Property with electric only appliances| what does this mean? is a post from: My First Home Blog

England Housing Market

Windsor & Maidenhead is the wealthiest area outside London, with average property values of £409,939. By contrast, North Lincolnshire is the poorest area in England, having average house prices 44% below national average. The average property value in England now stands at £225,045, 8.7% below peak reached 3 years ago but up 11.2% from March 2009 lows.

Windsor & Maidenhead is the area with the highest average property value in the country, outside of London, according to the latest figures from leading property website, Zoopla.co.uk. The average house price in Windsor & Maidenhead is now £409,939, a mere £3,411 below the average London house price, which is currently £413,350.

In contrast, average property prices in North Lincolnshire currently stand at £124,921, the lowest in the nation and a staggering 70% less than in London and 45% below the national average, highlighting the growing North/South divide in house prices.

The statistics released today by Zoopla.co.uk, which provides free value data on every property in the country, also show that all of the top 10 wealthiest housing markets are located in the South. South Gloucestershire (£384,102), Surrey (£357,863) and Hertfordshire (£317,687) round out the list of areas with the highest property values in England. Meanwhile, the North is home to all of the top 10 poorest housing markets in the country, with Hartlepool (£124,949), Durham (£133,257), South Yorkshire (£137,413) and Nottinghamshire (£137,949) not far behind North Lincolnshire.

Nicholas Leeming, Commercial Director of Zoopla.co.uk comments: “In terms of both current house prices and market performance over the past 3 years, there is a clear north-south divide. The manufacturing base of the Midlands was severely hit by the recession and heavy job losses have taken their toll on the region’s economy. As the economy strengthens the housing market will likely perform best in those areas least sensitive to the upcoming public sector cuts and the property divide looks set to get even wider.”

Wales Housing Market

Monmouthshire is the area with the highest average property value in Wales, according to the latest figures from leading property website, Zoopla.co.uk. The average house price in Monmouthshire is now £224,535, more than £72,000 higher than the average Welsh house price, which is currently £152,188.

In contrast, average property prices in Blaenau Gwent currently stand at £79,898, the lowest in the country, 65% less than in Monmouthshire and 47% below the national average.

The statistics released today by Zoopla.co.uk, which provides free value data on every property in Wales, reveal The Vale of Glamorgan in second place in terms of areas with the highest average house prices in Wales at £193,184, followed by Cardiff in third position at £183,923. Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, rounding out the top three poorest housing markets in the country are Merthyr Tydfil where average property values stand at £99,685 and Rhondda Cynon Taff at £104,923.

Nicholas Leeming, Commercial Director of Zoopla.co.uk comments: “In terms of both current house prices and market performance over the past 3 years, it is clear that some parts of Wales have performed much better than others and, as the economy strengthens, the housing market will likely perform best in those areas least sensitive to the upcoming public sector cuts.”

Source: http://www.zoopla.co.uk

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England and Wales wealthiest (and poorest) housing markets is a post from: My First Home Blog

The Legal Ombudsman will open for business to help people resolve complaints about lawyers.

This is the first time people can come to an independent and impartial body to help them resolve a legal complaint.  The service covers all lawyers, including the following:

• Barristers
• Law costs draftsmen
• Legal executives
• Licensed conveyancers
• Notaries
• Patent attorneys
• Probate practitioners
• Registered European lawyers
• Solicitors
• Trademark attorneys

The Ombudsman has official powers to put things right if the service a consumer received from their lawyer was not satisfactory.

The new Legal Ombudsman will also enhance the reputation of the profession and aims to simplify the current consumer complaints system. Consumers can have greater confidence in using legal services because they know they can access an independent body that has specific powers to help.  The service is free of charge to consumers.

Chief Ombudsman, Adam Sampson said:

“We know that most of the time, lawyers provide a good service.  But sometimes things can go wrong.  When they do, people must have access to someone they can have confidence in to put things right.  That is our job – to resolve complaints quickly and fairly. We have worked hard to make sure we bring a fresh approach to legal complaints with a focus on justice.”

“We also want to work closely with lawyers and their regulators to raise standards. We want to help prevent complaints and make the legal and justice systems work better”.

Jonathan Djanogly MP, Minister responsible for Legal Services commented:

“The new Legal Ombudsman will make a real difference for people who want to make a complaint about their lawyer.

