Archive

Has the bell finally tolled for online agencies? Emoov’s collapse and an investor revolt over crowdfunding have left a large question...

Purplebricks says it has £100m net cash to exercise “relentless innovation” and benefit from an industry shake-out that will ”expose undercapitalised traditional...

Countrywide’s share price fell to its lowest-ever level yesterday - evidence that it’s not just online estate agencies that are having...

However mild the weather may have been for most of us, it’s a cold autumn for the online estate agency market...

Purplebricks says it has seen year-on-year revenue growth of about 20 per cent despite what its chairman calls “a challenging UK...

Fresh details have emerged about the financial difficulties suffered by Emoov, its search for a buyer and its possible sale price. A...

As scary Halloweens go, yesterday was quite a shocker for Britain’s online estate agency sector - and not in a good...

Purplebricks’ share price dipped below the psychologically-important 200p level yesterday as the hybrid agency’s longer-term slide continues. In the summer of 2017...

One of the brokers working with OnTheMarket says the portal will not be profitable until 2021, but predicts that its target...

Purplebricks’ share price dropped yesterday to barely over 200p - its lowest level for some 18 months and reflecting a near...

Shareholders in the ailing Countrywide agency group appeared to remain largely indifferent to the news that their executive chairman Peter Long...

Franchise giant Hunters has reported its latest results to the city, showing impressive growth despite a slow-moving property market. In the six...

One of Countrywide's major investors has significantly reduced its holding in the troubled estate agency group. Oaktree Capital yesterday lowered its stake...

Following the first day of trading its new shares yesterday, Countrywide's share price finished at 12.52, down almost 4%. The new shares were...

Speculation is growing that Rightmove could drop out of the prestigious FTSE-100 within the next few days as the stock exchange...

Countrywide may have enjoyed the overwhelming support of its major institutional shareholders for its controversial rescue plan, but the wider financial...

Countrywide’s eagerly-awaited General Meeting for shareholders takes place today and is widely expected to back the ailing agency group’s controversial rescue...

Countrywide’s share price defied the expectations of some analysts and rose over six per cent yesterday with the company moving from...

The investment bank Jefferies says Foxtons’ long-running share price slump is a reflection of Brexit uncertainty “until we find out what...

At first sight, to suggest this is a good time for an agency business to go for an IPO - that...

The Swiss investment bank Credit Suisse has slashed its target share price for the company from 77p to only 17.2p.  The reason...

Countrywide is under fire again over the controversial rescue plan it announced last week. On Friday the troubled agency group’s share price -...

The business editor of right wing political weekly The Spectator says “what’s bad for Foxtons is on the whole likely to...

Countrywide's share price has dropped sharply following the announcement of the company's rescue plan - but the firm itself says this...

The agonisingly painful decline of Countrywide continues, with no one sure whether it is the darkest hour before the dawn or...

Foxtons share price hit a new low yesterday, dropping to only 46p early in the afternoon: it eventually closed narrowly up...

First things first, I have to mention the World Cup. The dream is over, football’s not quite coming home (not until...

The German publishing company Axel Springer has increased its stake in Purplebricks to 12.5 per cent - and says it may...

The stock market and at least one City analyst have shrugged their shoulders at the claim by Purplebricks that it is...

By now we’ve all seen news about the long-term decline in property sales and competition from online alternatives leading to ‘more...

An insolvency firm claims 153 estate agencies have gone bust in the past year with more than 7,000 “showing signs of...

Cast your mind back to July 2008 – Gordon Brown was Prime Minister, the Euros were in full swing in Austria/Switzerland...

So here’s the thing. It’s summer - not much going on, school holidays about to start, industry publications filling out space...

One of Countrywide’s former allies in the City broker community - independent corporate advisor Numis - has downgraded the troubled agency...

Senior management at Countrywide came in for a pasting on Twitter yesterday as TV market commentator and buying agent Henry Pryor...

Countrywide’s share price has taken a massive hit this morning - down well over 20 per cent - following a surprise...

OnTheMarket has announced to the City and its shareholders that it’s to reveal its annual results tomorrow - the first such...

It’s been revealed that Countrywide has offered its staff a ‘share save’ scheme which allows them to purchase shares in the...

Property portal OnTheMarket has announced that it now has listing agreements with over 8,500 estate and letting agency branches.  It says that...

Zoopla Property Group (ZPG) has confirmed that it expects its sale to Silver Lake to complete in Q3 2018. As part of...

