they could live with parents and save up a deposit for their first home</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_97s6StJDvddYu3L3EbdNRxrrb5lq-ohSNsFrw6Bkn6ArBuHyoNpHwUZHj0R6QI54ZafC6pV5KQjVKp6Uf4YvD9po7TmPJr76rzbICzHEK51YHtsDawriG94D4X4sl4fGXsJBRfe8hqU/s1600/lorettacarr_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_97s6StJDvddYu3L3EbdNRxrrb5lq-ohSNsFrw6Bkn6ArBuHyoNpHwUZHj0R6QI54ZafC6pV5KQjVKp6Uf4YvD9po7TmPJr76rzbICzHEK51YHtsDawriG94D4X4sl4fGXsJBRfe8hqU/s1600/lorettacarr_300.jpg" /></a></div>The course of true love rarely runs smooth and so it was for Loretta Carr and her partner Andrew Lobo. After both graduating from the University of Southampton the couple took the difficult decision to live 100 miles apart while they saved for their first home.<br />
<br />
Carr moved in with her parents in Essex and Lobo moved to Gloucestershire where his family is from. “It was really difficult living apart for three years and having to travel back and forth, but we both knew it would be worth it, if we could save money to get our foot on the property ladder together.” <br />
<br />
The 27-year-olds had long dreamed of living in their own home, but were concerned that rising prices would keep them in rented accommodation. “We didn’t want to rent, that was key,” Carr says. “We wanted to own our home because of what happened with all the property prices going up from 2002 onwards until the peak. We were just really mindful that if something happened again like that then we would never be able to get on the property ladder.”<br />
<br />
Their foresight and sacrifice eventually paid off and the two recently moved into a two-bedroom two-storey home in the Grade II listed The Galleries development in Brentwood, Essex. “It’s an old Victorian mental home that’s been converted into flats and houses,” Carr says. “We both really like period features and because it’s an old conversion it’s got lots of Victorian character.”<br />
“We have our own patio terrace that looks over a communal garden, separate kitchen and a parking space too.” <br />
<br />
The mid terrace home cost £330,000, which, Carr, says was at the top of their budget and actually wasn’t even in an area they were originally considering. The couple had already looked at, and made offers on, a few other non-new build properties, but had been gazumped twice and also had a bad survey result on one of the properties, which required renovations of at least £30,000. <br />
<br />
Carr says the new build property appealed because of its pristine condition and the willingness of the developer, City & Country Group, to sell – they exchanged and completed in three weeks. “Our white goods and a fully fitted kitchen were all included and that saved us quite a lot of money. We also got a ten-year guarantee on anything that went wrong or needed to be touched up. It made good financial sense.”</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-9476334046571144822011-12-22T11:00:00.000-08:002011-12-22T11:00:45.866-08:00Property exhibition to be launched by TV star<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br />
<div class="heading_content"><h1 id="Content_H1"> </h1><div class="intro_content" id="Content_ContentHeaderText"> <div id="Content_oneLiner"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZr0CB-XFC-W1eGyjrKsanHjx2Fz1nxwI13OJetU-J7_93mnk46wvDdBctOhuzoncX1TaQawcbc9Paeq04TjbYDvjug4uhsNqjuJwhl0sKYcyzg9WEh0x7mXzdiNcXPuCSru6aMvdJJ4/s1600/emhps-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgZr0CB-XFC-W1eGyjrKsanHjx2Fz1nxwI13OJetU-J7_93mnk46wvDdBctOhuzoncX1TaQawcbc9Paeq04TjbYDvjug4uhsNqjuJwhl0sKYcyzg9WEh0x7mXzdiNcXPuCSru6aMvdJJ4/s1600/emhps-logo.jpg" /></a><h2><span style="font-size: small;">FindaProperty.com is co-sponsoring the new Homes and Property Show and Channel 4 TV presenter Jonnie Irwin is to open - and speak at - the two-day event, which is from September 10-11th in Loughborough, East Midlands.</span></h2><h2><br />
</h2><h2></h2><h2> </h2><div class="MsoNormal">Many view the East Midlands as the economic and manufacturing backbone of the British Isles, a region that takes large bites out of six counties including Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire as well as several of what were – and many cases remain – the UK’s engineering flagship cities.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cBZFL1XTg_f7UNu4hjACy0s-K3_vAXkeQCqFMGz6FpmnlDGWgsQqxuvhdAqZlU90g6WPE7Vc00Qya4TfA3LSC4efItialzeippdnpA69IyeGYxZppCx3Cmz4pEFqcfOrM6Pqda9KL5s/s1600/jonnie-irwin-emhps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_cBZFL1XTg_f7UNu4hjACy0s-K3_vAXkeQCqFMGz6FpmnlDGWgsQqxuvhdAqZlU90g6WPE7Vc00Qya4TfA3LSC4efItialzeippdnpA69IyeGYxZppCx3Cmz4pEFqcfOrM6Pqda9KL5s/s320/jonnie-irwin-emhps.jpg" width="139" /></a>So whether you are a local well acquainted with the region’s allures and want to move up the ladder or are considering a move there, we suggest you drop in to the East Midlands Homes & Property Show for some home moving ideas.