Friday, 24 April 2009
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Watford Chamber of commerce Event
YOOP Architects attended a breakfast event on the 17 April at the new Jury Inn Hotel in Watford. Organized by the Watford Chamber of Commerce, the guest speaker was Mindy Gibbins-Klein. Mindy Gibbins-Klein is an international speaker, consultant and trainer who helps top business leaders get their wisdom into the market by refining their unique message and planning, writing and publishing excellent books articles, blogs, video and keynotes. Her clients have published over 100 books and hundreds of articles. She is a popular speaker who consistently gets superb feedback from audiences that enjoy her warm yet no-nonsense approach.
Mindy presented, "How to Be a REAL Thought Leader" How entrepreneurs can position themselves to stand out in an increasingly competitive market.
Mindy presented a four point approach based around the easy to remember R (reach), E (engage), A (authority), L (longevity). This was a good boost for confidence and also to focus on the common sense things to do that we sometimes forget. Also how book publishing can be a good way to become an 'authority' in your sector. We like Mindy's company name of 'bookmidwife' (www.bookmidwife.com) We also met some new business contacts and were able to discuss opportunities in the current market. Support and swapping contacts and ideas was great. We look forward to attending future Watford Chamber of commerce events and catch up with the good people we have met and meet more people in our business community.
Yoop
http://www.jurysinns.com/Watfordnowopen
Net Curtain House
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Mortgage approvals up 4%
Forecasts remain unchanged as February figures show no increase in total loan value despite increase in approvals
The number of mortgages approved by lenders in February was 4% higher than the previous month at 24,300, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
However the total value of all the loans approved - £3.1bn - was exactly the same as in January, and the number of loans approved was still only at just over half the level of February the previous year.
The CML said that despite the small rise, activity level remained very weak, with the 24,300 figure less than one third the historical average of 76,000 between 2002 and 2007.
February saw 9,400 loans for first-time buyers, an increase of 7% on January but a 46% fall since February 2008.
The CML said that for those able to get home loans, housing was now more affordable than at any time since 2004, with mortgage interest payments now consuming an average of 15.4% of a first-time buyer's income. This is down from a peak of 20.1% in February 2008.
Michael Coogan, CML director general, said that despite the growth, he was not convinced that underlying trends had shifted sufficiently to change the CML's forecasts for mortgage market activity in 2009, despite positive signs for later in the year. “We need further market measures to be introduced by the government to encourage a mortgage market where all types of lenders - banks, building societies and specialist lenders, and large and small businesses - are encouraged, and enabled, to commit more funds to the mortgage market."
14 April, 2009
By Joey Gardiner
http://www.building.co.uk
The number of mortgages approved by lenders in February was 4% higher than the previous month at 24,300, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
However the total value of all the loans approved - £3.1bn - was exactly the same as in January, and the number of loans approved was still only at just over half the level of February the previous year.
The CML said that despite the small rise, activity level remained very weak, with the 24,300 figure less than one third the historical average of 76,000 between 2002 and 2007.
February saw 9,400 loans for first-time buyers, an increase of 7% on January but a 46% fall since February 2008.
The CML said that for those able to get home loans, housing was now more affordable than at any time since 2004, with mortgage interest payments now consuming an average of 15.4% of a first-time buyer's income. This is down from a peak of 20.1% in February 2008.
Michael Coogan, CML director general, said that despite the growth, he was not convinced that underlying trends had shifted sufficiently to change the CML's forecasts for mortgage market activity in 2009, despite positive signs for later in the year. “We need further market measures to be introduced by the government to encourage a mortgage market where all types of lenders - banks, building societies and specialist lenders, and large and small businesses - are encouraged, and enabled, to commit more funds to the mortgage market."
14 April, 2009
By Joey Gardiner
http://www.building.co.uk
Monday, 13 April 2009
Ten tips for would-be landlords (clickable link)
If your house won't sell, how easy is it to rent?
