The government should look towards Britain’s empty high streets as a possible way of easing the country’s housing strain, according to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA).
It has called on Whitehall to consider transforming empty stores into homes for people who are struggling to get onto the property ladder. Read more…
It is imperative that the government ‘gets it right’ when it unveils the new National Planning Policy Framework, according to the Home Builders Federation (HBF).
Steve Turner, head of communications at the organisation, said that the regulations could be released in the next few weeks and it is important that these support other initiatives which are currently ongoing. Read more…
The criteria for mortgage lending could be eased depending on the performance of house prices during the first six months of this year, according to an expert.
Gary Styles, strategy, risk and economics director at Hometrack, said that the organisation is expecting the cost of property to fall by between two and three per cent during 2012. Read more…
Conservatories have the power to add more light and space to an existing property, according to an industry expert.
Graham Lock, director and co-founder of housenetwork.co.uk, said that adding some form of extension was the quickest way to make the home bigger. Read more…
The average property price of a new home has risen by 3.2 per cent during 2011.
This means that asking prices in December stood at £227,098, up by 1.2 per cent since November, while this figure was also 2.6 per cent higher over the whole of the last quarter. Read more…
Investors in student accommodation should not get blinkered by cities with multiple universities, but take a more local ‘need and demand’ approach.
Peter Mindenhall, researcher at IPINGlobal.com, said many investors jump into locations like London where there a multiple universities, or cities like Oxford and Cambridge, where there are well regarded institutions. Read more…
Demand for mortgage advice for first time buyers is on the up, reaching a 23-month high in January, according to unbiased.co.uk.
New figures from the site show 41 per cent of enquiries for mortgage advice last month were from first time buyers, compared to 36 per cent in December. Read more…