</div><div class="MsoNormal">FindaProperty.com, in partnership with three of its leading local newspapers, is co-sponsoring the event which will take place at Loughborough University on the weekend of Saturday <strong>September 10<sup>th</sup> </strong>(<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">10am – 5pm<strong>)</strong> </span><strong>and 11<sup>th</sup> 2011</strong> (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">10am – 3pm) </span>and on hand will be some of East Midlands’ leading property experts.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #800040; font-size: x-small;">Free advice</span></strong><br />
They will be able to help you regardless of your budget or needs – so you will find estate agents, lettings agents, mortgage and legal experts, housing associations, interiors and home moving specialists and housing developers too.</div><div class="MsoNormal">But the star of the show will be Jonnie Irwin, presenter on Channel 4 TV’s A Place in the Sun: Home or Away (he does the home bit) who is also a qualified surveyor and will be offering his advice about (and experience in) property.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERGEyS9MVCY/TvN-Q5dTaeI/AAAAAAAAGFw/XV1uyTBxYR4/s1600/elib_library__2421471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERGEyS9MVCY/TvN-Q5dTaeI/AAAAAAAAGFw/XV1uyTBxYR4/s1600/elib_library__2421471.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal">Other experts will be on hand to offer advice too including FindaProperty.com property analyst Nigel Lewis so, whether you’re battling to get on the property ladder or just want to find out what the East Midlands property market has to offer, why not come along?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong>Entry if free</strong> as is the <strong>parking </strong>and there will be a cafe as well as a ‘family fun’ area to keep kids busy while you talk property – plus the show is hosting a mini-auction of 20 properties from around the region.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #800040; font-size: x-small;">Where will it be?</span></strong>The East Midlands Homes U& Property Show is taking place at the Sir David Wallace Sport Hall within the Loughborough University campus. Download a map of the campus or, for more information, call <strong>0116 2616867</strong>.</div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-81341509127762619082011-12-18T08:39:00.000-08:002011-12-18T08:39:17.664-08:00Is renting no longer the Cinderella of the property market?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Without a Prince Charming waiting in the wings, new research shows a surprising number of us no longer mind if we're not "rescued" from being tenants for the foreseeable future.</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhej8o4XO_qXJMVzQ9SxNHr4m-lJB5B_dOCzQxtWnDu_-1yrsi7z6wg_nYQ5XpHnaQgqD3YrF9iWwOZat8Ku7NZUaGnMYwO-fEJyZ2-N7JO4PSwYn9x73Q8tnP3-jt2CFNzbOEfdYS_MpE/s1600/cinders_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhej8o4XO_qXJMVzQ9SxNHr4m-lJB5B_dOCzQxtWnDu_-1yrsi7z6wg_nYQ5XpHnaQgqD3YrF9iWwOZat8Ku7NZUaGnMYwO-fEJyZ2-N7JO4PSwYn9x73Q8tnP3-jt2CFNzbOEfdYS_MpE/s1600/cinders_300.jpg" /></a></div>During the late Nineties and for much of the Noughties renting was the Cinderella of the property market as Britain became a nation of home owners, many of us keen to demote non-ownership to the basement of our ambitions – just like the pantomime’s heroine.<br />
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But such a steadfast belief in owning bricks and mortar is very much ‘behind us’ and with little or no sign of a Prince Charming waiting in the wings to implement a rescue.</div><div><br />
Britain may soon be a nation of renters rather than owners, according to research published this week by FindaProperty.com. Over a thousand young home movers were asked about their property plans and half of those canvassed said they didn’t expect to own their first home until they are into their 40s and 38% said owning a home ‘wasn’t critical’ to them, indicating how strongly the recession has influenced attitudes to buying a home.</div><div><br />
Also, 26% of those who responded to the survey said they had ‘no issue’ with the prospect of renting long-term.</div><div><br />
These trends have helped push up rents across the UK as demand has outstripped supply and the average for the UK is now £880 a month per property, the highest price for renting a property ever recorded by FindaProperty.com.</div><div><br />