A study of estate agencies and portals floated on the London Stock Exchange suggests that digital companies have shown much better...

Has Countrywide finally convinced its investors that it is on the road to recovery? Back on March 8 the Countrywide share price...

As noted in Estate Agent Today’s news pages, OnTheMarket’s (OTM) recent dire share performance (at time of writing the price is...

The share price of OnTheMarket slipped again on Friday - down around five per cent on the day and ending at...

Purplebricks’ share price dipped below the psychologically-important 300p mark yesterday - its lowest performance since spring last year. It’s the latest development...

Market analysts at Swiss bank UBS are warning that Purplebricks’ meteoric growth in the UK may be slowing. The bank has cut...

OnTheMarket’s share price starts the week at almost exactly the same level as it was floated after a significant bounce-back on...

City broker Jefferies is warning that Countrywide’s earnings as calculated through the EBITDA measure could drop to as little as £50m -...

OnTheMarket’s share price fell just over five per cent yesterday, continuing its troubled launch on to the London stock exchange. It...

The bank Morgan Stanley says OnTheMarket’s listings have fallen 19 per cent in the past year. In a note to investors issued...

OnTheMarket has finally completed its stock market float, with less capital raised, at a lower than planned valuation and, as I write,...

Most listed agencies and portals suffered share price falls yesterday, creating a challenging landscape for Agents’ Mutual which launches on the London stock exchange...

Pressure continues to mount on Purplebricks to reveal its sales data after a weekend during which claims about its effectiveness continued...

Countrywide has made a brief announcement to shareholders about amending its credit facility with lenders to help it turn the business...

Purplebricks has this morning issued an unusual statement to the Stock Exchange blaming a City report for the sharp fall in the...

Alison Platt may have been ousted but Countrywide appears not to be out of the woods yet as its share price...

The story of this week - the ousting of Countrywide chief executive Alison Platt - prompts two key questions. Firstly, who takes...

If Countrywide thought its fortunes would immediately improve following the departure of chief executive Alison Platt, it has to think again...

The chief executive may have left, the share price may still be languishing around 100p and only days ago the firm...

There was confirmation this morning, as expected, that Countrywide chief executive Alison Platt has quit - but so far there is no...

It is being reported that staff at Countrywide have been told that embattled chief executive Alison Platt is leaving the agency...

Countrywide appears to be in turmoil with Sky News reports that board members are discussing trying to get rid of controversial...

It is now an industry truism to say that Alison Platt has transformed Countrywide - but recent evidence, and now doubt...

The Countrywide chief executive, Alison Platt, is said to have warned staff that the reaction from the markets and shareholders to...

According to The Branding Journal, a brand is “a name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's...

Shares in troubled agency group Countrywide have fallen to their lowest-ever level of 106.40p in trading this morning. Yesterday shares fell a...

Sky News is reporting that the non-executive chairman of Purplebricks, Paul Pindar, is set to invest a seven figure sum in...

The business editor of right-wing political weekly The Spectator has made an attempt to defend the controversial £109m bonus paid to...

Connells has told Estate Agent Today that it is not making any official comment yet on the decision revealed yesterday that...

Here it is - the industry’s verdict on the latest set of figures from Purplebricks. The agency doesn’t play by any of...

Financial analysts over the weekend have been giving their view on Purplebricks, which later this week issues its figures for the...

The new contract for firms joining or re-signing to OnTheMarket is reported to have a restriction on acquisitions. It is said to...

Purplebricks’ share price value yesterday dropped below the 300p, over 40 per cent less than its high point over the recent...

The much-expected pause in the roll out of Countrywide's online service to vendors, confirmed yesterday, did not appear to impress investors. Countrywide's...

Purplebricks has issued the briefest-of-brief statements to the City and the company's investors to assure them it is "on course". The latest...

Agents’ Mutual is officially making no comment on the timetable for the company flotation but speculation within the industry is mounting...

The latest departure from troubled estate agency group Countrywide is non-executive director Richard Adam, who was chair of the audit and...

Investec Asset Management has bought a 5.6 per cent share in Countrywide, having had no previous involvement in the troubled estate...

The research director of an investment firm which has advised Purplebricks says the “odd detractor” who doesn’t sell their home does...

Investment website The Motley Fool says comparisons between forecast and actual profits reported by Purplebricks suggest the company’s position isn’t -...

Peel Hunt, the City investment broker that has worked closely with Purplebricks, has issued an investment note to clients with a...

Countrywide’s share price hit another new low yesterday of around 115.5p - a fall of just over four per cent on...

