A consumer financial service suggests it’s already too late for most buyers to meet the latest stamp duty holiday deadline of June...
Archive

From today buyers will be able to purchase properties worth up to £600,000 with just a five per cent mortgage, under...
19 April 2021
From: Breaking News

The latest Moneyfacts monitor of the mortgage market suggests a significant number of new 95 per cent products - even without the...
14 April 2021
From: Breaking News

The founder of Zoopla has returned to the property market with a new proposal to disrupt how agents buy and sell homes. Alex...
13 April 2021
From: Breaking News

You can’t blame agents for trying to get the highest possible price for their vendor’s property, but Purplebricks probably wins the...
26 March 2021
From: Breaking News

An industry group charged with trying to make house buying simpler and quicker says it’s made a breakthrough on ‘upfront’ information...
16 March 2021
From: Breaking News

Rightmove says the excess of demand over supply right now is bigger than at any time over the past decade -...
15 March 2021
From: Breaking News

With much attention on those at risk of repossession or running up rent arrears, it's emerged that many others have actually used...
15 March 2021
From: Breaking News

A broker has launched the UK’s longest-ever fixed rate mortgage, with no early repayment charge or exit fees - the first product...
11 March 2021
From: Breaking News

Mortgage availability has risen for the fifth consecutive month according to respected market monitor Moneyfacts. With 3,532 products on offer, this is...
10 March 2021
From: Breaking News
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Today’s Budget is the most eagerly-anticipated for many years, as it juggles to shore up the economy with the longer-term issue...
03 March 2021
From: Breaking News

A radical way to end the current stamp duty holiday has been suggested by three different legal bodies. The Society of Licensed...
01 March 2021
From: Breaking News

It’s been revealed that some far reaching changes to property taxes may not be unveiled at Wednesday’s Budget and may wait...
01 March 2021
From: Breaking News

A new mortgage guarantee scheme to help buyers with small deposits will be revealed on Wednesday at the Budget. Chancellor Rishi Sunak...
01 March 2021
From: Breaking News

In this tips article, the experts at GoodMove provide expert insight into the remortgage process. Remortgaging is the process of changing your...
24 February 2021
From: Legislation & Compliance

Chancellor Rishi Sunak will extend the stamp duty holiday deadline until the end of June - a three month extension. The lead...
24 February 2021
From: Breaking News

First time buyers with just a 10 per cent deposit - for long almost excluded from the mortgage market - now...
18 February 2021
From: Breaking News

Countrywide shareholders have overwhelmingly backed the offer by Connells to buy the company. At a special virtual AGM today 99.58 per cent...
15 February 2021
From: Breaking News

The government has given details of two new taxes to provide funds to address the cladding problem on high rise tower blocks...
11 February 2021
From: Breaking News

There’s now more choice in the mortgage market than at any time since last March, before the pandemic reached a peak. The...
10 February 2021
From: Breaking News

Labour and Conservative MPs have expressed a unanimous view on their desire to see an extension of the stamp duty holiday...
01 February 2021
From: Breaking News

At the back-end of last year and the start of this, the biggest news stories in town – besides debates over...
30 January 2021
From: Features

A leading mortgage broker is warning that over half the lenders in a key segment of the market are already unable...
29 January 2021
From: Breaking News

It’s been some time since online agencies have ventured into crowdfunding to raise investment, but easyProperty has now done so -...
28 January 2021
From: Breaking News

A PropTech company has won a grant for a project to improve ID verification in the buying and selling process, via...
19 January 2021
From: Breaking News

The Financial Conduct Authority is extending the ban on repossessions by two months until April 1, in light of the pandemic. The...
19 January 2021
From: Breaking News

The online petition calling for an extension to the stamp duty holiday is set to pass 100,000 signatures today. This means the...
15 January 2021
From: Breaking News

A national newspaper is today launching a campaign for the stamp duty holiday to be extended. The Daily Telegraph says its campaign...
13 January 2021
From: Breaking News

HSBC UK is re-introducing its 90 per cent Loan To Value mortgages from next week - a possible lifeline for first...
08 January 2021
From: Breaking News

There’s growing optimism that an extension to the stamp duty holiday - thought to be off the agenda just days ago...
07 January 2021
From: Breaking News

Countrywide’s former management seriously damaged the company’s share value and status by adopting a flawed business plan - and then executing...
06 January 2021
From: Breaking News

Connells has revealed that it’s to keep the existing Countrywide branch structure and staff headcount when the acquisition process is completed...
04 January 2021
From: Breaking News

In a dramatic New Year’s Eve statement on the London Stock Exchange, Countrywide has agreed the terms of a recommended offer...
31 December 2020
From: Breaking News

The Bank of England is to review the affordability tests imposed on borrowers, opening the door to a possible relaxation of...
22 December 2020
From: Breaking News

The proportion of sales that fell through at the worst point of this year was 52 per cent it’s been claimed. However...
22 December 2020
From: Breaking News

Pressure is building on the government to agree a tapered end to the stamp duty holiday, even if a full-blown extension now...
21 December 2020
From: Breaking News
Described on this site as a ‘powerful disruptor’ in March 2020, few would deny that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on...
16 December 2020
From: Sponsored Content

The saga over the future of Countrywide continues with the company urging its shareholders to take “no action” over the latest...
08 December 2020
From: Breaking News

Connells has this morning made a dramatic improvement in its bid to takeover Countrywide. It has increased its cash offer from 250p...
07 December 2020
From: Breaking News

‘Many are in complete denial about the time it takes and still think it’s eight to 10 weeks.’ I won’t tell you...
05 December 2020
From: Features

A leading conveyancing sector spokesmen says some mortgage lenders are making the current delays in the house buying process worse. Rob Hailstone,...
04 December 2020
From: Breaking News

An alarming story has appeared in the mortgage trade press, highlighting an apparent pitfall in the house buying process that has...
03 December 2020
From: Breaking News

It’s that time of year again. Black Friday has been and gone and the run-up to Christmas is well and truly...
02 December 2020
From: Features

Safety checks which are apparently now preventing thousands of owners selling flats are to be eased - but there is confusion...
23 November 2020
From: Breaking News

