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2011 investments in London

2010-12-20T12:09:00.001Z

In September 2010 The Treasury concluded its consultation on investment in the private rented sector, which had commenced under the previous Government in February 2010. In particular, the consultation addressed the issue of the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) rate for bulk purchases, where some consultees had argued for the payment of SDLT at the lower rates implicit for individual units of 1% to 3%, rather than the top rate of 4%, which is due to rise to 5% on 6th April 2011 for residential property over £1 million. The Government was unconvinced that such a change would have a material affect on viability and that in any case the cost to the Government would not be acceptable set against the need to reduce the budget deficit. Reducing VAT rates for management fees and repairs and maintenance of private residential property was also ruled out on the same grounds.

Press commentary indicates that institutions which are targeting the private rented sector will not be deterred by this lack of support from the Government. Consortia such as Aviva Investors with residential management firm Pinnacle, and Aegon with property developer Terrace Hill, are actively raising initial equity.

The Facts about London Real Estate Agents

2010-10-15T09:13:00.001Z

There are many refreshingly different qualities speaking about The Space Station. One of the major reasons why this company holds such a kind of reputation is its well equipped staff, which is absolutely friendly and highly knowledgeable. This is the right company that you have to go with, when you are in search of London real estate agents offering the best when it comes to service, assistance as well as advice. There is no doubt that the company is highly experienced and will be well aware of all things coming to property marketing techniques. You will be able to find their online branch as well, which is again well equipped with an outstanding staff for offering best assistance. The Space Station agents are included in the list of top London real estate agents offering an outstanding service to customers and clients alike.

The knowledge and experience are the two major factors, which have been the reasons for the outstanding reputation of this company. The company has already helped thousands of people to find a perfect property when it comes to accommodation in London. In fact, the company also holds a record of being the first one to sell most of the amazing Shoreditch residential properties. At first, people were able to get accommodated in only single apartments. However, due the advancements made with the help of real estate agents, there are many multi optional apartments available in this city.

It is quite obvious that people will look forward to either lease a residential property or purchase a property in London. In both of these cases, all that they have to do is seek the help of The Space Station real estate agents. The reason is that this company has good number of residential and commercial properties for negotiation in this part of the world.

UK property Increased by 2,000 billion Pounds

2010-09-24T11:55:00.000Z

A new research shows that, in ten years the UK property value has increased by over 2000 billion pounds and the traditional north-south divide of United Kingdom is narrowing.

Halifax, released a report which clearly shows that the total value of the privately owned property in United Kingdom has doubled over the past ten years.

In 1999, there was an increase of 118 percent that is 1,719 billion pounds to an estimated 3,755 billon pounds in the year 2009. At that same period, the retail price rate was increased by 29 percent.

The report shows that the significant growth of the 2000 billion pounds over the decade is equal to 33,000 pounds per head of the United Kingdom population. But, since 2007, value of the UK property prices decreased by eight percent mainly due to the worldwide financial crises. This shows the decrease in the property vales between the middle of the year 2007 and early 2009. The increase in the property prices in the year 2009 saw property value increased by two percent during that year.

The new study also point out that the north and south gap in the private property value of the county decreased during the noughties. Between 1999 and 2009, the value of the property in the north increased by 132 percent, whereas in the south it was increased by 109 percent. As a result the north property share was increased to 41 percent in 1999 to 44 percent in 2009

In 1999, there was a huge increase in the property value in Northern Ireland with a 198 percent from 31 billion pounds to 92 billion pound in 2009. The next big increase was in North East, 147 percent, Yorkshire and the Humber, 139 percent, East Midlands, 133 percent and Scotland at 145 percent. The smallest increase were in West Midlands and East of England at 107 percent and south east at 100 percent.

Riding the interest rate

2010-08-31T10:48:00.000Z

In thirty years of mortgage broking, Am I should take a variable or fixed rate is a question which is asked by most of the people to themselves and to experts.

It doesn’t matter if you are a first time buyers or about to move or in fact coming to the end of the present mortgage product. Whether to fix the rate of interest of to allow it remain variable is the major issue. The Bank of England a 300-year old central bank of United Kingdom, the base interest rate remains at low of 0.5 percent. Therefore it does seem reasonable in order to suggest that another movement in the base rate is more possible to be increased than decreasing.

Pay now, save later

During most of the year 2004 until late of 2008, the average rate was about five percent.
If you had a twenty five year mortgage deal of 100,000 pounds, presently charging three percent an annual interest, an increase in your mortgage deal rate to 7.5 percent (a margin of 2.5 percent over a base rate of five percent) would see your interest amount rise from 475 pounds per month to 850 pounds per month. The main benefit with fixed rates but is that as the base rate rises (if it does) then your budget remains unchanged by the increase.

Any pay increase you get over the five or two years would be yours to spend and not just handed over to your lender. Obviously, if you take a deal for a five year interest rate at 4.5 percent, you would be paying more than a few of your neighbors this year. However if the interest rates raise you may find you have new neighbors.

Those exposed to the variable interest rates might have been forced to move because of their inability in order to maintain their mortgage and their lifestyle.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN LONDON

2010-01-02T13:15:00.000Z

New developments in london

St Pancras Chambers -650pw

2009-12-11T09:56:00.001Z

A Stylish Interior Designed Two Bedroom Apartment within the Prestigious and Brand New Grade II Listed St Pancras Chambers Development. Comprises Large Reception Room with Wooden Floors and Large Windows, Smart Separate Kitchen, Two Double Bedrooms (One Master, One Double Used as Executive Home Office), One Bathroom. High Ceilings Throughout. Second Floor (With Lift). Concierge Service and Secure Entrance. Moments from Eateries/Designer Shops of St Pancras Eurostar Complex. Easy Access to West End, Islington and The City. Tube: Kings Cross.

Kings Cross property for sale.

A beautifully presented top floor apartment overlooking The Regent's Canal

2009-11-26T16:12:00.000Z

A beautifully presented top floor apartment overlooking The Regent's Canal. The accommodation comprises, reception room with recessed fully integrated kitchen, master bedroom with en-suite shower room, second double bedroom and bathroom. The apartment also has the advantage of a terrace and secure parking. Orsman Road is located close to Hoxton and will benefit from the opening of the new East London Line. Clerkenwell estate agents

MAIN FEATURES

* 2 Double Bedrooms

* 742 Sq ft - 69 Sq m

* Terrace

* Parking

A one bedroom apartment on the fourth floor apartment

2009-11-26T16:03:00.000Z

A one bedroom apartment on the fourth floor apartment of a most sought after portered block on High Holborn. Located next to Chancery Lane tube station, the south facing apartment comprises one double bedroom, one bathroom and reception room with a kitchen in immaculate condition. Bloomsbury apartments

MAIN FEATURES

* One Bedroom

* 448 Sq ft / 42 Sq m

* Portered Building

* Prime Location

rental market

2009-06-30T15:05:00.001Z

Residential rents in Midtown, City and Docklands began to fall at the end of 2007, initially in response to the increased supply of rental units and more recently, in addition to supply side factors, as a reaction to the fragility of the London labour market. While the sales market may have turned a corner in the first half of 2009, there was no such respite for the rental market – not at least in terms of rental levels.

