With fantastic views, minimal effort, and trendy, modern, and classical designs, apartments and flats are as appealing as ever when it comes to buying a place to live. So, it’s little wonder urban areas and remote locations are seeing healthy levels of interest in this convenient way of living.

Demand for one- and two-bedroom flats across the UK increased from 22% to 27% in the year to February 2023, while one- and two-bedroom flats for the same period in London accounted for 49% of demand.* There are a number of reasons for this. Easy living
If you don’t want to be weighed down by a big mortgage or large monthly bills, flats are the way forward. Often located near good transport links, shops, and amenities, adding to a potentially great social life with bars, pubs, and other apartment owners on your doorstep, life can be easier and potentially more fun than living in other forms of property.

Low maintenance
It’s most likely you will not have a garden to worry about, and if you do, it could be maintained for you. Alternatively, you may enjoy a balcony as an outdoor space, in which case you can enjoy the novelty of good views and a different perspective on things. It’s easier to keep on top of cleaning with little or no maintenance involved.

Cost of living
As interest rates rise and the cost of energy soars, although right now some of these expenses are at last reducing, simply heating a flat often costs much less than even a modest terraced house. Decorating and revamping an apartment is most likely to be more affordable.

First steps and more
Typically the domain of first-time buyers or perhaps individuals who have chosen to retire, apartments are becoming increasingly popular with a broader demographic as they improve in size, quality, and location.

A great investment
The demand for flats and apartments is always high. If one day you wake up and decide you want to rent it out, you are guaranteed to get a good income without facing costly maintenance bills. And because of this rental and buyer demand for properties of this type represent a stable investment.

Energy-efficiency
Consuming less energy for heating and lighting thanks to good insulation and proximity to other buildings makes flats more energy efficient. And if they need updating to improve this, then those costs are also significantly less than for larger properties.

Downsizing
Many people are downsizing. Perhaps the family has flocked the nest. An increasing number of people choose to live life as an experience, want to spend more time and money travelling, have hobbies or work in many locations throughout the world, and don’t want to be tied down.

Outlook for the future
The UK property market is proving resilient and offers a huge diversity of architecture and property options for you to choose from and enjoy. Whether you buy a flat as a buy-to-let, as a private dwelling, or both. Demand is expected to grow solidly well into the future.

 

Looking for a house or an apartment? Browse our properties to find the one you want to buy.

 

Zoopla*

 

If you are a landlord and are frustrated by the continuous rise in interest rates when all you want to do is start or expand your property portfolio, taking out an interest-only mortgage could be the answer. Many seasoned landlords choose this option when investing in property, even during the good times when mortgage interest rates were ultra-low.

Demand is incredibly strong
A survey conducted by paragon of 700 buy-to-let landlords found that 67% reported tenant demand over the first three months of 2023, up from 65% for quarter four of 2022.* Rents are increasing all the time, and one of the main reasons for this is rising interest rates. As a landlord, this will most likely be your biggest expense.

What is an interest-only mortgage?
Just as the title suggests, you only pay the interest and not the capital on an interest-only mortgage. At the end of the agreed-upon term, you must pay off the entire balance owed. Because you are only paying interest, your payments will be much cheaper compared with a capital repayment mortgage. Some landlords choose to sell their property to repay the outstanding balance.

So why choose an interest-only mortgage?

• Increased profit: if your payments are lower, there is far greater scope to make a profit from your buy-to-let business. This also gives you stability and lowers the price of your overheads, which could be less than half of that when repaying a capital and interest mortgage.
• Overpaying: while it’s possible to make overpayments on an interest-only mortgage, this will typically only reduce the amount of interest outstanding on the mortgage. If you choose to do this, your profit will increase further, giving you more options to expand your portfolio.
• Your property’s value: in the long term, property increases in value. It’s not an absolute guarantee, but if you look into the past, despite short-term rises and falls, property values have significantly increased. This is not expected to change in the future. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that at the end of the term of your mortgage (or if you sell up half or part way through your investment), there will be a profit between the capital outstanding balance on the amount you owe your lender and the selling price of your property.
• You can develop and improve the property: with more profit to plough back into your property, you can develop it. This will add to its value, ultimately increasing how much rent you can charge. And when it’s time to sell up and move on to bigger and better things, you will achieve a greater return on investment. The greener you make your property, the more rent it could fetch while future-proofing your investment.
• Security: preparing for the unexpected is a sure way to protect your investment. And by choosing an interest-only mortgage with fewer outgoings, you are already in a better position should the unexpected occur.
• You can always change mortgages in the future: as you become more seasoned as a landlord, you may devise a strategy so that you own your buy-to-let property outright. There is nothing stopping you from changing your mortgage type after a few years. And in the meantime, use the profit you make with an interest-only mortgage to use as a deposit, reducing the cost of a capital and interest mortgage.

