Impact of Abolition of HIPS on UK Housing Market

The recent suspension of house information packs by the new coalition government has got to be good news for conveyancing business in the north west. Many professionals in the housing market saw HIPS as putting off house buyers not least because those wanting to sell had to organise and pay for a HIP to be produced before they could put the property up for sale.

Interview With a RICS Property Surveyor (UK)
By Ruban Selva

Please see an interview with Charles Dixon - a RICS surveyor with over 26 years of experience in the industry. Charles provides some in-depth information of much relevance to UK property investors including a definition of what 'value' means today; modern day valuation techniques; due diligence tips; his own thoughts on the property market; regulation of the property industry and much more:

Rent to own is a great concept for the housing market as it stands now. With few signs of the recent fall in market values being reversed, and availability of new mortgage funds remaining low, it is an answer to the prayers of many. But, as I'll explain, rent to own needs to come of age, to be a really effective force in the marketplace.

In this article, we take a look at what are fixed rate, variable rate and interest only mortgages.

Buying a house can be quite a confusing process especially if you haven't done so before. To help make it easier to understand the process of buying a property we have created a helpful list.

The time may just be right for first time buyers to start winning the competition for property and get themselves on the property ladder

There are just 28,000 properties out of 700,000 for sale in the property websites Mighty Homes database that are described by estate agents as ideal for first time buyers just 4%. Over 70% of these properties are also described as suitable Buy to Let investments!

It is somewhat too simplistic to say that First Time Buyers will be the biggest winners in the drop in property prices. While those people who have been priced out of the property market for their first home should soon be able to find price that are closer to their level of affordability, the contraction of the mortgage market in the UK makes it harder for them to get the necessary funds to make the purchase. In this sense, many First Time Buyers are finding themselves just as far away from being able to buy as they were at the heights of the property boom.

Despite a rise in property prices (in November 2009, house prices raised by 1.7%), the situation on the UK property market remains favourable to buyers.

With thousands of people in the UK wanting to climb on the property ladder for the first time, is now the time to do it?

Property prices have taken a hit over the last two years but on the bright side Nationwide Building Society have reported the 7th consecutive month of property prices rises so many people feel now is a good time to get on the property ladder and take advantage of some good property prices. Having said that, property is still expensive and with mortgage criteria having tightened up too over the last 12 months it's not easy for first time buyers.

For many people who are currently facing foreclosure or have already endured the process, failure was in the cards from the moment they purchased their homes. There are many mistakes homebuyers make that practically guarantee they'll struggle with their mortgage payments and regret their purchase down the road.

In this article, we'll offer a list of surefire ways you can lose the residential property you're thinking about buying. There are many homes for sale that seem like a bargain, but can still ensnare you if you're unwary.