Property

Inside Property

Home truths: 'Squatting is the perfect example of the Big Society'

Sunday, 29 May 2011

They have a reputation for occupying multimillion-pound pads and dragging down the value of neighbourhoods. But could squatters actually provide the bedrock for the Government's Big Idea – even as the Justice Secretary tries to stamp them out?

Online House Hunter: Home wins

Friday, 27 May 2011

First-time buyers are still struggling to get their foot on the property-ladder so here’s a few web links to give you a pointer in the right direction.

Small rise in house prices

Friday, 27 May 2011

House prices edged ahead by 0.3% during May as the property market continued to trade sideways, figures showed today.

House Doctor: 'My rent is far higher than a mortgage at the moment. Do you think I'm paying too much?'

Friday, 27 May 2011

Question: I've rented a two-bed house for nearly seven years and my partner did the sums to work out that it's actually cheaper to have a mortgage on the property than carry on renting.

One big, happy family: The three-generation household is making a comeback

Friday, 27 May 2011

After Chris Lovell's wife Arlene died, very suddenly, in 2008, grief stopped him in his tracks. He had been a successful model-maker for adverts and films, working with the likes of Nick Roeg and Tony and Ridley Scott, but could not go on. Nor could he manage to paint – an early passion he had always intended to take up again. He gestures at his many portraits of Arlene hanging on the walls of his home: "It was a nightmare."

Are Oak House's radical curves the shape of things to come?

Friday, 27 May 2011

Its design was tough to sell to the planning committee, but the results are striking

Online House Hunter: Are sellers starting to get real?

Thursday, 26 May 2011

There is a strong message coming from estate agents to those selling their homes: it’s time to get real.

Online House Hunter: Banking on bank holidays

Wednesday, 25 May 2011

The bank holiday may be good news for over-worked parents but they are a mixed blessing for the property market.

Property sales showed signs of stabilising in April

Wednesday, 25 May 2011

Property sales showed signs of stabilising during April but transactions remain well down on normal levels.

Online House Hunter: Border lines

Tuesday, 24 May 2011

If first impressions count when it comes to selling your home then the front garden should receive most of your attention.

Online House Hunter: Tidy-up and sell-up

Monday, 23 May 2011

I know I’m not the only house-buyer who has been astounded at the poor presentation of some homes I have had to visit in the past.

Online House Hunter: Living with history

Friday, 20 May 2011

The appeal of living in a converted historic home is obvious and, as property writer Graham Norwood points out, the government seems determined to sell off even more of them in the near future.

Barrack homes: Old military and council buildings are being developed into luxury apartments

Friday, 20 May 2011

Fighter Command's HQ during the Battle of Britain is being converted – and it's not alone

The facelift factor: Giving the exterior of a house a makeover can add 10 per cent to its value

Friday, 20 May 2011

Don't ignore a house because it's ugly on the outside. Ruth Bloomfield meets a couple who transformed theirs

House Doctor: 'Can we get our lender to change its mind over a low valuation?'

Friday, 20 May 2011

Question: We had an offer of �355,000 accepted on a fantastic three-bedroom house. Unfortunately, our lender has just given its own valuation of �320,000 – leaving us without a big enough mortgage to buy. Is there anything we can do to get the lender to change its mind on this ridiculously low valuation?

Online House Hunter: The appeal of new-build

Thursday, 19 May 2011

For some house hunters it just has to be a brand new house.

Housing industry 'rebound' observed

Thursday, 19 May 2011

The housebuilding industry showed signs of recovering during the first quarter, with the number of new properties started jumping by 26%.

Online House Hunter: Shops or houses?

Wednesday, 18 May 2011

The battle for the town centre has begun. And Mary Portas, "the Queen of Shops" has been recruited by David Cameron to save town centre shops and reverse the fortunes of the beleagued UK shopping centres.

Online House Hunter: Green credentials

Tuesday, 17 May 2011

The government’s green credentials are back under the spotlight with energy secretary Chris Huhne likely to tell MPs this week the UK would adopt recommendations made by the Government’s climate advisors for a fourth "carbon budget".

House prices rise 1.2% in March

Tuesday, 17 May 2011

House prices rose by 1.2% during March as the property market remained volatile, figures showed today.

Online House Hunter: Hooray for Hounslow

Monday, 16 May 2011

London and the south-east are leading the way in any revival in the housing market but there are some boroughs doing better than others.

Online House-Hunter: Bookmark essentials

Friday, 13 May 2011

Time for a round-up of the best bookmarks to help you find your new home be it a new home for sale in Newbury or a Victorian delight in Dover.

Greener pastures: Is it time to snap up an Irish holiday-home bargain?

Friday, 13 May 2011

Turn the clock back a few years and owning a holiday home in Ireland was a pipe dream for most people. Then the property crash happened. Now, however, a combination of falling house prices and low stamp duty rates means estate agents across Ireland are reporting growing interest from overseas, particularly the Britain. So is now the time to pick up the holiday cottage of your dreams? Are there bargains to be had? And is it a safe investment?

The property sweet spots that won't bust your budget

Friday, 13 May 2011

Forget the usual home-counties hotspots - it's time for buyers to "re-boot" the location clich�s.

Repossessions rise as squeeze hits households

Friday, 13 May 2011

Repossessions of homes by mortgage-lenders jumped 15 per cent in the first quarter, even before an interest rate rise that is now expected by the end of the year.

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