This month's property update!

Local Makers Market

Join the spring edition of Local Makers Market in Wanstead on Saturday the 18th of March- timed perfectly for Mother's day gift shopping!

They've got all bases covered with stalls selling cards, wrapping paper, textiles, jewellery, ceramics, prints and homewares all produced locally by talented designer makers.

Click here to read Local Makers Market.

Seven good reasons to be positive about the 2023 property market

 

Positivity is like a fresh spring breeze; it just makes you feel good and clears your head! With so much negativity bandied about in the media, with sensationalist headlines, it’s easy to become worn down by all the doom and gloom. Your head becomes clogged with confusion, which is almost as uncomfortable as a winter cold. On the other hand, you are an optimist and want to move forward based on informed choices and good reasoning.

 

The housing market is built on good foundations

A significantly large part of property sales are cash buyers and buyers borrowing less than 50% of the value of their property.* This is hard to hear for those of us who have to borrow much more to progress on the property ladder. However, the good side to this is that it helps stabilise the property market and the wider economy. Unlike so many other sectors of public and private borrowing, the house of cards scenario is not as precarious!

 

A stable and secure borrowing and property market

It’s now widely accepted that while interest rates are higher than they have been over the years, they are set at more realistic levels. It’s comparable to responsible lending; prior to this, borrowers could almost borrow as much as they wanted, leading to big repayment problems during the banking crisis.

Since the introduction of responsible lending, the future is less susceptible to the perils of overborrowing. Interest rates may be higher, but the result is a more stable borrowing market and a more stable housing market. Interest rates are stabilizing, and even if there are more adjustments to the base rate, a small increase will not affect your mortgage interest rates.

 

 

House prices remain resilient without soaring, with good long-term growth

House prices are no longer soaring towards the sky or dropping through the floorboards. Instead, due to low supply and high demand and good levels of employment, prices are realistically stable. When it comes to making an offer, there is also some room for price manoeuvring, while long-term growth prospects remain favourable.

 

First-time buyers

With 5% mortgages available to first-time buyers thanks to the government’s Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, extended until December 2023, there is a lot for first-time buyers to feel good about.

 

Demand for green homes is increasing

Homes are becoming greener and leaner, and as such, they are becoming more desirable. Houses that are more self-sufficient in terms of energy fetch higher prices than homes that are more expensive to run.

 

Homes are becoming more energy efficient

The government’s ECO+ scheme, due to start in April 2023, will run for three years and, with a pot of £1 billion, will give big energy suppliers the means to offer customers grants to make their homes more energy efficient by improving insulation.

 

The standard of homes has increased massively

It’s no secret that during the pandemic many homeowners spent a lot of time and money making home improvements. Today, as you get on the move, you can enjoy the fruits of all those labours and find a property that is in great condition; modernised, energy efficient, stylish, and ready to be lived in. All you have to do is enjoy it.

 

Make some positive steps towards buying the home you truly desire. Contact us for more information.

 

Zoopla*

 

Let your garden grow the value of your home this spring

 

It’s gardening season again at last, and the longer, lighter days of spring are giving a taste of the warmer summer days and nights soon to come. Whether you are a complete novice or a fanatic, there is no denying that almost anything you do, big or small, will make your home a much nicer place to be for you, your family, and friends.

 

UK homeowners appreciate a good garden. Research revealed that 50% of homeowners in Britain placed as much, if not more, importance on a well-designed garden as they do on a well-designed bathroom or kitchen.* As a result, this can add some serious value to the price of a home. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.

 

Let’s start with the basics

Enjoy the fresh spring breeze and keep the grass trimmed, weed the flower beds or patio, and paint any fences, sheds, or woodwork that needs a new lease on life. Then stand back and enjoy it. If you do nothing else, this will make your home far more appealing.

 

Grow up!

If space is scarce and you have no garden, consider growing up. Vertical gardens are on trend this year and will add colour, scents, and flowers to an otherwise empty space. Low maintenance and beautiful on a patio even if you have a large garden. Simply arrange planter boxes in a stack and plant what you love.

 

Growing your own flowers

A big trend for 2023 is growing flowers you can arrange into your own bouquets. Choose easy-to-grow flowers such as sunflowers, marigolds, or hardy geraniums.

 

Meadows

Bright, colourful gardens with a bit of everything going on are the way forward. Replace neat and trimmed lawns with the wilder look of meadows. That’s not to say you can't have some nice, neat, green grass and a herb garden too.

 

Furniture

Incorporating metallics, copper, and marble at the high end of the market is a desirable and on-trend way to create an amazing place to sit and enjoy good company in the garden. Or simply create privacy using wood. A simple bench or table using reclaimed wood can add something special without costing much.

 

Hard landscaping

Water features, patios, simple paths winding you through your imagined creation aligned with flowers, fruit trees, or a trellis to the decking that catches the sun.

 

Good outside storage

Good storage is desirable when it comes to creating a good garden. Store everything from your tools to the fire pit, you bring out at night to enjoy your garden under the stars. Perhaps with some lanterns, solar lights, garden spotlights, or wall lights, the possibilities are endless!

 

Find the home you love with the garden you have been searching for. Get in touch to see how we can help.

Zoopla*

Investing in property? Here are 10 top tips!