The rental market has become highly competitive across central London in response to the supply and demand balance increasingly favouring the tenant. In effect, there has been a contraction in the demand side London-wide and that has put pressure on prices in all markets. Tenants have been the winners, with some in the position
to trade up, in terms of location and/or quality of unit. Midtown, City and Docklands has actually benefited from this process, drawing in tenants from other less favoured locations in its penumbra.

Landlords are accepting rents below their initial asking rents in order to reduce voids. In some cases landlords’ own financing costs have been reduced along with the Official Bank Rate, softening the impact of reduced rents and encouraging landlords to accept lower offers. When renewing their leases, some tenants have asked for break
clauses to be included in new tenancies, to allow greater flexibility to move quickly if they are able to secure a purchase.

As a result, rents fell by 7% on average across Midtown, City and Docklands in the first half of 2009. This was in addition to a reduction of 9% in 2008 (Figure 3). Hence, rent levels at the end of the first half of 2009 were at 84% of the December 2007 peak. In terms of rental income landlords might expect to achieve, the typical weekly rent for a two-bedroom flat has fallen from £505 per week to £430 per week
over 18 months to the end of June 2009, while for a one-bedroom flat weekly rents have fallen from £385 to £325 per week.

Baker’s Row is a stunning development of just 8 apartments

2009-05-22T15:55:00.001Z

Clerkenwell has been described as "the London equivalent of New York's East Village, but with better architecture and ten times more history."

With great shopping and tremendous diversity of acclaimed restaurants, bars, galleries, pubs and clubs, the Clerkenwell Green Conservation Area has become a favourite for young professionals. Clerkenwell was in fact the site of London's very first gastropub (The Eagle) back in 1991. It's home to some of the capital's finest restaurants (including Moro and St John) and a bewildering array of social venues, from family orientated wine bars to huge clubs and cool underground bars. From the groovy little shopping streets around Exmouth Market to London's oldest church.

Baker’s Row is a stunning development of just 8 apartments

Mortgage approvals down further as UK pays its credit card bill

2009-03-20T10:44:00.001Z

According to Bank of England data, in December mortgage approvals decreased to 99,000 lower than the six month average of 136,000 and the 100,000 in November.

Due to low rates on standard variable rate mortgages, borrowers have little reason to switch at the end of fixed deals which has resulted in particularly low activity in the remortgage market.
There was a rise in Mortgage approvals for home purchases in December and according to the UK economist Vicky Redwood, this could be seen as a sign that the rise in new buyer interest seen over the past few months is finally boosting housing market activity. However she warns not to get too excited as approvals are still 76 per cent low than on their peak and is unlikely to increase significantly while credit is hard to get.

The Bank of England data also shows that despite the Christmas rush, UK paid off £100 million more on credit card debts than spent.

Howard Archer, chief UK economist at Global Insight mentioned that rising debt levels, historically low household savings rates, plunging house prices and sharply weakened equity markets mean that there is a pressing need for many consumers to improve their finances.

Global residential property growth slows

2009-02-24T10:29:00.001Z

The latest statistics from Knight Frank indicate that in the second quarter of 2008, the global residential property market continued to slow down with growth falling to 4.8 per cent, down from 6.1 per cent in the first quarter.

Although half the markets listed in the index experienced a drop in prices, certain economies of central and south-eastern Europe appear to be performing strongly.

Nick Barnes, head of international research at Knight Frank explained that the global house price inflation has continuously decreased and as a result of this most of continental Europe is experiencing low or negative growth.

On the other hand there are rapid price increases in some parts of Asia and Eastern Europe with Bulgaria, Slovakia and Czech Republic recording strong performance due to robust economic growth.

In contrast rapidly depreciating housing markets of the Baltic States – led by Latvia, where prices fell by 24.1 per cent over the past year, demonstrate that rising inflation and mortgage costs poses serious threats for the emerging economies of Europe.

Property prices in Spain, Denmark, Ireland, UK and New Zealand are experiencing a sharp fall due to the credit crunch.

Housing Bubble Bursts in London

2008-10-17T10:18:00.000Z

The financial crisis is taking a heavy toll on London's once-thriving property market, as real-estate agents report the biggest slump in business since records began 30 years ago.

London's real-estate agents sold an average of 8.3 properties apiece in the three months ended in September, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. That is the lowest tally for any region of the country since the survey started in 1978. In Britain as a whole, agents sold an average of 11.5 properties during the three-month period, down more than 50%

Classy and classic should avoid the crunch

2008-05-30T09:10:00.001Z

The class divide is alive in London. If your home is flawlessly finished and impeccably located, you’ll still find the buyers lining up, whether you live in the leafy squares of Central London or deep in suburban commuter land.

Agents report that prices are between 10 per cent and 15 per cent lower than the highs reached last summer. But even with such reductions, predictions that prices will fall even farther mean that a single flaw is enough to scare off buyers, who are quickly made nervous by as little as a thoughtlessly planned extension or too much road noise. If it is not the best in its class, it’s not good enough.

At the top end, in the very best postcodes of Chelsea, Mayfair and Knightsbridge, demand remains unconstrained. Cash-rich international buyers still stalk the market, with £5 million or more to spend, looking for a London bolthole. They are also in the market for landmark, stucco-fronted homes for more than £10 million.

Ed Mead, of Douglas and Gordon, reports increased activity from Indians and Russians. But, he says: “Most of the activity is from countries in euroland. Between the strengthening of the currency, and the reduction in prices, the deals look very good to them. The staff in my office speak five languages and I rarely hear them in English.”

But agents say that the gloss is coming off even these homes, as the gloom that afflicted the national market has spread to Central London. Miles Shipside, of the property website Rightmove, says: “The super-rich have got the funds but they are canny buyers. If they think they can get something cheaper later, they’ll wait.”

Should international buyers close their cheque books, sellers will be left to brave the demands of the British buyer: the best home of its kind, for the sharpest price. Marc Goldberg, of Hamptons, says: “Nobody is willing now to pay over the odds for any property, and everyone wants a bargain.”

That is quickly translating into pressure on prices. Ed Mead advises: “Prices were reduced 10-15 per cent almost in unison. But now, anyone who wants an easy life and a sale must reduce prices another 10 per cent from what they think is a reasonable price. That adds up to a fall of 25 per cent.” The fast deterioration of the market has been blamed on the loss of bonus cash, which did so much to boost prices in the past two years. With job security under question and bonuses forecast to be slim, City buyers have gone on strike. David Salvi, of Salvi Hurford Carr, says: “You could draw a line between east and west. The west is relatively unaffected, whereas the farther east you go the worse it gets. Docklands has been badly hit.”

Chris Pendleton Interview - MS map and Real Estate

2008-05-21T07:59:00.000Z

Chris Pendleton Interview

First time buyers snap up apartments near Crystal Palace

2008-04-08T08:15:00.000Z

First time buyers are swift to take action when a great opportunity is presented, which is why half of the apartments at Barratt Kent’s Zen development near Crystal Palace have already been reserved.

The homes, which are priced from just £195,000, are being sold under English Partnerships’ First Time Buyers Initiative. This allows first time buyers to buy a property through an affordable mortgage, with the remainder of the purchase price paid directly to Barratt by English Partnerships.

“The chance to buy a home with an affordable mortgage is an enormous incentive in the current market,” comments Ann Moriarty, sales and marketing director for Barratt Kent. “Add to this the fact that these are smart new apartments in an up and coming part of London, close to the high street and station, and it’s easy to appreciate why Zen is selling so quickly.”

