The Curate’s Egg: Why the housing market headlines are well off the mark
What is happening at ground level is far too complex to be covered in a newspaper by-line, writes Saul Empson
Saul Empson is an independent property buying agent, offering a personal, bespoke service to a small group of private clients. He has been involved in the central London property market since 1985 and spent his first fifteen years as a selling agent selling residential property and running sales offices for some of the big high street names. In 1999 he made the switch to finding and buying property on behalf of clients instead of selling houses and has never looked back.
What to read next
A perfect storm: Three reasons why the country market is red-hot right now
A number of unconnected components have all conspired to create a wild hive of activity, writes Saul Empson
By Saul Empson
‘Que Sera, Sera…’: The future of the property market’s not ours to see
The entire property industry held its breath when the market reopened in March, but what happened next surprised even the most seasoned of agents, writes Saul Empson...
By Saul Empson
The London property market continues to tick along relatively robustly – and here’s why…
An awful lot of buyers who, having expected prices to fall like an anvil out of a window in a Tom and Jerry cartoon, are finding the choice of houses disappointing and prices far firmer than they had hoped,…
By Saul Empson
Companies in this article
HaringtonsMost read
Finchatton takes on one of Chelsea’s biggest development prizes
Exclusive: Super-prime heavyweight drafted in to steer landmark PCL scheme promising 78 residences with 'world-class' amenities.
Former Knight Frank Private Office partner launches buying agency
Senior figure sets up independent operation focused on high-value acquisitions.
Native Land unveils £15.5mn penthouse with one of Marylebone’s biggest roof terraces
In Pictures: Developer rounds off sales programme at well-received PCL scheme with a flourish.
Major developer calls time on London as viability ‘fundamentally broken’
Economic rewards for taking development risk in the capital have 'evaporated,' says housebuilding giant boss.
By PrimeResi
Knight Frank adds more affiliate brokers as enquiries top 170
Agency continues rollout of self-employed model as it targets key territories across South East and West London.
In Pictures: ‘One of Surrey’s most extraordinary country houses’ hits the market at nearly £14mn
Grade I-listed medieval manor - reunited as a single residence after more than 70 years - comes with a moat, 34 acres and Kelly Hoppen interiors.
London sales slump to six-year low as price cuts surge
Fresh analysis of LonRes data reveals agreed sales in the first nine months of 2026 were 22% below the five-year average, and 36% below 2021 levels.
By PrimeResi
Super-prime London developer unveils Dubai debut
Valouran teams up with fellow PCL luxury specialist on a high-end townhouse project in the emirate.
Buyer found for Richmond Park ‘gem’
Picturesque former gate lodge is one of only a handful of private homes tucked away inside the 2,500-acre Royal Park.
Have PCL property values turned a corner?
Fresh Savills data suggests the pace of decline is easing across prime markets, as buyers & sellers become 'more aligned on price.'
By PrimeResi
LATEST ARTICLES
Function Vs Form: What happens when luxury design forgets how a building actually works
The concierge desk may be a marble-clad thing of beauty, but where does the CCTV monitor go?
Supply squeeze pushes London rents to record high
The capital's rental stock has fallen 9% in the last year, while tenant demand has risen 6%.
By PrimeResi
My Property Career: Quickfire Q&A with Savills’ Victoria Garrett
Recruitment guru Barry Collins chats with prime resi industry leaders & entrepreneurs, distilling decades of experience & career highlights into 60 seconds.
Bentry gets planning nod for Olympia resi scheme
Developer behind No.1 Hampstead and Angel Village secures backing for a 29-home conversion scheme opposite the £1.3bn West London regen project.
Albion Nord builds senior team as international ambitions grow
Super-prime design studio makes quartet of high-level appointments as it expands its portfolio across the UK and overseas.