Asking prices are down for the first time in many months. It’s a small drop - an average of 0.5 per cent...
16 November 2020
From: Breaking News

Property is considered to be a safe investment. The buy-to-let market is booming, fuelled by a generation unable to get on...
13 November 2020
From: Sponsored Content

A law firm wants the government to agree that properties that have exchanged but not yet completed can definitely benefit from the...
13 November 2020
From: Breaking News

Countrywide shares soared yesterday, rising 47 per cent on the previous close at one point as investors relished the prospect of...
10 November 2020
From: Breaking News

Connells has issued a counter statement to this morning’s announcement by Countrywide that a possible takeover is underway. At 7am Countrywide revealed...
09 November 2020
From: Breaking News

A leading firm of conveyancers will this week tell new clients that their property purchases are likely to miss the stamp...
09 November 2020
From: Breaking News

Figures just released from HM Revenue & Customs show just how much stamp duty buyers pay, at least before the current holiday...
02 November 2020
From: Breaking News

A leading market analyst says the widespread belief that we are ‘safe’ in our homes may indirectly lead to the recent...
02 November 2020
From: Breaking News

Recent figures emanating from the mortgage and housing market suggest that – since lockdown was ended in mid-May – transaction levels...
31 October 2020
From: Features

One of Britain’s most respected agents is suggesting Chancellor Rishi Sunak could ‘taper’ the stamp duty holiday to avoid a cliff-edge...
28 October 2020
From: Breaking News

A new survey reveals the uphill struggle first time buyers appear to be having in securing a mortgage. A study of 1,000...
27 October 2020
From: Breaking News

The outgoing chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents is warning that the sales system continues to struggle with...
26 October 2020
From: Breaking News

The troubled Countrywide group has announced a £90m investment by Alchemy Partners, a private equity company that specialises in investing in...
22 October 2020
From: Breaking News

Savills says the shape and size of the housing market in the coming months will be determined by the capacity of conveyancers...
22 October 2020
From: Breaking News

A mortgage service claims 46 per cent of buyers have had their prospective property down-valued by lenders - often forcing them...
19 October 2020
From: Breaking News

Conveyancers are sending a blunt message to estate agents: transactions will take longer than usual and don’t chase us with queries and...
19 October 2020
From: Breaking News

2020 has definitely been a year of change. With little warning, the pandemic disrupted the day-to-day operations of almost every industry...
17 October 2020
From: Features

A Bank of England survey suggests it may be more difficult for prospective buyers to get a mortgage later this year. In...
16 October 2020
From: Breaking News

A new paper from a think tank warns that many low income owner occupiers risk losing their homes when the mortgage...
07 October 2020
From: Breaking News

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he wants to create a ‘Generation Buy’ to help young people purchase homes with low-deposit mortgages. In...
05 October 2020
From: Breaking News

A new online platform claims to be the first of its kind to speed up the private treaty sales process for...
01 October 2020
From: Breaking News

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, better known as the furlough scheme, was introduced by the chancellor Rishi Sunak in March to...
26 September 2020
From: Features

Logjams in the mortgage, conveyancing and removal stages of house moving mean sales are taking much longer than usual, according to...
21 September 2020
From: Breaking News

A new league table drawn up by a property advice website may be the most authoritative yet for first time buyers...
21 September 2020
From: Breaking News

If you’re in any way connected to estate agency all it takes is a quick glance at Facebook or LinkedIn to...
12 September 2020
From: Features

A specialist property lender says transactions are being delayed by key staff being furloughed. Gareth Lewis, commercial director of property lender MT...
02 September 2020
From: Breaking News

Recent speculation that the so-called Bank of Mum and Dad would be playing a reduced role in the housing market has...
02 September 2020
From: Breaking News

It’s fair to say that UK estate agents don’t have the best of reputations, often featuring in the lists of the...
29 August 2020
From: Features

With access to finance being such a hot topic at the moment, more and more estate agents are turning to commercial...
29 August 2020
From: Features

One of Countrywide’s biggest shareholders has written a second letter to the company to demand bold action to save the agency...
19 August 2020
From: Breaking News

One of the country’s highest-profile mortgage lenders, HSBC, is restricting loans on apartments from today. Only buyers of flats who have a...
17 August 2020
From: Breaking News

Earlier this month, it was revealed that property industry bodies have joined a new Code of Practice Steering Group to enact...
25 July 2020
From: Features

The mortgage arm of a regional property portal has launched pre-approval software which it claims will significantly speed up the initial...
21 July 2020
From: Breaking News

Emma Vigus, managing director of sales progression platform mio, in discussion with key suppliers in the residential property industry on operating...
18 July 2020
From: Features

Britain’s second largest lender is to offer 90 per cent loan to value mortgages once again from next Monday - a...
14 July 2020
From: Breaking News

An estate agency is warning that the likely rush of transactions when the new stamp duty holiday ends next spring will...
09 July 2020
From: Breaking News

An industry analyst is challenging the long-established agents’ view that reducing or temporarily scrapping stamp duty would help the market. On the...
08 July 2020
From: Breaking News

The property market has been reopen for almost eight weeks now and during that time demand from prospective buyers has soared. Rightmove...
06 July 2020
From: Breaking News

We recently issued our Zoopla House Price Index, which analyses the latest real-time trends from the sales market. In our analysis, we...
04 July 2020
From: Features

A survey of 2,000 prospective movers by Zoopla shows the vast majority still intent on buying - but younger purchasers’ plans...
03 July 2020
From: Breaking News

A new estate agency Code of Practice is to be written by a group set up by the Royal Institution of Chartered...
01 July 2020
From: Breaking News

Buyer demand for new-build property has bounced back 66 per cent in the six weeks since the resumption of the housing...
01 July 2020
From: Breaking News

Collaboration creates a bigger market Iain White, of the Innovation Collaboration Group “the Estate Agency industry must recognise that collaboration will...
30 June 2020
From: Sponsored Content

Buyer registrations and sales enquiries are reportedly back to pre-Covid levels. Completions, however, are lagging behind. This is probably down to...
27 June 2020
From: Features

