One of the most stressful things about the property market is the waiting while you try to make a sale. This can result in big problems, with rising costs and potential restrictions on your mobility. Before you decide to sell it is wise to take a look at the market and see how long it typically takes to complete a sale. This can give you an idea of the time you could be facing.

Property owners in Bexley don’t need to worry about long waits when they want to make a sale though. At the start of June Bexleyheath was identified by Rightmove as the area in London where properties typically sell the fastest. It topped a list of the top ten areas, beating off competition from areas across the capital. According to the data it takes an average of just three weeks for a property in the area to be sold.

The fast sales in Bexley occur because of the huge array of factors that attract people to the area. Firstly it offers really good value for money with the average house price sitting at £375,259 at the time the data was compiled. On top of this it is just a 35 minute commute to the centre of the capital. The well regarded schools in the area are a further attraction.

The news is good for sellers and investors alike. It means the latter can find properties and complete the purchase quickly so they can get started doing the necessary work to return them to the market. This is important because the longer the property remains without tenants the higher loss of potential income.

Bexley also offers a big advantage for investors with the council leasing opportunities. These allow landlords to lease their properties with ease, ensuring they will be made available to the people in the area who need them. This can offer big benefits including removing the stress of having to find tenants and providing guarantees on the income from the property.

At Finefair we have a good relationship with Bexley Borough Council. We are proud of this association and our ability to offer advice and support to landlords looking at leasing. Please contact us for information.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed the latest edition of its House Price Index for April 2016 earlier in June. The report uses the latest data to determine the monthly inflation in prices in the property sector. The report is a useful read, especially for people looking for investment properties. It gives them an insight into which areas to target.

The top five local authorities in terms of annual growth to April 2016 are all in London. The City scored the highest with price growth of 27.3%. It was followed by Slough, Waltham Forest, Thurrock, and Barking and Dagenham.

The most interesting thing about the latest statistics is that they show how impressive the growth is in some of the most affordable Boroughs in London. Thurrock stands out because the average house price was below £250,000 during the period. Barking and Dagenham was slightly ahead and Slough even more so, but both of these destinations also had prices below an average of £300,000.

The document shows that investors are increasing looking at areas where their money can go far and they can stand to make a good return if growth continues. It also reveals that people are continuing to invest in areas that will benefit from Crossrail when it is finished in 2018. Barking and Dagenham is one such destination and will enjoy better connectivity with the rest of London when the project is finished. It has also been the subject of extensive regeneration projects over recent years.

At Finefair we are committed to supporting investors looking for the perfect properties. We keep a close eye on the latest data so we can offer up to date advice on which areas offer good opportunities. Our clients appreciate the attention to detail we offer and our ability to take their criteria and help them to find a property that suits their needs.

If you would like to arrange a consultation please contact us. Our team are supportive and deliver personalised services for each client searching for investment properties. You can rely on us whether it is your first foray into investing or you already have a portfolio.

Camberwell was formerly one of the best hidden gems in London. The area has a bigger profile now thanks to interest from investors and development projects but it still offers a wide array of attractions to residents. The town is located in the Borough of Southwark to the south of the Thames. It is a short distance from both Kennington and Brixton.

For many people the idea of living in London and not being close to a Tube station would be a nightmare. Residents in Camberwell love the fact that they don’t have one though. This contributes to the quiet, peaceful environment across the town. There are still good transport links though, with Denmark Hill rail station and the Tube stop at Kennington.

The area has a long history of attracting artists and creative people. This can be traced back to John Ruskin, the leading art critic in the Victorian era. He spent his childhood in Herne Hill to the south of Camberwell but moved to Denmark Hill in the 1840s. Today the art crowd in the area is huge, with students attending the colleges, artists occupying studios across the area, and all manner of exhibitions of their work.

There has been a lot of investment in Camberwell over the last few years but the area still retains its charm and attractions. Artists and families alike love the quiet. The latter appreciate the beautiful tree lined streets too.

At Finefair we offer services for property owners all across Southwark. If you are looking to rent your property we can provide a number of options for you. One service we are very proud to offer is guaranteed rent. With this owners are assured they will receive a set rental fee every month without fail for a set duration. The service offers many advantages, including freeing the owner from having to search for tenants and worry about periods of where properties stand unoccupied.

