Understanding how the property market is evolving is crucial to making informed property decisions, especially if you’re considering a move. Let’s take a look at how the market has been shaping up so far this year, why it is a good time to move, and how you can make the most of today’s market.

 

Property prices are stabilising

According to Zoopla’s house price index, property prices did not change between the end of 2023 and early 2024 and decreased by just 0.8% compared to the same period 12 months prior.* This could be indicative of the country’s economy stabilising, with the government freezing interest rates at 5.25% over this period.

As a stabilising market increases the number of affordable properties available, it becomes easier for buyers to find a reasonably priced home within their budget. It also creates a less frantic market, which paves the way for a smoother buying process, allowing buyers to secure their desired property with less pressure from competing offers.

 

Buyer demand has increased

The start of 2024 has seen a promising increase in buyer demand, with figures showing a 12% increase compared to 12 months ago.* This could be attributed to the re-appearance of sub-5% mortgage rates, subsequently improving buyer affordability. Similarly, there has been a 15% increase in new properties appearing on the market for sale since last year.**

One of the primary benefits of higher demand and supply is the possibility of quicker home sales as more individuals look for properties. The increasing supply also ensures that there is a wide variety of properties to choose from, making it easier for buyers to find their dream home.

 

Housing market activity has also increased

The overall number of agreed sales has continued to remain high in early 2024, indicating that buyers and sellers are becoming more aligned when it comes to pricing. With new sales up 13% in the past 12 months and the flow of homes listed for sale up 22%,* it is clear to see that sellers are feeling much more confident.

The alignment in pricing expectations between buyers and sellers allows for smoother negotiation processes, as both parties are likely to reach an agreement more quickly. This reduces stress for both parties and increases confidence that the price they have reached is fair.

 

How your agent can help

An experienced estate agent can help you benefit from stabilising property prices, improved buyer demand, and increased market activity by using their knowledge and expertise to help you take advantage of the market's current conditions. They possess in-depth knowledge of the market and keep up to date with the latest trends, allowing them to provide valuable insights and an accurate valuation of your current property to help you make informed decisions for the future. 

 

Ready to make your move?

 

 

It can be challenging to get started as a first-time buyer, but fortunately, there are a number of schemes available that can assist you with the process and help you get on the property ladder. Let’s take a look at five different schemes available to first-time buyers, the main advantages of each of them, and which of them you could be eligible for.

 

The mortgage guarantee scheme

The mortgage guarantee scheme enables first-time buyers to purchase a property with as little as a 5% deposit by encouraging lenders to offer 95% loan-to-value mortgages. This means that 95% of the property’s purchase price can be borrowed. 

The scheme includes a government guarantee, which means that if the buyer defaults on payments, the government will compensate the mortgage lender. It is available to any first-time buyer, as long as the property they are purchasing is worth less than £600,000.

One of the main advantages of the mortgage guarantee scheme is the fact that first-time buyers can enter the market sooner, avoiding years of saving for a deposit. Also, with the government essentially acting as a guarantor, lenders are more willing to offer loans to first-time buyers with smaller deposits, increasing their chances of owning a home.

 

The shared ownership scheme

The shared ownership scheme helps low-income individuals and first-time buyers own a home by enabling them to buy a portion of a property while renting the remaining percentage. Buyers can purchase a share between 10% and 75% and increase their share whenever they are ready to do so.

If you're a first-time buyer with a household income of £80,000 or less (90,000 in London) and can't afford the entire deposit and mortgage payments on a home, you will be considered eligible for shared ownership.

This scheme offers an affordable way for individuals to step onto the property ladder by splitting the cost of purchasing a home, particularly in areas they may otherwise be priced out of. The fact that you can increase your share of ownership by gradually purchasing additional shares in the property allows you to eventually reach full ownership.

 

The lifetime Individual Savings Account (ISA)

A Lifetime ISA helps first-time buyers save for a deposit by topping up their savings account once a year. Buyers can save up to £4,000 per year, and the government adds an additional 25% on top of the amount they save, reducing the amount of time it takes to save up for a first home.

To open a lifetime ISA, you must be aged between 18 and 40, however you can keep topping it up until you’re 50. Help to buy ISA is a very similar scheme to this, but it has been closed to new applicants since 2019. Despite this, anyone who opened a help to buy ISA before this date can continue to use it.

A key benefit of a lifetime ISA is that it’s a tax-free method of growing your savings. It is also a versatile option because the funds can be used to purchase your first home or saved for retirement.

 

The first homes scheme

This scheme offers first-time buyers discounts of 30% to 50% on new-build homes, so long as it is your primary residence. This discount is available on new homes built by a developer and homes that are purchased through an estate agent, which were previously bought through the scheme.

To be eligible for the first homes scheme, you must be aged 18 or over, be a first-time buyer, and be able to secure a mortgage for at least 50% of the home’s value. Like the shared ownership scheme, your household income must be £80,000 or lower (£90,000 in London). Councils may set their own local eligibility criteria, prioritising individuals such as key workers, people who already live in the area, and those on lower incomes.

The main advantage of the first homes scheme is that it gives you the opportunity to purchase a home at a significantly reduced price, which helps with affordability. Also, by prioritising local applicants, some councils ensure individuals can purchase a home in the area they are already familiar with.

 

The help to build equity loan scheme

The help to build equity loan scheme is useful for first-time buyers who are looking to build their own home. This scheme offers a five-year, interest-free loan to supplement a buyer's 5% deposit. The equity loan amount ranges from 5% to 20% of the overall estimated cost.