“The consumer will have a single point of contact, instead of the current confusing situation, and the process will be a smoother one for the legal profession.

“As a lawyer myself I fully understand the vital part this will play in the regulatory system that helps maintain the high standing that our lawyers have around the world.”

Peter Vicary-Smith, CEO Which? said:

“The arrival of the Legal Ombudsman is a welcome step forward for consumers who use legal services.  It is hugely important for consumers to have the opportunity to contact an independent ‘referee’ who looks at both sides of the argument, makes enquiries, asks questions and comes up with a remedy or solution that they believe is fair.

For more information or to speak to an Ombudsman spokesperson please contact:

Alison Robinson, Head of External Affairs on 0121 245 3070 or 07741 035 967.

A Fresh Start for Resolving Legal Complaints is a post from: My First Home Blog

While there are some renters who view renting an apartment or a house as a failure, there are others who see the benefits there are to be gained from renting a property as opposed to purchasing a property. Some of the benefits of renting include the ability to save money while renting for the purpose of purchasing a home, few maintenance requirements and the inclusion of amenities which the renter would not likely be able to afford if they were to purchase a home instead of renting. Although there are some negative aspects to renting an apartment, this article will focus exclusively on the benefits of renting a property.

The Ability to Save Money

Being able to save up a great deal of money for the purpose of making a down payment on a dream home is just one of the many great advantages to renting a property. Many homeowners were able to realize their dream of home ownership only after living in a rental property for a certain amount of time. Although renting is often criticized as throwing money away because it does not result in equity, the ability to save money while renting is unparalleled

Rent for an apartment is usually considerably less expensive than the monthly mortgage on a home. The home is also typically much bigger than the rental property but in cases where the renter is renting for the sole purpose of saving money, the value of renting cannot be denied. Depending on how long the renter stays in the apartment, they may save hundreds or even thousands of dollars during the course of the rental agreement.

No Maintenance of Property

Another advantage to renting a property is there is typically little or no maintenance required by the renter. This is especially true in an apartment situation. The renter may be responsible for small items such as changing light bulbs but more extensive repairs such as leaks in plumbing or clogs in drains are typically handled by the maintenance staff of the rental property.

Additionally common areas such as grassy areas or gardens are maintained by the maintenance staff. The exception is usually when the renter rents a home as opposed to the apartment. In these cases the renter may still not be responsible for small repairs but might be obligated to take care of items such as maintaining the grass.

Worthwhile Amenities

Many renters who might be able to purchase a home would not likely be able to purchase a home with amenities such as a pool, fully equipped exercise room and a home theater.

These items are often considered luxurious and are not available in the majority of homes which are on the market at any particular time. In fact searching for homes which specifically have these features may severely limit the number of search results and may result in no search results at all when these features are searched in conjunction with a typical price range. However, those who rent can enjoy access to these amenities. They may pay more in rent than those in a comparable apartment complex without these amenities but they are also still likely saving a considerable amount of money each month as long as they are budgeting wisely and have chosen a rental property within their price range.

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So What Are The Benefits of Renting? is a post from: My First Home Blog

• Pre-Offer Survey Heralds Major Shift in Balance of Power to Homebuyers
• Great opportunity for First Time Buyers to make their money go further

In a first for the UK property market, The Buying Agents are offering its customers a ‘Pre-Offer Survey’, which is a survey carried out by a RICS-qualified surveyor before the prospective buyer even makes an offer.

The Pre-Offer survey (prepared by now survey) is carried out usually at the second or third viewing stage, and allows a potential buyer to make a more informed decision about the level of offer to make for a potential property – fully aware of any shortcomings or problems it may have.

With the recent withdrawal of the requirement for a Home Information Pack The Buying Agents and now survey decided to try to work together to provide valuable information for a property buyer at the point that they need it most.  Originally Home Information Packs were to contain a Home Condition Report which would have made this information available to any potential buyer.

Dan Butt, Managing Partner of now survey comments, “The idea behind this new product is to allow buyers to make an informed decision before making an offer on a property and in a housing market which is still somewhat fragile following recent market conditions, to help with negotiating a price acceptable to both parties.  In the traditional situation a survey is often carried out after a price has been agreed leading to the need to renegotiate.”