Rents are now nearly five percent more expensive than they were a year ago, pushed up by increasing demand for rented properties and fewer homes available – the time between coming on to market and being rented has reduced by 10% over the past three months. On average a rental property spends 45 days on the market – 13 days fewer than the same period in 2009.</div><div><br />
And latest government data reveals how fast owner-occupation is therefore slipping, from 14.8m (71%) in 2005 to 14.5m (67%) in 2009-10 as mortgages have become harder to get and pay freezes more commonplace.</div><div><br />
The irony of this is that more expensive rents mean it is now more expensive to rent than it is to buy. While rents have been rising, mortgage payments continue to plummet. Which make the challenges of finding a new home far from the fairytale it once was.</div><div> </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-56723755697702587442011-12-16T10:16:00.000-08:002011-12-16T10:16:22.408-08:00Would you buy an all-inclusive resort holiday home?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A new scheme offers buyers the choice of purchasing the famous all-inclusive Club Med experience outright or for just three weeks a year on leaseback<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXj3mvzu1ANwbureL0YE3bqUS30U4wcQzHiI7B3nlfJGzC3-MW0l63CF00Kpo9jeM5xseHoy83nt1YXyTmKgu98DvbLITfXMFLshbzpw4Vln1vhPdGz-jePt6HvMSWws7hFGNyuuk618/s1600/valmorel_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXj3mvzu1ANwbureL0YE3bqUS30U4wcQzHiI7B3nlfJGzC3-MW0l63CF00Kpo9jeM5xseHoy83nt1YXyTmKgu98DvbLITfXMFLshbzpw4Vln1vhPdGz-jePt6HvMSWws7hFGNyuuk618/s1600/valmorel_300.jpg" /></a></div><div>Club Med is doing things differently at their new Valmorel resort in the French Alps.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The company is breaking from its all-inclusive holiday business to offer buyers a chance to purchase the freehold of one of their chalet–apartments at Valmorel – a pedestriansed ski-in, ski-out village in France with 150km of slopes. It was launched to British home buyers this month. Prices include unlimited use of the apartment they buy, plus, as you’d expect from Club Med, the use of the resort’s complimentary restaurants, bars, spa and sauna. Prices start at 769,000 euros for a fully furnished three bedroom flat.</div><div><br />
</div><div>To keep things interesting, those who want to buy a property but who don’t want the full commitment of unlimited year-round access to their apartment can opt to purchase their property using a leaseback scheme, in which the owner receives three weeks dedicated use every year. Similarly to those who opt to buy their properties for unlimited use, those taking advantage of the leaseback scheme will also get access to the full Club Med experience, including the complimentary restaurants and bars. Owners can also choose to swap from Valmorel and opt to spend their vacation weeks at selected other top Club Med resorts around the world.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Valmorel is part of a new property strategy for Club Med who are only offering a similar concept at one other resort: their Villas at La Plantation d'Albion Club Med in Mauritius , where buyers get access to the usual luxury resort trappings, but instead of skiing there's use of the nearby Tamarina Golf Course included.</div><div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5__KuyU0yp53BYtQwhyphenhyphenpbxvw8jT_UhglySo2F584YwAapkrMDwYHoZ-nN31Vl3H1-m7pSFzoZhwPK3y4qk-DuTtil_lqyYJSZLCxvoVFktub-4x5PtPN5VCaZKkgv4QyBEmNzrD-bQQ/s1600/mauritious_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5__KuyU0yp53BYtQwhyphenhyphenpbxvw8jT_UhglySo2F584YwAapkrMDwYHoZ-nN31Vl3H1-m7pSFzoZhwPK3y4qk-DuTtil_lqyYJSZLCxvoVFktub-4x5PtPN5VCaZKkgv4QyBEmNzrD-bQQ/s1600/mauritious_300.jpg" /></a></div><div><div>These villas, priced from 1,097,000 euros are available either for outright purchase or through a leasehold management scheme which will offer a 4.1% yield. Most of the first phase of the development has already been sold. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Back in the French Alps, there’s a total of eighty chalet-apartments now available for sale. Each one has its own entrance directly onto the slopes, with a private terrace, log fire, private ski locker, and wi-fi. </div><div><br />
</div><div>But will the all-inclusive model work for buying the way it does with holidays? </div><div> </div><div>Club Med obviously seems to think so. “We believe this will have tremendous appeal to the UK market, as the all-inclusive approach means that the only major expenditure Club Med Villas & Chalets owners will have will be travelling costs,” says the company’s Sylvie Ernoult. </div><div><br />