Zoopla predicts that the price strength that has been seen since the reopening of the housing market is likely to continue...
24 June 2020
From: Breaking News

One in six home owners with a mortgage across the UK are now on some form of payment holiday with lenders...
22 June 2020
From: Breaking News

“Let’s Zoom later”, “are we Zooming in the morning or afternoon?” “Yeah, I zoomed the client earlier” – variations on these...
20 June 2020
From: Features

An estate agency with a reputation for PropTech innovation says it now live-streams all instructions in a bid to operate more...
16 June 2020
From: Breaking News

The only story that has come remotely close to pushing coronavirus – and its various knock-on effects – off the top...
06 June 2020
From: Features

Restrictions introduced a decade ago after the financial crisis are holding back many first time buyers from purchasing a home. That’s the...
01 June 2020
From: Breaking News

The outlook for the housing market is still taking shape, but here I take a look at three market indicators to...
30 May 2020
From: Features

Over the last few years, there have been a number of high-profile court cases in which renters took action against letting...
30 May 2020
From: Features

The Financial Conduct Authority has published new draft guidance for lenders which will set out options available to their customers in the extended...
26 May 2020
From: Breaking News

All my recent Natters have been focused on one particular topic, the coronavirus crisis, for obvious reasons. But there has been...
23 May 2020
From: Features

There’s been a cautious welcome for the extension to the current mortgage holiday scheme, due to run out for ‘early adopters’...
22 May 2020
From: Breaking News

The Bank of Ireland UK is the latest mortgage lender to resume physical valuations of properties in England, subject of course...
21 May 2020
From: Breaking News

The Financial Conduct Authority is reported to be considering offering homeowners up to 12 month’s mortgage holidays. Currently 1.2m mortgage payment holidays...
12 May 2020
From: Breaking News

Three of the highest profile industry suppliers and house moving services have given government a four-step plan to restart the housing...
05 May 2020
From: Breaking News

Housing minister Chris Pincher is drawing up guidelines which could allow agents to return to something like normal working in the near...
03 May 2020
From: Breaking News

Rightmove and Knight Frank are today both calling for a series of government incentives to kick-start the market after the Coronavirus...
20 April 2020
From: Breaking News

If it’s really the case that estate agents’ offices could be in the category of High Street premises first allowed to...
18 April 2020
From: Features

Only half of the branches signed up to Zoopla have taken advantage of one or other of the discount offers made...
15 April 2020
From: Breaking News

Over 1.2m mortgage payment holidays have been offered by lenders to customers impacted by the Coronavirus crisis - that’s equivalent to...
15 April 2020
From: Breaking News

A leading estate agency says it has observed that some banks previously opposed to accepting remote and desktop valuations have started...
09 April 2020
From: Breaking News

I won't be the first or last person to say that society and the property industry in which we operate is...
06 April 2020
From: Breaking News

Based on our historical data over twenty years of nationwide operation and a survey conducted in partnership with YouGov, we estimate...
04 April 2020
From: Features

Two financial trade bodies say most mortgage providers will give customers who have exchanged contracts the option to extend their mortgage...
30 March 2020
From: Breaking News

It’s been reported that the government is talking with banks and building societies about putting the housing market ‘on ice’ during the...
27 March 2020
From: Breaking News

The government has at last issued extensive advice on home moving and the activities of estate agents during the continuing Coronavirus crisis. This...
27 March 2020
From: Breaking News

New research of the buying habits of first-time buyers in the UK we’ve undertaken here at reallymoving.com shows that Shared Ownership...
25 March 2020
From: Features

The Financial Conduct Authority has released new guidance which clears up some of the uncertainties surrounding the mortgage holidays announced last...
25 March 2020
From: Breaking News

Hello and welcome to today’s Conquering Corona, a service we’re running to share official guidance and agents’ advice in a bid...
17 March 2020
From: Breaking News

The three leading portals have rejected an appeal to give the industry a payment holiday to help firms through the Coronavirus...
13 March 2020
From: Breaking News

There has been broad support and relief amongst property industry players following announcements from several lenders that they would grant mortgage...
11 March 2020
From: Breaking News

The head of a firm that has been creating digital property log books for well over a decade says the house-moving...
06 March 2020
From: Breaking News

Mortgage lenders approved the highest number of loans for house purchase in nearly four years in January, according to Bank of...
03 March 2020
From: Breaking News

In the last few Natters I’ve focused on the slow death of local newspaper advertising, and how many agents are now...
29 February 2020
From: Features

Predictions that landlords are not buying properties to let out because of tougher rental taxes and regulations appear to be short...
19 February 2020
From: Breaking News

The Financial Conduct Authority has issued a shock warning that mortgage borrowers who purchased properties through the Help To Buy scheme...
19 February 2020
From: Breaking News

The Law Society is telling prospective house purchasers to probe flood risks in the light of a new practice note it...
07 February 2020
From: Breaking News

The Law Society has announced that there will be a new TA6 Property Information Form launching next week, on Friday February...
31 January 2020
From: Breaking News

Rightmove and Zoopla have been working with key figures from government and the agency and conveyancing industries on how to reform...
29 January 2020
From: Breaking News

Logbooks about properties must be made available up-front at the point of marketing and not later in the buying process if...
28 January 2020
From: Breaking News

The increasing demand for information on Japanese Knotweed during the house buying process is emphasising the need for householders to pay...
23 January 2020
From: Breaking News

In its latest State of the Property Nation report, which questions over 650 agents and 6,000 consumers, Zoopla says 55 per...
20 January 2020
From: Breaking News

A new analysis from a financial services trade body shows that gross mortgage lending is expected to rise significantly in the...
17 January 2020
From: Breaking News

It’s one of the most crucial aspects of the homebuying and selling process but is too often bogged down by frustrating...
21 December 2019
From: Features

As part of its commitment to promoting and enforcing high standards, RICS has launched its Home Survey Standard, which will become...
14 December 2019
From: Features

It’s been revealed that Countrywide is involved in a pilot exercise to help the creation of a so-called ‘affordability hub’ for...
10 December 2019
From: Breaking News