You need to move but do not want to put your home on the market: after all, there could scarcely be a worse time to sell. The obvious solution is to let your home. If you are about to join the influx of reluctant landlords with unrealistic expectations and no idea about tenants' rights, follow this guide:1 Study the local market
2 Talk to your lender
3 Do your sums ..
4 ...and try to be realistic
5 Head must rule the heart
6 Think about your tenants
7 Spend some money on it
8 Follow the rules
9 Pick tenants with care...
10 ... or pay a lettings agent
From
July 25, 2008
Always vet and get references for tenants.
Don't let tenants pay rent late.
Don't use agents (unless they can get a higher rent).
Expect to be inconvenienced.
Don't get personal about the property, it's a business.
Don't forget what you're doing it all for, eventually you'll own the place.
Always vet and get references for tenants.
Don't let tenants pay rent late.
Don't use agents (unless they can get a higher rent).
Expect to be inconvenienced.
Don't get personal about the property, it's a business.
Don't forget what you're doing it all for, eventually you'll own the place.
Thursday, 2 April 2009
New Build House in Caribbean
For UK client with plot in Caribbean,with special help from Yoop friend and
architect in Barbados.
Monday, 30 March 2009
Signs of life in buy-to-let (clickable link)
Landlords are buying more properties than they are selling for the first time in two years, suggesting that activity could be picking up in the buy-to-let sector, according to the body that represents UK letting agents.
More than double the number of estate agents reported that landlords were buying properties in the first quarter of 2009 compared with the previous three months, according to the Association of Residential Letting Agents (Arla), which suggested that sentiment in the buy-to-let market seemed to be improving. A lower number of Arla members said landlords were selling properties.
By Daniel Thomas, Property Correspondent
Published: March 30 2009 02:13 | Last updated: March 30 2009 02:13
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009
Friday, 27 March 2009
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
Mortgage approvals up 16% in February
Number of approvals rises strongly but total lending only slightly up and still half that of a year ago.
The number of mortgages for new house purchases approved rose by 16% in February on the previous month to 28,179, according to the latest data from the British Bankers Association (BBA).
This figure is also significantly higher than the six-month average of 22,068. In addition, banks approved £7.8bn of mortgages in February, a marginal rise on the January figure of £7.6bn.
However, the £7.8bn mortgage approval figure was still less than half the equivalent for the same month last year, falling by 56.5%.
In addition, the actual amount of money issued by banks on mortgages, which lags the approval of mortgages by around a month, was higher than the mortgage approval figure, at £9.2bn, meaning the overall trend is still for a decreasing amount of lending. The £9.2bn gross mortgage lending figure was its lowest level since June 2001.
Markets reacted positively to the “encouraging” data. Charlie Campbell, analyst for Liberum Capital, said: “This is not the bottom of the housing market, but at least it's the end of the period of freefall, and might mean volumes increase this year even as prices continue to weaken.”
Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at the RICS, said the data showed that the increase in buyer enquiries highlighted previously by the RICS was now feeding through into actual transactions. He said: “Suggestions that the heightened level of interest was just window shopping are clearly misplaced.”
Source:24 March, 2009
By Joey Gardiner
www.building.co.uk
The number of mortgages for new house purchases approved rose by 16% in February on the previous month to 28,179, according to the latest data from the British Bankers Association (BBA).
This figure is also significantly higher than the six-month average of 22,068. In addition, banks approved £7.8bn of mortgages in February, a marginal rise on the January figure of £7.6bn.
However, the £7.8bn mortgage approval figure was still less than half the equivalent for the same month last year, falling by 56.5%.
In addition, the actual amount of money issued by banks on mortgages, which lags the approval of mortgages by around a month, was higher than the mortgage approval figure, at £9.2bn, meaning the overall trend is still for a decreasing amount of lending. The £9.2bn gross mortgage lending figure was its lowest level since June 2001.
Markets reacted positively to the “encouraging” data. Charlie Campbell, analyst for Liberum Capital, said: “This is not the bottom of the housing market, but at least it's the end of the period of freefall, and might mean volumes increase this year even as prices continue to weaken.”
Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at the RICS, said the data showed that the increase in buyer enquiries highlighted previously by the RICS was now feeding through into actual transactions. He said: “Suggestions that the heightened level of interest was just window shopping are clearly misplaced.”
Source:24 March, 2009
By Joey Gardiner
www.building.co.uk
Monday, 23 March 2009
Thursday, 19 March 2009
We built our own homes (clickable link)
Cheap land, cheap labour and accessible funding make this the best time in years to build your own home from scratch
As years go, 2009 is not proving to be a great one for the housing market. Prices have plunged precipitously, repossessions are on the rise and mortgage deals are thin on the ground. Hunkering down and trying to weather the storm seems to be the safest course. Surely, then, to get out the bricks and mortar – or, more likely these days, wood – and start building your own home would be the height of folly?PlotSearch, a database that enables self-builders to look for suitable land, says that the number of plots on its books rose by 20% during the course of last year – at the latest count, it had 7,628 of them across the country advertised for sale. They are also getting cheaper. “Land prices are down by 50%, whereas house prices are down by 15%-20%, so you’ve already seen a significant differential,” says Liam Bailey, head of residential research at Knight Frank estate agency.
Obtaining a regular mortgage these days is not easy, but lenders are still keen to finance self-builders – offering as much as 95% of the land and build cost.
Yoop architects could assist in finding plots and evaluating your options, call Bash for advice 020 8954 6291or bk@yooparchitects.co.uk
Also Castleview mortagages 0844 561 7177 for finance advice.
Source:
March 15, 2009
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
End to twin tracking planning applications
Local authorities can now refuse dual applications for the same scheme.
A common tactic for large schemes where developers where looking to hedge their bets, reduce planning risk and bring pressure to bear on under resourced planning departments.
Source:Sarah Bevan, propertyweek.com
Pidgley: Housing market is 'very close to bottom'
Berkeley boss says worst of housing crisis has passed as he braces for 'steady recovery' in 2009
Tony Pidgley, the Berkeley Group chief executive, has said the housing market is “very close” to the bottom.
Pidgley, who gained a guru-like notoriety after correctly predicting the recession of the late eighties, said 2009 could be a year of “steady recovery”.
He said: “I haven’t called the bottom of the market, but we are getting very close. I would say the worst is behind us.”
“It wouldn’t take much to see a pick-up and most of my housebuilding colleagues have seen a fair spike in activity so far this year.”
Asked whether he has begun spending any of the £50m Berkeley had raised in a share placement last month, he said: “A number of deals are being done where people are selling off assets, but I obviously cant talk about them at the moment.”
Source:16 March, 2009
By Tom Bill, Building Magazine, http://www.building.co.uk/
Tony Pidgley, the Berkeley Group chief executive, has said the housing market is “very close” to the bottom.
Pidgley, who gained a guru-like notoriety after correctly predicting the recession of the late eighties, said 2009 could be a year of “steady recovery”.
He said: “I haven’t called the bottom of the market, but we are getting very close. I would say the worst is behind us.”
“It wouldn’t take much to see a pick-up and most of my housebuilding colleagues have seen a fair spike in activity so far this year.”
Asked whether he has begun spending any of the £50m Berkeley had raised in a share placement last month, he said: “A number of deals are being done where people are selling off assets, but I obviously cant talk about them at the moment.”
Source:16 March, 2009
By Tom Bill, Building Magazine, http://www.building.co.uk/
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Morrison gains share as recession bites (link)
By Maggie Urry
Published: March 12 2009 08:22 | Last updated: March 12 2009 09:07
Wm Morrison on Thursday reported sales gains ahead of rivals as the UK’s fourth largest supermarket group increased market share.
Like-for-like sales, excluding fuel, rose 7.9 per cent in its financial year to February 1, while total sales jumped 12 per cent to £14.5bn.
For full story hit title link. Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009
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