Tag Archives: real-estate
UK govt announces details of £7 billion house building priority programme
The UK government has announced a £7 billion programme to make house building a priority which includes more than 400,000 affordable homes. Chancellor George Osborne called it the biggest affordable housing programme since the 1970s when he made the announcement as part of his Autumn financial statement. It will include £2.3 billion paid directly to developers to build 200,000 starter homes aimed at first time buyers. They will be offered at a 20% discount on prices up to £450,000 in London and £250,000 across the rest of the country. He also announced £200 million for 10,000 new homes that tenants can live in for five years at reduced rents while they save for a deposit. They will then have the first right to buy the home. Then there will be £400 million to help build 8,000 specialist homes for older people or those with disabilities, the Chancellor also confirmed. But not all of this is new. The starter homes package has already been flagged up and it is well known that the government wants to build millions of home in the next five years. Nevertheless the programme has been widely welcomed, although concerns have been expressed about the focus on home for sale, although the new homes that tenants can buy after five years will also be welcomed. Among those concerned about the lack of help for the rented sector is Adam Challis, head of residential Research at JLL. ‘The Chancellor's support for 400,000 new affordable homes is welcomed at a time when there is a dire need to expand housing construction right across the country,’ he said. ‘This Government's narrow focus on home ownership is a serious concern however. Support for the private rented sector and social housing is vital to protect the financial stability of millions of households, for whom ownership is beyond reach,’ he pointed out. ‘The private rented sector is the fastest growing tenure in the UK and deserves direct support through the planning system and through the release of public land. Social housing investment provides vital security to more vulnerable households, while also reducing the heavy current reliance on temporary accommodation,’ he explained. ‘Housing delivery desperately needs long term planning rather than short term interventions. They are disruptive to construction programmes and ultimately weaken the system of delivery. Housing should be viewed as infrastructure that protects household stability and supports economic growth,’ he added. Developers will welcome the announcement by the Government of funding for new housing including starter and shared ownership homes, according to Claire Fallows, partner at Charles Russell Speechlys. ‘Questions remain, however, as to whether local authorities will continue to insist on the provision of social and affordable rented units on larger housing sites and, if so, whether Housing Associations will have the funding available to acquire those units. Flexibility by authorities will be required to ensure that housing delivery is not stalled,’ she said. Continue reading
Prime central London property market unlikely to see growth until Q3 next year
Potential sellers in central London’s prime property market are staying put and using the money they would have paid in stamp duty on refurbishing their present home, it is suggested. Official statistics show that price growth in this sector of the UK’s property market has slowed with changes to stamp duty announced a year ago blamed. The latest analysis report from Sandfords, a central and North West London agent, confirms that this has been the case. ‘The stamp duty changes that took place towards the end of 2014 have depressed the market across the board in prime central London and forecasts for next year have altered in light of this,’ said Andrew Ellina, the firm’s director. ‘I predict that price increases in the prime central London market in 2016 will be modest with some areas experiencing growth and others seeing prices remaining fairly static,’ he added. He explained that families in particular are choosing to carry out alterations rather than put their home on the market and the firm expects this to continue into the New Year. The biggest price band that has been affected is from £1.5 million to £5 million. For properties below the £1.5 million the stamp duty changes have not been too onerous. For anything above £5 million, purchasers have sufficient funds and are therefore not too bothered about a heavy stamp duty bill. Ellina believes that unless something significant happens that we cannot foresee at the moment, there will not be a crash, but the global economic outlook combined with tax changes in the UK and the perceived high current values will subdue demand and this will take some time to work through. ‘I do not anticipate sustainable growth returning until the third quarter of 2016,’ he said. Regent's Park and Marylebone are still undervalued in comparison to Knightsbridge and Kensington, but are becoming increasingly more fashionable and desirable, the report suggests. Other areas of growth will be in Fitzrovia and Kings Cross which are rapidly changing out of all recognition. ‘The capital is undoubtedly still one of the safest places in the world to live and invest, and will continue to be a top investment location. This year, buyers from all over the world including, the Far East, China, India, Greece and Europe have been heavily spending their money and buying properties in London, and it looks like they will still be big players in 2016,’ Ellina concluded. Continue reading
Miami real estate market goes from strength to strength, latest data shows
The real estate market in Miami, one of the most popular US locations for overseas buyers, is going from strength to strength with properties selling fast and prices increasing. October marked more than four years of consistent monthly median sales price increases for both single family homes and condominiums, according to the latest data from the Miami Association of Realtors. The data also shows that the median sales price for single family homes increased by 10.4% year on year from $240,000 to $265,000. However, single family home and condominium prices remain at 2004 levels despite four years of consistent year on year increases. The median sales price for existing condominiums increased 8.1% in October to $200,000 from $185,000 a year ago. Miami-Dade County condo prices have risen in 52 of the last 53 months, a period stretching nearly four and a half years. ‘Miami real estate continues to attract international buyers from all over the world as well as a growing number of domestic consumers,’ said Christopher Zoller, the association’s residential president. ‘South Florida offers world class amenities, a top-tier arts and cultural epicentre, a diversified economy and more. The strong demand is leading to fewer days on the market for Miami single family homes while buyer offers are near asking price,’ he added. The average percent of original list price received for single family homes was 95.6% in October 2015, an increase of 0.3% from a year earlier. The median number of days on the market for Miami single family homes decreased 7% to 40 days in October 2015 from 43 days in October 2014. The median number of days on the market for condominiums sold in October 2015 was 59 days, a 1.7% increase from 58 days in October 2014. The average percent of original list price received was 93.8%, a 0.1% year on year increase. Total existing Miami-Dade County residential sales, including single family and condominiums, were consistent with historical averages despite experiencing a slight decline of 5.6%, from 2,712 sales in October 2014 to 2,559 last month. Single family home sales decreased by 4.4% year on year in October, from 1,204 to 1,151. Existing condominiums, which are competing with a significant rise in supply of new construction properties east of Interstate-95, had 6.6% fewer sales in October, decreasing from 1,508 to 1,408. The report points out that in addition to increased sales of new construction properties, Miami existing condominiums have been impacted by a lack of access to mortgage loans. Of the 8,523 condominium buildings in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, only 23 are approved for Federal Housing Administration loans, down from 29 earlier this year, according to statistics released earlier this year from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and FHA. It adds that a new FHA policy, however, should qualify more South Florida condo buildings. Earlier this month the FHA announced plans to streamline the condominium recertification process, expand its definition of acceptable owner-occupied units to include second homes… Continue reading
