The Market
Mixed picture for house prices across England & Wales as market conditions remain ‘challenging’
Annual change currently at -0.5%, reports LSL & Acadata, after marginal monthly rise; transactions slip to 59,100, marking the lowest February figure since 2015
MPs set out blueprint for leasehold reform
HCLG Committee 'demolishes' the current system with a series of wide-ranging recommendations, including a wholesale shift to commonhold ownership and a lid on ground rents
£100bn of UK property is ‘secretly’ owned
Global Witness analyses Land Registry data to highlight the scale of property ownership by 'anonymous companies registered in tax havens'
Spring property market ‘off to a subdued start’ as buyers hesitate
The usual spring buoyancy is being weighed down by Brexit uncertainty, says Rightmove.
London has seen a 15% jump in cash-toting buy-to-let landlords
The proportion of landlords buying with cash in London rose from 33% in 2017 to 48% in 2018, reports Hamptons.
‘Greater supply but little choice’ for Mayfair buyers
Stock levels may be at a record high but it has 'never been harder to see the wood from the trees', notes 'Mayfair Guru' Peter Wetherell
Mortgage lending is ‘off to a strong start’ in 2019
The latest monthly update from UK Finance indicates that more home-movers and first-time buyers were active in the mortgage market in January this year compared to last.
Brexit is becoming ‘a reason to haggle rather than hesitate’ for committed buyers – Garrington
Britain was blanketed by snow at this time last year, reminisces national buying agency Garrington in its latest market snapshot video.
Ranked: The most expensive world locations for ex-pats
Hong Kong is once again the most expensive place in the world for expatriate rental accommodation, with average monthly costs of US$10,929, followed by New York, Tokyo and London.
OBR slashes property price growth forecasts
'The latest near-term indicators of housing market activity point to a significant weakening', warns the Office for Budget Responsibility, as it anticipates falling property prices and transaction numbers…
Demand, supply & deal numbers fall further as Brexit uncertainty takes its toll
'The wearisome state of British politics that has arisen from Brexit – particularly in the last six months – continues to take their toll on UK housing,' says the Royal Institue of Chartered Surveyors.
Why US buyers are eyeing up London’s super-prime properties
The often-overlooked lifestyle play is a key reason why North American HNWIs have accounted for close to £250m of deals in the past two months, notes Knight Frank's super-prime specialist Daniel Daggers...