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Choose Carefully When you Search for Property in London

January 26th, 2010 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

When it comes to buying property in London, the number of choices available to you can be overwhelming. It’s easy to get carried away when looking for your ideal home in Britain’s most exciting city. However, it’s important to be realistic: with the average cost of a London property now reaching over £300,000, you need to be sensible when it comes to your London property search in order to find the home that will best suit you and your budget.

First and foremost, you’ll need to determine how much you can actually afford to spend as this can really affect your search. Typically, property in Central London is the most expensive, with the price of a single bedroom flat often in excess of £200,000. However, as you move further away from the city centre, London properties tend to become less expensive, with property in East London typically costing less than properties for sale in North London (although the 2012 Olympics may alter this pattern). So, if staying within your budget is your primary concern, then excluding central London from your thoughts should help narrow your search.

However, while location is of considerable importance, it’s also crucial to figure out what you’re looking for when it comes to your ideal home, and to make these desires fit in realistically within your property search. After all, there’s no point looking at property if it doesn’t fulfil any of your requirements!

Even if your individual budget is quite restricted, you’ll be able to find a city centre property that meets your requirements and suits your finances if you’re able to pool resources. If you’re buying with your spouse or partner, for example, a one-bedroom property in Chelsea may become more affordable.

What’s more, if you feel the need to live where the action is, why not opt for a house in East London where property prices still remain lower than many other areas of the city. With the 2012 Olympics looming near, the area is soon to be the hub of regeneration and will be the area to which all eyes will turn come the Olympic tournament. As a result, investing in an East London property today may reap a number of benefits in the future.

On the other hand, if one of your chief desires when searching for a property in London is a garden, or a multiple-bedroom property to house your large family, then searching for a house further outside the city centre is a more realistic expectation.

Where ever you choose to look for your ideal home in London, make sure you keep your budget in mind without compromising on your desires and requirements.

Small Town London For Big Time Luxury Real Estate

January 26th, 2010 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

London is a most spectacular place to visit, but it’s an even better place when you find luxury London properties to live in. Europe is known for their luxury lifestyle. That is what you will find when you go to find London properties using London real estate agents. So, what is a person to find that supports the concept of luxury when looking for London property? Allow us to fill you in on what all London could hold for you.Plenty of RoomRoom is not an issue with a luxury London property. When touring through homes with a London real estate agent, you can be sure to find much space. What do most London properties include? Here are just a few! *Cloakroom *Master bedroom *Guestroom *Breakfast room *Kitchen *Reception room *Study *Dining roomOutdoor ExtrasOutdoor extras add to enjoying what luxury London properties have to offer. Part of what draws many people to London is the rich history that can be seen in the parks, on the streets, and on the buildings. All of this adds to the luxury as you are captivated by London properties’ beauty. Here are a few things that will help you enjoy such luxuries. *Terraces *GardensConvenienceThe convenience behind these London properties will allow you time to enjoy the luxuries that London properties come with. Some of these places are near some well known locations within London. Such places consist of: *Victoria Street *Cheyne Walk *Kings Road * Fun shops *Delicious restaurants. HistoryMuch of what you see with London properties has a story to tell with London’s history. Many of these places have been around for years and have a rich history. So, not only are you getting luxury when you take on a London property, but you take on a culture to learn about and embrace. Luxury London properties are your home away from home. They invite you to learn what true luxury is in a homey atmosphere bustling with business. London property is near transportation to easily get around and see what London has to offer, and there are many things to do in the vicinity of a London property. There is much to see and do. With many shops and fine dining places to try you’ll be sure to have luxury at your fingertips or just down the street.  With that in mind, don’t you think you are entitled to some luxury in your life? Check out some luxury with what London real estate has to offer you. You’ll be amazed at the luxurious and easy going life style that London property has to offer.

London Property Price Increases are Starting to Slow Down

January 22nd, 2010 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

Although London now ranks above Monte Carlo in terms of property prices, recent figures released by estate agents Rightmove show that London house prices rose at their slowest rate in five months, with the cost of a home falling in more than half of the United Kingdom’s capital’s boroughs.

While other regions across the country saw the average house price rise by 0.8 per cent in June, property prices in London rose by 0.7 per cent in comparison – half the rate that had been seen in May, prompting experts to predict a drop in property prices over the next few months.

A nationwide property boom, led by demand from rich foreigners and bankers in the city might be reaching its peak as interest rates reach a six-year high deter homebuyers with record debts. With another interest rate increase looming, it is widely expected by property analysts that another increase may crimp price growth.

The slowdown saw the cost of a home fall in seventeen of London’s thirty-two boroughs, with Southwark, an area south of London’s financial district showing the largest level of decline with prices falling 2.8 per cent. Hounslow, close to Heathrow Airport showed the next biggest decline with a 2.4 per cent drop.

However, property prices within London’s upmarket boroughs continued to increase, with property in Kensington and Chelsea, areas popular with bankers, footballers and Hollywood celebrities recording gains of 3.4 per cent on the month and a staggering 73 per cent compared to the previous year with an average price of £1.4 million. Furthermore, the average time a property remained on the market rose to 69 days from 65 days in May. The average asking price in London is still 23 per cent higher than a year ago, with the prices rising from £315,224 to £387,898.

Property prices across the U.K roise by 13.2 percent in June to an average cost of £239,317, climbing in seven out of ten regions. The West Midlands showed the greatest level of gain with a 5.8 per cent increase, while East Anglia, the North-West and Yorkshire and Humberside all recorded negative growth. The increase in property values has highlighted the growing divide between homeowners and those not on the property ladder, with more than four4 million people expecting never to be able to own their own home.

Central London Property Still Rising in Value, Despite Interest Rate Rises

January 20th, 2010 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

Central London residential property prices rose by 3.9% in July 2007, the highest jump in a single month for 31 years, according to the Knight Frank Prime Central Location index. Lack of supply of suitable properties is considered the reason for the continued rise in residential prices throughout central London, with rises in house prices consistently outperforming gains in flat prices month on month since January.

July’s figures give an annualised growth of 36.4% – the highest annual growth since 1979 – and now the reasons for the lack of supply driving the outstanding price increases are coming under the microscope. It appears that foreign buyers have a large part to play, as 61% of all property over £4 million for sale in prime central London is sold to foreign buyers who, unlike domestic buyers tend not to have another property to release back into the market, thus restricting supply even further.

The substantial rise in property prices has also led to a shift in the behaviour of foreign buyers who initially buy their property for occupation while working in the City. In the past many would arrive to undertake a prestige job in the City and purchase a property solely for occupation while they were in the country and sell the property immediately after returning home. However, because of substantial rises, such as the 36% recorded over the last year, property is increasingly being retained as an investment once the buyer returns home. This has helped fuel the property shortage and in turn keeps central London property values high.

In 2004 the average period that a foreign buyer would hold onto their property after returning home before selling it, was nine months. Last year that period had risen to 20 months and is still rising. It appears that rather than take a quick profit on their London property foreign landlords are now willing to reap an income from tenants while watching the capital value of their property investment surge.

Of course, foreign buyers cannot take all the blame – or credit – depending upon your point of view, as for the substantial and sustained increases in property prices in central London multi-million City bonuses have been swiftly invested in prime central London property, which is still seen as the most solid of investments. So, unless foreign buyers and city brokers decide to liquidate their investments the outlook for central London property seems bright indeed.