Look For New Houses
Predicting which way the UK property market is going is not easy. The last few years have seen numerous industry experts make strong statements about recovery that never really materialised. However there are now signs that the market has reached its lowest level and may be on the way up again. Many areas have seen small increases in value this year and the trend seems set to continue into next year as well. So is now a great time to buy if you are a first-time buyer? While there have been some gains prices are still lower than they were at the same time last year. Forecasts for 2011 and 2012 vary considerably depending on where they come from. The overall consensus is that prices will increase slightly or remain flat. So if you’re a first time buyer now is a great time to begin looking. Although prices may not increase much further they are unlikely to drop and you will find some great deals from many property builders on new homes. If you are thinking about buying your first house in the near future here are a handful of quick tips to help you out. Mortgage and Other Costs Saving a deposit is probably the biggest hurdles for many people and one of the reasons why the housing industry has been flat for the last few years. The days of lenders being willing to give 100% home loans are gone. Nowadays you need a minimum of a 10% deposit to be able to get the best deals with the lowest rates of interest. However more 95% deals have started to appear during the last few months in particular for those who have excellent credit ratings. A deposit is needless to say just one of the many things that you will have to save for. You will also need to think about stamp duty when the property is over a certain value, solicitor’s costs and moving fees. Buying furniture and appliances for the home are other expenses to think about. Finally you will need to plan for bills that will be much larger than in shared accommodation or if you have been living with parents. New or Used Home? With the housing market still flat developers are eager to sell new build homes. Several developers are offering some great deals and incentives on the properties they have to make them sell quicker which can add up to 10% of the asking price. New houses today are made to fantastic standards and will come with a 10 year warranty for complete peace of mind. Although a used home may be cheaper to buy it’ll be more expensive to run and look after. Shared Ownership The popularity of shared ownership plans has grown substantially in recent years. They enable people to purchase a share in a property that they normally would not be able to afford. A mortgage is paid on the part of the property you own and rent to a housing organization that owns the other share. You are able to increase the share of the property you own with time so that ultimately you are able to own 100% of it. Joining a shared ownership plan means that you do not have to save for years to get a huge deposit and you can get on the property ladder much sooner. Another option is purchasing with a friend or group of friends. Although this can seem like a good option it can be fraught with pitfalls for the unwary. Always usea lawyer to draw up agreements and ensure that everybody knows their duties and responsibilities.
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Posted by Felix on September 14th, 2011 :: Filed under Finance
Tags :: new houses