The Market
Australia to curb foreign property investment ‘within weeks’
Australia will be unveiling plans to put the brakes on foreign investment into its resi property market "within weeks" in a bid to curtail soaring prices.
Savills Bahrain opens international resi sales suite
Savills has launched a dedicated resi sales offering in Bahrain for local residents keen to buy in the UK, Europe or the Americas.
Required Reading: Stamp Duty Reform and the Prime London Market
The long-criticised slab rate system for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) was abolished in the Autumn Statement in December 2014, seeking to bring fairness to property purchase costs and benefiting 98% of homebuyers.
Property investors ‘are going to have to work harder’ for high returns this year
While "the macro-economic story for the UK will remain benign" for the next year or so, prime residential property markets are in for a fairly subdued - but still positive - year, says Savills.
Government outlines London’s short-term lettings shake-up
The government has been laying out its plans to ditch the "confusing" restrictions on short-terms lets in the capital.
Policy Statements of Intent: How the main pre-manifesto positions stack up
Housebuilding, property taxes and tenancy lengths in the private rented sector have been flagged up as the "bones of contention" in the major political parties' pre-election banter.
£250m Teddington Studios scheme sold to Singaporean developer
Just three months after planning was given to turn one of the UK's best-known film studios into a £250m resi scheme, a buyer has been found in the shape of a listed Singaporean developer with a billionaire…
Hedge funds begin to cash-in on a falling London property market
"Several hedge funds have taken out short positions, essentially bets that a company’s share price will fall, against estate agents Foxtons and Savills, along with property portal Zoopla, and housebuilder…
Yorkshire country seat complete with manorial title asks £1.35m
A 200-year-old stately home has just been listed for sale complete with the chance to become a bona fide Lord of the Manor.
The Big Freeze: Nathalie Hirst on waiting for the top of the market to thaw
For those with nerves of steel and an iron constitution, it's a good time to take a punt, says top buying agent Nathalie Hirst...
Controversial Bath school-to-resi scheme up for £10m
One of the most important resi developments sites in the world heritage city of Bath looks to be up for grabs.
The former school occupies 6.
SDLT and All That: UK home buying costs Vs the rest of the world
Despite last year's Stamp Duty overhaul ladling some extra bulk on to the cost of buying a top-end home in Britain, the UK's prime buyer's burden is still pretty competitive in the global marketplace,…