The 32 one-bedroom apartments at Zen are located on Anerley Park Road, close to Crystal Palace Park. Anerley’s high street, with its good selection of shops, bistros and cafés, is a short walk away and for commuters it is just a 20-minute train journey from nearby Anerley Station to London Bridge.

Home prices fall for second month

2008-01-02T22:24:00.000Z

UK house prices fell for a second consecutive month in December, the Nationwide building society says.

Prices dropped 0.5% in December after slipping 0.8% in November, but property prices were still up 4.8% year-on-year from December 2006, it said.

The average price of a Stratford Property rose by £8,334 over the year, putting it at £182,080 at the end of 2007.

Nationwide said that this month's interest rate cut should help the market recover somewhat later in 2008.

"The housing market has weakened significantly in the closing months of 2007 after holding up more strongly than expected in the earlier part of the year," said Fionnuala Earley, Nationwide's chief economist.

Rankings

Nationwide data also showed that St Albans was the most expensive place to buy property in a survey of 30 towns and cities.

The average house price in the Hertfordshire town rose 13% to £347,563 over the year.Belfast saw the biggest rise in house prices, up 32% over the year to £306,698 - an increase of £201 a day.Durham and Newcastle saw the survey's only fall in house prices.

Average prices fell 3% in both places to £152,902 and £178,309 respectively.

Britain's deflating buy-to-let bubble

2007-10-16T15:58:00.000Z

Take out a mortgage to buy a property and then, while the rent covers the mortgage repayments, the capital value of the property increases year on year.

For many years, that was the way it was, but now there are signs that the years of easy money may be coming to an end.

In 1996, when buy-to-let mortgages were first launched, only 20,000 were taken out. By June 2007 this figure had grown to 940,000 and the total amount borrowed to £108bn.

It has been phenomenally successful and one of the best performing investments around.

Many buy-to-let investors have made fortunes as house prices increased and mortgage rates remained low.

One such investor is Raj Shastri who has seen his initial £950 investment grow over the last five years into a portfolio worth £8m.

one bedroom apartment situated in Bloomsbury.

2007-06-13T08:29:00.001Z

A top floor, Georgian, one bedroom apartment situated in Bloomsbury. This third floor property comprises of a double bedroom, reception/ kitchen and bathroom. The property is located at the north end of Gray's Inn Road and only a short walk from King's Cross St Pancras.

MAIN FEATURES

One Bedroom

493 Sq ft/ 46 Sq m

3rd Floor

Georgian Apartment

Property demand expected to peak in 2008

2007-05-25T10:38:00.001Z

The soaring demand for industrial property space will peak in Sydney and Brisbane next year, then start to tumble in 2009, analysts say.

In a report, UBS property analysts attributed strong industrial tenant demand to Australia's economic growth, low unemployment and upbeat business sentiment.

"In 2008, Sydney and Brisbane are expected to peak, and then in 2009 begin a downswing," UBS said.

UBS said industrial markets in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane were currently at the top of the property cycle, with demand coming from some of the largest occupiers of industrial property space, such as supermarkets and transport companies.

The predictions on the downturn come amid an increase in the amount of industrial property up for sale, with rents rocketing 25.6 per cent in Perth in the year to March 2007, and 16.1 per cent in Brisbane.

Overall, in the year to March 2007, Australian prime industrial rents grew by 13.1 per cent to reach an average of $98 per square metre.

"Retail sales and consumer confidence data have returned to the levels last seen in 2003 amid the housing property boom.

"Further, jobs growth is healthy, while the unemployment rate is at a record low."

Investors were moving aggressively to establish a foothold around Sydney's M7, the TradeCoast in Brisbane and the Eastlink and Craigieburn Freeway in Melbourne.

Stratford officials, meetings draw derision from wide range in town

2007-05-25T10:36:00.000Z

I have lived in the town of Stratford my entire life and used to think it was a really nice place to live. The past couple of years, the town has really gone downhill, and that is a shame to see this happening.

Instead of building himself a glamorous "bachelor's apartment" in Town Hall, Mayor James R. Miron should have used the people's money to clean up Stratford's coastline and beaches. Town officials just continue to throw our money away, and then tax us to death. Many people cannot even afford to live here anymore.

We need to get ordinary, caring, regular people back running Stratford. Funny, we can impeach a president, but can't get rid of a small-town mayor.

Stratford officials are also allowing developers to come to the town, destroy smaller homes and put up giant homes on tiny pieces of property. These developers cut down every living tree and plant on the existing land. Look at that development on Highland Avenue and Highview Drive as an example. They cut down all vegetation and some those homes are on 0.17 acres!

Then officials tell us it is good for us, because our property values will go up. What they don't tell you is that your taxes will also go up.

Wake up, Stratford.

Ruth Stanton

Stratford

Barbican’s revamp ‘OK’

2007-05-25T09:01:00.000Z

FRESH plans for York's Barbican Centre look set to win the go-ahead next week, despite strong objections from campaigners. Barbican Property

If planners approve the proposals, owners Absolute Leisure will have only five months to complete a multi-million pound refurbishment of the auditorium and construct new bars and restaurants in time for the Royal British Legion's Festival of Remembrance, in November.

However, The Press reported yesterday the UK Snooker Tournament, due to be held at the Barbican in December, might be held at another venue amid fears that the centre might not be ready.

Organisers say they are keeping their options open and are in talks with other potential venues.

Absolute Leisure, which won permission for a refurbishment in 2004, submitted revised plans for the site late last year, including the enclosure of a roof garden, a redesign of the glazed curtain wall on the frontage and changes to the reception area.

The application failed to make it to a City of York Council planning committee last month, and will now be considered at a meeting next Wednesday. More >>

£9.3 Billion London Olympics Of No Benefit To UK

2007-05-14T08:41:00.000Z

WE all remember their faces – has-been athletes such as Steve Cram and Kelly Holmes, not to mention Lord Sebastian of Coe, erupting with joy as the decision to award the 2012 Olympic games to London was made. (Pic: Beau Bo D'Or.)
Yet while these ex-Olympians celebrated the undoubted extra media work they’d get over the next seven years, and London property developers danced in the street, the reality for ordinary Britons was less certain.

Now, in a new report for the Greater London Assembly, researchers claim the 2012 games - the cost has quadrupled to a staggering £9.3 billion - will struggle to create a boom in jobs, sport and even housing.

In looking at the impact of the games on former hosts Athens, Sydney, Atlanta and Barcelona, the authors of the report found that the cites all struggled to benefit from the event, with Greece even losing 70,000 jobs just after the 2004 games.

Increased participation in sports also failed to rise significantly after the event while infrastructure improvements mainly benefited international residents and those lovely property developers.

Expect to see a herd of White Elephants rampaging around the East End after 2012.

Selling property online to rise in the UK

2007-05-03T16:39:00.001Z

UK property industry insiders anticipate a surge in online property sales in 2007 owing to the introduction of the Home Information Packs. From June 1 2007, everyone involved in selling a home in the UK will need to know about Home Information Packs (HIPs). The anticipated online sales increases will come from the publics lack of appetite for the new fees associated with the packs. The combination of estate agents commission and new compulsory Home Information Packs is set to give UK house sellers a double dose of selling fees.