Countrywide has this morning revealed that its special general meeting of shareholders to agree the sale of its commercial arm will...
03 December 2019
From: Breaking News

Cash-strapped Countrywide has this morning announced that it is selling its commercial business, Lambert Smith Hampton, for £38m. In a surprise statement...
29 November 2019
From: Breaking News

Pressure is building on the Conservative party to honour its previous commitment to reform stamp duty for British buyers and sellers...
22 November 2019
From: Breaking News

love2move, an online network which allows high street agents to offer a white-labelled hybrid service, has teamed up with the Mortgage...
14 November 2019
From: Breaking News

The National Association of Estate Agents and the Association of Residential Letting Agents have issued their manifesto for next month’s General...
05 November 2019
From: Breaking News

First details have emerged of the information vendors may have to provide up-front In future transactions if government house buying reforms...
21 October 2019
From: Breaking News

England rugby fans will have been disappointed to find out that Saturday's planned World Cup group stage clash with France in...
11 October 2019
From: Breaking News

Case study: Connells reaping the time-saving benefits of new sales and communication tool Since adopting mio in September 2018, Josh Lally, Senior...
07 October 2019
From: Sponsored Content

We know that the tenant fee ban has cost letting agents dearly, with an estimated loss of £300 million paid to...
02 October 2019
From: Features

The reform of the buying process is to take centre stage at a special conference called Bold Legal LIVE! taking place...
30 September 2019
From: Breaking News

Although property transactions have, unsurprisingly, recently seen a decline which is almost certainly in part due to the ‘B-word’, this doesn’t...
28 September 2019
From: Features

As an agent, it’s part of your role to protect and advise your clients throughout the buying and selling process. Mortgages are...
26 September 2019
From: Sponsored Content

Property management service Move with Us has announced a new partnership with chain management service View My Chain. Move with Us, founded...
19 September 2019
From: Breaking News

There's good news for the market in at least one sector - mortgages offered to first time buyers. Latest figures from the...
18 September 2019
From: Breaking News

The Bank of Mum and Dad is now officially one of the 10 biggest mortgage lenders according to data from Legal...
28 August 2019
From: Breaking News

A media report suggests a mystery ‘predator’ is attempting to acquire Countrywide. The Daily Mail this morning, quoting unnamed “City sources,” says a...
19 August 2019
From: Breaking News

The number of owners' properties being repossessed jumped 15 per cent year on year in the second quarter of 2019. There were...
12 August 2019
From: Breaking News

Countrywide has told Estate Agent Today that it will not be releasing any figures on the branch closure programme it introduced...
01 August 2019
From: Breaking News

In a trading statement this morning, Countrywide says it has “a new covenant package with lenders provides the financial flexibility to...
31 July 2019
From: Breaking News

Data from UK Finance, which represents most of the country’s lenders, shows that gross mortgage lending across the residential market in...
25 July 2019
From: Breaking News

Homes in central parts of London sold for a typical 11.5 per cent below asking price in the first three months...
21 June 2019
From: Breaking News

A conveyancing body is calling on mortgage lenders to standardise their policies in respect of unexpired lease terms in order to...
12 June 2019
From: Breaking News

The Competition and Markets Authority has formally launched an investigation into the sale of leasehold properties - including possible mis-selling. This follows...
11 June 2019
From: Breaking News

While media attention has been on Theresa May, Brexit and the Tories, chatter in the agency industry has been about what...
25 May 2019
From: Features

Reforms to the house buying process in England and Wales to bring it more into line with Scotland could slash the...
16 May 2019
From: Breaking News

Two PropTech suppliers have this week announced new partnerships and products with the aim of helping estate agents. Firstly, sales progression and...
09 May 2019
From: Breaking News

As many as one transaction in three is now undertaken by a so-called Last Time Buyer - twice as many as...
09 April 2019
From: Breaking News

The leasehold scandal has received plenty of press coverage, with horror stories of people living in homes that are impossible to...
06 April 2019
From: Features

New figures from the Equity Release Council suggest more growth in this sector, alarming those agents who see this as a...
03 April 2019
From: Breaking News

More than 800 property transactions fall through daily, which can have repercussions both practically and financially, as agents fail to get...
30 March 2019
From: Features

Mortgage prisoners - borrowers unable to switch lenders despite being up-to-date with payments - may have an escape route in sight...
27 March 2019
From: Breaking News

The leasehold system has created many unsellable and unmortgageable homes and should change, MPs say. The all-party Housing, Communities and Local Government...
19 March 2019
From: Breaking News

Two 'challenger portals' have revealed major new services this morning as they fight to take on Rightmove and Zoopla. OneDome, the new...
15 March 2019
From: Breaking News

Figures released this morning show a surge in first time buyers securing mortgages in recent months, despite the market showing continued signs...
12 March 2019
From: Breaking News

Maverick Cornish estate agent Chris Wood has quit the industry with a stinging attack on those who have “taken their toll”...
11 March 2019
From: Breaking News

More details are emerging of the first-ever ESTAS conference for conveyancers - the Bold Legal Conference - taking place on the...
26 February 2019
From: Breaking News

The latest Rightmove price index suggests that homes are at their most affordable level for some years thanks to wage growth...
18 February 2019
From: Breaking News

Mortgage lenders are relaxing age limits so that house buyers can still be paying off their home loan well into their...
12 February 2019
From: Breaking News

The monthly index of house price changes in Britain’s major cities, for many years operated under the Hometrack banner, has been...
30 January 2019
From: Breaking News

A review of the housing market at present, particularly when it comes to purchase transactions, might not necessarily feel overly positive. The...
26 January 2019
From: Features

One of Britain’s foremost property consultancies has given a relatively upbeat prediction for the UK housing market over the next five...
15 January 2019
From: Breaking News

There’s been a warm welcome from the property and consumer sectors for a suggestion that the Financial Conduct Authority may be...
14 January 2019
From: Breaking News

A slew of property experts and commentators have put the blame on Brexit for a surprise drop in house price growth...
07 January 2019
From: Breaking News

As 2018 draws to a close, it is fair to say that stretched affordability and uncertainty over the Brexit negotiations has...
29 December 2018
From: Features