</div><div>There’s also a level of flexibility to the offer, which is likely to appeal more broadly. </div><div> </div><div>“Purchasers can choose between two attractive investment options; either outright freehold ownership, or a leaseback system with unlimited free use of the Club Med resort’s outstanding facilities and services, but which also enables owners and their families to exchange vacation weeks to stay at other luxury Club Med resorts around the world, whilst still earning a good rental income,” says Ernoult. </div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-69671051770152070212011-12-16T10:03:00.000-08:002011-12-16T10:03:14.508-08:00Where do footballers live in London?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A salubrious corner of London has emerged as a honey pot for some of the world's top footballers, but it’s not just about the homes and open space. As Mary Wilson discovered, it’s all about an easy commute to “work”<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtxDskaq2kToLc0MeCw1U9_R1aftyLlulMOiCPIFfmTnQtfezbgQZniiOPnWB1oNsMXXWp0f-wCNhzZa85CI3ZDanpJccoam3b1Wr12DqTswDbbnx0EeeQRw5IlZZbASg4EEYTY2uV_E/s1600/thierryhenry_lead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtxDskaq2kToLc0MeCw1U9_R1aftyLlulMOiCPIFfmTnQtfezbgQZniiOPnWB1oNsMXXWp0f-wCNhzZa85CI3ZDanpJccoam3b1Wr12DqTswDbbnx0EeeQRw5IlZZbASg4EEYTY2uV_E/s1600/thierryhenry_lead.jpg" /></a></div>If you walk down West Heath Road past the homes in Hampstead , London, NW3, you could very well bump into a Premier League footballer. The surrounding network of streets has become a honeypot for top footballers - most of which play, or have played, for one of London’s top teams, Arsenal. <br />
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</div><div>The reason the big boys like it here, apart from the rather nice houses, apartments and highly salubrious neighbourhood, is the fact that it lies half way between the Emirates Stadium in Holloway Road, N7 and Arsenal’s training ground at London Colney, off the A41. <br />
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The majority of these star players may have now moved on from the Gunners, but they haven’t moved home – so the area, with its village feel, mix of period and new houses, and 1,000 acres of green open space (including Hampstead Heath), is obviously top of the league for them.</div><div><br />
</div><div>It all started when George Graham , a former Arsenal player and double winning manager of the Gunners from 1986 to 1995, first bought an apartment in NW3 's Oakhill Avenue, subsequently moving to a magnificent house in the exclusive cul-de-sac, Eden Close. </div><div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFHyHV_UjhP93HV5LWj9o0COrTprXWKhBa5DrikG8i-fYew_PRbrOyR6kPfBsMtnx9b3G6fn779jBjvcTXNo5S2GUaAdeCIShlFtE4q_2Lg-uYV8d5ax6K2rekW_k1wOhm2i8w_3V5ho/s1600/footballerswestheath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFHyHV_UjhP93HV5LWj9o0COrTprXWKhBa5DrikG8i-fYew_PRbrOyR6kPfBsMtnx9b3G6fn779jBjvcTXNo5S2GUaAdeCIShlFtE4q_2Lg-uYV8d5ax6K2rekW_k1wOhm2i8w_3V5ho/s400/footballerswestheath.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div> <div>Following Graham, Thierry Henry bought in Templewood Avenue, Patrick Vieira in Branch Hill and Freddie Ljungberg on The Bishop’s Avenue. More recently, Samir Nasri bought a home in Wellgarth Road and both Cesc Fabregas (now with Barcelona) and Robin Van Persie (Arsenal’s prize goal scorer) bought in West Heath Road, although neither Nasri (who plays for Man City) and Fabregas (Barcelona) are there that often. Even football agent, Darren Dein, is renting in a new development just off West Heath Road. </div><div><br />
</div><div>If you fancy rubbing shoulders with one of these superstars, then Aston Chase is selling a double fronted five bedroom neo Georgian detached house, close to where yet another footballer, William Gallas, lives in Elm Walk for £3.5 million. <br />
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And opposite the celebrity house that the 2010 XFactor contestants stayed in, Aston Chase is marketing an ultra contemporary 5,000 square ft family home with a football pitch sized garden, which has recently attracted the attention of Tottenham’s new signing, Emmanuel Adebayor. The six bedroom house in West Heath Road is for sale for £6.5 million .</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-57289612237951372732011-11-28T23:07:00.000-08:002011-11-28T23:07:28.796-08:00Chigwell Grange, High Road, Chigwell, Essex 6 bedroom house for sale<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bNXbgPE_k5gbgxG2B2orDvT6gtMfMKrPgtj3F8yhsrE2Q41RN39cog4XGV6gpo8H1SJPZhUde7K95Q7e7OQ9kWmJ43yo66HrcA9wNK5Yr8TEvuvPuGfggqL7ZcLICbxL0J0enLfW34U/s1600/3_000098bd8_55cb_209174-KRD110280-IMG-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bNXbgPE_k5gbgxG2B2orDvT6gtMfMKrPgtj3F8yhsrE2Q41RN39cog4XGV6gpo8H1SJPZhUde7K95Q7e7OQ9kWmJ43yo66HrcA9wNK5Yr8TEvuvPuGfggqL7ZcLICbxL0J0enLfW34U/s320/3_000098bd8_55cb_209174-KRD110280-IMG-02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div id="propertyIntroduction"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="cap">32 Prestigious Properties in Chigwell - Phase one now released.