A further discount on the asking price can be achieved by the expertise of The Buying Agents, who use their local area and general market knowledge to further negotiate down the vendor and selling agent. To optimise their clients buying position The Buying Agents only put forward an offer when their clients are fully proceedable, which is outlined to the seller and estate agent in the form of a ‘Ready to Buy’ certificate.

Tim Hammond, CEO, The Buying Agents comments: “The Pre-Offer Survey fundamentally shifts the balance of power from the seller to the buyer and ensures that anyone buying a property never pays over the odds again. Most people wouldn’t buy a second hand car without an RAC or AA report so it’s crazy that most buyers either have no survey at all or only have a survey carried out after making an offer.

As a homebuyer client of The Buying Agents the combination of a pre-offer survey and a Ready to Buy certificate puts you in an extremely strong negotiating position ”

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Launch of ‘Pre-Offer Survey’ Ensures UK Homebuyers Will Never Again Overpay for a Property is a post from: My First Home Blog

Fairview New Homes has launched the new show apartment at The Bridge in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The interior of the show apartment is designed to compliment the character of the historic Georgian spa town and its reputation as an affluent and desirable place to live.

The Bridge offers modern two-bedroom living in an historical and popular location, all from only £174,995. Conveniently located in the centre of town and just a 15 minute walk from Tunbridge Wells train station, the development is in an ideal location for those commuting to London and beyond.

Abbey Emmerson, director at Trend Designs, says: “Royal Tunbridge Wells is a beautiful town with glorious surroundings. Its reputation as the place to be seen amongst royalty and the aristocracy since the eighteenth century makes the history of Tunbridge Wells one of the most colourful in England.”

“Accordingly, we have created a sumptuous show apartment with creams and deep purples to reflect the royal connection to the area. Not forgetting that these new homes are ideal for first time buyers, we have been sure to add a bit of fun and contemporary style to the apartment,” concludes Emmerson.

The new homes at The Bridge all have bright open plan living areas and many have balconies that overlook the communal landscaped gardens which provide the perfect space for relaxation after a long days work and on the weekends.

Jim Holliday, Sales Director of Fairview New Homes, comments: “At The Bridge, we are providing good quality homes in an upmarket and traditionally expensive area at affordable prices, which is great news for those wishing to take their first step onto the property ladder. Now that we have such a suitably stylish show apartment which truly reflects the character of the area, visitors will be able to experience what it will be like to live at The Bridge in Royal Tunbridge Wells.”

Tunbridge Wells has developed a reputation for excellent restaurants, wine bars and lively street cafes. There is a wide range of shops and boutiques along the Pantiles, as well as a popular farmers market which is held every month.

The area has many parks and outdoor attractions and the surrounding Kent countryside has been designated an ‘Area of Outstanding Beauty’, making it perfect for walking, riding and biking. The nearby south coast in only 35 miles away from the town.

Direct train services run from Tunbridge Wells Rail station to London Charing Cross and Cannon Street in approximately one hour.

Prices for two bed apartments at The Bridge start from £174,995.

For more information and prices please contact the marketing suite on 0800 883 8147. Or visit: www.fairview.co.uk. The marketing suite is open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm.

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Prospective buyers at The Bridge get a feel for life in Royal Tunbridge Wells – Fairview New Homes launches new show apartment at The Bridge is a post from: My First Home Blog

Fairview New Homes has launched the show apartment at Thames Waterside, the new waterfront development in Greenhithe, Dartford.

Thames Waterside is a development of one and two-bedroom apartments set around landscaped gardens with river frontage. Most of the apartments have balconies to take advantage of the views across the Thames and towards the iconic Queen Elizabeth II Bridge.

The show home is open for all visitors to view and has been designed to compliment the waterside location and character of Greenhithe.

Abbey Emmerson, director at Trend Designs, comments, “The design theme for the Thames Waterside show apartment is industrial with a warehouse feel, reflecting the important regeneration that is occurring in the whole of the Thames Gateway area. We have used silvers, greys and tones of grey-blues to achieve this effect, which match perfectly with the rippling water of the Thames, just a stone’s throw away.”

“One of the most exciting features is the metal wave installation in the lounge which looks fantastic when the lights are on or when the sun shines through the window. The lounge also has a feature white brick wall which adds to its edgy feel,” concludes Emmerson.