Zoopla claims a new Property Valuation Report being trialled in nine areas will win more leads for agents. The PVR will use...
10 December 2018
From: Breaking News

The chief executive of online agency HouseSimple says “sellers need to be prepared and willing to lower their expectations” in the current...
07 December 2018
From: Breaking News

The global chief executive of Purplebricks, Michael Bruce, has warned mortgage lenders against offering so-called ‘super-sized’ home loans to borrowers. Bruce is...
28 November 2018
From: Breaking News

To say legendary ZPG founder and CEO Alex Chesterman left big boots to fill when he stepped back from day-to-day operations...
24 November 2018
From: Features

A no-deal Brexit The biggest impact of a no-deal Brexit in relation to housing is a potential fall in house prices -...
24 November 2018
From: Features

Shock figures out this morning show that a staggering £15.4 billion of annual interest is being paid by mortgage borrowers sitting...
22 November 2018
From: Breaking News

Hard-pressed buyers who try to minimise house moving costs by doing their own conveyancing have been warned of the disastrous consequences...
15 November 2018
From: Breaking News

A house in Mayfair that was sold for £19.175m in 2014 and put on the market this year at £25m has...
08 November 2018
From: Breaking News

Figures from the mortgage lenders’ umbrella group, UK Finance, suggest the government desire to see more first time buyers and fewer...
17 October 2018
From: Breaking News

Is Help To Buy going to remain in existence for much longer? Question marks over the scheme’s future are being raised through...
16 October 2018
From: Breaking News

Even the cheapest local homes are out of reach for at least 40 per cent of young adults according to a...
09 October 2018
From: Breaking News

An insurance company is launching a policy which it says will protect consumers with comprehensive cover in the event of a...
04 October 2018
From: Breaking News

A call has gone out for conveyancers to have all monies - including mortgage funds - in place the day before...
01 October 2018
From: Breaking News

A warning to people selling their homes to beware of internet-based scams offering cut-price surveys has been sounded by a leading...
30 August 2018
From: Breaking News

Out and about recently, I got to thinking: how often do I actually have the call for cash anymore? Or, for...
25 August 2018
From: Features

Rightmove says the housing market is now into a ‘summer sale’ as newly-marketed property shows an average asking price fall of...
20 August 2018
From: Breaking News

Rumours abound over the future of Countrywide, which lost further share value on Friday, closing very slightly down on the day...
13 August 2018
From: Breaking News

When you are starting up a new business, it is unlikely that you will already have enough capital to invest. Taking...
10 August 2018
From: Sponsored Content

Outspoken property commentator and buying agent Henry Pryor has made a scathing attack on some of the main house price indices. In...
06 August 2018
From: Breaking News

Most estate agents have tried to dismiss the impact of the Bank of England’s base rate rise, which came following a...
03 August 2018
From: Breaking News

The Financial Times this morning says that Countrywide suffered a failed bond issue earlier this year, forcing it to rely on...
01 August 2018
From: Breaking News

The mortgage industry may be throwing agents and the housing market something of a lifeline - it’s been revealed that 40...
25 July 2018
From: Breaking News

The debate over alleged ‘down-valuing’ by mortgage lenders has flared again with one leading agent claiming that surveyors are just “covering...
24 July 2018
From: Breaking News

It’s being reported this morning that Countrywide will seek new investment of over £100m, probably in the next few days. The Sunday...
22 July 2018
From: Breaking News

You will notice that there is a new author for this regular column for Estate Agent Today. Last month I was...
21 July 2018
From: Features

One of the country’s leading experts on the housing market says first time buyers are still hampered from purchasing homes despite...
01 June 2018
From: Breaking News

Estate Agent Today understands several major national agencies and some smaller operators are involved in a project to understand why transaction...
09 May 2018
From: Breaking News

As the world becomes ever more digital and people increasingly look to technology to provide convenient solutions to sometimes complex problems,...
08 May 2018
From: Sponsored Content

Who are you and what does it say on your business card? Ben Robinson, Director of Agency Services at Landmark What is Landmark...
03 May 2018
From: 60 Second Interview

Fewer mortgages were approved for home buyers last month than in the same month a year ago according to figures from...
27 April 2018
From: Breaking News

A new survey suggests that despite many lenders increasing their rates, most mainstream mortgages are down compared to the start of...
25 April 2018
From: Breaking News

Property purchases for buyers requiring mortgages reached 50,000 in February, the highest level for the month since 2007. The data, from mortgage...
18 April 2018
From: Breaking News

The Conveyancing Association has backed the government’s calls for extensive reform of the buying and selling process, announced at the weekend. The...
12 April 2018
From: Breaking News

Countrywide is not quite finished with online experimentation yet, for today sees the launch of an online mortgage service, backed by...
03 April 2018
From: Breaking News

Gross mortgage lending is set to reach its highest level since 2007 despite Brexit, says the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association. But its...
29 March 2018
From: Breaking News

A magazine claims its investigations into the sales tactics of Countrywide and Connells suggest the two agency are “harming consumers, stopping them from...
21 March 2018
From: Breaking News

Investment consultancy London Central Portfolio has launched a new index which it claims uses “the most comprehensive data available” to assess...
07 March 2018
From: Breaking News

When it comes to property, ‘Japanese knotweed’ are the two words most homeowners and prospective buyers do not want to hear. With...
03 March 2018
From: Features

Representatives from estate and lettings agencies as well as professional organisations have formed The Home Buying And Selling Group with a...
26 February 2018
From: Breaking News

Over the last few weeks, mortgage lenders have started to adjust their pricing in anticipation of a further interest rate rise...
21 February 2018
From: Breaking News

Countrywide has made a brief announcement to shareholders about amending its credit facility with lenders to help it turn the business...
05 February 2018
From: Breaking News

ZPG says it anticipates a strong 2018 according to a trading statement ahead of the company’s annual general meeting today. The firm...
30 January 2018
From: Breaking News

While there is a distinct market for flats held on particularly short leases, there is a middle ground where flat owners...
13 January 2018
From: Features

New analysis by the Nationwide has revealed just how big an obstacle a 20 per cent deposit can be for buyers...
08 January 2018
From: Breaking News

