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When will the right time to buy property be now?

onestopview — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:08:05 +0000

As I sit and watch the US vote against bailing out the Lehman bank with a 700 billion miracle funding, when will the right time occur again to buy property? With prices already falling at a steady pace near enough globally and figures such as that of UK with mortgage approvals down 95% from the previous month, just when will the time be right to venture once again into the real estate market?

Could we see 50% drops in value or more? With more and more property coming onto the market, could we see a free fall in house prices? A free fall in first time buyers and mortgage approvals? How desperate will people be to sell property? I foresee bargains to be had by early 2009 with prices to continue to fall just to 2010 and levelling out until 2012/2014.

The value of money now increases as assetts start to plumett, average house prices falling, oil price falling, stocks falling and suddenly your £/$ suddenly becomes worth more and more…. just how long before it becomes a safe time to buy, as what you buy now could easily be purchasable a year later for 50% less.

Sky News Headline – House Prices In Double-Digit Drop

onestopview — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:36:30 +0000

Following breaking news from mortgage lender Nationwide we had Breaking Headlines from Sky News. A 1.9% drop in house values in august to bring the total yearly drop to 10.5%, bad news for home owners and especially estate agents who were also included in the report to be closing at a fast and uncontrolable rate.

Is it the time to buy now? Should we sit on our hands and wait? Should you sell you property now to avoid the crash? Will it get worse….. it is widely predicted that it will.

Property Prices still falling.

onestopview — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:58:08 +0000

Recession now spoken about with more frequency, house prices falling, repossessions figures up, sterling down, inflation up, unemployment rising….. where is it all leading? Will the government come up with yet again another false scheme to keep it all afloat (Or on cloud nine!) or will it all fall? Are you a home owner unconcerned about all the hype, are you an invester desperately trying to seel your stock or have you been sitting and patiently waiting whilst all this occurs and you are now rubbing your hands?

What ever happens we are due for a few years of zero to negative growth, don’t you think?

Estate Agents and Selling your Property

onestopview — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:10:43 +0000

Finding a good estate agent to market your house can make all the differnce in how quicly you sell. A good question to ask is where they will advertise your property, online, newspapers etc. Also with comissions varying greatly between agents find out what you are getting extra for the higher comission you will have to pay. Independent estate agents can be a good option as they work for themselves they want the sale and the money it brings. Going with a well known chain of estate agents doesn’t always mean because you’ve got the well known name you will get a good service. Remember that some employers will be on a salary regardless of how many properties they sell and are only interested in reaching targets. So you could well end up showing your property round many times to people not really wanting your sort of property or not even in a position to buy. So it’s well worth weighing up does your estate agent really want to sell your property or is the company more interested in reaching certain targets.

British Heritage

onestopview — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:05:45 +0000

Many people ask where is our British Heritage going? The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, highlights this issue but has a real struggle on its hands.
There are many old historic buildings that have been neglected and left to run dwn. Sadly it is not the cost of restoring these buildings to their former glory that is the problem. It is the fact that to restore an historic building you have to pay 171/2% VAT which makes it prohibitive. On the other hand if you want to knock down these historic buildings and demolish them to build a brand new home you don’t have to pay any VAT. The National Trust does a good job in preserving many old buildings of importance, however more needs to be done. This problem is particularly bad in the North where there is not the wealth of the SouthEast. So where is the incentive to preserve our British Heritage?

Pets and Selling your Home

onestopview — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:04:36 +0000

Remember that just because your pet is a loved member of your family a dog that keeps jumping up at a prospective buyer or continually barks or yaps while they are being shown round your home can be extremely off putting. It could quite literally cost you the sale of your house as it can stop a buyer seriously considering your home even if everything else about your home ticks all the right boxes. A rabbit hutch in the garden or a hamster cage in a child’s bedroom will not bother anyone but a large or noisy dog, a noisy bird, rats or snakes could pose a problem. Wherever possible the animal should be taken out of the house when the house is to be viewed. If this is not possible your pet should be placed in a quiet corner out of the way. Keep all bedding of your pet clean and tidy and make sure the house is well aired and smells fresh.

Where’s the next Property Hotspot?

onestopview — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:02:39 +0000

With investors selling off their buy to let and investment properties and recent property hotspots like Bulgaria suffering from falling property prices. Do investors still feel safe investing their money in property or are they putting their money elsewhere? America, Australia, Spain and France have always been popular locations for buyers but these are all suffering in the present climate. So with 192 countries in the world where will people be buying, where is the next property hotspot going to be?

Flooring

onestopview — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:58:41 +0000

The choice of flooring for your home is huge. Different options come in and out of fashion. For example years ago it was the norm to have carpet in the bathroom, however now it is one of the worst things you can have in your house along with carpet in the kitchen. The key words for flooring in todays world is it must be hardwearing and easy to clean. Stone floors are a natural look however they are very cold. Wooden floors are very stylish but are best kept downstairs. Carpet still remains a favourite for bedrooms and stairs because it is warm, soft, quieter and absorbs dirt. Lino is not as malleable as vinyl and is also more expensive and tiles remain popular for bathrooms. Laminate flooring should only be used in lower priced property. Who knows what the next trend will be.

Self Builds

onestopview — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:57:40 +0000

Self build is becoming an ever more popular option. It is a fast expanding market. You can design your own home exactly as you want it. The hardest part is finding your piece of land. The price of land varies greatly in different countries.It is not always the easy answer. Self build can take over your whole life especially if you project manage it yourself and living in temporary accommodation is not always easy. Timber framed houses are also becoming more popular as they come in kit form. Oak framed structures are durable, practical and adaptable. They are easy to assemble, cheaper and quicker to erect, on average they are completed two months quicker than the traditional brick or block homes. Another popular option rather than starting totally from scratch is to find a barn to convert. The advantages are they generally come with a larger plot of land and have traditional features like stonework and beams. The disadvantage is that they will be much more expensive to turn into a home. Whichever option you choose though the end result will always be worth it in creating your dream home.

Ecobuilds

onestopview — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 11:56:18 +0000

Being a truly eco-friendly build will involve a lot more than just having low energy lightbulbs. The stipulations for the start will be 10inch thick loft insulation, high efficiency boilers and triple glazed windows with heat reflecting window coatings. Also solar panels and wind turbines to provide all heating and electric requirements. Timber framed homes are also more energy efficient and do not emit CO2 gas into the atmosphere. Some new builds are incorporating some of these products however although some grants are available the costs to install some of these things can take up to 15 years or more to reap the benefit financially, it therfore puts some people off opting for them. However from a selling point of view, anything ‘green’ and ecological is going to have a hugh benefit. As from a buyers point of view they will see the savings they can make straight away.