This scheme is eligible to anyone who is building a home or hiring someone to do so for them. The loan can be used to buy land, convert a commercial property into a residential property, and demolish an existing property to build a new one. It cannot, however, be used to build more than one home, to buy upgrades on your current home, or build a second home.

The help to build equity loan scheme enables buyers to fund their self-build projects while remaining within budget. By building your own home, you have the opportunity to create equity from day one, potentially increasing the value of your property over time.

 

Looking to buy your first home?

 

It’s come to the end of your current tenancy agreement, and your tenants are ready to move on, but are you? We’re here to supply you with a simplified checklist on how to get ready to place your property back on the rental market. 


Agreed-upon end date 

If you have tenants that have decided to leave or whose contract has ended for your rental property, then you need to ensure you have both confirmed an end date. This is extremely important to ensure that all parties involved are aware of this agreed-upon end date. This should be written down in a contract. This contract should include the signatures of all parties so it can be proven that you have both agreed on it. This will give you a small fraction of safety and protection in case the tenant does not leave the property by the agreed-upon end date. Having this date in the diary will also allow you to plan so you have a smaller gap between tenants. 


Inspect the property

Inspecting the property is one of the most important steps when it’s the end of a tenancy. This will allow you to identify if they have cared and maintained respect for you and your property. Once they have removed all their belongings from the property, you need to ensure you complete a thorough inspection. This inspection will allow you to confirm whether you return their deposit or not. As a landlord, you will need to provide a good reason with evidence to not return their deposit; otherwise, they could penalise you and involve the court. During this inspection, it is also important that you make sure the past tenants have removed all their items from the property.


Check previous payments

Finally, before exchanging the keys and returning the deposit for the property, we would recommend going through all your previous payments with them. This will allow you to guarantee that they have completed all their payments. We would also recommend checking if there are no outstanding council tax and utility bills under the address of the property before parting ways with the tenants. This will allow you to once again be certain they were good, respectful tenants before returning their deposit.
 

Deep clean 

Once you have completed the process with the previous tenants and you are happy, we advise deep cleaning your property in preparation for new tenants. This is not a required step, but if the past tenants have not returned the property to its original state, you can claim the deposit. This can be used to pay for a deep cleaning service and anything else you may have to fix within the property. 

Re-list your property 

Are you happy with your property? If so, the next step is to get it back on the market! After taking updated pictures of the property, it can then be listed and show encouraging new tenants for the future.

If you are an independent landlord or a new landlord entering the market for letting, we advise collaborating with an estate agent. This will reduce your involvement with clients and leave fewer tasks on your to-do list. Allowing you to rent out your properties stress-free.

Get in touch with us today if you are seeking advice

 

 

Conducting viewings is no easy task, and this is partially because buyers often arrive with a long list of questions and queries. It’s always best to leave this part of the selling process to the experts, but if you’re curious about what your agent will be asked during viewings, here are some of the most common tricky questions:

How old is the roof?
A prudent buyer may ask how old the roof is. Replacing a roof is an expense that most prospective buyers will want to avoid for at least a few years. Depending on the materials, the typical lifespan of a roof is 15-20 years, so it’s important to be aware of how long it’s been standing before selling.

How much storage space is there?
Your home’s storage solutions could be a hot topic for buyers, especially if your demographic consists of first-time buyers or young families leaving behind the confines of rented accommodation. Having your home professionally staged to showcase its space-saving features is a great way to prepare your home for this question.

How long has the house been on the market for?
Prospective buyers may ask your agent how long your home has been on the market, but this shouldn’t be viewed as an attempt to catch you out. Finding out how long the home has been listed for sale might help the buyer gauge whether they need to act urgently. If the listing is new, this might encourage them to place their offer right away before another buyer comes in.

What’s the area like?
Committing to a home also means committing to new surroundings and a different community. Having an agent who is well-versed in the dynamics, conveniences and amenities of the local area is paramount in attracting the right buyer.

Is the property freehold or leasehold?
The property’s tenure largely dictates its future resale value, so this is an important question for buyers to ask. If your property is freehold, your agent will be able to utilise this as a key selling point. If there is a shorter lease attached to the home, you may consider extending it to attract a buyer and a higher sales price. However, if you don’t plan on extending your short lease, your agent will know which demographic to market to, such as buy-to-let investors.

What is included in the sale?
Certain fixtures and fittings may attract buyers to your home, so it’s important to clearly outline everything that is included in the sale price so that there is no room for confusion. Buyers may also be willing to offer a higher price to have certain fittings included in the sale, which leaves you in a strong position to negotiate.

Have any major renovations been made?
Finding out if any major reconstruction work has taken place allows the buyer to fully understand the property’s condition and value. As a seller, you will need to provide legal documents relating to any major work completed on the home, so it’s important to be prepared for this question from the offset.

Do you have planning permission?
Planning permission is a highly attractive feature for many buyers and applying for planning permission to add an extension or an extensive remodel only costs around £170 depending on your location. This is a small price to pay when you can add thousands to the value of your home if your application is granted.

What is the energy rating of the property?
The energy rating of a property is crucial to assessing the potential long-term costs of maintaining a comfortable living environment. When preparing your home for a sale, your agent will advise you on any areas of improvement which might help bump up your EPC rating.

Getting an agent on your side
House viewings are tricky business, but an expert agent who has experience in selling homes like yours will have all the right answers to difficult questions from buyers.

 

Contact us today if you want our expert team to sell your home at the right price