Housing market

The way we buy, sell, let and rent property has changed dramatically over the past decade as new online alternatives and hybrid models have shaken up the status quo. Until relatively recently, traditional High Street agents essentially owned 99.9% of the market and it was commonly accepted that if you wanted to sell or let your property, you would pop down to your local High Street agent’s office...

Scottish house prices are expected to continue to rise over the next few months after climbing in April, according to surveyors. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) said demand for property continued to increase supply last month. This was despite a rise in the number of homes coming on to the market. The growth of interest in the Scottish property market bucked the trend across the...

A boiler room in the basement of a block of flats in central London is expected to sell for a staggering £250,000 when it goes up for auction.   The shocking figure - which is enough to buy a HOUSE in most parts of the country - is for the two-room basement which was previously used to provide heating and electricity for residents.   With modern equipment shrinking in size over...

London Road Fire Station has finally been sold to developers - after one of the longest and most bitter heritage battles in Manchester’s history. The iconic building - which has been gradually crumbling for 30 years - is to be transformed by property giant Allied London and renamed the Manchester Firehouse. Its sale has been welcomed with jubilation both inside and outside the town hall,...

You’ll know you have a problem with hard water when you see a build up of lime scale accumulate on the bathroom walls, the sink, and even on your skin. It leaves behind a white, chalky, and crusty appearance that makes the water hard on appliances. Untreated hard water can also eventually clog your pipes, drastically reduce water pressure, and damage appliances over time like the washing machine...

This week, police in Yorkshire have launched an appeal to find new homes… for 19 rescue dogs! Police issued the public statement after rescuing the stolen dogs, who had been abandoned in a property in Kelfield near Riccal in the Selby area. 23 dogs were originally seized from the property when a local resident reported the abandoned dogs, which are thought to have been stolen. Many of the...

While the summer season is over for most of us, some lucky holiday makers are still enjoying an ice frappe on a sunny beach, in Spain's stunning Balearic Islands. Famous for their lovely weather, sun-bleached shores and crystal-clear water, the Balearic Islands are Spain's most popular summer holiday destinations, welcoming flocks of international tourists every year. Given the country's popularity, people...

Australia has seen an increase of 10% more young Aussie’s living at home, with their parents from 1997 to 2013 (see Figure 1 below).The 10% increase is made up of both those who have never left home (e.g. dependant students still in high school or studying at the local university), and those who have left the nest but have returned later (e.g. left home to go to university or left home to work...

  Sales of homes in the US are being held by low supply levels.   Pending home sales slipped in June 2015, according to the National Association of Realtors, reversing five months of growth in a row.    The NAR's index, which is based on contract signings, fell 1.8 percent from May's nine-year high, but remains 8.2 per cent above the levels recorded in June 2014. Indeed, despite...

Many buyers are reluctant or unsure on whether or not to sell their home. Families may worry about the current and future home values, investors may be wondering if the time is right. Sellers are concerned, and smartly so, with current interest rate trends. Sellers are asking, "Can buyers qualify for mortgages?" There are many things to think about when considering to sell your home, like friends and loved...