The Government has extended the three year period in which you need to sell your previous home after buying a new one in order to claim a refund for the stamp duty surcharged on second home owners. This surcharge is the extra 3% owners of more than one property have to pay and has bee brought in in recognition of … [Read more...]
Moving to the country: History repeats itself as urbanites flee virus-hit cities for rural retreats
History is repeating itself as city-dwellers flee to the countryside to escape the density of virus breeding grounds and lack of outdoor space. Just as the miasma theories of the 1800s led to the creation of parks as a ‘vital lung’ in London and the well-to-do sought to escape the “Great Stink”; urbanites in the … [Read more...]
First Time Buyers’ Guide to Buying a House
… It is finally time to start viewing properties. This is the fun part, but don’t get carried away. “Having waited so long to save a deposit, it’s important not to rush the final decision — take your time when viewing a house and try to resist the pressure to commit before you’re ready,” says Ben Leonard, chief … [Read more...]
Let’s Retire to the Healthy Haven of Pembrokeshire
This county is a magnet for anyone seeking the great outdoors Pembrokeshire is perfect for the walking-poles-and-waterproofs retirement brigade who swear by the mantra that “65 is the new 45”. Quite apart from the glorious coastal path, with its beaches and views of dolphins and whales, there is sailing, golf, … [Read more...]
The Hidden House Price Trap Awaiting Returning Expats
“Selling up and moving back to Britain may not be as simple as it seems”. Around 785,000 Britons currently live in the EU, according to the Office for National Statistics. Of this total, just over a quarter are pensioners, drawn by sunnier weather, a lower cost of living and cheaper property prices. But has the … [Read more...]
Best Places to See Starry Night Skies from your Garden
Air quality and the effect it can have on property prices is suddenly on the radar of property buyers, but it is not the only form of pollution that is finally being taken seriously. A study by the Light Pollution Science and Technology Institution in Italy suggests that more than a third of the World’s population … [Read more...]
How to Stage your House for Sale
In order to gain a quick sale at the best price, you need to stage your house to appeal to the buyer. Many people think that buyers are looking at their house, not their belongings and, therefore, this is unimportant but it has been proven numerous times that houses which have stuck on the market for some time gain far … [Read more...]
Outlook for the Property Market in South Wales in 2020
The property market is South Wales has been booming since the Brexit referendum and this looks set to continue into 2020 and beyond. Land Registry figure showed house prices in Wales rose more than anywhere else in the UK in the year to January 2019 and these rises have continued unabated throughout this year. In … [Read more...]
