'We can see the first green shoots of a recovery': Mishcon's James Liffen on the current state of the property market
"We can see the first green shoots of a recovery," writes James Liffen of Mishcon de Reya as he takes stock of the property sector's current situation, "but think it may be some time before the prime and super prime markets show the levels of activity that we saw in January and February of this year."
James is a Partner and Head of Mishcon de Reya's Residential Property team specialising in residential conveyancing. He is experienced in dealing with complex deals involving shared ownership, auction sales, portfolio purchases, tenancy and planning issues. That said, his comprehensive background means that he is an expert in handling straightforward sale transactions and purchase and refinancing transactions. James also has a lot of experience working with lenders on joint venture schemes and completing high value loans on residential properties. James' clients are predominantly high net worth individuals. For this reason he often deals with other Private client teams across the firm such Tax and Family, as well as Corporate.
What to read next
Tom Bill on what 2021 could bring for the UK property market
Tax changes and the withdrawal of support measures mean the post-Covid ‘normal’ will only begin to emerge later next year, writes Knight Frank's Head of UK Residential Research.
By Tom Bill
Volatile property market to calm, says OBR as it upgrades house price forecast
"House prices have risen significantly faster since the start of the pandemic than we had expected, says the Office of Budget Responsibility.
By PrimeResi
How prime London’s property market is staging its latest comeback
Lucian Cook examines the historical and global factors that have defined the Prime Central London property market, the current conditions that are transforming the landscape, and what a post-Coronavirus…
By Lucian Cook
Companies in this article
Mishcon de ReyaMost read
Former CBRE director launches independent advisory
Rian Strauss says international clients often have plenty of advisers, but still lack someone 'who can look across the whole situation'.
From Reel to Deal: Instagram lead ends with £16.5mn Chelsea sale
Luxury agency says social media is increasingly acting as a 'sophisticated catalyst' for big-ticket property deals.
In Pictures: Inside a £22mn Chelsea villa with one of RBKC’s last big basement builds
PCL agency lands one of the season's standout instructions in the Boltons Conservation Area.
Savills completes $1.1bn real estate investment bank acquisition
The big deal 'accelerates Savills strategy to scale in North America while strengthening its leadership position in both EMEA and Asia Pacific.'
By PrimeResi
China launches retroactive tax crackdown on wealthy citizens’ offshore assets
Beijing is said to be pursuing HNWIs for unpaid tax on overseas assets going back decades.
By PrimeResi
RBKC agency Russell Simpson expands with new SW London office
The former Head of Sales at John D Wood in Parsons Green will be leading the new operation.
Revealed: Rightmove’s ten most viewed property listings of 2026 so far
It's an eclectic bunch, ranging from a £250k cliff-edge cottage to a £20mn Gothic mansion, via a mediaeval Scottish castle and a Victorian Manchester villa.
By PrimeResi
Hamptons & John D Wood owner cites ‘very challenging’ market as H1 profits tumble 92%
The UK's biggest estate agency group said lettings and surveying again helped offset the slowdown in sales activity.
Residence One tops out 29-home St John’s Wood scheme
Luxury apartment project reaches full height as developer targets May 2027 completion.
Family offices & bulk investors turn out for Saudi property showcase in Mayfair
Chancery Rosewood hosts second UK-Saudi exhibition as organisers claim £65.7mn of opening-day sales and reservations.
LATEST ARTICLES
‘A home is the centre of family life, not an untapped tax stream’: Wealthy London boroughs unite against ‘mansion tax’
RBKC, Westminster, Richmond & Wandsworth say residents could end up paying more than half of the proposed national levy.
UK Sotheby’s recruits former Anderson Rose director
Scott Joseph will cover Prime Central and North West London from the brokerage's St John's Wood office.
Climate risk is now ‘core due diligence’ – but still being spotted too late
81% of property professionals agree climate risk should rank alongside mainstream searches as 'core due diligence' for buyers.
By PrimeResi
Ranked: Top 10 overseas property search locations for UK buyers in 2026
Portugal's Algarve region retains its top spot for British folk looking for a home abroad.
By PrimeResi
Dubai logs record-breaking half for super-prime sales
296 homes sold for more than US$10mn in the first six months of this year, reports Knight Frank - but ongoing uncertainties may quell activity in the coming months.
By PrimeResi