Thursday 12 January 2012

Latest Rental Market Statistics

Property Rental Market Update

2011 has proved a good year for the rental market. Firstly, lenders have started to realise buy to let investors are typically a ‘safe bet' when it comes to lending money and secondly, tenant demand is on the increase, meaning lower voids and rents have started to recover and in some cases overtake the heights achieved in September 2008. Much of the media's headlines about rent rises have however given an inaccurate picture as they compare year on year rents which ignore the fact that rents fell between 5% and 20% throughout 2009 due to excess rental stock from accidental landlords.

Current Rental Market Performance

Rental Market Outlook for 2012

Monday 9 January 2012

Implications of the FSA Mortgage Changes for the Housing Market

The UK Housing Market

The changes to the market are unlikely to have much impact in the short term as currently mortgage lending criteria is pretty much sticking to similar rules as the FSA intend to impose.

The main impact will really take place when the economy and the market is likely to start recovering. Normally during a recovery, lending criteria will be relaxed a little as house prices start to rise rather than fall and lenders feel more secure in approving mortgage loans.

FIND OUT HERE what the implications are for you!

Friday 6 January 2012

Mortgage Changes

To Get a Mortgage

The Financial Services Authority has just announced the latest round of suggestions to reform the mortgage market to try and make sure that the boom and bust in the housing market of 2000-2007 doesn't hit the UK economy again.

The first round didn't go well and suggested that there were going to be no self certification mortgages (where proof of income is not required). It also suggested an end to interest only mortgages. Not allowing lenders this flexibility would have very much put major restrictions on lenders to lend, meaning less buyers would have the finance to buy now and into the future.

READ HERE for the FSA's latest suggestions

Thursday 5 January 2012

Revised London Housing Strategy

Mayor Publishes Revised Housing Strategy for London

According to a recent press release by the Greater London Authority, the Mayor of London has recently published a draft revised London Housing Strategy for consultation with the public. The 12 week consultation period runs out on 6th March 2012.

Since the first strategy was published in the early part of 2010 a number of reviews have taken place, with a number of areas having been identified where change is needed. In August 2011, the Mayor's initial proposals for this new strategy were published for consultation with the London Assembly and GLA Group.

READ ON for full details of the Revised Strategy