The Society of Licensed Conveyancers says it is worried that HM Land Registry’s decision to publish details of apparent errors in...
03 January 2018
From: Breaking News

Bitcoin has smashed into the headlines again recently with major news outlets describing the ever increasing worth of this wildly volatile...
13 December 2017
From: Breaking News

A housing market expert says agents should be more pro-active and explain to the public that contrary to popular belief, some...
20 November 2017
From: Breaking News

The Bank of England has raised the base rate from 0.25 per cent to 0.5 per cent. The Bank’s monetary policy committee was...
02 November 2017
From: Breaking News

Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has launched a consultation on proposals to reform the house buying...
28 October 2017
From: Features

The government should take a close look at gazundering as well as gazumping in its review of the house sales process,...
27 October 2017
From: Breaking News

Conveyancers and the speed of local council searches have come in for criticism as details have emerged of the government’s consultation...
23 October 2017
From: Breaking News

There has been a wide range of views from trade bodies and individual agents on the government’s surprise ‘call for evidence’...
23 October 2017
From: Breaking News

The government has launched a consultation this weekend calling for evidence on how to make the home buying process “cheaper, faster...
22 October 2017
From: Breaking News

Analysts believe a rise in the Bank of England base rate is on the cards next month as a result of the...
18 October 2017
From: Breaking News

Last week was MIPIM PropTech Summit 2017 in New York, and it was the most oversubscribed to date - proof of the...
18 October 2017
From: Breaking News

Mortgage lending reached £24.2 billion in August according to latest estimates by UK Finance. There were some 41,807 house purchase approvals, with...
27 September 2017
From: Breaking News

It appears activity in the housing market in 2017 will be around 15% down on 2016. The number of housing transactions...
16 September 2017
From: Features

Customer service is a definitive priority for prospective borrowers when choosing a mortgage lender. This is according to a study of over...
05 September 2017
From: Breaking News

Jackson-Stops & Staff, a critic of the stamp duty system since its reform in 2014, now says the government should slash...
31 August 2017
From: Breaking News

Independent financial service Moneyfacts says first time buyers who opt for a fixed rate deal might be better off if they chose...
31 August 2017
From: Breaking News

New data from UK Finance - previously the Council of Mortgage Lenders - paints a relatively optimistic assessment of the UK-wide...
24 August 2017
From: Breaking News

As the mainstream mortgage market braces itself for yet another clampdown on buy-to-let lending, a growing number of property investors are...
04 August 2017
From: Features

Without wishing to blow our own trumpet at this time, we did say at the start of the year that 2017...
28 July 2017
From: Features

The Council of Mortgage Lenders’s buy to let forecast for 2017 and 2018 has been revised down from previous expectations at...
23 June 2017
From: Breaking News

Today we’re publishing what we think is our longest-ever list of charitable activities being conducted by agents and their supporters -...
23 June 2017
From: Breaking News

A prominent agent admits to being “disappointed” at what appears to be slowing mortgage figures at a time of year when...
26 May 2017
From: Breaking News

Home buyers borrowed £11.2 billion in March - down on the ‘stamp duty bonanza‘ period at the same time last year...
18 May 2017
From: Breaking News

Since the seventies, housing starts and completions across England and Wales have been on a downward trajectory. The long run average...
12 May 2017
From: Features

Cash is becoming an increasingly large proportion of the funding used to buy homes according to a new analysis of transactions...
11 May 2017
From: Breaking News

There are more mortgage products available to buyers now than at any time since 2008 according to respected finance monitor service...
10 May 2017
From: Breaking News

More than one in three first time buyers have missed out on potential home deals because their deposit was too small...
05 May 2017
From: Breaking News

Mortgage rates continue to fall with the average new lending rate at a record low of 2.2 per cent: as a...
27 April 2017
From: Breaking News

The Financial Conduct Authority says it is to review lenders offering solely interest-only mortgages to home owners. In its business plan for...
21 April 2017
From: Breaking News

News was released this week of a new PropTech partnership: banking disrupter Revolut has joined up with mortgage brokerage, Trussle, to offer...
20 April 2017
From: Breaking News

One of the biggest stories post-Brexit is how the housing market has proven to be more resilient than anyone could have...
15 April 2017
From: Features

A building society claims that in the past three years alone no fewer than 1.2m buyers have given up on house...
12 April 2017
From: Breaking News

In recent years the mortgage industry has gone through some testing times. Recession and regulation have led to more stringent lending...
08 April 2017
From: Features

Mortgage brokers say they are encountering fewer difficulties sourcing products now than at any time for three years. Research from the Intermediary...
04 April 2017
From: Breaking News

There are more first-time buyers (FTBs) finding a way on to the property ladder than at any time since the Financial...
01 April 2017
From: Features

The Conveyancing Association wants the creation of a ‘log book’ and ‘Home Reports’ for each home on sale - reminiscent in...
15 March 2017
From: Breaking News

Data from the Council for Mortgage Lenders show that loans taken out by buyers have hit a near two-year low. Home buyers...
15 March 2017
From: Breaking News

Recent stats from the Council of Mortgage Lenders show that last year 360,000 people moved homes, meaning the number has stayed...
11 March 2017
From: Features

There has been some really interesting talk recently of the relationship between FinTech (Finance Technology) and PropTech (Property Technology). A few...
01 March 2017
From: Breaking News

Over the past two decades, investing in buy-to-let has been a relatively easy way to make money, which is why so...
25 February 2017
From: Features

The number of home buyers in London dropped to a four-year low in 2016 while the number of loans taken out...
23 February 2017
From: Breaking News

The rapid growth in popularity of buy-to-let in recent years, fuelled in part by the failings of the pensions industry, has...
17 February 2017
From: Features

The chronic shortage of housing supply in the UK relative to demand has been a national issue for decades. The Government...
11 February 2017
From: Features

The number of properties taken into possession last year declined by almost 25 per cent and has hit the lowest level in 35...
10 February 2017
From: Breaking News

The first week of February has seen some extraordinary goings on in the property sector, from which two stories particularly stand out...
08 February 2017
From: Breaking News

