Jeff Knight

  • Latest property newsBrexit image
    Latest property news

    Is the Brexit effect on the property market beginning to wear off?

    The Halifax says Declines in activity are beginning to ease off although despite high employment prices have been starting to soften.

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  • Latest property news
    Latest property news

    Portfolio landlords struggle to get mortgages as PRA rules kick in, research shows

    Nearly three quarters of landlords with multiple properties are finding it harder to get either mortgages or remortgage existing debt as the Prudential Regulation Authority’s second wave of mortgage rules kick in, it has been revealed. Research completed on behalf of lender Foundation Home Loans among 2,000 landlords found that 70% of those with more than four properties had struggled to obtain further finance to buy more properties, while half of those with between one and three properties also faced problems. The second wave of PRA rules went live in September last year to allay fears that excessive borrowing by banks on generous terms to landlords might endanger the economy during a downturn. The larger the portfolio, the harder it has become for landlords to get the green light for more finance, largely because those with more than four properties are now effectively classed as enterprises and must submit business plans to get a home loan or remortgage an existing one. Rejected by lenders Two thirds of landlords with eleven or more properties within their portfolio now believe the range of mortgages available to them has dropped, while a quarter think they are now more likely to be rejected by…

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  • Latest property news
    Latest property news

    House prices make a surprise return to growth

    House prices have rebounded and are rising by 4% a year, lender the Halifax has revealed in its latest house price index. The surprise rise was driven by an 0.8% hike during September, the second month during which house prices have picked up, driving up the year-on-year increase figure from 2.6% in August. This has also pushed up the average house price to £225,109, the highest ever figure. “UK house prices continue to be supported by an ongoing shortage of properties for sale and solid growth in full-time employment,” says Russell Galley, Managing Director of Halifax Community Bank (pictured, left). “However, increasing pressure on spending power and continuing affordability concerns may well dampen buyer demand.” The bank says property sales in the UK “remained flat” in August but exceeded 100,000 for the eighth month in succession, although mortgage approvals fell during August by 2.7% when compared to July. New instructions Using RICS data, the Halifax also says new sales instruction fell for the 18th month in a row although overall the average stock on estate agents’ books edged up by 1% during September. “It seems more than apparent that the UK market has found its feet and is starting to…

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