Gavin Brazg of www.TheAdvisory.co.uk is editor of the property advice website which helps home sellers by providing free and impartial advice to help sell property in the UK. The site contains information covering selling your house without an agent, selling property to a specialist cash buyer and through an estate agent.

Mr Brazg ‘We are industry insiders that have been dealing with estate agents, property lawyers and other industry "professionals" for longer than we care to mention. We've seen how the general public is taken advantage of and we've witnessed a lot of unnecessary heartache and financial loss. The insider knowledge we share in this website is the information that rogue "property professionals" don't want you to have. I believe Hips will have a dramatic effect on online and private sales with home sellers in search of a cheaper alternative

Nicholas Marr CEO of Homegofast.com ‘We work with hundreds of agents and private sellers and believe freedom of choice is paramount. Many of our private sellers just can’t afford commission payments. They are faced with large stamp duty fees, huge mortgages, ever increasing house prices and now Hips. Some UK estate agents will pay up front for a Sellers Hip however this could come with very stringent contracts so that they do not lose out to time wasters or sellers that want to change agent. Our experience indicates that once a seller goes it alone and sells a property privately it is rare for them not to reach for their keyboards in the future. Selling property privately online is here to stay and Hips will help sellers prepare properly whilst buyers will become better informed.

A Home Information Pack contains:

An Energy Performance Certificate which tells you how energy efficient the property is
Other compulsory documents, such as an index of contents, a sale statement, searches and evidence of title Optional documents, such as the Home Condition Report

More Information at http://www.homeinformationpacks.gov.uk/consumer/

£1.1bn HSBC deal seals capital's status as property market leader

2007-05-01T10:59:00.001Z

The global banking giant HSBC pulled off the UK's largest-ever commercial property deal yesterday, selling its London headquarters for a record £1.1bn to the Spanish property group Metrovacesa.

The bank also sealed an agreement to lease back the Docklands tower block for the next 20 years at an annual rent of £43.5m - giving the Spanish investors an initial yield of just 4 per cent on their investment.

Recent large deals in the UK commercial property sector have yielded in the region of 4.5 to 5 per cent. It is believed the company was willing to accept the lower yield due to the high profile of the property.

The company said it aims to become one of the world's leading real-estate investors.

HSBC also secured an option to extend its lease for an additional five years at the end of the 20-year term. However, Metrovacesa, which is believed to have beat some 14 other bidders to secure the deal, has a 998-year lease on the property.

The sale of the 210-metre tower block locks in an investment return of more than 100 per cent for HSBC, which spent some £500m building the skyscraper at the turn of the millennium. The company moved into the building in 2002, and now has some 8,000 staff working in the block.

Metrovacesa's purchase shatters the recent record for UK commercial property deals, which was set only last month when Beacon Capital Partners, the US real estate investment group, snapped up Citypoint for £650m at a yield of 4.85 per cent.

Citypoint is one of the largest office blocks in the City of London property , housing a number of offices, as well as a gym, shops, bars and restaurants. More >>

London boom is spreading

2007-04-17T09:30:00.001Z

London property - Barbican property, Clerkenwell flats , prices have spread to the rest of the country, according to Rightmove, the property website.

In its latest survey, the group claims property prices rose more than 1pc across all regions in England and Wales last month.

Last month, average property asking prices saw the largest monthly rise in 5 years, up 3.6pc or £8,307, said Rightmove.

Miles Shipside, commerical director, said: "Sellers' asking prices provide one of the earlier indicators of which way the market is headed, and whilst a boost is to be expected arouond Easter, £8,000 in a month is the largest amount we have ever recorded. Every region saw major increases, with the minimum jump being £3,000."

The average asking price for a property now stands at £236,490, £30,816 higher than a year ago.

The group said it expects the impending introduction of Home Information Packs (HIPs), on June 1, to boost the number of properties coming on to the market next month.

Stock hungry estate agents will see it as a one off uk opportunity for a "feeding frenzy", as they try to persuade sellers to put their houses on the market before HIPs June deadline.

Mr Shipside added: "The early indications are that the Spring timing of the run up to HIPs implementation, combined with the current market conditions, will lead to a distortion of traditional market forces over the coming months.

"We have a unique set of market conditions, and followers of housing fortunes should not regard this as the start of another national boom. As prices go higher, fewer buyers can afford to get on the ladder, or trade up, and that will restrain ongoing increases in many parts of the country."

Luxury property prices in central London have soared

2007-04-13T09:23:00.001Z

Luxury property prices in central London have soared to their highest level in almost 30 years, but will be hit by a slowdown within the next six months, estate agent Knight Frank has warned.

The influx of foreign buyers, mainly from Russia and the Middle East, coupled with a strong bonus season in the City, drove property prices up by 3.1pc in March, the highest monthly rate of growth in 28 years, Knight Frank's latest market survey revealed.

The estate agent said the average luxury house in London's prime locations, such as Belgravia and Chelsea, now sells for £5m.

However, the group expects returns for 2007 to come in at around 20pc, down from 31pc this year.

Liam Bailey, head of Knight Frank Residential Research, said: "The super strong market will not last much longer - perhaps four or five months."

International demand looks set to continue, with increased interest from Chinese and Indian buyers over the next few months.

Despite this, Mr Bailey warned that the wider central London market is more closely linked with the fortunes of those in the City, and "all it would take is a downturn in mergers & acquisitions activity, or in hedge funds, and the property market would take a downturn too."

He added: "Affordability is still an issue, even at the top end of the market.

"London property has outperformed most other big European cities, with the exception of Moscow - where prices in prime areas have grown 70-100pc in the last year, depending on who you talk to."

Top end of London property market to ease

2007-04-12T11:44:00.000Z

Luxury property prices in central London have soared to their highest level in almost 30 years, but will be hit by a slowdown within the next six months, estate agent Knight Frank has warned.

The influx of foreign buyers, mainly from Russia and the Middle East, coupled with a strong bonus season in the City, drove property prices up by 3.1pc in March, the highest monthly rate of growth in 28 years, Knight Frank's latest market survey revealed.

The estate agent said the average luxury house in London's prime locations, such as Belgravia and Chelsea, now sells for £5m.

owever, the group expects returns for 2007 to come in at around 20pc, down from 31pc this year.

Liam Bailey, head of Knight Frank Residential Research, said: "The super strong market will not last much longer - perhaps four or five months."

International demand looks set to continue, with increased interest from Chinese and Indian buyers over the next few months.

Despite this, Mr Bailey warned that the wider central London property market is more closely linked with the fortunes of those in the City, and "all it would take is a downturn in mergers & acquisitions activity, or in hedge funds, and the property market would take a downturn too."

He added: "Affordability is still an issue, even at the top end of the market.

"London property has outperformed most other big European cities, with the exception of Moscow - where prices in prime areas have grown 70-100pc in the last year, depending on who you talk to."

Traditionally, the London market has led property prices across the country, creating a ripple affect.

However, Mr Bailey said: "There is no way in two years time you'll see this sort of growth in the country - not even in the South East."

2007-04-10T14:17:00.001Z

Speculative development is picking up in the central London office sector, which is outperforming all other areas of the UK property market, but is not yet able to match demand, according to property investment management firm Arlington Securities.

However UK commercial property returns as a whole have slowed over the last six months. The total return for the IPD annual index over 2007 is projected to be 10% compared to the 2006 annual return figure of 17.9%.