 

Investing in property can be highly lucrative, and the best way to enjoy it and make it as profitable as possible is to know your stuff. Like so much in life, there is an element of luck involved, and to a certain degree, you make your own luck. That said, if you like to err on the side of caution, investing in property can give you a lot of security. There is also vast scope for creativity; whichever approach you take, do it your own way.

 

Decide

Sometimes the biggest obstacle to doing anything is simply deciding what you are going to do! In the world of property investment, you are spoiled for choice, and each property offers unique opportunities. So before you make up your mind, consider these tips. Then remember the golden rule: always leave a bit of space for manoeuvring in case your plans change!

 

Buy-to-let or buy-to-sell?

Do you want to be a property developer or a landlord? There is a constant stream of homes arriving on the market that need modernising or updating. Once completed, who says you can’t do both? Let your refurbished property for a few years, then sell it for a profit!

 

Get to know the market

Ideally, try to buy in an up-and-coming area. The scope for growth in value is greater. This does not mean you have to find an amazingly exclusive area enjoying mega growth. Often, an area that is moving forward and steadily improving is just the ticket when finding an affordable property. Spend a little time getting to know the areas you are considering investing in.

 

Have a plan

Planning is a good way to keep you on the right road. Make lists and make notes for moving, refurbishments, and costing, include calculations for rental yields and a list of legal requirements, and tick each step off one by one as there is a lot to remember.

 

Familiarize yourself with the law

Certain safety standards must be met; these can include smoke alarms, gas certificates, portable appliance testing, an Energy Performance Certificate, and building control certificates for structural alterations. If you let your property, you must conduct Right to Rent checks as a landlord.

 

Insurance

If you let your property, this is a no-brainer. There are so many policies you can opt for, from malicious damage by tenants to loss of rental income. Make sure any tradespeople working on your property have the correct insurance.

 

Building contractors

Finding the right tradespeople to create your property vision can mean the difference between making a good profit and losing money because they don't finish on time.

 

Budget

If you plan to let your property, calculate the rental yield, which will help you calculate your return on investment (ROI). There are many rental yield calculators available online. If you are developing a property, create a spreadsheet or use a property development budget template. Always leave a little aside for the unexpected.

 

Make the most of your property’s space

Renting or selling make the most of the space you have. More rooms mean more rent or a higher selling price. Have you thought of converting a modest-sized home into flats?

 

Stay on-trend

When you decide to short-term let, flip, or buy to long-term let, extend, let holiday homes, convert, refurbish, or invest in green, professional, or student sectors, stay clued in to everything from interior decor (keep things neutral and simple) to changes in the law and the latest property market trends.

 

Are you looking for a fully managed lettings service to protect and grow your property investment? Or are you looking for a great investment opportunity? Get in touch.

 

A month of March memories for your home

March has a lot to offer when it comes to making happy family memories for you to cherish, especially in your home. All too often, when we view a potential home, we think of everything from price, location, how much we like the property, the size and aspect of the rooms, and its features. We become obsessed with décor, design, and monetary value. With so much going on in March, now is a good time to look at your home in a different light.

 

How does your home feel during some of the days that make March such an inspiring time of year?

 

Spring

Spring is a welcome release from the dark, cold days of winter and shows all of us proof that the darkness and cold really do not last forever and that things really can change! Change is something that we both love and despise as humans. Unless we are certain that it’s for the better. Is spring memorable in your home, or do you feel disconnected from the new forces of nature that show up in the form of flowers and wildlife? It’s important to feel connected to nature in your home. You only need to look at the effect that glass door walls have on blending the indoor and outdoor worlds, connecting you to nature with a single glance. Then, when you open the doors, an orchestra of nature and the scents of the garden waft into your home. It’s mood-altering and makes for a truly beautiful living experience.

 

Mother’s Day

Whether you are a mother, son, daughter, or partner helping to arrange the little details, from breakfast in bed to flowers. How well does your home befit the occasion? A dining room that feels special and unique marks not just this occasion but many memorable meals. Does each room work in conjunction with each other? Does the special ambience you create in the dining room flow to the sitting room?

 

Longer evenings and changing clocks

Your time is precious. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just press pause every now and again to stretch out your evenings? Creating spaces in your home that allow you to relax quickly and appreciate the moment may not stop time itself. They will, however, slow time down as you become absorbed and tuned into the moment. Create a relaxing outdoor space where you can light candles with a view of the sky at sunset, add music, and then breathe. You can create such spaces in a variety of settings (such as your living room or bedroom) in your own unique way. Then you will become more connected to your surroundings and your home.

 

International Day of Happiness

Taking place in March, this is another great excuse to celebrate laughter and joy. But who needs an excuse? Take the time to create a home that makes you feel at one with, and it will take care of you, so happy moments become happy days and months for a better way of life.

 

Make a fresh start on your property search. This March, look for a home that will bring you a thousand happy memories. Browse our properties.

 

Winchmore Hill

A spacious (1543ft2) three bedroom, two reception room, semi-detached family home occupying a sizable plot in a very sought after location offering bright and well proportioned...

 

Under Offer- £850,000

Click here to read Winchmore Hill.

South Woodford

DABORACONWAY are delighted to offer to the market this fantastic three bedroom Victorian property on Grove Hill is fantastically located being close to a number of shops...

 

£625,000

Click here to read South Woodford.