Format: News

Britain's 'ability to buy' is better now than it was in 1997, says Hamptons International, as the affordability of housing has improved in recent months.

Foxtons is reporting that a record number - 85% - of all its tenancies are renewing contracts.

"The number of Manhattan apartment sales greatly increased in the four weeks leading up to July 1," says New York real estate website City Realty from across the pond.

"Asian cities are rising up the rankings," says Knight Frank, as seven of the top ten cities in its Prime Global Cities Index are now based in the Asia Pacific region.

December's Stamp Duty reform probably hasn't had that big an impact on the £2m+ property market, argues CBRE.

A top PCL recruitment consultant has decided to tap into the Midlands property market with his new venture.

How's this for a soft launch... Over 1,000 buyers have already enquired about apartments in the soon-to-be-transformed Shell Centre, less than a week after the registration process began.

In stark contrast to what's being going on in the sales market, average rental values across prime London are now 7.4% higher than they were at this point last year.

A Neolithic tomb in Cornwall, a shell grotto on a Georgian estate in Dorset, a Victorian coffin works in Birmingham, a Sheffield steel workshop and a 14th century Norfolk church are just some of the heritage…

Rental values in prime central London have dropped - albeit by the smallest of measures - for the first time since February 2014. July saw PCL rents fall by 0.

The expansion of the prime London property market is leading to growth opportunities in new areas of the capital.

Knight Frank City & East has ramped up its resi development department with a dedicated acquisitions offering.