Arlington UK fund of funds manager Richard Gale said: ‘The surge in rental growth was initially led by the West End, but the City has also seen a sharp improvement in the last six months. However rental levels in the West End, when viewed in relation to City rental levels, remain almost as high as ever.

‘The sharp increase in rents in central London has been driven by increasingly fierce competition for available space. In the City, the major Grade A buildings available, Moor House, 99 Bishopsgate and the Gherkin have been mostly let. The few available Grade A schemes are experiencing substantial rental growth.’

The Arlington UK Fund of Funds, which was launched in January 2007, allows investors to invest in a portfolio of balanced and specialist funds investing across the UK. The minimum investment is £100,000.

London property investment still hot, says Arlington

2007-04-10T14:17:00.000Z

Current Property for Sale

2007-04-05T09:24:00.000Z

Doughty Street and its continuation of John Street, is a much sought after location for both residential and commercial occupiers. Originally a street of residential Georgian townhouses their usage gradually changed during the late 1900’s as commercial occupiers, mainly literary groups and law firms spilling over from the nearby Inn’s of Court took up occupation.

From the early 1990’s to the present date, Doughty Street has witnessed a resurgence of residential occupiers converting its fine houses back to family homes. These new and affluent residents realize that they are living in arguably the finest residential street in Bloomsbury.

On average only two houses are sold each year on Doughty Street, These grade II listed houses range in size from 3,000 – 6,000 square feet and some are blessed with long 40 – 70 ft Gardens.

There are also a few purpose built houses that have been configured as one and two bedroom apartments.

Marketing Your Property with Hurford Salvi Carr

2007-04-03T09:45:00.001Z

Hurford Salvi Carr are one of London’s leading property marketing agents, who develop both traditional and online marketing strategies to produce effective and innovative marketing campaigns that appeal to a target audience. We will ensure that we will select publications to market your property that reaches the appropriate audience profile.

We regularly advertise our clients properties in the Sunday Times, The Times, Financial Times, The London Evening Standard, The Wharf, Counsel, West End Review and Canary Wharf magazine.

We publish our own City living and Docklands magazines which are circulated to 50,000 local addresses, together with our extensive database, including corporate tenants, relocation companies, corporate and buy to let investors, and our overseas contacts.

Our creative team includes graphic designers, media buyers and web designer, while our website enables us to reach a global audience.

Online Marketing

The Internet plays an important role in the marketing of your property and our online presence at http://www.hurford-salvi-carr.co.uk/ is as effective and compelling as our traditional marketing offline. Our approach involves the latest developments in the fields of digital technology, virtual reality and online marketing.

Hurford Salvi Carr subscribe to all the major property websites including:

www.primelocation.com/
www.rightmove.com/
www.findaproperty.com/
www.propertyfinder.com/
www.naea.co.uk/
www.homesonview.co.uk/

Our website produces hundreds of new enquiries each week and our investment into search engine optimisation ensures that our instructions are accessed by potential purchasers as soon as we are instructed to market a London new property.

Public Relations

The company enjoys excellent press relations with the leading property journalists in London and the directors appear regularly on the radio, television and in the national, international and property press.

At our regular PR briefings we are able to highlight trends in the market and profile individual properties that are newsworthy. Independent third party endorsement combined with a coherent advertising strategy combine to promote your property to the maximum audience.

Research

Our Research publications including our Half Year Reviews are widely circulated and reported in the press and provide an in depth analysis into market trends, sub- market activity, the planning pipeline and give us the opportunity of highlighting the future direction of the residential market in London.

	Our Spring 2007 edition of City Living is now ready to download

CITY & DOCKLANDS RESIDENTIAL REVIEW 2006 For a PDF of this Bulletin CLICK HERE	CITY & DOCKLANDS RESIDENTIAL REVIEW, 1ST HALF YEAR 2006 For a PDF of this Bulletin CLICK HERE

CITY & DOCKLANDS RESIDENTIAL REVIEW, 2ND HALF YEAR 2005 For a PDF of this Bulletin CLICK HERE	LIVE/WORK For a PDF of this Bulletin CLICK HERE

First time buyers reliant on family

2007-04-02T16:03:00.000Z

WC1 property

More first-time buyers (FTBs) are relying on financial help from family and friends in order to get on the London property ladder, according to new figures released today.

Research from Hometrack showed that 14 per cent of FTBs relied on help from relatives or friends in 2006, although a further 14 per cent were able to buy a property without any financial support.

The drop in buyers able to go it alone is blamed on soaring house prices and interest rates up at 5.25 per cent.

Hometrack claims that while FTBs in the 1980s and 1990s were regarded as market drivers, established homeowners with existing equity are now driving prices up, and FTBs out.

Richard Donnell, director of research at Hometrack, said that more FTBs are likely to turn to the rental market as house prices continue to climb.

He said: "In the short term the pressure on first time buyers will lead to increased demand for rental properties, which in turn will lead to higher rental values.

"The current growth of house prices is unsustainable when so many people are being priced out of the housing market," he added.

The average cost of a home in England and Wales currently stands at £173,400, based on Hometrack's survey of 3,500 estate agents in England and Wales, up 6.7 per cent on last year's figures.

Doughty Street

London shares higher midmorning, M&A news lifts BT Group, property issues gain

2007-04-02T10:38:00.000Z

London Property | London New Homes

LONDON (AFX) - Leading shares remained higher midmorning with BT Group up on fresh consolidation news across the telecom sector while property stocks got a lift from favourable broker comment, dealers said.

At 10.15 am, the FTSE 100 was 15.80 points firmer at 6,323.8, having reversed initial losses, but off an earlier high with the broader indices mixed.

Early volume was moderate with 517 mln shares trading in 99,336 deals.

M&A hopes helped BT Group ring up early gains on news Pirelli is in talks to sell two thirds of its controlling shareholding in Telecom Italia to AT&T from the US and Mexican mobile phone operator America Movil.

The Pirelli stake is held via its Olimpia unit, which controls Telecom Italia SpA via an 18 pct holding.

The negotiations are based on a price per Telecom Italia share of 2.82 eur minus the net debt of Olimpia, it said.

BT Group took on 3-1/2 at 307-1/4, Cable & Wireless rose 1.8 at 168.4 and sector peer Vodafone also gained, 1.5 higher at 137, clawing back some of Friday's investor day losses.

M&A news also provided a lift to Experian, up 15 at 599, amid talk US credit checking peer First Data Corp is in discussions with private equity group KKR about a possible 25 bln usd bid.

Reports suggest a deal could be announced as early as today.

As it was, Compass Group rose to the top of the FTSE 100, up 9 at 349, as buyers emerged following last week's 5-month trading update which beat expectations prompting several broker upgrades.

The stock was also benefiting from Friday's announcement of its share buyback programme which will run until May 15.

Elsewhere, Daily Mail took on 21 to 833 as consolidation hopes were stirred after German peer Axel Springer said it could invest more than 2 bln eur on expanding internationally should a 'unique opportunity' come along, according to the firm's CEO Mathias Doepfner.

Europes largest publisher of newspapers and magazines could spend something close to the value of the aborted bid it made in 2005 for ProSiebenSat.1, Doepfner told the Financial Times.

Last weeks news that advertising revenues at its Associated Newspapers division increased by 10 pct in the five months to the end of February was also continuing to help the share price.