Browse our properties and create the buy-to-let portfolio you have always wanted.

Paragon*

 

Making decisions can be difficult at the best of times. Buying a home is a big decision, so you can’t be blamed for becoming a little pensive or perhaps even anxious about making your move. Deciding whether you are going to move now or wait and see what happens is a dichotomy for some buyers. As soon as you turn on the news, you will no doubt be bombarded with the cost-of-living crisis, another interest rate rise, or another reason to worry. It’s little wonder some people decide to sit on the fence. But could doing that cost you more money?

Waiting for interest rates to fall may not save you money
There is little doubt that we have been spoiled in the past with ultra-low mortgage interest rates, and many analysts argue that they will never fall to this low level again. Inflation is falling, which will lead to a reduction in interest rates in the near future as the Bank of England expects inflation to fall to 5% by the end of this year.* In the meantime, as interest rates increase by small amounts, if you are not on a fixed-interest deal, your mortgage will increase. But while these small increases may feel unfair and, for some people, mean squeezing their budget, they could be insignificant in the face of rising house prices. Interest rates are also peaking, which means in the not-too-distant future they will come down.

Rising house prices balances your budget in the long run
Most people who buy a home in the UK will keep it for many years. House prices may fluctuate just as interest rates do. Despite the numerous recent rises in interest rates, average asking prices in May this year increased by 1.8%.** Interest rates are peaking, which means they will shortly begin to decrease. As interest rates and inflation continue to fall, house prices will ascend again. So, if you are waiting to see what happens, you run the risk of paying more for the home you want in the future. In February 2013, the average UK house price was £167,682 in February 2023, that figure stood at £288,000. *** Set against this longer-term perspective, if there are sudden and significant changes in the market, the reality for most homeowners is that their properties' value in the long run will cover the cost of these short-term increases in interest rates.

Properties are unique
There are no hard-and-fast rules. Local property markets are layered with unique and differing qualities. Whatever the national economic conditions are, the potential to gain equity in a home due to its condition, location, or potential can secure your investment in the face of challenging times. The possibilities are endless, and there is always room to buck the trend in a big way. The only limit is your imagination.

Mortgages
There is a huge choice of mortgages available on the market. Knowing that you can change your deal or re-mortgage when interest rates fall again has made some buyers think outside the box. Options such as porting, 35-year mortgage deals, green mortgages, 100% mortgages, and interest-only mortgage deals could decrease your monthly outgoings - if that is a factor when it comes to buying the home you want now. In the grand scheme of owning your home, high interest rate costs will essentially evaporate over time.

 

Are you fed up with waiting to make your big move? Browse our properties today.

 

Bank of England*
Rightmove**
Office for National Statistics***

 

In June, average new seller asking prices fell by £82 (-0.0%).* The summer property market always heats up and then takes a little sidestep as the holiday season kicks in. However, the average price of a property coming to the market jumped in May by +1.8%, which was higher than expected.* This is yet another sign the summer property market is performing well, and now is still a good time to choose the home you want. But how does this act as a breather and benefit the market?

Buyer demand
During the first two weeks in June, buyer demand was 6% higher than the same period in 2019’s pre-pandemic market.* So if you are thinking about putting your home on the market, now is a great time to do it. Prices are still strong, and your property will have increased rapidly and significantly in value over the past few years, so you will achieve a great price.

The property market takes care of itself
It’s not always healthy for asking prices to constantly grow month after month. The summer property market is hot enough, and it’s better for it to be stable rather than overheat. A little splash of modesty reassures the market and simply brings it back to where it should be if the market gets ahead of itself.

The property market takes care of you
The market has had a lot of challenges, yet it remains resilient. As it slows in pace, this creates a much more predictable environment. This means sudden changes are unlikely, meaning you will not get caught out when achieving a good selling and asking price when you are in between homes.

Better negotiating power
When the market pauses and it’s time to make an offer, you have a better chance of getting well-calculated offers accepted. Your agent will know the market inside and out and can advise you on an up-to-the-minute pricing strategy.

Does the price really matter?
Price and affordability are very important when considering which home to buy, particularly if you are taking out a mortgage. The value of property increases and decreases slightly in the short term but always rises significantly in the long term. So in many ways, it’s about affordability, not property price rises.

Can you put a price on happiness?
Finding the right home that suits your needs and desires is important. You will most likely spend many years of your life in your new home. Your property is more than bricks and mortar or an investment; it’s a living, breathing part of the family.

The law of averages
You are not a number, and neither is your home. Each person’s home is as unique as they are. It could be that you surpass all your property expectations. Whether this is from achieving a great asking price or simply finding a home that fulfils your dreams for a lot less than you imagined. As the market stands, it’s not about making quick money but rather buying an awesome property and making the most of it.

 

Browse our properties to view the homes you could be missing out on.

 

Rightmove*