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18th September 2015
With the soaring prices of recent years settling down the Sunday Times considers the outlook for London’s property market. "The capital's housing market is the most stable it's been for years," says Julian Peak of Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward. "In the past, there has been a boom-and-bust trend of price surges as buyers flood the market, then corrections as demand subsides. But 2015 has been different." London estate agents described the first day after the Conservatives’ election win as "bonkers", "like a whirling dervish" and "the centre of a hurricane" - there has been "steady and sustained activity", as Mr Peak puts it. Charlie Bubear, head of Savills in Chelsea, says that one of the reasons for this is a "delayed reaction" to December's stamp-duty changes. This evened out the expected post-poll bounce. Last year, for example, you would have had to spend more than £7.14m on a home to be landed with a £500,000 stamp-duty bill; now that sum applies to properties over £4.89m. According to Richard Barber, director at WA Ellis, across London as a whole, the number of properties sold for more than £1m fell by 26% year-on-year. This could be good news for buyers, signalling a return to normality in the market," he says. Below the £1m mark, lower stamp duty and the BoE’s signal that interest rates won't rise until 2016 have given a modest boost to buyers. However, Adam Challis, head of residential research at JLL, cites improving economic and employment prospects as "a far more important factor supporting demand". He expects average prices to increase by 4%-5% by Christmas, compared with 3%-4% in prime London.
18th September 2015
The Sunday Times looks at how the practice of flipping has made a return in London. Jeremy McGivern, managing director of Mercury Homesearch, says flipping can be lucrative if you choose the right development. However, he warns that it’s essential to do your research, to make sure that the demand is there and that there are not too many other buyers with the same idea. "The big danger is that speculators target the same developments, then all try to flip at the same time," he says. "They may well discover that there is not the demand to allow them to do so. In many cases, these speculators could lose their deposit, as they are not capable of providing the funds to complete." The key to success is playing the long game, says Michael Goldmann, sales and marketing director at Regal Homes, who has seen buyers making substantial profits by flipping the firm's properties before completion. "Anyone buying with the intention of selling on should look for a property where the completion date is far enough in the future to cushion any effect that a minor slowdown in the market may have," he says. Ray Withers, chief executive of the investment firm Property Frontiers, feels the strategy is simply too high-risk: if you can't find a buyer before completion, you will have to find a way to pay for the property or lose your deposit. Even if you can buy it, you may be lumbered with an investment flat you don't want or need. "If you don't have the wherewithal and appetite to complete, this is not a risk worth taking," he says.
The Sunday Times, London Property, (13/09/2015)
18th September 2015
Research by Knight Frank suggests that homebuyers in London who think that they can’t afford to move to their target area shouldn’t be put off by the “average” price displayed on the property portals.. For example, in Mayfair, top-end sales such as a £15.9m mansion with 13 bedrooms pull the mean average (the prices of all properties sold divided by the number of properties) up to £3.3m, but the area's median price (the figure in the middle of the range of numbers, if you list them in order) is £1.5m - which edges the neighbourhood closer to affordable. The same applies in all price brackets. Tom Bill, head of London residential research at Knight Frank, says: "Land Registry sales figures show the average London property price is £533,508, but 50% of those properties sold for less than £375,000."
The Sunday Times, London Property, (13/09/2015)
18th September 2015
The Sunday Times looks at how Tottenham, which is seen as one of the least desirable parts of the capital, is poised to become its next property star. "Tottenham is the next hipster hotspot," says Henry Sherwood, managing director of The Buying Agents. "It has morphed from the scene of the riots to London's next big thing. If you're looking for central London investment, there aren't many places where you can buy at a better level. Property in N15 goes for £500 a sq ft compared with £1,000 in London Fields, and in N17 it's £385 a sq ft. There's plenty of potential for growth. Yields average 5%, which is very good for London." Azid Sohoye, manager at Ellis & Co, adds: “Tottenham borders really good areas, so prices are being squeezed up. We're getting inflow from Walthamstow, which has seen one of the highest price increases in London. And just up the road are Stoke Newington, Islington and the Harringay Ladder." Prices in Tottenham have risen by more than 10% in the past year, according to Zoopla. The average home now costs £333,161, while the typical rent for a two-bedroom flat is £1,355 pcm.
18th September 2015
A report from Knight Frank has shown that 11 new London postcodes have passed into the £1m price bracket, becoming areas where 20% of property sales have been above £1m in at least one quarter since the start of 2014. Properties below £1m in Outer London grew by 21.3% in the two years to August 2015, compared with an increase of 17.5% on properties of the same value in Central London during the same period. Knight Frank says that it is lack of supply that is pushing up prices in areas such as Vauxhall as opposed to oft-cited foreign investment. Hammersmith, Maida Vale, Queen’s Park, East Finchley, Muswell Hill, Battersea, Vauxhall, Highbury, Kentish Town, Clerkenwell and Herne Hill are the 11 new £1m postcodes.
The Independent (12/09/2015)
18th September 2015
Wealthy overseas shoppers are splashing out £18bn in London every year. The leading luxury goods and property buyers in the capital are from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and China, according to estate agent Rokstone and consultancy Global Blue. Residential property sales in central London to Saudi purchasers rose 18% on last year, with up to £20m paid for homes. Becky Fatemi, managing director of Rokstone, said: "The same people buying handbags and jewellery are purchasing apartments and houses."
Evening Standard (15/09/2015)