Moving homes is an exciting experience, especially if you’ve found your dream property, but it can also be a stressful time. If you’re new to buying and selling, property chains can be confusing and quite difficult to understand at first. If you need to sell your home before buying a new one, you’ll probably find yourself in a property chain. In our practical guide, we outline what a property chain is and cover tips for how to manage your property chain. What is a Property Chain? A property chain occurs when a series of homeowners need to sell their homes before they can buy another; this can also happen when…

If you have already realized that renting is an unwise investment, and believe that the monthly payment is better to put towards a mortgage for your own place, then you are in the right place. There is no problem with renting – after all there are no responsibilities, no long term worries about losing your home and you can move when you want to. But if you are choosing to buy, here are some reasons that buying a new property is great.  Attractive price On the face of it, logic says a second-hand apartment is cheaper. In reality, in many cases, the situation is different: competition between contractors can lead…

What is CIS Mortgage? The truth is, there is no actual product that is called CIS mortgages’ but there is what is called the Construction Industry Scheme.  The CIS permits a lone trader to have his income examined and verified by a mortgage lender. Over a period of time, this process was called the CIS mortgage. Anyone who had registered for the Construction Industry Scheme is given the opportunity to get a mortgage. Although, applying for CIS mortgages can be quite challenging to those who are self-employed. The income they typically present may not be consistent with the profit they actually get from their business. This can be problematic when…

When looking to make your first step up on the property ladder there are a lot of things to consider. Moving house is a stressful business and it is one of the biggest investments you will make during your lifetime.  As a new homebuyer you’ll likely be daunted by the process and the sheer scale of the purchase – and we don’t blame you. But we are here today to help you think a few things through and make the process go smoothly.  These are a few tips to help you as a first-time buyer and make your experience less stressful.  Consider buying vs renting  It is no secret that…

When it comes to selling your home in London, there are a lot of things to consider. Are you marketing your property to a potential investor? Or are you looking to sell to someone who will make it their home? No matter who you’re looking to sell to, you will legally need to have an EPC in place before marketing the property. An EPC Explained EPC stands for an energy performance certificate. Its main purpose is to measure the energy efficiency of a property on a scale from A-G. They must always be available to potential buyers and potential tenants. The higher your rating, with A being the highest, the…

Buying a house is one of the most exciting things you will ever do, it’s also one of the most expensive, so it pays to have your facts straight and know as much about the process in terms of the personal and practical as possible. With that in mind, here are a few things that nobody ever seems to tell you about buying a home: If you use an online real estate agent you’ll have to conduct your own viewings There’s been a real boom in online real estate agents like Purplebricks that promise to save you money if you use them instead of traditional estate agents. However, what is…

Being declined for a mortgage can be crippling. Just like that, your dreams of home ownership feel like they’re gone forever. Whether you were half-expecting problems or thought you would have a smooth ride, you’ve likely looked at the houses out there already (because who can help themselves?) and got your hopes up that everything would be okay. In a sense, we’ve got good news for you – everything can be okay, despite this setback. In fact, the vast majority of buyers who receive rejection go on to buy without any trouble. The main thing to do here is think forward, and not let that rejection stop you. Rather, you…

If you’ve ever tried to purchase a home, then you’ll know how tedious it can be. While there are many instances where everything falls into place, the majority of transactions have a few bumps in the road. You need to make sure you have everything handled on your end while hoping that the chain doesn’t break along the way – if there is a chain of circumstances, of course. If you’re currently going through a sticky patch and are struggling to get the deal over the line, then it can be very frustrating. It can feel as though the situation is dragging and you don’t really know how to break…

The prospect of buying a new home, especially if it’s your first one, is always a little daunting. What’s more, there are more than a few missteps you can accidentally make if you’re not careful. For that reason, it’s wise to ensure you’re benefiting from the expertise that you need to avoid some pitfalls and to ensure you’re getting the best deal possible. Here, we’re looking at the team you should be putting together during your property search. Know what you’re getting The property that you’re looking at may look perfectly serviceable on the surface level of it all, but you want to make sure you’re not buying something that’s…

Buying a property for the first time is a real milestone in a person’s life. There is something wonderful about having a place to call home, a place that’s yours to make exactly how you would like it. Is now a good time to get onto the property ladder? Marketwatch write that interest rates are falling, which is great news for buyers. However, they also note that property prices are rising. So if you wish to buy a home, don’t delay too long. It’s important to make sure you are able to afford the costs that come with home ownership, which broadly fall into the following categories: Mortgage This is…