How does the UK Consumer really feel about Estate Agents?

The Office of Fair Trading’s latest report tells us that outdated rules on the selling and buying of property in the UK are holding back online alternatives to high street estate agents and that estate agency fees could be costing consumers up to £570 million a year!
Although we all complain about the lack of service and the high fees charged, the OFT reports that “most consumers say they are happy with the service they receive from estate agents”.

Redrow tv goes live online

SWITCHED on buyers are viewing their dream homes at the touch of a button thanks to an innovative new online TV channel. Redrow TV is keeping customers right up to date with all the latest housing news, products and development films.

Downsizing is on the increase – and not just as a means of releasing equity to fund retirement!

Research carried out by Friends Provident reveals that almost 25% of homeowners who are currently working will consider downsizing in the future to fund their retirement. According to retirement specialist, Archstone Lifestyle Homes, however, there is a growing trend for the over 55s to downsize for reasons other than releasing equity.   Many home owners ‘cross-trade’ [...]

Three Decades of Design Perfection

Octagon was founded thirty years ago with one main aim: to design and build properties of the highest standards in specification and finish.  Since that time they have established an unprecedented reputation, and been on the receiving end of over a hundred awards, for constructing homes of outstanding quality and excellence. The two founding partners, [...]

James Davis of UPad on Retirement ‘buy to let’

Read what James Davis, CEO of UPad has to say about the buy to let market when facing retirement in the United Kingdom.

Thinking about Retiring in the UK?  Think again!

The big, blank eye of bureaucracy stares back at me every time I think about that ‘golden’ retirement. How on earth am I going to achieve a secure retirement on a British pension? Even with a private one, I’m thousands down on what I should have tucked away already.
I need to find a retirement income that equates to two thirds of my current earnings and at present, I earn quite a bit. But that’s not all. I want to retire early so I can enjoy those ‘golden years’ so I’ve been looking around and this is what I’ve discovered.

Renting in Retirement – Girlings practical and affordable housing solution

With an average retirement of 25 years, the demise of financial salary pension schemes and the recent financial crisis, retired people will be challenged to finance a secure retirement. Although the government has pledged to change the retirement age limit to 66 in 2020 and 68 in 2045, this will do little to alleviate the financial difficulties…

Ask the Editor

Q: I want to sell my house now while the market is stable but I don’t want to pay huge estate agents fees. How else do I sell it?

A: Buying and selling online is becoming more enticing to consumers wanting to save on their costs. There’s been a definite upswing in the number of online estate agents in the past two years and they are efficient in terms of service and costs.

Leonora Wollner on downsizing

Comment from Leonora Wollner, Co Founder of Searchwells Property Finders “Downsizing is a relatively new property buzz word.  It can often free up capital as well as free up your day to day life as you look to buy a home suited to your current needs. Selling the family home takes sensitivity and planning to [...]

Sarah Beeny on Buy to Let in UK

There have been numerous articles written recently, pronouncing the death of the buy to let market – but things seem to be changing and we’re seeing a sharp upturn it seems. This is likely down to increased demand for rentals with the shortage of affordable homes for first time buyers, and the lack of available finance …

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