Bill Tandy's latest market update

Top Tips to Find Your Perfect Home This Spring

Spring is a time for change, growth, and new beginnings. As flowers spring to life and wildlife returns from hibernation...

Click here to read Top Tips to Find Your Perfect Home This Spring.

Top Tips for an Organised Home

If it seems that no amount of cleaning can scrub away the ‘cluttered’ feeling in your home, a little bit of order could be all that’s missing…

Click here to read Top Tips for an Organised Home.

A month of March memories for your home

 

 

March has a lot to offer when it comes to making happy family memories for you to cherish, especially in your home. All too often, when we view a potential home, we think of everything from price, location, how much we like the property, the size and aspect of the rooms, and its features. We become obsessed with décor, design, and monetary value. With so much going on in March, now is a good time to look at your home in a different light.

 

How does your home feel during some of the days that make March such an inspiring time of year?

 

Spring

Spring is a welcome release from the dark, cold days of winter and shows all of us proof that the darkness and cold really do not last forever and that things really can change! Change is something that we both love and despise as humans. Unless we are certain that it’s for the better. Is spring memorable in your home, or do you feel disconnected from the new forces of nature that show up in the form of flowers and wildlife? It’s important to feel connected to nature in your home. You only need to look at the effect that glass door walls have on blending the indoor and outdoor worlds, connecting you to nature with a single glance. Then, when you open the doors, an orchestra of nature and the scents of the garden waft into your home. It’s mood-altering and makes for a truly beautiful living experience.

 

Mother’s Day

Whether you are a mother, son, daughter, or partner helping to arrange the little details, from breakfast in bed to flowers. How well does your home befit the occasion? A dining room that feels special and unique marks not just this occasion but many memorable meals. Does each room work in conjunction with each other? Does the special ambience you create in the dining room flow to the sitting room?

 

Longer evenings and changing clocks

Your time is precious. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just press pause every now and again to stretch out your evenings? Creating spaces in your home that allow you to relax quickly and appreciate the moment may not stop time itself. They will, however, slow time down as you become absorbed and tuned into the moment. Create a relaxing outdoor space where you can light candles with a view of the sky at sunset, add music, and then breathe. You can create such spaces in a variety of settings (such as your living room or bedroom) in your own unique way. Then you will become more connected to your surroundings and your home.

 

International Day of Happiness

Taking place in March, this is another great excuse to celebrate laughter and joy. But who needs an excuse? Take the time to create a home that makes you feel at one with, and it will take care of you, so happy moments become happy days and months for a better way of life.

 

Make a fresh start on your property search. This March, look for a home that will bring you a thousand happy memories. Browse our properties.

 

 

 

Buy-to-let investments. The perfect pension option!

 

 

Whether you are planning on retiring early, late, or not at all, investing in property is a very effective way to build a substantial retirement fund! The old saying is true: You only get out of life what you give. While it’s true that it requires more effort and organisation to prop up your pension fund with property, the benefits are well worth it.

 

Things to consider

There is little doubt that purchasing a house takes much more effort than simply paying a monthly figure into a pension fund. So here are a few things to keep in mind.

 

Buy in the right location

Location and understanding the market you are investing in are essential. You want to protect your investment, ideally enjoy good growth, and have a reliable and regular stream of rent. So do your research and invest in a property that will give you all these things in spades.

 

Stamp duty

When you purchase an additional property, you will pay 3% on top of the normal stamp duty rate.

 

You will need a 25% deposit

Applying for a buy-to-let mortgage is a little different from a conventional mortgage. Firstly, you typically need a 25% deposit. Many landlords also opt for an interest-only mortgage to keep monthly payments to a minimum. Then repay at the end of the term of the mortgage or make overpayments on the balance throughout the lifespan of the mortgage. The amount you can borrow is also based on what rent you can charge tenants, not what you earn. However, your lender will also take into consideration your income.

 

Lettings agent

A good lettings agent will make your life so much easier. There are plenty of options for levels of service. You may decide on a fully managed service or a basic level. The costs are relatively low, ranging from 10-15% of your monthly rental income.

 

The rewards

You gain more control over your pension when you invest in property, and the rewards compared with a conventional pension fund are greater and more tangible.

 

Good old bricks and mortar!

A good, solid investment in something as tangible as property is a pragmatic choice when it comes to long-term resilience. Stocks and shares can both fall and rise at the drop of a hat!

 

Property prices are on the long-term ascent

In the long term, property prices tend to rise. If you want proof, you only have to look into the past. While prices can fluctuate in the short term, in the long term they steadily grow, increasing the value of your retirement fund.

 

Rental income

The value of your pension will increase as you pay your buy-to-let mortgage. Adding to this, any increases in the value of your property and rental income and you are well on your way to creating a substantial retirement fund. To achieve this, investing wisely is key, so that your monthly rent exceeds your monthly costs and a profit is made.

 

A versatile investment

Investing in property gives you more options. For example, if you want to release equity, your property investment should recover more rapidly than paying into a conventional pension plan. It's good to know when you need to get your hands on some cash. Owning an animate object to gift to loved ones will keep you busy while enjoying a project, hobby, and solid investment. Property can be a fun and interesting way to prepare for your retirement.