The flotation of Agents’ Mutual on the London Stock Exchange could happen as soon as later this year following the endorsement...

I’ve been in France for the past few days and depending on your viewpoint, I made a spectacularly good or singularly...

Let’s be honest - few people saw this coming. The 89 to 11 per cent majority amongst Agents’ Mutual members for...

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has informally resolved another complaint made against wording on Purplebricks’ website.  A complainant suggested that the wording...

Countrywide’s share price hit a record low during trading yesterday afternoon when it dropped to 137.75p, having opened the day at...

Sources within Countrywide say the latest senior management figure to leave the company is Sam Tyrer, who under her title of...

The stock exchange seems to be on everyone’s lips at the moment. There’s Agents’ Mutual seeking to float on the Alternative Investment...

Purplebricks’ share price has now recovered all of the value it lost after being criticised on two BBC consumer programmes and...

Trustpilot, the review service quoted frequently by Purplebricks as evidence of its apparent popularity, is declining to comment on the adverse...

The share price of beleaguered hybrid agency Purplebricks has recovered some of the ground it lost earlier in the week after...

After a roller-coaster day on the Stock Exchange yesterday, Purplebricks has sought to defend itself against further possible share price losses...

Purplebricks’ share price this afternoon dropped to a recent low of 406.50p before recovering to close down about five per cernt...

Countrywide says the roll out of its online sales and lettings service is on schedule to reach 50 per cent of...

Speculation is growing over whether figures to be released by Countrywide on Thursday may prompt another fall in the troubled company’s...

It’s not happening here (yet) but several articles on US websites have started talking up the possibility of Amazon going into...

An expert analysis of the Purplebricks trading statement for 2016 reveals that the agency’s Local Property Experts each earn an average...

One of the industry’s leading analysts says Countrywide’s figures for the first half of 2017 are likely to be tough -...

The chief economist of Price Waterhouse Coopers says that although by some measures the London housing market looks ripe for a...

The share price of hybrid estate agency Purplebricks dipped yesterday after it announced its US expansion will begin in California. Purplebricks' share...

Zoopla has been reported as saying hybrid estate agencies will not reach their professed targets of achieving 10 per cent of...

Reports in the commercial property industry publication Property Week suggest there may be difficulties concerning the sale of Countrywide’s commercial operation,...

Purplebricks' share price moved up over two per cent yesterday on the strength of its latest trading statement - but its...

A London investment broker says Purplebricks’ share price - currently around 300p - could rise another 50 per cent or more...

Countrywide’s share price, which just over three years ago was riding high at just above 685p, has hit a new low...

The Competitions and Markets Authority has released more details of its ‘calling-in’ of the acquisition of Expert Agent by Zoopla Property...

A Financial Times article reports a bank analysis shows Purplebricks with a market share of 3.3 per cent of properties marked...

Foxtons has received lavish praise from investment consultancy Jefferies despite long-term share price worries reflecting its mixed performance in the troubled...

Swiss bank UBS has downgraded Countrywide’s status to ‘sell’ in a move which has prompted the troubled estate agency’s share price...

Countrywide has successfully placed 21.6m shares to institutional investors at the competitive price of 175p per share - allowing it to...

The Purplebricks stock market bull run took yet another huge leap forwards yesterday with its share price up 20 per cent...

The remarkable bull run on the London Stock Exchange continues for hybrid estate agency Purplebricks, which floated shares at 100p just...

Zoopla has released details of the profit some of its agents have made from its 2014 offer to purchase shares at...

Zoopla Property Group’s £120m purchase of Hometrack, announced yesterday evening, is part of its aim to create “the UK’s most valuable...

Purplebricks has issued its second statement to the City on successive trading days - and its share price has risen by...

The board of Purplebricks has issued a statement to the City saying it has no idea what lies behind the soaring...

The stock market appears to be continuing its love affair with Purplebricks, as the hybrid agency share price rose once again...

An American investment analyst has used the Motley Fool online city column to give a glowing endorsement to one of the...

Countrywide’s long-term share price decline and turbulent branch closure programme have not prevented a relatively positive endorsement of the group’s strategy and...

Countrywide’s share price closed slightly down again yesterday to finish trading at 176.0 after news emerged that the group was selling...

Countrywide estate agency group is to drop out of the FTSE 250 from the start of trading on December 19. The news...

It’s a tale of two estate agencies - Britain’s biggest, seemingly in trouble, and the second biggest, winning a seal of...