</span></b></div><div id="propertyIntroduction"> </div><div id="propertyDescription"> <span class="cap"></span></div>"On the edge of the picturesque village of Chigwell, this gated community will be an exclusive collection of just 32 luxurious homes, each with its own unique character, designed with both family living and entertaining in mind.<br />
Inside the houses, the sizeable family kitchen and living area is complemented by formal dining and reception rooms. Outside space is arranged into open-air rooms with separate lounge, eating and cooking areas in addition to the garden, making it easy to host intimate dinners or large gatherings. Upstairs the terraces open out from the bedrooms and hallways extending the feel of space and connecting the indoors with the outdoors.<br />
Chigwell Village has the traditional community feel associated with rural England, with its small shops, cafes and restaurants.<br />
The homes are set well apart with many overlooking a tree lined pocket path with tranquil walkways and an exquisite sculptured centrepiece. Other homes look towards the country park and natural rural landscape.<br />
The Three Forest Way National Trail passes close by connecting Hainault Forest Country Park to the east and Hatfield Forest and Epping Forest to the north.<br />
Please note internal photos are of the show house.<br />
Chigwell is less than 45 minutes (approx) to The City and West End by tube. The neighbourhood is close to two major roads giving access to Cambridge and the Home Counties.<br />
Stanstead Airport is 27.4 miles and London City Airport is 13.8 miles away.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4138015449221722911.post-26083587167146699252011-11-20T09:17:00.000-08:002011-11-20T09:17:50.807-08:00Gary Lineker wants a new London home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>His television show might be moving to the north-west, but Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker has his eye on a new house in the Capital</b><br />
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Football presenter Gary Lineker and wife Danielle are looking to set down roots in London again after several years enjoying the green surrounds of Surrey. <br />
However, the former Barcelona and Spurs striker has revealed that the couple will very likely keep their £2.6 million five-bedroom family home in Esher, not least because he regards it as “one of the best places on Earth”.<br />
“Both Danielle and I have a lot going on in London right now, so it makes more sense for us to be in the city," Lineker says. "I’m getting a little tired of the A3 at this stage, plus a lot of our friends are based in the capital now so it’d be great to be close to them.”<br />
The move may come as a surprise to some, who had seen the Linekers take Esher to their hearts.<br />
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s a stunning part of the world,” Lineker explains. “The countryside is so lush and there are so many picturesque towns and villages that have character and charm in abundance.<br />
“So it’s for those reasons that we’ll keep a base here in Esher, I think, as we couldn’t give it all up. <br />
Despite all this, London is calling. “You can’t beat the beauty of the Surrey countryside; there’s nothing like it. But given the choice, I’d say I prefer the buzz of city life, so we’ll be looking at our options over the next few months.”<br />
Lineker’s return to London will at least scotch a couple of other rumours floating around. The first suggested he may follow <em>Match Of The Day</em> north to MediaCity UK, the site of the BBC’s new HQ in Salford Quays, Greater Manchester; while another bit of gossip suggested the 50-year-old was set to quit the flagship football show altogether.<br />
“I’m definitely not quitting, nor am I venturing to Salford. I think I can handle a few hours on the motorway each week. And besides, I need to keep in touch with Surrey, because all of my favourite golf courses are here, and anything that affects my golf often turns out to be a deal breaker."<br />
<em>Gary Lineker is currently starring in Walkers crisps’ latest advert. For your chance to win a free bag, visit </em><a href="http://www.facebook.com/walkers"><em>www.facebook.com/walkers</em></a><br />
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