From pre-fab to Grand Design, the modular home comes of age
Can the pre-fab be a leader in beautiful home design? We think it’s the way to go.
Mention pre-fab housing to anyone over 50 and they’re likely to have stories of their experiences with post war quick build dwellings that were intended to get Britain through its housing crisis. When they were built there was little love for them, but as replacement programmes diminished their numbers so a groundswell of affection led to a number being protected by listed building status.
Survey Shows UK Home Owners Trying To Improve the Value of Their Home Are Getting It Wrong
As the home market continues to show an increase in value, home owners across the UK are working to improve the potential value of their home as they look to maximise their return of investment following successful sale, however it seems that what they believe to be the most effective is in fact not the biggest price increasing feature.
Barratt Homes predicts that its profits will double this year from UK housing boom
Barratt Homes is expecting to benefit from the latest UK housing boom and predicts pre-tax profits of around £390 million, with forward-sales expected to be up by 45% to £1.2 billion. Barratt Homes is the UK’s biggest house builder by volume and it has sold 14,838 homes in the past year, 8.6% up from the year before.
Property Buyers Put Off By ‘No Garden’ and ‘Old Bathrooms’ as House Prices Rise
House prices are still continuing to rise in the UK with London causing the biggest increase. The Halifax has found that between April and June house prices were 2.3 per cent higher than the previous three months. Despite slight drops in prices, houses are still 8.8 per cent higher than this time last year, with no sign of slowing down just yet despite a drop of 0.6% in June as predictions state prices will continue to rise.
Investing in Property – Where should I invest? UK & Abroad
Over the years property has proven to be a sound investment for thousands of savvy people with money to spare. While property markets have seen short term wobbles in most parts of the world, over a long stretch, and that might mean fifteen years or more, property has usually out-performed other opportunities.
Britain’s home grown shanty towns
The idea of shanty towns might make you think of India, South Africa, or Brazilian favelas, where the poor and desperate set up home using whatever they can find for shelter. The term probably makes you think of potentially dangerous, yet tight knit communities, with their own idea of law, their own hierarchies, and bosses.
Homeowners go green to save money rather than to help the environment
Although eight out of ten homeowners are implementing ways to save energy in their homes, it seems like the majority of them do so to save money and not for environmental reasons. According to new figures released by M&S Bank, 80% of home owners have made at least one green improvement to their home in the last year including fitting energy saving light bulbs, recycling and switching off lights in unused rooms.
Rising Rent
Mortgage approval rates fall in May
Fears are growing that the housing market could slow in the UK after the number of mortgage approvals dropped 3.5% in May compared to 2013. The British Bankers Associations latest report shows that the number of mortgages approved by banks fell in May, the fourth consecutive drop in approvals.
UK Property Floor Space Smallest in Europe
Rabbit Hutch Britain – says The Daily Telegraph.
The smallest new houses of 15 Western European countries says The Mail.
But is this a problem?
There are many benefits to small space living and we’d like to consider the up sides as well as the down sides here.
Survey Shows UK Home Owners Trying To Improve the Value of Their Home Are Getting It Wrong