Why is the market above £2million in London so difficult at the moment?

Contrary to press reports the market in London below £2million is doing very nicely thank you.  Anything sensibly priced will sell relatively quickly to a number of buyers. Frankly, with the stable outlook for interest/mortgage rates there is not a cloud in the sky, particularly, as this part of the market is immune from any potential Mansion Tax threat.

Above £2million the market gets progressively sticky to the extent that above £10million there are very few buyers at all. Agents and conveyancing solicitors are all complaining that turn over is vastly reduced. Continue reading

How does the unemployment rate affect interest rates and mortgages?

Well-done Mr. Carney for doing a volte-face and unhooking the commitment, made not six months ago, to link the unemployment rate to higher interest rates.  Clearly the economy is reviving much faster than anticipated (about two years or so ahead of time) and, as such, this give the flexibility to buy time.

Frankly, when Mark Carney made his predictions it appeared that he was following the American economic model since, hitherto, no one had linked unemployment and interest rates before in the UK.  The Bank of England (BOE) has always been pre-occupied with inflation. Continue reading

Chancellor Has Imposed CGT On Foreign Individuals Buying In UK

The much-predicted imposition of Capital Gains Tax on foreign individuals buying in the UK has just been announced by the Chancellor in his latest Autumn Statement.  Ordinarily this tax could make sense. However, it is the third tax imposed on the property sector when you add the Stamp Duty and Maintenance Tax changes of the Budget of 2012 where the rate was increased by 300% from 5-15% for corporate bodies and an annual Maintenance Tax of up to £150,000 also applied. Continue reading