ITV was also courted, 1 stronger at 110 as the commercial broadcaster was reiterated a 'buy' at Goldman Sachs following last week's FA Cup rights news, which it says makes the group a more attractive takeover target.

In a note to clients, the broker said the rights win potentially makes ITV more attractive to Virgin Media, which is reported to be working on a second takeover bid should BSkyB be forced to divest its 17.8 pct stake.

Inside Out reports - Property Hotspots

2007-03-30T09:42:00.000Z

Two property experts take Sumit on a tour around London's hottest spots....

Sumit gets the lowdown on where to buy property in London and he uncovers the capital's hot spots.

He meets two property gurus, Andy Coleman and Carrie Segrave, in an effort to get them to share their secrets with Inside Out.

Carrie, the editor of The London Property Guide, tells Sumit about the best locations.

Her advice is to focus on areas that are experiencing new development such as new housing estates or flat complexes.
Carrie says that you must always "go to the planning department before you move in".

Landlord

Andy is a landlord with an eye for picking up properties in areas with potential to become popular amongst trendy London buyers.

He knows his stuff - dabbling in the property market over the past 15 years has made him a multimillionaire.

Andy says: "You've got to be near the train stations and near the buses."

Sumit consults over 100 of London's top property experts in order to let you know about London's hot property areas।

barbican property | London property blog | London Property Management | doughty street property | WC1 property

Three-week-old London property mag folds

2007-03-29T14:28:00.000Z

Clerkenwell Estate Agents ,
Bloomsburry Estate Agents

Weekly London property magazine So London has ceased trading after launching just three weeks ago.St Ives Plymouth was printing the 102pp London-based title, which cost £2.95 and promised to focus on arts, property and ‘shameless luxury’.

In a statement yesterday, publisher So London Publishing said: “We are sorry to announce that So London magazine is to cease trading as of today (28 March).

“Having tested the market with the first three issues, we feel that there is no long-term future for the title in the current marketplace.”

Mike Ironside, managing director of So London Publishing, said: “Everyone has put in a tremendous effort in producing these early editions and I am extremely proud of all of their efforts”.

UK property: To buy or not to buy?

2007-03-27T07:40:00.000Z

Doughty Street | Limehouse Flats | Clerkenwell Flats

Today’s main headlines again concentrated on the housing market uk and what could happen if interest rates rise. In fact over the last few weeks we have seen various experts and organisations air their different views on the future of the UK buy to let market.

The results from an Alliance & Leicester buy to let report concluded that the UK Buy to Let market is set to grow in value by over 40 per cent in the next decade. The reasons they gave were that the core market of renters (students, young professionals, and immigrants are forecast to increase in number and therefore increase demand. There is also a growing tendency amongst people to rent rather than buy as it provides greater flexibility and therefore job mobility. The Alliance and Leicester’s data actually shows that demand for rented property is growing steadily and that is being reflected in increased rental yields. They predicting the growth to continue, and Stephen Leonard, director, believes that "buy-to-let will become even more attractive to both existing and potential landlords".

Conversely, with house prices that are still rising at a fast rate, some experts such as Hometrack have warned that landlords are in for a prolonged period of compressed yields as rents are failing to rise at the same rate as property prices.

So the question is who do you believe?

Well nobody however many letters they have after their name has a crystal ball and knows for certain. But the fact of the matter is you have to do something to provide for your future. There are risks inherent in any investment and all the signs are that property will continue to produce far greater returns than other forms of investments such as pension funds and the stock market.

To a large extent it depends on what your buy to let strategy is. If you follow the strategy that we advocate, which is to build a portfolio at a steady pace, maximising the power of gearing (but without overstretching yourself) and hold the properties for 10 years or more, we believe that there is plenty of room for both capital and income growth and you will have no cause to regret choosing to rely on property for your future retirement.

“Housing Market Crash” headlines have been a regular feature of the British press over the last 20 years - as have AIDS, mad cow disease, bird flu, and any other crises they can help create to sell more newspapers.

There may possibly be some sort of “house price correction” at some point but if you understand the long term patterns and have a long term strategy so you never become a desperate seller - it simply doesn’t matter. Medium to long term we believe that the UK market will continue to grow steadily. As most people know, since 1952, house prices have doubled in value every 8 years. So regardless of any short term dips, property has proved itself to be far and away the best long term investment.

The government commissioned Barker Review estimated that by 2020, the UK will have to cater for an extra 6 million households. This means that:

· Based on the current rate of building homes, we would need to build an extra 120,000 houses a year to keep up with demand!

· The Halifax recently stated: the housing shortages are exacerbated by average annual rises in the population of 5% over the past 20 years

· Due to land use restrictions and a lack of skilled craftsmen, the house building industry has no chance of keeping up and increasing the supply of property

· Each year there is a large shortfall and by 2020 it is estimated there will be a shortfall of around 500,000 properties

· Based on that comprehensive report on the future of the housing market, this is why we believe investing in the UK is still a sound proposition:

· The average growth for the next few years may only be predicted at 4-8% (depending on which forecast you read) but it’s fairly easy to beat those averages and get a much better return simply by applying your knowledge about the property market. For example, buying in regeneration areas or other areas where certain triggers such as new industries, mean that demand will grow.

· The buy to let mortgage market in the UK is much more advanced than most other countries which means it is possible to buy using very little (even none) of your own money. For instance using an Armchair Investor Bridging Finance Product – it is possible to do this using none of your own money - if you are getting at least 15%+ genuine discount off market value.

· Even without using a specialist investment product such as bridging finance or deposit bonds, the deposits required on a residential mortgage are low so it is possible to buy a 100,000 pounds property with just a 5000 pounds deposit. If that property doubles in value over the next 8 years, you will have made 100,000 pounds for an investment of just 5,000 pounds – an ROI of 2000%.

· With regard to off plan property the deposits required to buy off plan in the UK are generally lower than overseas so again you can gain the benefit of capital growth with less capital expenditure.

· The UK market may be at the top of the growth cycle but if you are smart and buy property at 15 - 20% BMV (Below Market Value) you are in effect buying at the bottom of the market. Even if there is no further capital growth you can still sell for a profit. As Robert Kiyosaki says in Rich Dad Poor Dad “a wise investor will make his profit when he buys the property not hope to make it when he sells”

· Housing remains affordable despite the high price tags. The RICS forecast 2006 states: “Furthermore, house prices are sustainable at present levels as mortgage interest payments still account for 8.9% of households’ disposable income, compared with the long run average of 9.2%.”

· Rents and yields are increasing in many areas so profits from rents will increase steadily over time. Historically rent increases average out at 5% a year.

· Finally, for many people investing in a UK property is a less risky proposition than an overseas investment. It may not have the potential rewards of investing in India, China or Brazil but it is a solid investment and one they feel more comfortable making. There is no point giving yourself sleepless nights when you can make a very good return from investing in the UK.

© Frazer Fearnhead, the Armchair Property Investor

Frazer Fearnhead is the MD of The Armchair Property Investor, an organisation whose philosophy is to make property investment as affordable and accessible as possible so that more people will take control of their lives and use it as a means to achieve their financial goals. Frazer, is frequently quoted in the property press, writes for various investment publications and has appeared as a property expert on radio show panels.

London property sale nets €70m profit for investors

2007-03-26T08:32:00.000Z

London property sale nets €70m profit for investors

Anglo Irish Bank and a company owned by the developer of the Jervis Street shopping centre in Dublin have made a profit of €70 million in just two years on a London property investment.