With the demand levels for property in London remaining high, there is an equal level of pressure in place to make use of buildings which stand empty. On a superficial level the easiest solution to the housing problem seems to be to just somehow force owners of the buildings not occupied to allow them to be used. Whilst we would assume that most would understand the sentiment behind this view, we would place emphasis on understanding that the rights of a building owner must at all times be respected.

The approach we take is to work with property owners in a constructive way. We don’t view the increasing demand levels as a reason to try and somehow force them to let their buildings be used. For us it is far better to emphasise the benefits which they can get from letting their investment properties be rented out, in particular through the use of our comprehensive property services. By this we mean it is better to gain an understanding of why they are vacant, and work towards an amicable solution in respect of getting them into use.

One of the key problems property owners face is the cost of allowing their building to be used. This cost is measured in terms of money and resources such as time. It is not that owners want to leave their buildings vacant, in most cases it’s just that they cannot provide what is required to ensure their building is let in a way that protects their investment. Our management services combined with arrangements such as guaranteed rent and council leasing address this. With our services managing a property, owners are assured of their assets are being well maintained and earning a fixed, fair return.

At present the London Borough of Newham has been identified as having a substantial number of vacant properties within it. Research has indicated that over 1,000 buildings are presently empty. If you own a property in the area and are looking for the ideal way to earn a return on investment from it, our comprehensive services are designed to give it to you.

The price of floorspace in London is continuing to rise, adding to the value of properties in the residential and commercial sectors as well as land. In May 2016 it was reported that the average per square metre had reached an impressive £2,216 across the capital.

Halifax looked beyond this, researching the most areas valuable areas in the UK in terms of floorspace. Two areas, the Boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea alongside Westminster, exceeded £10,000 per square metre. In total the capital was home to 17 destinations with floorspace valued at over £5,000 per square metre. Five areas beyond London and the South of England joined the list of most expensive areas.

The list shows you the most valuable areas but it is wise to look beyond these figures on their own to determine where you want to invest your money. Alongside the value it is a good idea to look at the growth as some areas will have performed much better than others.

When you look at growth Merton becomes a very attractive prospect. The Borough offers some beautiful attractions for property seekers, including the fact that it is home to Wimbledon. On top of this the area joined the list of areas with floor space worth over £5,000 per square metre in 2016. It has enjoyed good growth and offers good prospects for further increases in value in the future.

An important thing to consider is that not all floorspace commands the same kind of value. Usable space is the most valuable, whereas corridors, landings and other spaces with limited uses command smaller prices. It is wise to look at the distribution to get a much closer view of the value of a property.

At Finefair we offer an array of services for investors, including estate management, guaranteed rent, and lettings. We are highly experienced and can support clients all across the capital. If you are looking to invest in Merton or another area where you want to look closely at floorspace we can help you.

Investing in property can provide big rewards, especially if you find the right opportunities in an area where there is good demand for homes. Care needs to be taken though because some investments can prove to be a much more costly prospect than they first appear.

To protect your interests you should never purchase a property without having it surveyed to ensure there are no problems with the structure or other costly faults. The cost of the checks is well worth it when you consider how high the prospective bills can be for large scale repairs. You should ensure the surveys are done by qualified professionals who will offer you clear, honest advice.

If the property you are looking to invest in is in a block of flats or an apartment building you need to be extra careful. You could be required to pay an annual fee to contribute towards the communal areas in the building and other repairs. If you fail to take this into account and other costs you can incur for repairs you could see your prospective profit dwindle.

At Finefair we work with a large number of investors with properties dotted all across the capital. We strive to offer them the very best level of support we can, whether they choose us for a full property management service, to find new properties to add to their portfolio, or advice about the market. We can tailor services to suit all kinds of requirements and ensure we give our clients the best support.

As part of our service we can help you to make sure the property you buy will provide the profits you expect. We can conduct a valuation before you buy, offer advice about potential rental incomes, provide recommendations for improvements, and will advise you about the costs you could be looking at. We can help investors throughout Lambeth and across the whole of the capital.

