It’s important to love your home. Like any relationship it shouldn’t be one sided! The more love you show your home the more it will be reciprocated. Perhaps when you first laid eyes on your home it was love at first sight. As time has gone on things have become more complicated. You have discovered more things that need attention and work. The thought of addressing these things can be exhausting when you are struggling to find the time, in your busy life.  You have even forgiven yourself for thinking of moving on! 

Or perhaps you are obsessed with your home, and you spend a lot of your time thinking about how you can improve it. You love the natural character of your home and you have done much already to improve it and you simply need some inspiration.  

 

The little things you can do 

Show your home you care by cleaning and keeping it in tip-top shape. A fresh coat of paint, new lamp shades, some more collectables or accessories for the kitchen. Candles, flowers, plants, paintings, pictures and perhaps most importantly trying something new.  To keep things really fresh and vibrant take a departure from your norms.  

 

Try something different 

Have you ever painted your furniture? Try it – the kitchen table and chairs or sideboard.  It’s on trend right now and the results can be room altering. There is no such thing as right or wrong when it comes to interior design and decorating. It’s your home to make unmistakably yours. Restore furniture or find something a bit different, that tells the story of who you are.  

 

Commitment – big renovations  

Show how committed you are to making the most of your home by not putting off what you have wanted to do for ages. Your dream kitchen, a new bathroom, or both. If you need to borrow for one sometimes the smart thing to do is borrow a little more and take out a loan and give your house the  complete makeover it deserves. This will add some serious value to your home.  

 

Garden and outside 

A great garden can truly become a magical place. The scope for ideas and to create your own unique world is endless. From decking, flowerbeds to ornate garden sculptures. Multilevel gardens with built-in seating. While it’s still wintry why not create a fire pit and plant some outdoor lights which will create a warm, romantic ambience outside.     

 

A workspace 

If like many people, you work remotely, why not create your perfect work from home space. If space is limited a balance between aesthetics and functionality can be difficult to achieve. Experiment with your set up, perhaps put your desk near a window, or hang some inspirational pictures, which will stop you becoming bored of the same four walls. The little things here make a big difference, even some flowers or plants. Keep things simple, a well organised compact desk that does not make a statement but is functional and uncluttered so you can concentrate on the tasks in hand.      

  

Do you want to love the home you live in? Browse our properties and find your perfect place. 

 

*thetwinteam 

 

Perhaps you need more space for your dogs, horses, or hobbies, and you want a house in the country. It could be that you are moving to the suburbs or need more space for your growing family. Whatever your reasons for buying a bigger property, now could be a good time to take the plunge so you can upgrade your home and enhance the quality of your life.

You could get more house for the same money
If you decide to move from an urban area to a more rural location, then you may be able to get the house you have always wanted for the same price as your current home. At the very least, your money should go further.

You could get a bigger discount
Demand for bigger homes in May was 1% lower than it was in 2019, compared with first-time buyer homes at 6%, and homes that fall between these sectors at 3% above 2019 levels.* Larger homes have always had greater scope for bigger discounts on asking prices. But right now, with the market favouring smaller homes and larger homes selling a little more slowly, you may have quite a lot more haggling power when it’s time for you and your agent to make an offer below the asking price.

Larger homes can be very energy efficient
Modern homes have become so much more energy efficient. With better insulation and the potential to create self-sufficient energy sources, you no longer have to dread monthly bills. So, running a bigger home is not as expensive as in years past.

Bigger rooms and more of them
You will have more space for friends and family to stay over. You could get a lodger to provide another stream of income or if you need extra space for new additions to the family. Maybe you want a gym or a hobby room or are looking to create the perfect work-from-home space with an awesome view.

A beautiful garden with more potential
Finally, you can have the garden you have always wanted, and this is where your only limitation will be your imagination. Inspiration is everywhere, and there is so much more you can do with more space. From creating great outdoor spaces and dining areas to tropical gardens.

Larger entertaining spaces
When it comes to those special times of the year—indoor and outdoor parties—the options larger homes offer are endless. You may want to create a games room, a bar, or an awesome indoor entertaining area that effortlessly flows to a magical outdoor area.

The garage or workshop
If working from home involves more than a computer screen and a phone and you need a workshop or a garage for your classic car or hobbies, then your budget could allow you to enjoy more scope for outdoor buildings.

Create multiple dwelling places
Bigger properties can easily be divided up into smaller properties. Whether you are creating a space for a teenager or an elderly relative. Perhaps you are interested in letting a room or creating flats for a buy-to-let business.

 

Browse our properties to find the home that fits your requirements perfectly.

Rightmove*

 

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***

 

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*

 

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*

 

A chance to get onto the foreshore at Limehouse and find archaeological...