The contemporary apartments at Thames Waterside have open-plan living areas with timeless neutral tones to complement the tranquil surroundings. Each apartment has fully-fitted Symphony kitchens, with fan ovens, electric hobs and washer-dryers.

Jim Holliday, Sales Director of Fairview New Homes, comments: “These new apartments have been extremely popular so far, mostly due to the great location on the River Thames and the excellent transport links available from the development. Now that we have such a stylish show apartment which truly reflects the character of the area, visitors will get a good feel of what it will be like to live at Thames Waterside.”

Thames Waterside is ideally placed for all the amenities of Greenhithe; next to an Asda superstore and a five minute drive from the well-known Bluewater shopping centre which has a choice of over 330 stores, 40 cafes, bars and restaurants and a 13-screen cinema.

The train station is a two minute walk from Thames Waterside and journeys to London Bridge take approximately 38 minutes, perfect for the commuter or those looking to visit the capital on weekends. Eurotunnel terminal at Ebbsfleet is around three and a half miles away allowing easy access to the continent, with trains to London St Pancras in 17 minutes.

Greenhithe is part of the Thames Gateway Regeneration project that has received large amounts of funding from the government over the past decade to transform it into the thriving and aspirational area it is today. The town has a large number of local restaurants, pubs and bars and has the largest number of green spaces and parks in the borough. For the more active, there are many local activities with the Kent countryside just moments away, local river walks and outdoor activities based from Bluewater, including cycling, rock climbing, boating and fishing.

Prices for new homes at Thames Waterside start from £135,995 for a one-bedroom apartment and £174,995 for a two-bedroom apartment.

For more information and prices please contact the marketing suite Tel: 0800 883 8193. Or visit: www.fairview.co.uk. The marketing suite is open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm.

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Interior design reflects riverside location of new homes – Fairview New Homes launches new show apartment at Thames Waterside in Greenhithe is a post from: My First Home Blog

Fairview New Homes launches the long-anticipated The King’s Tower apartments at the Queensgate development in Croydon, Greater London. There are just 12 luxury two-bedroom apartments available to buy in the Grade II listed tower, part of the former Queen’s Hospital. Since its construction in 1866, the hospital has been a distinctive landmark in the centre of Croydon.

Each spacious apartment at The King’s Tower has a contemporary interior specification whilst retaining the building’s unique historical character.

Jim Holliday, Sales Director of Fairview New Homes, comments: “The King’s Tower is the exciting final phase of Queensgate and has the only converted apartments on the development. As there are only 12 of these apartments for sale, we are expecting them to go quickly. Any interested buyers should contact our selling agent, Streets Ahead, as soon as possible for more information.”

Croydon is currently experiencing one of the most dynamic regeneration schemes in the UK. At present, some £3.5bn has been committed to redeveloping the area, earning it the title of London’s Third City. As part of Transport for London’s £10bn Investment Programme, the East London line is also being extended. Phase 1 from West Croydon to Dalston and Highbury & Islington has now been completed, and in 2012 Phase 2 will extend to Clapham Junction.

“Croydon’s ongoing development and improving transport links to central London has strengthened its appeal to commuters.  With trains from East Croydon Station to London Victoria in just 16 minutes, The King’s Tower is perfectly situated for a central London worker. Improved commutability is already having an upward effect on property prices and thus the window of opportunity to buy at competitive prices is closing,” Mr Holliday adds.

The King’s Tower overlooks its own landscaped grounds within the Queensgate development, which lies in a desirable residential area in the heart of Croydon. The apartments are under a 10 minute walk to Selhurst Railway station and a five minute drive from both West Norwood and West Croydon tube stations (London Overground and Tram network).

The social scene in Croydon is very popular and there are a growing number of city-style restaurants, wine bars, cafes and traditional pubs. The shopping opportunities are also extensive, with over 140 stores in the Whitgift Shopping Centre and at least 60 shops in Centrale Mall.

The area has been named the third greenest borough of London due to the 2,600 acres of green space. Croydon offers a wide range of sports and recreational activities including two full championship golf courses, seven 8-hole courses, pitch and putt courses and driving ranges. Sailing and canoeing are also available at the South Norwood Country Park.

From East Croydon train station, commuters can be at London Victoria in just 16 minutes. Gatwick airport is also just 16 minutes away or for a day at the seaside Brighton takes just over half an hour. For travelling around South London, the Tramlink is the UK’s number one tramway carrying 22 million passengers a year.