 

Looking for the ideal property investment to secure your future? Contact us to see how we can help.

 

 

UK house prices make a stable start to 2023

 

 

House prices are not as important as many analysts like to suggest! If you are selling, you may get a little less, and if you are buying, you may pay a little less. Equally, if prices rise, you may get more for the home you place on the market, but then the house you buy will cost you more!

 

However, house prices give a good indicator as to the state of the UK property market. What we really want is stability, and it appears that after years of soaring prices, there is evidence to suggest that the property market is reaching a plateau.

 

According to the Halifax, average house prices in January 2023 have hardly changed since December 2022, while average house prices are still £5000 higher than in January 2022.*

 

Price growth and price increase are not the same

What appears to be happening is a dip in growth, which is very different from a dip in prices. It’s no secret that prices have increased a bit too rapidly over the past few years. A softer, slower market is a more stable market. Buying a home is a long-term investment, and slow and steady wins the race! Some analysts shout "crash" like a nervous passenger in the front seat of a speeding car, but now that the market is driving forward at a slower pace, a crash is unlikely.

 

The law of averages

Many of the figures and stats we hear about are based on averages. It’s important to take these with a rather large pinch of salt! If you are a first-time buyer or looking to move, when you turn on the news and hear the average house price in the UK, you may feel somewhat intimidated, perhaps even frightened! For example, in November 2022, the average price of a property in England was £315,073.** However, there is no substitute for getting online, talking to your agent, and exploring physical viewings to see how far your money can really go!

 

The market is settling down

Another good sign that the market is settling down is the return of more competitive mortgage interest rates. Many lenders are now offering deals hovering around the 4% mark. Stable house prices and stable lending rates create nicer conditions for settling down in the home you want.

 

You accept the price, but you love your house

Price is something you must accept when selling or buying. Who knows, you may love the price if it’s right! Ultimately, you are investing your time and emotion in a house that you want to be the best version of your home. House prices in the long term will inevitably rise, and you don’t want to accept anything less than the right home.

 

To see how much property, you can really get for your money, get in touch.

 

 

 

Halifax*Office for National Statistics**

Energy-efficient homes are in big demand - Here’s how you can improve yours

 

 

Unlike many other things in your life, when it comes to your home, there is a lot you can do to save on energy costs. Food costs are spiralling, and while you can grow some things, it’s most likely you can’t grow all you want. The price of cars has also gone up, as have the prices of many other consumables and raw materials, and yet again, there is not much you can do about it.

 

Many of us lament the cost-of-living crisis and feel helpless in the face of such adversity. So here are some quick fixes and big improvements you can undertake to increase the energy efficiency of your home while at the same time adding to its value.

 

Quick fixes

• Install a smart meter: this can be supplied by your energy provider, so you can see exactly how much energy you use.
• Loft insulation: this is a simple way to keep heat from escaping your home and can save you a lot of money on heating bills. It is something you could do yourself with the right protective equipment, but don’t fall through the roof! Perhaps you don’t feel up to it after all? Don’t worry; there are many specialists who can do this for you.
• Collect rainwater for the garden: by collecting rainwater in your garden in a butt, a barrel or an all-singing, all-dancing water tank complete with a pump. Whichever you choose, you are making your garden greener by harvesting rainwater!
• Low-flow showerhead: you can buy one of these for less than £20 and install it in minutes by simply unscrewing your old showerhead and replacing it. Being more efficient could mean you use your boiler a little less, too.
• Energy-efficient light bulbs: they might be a little more expensive, but they will save up to 80% on energy use and last up to ten years!

Big improvements

• Install a new boiler: improve your energy performance certificate with a new boiler. Having an old boiler will put buyers off, and the value of your home will increase sufficiently to cover the costs of a new boiler.
• Air source heat pump: with government grants making this option more affordable, heat pumps are becoming more popular. British Gas offers a complete fitting service.
• Triple-glazed windows: this will improve your home's energy rating further. Your home loses a lot of energy as heat escapes through the windows. When they are clean, windows allow a lot of heat from the sun to enter. Triple-glazed windows trap that heat more efficiently, saving you money on the energy you use to heat your home.
• Photovoltaic solar panels: as solar panels become more popular, we are all becoming more aware of them. Less well-known are photovoltaic solar panels, which work even when it’s cloudy—perfect for the UK! Did you know you could sell the electricity they generate back to your local energy supplier, potentially making them pay for themselves?
• Hot water solar panels: placed on the roof like traditional solar panels, they heat the water for your shower, bath, and kitchen sink!
• Install a wind turbine: we see them dotted all over the countryside, but perhaps surprisingly, you can buy smaller versions for your home that will create enough electricity to run your entire home.

Find a good deal

Many of these quick fixes and bigger home improvements are eligible for government assistance depending on different criteria, and there are some good deals to be had with energy suppliers and local businesses, so it’s always worth a look online to check out the latest deals.

 

Looking to move to a more energy-efficient home? Want to know how much value you have added by improving the energy efficiency of your home? Book a valuation.