Zoopla Property Group’s £120m purchase of Hometrack, announced yesterday evening, is part of its aim to create “the UK’s most valuable...
01 February 2017
From: Breaking News

Zoopla Property Group is buying Hometrack, one of the country’s leading property market business consultancies. Established in 1999, Hometrack is one of...
31 January 2017
From: Breaking News

Gross mortgage lending reached a remarkable £246 billion in 2016 - that’s 12 per cent higher than the previous year and...
27 January 2017
From: Breaking News

There were an estimated 354,000 homemovers in 2016, a fall of 4% compared to the 367,000 recorded the previous year. Analysis by...
25 January 2017
From: Breaking News

Digital mortgage broker habito has announced that it has raised £5.5 million in investment funding. The firm says it will use the...
24 January 2017
From: Breaking News

A new report from the NatWest Bank nips in the bud any speculation that rising inflation may end the current cheap...
20 January 2017
From: Breaking News

The rental market has had to face a raft of changes over the past year, including the introduction of the 3% stamp...
14 January 2017
From: Features

Brexit and wider economic uncertainties worsened by changes to property taxation have forced the Council of Mortgage Lenders to cut its...
20 December 2016
From: Breaking News

I recently came across a consumer comment expressing frustration at the length and complexity of UK conveyancing and raising the question...
17 December 2016
From: Features

New figures from the Council for Mortgage Lenders add weight to the argument that the housing market is gently slowing. Home-owners borrowed £10.5...
15 December 2016
From: Breaking News

The Financial Conduct Authority is to investigate mortgage competition, including the introduction of clients to lenders by estate agents. It’s part of...
13 December 2016
From: Breaking News

House prices will rise 2.0 per cent in 2017, below the rate of inflation and just under half the rise predicted...
12 December 2016
From: Breaking News

Moneyfacts, the independent financial products monitoring service, says first time buyer have a lot to thank Help To Buy for -...
06 December 2016
From: Breaking News

The number of fee-free deals on fixed rate mortgages has more than doubled in the past year according to research by...
30 November 2016
From: Breaking News

There’s good news for London’s troubled market - a report from the CML shows that buyers in the capital took out 12...
24 November 2016
From: Breaking News
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It may still be too early to start compiling a Christmas wish list, but it is the right time to provide...
19 November 2016
From: Features

Labour’s long-awaited Redfern Review, set up a year ago after the party’s defeat in the general election, finally reports tomorrow. Although it...
15 November 2016
From: Breaking News

It’s all been kicking off in recent weeks, hasn’t it? Marmite wars, the endless Trump v Clinton debate, Samsung phones blowing...
28 October 2016
From: Features

A business publication says figures from a PropTech peer-to-peer lending firm which markets its products through Zoopla show a 95 per cent...
20 October 2016
From: Breaking News

The Financial Conduct Authority is consulting on new guidance to lenders on how to measure and treat the repayment of arrears...
20 October 2016
From: Breaking News

Fears raised over the UK housing market in the wake of the Brexit vote have so far proved to be ‘wide...
30 September 2016
From: Features

The Bank of England’s Prudential Regulation Authority has confirmed that tighter regulations will apply to lenders providing mortgages for buy to...
30 September 2016
From: Breaking News

Those working within the UK housing market would have felt considerable worry about the immediate impact of the vote to leave...
23 September 2016
From: Features

A mortgage lender has called on the government to reform stamp duty so that it is paid by property sellers instead...
22 September 2016
From: Breaking News

The huge rush to acquire buy-to-let property in the first quarter of the year ahead of the stamp duty change deadline...
09 September 2016
From: Features

The number of mortgage products available is now over 23,000 - a figure last seen during the heady days just before...
22 August 2016
From: Breaking News

There has been a spur in activity in the mortgage market since the Bank of England base rate dropped to 0.25...
17 August 2016
From: Breaking News

The number of mortgages in arrears is now at its lowest level since records began more than 20 years ago. Data from...
12 August 2016
From: Breaking News

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors says the controversial findings of an insurance firm’s research shows that millions of homeowners may...
11 August 2016
From: Breaking News

The morning after the EU referendum, and Westminster, Britain, Europe and the world were left in shock at the news that...
05 August 2016
From: Features

The Bank of England has, as expected, cut its base rate to 0.25 per cent after a record seven years at...
04 August 2016
From: Breaking News

Respected financial comparison website Moneyfacts says the average buyer requiring a mortgage and securing a deal now will be £240 a...
26 July 2016
From: Breaking News

As promised, this week’s Natter is dedicated to a question and answer session with Peter Brodnicki, the man who has been...
22 July 2016
From: Features

As I sit and write this piece, even with the FTSE 100 back up and sterling having recovered some of its...
08 July 2016
From: Features

The Council of Mortgage Lenders says the Brexit vote will hit transactions as buyers and sellers wait for the dust to...
28 June 2016
From: Breaking News

A few of our Industry Views pieces this week focus on the upcoming EU referendum. I don’t think I can add...
17 June 2016
From: Features

Home-owners borrowed £8.1 billion for house purchases in April, which was four per cent down on the same month a year ago. There...
16 June 2016
From: Breaking News

A new e-conveyancing platform has been launched in Edinburgh ahead of a roll-out across all of Scotland. This system, Altis, is the...
13 June 2016
From: Breaking News

Sales skills, and the ability to negotiate in particular, have always been a core ingredient for any estate agent – and...
03 June 2016
From: Features

While buy-to-let lenders brace themselves for further interventions as part of proposals currently being drawn up by the Prudential Regulation Authority...
01 June 2016
From: Features

Fraudsters attacking the conveyancing sector, successfully stealing large sums of money from homebuyers, are making national headlines at a depressing rate....
27 May 2016
From: Sponsored Content

The Council of Mortgage Lenders estimates that gross mortgage lending reached £18.5 billion last month - the highest April figure since...
20 May 2016
From: Breaking News

There has been a 58 per cent rise in the past year for mortgages for house purchase purposes, according to the...
18 May 2016
From: Breaking News

The Financial Conduct Authority is to encourage lenders to give would-be buyers more choice in the mortgages available. In the Responsible Lending...
17 May 2016
From: Breaking News