A joint venture between Anglo and Paddy McKillen’s Clarendon Properties sold the Royal Opera House portfolio of properties in Convent Garden to property company Capital & Counties for €188 million, having bought it for about €114 million in 2005.

Clarendon is owned by McKillen and Tony Leonard, and its Dublin properties include the Powerscourt Centre on South William Street and the Habitat store on Suffolk Street.

It also owns the Savoy Centre in Cork and several properties in London and the United States.

Capital & Counties made an approach to buy the Royal Opera House portfolio which comprises 16 shops let to tenants including Boots and Nine West, earlier this येअर

The company had previously beaten off competition from McKillen to acquire an adjoining portfolio comprising the Covent Garden market and surrounding buildings for more than €600 million. It had publicly stated its desire to acquire more shops in the area.

Covent Garden is one of the most popular tourist areas in London, attracting around 30 million visits a year.

The area is so congested with pedestrians at weekends that some underground trains do not stop at Covent Garden at certain times.

Clarendon paid more than €134million last year for an office investment at 265 Franklin Street in the centre of Boston’s financial district.

The company owns 200 State Street and the Borders bookstore in Boston.

Shareholders’ funds at Clarendon Properties (Holdings) stood at €75.3 million on June 30, 2005 - up from€70.2 million the previous year, according to accounts. The company had fixed assets of just under €80 million.

Bloomsbury Property Guide

2007-03-23T14:59:00.000Z

Bloomsbury is a residential district that combines a continuity of tone with touches of the unexpected.

Bloomsbury has been compared to Paris' Left Bank. For centuries it has been populated by writers, artists, publishers, philosophers, students - the creative questioners of conformity whom the French idolise and who make the British feel uncomfortable. Like Paris, Bloomsbury has wide boulevards of tall trees and taller buildings petering out into maze-like lanes of antique book and map shops, galleries, small hotels and innumerable cafés serving espressos, cappuccinos and fresh juice.

As a glance at its street names shows, Bloomsbury owes its existence to the Southampton and Bedford families who developed the area as one of London's first planned suburbs. Hurford Salvi Carr are the retained letting agents for The Bedford Estates.

The impressive bulk of the British Museum, and the famous literary clique, which gathered in Bloomsbury's Georgian houses at the turn of the century, set the tone of the area. Its residents are in many ways an extension of the Bloomsbury Group - writers, publishers, architects, creative people and academics who delight in walking to restaurants, art galleries, West End theatres and Covent Garden.

Bloomsbury has remained largely unchanged since the early 1940's when parts of the area were severely bomb damaged. It is dominated by large institutions including the University of London, several hospitals, publishing houses and barristers' chambers.

During the late 1980's and early 1990's Bloomsbury began to regain a reputation as a central residential district of some repute as the centre of gravity in London shifted east. At the beginning of the new century, new media, international hotel groups and Warner Bros have moved into the area around Holborn.

Bloomsbury property | Estate agents Bloomsbury

London Property Market 'gridlocked'

2007-03-23T09:22:00.000Z

he London real estate market is "gridlocked," with many homeowners keeping their houses off the market due to fear they will be unable to buy a replacement.

Data from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors shows there were only 108,000 homes on the market in London in February, down from 225,000 in February 2003, The Telegraph reports.

The shortage of properties for sale extends into areas around the British capital.

"There is a gridlock situation developing, where properties are jammed because people who want to move can't find what they want, so they don't put their own house on the market," said Mark Rimell, who heads the country house department for Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire for Strutt & Parker.

One consequence, Rimell and others said, is a growing gray market. People seeking to buy houses retain an agent to find a property that has not been advertised.
© 2007 UPI

Bankers Lead London House-Price Explosion

2007-03-22T10:03:00.000Z

LONDON — London house prices advanced in March as buyers snapped up properties lodnon at the fastest pace in almost three years, led by demand from wealthy foreigners and bankers.

Average asking prices in the U.K. capital rose 1.8 percent to 366,302 pounds ($713,000) in the four weeks through March 10, and 22 percent from the previous year, Rightmove Plc, the nation’s biggest property web site, said today. The average home stayed on the market for 65 days, the shortest period since July 2004.

“London is the financial capital of the world, and we’ve just got more people looking than properties available,’’ said Commercial Director Miles Shipside in an interview. He sold part of his stake in Rightmove to fund his own house-hunt in the city.

A shortage of properties for sale has driven up house prices even after the Bank of England raised benchmark interest rate three times since the start of August. Rising demand from the city’s richest residents is compounding a supply crunch that central bank policy maker Kate Barker said will probably outlast the current generation.

U.K. house prices rose 1.5 percent on the month, the most in four months, and 12.2 percent on the year, to an average of 228,183 pounds. Values increased from February in each of the nine regions measured by Rightmove in England, led by a 2.6 percent gain in the North, while they fell by 0.3 percent in Wales.

The average stock of unsold property per real-estate agent in London fell to 34 in February, the lowest in seven years, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said March 13.

‘Not Affected’

“The supply problem is extremely bad, especially at the top end,’’ said Gary French, chief surveyor at the Friend & Falcke agency in Belgravia, an area neighboring Queen Elizabeth’s London residence at Buckingham Palace. “If people with money in Russia, or in the longer term China and India, start to see London as a safe haven, rightly or wrongly, then it will keep prices going right up. We’re not affected by domestic interest rates.’’

Kensington and Chelsea, the district where film star Hugh Grant lives, led annual gains in London, rising 83 percent from a year earlier to an average of 1,208,981 pounds. The next biggest gain was in Westminster, at 50 percent from a year earlier, followed by a 29 percent increase in Hammersmith and Fulham.

Luxury-home prices in London rose at an annual rate of 31 percent in February, the fastest pace since 1979, when Margaret Thatcher become prime minister, real-estate broker Knight Frank said March 15.

Interest-rate increases in August, November and January may be discouraging some buyers. The RICS index of house-price growth showed the smallest increase in nine months as the number of people registering to browse property dropped to a two-year low.

Rate Policy

The central bank would have to lift its key interest rate to at least 8 percent from 5.25 percent to curb house price gains because of the supply shortage, said Martin Weale, director of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, in a March 13 interview. That’s unlikely to happen, he said.

Kate Barker, a Bank of England policy maker who was commissioned by the Treasury to report on U.K. housing planning, said in an interview last month that the problem of short supply “will indeed take a long time to solve,’’ and may extend beyond the current generation in London and the southeast of England.

Investors are betting on borrowing costs rising in the first half, futures trading shows. The implied rate on the June interest-rate futures contract rose 0.2 of a percentage point Monday to 5.66 percent as of 9:56 a.m. in London. The contract settles to the three-month London interbank offered rate for the pound, which averaged about 15 basis points above the bank’s benchmark for the past decade.

Shipside’s House-Hunt

Shipside sold 779,562 shares in Rightmove, equivalent to 0.6 percent of the company’s stock, according to a March 12 statement on the PR Newswire. The sale at 480 pence per share netted about 3.7 million pounds.

“I live in Nottingham, so I’m looking to buy in London,’’ Shipside said, when asked about what he plans to do with the money. ``It’s quite a jump in price.’’ Nottingham is in the Midlands. Asking prices in the East Midlands rose 8.8 percent on the year to an average 161,069 pounds and they gained an annual 8.1 percent in the West Midlands to an average 193,080 pounds, Rightmove’s report showed.

