020 7538 0102
23rd February 2018
Lenders are introducing a raft of deals and incentives to lure first-time buyers, as buy-to-let lending drops. Research by Moneyfacts also shows that first-time-buyer interest rates are getting lower. David Hollingworth of L&C Mortgages, says: “You can’t ignore that first-time buyers have benefited from reduced competition from landlords. Lenders will look at where there is demand”.
The Times (16/02.2018)
23rd February 2018
A survey from Which? mortgage advisers suggests almost a fifth of first-time buyers have sold possessions to raise funds for a deposit. Meanwhile, the survey also shows 37% worked overtime and 22% avoided rent by moving back in or continuing to live with their parents. Which? principal mortgage adviser David Blake, commenting on the survey's findings, noted the "various options out there for first-time buyers, from Help to Buy ISAs to equity loans, and even shared ownership."
Evening Standard (22/02/2018)
23rd February 2018
Consumers expecting another jump in the Bank of England's interest rates are rushing to lock in fixed-rate mortgages, new data reveals. The proportion of customers searching for fixed-rate mortgages on data firm Experian's comparison site arm rose to over 67.4% in February, compared to 60.3% in December. The Bank this month said it expects to hike rates in May. Demand for fixed rates also jumped to 67.1% in November after the first rate hike.
City AM (19/02/2018)
16th February 2018
Five new apartments at Berkeley Homes’ South Quay Plaza, near Canary Wharf have been placed on the market. The quintet is based on the 57th floor of the UK’s tallest residential scheme, offering panoramic views of London’s skyline. The development will stand at 68 floors when complete, and includes a 20m residents’ swimming pool high up on the 56th floor, looking onto The Thames, with cafés, shops restaurants and open public space set around its base. Completion on the five homes is expected in 2021, with prices starting at £890,000.
East London Advertiser (15/02/2018)
16th February 2018
Tower Hamlets Council has agreed to provide £270,000 for preparatory work on a new pedestrian bridge in Canary Wharf, to relieve congestion on the existing South Quay Footbridge. At present, 27,000 people cross the South Quay bridge every day, making it the second-busiest in London, leading to severe bottlenecks; a second bridge to link the Isle of Dogs with South Quay and Canary Wharf will allow commuters, along with local residents, to have easier access to the DLR and Underground stations. “The Isle of Dogs needs infrastructure to match the development,” Tower Hamlets Mayor John Biggs said. “This footbridge will relieve congestion on the existing bridge and improve cycling and pedestrian access”.
New Civil Engineer (13/02/2018) East London Advertiser (12/02/2018)
16th February 2018
Property developer Pocket Living has agreed to buy a site in Leyton, east London, for £9m and plans to build around 200 affordable homes there. These homes will be offered at a discount to the local market of at least 20% as part of the firm’s plans to build 1059 affordable homes over the next three years. Pocket's one- and two-bed flats are designed with millennials in mind. The units are built off-site in the company's factory, and are then transported into the capital; last year, Mayor Sadiq Khan invested £25m in the firm, to fund the construction of over 1,000 Pocket homes.
City AM (13/02/2018)