Archive for the 'Main' Category

This afternoon Ruth Kelly, Communities Secretary, made a statement to the House of Commons regarding Home Information Packs (HIPs) and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). HIPs and EPCs will only be required for properties with for or more bedrooms from the 1st August though. The will only become mandatory for smaller properties as more assessors become available.

Another easing in the regulations is that until the end of 2007, sellers will be able to market their properties as soon as they have commissioned the packs, rather than having to wait until they have received them.

(more…)

The Bank of England has today voted to increase the base rate by a quarter of one per cent to 5.5%. This has brought the rate to its highest level since 2001. With inflation still higher than desired, the move was widely expected. In terms of mortgages, if your interest rate follows the base rate, then you can expect an increase of around £16 for very £100,000 you have borrowed.

The Halifax has released data showing that house prices rose, on average, by 1% in March. Overall prices have risen by 2.8% in quarter one of 2007. March’s figure brings the annual rate of house price growth to 11.1%.

(more…)

The Bank of England has voted to keep the base rate at 5.25% in April. While this is good news for borrowers, it is widely expected that high inflation is likely to mean a rise to 5.5% in the not too distant future. Though this is not good for borrowers, the good news is that 5.5% is expected to be the peak of the current cycle.

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has released results of its January house price survey. They show that house prices rose 2.1% in January, bringing the average house price to £205,286.

The annual rate of house price growth was 10.9%, up from 9.9% in December 06. London had a slightly higher rate of growth, up from 11.8% in December to 13.2% in January. London was overshadowed by Northern Ireland however which has an annual house price inflation rate of 42.5%. Experts have suggested that this high growth is due to a peace dividend.