Shipside’s stake was the biggest of four sold by company directors, including a holding of 300,000 shares by Group Managing Director Ed Williams, worth 1.4 million pounds.

The statement showed Shipside’s remaining stake totals 600,000 shares. “I have no plans to sell more,’’ he said.

Shipside said he has been searching for a London property for the past four months, “not too long compared to some people.’’

“If I tell you where I’m looking it might push prices up there,’’ he said. He would like “somewhere along the Thames. There’s very much a shortage of supply and you’re having to get in there very quickly now to get the property of your dreams.’’

Real estate investment opportunities highlighted to women during history-making empowerment forum in Saudi Arabia

2007-03-21T13:33:00.000Z

'The Reality of Women's Participation in National Development' was held under the patronage of HRH Princess Adela Bint Abdulla Bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud on 19 and 20 March, and was organized by the Khadeejah bint Khuwailed Center, a division of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry. property Management

According to Katie Rodgers, Head of New Development Projects, Asteco Property Management Company, the forum indicates the possibilities - made possible through the economic and social empowerment of women - to put the vast amount of wealth owned by the Saudi female population to increasingly efficient and profitable use.

'The outstanding attendance of some 1,000 female participants demonstrates the strengthening desire for a more active participation in business opportunities unfolding across the region. Asteco's attendance at this event is based on our support of the development of women and one way in which we can help to facilitate this is to highlight the terrific investment opportunities presented by the regional real estate industry,' said Ms Rodgers.

"The content of this forum included discussions on the influence of female redundancy on economic development, the advantages of foreign investment to women, the role of social institutes and development, the effects of tradition and convention on women's development, and the misconception of nationalism and civilized society, as well as Islam and its support for women's development.'

The exceedingly high level of liquidity in the Gulf has enabled the growth of large scale real estate development and investment opportunities and an obvious target market is women in the Kingdom. This segment of the population represents a significant investor pool for the real estate industry, which continues to prove itself as a most attractive investment proposition.

'There are some 200,000 businesswomen in the Kingdom and some 21 percent of total private investments are already held by women. These facts were quoted by Saudi Arabia's permanent representative to the United Nations during an informal thematic debate on the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women at the recent 61st United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA,' added Ms Rodgers.

As the UAE's largest property services company, Asteco's operations continue to expand throughout the region. Its real estate services - cultivated over the past two decades - include retail, commercial, residential sales and leasing, strategic consultancy, property management and marketing; feasibility studies and valuations and research and development. Asteco's most recent expansion has been to the Kingdom of Bahrain, where in addition to establishing full operations it also represents the iconic Marina West development as its exclusive sales and marketing agency.

Marina West is a prime example to demonstrate the appeal of the regional real estate market for investment and residential purposes. Within two months of launching sales, more than 30 percent of phase one of the development's freehold residences was sold.

Marina West is unique in that it will be Bahrain's first and largest gated residential beachfront community to be developed on the Kingdom's west coast. It comprises 345,000 square metres of residential, retail and leisure space. 1,280 luxury apartments, simplexes, duplexes and penthouse suites will be accommodated in 11 high rise towers and it will also offer a number of townhouses. More than 7,000 square metres of space will be devoted to a full range of leisure, recreation and entertainment facilities. Alongside these will be a marina, private beach, and an extensive high quality retail offering.

'A significant number of buyers and investors are from Saudi Arabia and approximately one third of sales have been to investors who understand the potential for high returns from an asset class that offers comfort from the tendency for real estate investments to be largely independent from the volatility of stock market performance,' added Ms Rodgers.

AAJ Holdings Company, headed by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Abubaker Janahi, represents the Marina West development. Bahraini-Greek joint venture, PCC-Terna is the main contractor. The project will be completed by December 2009.

T

London Property Research and Marketing

2006-11-27T09:49:00.000Z

London Property Research and Marketing

Hurford Salvi Carr are one of the country's leading property marketing agents, who use their marketing skills to produce effective and innovative marketing campaigns that appeal to a target audience. The company enjoys excellent press relations with the leading property journalists and appears regularly on the radio, television and in the national, international and property press. Our approach involves the latest developments in the fields of digital technology, virtual reality and the Internet. Our creative team includes designers, media buyers, and web designers, while this web site enables us to reach a global audience.

'City Living' our own full colour property magazine featuring a wide range of our instructions is circulated to 40,000 address in the City, Barbican, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch and Bloomsbury, together with our extensive client database, including overseas contacts in Hong Kong, Singapore, Israel and Ireland. Our research documents are regularly reported in the property press and provide an in-depth analysis into market trends, sub-market activity, the planning pipeline, and give us the opportunity to forecast and comment on the market.

London Property Management | Office Space | Sales | Lettings

2006-11-20T17:24:00.000Z

Hurford Salvi Carr are an innovative firm of property advisors and development consultants who have become synonymous with urban living in central London. Our experience and expertise in both the residential and commercial markets, in the City West End, Docklands and East London put us at the forefront of London property agency.

Since 1996 Hurford Salvi Carr have been a driving force of the 'city living' phenomenon having sold more than 2500 new homes in over 150 developments, the majority created from former commercial premises, and we have played a pivotal role in the repopulation of Clerkenwell and the City fringes.

In 2003 a high profile 300 msq was opened at Limehouse Basin in London's Docklands, providing a focal point for the company's agency activities for Canary Wharf, and a strategic location for our new homes operation at the heart of the Thames Gateway.

As real estate agents the company is widely respected throughout London and are well known in property circles around the world. Our reputation is based on the accuracy of our advice, the quality of our marketing, and most importantly for achieving results.

The Company is divided into six divisions, specialising in Residential Sales, New Homes, Residential Lettings, Residential Investment, Commercial Agency, and Property Management. In many instances the skills of each division combine to provide our clients with best advice. Our fresh approach and award winning marketing expertise compliments our service.

Property sale, rent Barbican | Clerkenwell | Docklands | Limehouse | Wapping | Soho

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one bedroom apartment situated in Bloomsbury.

Property demand expected to peak in 2008

Stratford officials, meetings draw derision from wide range in town

Barbican’s revamp ‘OK’

£9.3 Billion London Olympics Of No Benefit To UK

Selling property online to rise in the UK

£1.1bn HSBC deal seals capital's status as property market leader

London boom is spreading

Luxury property prices in central London have soared

Top end of London property market to ease

London property investment still hot, says Arlington

Current Property for Sale

Marketing Your Property with Hurford Salvi Carr

First time buyers reliant on family

WC1 property

London shares higher midmorning, M&A news lifts BT Group, property issues gain

Inside Out reports - Property Hotspots

Three-week-old London property mag folds

Clerkenwell Estate Agents , Bloomsburry Estate Agents

UK property: To buy or not to buy?

London property sale nets €70m profit for investors

Bloomsbury Property Guide

London Property Market 'gridlocked'

Bankers Lead London House-Price Explosion

Real estate investment opportunities highlighted to women during history-making empowerment forum in Saudi Arabia

London Property Research and Marketing

London Property Research and Marketing

London Property Management | Office Space | Sales | Lettings

Clerkenwell Estate Agents ,
Bloomsburry Estate Agents