Author Archives: admin

Higher taxes could be charged on vacant homes owned by investors

Last year a study by the London School of Economics and University of York was released, revealing the contribution overseas investors made to the housing supply. Perhaps more importantly though, the research looked into the number of properties investors purchased and left vacant. Although the data found this to only be a small percentage of homes in total, it is worse in high value areas including the City of Westminster. Continue reading

City of London commercial property trading was strong in July

July showed that property in the City of London is still very highly regarded as an investment opportunity. The month saw the strongest commercial property trading in over a decade according to Savills, totalling £2.35 billion. In March 2007 £2.1 billion of properties were sold, including the iconic 20 Fenchurch Street. This puts the current performance into perspective. Continue reading

Camden has enjoyed house price rises since April

Camden remains a popular area for property investment according to figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) in the middle of August. Between January and April prices decreased with some fearing this was evidence that the property market bubble was about to burst. Since April though, values have begun to rise again. In June the growth was an impressive 4%. Continue reading

Investing early can provide great returns

Investing in areas pre-gentrification can provide fantastic returns for investors. This move gives them the opportunity to buy at a lower price and benefit from the rise in demand when development comes and standards increase. Pinpointing which areas will attract investment can be tricky and investors may hold on to properties for a period of time before the anticipated development occurs. Patience can really pay off though. Continue reading

Finchley is one of the most highly rated areas in Barnet

Finchley is one of the most family friendly areas in the London Borough of Barnet. It has high performing schools, some really great open spaces, and a wide choice of homes that ranges from popular thirties semi-detached houses to modern flats. There are also some unique landmarks in the area including a bronze statue of Spike Milligan and La Delivrance, a 16ft bronze by Emile Guillaume that celebrates an Allied victory in the First World War. Continue reading

Areas to look at for first time flat buyers

Last month new research revealed that Barking and Dagenham has four of the top ten best Wards for first time buyers looking at flats. By using over 100 sets of data, including statistics for historical price growth, regeneration potential, school index, and crime rates, the study shows which areas are the most attractive. Continue reading

Wandsworth can offer the benefits of the countryside

Moving to the country is the dream of many people who live in Central London. Living in the countryside can provide many benefits, including more space, greener surroundings, and cleaner air. The two hour commute can be a big barrier though. Fortunately there are some areas closer to the centre of the city that can provide the benefits with a shorter travelling time. Wandsworth is right at the top of this list. Continue reading

The first 100% affordable plot in London

The London Mayor Sadiq Khan is expected to outlines plans in September that detail the greater role that City Hall will take in land decisions. The move could see more Brownfield land freed up for development as well as closer scrutiny on the number of affordable homes being created. Ultimately the aim is to ensure that 50% of properties on all new developments are affordable. Continue reading