Prices for a two-bedroom apartment at The King’s Tower start from £215,000.

For more information and prices please contact our selling agent Streets Ahead Tel: 020 8655 1300

Or visit: www.fairview.co.uk to register interest

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King of Croydon – Fairview New Homes launches the historical King’s Tower is a post from: My First Home Blog

Fairview New Homes has launched the final phase of their riverside development, Connection II in Canterbury, Kent.  The 15 new one and two-bedroom apartments are the last new homes for sale on this popular development of apartments and houses set in landscaped gardens and grounds.

Jim Holliday, Sales Director of Fairview New Homes, comments: “The first phase of Connection was highly successful and we sold all 150 properties without difficulty. The new homes attracted first time buyers in particular, due to Connection II’s enviable location close to the town centre, the coast and the train station for journeys to London. As there are only a few apartments for sale within this phase, we expect them to go quickly. Any interested buyers should contact our selling agent, Connells, as soon as possible for more information.”

Connection II is ideally located for commuters; it is just a few minutes’ walk from both Canterbury West and Canterbury East train stations, with a journey time to London St Pancras from 56 minutes.

“Since the opening of the fast link train to London at the end of 2009, Canterbury has attracted more residents who commute into London daily. The improved transport links, along with the city’s historical and cultural connections, have ensured that property prices in Canterbury have remained stable,” concludes Mr Holliday.

Connection II is ideally located for Canterbury town centre, being just a moment’s walk away from the coffee shops, traditional tea houses, gourmet restaurants, and contemporary bars the city has to offer. The nearby King’s Mile is Canterbury’s shopping district with over 100 high street shops and boutiques.

Residents will never be bored with the broad variety of attractions available in the city and beyond. The nearby beaches of Herne Bay and Whitstable make day trips to the seaside easily viable and the surrounding Kent countryside is perfect for walking, cycling and horse riding.

Trips to Europe are also within easy reach, whether by ferry from Dover or Folkestone, or by Eurostar from Ashford – just a 30 minute drive away.

The homes at Connection include fully fitted kitchens with dark granite effect worktops, stainless steel ovens and semi integrated washer/dryers. Bathrooms feature white sanitary ware with chrome plated fittings. All of the two-bedroom apartments also benefit from an ensuite bathroom in the master-bedroom. There is only 1 one-bedroom apartment.

Prices at Connection II start from £174,995 for a two-bedroom apartment.

For further information on Connection II in Canterbury, please contact our selling agent, Connells, on 01227 764720 or visit www.fairview.co.uk to register interest.

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Connect to Canterbury – Fairview New Homes launches second phase of Connection is a post from: My First Home Blog

Usually your house is the biggest purchase of your life and according to that the mortgage or the loan that you have to take to purchase it, is also going to be the largest you will ever borrow. Thus, you must calculate in advance how much you will exactly have to pay towards the mortgage. The loan mortgage calculator helps you with this calculation. You can specify the details of your mortgage such as the interest rate and mortgage term, and the calculator calculates how much you have to pay every month and a lot of other information that will greatly help you.

As per what you need to find out, you can choose from various calculators – some of them are as follows :

1. Monthly payment calculator: This calculator helps you calculate how much you have to pay on a monthly basis. You get information about which loan you should opt for as you can find out in advance how much you have to pay every month if you opt for a particular loan.

2. Interest only mortgage calculator: In some cases the mortgage loan requires you to pay only the interest for a particular period of time. After that, the monthly installment that you pay goes towards paying for both your interest and the principal amount. This calculator calculates the standard monthly payments as well as the interest only payments. This helps you to get a fair idea of what you are to pay towards the interest and what you are to pay while paying for both principal and interest.

3. Adjustable rate mortgage calculator: This loan mortgage calculator starts with lower interest rates and thus lowers monthly payments. However, you should keep in mind that the risk remains that the interest may increase in future.

4. Amortization schedule calculator: This calculator is used to calculate what amount, from the monthly payments you make, goes towards the principal and towards the interest. This calculator can be used to find out how much you need to pay to reduce your principal amount. With the help of the calculator you can accordingly increase your monthly payment amount. This helps you to pay off your debt faster as your loan term reduces.

4 common types of mortgage loan calculators is a post from: My First Home Blog