Our position as a leading name in the London property market means that we know something that normally doesn’t get a mention in news reports. This is that there’s no one single market in the capital as such, but rather just over 30 different ones. It really is the case that each and every one of the Boroughs experiences unique levels of demand for property, and as a consequence the dynamics of the market change from area to area.

The closest the news reports get to mentioning this is usually when they run an article on how radically different property prices are on opposite sides of the street. This is a phenomenon which really does happen, and we can assure you that when it does it’s purely because the two sides of the street in question are within two different London Boroughs. Whilst cases like this are fairly isolated, they do happen and it’s a good way to illustrate just how important it is to understand the property markets rather than expecting a single one.

To get a better understanding of the above, let’s take a look at an example. In present day circumstances, the Borough of Kingston upon Thames is somewhat out of kilter with the general market conditions. Whilst most would say that the demand for property in London is on the increase, the opposite is true here. The conditions are unique and definitely worth note from prospective buyers.

Knowing the conditions in a particular area is vital in making informed decisions regarding property investments. Those who are presently looking at property investment options will know that the situation in Kingston upon Thames makes this a good time to purchase because there is less competition and deals can be found.

It is this form of understanding, knowledge and insight that we bring to our clients. If you have any questions please contact us; we will go over your needs and see where we can provide the best support.

Hillingdon is the westernmost Borough in London and has the honour of being the second largest. The area is surprisingly diverse, with beautiful natural wonders sitting alongside impressive man-made structures. Heathrow Airport is located here, as well as stunning countryside, rivers, canals and woodland.

The diversity of the Borough stretches to the amount of different leisure pursuits there are to choose from. You can get involved with a wide variety of sports (including many types of water sport on the canals and lakes), enjoy nature, browse local shops, visit the theatre, and learn about the history of the area.

As an added bonus Hillingdon is also very well connected with the rest of London because of Heathrow. Visitors from far and wide go through the doors of the UK’s largest airport and the transport infrastructure has developed to suit their needs. This gives people living in the area a number of great links with the rest of the capital. The close proximity to the airport also means the whole world is within touching distance too.

With so much to offer it is no wonder that properties in Hillingdon are so highly regarded, whether they are in the greener north of the Borough or closer to Heathrow in the south. Finding the right property can be a challenge with so much competition, whether you are looking to rent, buy a home, or are searching for investment properties. Fortunately we are on hand to help.

At Finefair we work very hard to help people find the right property for them. We provide a personal service and ensure every client knows they can come to us with any query or idea. We will always do our best to find the answers and offer the clearest information we can, whether it is regarding the best areas to live in, property prices, or amenities.

You can call us today to learn more about our extensive range of services and discover how we can help you in your property search.

Havering is the easternmost Borough in London. The area is highly suburban and is home to large open spaces that are protected from development. These are designed to help retain the country feel of the location. They are a big draw for families and people who want to live close to green spaces whilst still being able to access the centre of the capital with ease.

At Finefair we offer a wide range of services for property owners in Havering. We work closely with numerous investors, helping them to get the very best returns for their portfolio. Whether you have a single property or several spread across the Borough we can be on hand to help you with lettings, management and maintenance too.

Our estate management services stand out and can deliver fantastic value for our clients. By choosing the service landlords can enjoy the same high quality support with and handling of all of their properties in an area and enjoy savings in the process.

We have a lot of experience looking after numerous properties on estates for landlords. We know what challenges owners face, especially when it comes to maintaining shared areas and access. As part of our service we will keep an eye on these for you alongside caring for the individual homes themselves.

The effort we put into maintaining the properties and public spaces in them can help you to attract and retain tenants. We will be on hand to tackle any problems and ensure maintenance is carried out by experienced, professional providers.

Our services are flexible so landlords can decide where they would like help. We work with investors who want to be hands on as well as those who would rather put everything in to the hands of an experienced, locally based specialist. We can satisfy either option and deliver the right service.

If you own properties in Havering and would like our help please get in touch. Whether you have several on the same estate, homes spread across the Borough or just a single property you can rely on us.

Owning a London investment property and letting it to paying tenants can be extremely rewarding, but also extremely hard work, especially if you own multiple investment properties or you live in a different area to them. With paperwork, upkeep and maintenance, tenants’ needs and all the other day to day considerations, there is generally a lot of work to consider. Continue reading →