In this business you get used to dealing with regular customer and third-party feedback, input, and (occasionally) complaints. Much like the agency market...
13 May 2016
From: Features

It’s the news that has got everyone talking: Barclays are bringing back the 100% mortgage. The market has taken a bit of...
13 May 2016
From: Features

The Council of Mortgage Lenders says the number of repossessions in the first quarter of 2016 was 2,100 - the lowest...
13 May 2016
From: Breaking News

A mortgage servicing company is forecasting that the number of UK houses repossessed this year will represent only 0.09 per cent...
11 May 2016
From: Breaking News

On Tuesday we managed hail, snow, rain, sun and a chilly wind all in one day. Whatever you want to say...
29 April 2016
From: Features

First time buyers with small deposits are among those likely to suffer as a result of new regulations on credit risk...
28 April 2016
From: Breaking News

SearchFlow, property intelligence specialists, has partnered with Decision First to offer an unrivalled service to protect conveyancers and homebuyers from the...
26 April 2016
From: Sponsored Content

It’s almost impossible to write about the conveyancing market and not reflect on the activity levels of the past month or...
15 April 2016
From: Features

We’re all talking about second home stamp duty, changes to tax relief and the Prudential Regulation Authority’s suggestion that banks should...
15 April 2016
From: Features

An academic study claims that increasing the supply of new-build properties - widely thought to be the favoured solution to the...
07 April 2016
From: Breaking News

New proposals to curtail mortgage borrowing in the buy to let sector have been branded as “a classic case of slamming...
30 March 2016
From: Breaking News

A key Bank of England body has revealed its proposals for tougher borrowing standards to prevent buy to let lending overheating the wider...
29 March 2016
From: Breaking News

Data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders shows that gross mortgage lending reached £17.6 billion last month - that's the highest...
18 March 2016
From: Breaking News

As we know, the property market in London is notorious for sitting a long way outside the conventions of the wider UK...
27 February 2016
From: Features

There has been a warm welcome given to figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders showing that lending to first time...
19 February 2016
From: Breaking News

In December 2015 first time buyers borrowed £4.5 billion for house purchases - that’s up seven per cent on November and...
17 February 2016
From: Breaking News

Increased competition amongst mortgage lenders and the rush to buy investment properties before the April 1 stamp duty surcharge deadline have...
02 February 2016
From: Breaking News

Predicting how the housing market might play out over the next few months is incredibly difficult. There are a significant number...
30 January 2016
From: Features

Mortgage lending for home buyers dipped by nine per cent in November according to new data - but it is up...
15 January 2016
From: Breaking News

In many respects 2015 has been a good year. Despite global challenges, we have seen a marked improvement in the UK...
11 December 2015
From: Features

You might recall a collective sigh of relief emitted by stakeholders in the housing market and private rental sector back in...
04 December 2015
From: Features

It is anticipated that the government will reveal more details of how it proposes to simplify mortgage fees and make mortgage...
25 November 2015
From: Breaking News

When it comes to the regulation of the conveyancing industry, this question is a topic of open and ongoing debate. Licensed conveyancers...
20 November 2015
From: Features

Two more agents have been expelled by TPO because they failed to pay awards when ordered to pay compensation, and because...
11 November 2015
From: Breaking News

The number of house purchase mortgage approvals has risen by 19.8 per cent over the last 12 months. Data from eSurv suggests...
09 October 2015
From: Breaking News

First came a Bank of England prediction that the market will strengthen in the autumn; then lenders reported a surge in...
01 October 2015
From: Breaking News

In a new sign that the housing market is strengthening, mortgage lending increased in August by the largest amount since 2008. Data...
30 September 2015
From: Breaking News

This month it was announced that Landbay mortgage lenders will release a new rental Index, alongside Zoopla and data-modelling experts MIAC. The...
18 September 2015
From: Features

The residential director at Mullucks Wells in West Essex and East Hertfordshire, William Wells, has contacted Estate Agent Today to highlight...
09 September 2015
From: Breaking News

An unusual story of hard-to-sell homes has emerged from Northumberland where a kind of new town, established in the 1960s, is...
03 September 2015
From: Breaking News

A new website has been launched to fight back against the attack George Osborne made in the Summer Budget on the...
21 August 2015
From: Features

Estate agents have received a substantial thumbs up from a large survey of 1,990 people. On top of that, the survey was...
17 August 2015
From: Breaking News

The repossession rate has fallen again in the second quarter of 2015, and is at the lowest rate since records began. The...
14 August 2015
From: Breaking News

Figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders show that lending to first time buyers bounced back in the second quarter of...
12 August 2015
From: Breaking News

THE UK housing market is reported to be picking up according to figures this month from the Council of Mortgage Lenders...
29 July 2015
From: Sponsored Content

Competition is hot among home buyers in my part of southern England to take ownership of properties that come onto the...
24 July 2015
From: Features

When Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, recently announced that interest rates would have to start to rise sooner...
24 July 2015
From: Features

A number of my member firms (Bold Legal Group) have reported that, compared to three years ago, the time to get...
17 July 2015
From: Features

Connells says its sales figures for June show a 27.5 per cent rise on the same month last year. The agency has...
17 July 2015
From: Breaking News

Lending for house buying is still down compared to this time last year but there are signs that the market is...
15 July 2015
From: Breaking News

Agents have expressed their disappointment at the decision by the government to restrict mortgage interest relief for Buy To let investors...
09 July 2015
From: Breaking News

The not-for-profit Residential Property Surveyors Association wants estate agents to tell clients they should commission 'real' surveys and not settle for automated valuations. Recently...
06 July 2015
From: Breaking News

The Conveyancing Association (CA) has embarked on a mission to engage with the lender community with a view to initiating a...
26 June 2015
From: Features

Given that I wrote my last article on the day of the General Election but well before the result was known,...
19 June 2015
From: Features

The Aston Mead estate agency says “unnecessarily restrictive mortgage criteria" have caused the number of home loans to drop sharply in...
07 May 2015
From: Breaking News

The number of legal actions against estate agents and chartered surveyors has significantly fallen according to figures from a City legal...