Research by estate agent Knight Frank has found the number of second homeowners in England has soared to a record level of almost a quarter of a million. According to the estate agent, a change in holiday plans mean an increasing amount of buyers believe that a second home is “an investment, rather than a [...]
The cost of owning and running a home in Scotland has declined by 4% over the past two years, according to research by Bank of Scotland.
Between April 2008 and April 2010, average yearly expenses fell by £388, from £8,949 to £8,562.
In real terms (after allowing for retail price inflation), the figure is down [...]
Reporting on its recent “Future Housing” conference the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) says it expects the UK to see a smaller proportion of homeowners and a higher proportion of tenants, mostly in the private sector, in the years ahead.
Changing consumer preferences and affordability pressures will drive the trend.
Examining the plight of first-time buyers, [...]
Homeowners get the itch to move house every seven years, new research has discovered.
Co-operative Bank found the main reason people move house is to make room for a growing family.
Other popular reasons homeowners cited for moving included wanting to live closer to work, and getting bored of their current home.
One in six (14%) said the [...]
The latest Equity Release Market Monitor from Key Retirement Solutions (KRS) has revealed a rise in equity release take-up in the July to September period.
Equity release sales were up 19% during the period compared to the April to June period, said KRS.
Equity release allows homeowners to release cash from the value of their property – [...]
A survey by online property website Zoopla.co.uk has found that more than three-quarters (79%) of homeowners believe home values will rise in the next six months, while only 11% are expecting house prices to fall over the same period.
In its quarterly survey of housing market sentiment, Zoopla found that overall, the 6,682 homeowners surveyed predicted [...]