Countrywide chief executive Alison Platt has told Estate Agent Today the transformation she wishes to see within the group may take...

Share prices for both Foxtons and Countrywide took a significant tumble yesterday as news of the ban on letting agents’ fees...

Jefferies, the City investment service known for its analysis of major residential sector firms, forecasts Foxtons’ transactions to fall 10 per...

Countrywide's regional director Martin Coombes has quit the company, having worked for it since the early 1990s. A statement to Estate Agent...

Some sectors of the industry have been giving their initial reactions to the shock Donald Trump victory in the US presidential election.  Camilla...

Although Brexit, portal juggling and portal wars have stolen property industry headlines in recent months, there's been one story almost constantly...

The former ‘retail director’ of Countrywide’s south east operations, Keith Knight, has left the troubled agency group and has returned to...

The share prices of Countrywide and LSL Property Services diverged yesterday in response to both agency groups being downgraded by influential...

Jefferies, a major City adviser, is downgrading its 2016 estimate for Countrywide’s performance over the rest of this year. In a statement...

Countrywide’s share price started the week at below 200 for the first time - about 30 months after it was riding...

Investment group Shore Capital says the future expansion of digital property advertising means Zoopla shares - despite recent growth - are...

An equity specialist has warned that shareholders may now choose this is the time to sell their stakes in Purplebricks because...

The former chief executive of Countrywide, Harry Hill, has tweeted that on a four mile walk encountering hundreds of estate agents’...

City consultancy Jefferies has made a blistering attack on Purplebricks’ sales performance and finances, saying “the arithmetic…still does not add up.”  Last...

I’m indebted to one of the most enthusiastic estate agents I’ve had the pleasure of meeting for suggesting the subject of...

The news that Theresa May will be installed as Prime Minister tomorrow has immediately stabilished the share prices of estate agents...

As post-Brexit referendum vote shockwaves continue to reverberate around stock markets and currency exchanges, many publicly-quoted property companies took a hit...

Foxtons says the vote to leave the EU means the expected upturn in the housing market in the second half of...

The Daily Mail is reporting that the finance chief at much-discussed hybrid agency Purplebricks has purchased shares that are now worth...

Cashing in on the publicity surrounding the share price of Purplebricks and recent entries into hybrid estate agency by Countrywide and...

As we have just passed the 6 month half way point of 2016 we thought it would be a good idea...

There has been a muted response from the City to the announcement just before the weekend that high-end estate agency Savills...

The Financial Times is reporting that a shareholders’ rebellion may be on the cards at Foxtons as some with a stake...

One of the founders of online agency Purplebricks says his aim is for the firm to become the "first choice" for...

The Motley Fool, a widely-read City investment column, says a Leave vote could result in a fall in housing market transaction...

The respected investment advice website Motley Fool has poured cold water on the stock market fortunes of Purplebricks, despite a huge...

It’s certainly been a rollercoaster ride but the latest closing share value of Purplebricks, which floated in mid December, is now...

Countrywide has continued its acquisition programme by taking over a company consulting with house builders in the Home Counties and London.  The acquisition...

Purplebricks, the online agency that floated a month ago at 100p per share, was yesterday down to 75.0 at one point...

There has been more volatile stock market trading for some of the industry’s highest-profile agencies.  Countrywide - whose chief executive Alison Platt...

Purplebricks recorded a volatile bout of trading on London’s Stock Exchange yesterday, where it ended the day with a 5.7 per...

It’s time to take a pause, to reflect and put into context—and what a year it has been for our industry...

Estate agents’ share prices have taken a knock after poor figures reported to the City by Countrywide suggested a wider malaise...

It’s rare for an incumbent to pivot to a disruptive business model, even in the face of compelling logic that they...

OnTheMarket has made a defiant response to news that Zoopla is growing both its estate agent membership and its property listings...

Shares in Foxtons start the week at 244 after staging a dramatic stock market recovery following a poor set of figures. The...

Harry Hill, the former Countrywide chief executive, has described his old company as “going backwards” following the publication of its half-year...

Some 87 per cent of Zoopla members who bought discounted shares in the firm last year have made additional purchases this summer...

Members of Zoopla Property Group (ZPG) who purchased discounted shares ahead of the firm’s Initial Public Offering last June will have...

Zoopla remains unbowed by its loss of 23 per cent of its UK agents and says it has new statistics proving...

Zoopla Property Group is looking for more potential acquisitions following its surprise announcement that it is buying price comparison website uSwitch. ZPG...